Have Liverpool Found Their Coutinho Replacement?
Disclaimer: no, Xherdan Shaqiri is not Phil Coutinho.
However, it is rather satisfying seeing a new “Fab Four” strut their stuff.
Much was made of Jürgen Klopp’s sanctioning of the sale of Phil Coutinho to Barcelona – he was integral to the precursory group stage that led to the Champions League final – and was affably known as the “little magician” among the Anfield faithful.
When Liverpool failed to complete a deal for Nabil Fekir in the summer, the feeling …
If Henderson is the Solution, Then What is the Problem?
In the discussion about how Liverpool overcome the sterility in midfield that has affected performances over the course of the season and specifically in Belgrade, many have offered Jordan Henderson as the solution.
Melissa Reddy brilliantly diagnosed Liverpool's problems. In elaborating a point on “midfield balance" she makes the following key points:
Liverpool plays predictable football, arguing that the player on the ball only has a short or no passing option.
No link between midfield and attack; highlighting Chamberlain's absence …
Klopp's Midfield Merry-Go-Round Hurting LFC
Liverpool’s midfield has been a major point of contention so far this season. With Van Dijk and Joe Gomez forming a supreme central defensive partnership, Alisson looking like the best keeper LFC have had in years and the front three speaking for themselves, all of the major questions revolving around this team at the moment lie in the three in the middle of the park.
Klopp has of course, dipped extensively into the transfer market to address this issue, with …
Fixing Liverpool's Woes with the 4-2-3-1
Liverpool are currently ailing.
It seems almost ludicrous to say, given they currently sit two points behind the automaton that is table-topping Manchester City, but ask any fan and the 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League was not an outlier of a result.
Not when Liverpool couldn’t take advantage of Arsenal’s obvious frailties, not when they only escaped with a point against City because of Riyad Mahrez’ wild attempt at a penalty, and not when Huddersfield …
Why so serious? Confessions of a negative Liverpool fan
Since the 2013/14 run-in specifically, but probably far before that, there has been a sect of Reds supporters who have not felt safe to embrace positivity. There have been peaks and valleys where the legions of the negative have ebbed and flowed. If you’ve been so kind to have listened to me on various Anfield Index podcasts, you’ll know that while I have celebrated “the project” and our progress under Rodgers and then with Klopp, I have been reticent to …
Time For Forgotten Man Keita To Excel
It's hard to think of a Liverpool signing in the last decade that brought as much delight as the capture of Naby Keita.
Luis Suarez is a name that instantly springs to mind, but when he traded Amsterdam for Anfield he wasn’t the world-beater he would go on to become.
Mo Salah and Sadio Mane both arrived to mixed reactions, while the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino only became global stars once they moved to the Reds, like …
Huddersfield 0-1 Liverpool: Who Was Man of the Match?
Liverpool have equalled their best-ever start to a Premier League season but the increasingly frustrating wait for the Reds to come alive goes on.
Mohamed Salah's tidy finish on 24 minutes should have set the visitors on their way to a comfortable victory, but fans would spend the final portion of the game longing for the whistle as a spirited Huddersfield pushed for an equaliser and a series of counter-attacking opportunities fizzled out.
Shortly after chief rivals Manchester City had …
Time for Liverpool FC To Show Their Depth
Liverpool have a deeper squad than they have in previous years. This is not a fact that I’m going to dispute, although I’d definitely make (and will make) some arguments that that depth isn’t as deep as maybe it’s being made out in some areas, and certainly hasn’t drastically improved over the summer.
Nevertheless, Klopp has slowly been building a deep and impressive squad that the four acquisitions in the summer have moved relatively close to being a very top …
Midfield Reinforcements For Liverpool: Pre-contract Targets To Add Creativity
Liverpool's midfield benefitted from £100m in investment over the summer with the surprise signing of Monaco's Fabinho, and the arrival of Naby Keita - signed from RBL last summer. However, with the injury to Oxlade-Chamberlain, we've still had to suffer through games with Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner and Jordan Henderson in the engine room.
As we've seen in recent games, the three from last season's team are able to provide a solid midfield to counter teams like PSG and Man …
Key Stats as Reds' Unbeaten Streak Clings On
Liverpool secured a breathless point at Anfield to go into the second international break still unbeaten following a 0-0 draw with Champions Manchester City. But what were the key stats from a hard-fought contest?
Reds’ Attack Still Misfiring
It would be unfair to describe Liverpool’s front three as going through a crisis, but there are clearly real issues with the Reds’ attack. In this game, they created just 0.43 xG, their joint-lowest league total since their 1-0 home win over …