Matip

Silly season(n) 1: a period (such as late summer) when the mass media often focus on trivial or frivolous matters for lack of major news stories 2: a period marked by frivolous, outlandish, or illogical activity or behaviour. There’s been a lot of silliness. It’s roughly two months since the Champions League final. A disappointing end on the pitch...

Southampton 1 - 2 Liverpool - Man Of The Match Joel Matip Came into the team at the weekend when Virgil got injured, and started tonight as the defensive leader. The most underrated defender in the league, he is so controlled and alert nowadays. The goal was vital, and came at a critical moment. Liverpool needed...

The juggernaut rolled though the Emirates and didn't stop, thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino. But what were the key stats as the Reds got to within one point of Manchester City? Silence, then thunder https://twitter.com/markstatsbot/status/1504218728644313089?s=12 Not much happened in the first half. Both teams had few shots, none of which was particularly dangerous....

We as Liverpool fans are not used to having proper squad depth. It might explain why we’re always so eager to pit players against one another and declare one the winner.  We did it with Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson earlier on in the season. Instead of marvelling at the fact we had left-back cover...

When Jürgen Klopp became the Liverpool manager his central defenders consisted of Martin Škrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren, and maybe a few more youngsters. As we enter the crunch period of this season, Liverpool possess perhaps the strongest array of central defenders in European football. When they won the Premier League two years ago,...

Caoimhin Kelleher - 7.0 A good first half, with lots of possession against Arsenals press. Solid composure under pressure, and another good outing. Trent Alexander Arnold - 9.0 A great moment for the opening goal, and the playmaker is looking imperious on the ball. Gave good solidity at the back, and tracked runners well. Kept sliding into...

Alisson Becker - 7.5 Mistakes will come now and again, but the world's best stopper showed a commanding presence in a routine display. Trent Alexander Arnold - 9.5 Sensational. The teams primary playmaker is transcending the fullback position. Any manager in world football (club football anyway) would have this man over any other, and his domination of...

The centre-back situation  Last season, Liverpool had no centre-backs. Now, the Reds allegedly have too many.  According to a report, albeit not the most reliable ones, Joe Gomez isn’t happy with his situation at Anfield. The 24-year-old is yet to start in the Premier League this term and the majority of his minutes have arrived in...

What a difference a few months make. The majority of last season saw Liverpool’s central defenders fall away, in an horrific series of season ending injuries. Once Dejan Lovren and Ki-Jana Hoever were sold last summer, it was predictable that the failure to recruit, in defence, would come back to bite the reds. That...

Ibrahima Konate has made just two starts for Liverpool following his £36million transfer from RB Leipzig this summer.  The first arrived in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League and then he was included in the starting XI for the 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City. It has now been close...