Klopp

Coutinho: Too Early For Pantomimes

Can it please be 1st September so we can put this whole horrible saga to bed? Pleeease? As I write this we have eleven tortuous days of speculation, offers and counter-offers, statement after statement, open letters, enough social media fume to a fuel a small nation and, worst of all, army upon army of the worst...

Why Liverpool Should Return for Julian Draxler

Following a superbly eye-catching Confederations Cup, the stock of one former German wunderkind turned peripheral star seems to have not been higher. Julian Draxler, formerly of Schalke and VfLWolfsburg, is a name hitting the rumour mill once again, with the news that Paris Saint-Germain are set to continue on their path to utter and total...

Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace: A Tactical Breakdown

After a late Watford equaliser, Liverpool's Premier League campaign was yet to really get going. A tie with bogey-team Crystal Palace hardly eased nerves, especially as reports of Coutinho's continued unhappiness, and rumours of a knock to Sadio Mané had fans on edge. Nonetheless, the performance was distinctly different to the Champions League first-leg...

Observations As Liverpool Grind Out 1-0 Win Against Palace

Liverpool picked up their first win of the new Premier League campaign on Saturday afternoon as they made a very welcome return to Anfield. Up against what can only be described as a real bogey team, Jurgen Klopp's side silenced any pre-kick off nerves, grinding out the three points after Sadio Mané put them...

Liverpool 1 – 0 Crystal Palace: Hard-fought win at Anfield

Match: Liverpool v Crystal Palace Date: August 19th, 2017 Venue: Anfield Competition: Premier League Liverpool lineup - Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Klavan, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Mané, Firmino, Sturridge Subs: Karius, Flanagan, Can, Origi, Lovren, Salah, Solanke Crystal Palace lineup - Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Dann, Tomkins, Ward, Milivojevic, Puncheon, van Aanholt, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Benteke Subs: Speroni, Kelly, Schlupp, Kaikai, McArthur, Cabaye, Lokilo So, here they come....

Liverpool 1 – 0 Crystal Palace: Player Ratings

Liverpool huffed and they puffed but in the end, Sadio Mane's first Anfield goal of the season ensured that the Reds took their first Premier League win of the season. It wasn't pretty for large parts of the game, as a sluggish Liverpool threatened to be stifled out of the game by a disciplined...

Scouting Jean-Michael Seri – The Archetypal Playmaker

Poise. Class. Creativity. Bountiful vocabulary has been used to describe the underrated Ivorian midfielder, currently plying his trade in a young, vibrant Nice team, coached by the Klopp-like Lucian Favre and playing alongside the likes of Vincent Koziello, Younes Belhanda and Allasane Plea. With a talented squad capable of hanging with Ligue 1’s opulent giants,...

Liverpool’s Midfield Trio Must Be Kept Apart

Before Philippe Coutinho decided to cause trouble and Adam Lallana picked up a lengthy injury, Liverpool’s best possible starting lineup was a mouthwatering proposition. Assuming your approach was as gung-ho as mine, it was easy to envisage Coutinho and Lallana ahead of a deep-lying midfielder, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino further wreaking...

Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool: A Near Perfect Night?

It was hardly going to be an easy night. Liverpool were away, in their first Champions League game under Klopp, to perhaps the toughest side available in the draw, Hoffenheim, who had not lost for over a year at home. Alongside this, there was the ongoing Coutinho situation, whilst two of Liverpool's best offensive players...

Liverpool v Crystal Palace Preview – Key Battles

A disappointing late goal conceded at Watford in the opening Premier League game was almost followed by a sense of Deja(n?)-vu at Hoffenheim, as Liverpool nearly contrived to blow a 2-0 lead at the Rhein-Neckar Stadion. But with the win in Europe in the bag, and some much-needed confidence, Liverpool welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield for...