A Timely Reboot
Liverpool finally lost a game at Anfield this week, with their second leg tie against Inter ending in defeat. In a period where Jürgen Klopp has had no choice but to rotate his stellar cast of performers, it was inevitable that a slight bump in the road would occur. It reminded me of a time where Blackburn Rovers once lost to Liverpool, before immediately celebrating their Premier League title win. No Rovers fan cared about the loss that day, and …
Liverpool 0-1 Inter (2-1 agg.): Observations as Reds edge past I Nerazzurri
Liverpool are through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after beating Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate.
Lautaro Martinez ripped one beyond Alisson just after the hour but Inter had the wind in their sails for all of two minutes before Alexis Sanchez picked up a second yellow.
The reigning Serie A champions retreated, hoping for a counterattacking opportunity that never really materialised.
They proved themselves to be an excellent side over the first two legs, and can take …
Liverpool 0 - 1 Inter Milan - The Player Ratings
Alisson Becker - 7.5
The dominant Brazilian made a great stop in the first half from Hakan Çalhanoğlu, off an Inter free kick. He was able to command the Liverpool goal throughout the first period, with more possession based player than danger to deal with. Had little chance with the Martinez goal, as the game became frantic.
Trent Alexander Arnold - 8.0
A first half that really showed his growing defensive abilities. Clearly targeted in the first leg, he was …
Key Stats as resolute Reds bolt the door on dangerous Inter Milan
Liverpool made it through to the next round of the Champion's League despite losing 1-0 on the night to Simone Inzaghi's team. There were no goals despite a plethora of chances, but a stubborn defensive display and a well-timed red card saw Klopp's men into the quarter finals. But what were the key stats as the Reds stood fast?
A Miserly Match
Despite the nerves undoubtedly frayed by Liverpool fans across the globe as the game wasn't put to bed …
Liverpool 0 - 1 Inter Milan - Match Report
Liverpool 0 - 1 Inter Milan - Match Report
The first half was a game of frustration for both sides, with neither giving much away through the opening period. Both Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk could have scored from tremendous Trent deliveries, and Alisson was alert enough to parry away a good cross come shot from Hakan Çalhanoğlu. These great teams appeared intent on cancelling each other out, which of course suited the reds far more.
The second half …
Under Pressure - Classical Tactical Battle & Superb Salah
It was another double header for the Under Pressure boys: the two-nil victory away at Inter Milan in the San Siro in the knockout stage of the Champions League, as well as the 3-1 win at home to Norwich in the Premier League.
While the Reds ended up winning in Italy in the first leg, it was the pressing that was a huge part of the match, with both sides vying for the chance to dominate, but no-one ever quite …
The Value Of Squad Depth
I recall watching so many Rafa Benitez games when he was the Liverpool manager. The side would often times be very good, with enough elite players to make them a force within the Premier League and Europe. Despite the obvious Istanbul delight, that period is often tinged with what if’s and regrets, as to what could have been if Rafa had been given more.
Narrow margin games (even narrow margin seasons), often came down to a lack of depth halting …
Observations on Inter Milan-Liverpool
Liverpool experienced some turbulent times in the early part of the season due to unfortunate injuries and missed opportunities in the league that put them in a tough spot looking up at City in first place, but the Champions League was quite the bright spot in the Reds’ season to date. Jurgen’s boys took the continent by storm with a perfect 6 wins out of 6 group stage matches that put an end to the Reds’ road woes in Europe …
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool - The Player Ratings
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool - The Player Ratings
Alisson Becker - 7.5
The worlds finest stopper, but it was the bar that saved him on 17 mins. A busy second half for his defensive line, and command led when needed.
Trent Alexander Arnold - 7.5
The assist machine nearly added to that tally on 14 mins, with a brilliant free kick. A good effort on 28 mins went just wide, as he started to grow into the game. …
Inter Milan & The Knockout Stages
After that ridiculous Champions League last 16 draw, Inter Milan were finally confirmed as Liverpool’s next opponents. The tie is a tantalising match up between two European heavyweights, and one which Jürgen Klopp’s men should eagerly await.
Last season, the Serie A saw Antonio Conte’s team finally capture the Italian League title, after Juventus monopolised the Scudetto for nine long years. The make up of that Inter side was both controlled and ultra organised, with Conte implementing his plan over …