From a Weakness to a Strength: How Liverpool Finally Solved Their Left-Back Problem
Liverpool have had their fair share of dross players over the years: Antonio Nunez, Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic roll straight off the tongue, for example. Indeed, the last few years have produced some teams with a dearth of star quality, culminating in frustrating league finishes and forgettable campaigns.
The left-back role arguably provides the perfect summation of those times. No matter the progression or trajectory of the club, the long-term image of the manager or the changing dynamics of …
Key Stats As The Front Three Deliver Again vs Palace
Mo Salah scored twice as the front three combined to fire Liverpool past a resilient and excellent Crystal Palace side to keep Liverpool motoring in their title bid. But what were the key stats from a frenetic 4-3 win at Anfield?
A Tale of Two Milners
James Milner isn’t a right-back. We knew that already, but it was evident in this game. In an attacking sense, Milner was excellent – he created four chances, which was the most of either …
Liverpool 4-3 Crystal Palace: A Tactical Breakdown
Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace. Hardly a fear-inspiring combination. Yet against Liverpool, and at Anfield, Hodgson's Crystal Palace were the first team in the league this season to score 3 goals against Liverpool. If anything this game only served to prove how nothing can be taken as given, with Milner receiving a red card, and Fabinho substituted late-on with an injury. Nonetheless, Liverpool made their way through the game, and we're looking at just how they did so.
Liverpool's setup
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Liverpool 4 Palace 3: Boss Saturday Sees Reds Seven Clear, For Now
Tell you what, I’m spent after that one. Maybe a drink and some Springsteen lyrics can help us all mellow out. Why Bruce? He's The Boss and we're boss, so...
Lights out tonight
Trouble in the heartland
Got a head-on collision
Smashin' in my guts, man...
How were your intestines holding up after that one? Plenty of experienced Liverpool supporters were getting flashbacks after this one. With another week to go before young cornerstones, Trent and Gomez return, the right …
Who was Man of the Match in mad Anfield win over Palace?
What can you say after a win like that? No, really, why did it have to go back to Liverpool giving heart attacks again? It was all going along smoothly; managing games, keeping clean sheets, winning serenely. Why revert to old Liverpool?
Well, it was a one-off. That's for certain, at least based on the days available at hand. Crystal Palace's xG from the game stood at 1.0, and they really didn't have what you'd call big Chandra to score …
Observations as Liverpool Do It The Hard Way vs Palace
Liverpool hung on in a pulsating, incredible game against Crystal Palace at Anfield to keep the pressure on Man City by going seven points clear. Here are the observations from an unbelievable 4-3 win on a cold Saturday afternoon at Anfield.
Win At All Costs
It’s impossible not to look at a game like this, where Liverpool were brilliant in spurts and tragic in others, and not think that it’s the biggest win of the season. Obviously, every game is …
Player ratings as the Reds go all 2013-14 on us
I've got a good friend who supports Crystal Palace. If I didn't, I'd be doing rain dances in the garden in the hope they get relegated.
Never mind the owl that manages them, they're actually an alright club. Passionate fans, decent football, the legend that is Mamadou Sakho. I just can't hack playing them, I'm only 20 and my heart feels like it's about to blow.
Struggling to get my head around that one? We concede three but I can …
Can Luck Finally Benefit Liverpool In A Title Race?
Both Liverpool and Man City fans are being accused of having luck on their side this season, as the immature back-and-forth between the supporters continues.
For every City fan calling Mo Salah a 'diver', there is a Liverpool supporter incredulous that Vincent Kompany wasn't sent-off against the Reds, or that Wolves centre-back Willy Boly was shown his marching orders for a similar tackle at the Etihad.
The truth is that both have profited at different times.
Liverpool were fortunate that …
How Klopp Has Made a Weapon of Versatility
“He is a brilliant player and I am happy that he can play…he has a defending brain and can do it in different positions, it’s good.”Klopp said of Fabinho following his impressive performance at centre back against Brighton. It was a performance emblematic of Klopp’s plans coming to fruition. Indeed, if the Reds’ title challenge shows anything, it’s that long-term planning, with the right investment and right appointments, works. Philosophies, they work too. A sense of the …
Liverpool's Defence Is More Than VVD and Alisson
It’s true that Virgil Van Dijk is the best centre-back in the league. It’s true that his impact on this Liverpool team has been absolutely tremendous, and it’s true that his signing is one of the best that Liverpool have made in years.
Likewise, it’s true that buying Alisson Becker was an absolutely crucial piece of the puzzle. Alisson has magnified the issues that Liverpool’s previous keepers have made, immediately established himself as one of the league’s top shot-stoppers and …