Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back as Liverpool’s Premier League season draws to a close and we get one game nearer to the end of the Jurgen Klopp era.
Jurgen himself is clearly sensing the end is in sight, if his press conference ahead of the visit of Spurs was anything to go by. He’s not exactly kept his thoughts to himself these past few years about TNT/BT’s 12:30 Saturday kick-offs, but knowing he’s not got any more of them to face he was happy to really go to town on the broadcaster.
As Jay and Jim point out, he’s saying the kind of things that anyone who really loves the game should be saying about those running it and should be saying once Klopp goes. The boss also had a great line for anyone who says TV should be able to mess teams about, because it’s TV’s money that allows them to have such great players. They’ve got it the wrong way round, said Klopp.
If the assembled journalists at the press conferences were hoping for Klopp to say something about Mo Salah that their editors could turn into sensational headlines, they were to be disappointed. Klopp was never going to be as quick to criticise Mo as he was to criticise TNT, even if he had good reason to. Some Reds fans allowed themselves to be dragged into a battle that wasn’t there between Klopp and Mo but, as Jim and Jay say, what kind of manager and player would LFC have if there was no tension at that stage of a season that had promised so much?
The Reds next game is against the team that benefitted from some of the worst refereeing in living memory in the reverse fixture, Spurs, so bad that PGMOL actually admitted to the errors. PGMOL wouldn’t want anyone to think they were abusing their monopoly by putting out officials unsuited for a fixture, especially not after what happened in the previous meeting, so they have sent a ref from Greater Manchester. As Jay and Jim say, maybe this game will be the one where Klopp gives the PGMOL a special send-off.
This week:
• Look back at West Ham away
• Look ahead to Spurs at home
• Klopp’s press conference
• Huge point being made about TNT’s money
• Full of fun, real sense he’s already packed his desk
• Laughing about his latest meeting with the ref from that Spurs game
• Doesn’t fancy the FIFA president job
• Got an award from the PFA
• Do people realise what he’s done for the English game?
• Opportunity for people to build on what he’s started?
• New home kit
• Inspired by Rome ’84 – yet somehow not inspiring
• If you’re going to do pinstripes…
• New kit deal already rumoured
• Nike making way for Adidas?
• Could they use the other logo?
• Ground move for LFC Women
• Back in front of Red seats
• Everton’s party over?
• Klopp v Salah nothing like it was billed
• Champions League football next season again!
Dave Davis previews Jurgen Klopp’s best one of the season pre West Ham presser and covers:
- Q&A’s for Klopp (pure dynamite)
- West Ham Lessons
- PGMOL, TNT and FIFA Officials Getting It
- Spurs Threats
- Predicted Line-Ups and Scoreline
On today's episode Dave looks through today's LFC related news with Klopp's press conference bringing up some interesting talking points with the German manager bringing up TNT, scheduling & referees.
In this episode Al & Andrew explore the discussion around whether Jurgen “should” have won more in his time at Anfield and whether Arne is the man to make us more ruthless!
As the season stumbles towards its conclusion, with nothing but pride left to play for, our attention inevitably shifts towards the departure of the great Jurgen Klopp and the hope that his side are able to muster enough in these final games to provide him with a satisfying and emotional send off. In Klopp’s penultimate home, a sentence that still fills us all with sadness, Liverpool will take on an injury laden Tottenham this Sunday, on Flag day at Anfield. Joining Hari on Rival Recon this week to discuss Ange Postecoglu’s first season as Spurs manager, the positives, negatives and plans for the future, we’re delighted as ever to welcome back European football writer for The Athletic and Head of Tifo football, Seb Stafford Bloor.
On the latest Molby On The Spot, Jan Molby gives his thoughts to Trev Downey on the incoming Liverpool manager, the likely recruits, the areas the team needs strengthening, the players who may well be sold and the disappointing end to the Klopp era. As ever, a packed hour of opinion and speculation.
On today's episode Dave looks through today's LFC related news with Nike increasing kit prices across the board. He also looks at some transfer links and an interesting piece on young Liverpool goalkeeper Jaros.
Dave & Karl look at the Europa action on Thursday night with an interesting tie between Roma & Bayer taking centre stage. They then look at the Thursday night Premier League game with Chelsea hosting Spurs before the Reds host Ange's men on the weekend.
Si is away so Darth hosts Hamzah and Dr Barts to review the Premier League games at Everton and West Ham. They also discuss the appointment of Arne Slot as new LFC manager
Part 1) Everton
* Team Selections and Gameplans
* Match summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots, Shot Quality, Win%.
* Duels, Fouls and Set Piece analysis
* Analysing the LFC performance betweeen the goals
* LFC Game State analysis. Context with City/Arsenal.
* Why so little time spent winning? Defensive performance and scoring when tied discussion
Part 2) West Ham
* That LFC team selection
* Match Summary
* Where were the goals in that XI?
* Another opening goal conceded
* Better 2nd half?
* Klopp v Salah
Part 3) Arne Slot
* Reactions
* Style and tactics
* LFC use of data in the recruitment process. Team Strength models. Comparing apples with apples
Stats packs:
Everton: https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-34/
West Hame: https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-35/
