Champions League

Succession

Effective succession planning is the key to sustained growth and success for organisations of all types - and football clubs are no different. For Liverpool, I feel a disjointed approach to succession planning has led to the club's recent on-field woes.  The model FSG had developed and put in place at Liverpool was inspired by...

Liverpool 2 – 0 Napoli – The Champions League Post-Mortem

With the group stages of this year’s Champions League drawing to a close, the Reds managed to ignore recent form and put together a very solid performance. Napoli arrived with a very strong side, and a clear intention to be the first Italian club to win all 6 group games in the European Cup....

Is it time for Trent Alexander-Arnold to play in midfield for Liverpool?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so is it time for Liverpool to give Trent Alexander-Arnold the midfield role he once shone in? Another week, another bleak feeling of emptiness as a Reds supporter. Last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds was arguably the nadir of the season to date, as the grim results keep...

Liverpool 2 – 0 Napoli – Champions League Man Of The Match

Man Of The Match Ibrahima Konate This was a giant return for the formidable defender. He took on the challenge posed by the brilliant Osimhen, and matched him stride for stride. He was dominant, aggressive, fast paced, and effective in carrying out the ball. The team needs this player, and his towering presence allowed the perfect Virgil...

Liverpool 2 – 0 Napoli – Champions League Player Ratings

Starting XI Alisson Becker - 7.0 Was maybe a consideration to come out, but his importance in keeping his team in games is clear. Very little to do, except for the odd pot shot in the opening half. Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7.0 Was surprisingly taken off against Leeds. Was tested by a pacy attack, and was pretty reserved...

Liverpool vs Napoli: Full XI or Kids?

Liverpool's 3-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday night clinched their spot in the knockout round of the UCL. This puts Liverpool in a familiar position: one game left to play, with nothing on the line. In the extremely rare event that Liverpool beat Napoli by 4, Liverpool would finish first in Group A. However,...

Darwin Núñez & His Importance To This Team

I once visited the Amsterdam Arena many many years ago on a youth football trip. We were due to play some games, take advantage of the low drinking age (16 years old back in 1996), and generally have a fun filled trip abroad. The Johan Cruyff Arena is a wonderful venue to visit, and...

Curtis Jones: Hard to picture a last-chance saloon

Certain Liverpool players will always polarise fans. That’s been true for decades and even those with great CV’s like Ronnie Whelan have felt the sting at some points. In the current side there are many candidates but based on Saturday's defeat to Forest, Curtis Jones’ surprising start shot him straight to the forefront. Many...

All Aboard the Nunez Rollercoaster…

Whatever the opinions… and there are many… it’s impossible to deny Darwin Nunez is a compelling watch. Box office by all accounts. The Uruguayan has been ridiculed by many as a source of enjoyment, with snippets or clips of his performances leading to sweeping judgements and damnation of his ability to play at this...

By the Numbers: Robertson vs Tsimikas

Little did we know an Alberto Moreno ankle injury during a 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow would turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to Liverpool's left flank. Moreno's ankle injury made way for ex-Hull City man Andrew Robertson, who quickly impressed, and continued impressing, and eventually just took Moreno's job...