If You Don’t Know Me By Now…
I wanted to distract a little from the joys of the transfer window, so would like to share some thoughts on one of the reds' greatest ever central defenders.
Hint: it’s not Dejan Lovren.
In 2008 Chelsea and Liverpool met on four separate occasions throughout the calendar year. The first, on February 10th (towards the back end of the 2007/08 season), saw Chelsea and the reds draw 0-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. The season's start saw the …
"A true Liverpool legend" - Klopp pays tribute to former Reds boss after news of Gérard Houllier's passing
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp paid tribute to former Reds manager Gérard Houllier after news of the Frenchman's passing on Monday at 73 years old.
Houllier managed Liverpool from 1998 until 2004. During that time, he led The Reds to their 2000/01 treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com following the news, Klopp said:
“It is really, really, really a sad day. “I didn’t know Gerard too well – I met him a couple of …
The What Could Have Been Liverpool XI: Attack
There have been several players in Liverpool’s recent past who have enjoyed the best football of their careers at Anfield and inscribed themselves into the club’s history with memorable performances.
Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres — to name but three — either spent all of their careers or, in Gerrard’s case as good as, with the Reds or — with Torres as an example — enjoyed their career-best runs of form in a Liverpool shirt.
There have been …
The Ambition Of Liverpool's Champions League Campaign
In April 2009 Liverpool went to Stamford Bridge and looked for a miracle.
Six days earlier the Reds led from an early goal by Fernando Torres, but it was not a strike which set the tone for the night as Guus Hiddink’s side battered us by three goals to one. The Dutchman coaxed an imperious performance from Michael Essien and, with Steven Gerrard appearing subdued as a consequence; Liverpool faced the task of overturning a two-goal lead in the second …
Overhauling Liverpool’s Historic Lack of Goals
Over the years and certainly in the Premier League era, Liverpool fans have become accustomed to defence first football. The Liverpool of the Premier League have played football that is predominately tight, cautious, balanced and astute. There's nothing wrong with that defence first mentality, but how many league titles did it result in? None.
Arguably Liverpool's most renowned managers since '00 are Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, as these two managed the club for a combined twelve years in the …
Liverpool Need To Shore Up The Defence Or Win Nothing
The dust may have settled after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla, but the fume is still very much alive and well.
Another slick attacking display was ruined by defensive incompetence, with the La Liga outfit scoring with both shots on target at Anfield. How many times does that seem to happen these days?
Whether it be Dejan Lovren continuing to alienate himself from the fanbase, Jordan Henderson not protecting the back-line or Emre Can proving to be erratic - this …
Liverpool Must Build on Season of Progress
It's been a season of progress at Liverpool Football Club.
Having ended the 2015/16 campaign in a disappointing 8th place, the consensus was that Jurgen Klopp had done a good job at recycling such a limited squad inherited by his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers - leading Liverpool to both the League Cup & Europa League final respectively in the space of seven months.
The real challenge for Klopp was to transform a distinctly unimpressive side into top 4, and possibly, title …
Is Momentum Building Again Under Klopp?
International breaks are a bit of a curate's egg. Now, that is supposed to mean that there are both good and bad aspects to them and yet the origin of the expression yields a meaning far closer to this columnist's opinion of the all-too-frequent Premier League interruptions. Apparently, the turn of phrase comes from an 1895 Punch cartoon which depicted a meek and sycophantic curate, who, despite being given a stale egg at the bishop's dining table, obsequiously assured his …
Matip, Wijnaldum & Mane Proving Klopp Should Be Trusted This Summer
Many past Liverpool managers have experienced utterly disastrous summer transfer windows.
Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers all spectacularly failed to build on near title-winning seasons in 2001/02, 2008/09 and 2013/14, respectively, with dross such as El Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao, Philipp Degen and Alberto Aquilani bought in.
Even Kenny Dalglish, for all his understandable God-like status at Anfield, decided to sign Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll.
When the end of Jurgen Klopp’s first season as Liverpool …
Liverpool Must Learn From Their Festive Slumps In 02/03 & 08/09
Liverpool are 13 matches into their assault on another Premier League title, and they have arguably never looked more likely to seal that holy grail we have all craved so badly since 1990.
Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds are looking the part more and more by the week, and they are picking up points in every way imaginable.
They have had to cling on for a few victories, most notably Arsenal and Swansea - if we’d drawn 4-4 with Arsenal, …