Greatness Beckons for Player of the Year Van Dijk
For just the fourth time in 40 years, a centre-back has been named PFA Player of the Year, and he couldn't be a more worthy winner.
Joining Gary Pallister, Paul McGrath and John Terry is Virgil van Dijk, following a season unlike many ever seen by a defender at Liverpool.
When gushing over a player in the present, it is easy to get carried away and start rating him higher than his actual level merits.
I loved Daniel Agger, but …
Joël Matip - Making His Case To Be First Choice Again
It’s been a pretty impressive few months for Joël Matip. Since his return to the team against Crystal Palace, Matip has played every minute of the last 13 Premier League games, during which Liverpool have conceded just 10 goals, keeping six clean sheets, and winning nine. Over the course of the season, Matip has actually played 16 league games alongside Van Dijk, with the Reds conceding just 11 goals in those games, winning 12 and drawing four.
In the Champions …
The Great Henderson Debate - Reignited
There was a sense of righteous vengeance amongst the Liverpool fan-base as Jordan Henderson strode into the picture to stroke home Liverpool’s pressure-relieving third goal against Southampton and send the Reds back to the top of the Premier League table. A captain justified a player who had finally thrown off the shackles of criticism and demonstrated that he was good enough to play a vital role in Liverpool’s title challenge.
And certainly, it was an excellent performance off the bench …
The Big Change in Andy Robertson’s Attacking Play This Season
https://twitter.com/Sennesation/status/952888473152905216
Andy Robertson – so good that even Manchester United managers can’t stop themselves from enthusing about him.
Here, we’ll compare his underlying numbers from last season and the present campaign, and we’ll see that while many of Robertson’s top-line stats have remained much the same, there’s one pivotal area of the Scotland captain’s game that’s changed this term.
Measures of excellence
Let’s start by underlining just how remarkable Robertson has been this season. He currently has the fourth-highest number …
The Growing Influence of Fabinho on Liverpool's Build-Up Play
Liverpool dominating possession but failing to break down a well-organised defence became an all too familiar tale last season. From bore draws at home to Stoke and Manchester United to an away point at Everton, a lack of progression and intelligence in our build-up play was a frustrating trend we just couldn't shake off. Although, in recent weeks, goalless draws to Everton and Manchester United have ensued, these kind of performances and results have become a rarity rather than the …
Big Time Liverpool Continue To Defy The Doubters
Liverpool continued their resurgence towards the top of Europe’s elite with an incredible 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena over a Bayern Munich side that were never allowed to get going. And what for me, is potentially interesting about the victory is how low-key some of the celebration and conversation is at the moment – especially compared to say Manchester United vs PSG.
Obviously, Liverpool didn’t have to come back from two goals down, given how comprehensively they shut Bayern …
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah's 2019 Role-Reversal
Sadio Mané has taken the Premier League by storm in 2019, scoring eight goals in Liverpool’s ten league games this calendar, including seven in his last five at Anfield. However, on the other hand, Liverpool’s top scorer and attacking talisman Mo Salah has slowed the scoring stakes, scoring just four goals in his last ten, firing blanks in seven of his last ten games, having failed to score in just three of his previous ten starts.
So what has shifted …
Observations as Liverpool Show Tenacity to Dismiss Talk of Losing Their Bottle
Liverpool ensured they remain hot on the tails of title rivals Manchester City with a 4-2 win against Burnley on Sunday afternoon. Despite the blistering conditions, the wind wouldn’t impede Jurgen Klopp’s side this time out, with braces from Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino enough to overturn the early deficit.
Indeed, it was hardly the best start for the Reds, with another contentious refereeing decision threatening to deliver a potentially pivotal twist in the title race. A day after Raheem …
Key Stats As Liverpool Draw Another Blank - Liverpool 0-0 Everton
Liverpool were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Everton that dented their title hopes further and saw them slip behind City in the table. But what were the key stats from a disappointing performance at Goodison Park?
Goodison Blues
Whilst Liverpool’s unbeaten record over the Blues remains intact, with Liverpool having not lost since Roy Hodgson travelled to Goodison in 2010, but nevertheless, they’ve now drawn six games at the home of Everton since that game, winning just twice. …
Sadio Mane: Liverpool's Talisman in the Title Run-In
If Sadio Mane were to spend his free time reading about Liverpool, he would have every right to feel a little aggrieved about his lack of column inches.
The Reds' No.10 still makes plenty of headlines, but in comparison to those around him, he is often given more of a supporting role.
Mo Salah earns endless acclaim for his sensational goalscoring feats, while Roberto Firmino's effortless brilliance receives plenty of love.
The impact Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have made …