Liverpool Always One Step Behind Until they Fix Their Shaky Foundations
Ask any Liverpool fan, or any football fan for that matter, about where they want their team to be challenging and they’ll give you the same answer. Naturally, they want to be vying for the title, mounting an assault on the domestic cup and pushing for that all-important Champions League trophy.
In order to do that, you need to have water tight foundations and carry real authority and verve going forward. Liverpool have such prowess in the final third of …
Analysis: Mohamed Salah compared to Sadio Mane
When I look back at the 2016/17 season one of the things many Liverpool fans bemoaned was the lack of a Sadio Mane back-up. When the Senegalese was missing, either due to international duty or injury, the Reds lacked pace and power in the team as well as a real goal threat. With the news breaking that Liverpool are close to signing Mohamed Salah the team at AI Under Pressure decided to look at the stats for both Mohamed Salah and …
Will Reds Come Up Short with Phil In Midfield?
The run-in to the 2016/17 season gave Liverpool fans a tantalizing view of what’s to come with Phil Coutinho’s move into a central midfield position, picking the ball up from the back and ending the careers of several would-be tacklers on his way forward. With 3 goals to go with an assist in the last two games there is a lot for Reds supporters to be excited about.
Coutinho's West Ham highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8On5xZihFg
Quotes from Klopp suggest that Phil will …
Fitness & Depth: Liverpool's Summer Needs
With silly season upon us, every radio host, back page editor and ITK Twitter expert will be theorizing on who Liverpool might be bringing in as the Reds prepare to make their return to the Champions League. Of course with Liverpool supporters there's always the added dimension of Fenway Sports Group. Are you #FSGIN or #FSGOUT?
Are FSG spending enough?
Are they allowing Jurgen Klopp to build a big enough squad?
Do they have enough "ambition?"
Rarely in any of …
LFC Set-Piece Defending Analysis: Making Sense of the Chaos
At the end of the season, for a Liverpool supporter, it is time to look forward to a busy transfer summer and a few months without worrying that your heart might explode in stoppage time. But it is also time to look back at the aspects of the game when the team excelled; and those that were the biggest hurdle to a truly successful season. Getting top 4 is a good stepping stone but Liverpool Football Club should always aim …
How Has James Milner Really Done at Left-Back?
At the start of the week I penned an article discussing the Liverpool players in the running for the club’s Player of the Year award.
I chose five - Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson - and gave honourable mentions to Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner.
The reaction to Milner’s inclusion brought the most divisive response of the lot, and it perfectly sums up why the 31-year-old will forever split opinion. He has always been …
Liverpool's Nuclear Attack: Stats Analysis
*The stats in the article are gathered manually from Squawka. Minutes include stoppage time. Offensive, Defensive and Net rating are the totals per 100 minutes.
Over the last month I have tried to analyze the different defensive and midfield lineups used by Jurgen Klopp and how well they have done. Finally we get to the area of the field for which the Liverpool supporters should have the fewest complaints - attack. After 32 matches Liverpool are the highest scoring team in the …
Jurgen Klopp Gets It Spot On At Stoke
I've been peppering Jurgen Klopp with criticism of late - especially following the draw against Bournemouth in midweek. But it's time to give him credit for finally appearing to put the factors that derailed Liverpool's title challenge to bed.
He rightly came under stick after repetitive tactical and poor time management against the Cherries on Wednesday - and hopes weren't exactly high ahead of the trip to the bet365 Stadium.
Liverpool had not won a league game without Sadio Mane - …
Was Jordan Henderson the Balance Weight for Liverpool FC?
It’s true what they say you know.
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
I’ve been pretty vocal in the past about my concerns surrounding Jordan Henderson operating in the number 6 role for Liverpool but it’s clear as day he’s been missed in recent matches.
In games against Sunderland, Plymouth (admittedly with a shadow starting XI) and Southampton the midfield have looked lethargic, pedestrian and predictable. The complete opposite of what we’ve come to expect from a Jurgen Klopp …
Parked Bus, No Fuss
There isn’t an awful lot to say, in general, about Liverpool’s performance last Saturday that Hull City captain Curtis Davies hasn’t already covered. Two aspects of what he said after the game are particularly encouraging from a Liverpool perspective. Firstly, as Davies points out, “Liverpool have that mix of nice little passes and then people who will run and run at you and beat you as well. Like Mané. Like Coutinho.” Indeed, there is suddenly a level of flexibility in …