Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Reds lift their game to secure three points
Liverpool's hopes of ending the season with a 100% Premier League record at Anfield are still alive after they sparked themselves into life against Aston Villa.
It was a lethargic, disjointed display for over an hour, but the slickest move of the match brought a breakthrough for Sadio Mane before Curtis Jones' first league goal confirmed defeat for Villa.
Here's how the Reds rated:
Alisson - 8
As ever, Alisson made a number of hazardous efforts that came his way …
Liverpool Bounce Back With Unconvincing Win
Liverpool continued their 100% winning streak in the Premier League this season with a hard fought 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.
Goals from Sadio Mane and Curtis Jones gave the Reds a perhaps flattering win after a stodgy performance against their relegation-threatened visitors.
After their drubbing at Manchester City, there was an expectation of a backlash but the Reds’ performance was the antithesis of that.
Slow, plodding — littered with poor touches and worse passes — and playing …
Appreciating the brilliance of game-changing Alisson
The last 20 minutes of last year's Champions League final are easy to forget, barring Divock Origi's trophy-clinching goal in the dying embers.
It was a match to fall asleep to for the neutral, with little happening for vast chunks of proceedings, as Liverpool showed their experience and outmaneuvered an ineffective Tottenham side.
In hindsight, however, the Reds were given a few scares as the minutes ticked by at the Wanda Metropolitano, as they lay agonisingly close to European Cup …
Limp Liverpool Mauled By City
Liverpool's title party was brought to an abrupt end after they were walloped 4-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad.
Goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, and an Alex Oxlade Chamberlain own goal condemned the full-strength, yet at times shambolic Reds to a heavy defeat. Despite some good chances, the visitors -- many of whom looked to feeling the impact of their league winning celebrations -- fluffed several chances and the hosts capitalized on all their opportunities.
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Reflecting on August's error of judgement
"Part of me can't help but think that the side that beat us to win the league by a point have strengthened while we've stood still."
That's what I tweeted on 7 August 2019. Manchester City had just broken the bank for a big-name full-back again, this time Juventus' Joao Cancelo. Earlier in the summer, they had brought in Rodri, a coveted 23-year-old who seemed set for a seamless transition into Pep Guardiola's purring midfield.
On 27 July, I had …
Built on Emotion, Yet Ruthlessly Executed
Somehow, it was inevitable that it ended this way.
Not with a roar that had been pent up for thirty years, not with a glorious cavalcade, not even in front of any fans. In fact, there weren’t even any red shirts on the pitch at the end of the ninety minutes that confirmed Liverpool as champions.
Liverpool’s title celebrations were a long, long time coming. Tragedy had become ingrained into the club’s fabric, yet the close-calls and traumatic experiences – …
Liverpool's Wait Is Over
Finally, after what felt like an interminable wait, Liverpool Football Club are Champions of England once again.
The Reds' 19th crown -- their first in the Premier League era -- is all the more impressive, given the club's recent boom and bust history; where a title challenge would inevitably be followed a season later by a calamitous collapse.
The title tilt of 2001/2002 was followed by a meek 5th placed finish in 2002/2003, again owing to poor transfer market manoeuvring, …
Liverpool 4-0 Crystal Palace: Who Was Man of the Match?
Liverpool moved within 2 points of the Premier League title with a resounding 4-0 win against Crystal Palace at Anfield. The Reds dominated proceedings from start to finish and made an in-form Eagles side look like they belonged in a different division. The victory means Manchester City must win at Stamford Bridge on the 25th of June to prevent Liverpool from being crowned champions before the two sides meet at the Etihad next week.
In goal, Alisson may have had …
Jurgen Klopp’s Best Transfers
It is undeniable that Jurgen Klopp has built one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years. Whether it be bringing in players he has turned into superstars, or young guns that he has brought up through their youth academy, Jurgen has an eye for talent.
There have been some questionable transfers, some players who just didn’t work out, but the majority of the moves that have been made have been incredible, and now that more leagues …
Liverpool positive PR spin is actually a negative
Sometimes, the PR offensive used by the club to justify something can be a little tiring. In the aftermath of missing out on Timo Werner, journalists close to the club opted to use what would’ve been the total cost of the deal to bring the Germany international to Anfield as opposed to just the transfer fee.
In truth, the cost of a transfer should be known. It should be used like transfer fees are used so there’s a little more …