Midfield

Candidates for Liverpool’s MOTM v Hoffenheim

Liverpool booked a place in the Champions' League group stages with a 4-2 win over Hoffenheim, in a terrific attacking performance at Anfield. With Jurgen Klopp's side taking a 2-1 away lead going into the tie, the Germans were very confident ahead of the clash - reflected in manager Julien Naglesmann's comments: "I don't care about...

Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace: A Tactical Breakdown

After a late Watford equaliser, Liverpool's Premier League campaign was yet to really get going. A tie with bogey-team Crystal Palace hardly eased nerves, especially as reports of Coutinho's continued unhappiness, and rumours of a knock to Sadio Mané had fans on edge. Nonetheless, the performance was distinctly different to the Champions League first-leg...

Liverpool’s Midfield Trio Must Be Kept Apart

Before Philippe Coutinho decided to cause trouble and Adam Lallana picked up a lengthy injury, Liverpool’s best possible starting lineup was a mouthwatering proposition. Assuming your approach was as gung-ho as mine, it was easy to envisage Coutinho and Lallana ahead of a deep-lying midfielder, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino further wreaking...

Why People Shouldn’t Forget Henderson’s Impact So Quickly

‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone’ is a worldwide known statement, and a particularly poignant one for football fans. It’s very easy to forget the importance or impact of certain players after they’ve experienced a lengthy spell on the side-lines. Such is the case for Jordan Henderson, whose untimely injury at the...

Naby Keïta: A Statistical Analysis

In my first profile of Naby Keïta, I looked at his personal qualities, attributes, and statistics, and then compared him to Gini Wijnaldum, the player who Keita would likely replace in the starting XI, should Liverpool persist with the staggered 4-3-3 system that was broadly successful during the 16-17 season. In this piece, however, I'll be...

The Reds’ Midfield Conundrum

With the transfer window officially opening on Saturday, it's no secret Liverpool could well be big spenders this summer. Last season's 4th placed finish did ensure that the Champions League group stages are within touching distance ahead of next season - but in equal measure, it offers plenty of scope for improvement ahead of next...

Who is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic? Scouting Lazio’s Powerhouse

Amidst rising tensions regarding Liverpool’s transfer business, and the multitudes of social media seething in contempt over their American overlords, people are desperate for rumours, for some sort semblance of positivity regarding Liverpool’s summer (one that hasn’t even properly begun yet.) So, here’s to a little bit of positivity. One of the chief rumours coming out...

Profiling Liverpool’s Squad Depth Ahead of Next Season

After Liverpool secured qualification into the Champions league for next season, attention turned to the summer transfer window and who the Reds would be signing to both improve and bolster their squad heading into next season. One of Liverpool’s main weaknesses this season has been their lack of squad depth, which has been highlighted...

Naby Keita: Under the Microscope

Over the course of the 2016/17 season, Red Bull Leipzig established themselves as club that was no longer up-and-coming, instead as a serious force in the Bundesliga. Key to their success were players such as Emil Forsberg, Timo Werner, and Naby Keita. Keita's performances this season earned him a spot in the Bundesliga Team of...

Philippe Coutinho: Central Midfielder?

Philippe Coutinho turned in an absolute masterclass on Sunday afternoon, scoring twice, assisting Daniel Sturridge for the opening goal, creating five other chances for his team-mates and generally wreaking havoc on the West Ham back-line. And he did so from a deeper position in central midfield, whereas generally all season Coutinho has played on...