Liverpool Aim For Hot August
Believe it or not, we are now less than nine days away from the start of Liverpool’s 2018/19 season. The close of the transfer window is a week away. August 4th is expected to be the last warm-up for the starters as the Reds face Napoli in Dublin. They then face Torino on the 7th at Anfield in what should be a final run-out for squad players.
AND IT BEGINS
The season begins on Merseyside against West Ham on August …
Don't Let The Gini Go
Some footballers will dazzle you, some will amaze you, some will flatter to deceive. Then there’s the underappreciated footballer; the man who does the ugly side of the game with little recognition for his efforts.
Gini Wijnaldum falls into the latter category, quietly going about his business during his two years at the club, showing a plethora of composure and technique. Featuring in the squad for 52 of Liverpool’s 56 games last season, the midfielder made 40 starts alongside ten …
Jordan Henderson: Starter or Sub?
In the age of hot takes and constant critics, any player or team can divide opinion. So, when a player comes along who is given a central role at a big club but does not fit neatly into preconceived notions of what a star should do, then controversy instantly follows. Enter Jordan Henderson, Liverpool captain and England vice-captain. For experienced observers, Hendo’s game and quality aren’t that big of a mystery. For Liverpool fans, we know what he is at …
Jürgen Klopp's Midfield Minefield: Getting the Balance Right
Jürgen Klopp has a bit of a dilemma on his hands. And for once, it's not a bad one (well, at least not where his midfield is concerned).
The arrivals of Keita, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum in the central midfield area, along with the stalwarts of Henderson and Milner have given the Reds boss a wealth of options in the middle of the park.
The two newest recruits of Keita and Fabinho have certainly got fans excited about what they …
Injuries are Liverpool’s Achilles Heel to Success
Liverpool came so desperately close to winning the Champions League last season but they suffered injuries at key times. Jurgen Klopp and his team had managed the minutes and playing time of the players exceptionally, but you couldn’t help feeling that a couple more quality squad players could have helped LFC over the line. Klopp’s insistence on waiting for the right player rather than buying someone he has no interest in, is, for the most part, admirable, but it can …
Prioritising the Market - Analysing Liverpool FC's Weaknesses
So there’s a consensus amongst Liverpool fans about which positions the club will look to – and must – strengthen this season. The five positions that need to be addressed – or at least considered – this summer were: goalkeeper, centre-back, defensive-midfield, attacking-midfield and back-up winger. Essentially, we’re looking to replace Karius, either upgrade on Lovren or provide another option to rotate with him, replace Emre Can, replace Phil Coutinho, and provide some support to Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino …
Jordan Henderson's Progress And How It Might Be Halted
After a commanding performance for his country, Jordan Henderson is finally beginning to get the level of recognition he deserves.
Lining up as the midfield linchpin for his country, Henderson has been presented with an excellent opportunity to impress a significantly broader audience and dispel lasting, and indeed frustrating, misconceptions about his game.
For many who don’t watch Liverpool on a weekly basis, Henderson is synonymous with mediocrity, inefficacy and, above all, his sideways passes. Those individuals tend to assume …
6 Players Who Face A Crucial Summer For Liverpool
While every football fan will be engrossed by the World Cup for the next few weeks, those who weren't chosen for their respective countries to feature in Russia will already be putting in the groundwork ahead of a pivotal summer at Liverpool.
With two new signings already changing the look of Jürgen Klopp's midfield, further summer recruits could put a number of players in a precarious position regarding their role at the club.
Heading into the pre-season campaign without the …
Liverpool's Premier League Lineups - a Stats Analysis: Part 2
In part 1 of the lineup analysis, I had a look at our goalkeepers and defense. Part 2 will focus on midfield and attack.
The midfield
Even after Karius' nightmare performance in Kiev, the midfield is still Liverpool's weakest line going into 2018/2019. Emre Can is likely leaving, James Milner will be 33, Jordan Henderson is injury prone and not consistent, the Ox is injured, Gini Wijnaldum has a tendency to disappear at times and Adam Lallana had the worst …
Nearly (First) Mission Accomplished for Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp’s self-ascribed objective of transforming Liverpool’s fan-base from “doubters to believers” has proven one of the most oft-repeated quotes in a regime marked by memorable soundbites.
It was never going to be an easy task, and even as he led his side to consecutive top-four finishes (no mean feat given the unprecedented strength of the so-called ‘big six’) and developed a scintillating brand of attacking football, the doubters continued to question his every move, falling conspicuously silent during a …