Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Worth the Wait
It's still yet to be a year since the day Liverpool signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal for £40 million. On the day he left, Arsenal fans had mixed emotions; on one hand, a fan favourite with undeniable talent had left, and that was a shame, but considering his ambitions to play in centre midfield, and a tidy £40 million for a player who was in the last year of his contract, it seemed a deal that was more than acceptable. …
Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool's Defensive Resurgence
Liverpool’s bumbling back-line was the subject of intense, often deserved, criticism in the early part of the season, but improvements since the turn of the year have been drastic. Now the much-maligned individuals, and indeed the manager who was slammed for supposedly failing to address this debilitating weakness, are due some considerable praise.
It’s important to emphasise two points. First of all, these long-term problems are, of course, some way from being solved. Still, this defence seems prone to the …
Alexander-Arnold's Coming of Age
City’s tactics over the 180-minute contest were obvious. The outcome was not.
Crystal Palace clearly identified Alexander-Arnold as a weakness; diagonal balls were launched in behind to allow Wilfried Zaha a clear one-on-one against the 19-year-old in the first forty-five minutes.
Inevitably, that’s where they got their goal; a lovely weighted through ball saw Trent caught out of position, with Zaha running through before being clattered inside the area by Karius. 1-0 to Palace, and questions rightfully asked over Trent.
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Manchester City 5 - 0 Liverpool: Player Ratings
A game whose result was decided by one reckless challenge and the Reds' heads just dropped. The Reds were royally whipped by an all star City team, leading to Klopp's heaviest defeat in his reign as Liverpool manager.
(Considering how Liverpool and Klopp had given up on the game in the second half, we need to take these ratings with a pinch of salt)
Simon Mignolet (6): Restored to the lineup, the keeper had a very busy first half, pulling …
Manchester City v Liverpool Preview - Key Battles
The transfer window is over, the international break is over. It is now time for some real football. And what a way to kick the Premier League back off, as Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will face off for the third time in English football, with Liverpool winning 1-0 at Anfield last season before a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.
For Liverpool, the team news will be interesting. It is …
It's Not How Much You Spend - But How Wise You Spend
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Michy Batshuayi, Granit Xhaka, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane are among the names that are highly known across Europe for their quality, talent, and hefty price tag and/or wages, and they all have one thing in common with each other – they’re not currently associated with Liverpool Football Club.
Jurgen Klopp clearly envisioned a plan in this previous transfer window, and while we aren’t privy to some of his ideas, the plan was in …
Sadio Manè - Catch Me, If You Can
One ingredient missing from Liverpool's attack in recent years is raw unadulterated pace. With the £30 million signing of Sadio Manè, from Southampton, he brings this essential, game changing ability to this side. It was clear Jürgen Klopp was looking for an attacker who provided pace, with Ousmane Dembele and Leroy Sane strongly scouted, but ultimately it was the fleet footed Sadio Manè who was signed. Eyebrows were understandably raised about yet another player targeted from Southampton, yet I feel …
Are Liverpool Dark Horses for the Title?
It's a new dawn in the Premier League.
Not just in terms of more money than ever being pumped into the league effectively evening the playing field somewhat, but more importantly, never before have people been able to find a collection of the most influential managers in world football today within the same league at the same time. It's a who's who of managers as Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola join Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Mauricio Pochettino, Slaven …
Options a-plenty for Klopp in search for wide-man
Jurgen Klopp wants to buy a goal-scoring winger. He hasn't told me this personally, nor has he said it publicly, but based on his targeting of Leroy Sane, Ousmane Dembele and possibly Mario Gotze and Sadio Mane, it seems a certainty that Klopp wants to add more goals into the trio who play behind his lone striker.
Sane was the first player linked with the Reds after Klopp took over but very quickly, and rather strangely, his supposed asking price sky-rocketed …
Kirkby vs The World: The Battle Ahead for Liverpool's Starlets
Liverpool Football Club are abundant (to say the least) in talented players over at Kirkby. Toni Gomes, Bobby Adekanye, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Woodburn, and Adam Philipps are just a few of the boys shining in the academy. But leaping to Melwood isn’t a walk in the park for these players.
Since 2013, Liverpool have brought in the likes of Marko Grujic (18), Divock Origi (20), Lazar Markovic (20), Philippe Coutinho (20), Joe Gomez (18), Emre Can (21), and Daniel Sturridge …