Observations as Liverpool robbed against Everton
Liverpool drew 2-2 at Goodison Park in a typically tempestuous and controversial Merseyside derby. Sadio Mané and Mo Salah twice gave Liverpool the lead, before goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin snatched a point for the Blues. But it was two marginal offside decisions that decided the game, as Jordan Pickford avoided a red card and Jordan Henderson’s late winner was chalked off.
Here are the observations from the game:
Liverpool aren’t as good defensively without their two best …
James Milner Is The Closest Thing To Javier Zanetti, Says Roy Hodgson
By John O’Sullivan
Former Inter Milan and England manager Roy Hodgson has likened the longevity and athleticism of James Milner to the legendary Argentinian international Javier Zanetti.
Hodgson has coached both players during his nomadic managerial career, which -- starting with Halmstad in Sweden in 1976 -- has spanned over forty years.
The current Crystal Palace manager worked with Zanetti during both his spells in charge of Inter, firstly between 1995 and 1997 and on a temporary basis in 1999, …
Analysis: Is the Liverpool press failing?
Liverpool's success since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp has been built around the press. Initially, it was full-throttle, relentless and tiring to watch. But as the team evolved, so did the press. Their approach was more meticulous, their approach was more intelligent and they seemed to take a more measured approach to it all.
It made sense. The Reds weren't having to press as often because they now dominated the ball. However, as soon as there was a turnover they'd …
Mohamed Salah On Course For Brilliant Campaign.
A hallmark of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp has been their psychological strength.
For every curb-ball thrown and every hurdle faced, the Reds have responded like the Champions they are.
After losing the Champions League final in 2018 in the most heartbreaking of fashion, the bones of the same Liverpool squad -- minus Emre Can and with the additions of Fabinho, Alisson, and Naby Keita -- went one better the next season, defeating Tottenham 2-0 to win their sixth European crown.
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Analysis: Has the Liverpool defensive line been exposed?
Liverpool’s defensive line only seems to be put under the microscope after multiple goals are conceded in a single game. It’s an easy target for over the top, reactionary analysis. There was no real mention of it last season when the Reds conceded 17 goals in 27 Premier League matches. An average of 0.62 goals against per 90 which equates to 24 over the entirety of a Premier League campaign.
In those matches, the champions conceded two or more on …
The Evolution of Liverpool FC’s Forward Line in The Premier League Era
In these unprecedented times of lockdown, sanitizer, empty stadiums and the Netflix / Amazon Prime binge, I’ve found myself often searching for new ways to occupy both my mind as well as my body. With the remarkable closure to a triumphant league campaign by the reds, the common football fan was greeted by the unique climax to the 2019/20 Champions League. For me, this end period of the European Cup began as a slow burn that ever so gradually sparked …
Will Salah or Mane make way for Sancho next summer?
There was a time when everything Man United did was superior to Liverpool: winning more trophies, having a better manager and signing world-class players. Thankfully, those days are gone.
United's latest humiliation at the hands of Tottenham was great to see - until the Reds lost 7-2 a few hours later, at least - and they continue to show no sign of coming close to repeating their past glories.
Their woeful attempt to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund is …
Thiago Return Could Help With Liverpool's Adrian Woes
Let's face it, with the exceptions of Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah, no one came out of Liverpool's 7-2 mauling by Aston Villa with their reputations enhanced.
Most of the social media scorn, however, has been directed at Adrian.
The accident-prone Spanish goalkeeper played an unfortunate role in the first of Villa's avalanche of goals.
Although Joe Gomez's positioning and communication could have been better, Adrian sold his team-mate down the river with an under-hit pass to the defender in …
Analysis: Adrian, Alisson and Liverpool goalkeepers
It’s pointless to turn one player into the scapegoat for the 7-2 loss to Aston Villa. The majority of the team had arguably their worst game in a red shirt and it’s a game you just have to take on the chin, safe in the knowledge Jurgen Klopp’s teams always react.
The compilation videos serve no purpose other than to antagonise. They don’t explain or theorise why something might’ve happened and instead just show mistakes and errors.
Adrian has been …
Liverpool No Excuses Reaction Bodes Well For Future
Rooting through the charred remains of Liverpool's 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa in search of positives is an entirely difficult pursuit.
To concede seven goals -- and, on balance, it could have been even more -- away to a team who just about managed to survive in the Premier League last season was arguably the Reds' worst result in Premier League history. Yes, worse than the 6-1 defeat away to Stoke City in 2015.
But in the reaction to the …