Which Liverpool Players Should Enter Into The Next Phase
It’s international week, and unless it’s a major summer competition, I rarely pay any attention to the results and performances. The games usually revolve around occasions of no consequence, uneven match ups, silly qualification games, and a raft of ever-changing line ups. I checked on Monday to see whether the international break was over, only to learn it hadn’t even started. Liverpool's premature halt in their season has meant a prolonged stop, and it feels longer than the entirety of …
Why Europe Can Offer A Much Needed Distraction
Six games in, and the Liverpool progress has been at best irregular. With a summer transfer window posing as many questions as answers, it has become a worried fanbase very quickly. When we lost to Man United, that was a low that was quickly reacted to. In the past week we have seen a disjointed display against Newcastle and then Everton, garnering four points. The only positive right now is that Manchester City dropped points, but it doesn’t mask how …
Liverpool's Disjointed Attack
The game against Bournemouth was the first time this season that Liverpool had been able to get Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah involved properly.
Prior to that, the wide forward pairing had struggled to influence proceedings on a consistent basis. Diaz, for example, had taken seven shots in his three Premier League appearances. Across matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace, he had an Expected Goals average of just 0.21.
Granted, the sample size isn’t the largest but it was a …
Key Stats as Liverpool get first win of the season
What a lovely palate cleanser. After the horror of the first 3 games of the season, the Reds were able to let out a big exhale of tension with a record-matching victory of nine goals over Bournemouth. But what were the Key Stats as Klopp's men put the Cherries to the sword?
Goals Goals Goals
Liverpool got this record margin of victory from a similarly impressive xG difference of 3.23 to 0.29. Trebling that with finishing is needed too, of …
Do Liverpool need an attacker?
All of the focus has been on whether or not Liverpool need midfield reinforcements over recent weeks. The attack has been somewhat neglected.
It is one of those areas for the Reds that, on paper, looks well stocked. In reality, though, it is a little light. At surface level, Jurgen Klopp has five senior attackers at his disposal in Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino and Darwn Nunez. He also possesses Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott could play …
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Two games, two draws, four points dropped.
Liverpool's start to the 22/23 Premier League season has been less than ideal on and off the pitch. Performances have been well below what is required, the squad is short of quality in midfield and the injuries are mounting up. Liverpool have failed to win their first two Premier League games, with disappointing draws against newly-promoted Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Hyperbole abounds, with some people already writing off the title this season and …
Manchester United v Liverpool - Klopp Needs To Up His Own Game
If you had the chance to listen to the latest edition of ‘Rate, Don’t Hate’ podcast on the Anfield Index, you’ll know that I’m all for some form of shake-up within this current Liverpool team. As it stands, the injury crisis is alarming, and will make certain decisions a necessity when the times comes to picking the eleven for next Monday evening. What we do know is that Darwin will be joining that injury list for the next few weeks, …
Liverpool 1 - 1 Crystal Palace - The Player Ratings
Liverpool 1 - 1 Crystal Palace - The Player Ratings
Alisson Becker - 6.5
Came in for some flak last week. He could do nothing for the opening goal, and was superb in denying Zaha shortly thereafter in a one on one. Had little to do, in another frustration filled game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6.5
A rare poor outing versus Fulham, he looked to redeem himself immediately. He was eager in trying to unleash those ahead, and probably should have …
Salah Salvages a Draw: Man of the Match
Throughout the tightly contested league opener, Salah justified the widespread desire to keep him at the club for years to come. Without the three points, it's harder to relish an impressive display, but an assist and a goal was enough to salvage a point and perhaps catch the imagination of supporters wondering what the Egyptian King might bring to the new campaign.
Luis Diaz looked the likeliest to grab headlines in the first half, but his left-footed effort that hit …
Fulham 2 - 2 Liverpool - Player Ratings
Alisson Becker - 6.0
Came straight back in after injury, and saw some good early action to ease himself in. Will feel very unlucky to have conceded two with so little clear cut chances coming his way. Was a spectator for the most part.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6.0
He seemed unable to command his flank, with Fulham intent on creating a war zone whenever certain players were in possession. Was able to aid the forwards with the last goal, but …