James Milner must prove doubters wrong again next season
When Mamadou Sakho claimed Liverpool’s number 3 squad number on Monday morning, curious Liverpool fans glancing down the squad list were perhaps most disappointed when reminded about the incumbent of one shirt in particular – James Milner and the number 7. The previous holder of that shirt had been the magical Luis Suarez, one of very few worthy successors to the shirt of the king of the kop, Kenny Dalglish, over 25 years ago. James Milner, boring, versatile, and honest James Milner, does …
Liverpool FC: The Need for a Balanced Midfield
Jurgen Klopp's favoured formation appears to be 4-2-3-1, so with this attacking format the two central midfielders have a huge role to play in respect of providing cover for the defence. This piece looks at if currently Liverpool have the players to provide that balance and if not, what do they require, to try to provide Liverpool with a ballast against the attacking flair that is evident within the side, to propel the side up the league this upcoming season.
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DoF Fantasy Series Part 6 - How I'd Spend £100m at Liverpool
With a move for Sadio Mane all but confirmed, I put my Director of Football hat on to consider what next for Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
Loris Karius, Marko Grujic and Joel Matip already confirmed to join Liverpool ahead of the new season; Sadio Mane represents a change in direction. The aforementioned three were signed for significantly small amounts, whilst Mane will cost £30million or more.
How much money Jurgen Klopp was given to invest in his Liverpool …
If I had £100 million to spend at Liverpool FC
"Write an article about who you would sign if you had £100 million to spend at Liverpool."
AnfieldIndex overlord Gags and editor of the site Dan Rhodes tempted me with this topic. I've not replaced Jurgen Klopp as Reds boss, this isn't Football Manager, Instead I've decided to head up the much fabled transfer committee; I've appointed myself as the Director of Football.
I have £100 million to spend plus whatever I raise from sales to bring in players I …
The Short-Term Alternatives to Mamadou Sakho
The events of the last three days have scarred the entire club and the entire fan base. Mamadou Sakho was well on his way to attaining cult status on the Kop. On Saturday, when it emerged that he had failed a drugs test in the aftermath of the Europa League game at Old Trafford, that was well and truly a shock.
But, as Jurgen Klopp has said on multiple occasions, when one door closes, another one opens. In this case, …
Kevin Stewart: Keep as a Squad Player or Jettison?
Kevin Stewart finally made his return to the Liverpool first team this weekend after suffering ankle ligament damage in February just as it looked like he was becoming a decent squad player.
Stewart is one of a number of players that have seen their opportunities broadened by the arrival of Jürgen Klopp. Youngsters such as Cameron Brannagan, Sheyi Ojo and Divock Origi have all found first team football a more frequent friend in recent months and each is showing great …
Liverpool FC and the Beauty of Being Proven Wrong
Sometimes being wrong is a beautiful thing.
I have an admission to make. I’ve been a bit of a tit. I allowed myself to become a judgemental, hypercritical and altogether hard-to-please bastard of previously unseen proportions. I don’t know what it is about this season, but it definitely brought out the worst in me at times.
You see, it was only a few short months ago that I openly questioned why my beloved Liverpool Football Club had sold a player …
Liverpool In Transition... Again
It seems to be the constant posture Liverpool Football Club has found itself in since circa 1992. We are always “in transition”, always going through changes, always waiting for players to be bedded in, always looking for the deadwood to be shipped out.
After our 2013/14 season, where we so nearly brought the title home, there was a feeling that maybe one (two at most) more signings would be enough to push on in the following term. Then, of course, …
Adding Mettle & Metal to Klopp's Rote Maschine
Some parts of Jurgen Klopp’s Rote Maschine are still on the production line, but during the past few weeks there have been signs that some of the components are finally coming together.
Devils in the Detail
Following a run of games which saw Liverpool regularly playing twice a week, the week break between the two Europa League ties against Augsburg, and now Manchester United, gives the manager a rare chance to work with his players in more detail.
Rather than …
Conclusions From Three Months of Klopp's Selection Policy
It is easy to preach in football about the virtues of patience and context, but it is far more difficult to mobilise those concepts in the race to form opinions. Jürgen Klopp has taken charge of 33 games as a Liverpool manager - games which include finals against the richest clubs in the world, domestic cup rounds against football league minnows, European fixtures across the continent, all nestled amongst a hectic league and international period. Using only the decisions made …