The Shadow of Steven Gerrard
Two seasons on from Steven Gerrard's last competitive game for Liverpool, and the iconic number 8 shirt remains unoccupied. For Liverpool fans, the number 8 shirt retains an almost religious significance. Steven Gerrard was not just the captain of Liverpool: for years he was a symbol of hope. He embodied, represented, and understood the club like the great King Kenny. Littered across Gerrard's career are moments of brilliance, goals, and assists, spanning all competitions, in all manner of games - from league matches against Aston Villa, …
The Gerrard Obsession - Where Banter Goes To Die
There has been a tragic lack of truly iconic figures to have graced the Premier League in recent times. That, at least, is the only logical conclusion one can come to in the face of the overwhelming obsession the fans of so many other clubs have with Liverpool's former captain, Steven Gerrard. From Stoke to Exeter, from Old Trafford to St. Mary's, the supporters of these clubs, quite often when not even playing against the Redmen, will sing their deeply …
Tasty Tenerife Tales
We had all hoped, friends, that the dark days were behind us, at least until the increasingly inevitable zombie apocalypse strikes our beleaguered spinning sphere. Alas, it would appear that troubled times have visited us again on Planet Liverpool. Three years after parting company with the beloved but problematic flesh nibbler that was Luis Suárez, it emerges that the chilling spectre of cannibalism may be looming once more, this time in the overtly affable form of another smiling mentalist - …
Philippe Coutinho Failing In Quest To Be World-Class
What defines world-class? Every football supporter has a different way of seeing it.
To some, it is only those truly elite players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Neymar, while others could name 100 who fit into that bracket.
For me, it is someone in and around the top 10 players in the world in their respective position - someone who produces the goods almost every week and rarely hits a genuinely poor spell in form.
Manuel Neuer, …
Is Magnificent Mane One Of Liverpool’s Signings Of The Decade?
With many great Liverpool players, there are often moments that come along that make you realise how special they are.
With Steven Gerrard, it was his thunderbolt against Man United at Anfield. For Luis Suarez, it was his incredible assist for Dirk Kurt against the same team. Fernando Torres’ ruthless finish against Chelsea on his home debut made us realise the Reds had a world-class striker in their ranks.
You no doubt have other examples that instantly pop into your …
Desert Island Reds: My Dream Liverpool XI
My Desert Island Line-Up is made up of players who have represented Liverpool from 1989, when I first started supporting the club, to the present day. The formation is 4-3-3:
GK Pepe Reina
Liverpool have had some truly dodgy goalkeepers in the past 28 years (David James, Sander Westerveld, Jerzy Dudek to name but three) so any who was even half consistent would get into this team. Reina was more than that. Not only a hugely reliable presence for the …
Mignolet: Everyone Chips In
Recently, Latest News has been succumbing to an innate desire to ramble but every so often one of Liverpool's finest has so much to say for themselves that the bulk of this column will be their words and you, dear reader, are spared the meandering nonsense and anecdotal piffle that often greets the wary click of your mouse.
This morning is such an occasion, for in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Simon Mignolet, that figure of so much fan …
Sadio Mané's Absence and Liverpool FC's Options
Sadio Mané has been a surprise blessing for many Liverpool fans. Despite his inconsistencies from past seasons still being seen in shades thus far, the Senegalese wide-player has been a great addition to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool side. Needless to say, he’s gone beyond proving himself to the Anfield faithful, many of whom had doubts of varying degrees with consideration to his price tag and especially given that he’s yet another Southampton recruit.
In the next couple of weeks, Mane heads …
Liverpool 2016/17 v Liverpool 2013/14: Only One Winner
Back in the summer, who really expected to be this happy about Liverpool by the time early November arrived? Come on, be honest.
We all saw that daunting run of early fixtures, and when the joy of beating Arsenal was soured by the woeful result at Burnley, even a top-four challenge felt a long way off. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have been a revelation since their Turf Moor woes, though, going unbeaten in all competitions and topping the Premier League in …
Liverpool supporters need to see the bigger picture
Being a Liverpool fan has never been, nor ever will be, an easy ride. The reds dominated English and indeed European Football for large portions of the 1960, 70s and 80s but, perhaps inevitably, currently find themselves languishing behind a pack of teams growing in terms of footballing credentials and, naturally, wealth. Over a decade and three managers since Liverpool last won a major trophy, Jurgen Klopp’s reds are, once again, gearing up for an assault on England’s most desirable …