Observations on Liverpool 2-1 Norwich in the FA Cup
Three days after conquering bitter rivals Chelsea in the League Cup Final, the Reds returned home from the capital for another domestic cup tie. After experiencing the exhilarating high of winning a trophy in incredibly tense circumstances, it would have understandable for a normal team to lose focus in a midweek match against a relegation-quality side. However, comments from multiple players that the League Cup victory was only stage 1 completed with 3 more to go suggested that Jurgen’s boys …
Liverpool 2 - 1 Norwich - The FA Cup 5th Round Player Ratings
Liverpool v Norwich - The FA Cup 5th Round Player Ratings
Alisson Becker - 7.5
Back in nets, with some game time needed before the weekend. Had very little to do through the first half, other than an early and late flurry by Norwich. Wasn’t at fault for the goal, and produced a great save late on. His vocal leadership was needed.
James Milner - 7.0
The vice captain, now confirmed as the back up right back, came back in. …
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation
The dust has now settled on Liverpool’s triumphant League Cup final, and other competitions now come to the fore.
With a pretty much full strength line up employed for the Chelsea match, there is an FA Cup game against Norwich on Wednesday to contend with. West Ham are welcomed to Anfield on Saturday, with both these games being played out at home. The full strength nature of last Sunday will now inevitably be replaced by mass rotation. The jittering nature …
Molby: Is Harvey Elliott the Next David Silva?
There was a mixed reaction from some sections of the Liverpool fanbase when quotes emerged of Sadio Mane saying the AFCON triumph, with Senegal, meant more to him than any other trophy he's ever won. While Jan Molby said he completely understood that, he had a slightly different view of the silverware he won himself on Merseyside.
The other main focus of the podcast was the three-one victory over Cardiff City in the FA Cup at Anfield, and in particular …
Liverpool 3 - 1 Cardiff - The Player Ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher - 6.5
Possibly lucky with the yellow card incident, and moments of rashness needs to be parked. No fault for the goal, and Milner should be pinned for the blame there.
Trent Alexander Arnold - 7.0
Another assist, in an ordinary performance against another low block side. The thought of this man being joined by Elliott and Mo once more is tantalising.
Kostas Tsimikas - 7.0
Crossed, crossed and crossed some more. A willing outlet and good deputy …
How To Approach The Cups
Domestic cup wins are a glorious building block for success, though only if your team is blessed with a squad to cope. We have seen Manchester City consistently able to achieve cup wins (in recent years), whilst maintaining both strong League and European campaigns. The issue is never the desire to lose in the League and FA Cup early, it’s more a case of managing the players and being able to maintain the squad throughout a long season.
Liverpool enter …
No Champions League football could be blessing in disguise
It feels ridiculous even contemplating starting this article in all honesty.
The reigning champions left licking their wounds as they limp through what has been nothing short of a horror show.
Now, instead of what we all thought would be a season where Liverpool would make a stern defence of the trophy that had alluded them for 30 years.
Instead, it's turned into a battle against the tide and the odds to even secure a top four finish. Things just …
Reds' veteran midfielder says squad must learn to respond the right way to disappointments
Liverpool's experienced midfielder James Milner believes that the current Reds squad must start "reacting the right way to disappointments".
Milner played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United on Sunday.
Speaking to Sony India after the game, Milner was asked about the mood in the dressing room after going out of the competition:
“Ultimately disappointment. It’s a cup game and the result is the only thing that matters in a cup game, so that’s …
"You don't have to worry about us" - Klopp reassures Reds fans that LFC will fight their way out of slump
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp insists his squad could not be more close-knit as they look to play their way out of their current slump in form.
The Reds went out of the FA Cup on Sunday evening, losing 3-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fourth round. Mohamed Salah scored both goals for Liverpool but strikes from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes were enough to give the hosts the victory after an entertaining match.
That result …
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Observations as Fernandes downs improved Reds
Defeat at Old Trafford, but at last reason to be optimistic. Going forward, Liverpool started to tick again.
Having been benched in midweek, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino responded commendably. Salah was the finisher and Firmino the architect as the Reds scored twice at Old Trafford for the first time since 2014.
This time, they were undone by defensive errors and an admittedly magnificent winning goal from Bruno Fernandes.
But they travel to Spurs with something to build on.
The …