KOPCON 2020 - The LFC Event of the Year
It promises to be a fan event to remember; possibly THE Liverpool fan event of the year outside of Liverpool itself. It’s a celebration of the World, UEFA Super Cup & Premier League Champions, it’s featuring ex Liverpool players and manager, it’s over 3 days, and… it’s in Las Vegas.
Welcome to KOPCON 2020, the second successive Liverpool Fan extravaganza to be held at The Westgate Hotel & McMullan’s Irish Pub between June 18-21st this year.
What was once only …
European Royalty back where it belongs
Pack your bags, we’re going to Madrid. It’s the biggest stage of all in club football, and the Reds will be hoping they can go one better than last year in Kiev. A place in Liverpool folklore waits for the current squad.
This year’s UEFA Champions League road to the final in Madrid has proven that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are back where they belong. Not just another English side making up the numbers in Europe, but one of the most …
John Barnes on Jurgen Klopp, the Academy and Pressing
Anfield Index recently celebrated the 100th episode of their main podcast, which also happened to coincide with the website's fifth birthday. A double celebration meant the pressure was on Gags to deliver a guest for the event, and like always he didn't disappoint. John Barnes appeared on episode 100 and episode 101, both are must listens for Reds fans of any age.
For people of a certain age John Barnes was their Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard bundled into one. …
Daniel Sturridge; is he worth the wait?
Following the most recent setback in Daniel Sturridge's recovery plan, social media was flooded with angry Liverpool fans, fuming about the 'obscene wages we pay to a professional hospital patient', venting their obvious frustrations at both the club, for not pushing upwards in the league, and at Sturridge who suffered his tenth injury whilst at Liverpool.
Sturridge's quality is undoubtable, when fully fit, he is only second to Sergio Agüero in terms of strikers within the Premier League.
Considering Sturridge's …
Square Pegs in Round Holes for Klopp?
One of the biggest issues that Klopp faces this season is how to fit in all of his best players into the team; his philosophy requires width, pace, penetration and a strong four-man defence, he also likes to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation that allows for quick counter-attacks with width, and offers rigidity and solidity when defending. However, four of his best players - Coutinho, Firmino, Sturridge & Benteke - cannot all fit into this 4-2-3-1 system without compromising some of …
Aidy Ward and Sterling Expose Liverpool's Arrogance
Raheem Sterling had burnt just about every bridge between Liverpool and Manchester when he finally got his £49m transfer in the Summer. It was galling for many Liverpool fans to see a him leave in such disrespectful circumstances: Sterling was our wonderkid, our future football superstar and current Nivea skincare star, who we had trained and given a chance to shine; but, come the first hurdle in his Liverpool career he decides to leave via the most acrimonious means possible.
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Memorable Merseyside Derbies
This weekend’s Merseyside derby is arguably the biggest in years and certainly its outcome could carry particular significance for Brendan Rodgers and his future as Liverpool manager. So, in a break from all the pressure and speculation surrounding the current position of the club, I decided to take a nostalgic look back some of my personal favourite Merseyside derbies.
FA Cup Final 1986, Wembley
This will always be a special game to me for many reasons, not only was it …
Five Strategic Keys to Champions League Football | Part 2
In Liverpool FC 15/16 | 5 Strategic Keys to Champions League Football - Part 1, we discussed two of the five strategic keys that Liverpool will need to fulfil in order to attain a top 4 finish and Champions League football, including; 1) the need to excel and execute in our plan to play vertical attacking football and 2) to improve our positional discipline and ability in defensive transition. In Part 2, we’ll explore the final three strategic keys; 3) …
How Do Liverpool FC Finish 4th?
With one of the most exciting & open races for a top 4 finish how do Liverpool ensure they get this coveted position?
Fitness & Intensity
Liverpool FC's most successful brand of football in the past 18 months has involved high intensity pressing starting with the striker. This was highlighted in the recent Man City victory. This involves an in depth understanding from each player. The keys to applying it successfully lie in the triggers to implement the press, compressing the …
Daniel Sturridge - Let's Not Get Ahead of Ourselves
It is fair to suggest that Liverpool are on somewhat of an upward trajectory as of late. The team are, to a degree, playing their more natural and fluid game slowly but surely. This slight change in form coming from an eventual revision of tactics, new recruits such as Markovic, Can and Moreno gradually finding their feet at a new club and what shockingly appears to be, dare it be said, an almost capable defence. Although what might really kick …