Thank You Roberto Firmino: Brazilian Striker Deserves Credit
The press, the fans and the neutrals have all criticised Roberto Firmino this season. However, Bobby deserves credit for firing Liverpool out of their current dry spell.
Liverpool had gone 2 Premier League games without scoring, when Manchester United arrived at Anfield in January. Mo Salah slalomed through Manchester United's defence, in search of that elusice finish, and the ball broke to Roberto Firmino in the area. Bobby scuffed his finish in to De Gea’s arms, and a better opportunity …
Thiago Influence Could Help Liverpool Evolve From False 9 Tactics
Roberto Firmino was back to his best in Liverpool's recent 3-1 win away to Spurs.
The Brazilian opened the scoring on the cusp of half time and showed the movement, touch, and sublime link play of old as the Reds scored their first league goals in over a month.
The number 9's goal, a tap in after his intelligent delayed run saw him arrive in the six-yard box in time to tap in Sadio Mane's left-footed cross, was his sixth …
West Ham 1-3 Liverpool: Observations as majestic second half secures vital win
With Roberto Firmino rested and Sadio Mane the latest addition to the injury list, it looked as if Liverpool were going to need to win ugly at the London Stadium. A drab first-half seemed to confirm those pre-match convictions.
But in the end, the win wasn't ugly; it was beautiful. Either side of a contender for Liverpool's goal of the season, Mohamed Salah curled home unerringly and Georginio Wijnaldum finished off an incisive one-touch move.
Craig Dawson would deny the …
Player Ratings for Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
January may have been a rough month to start for Liverpool, but a couple matches in the capital at the end of the month have firmly put the Reds back on track and in title contention again.
Alisson – 7
The handsome Brazilian wasn’t asked to do much today with Antonio surprisingly ineffective and Soucek subdued, but he came off his line well several times to snuff out danger and make sure the Hammers didn’t find any joy in the …
Liverpool Light Up London Again In West Ham Win
Liverpool moved to third in the Premier League table after a 3-1 win away to West Ham United at the London Stadium.
A brace from Mohamed Salah as well as a Georginio Wijnaldum goal sent the Reds into a 3-0 lead before Craig Dawson pulled a consolation back for the hosts with only a few minutes remaining.
Jurgen Klopp elected to make three changes from the victory away to Tottenham in midweek and Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Nat Phillips …
The truth behind Liverpool’s drought
Liverpool’s goal drought never really bothered me. Some went to the extreme, claiming the system had been found out and Jurgen Klopp needed to make wholesale changes to get them firing again. In truth, it was a mixture of bad luck and bad finishing. I wrote about it in detail for work.
The Reds had the chances, but they kept falling to the wrong players. Liverpool’s system and success is built on ensuring certain players get the volume required to …
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Observations as Fernandes downs improved Reds
Defeat at Old Trafford, but at last reason to be optimistic. Going forward, Liverpool started to tick again.
Having been benched in midweek, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino responded commendably. Salah was the finisher and Firmino the architect as the Reds scored twice at Old Trafford for the first time since 2014.
This time, they were undone by defensive errors and an admittedly magnificent winning goal from Bruno Fernandes.
But they travel to Spurs with something to build on.
The …
Reds Exit FA Cup After Old Trafford Defeat
Liverpool exited the F.A. Cup in the fourth round after a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite a brace from Mohamed Salah, the hosts advanced thanks to goals from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes.
Jurgen Klopp, as is his want in the domestic cups, shuffled his pack and made some personnel alterations from the defeat to Burnley in midweek.
Curtis Jones came in in place of Sadio Mane, James Milner replaced Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and …
Colossal Fabinho standing tall while other Liverpool stars fade
When Marcus Rashford burst clear in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Man United, every Liverpool supporter on the planet must have feared the worst.
The England striker is renowned for his blistering pace, and as he sprinted through on goal, the Reds' long unbeaten home run felt like it could go up in smoke, against the worst possible opponents.
From nowhere, though, the marauding Fabinho appeared to save the day, racing back to thwart Rashford, muscling him off the ball and …
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United: Player ratings as Reds draw blank against arch-rivals
This was an occasion for Liverpool to banish their rut. Instead, they've sunk further into it.
The draw with arch-rivals United keeps the Reds three points off the pace, but above all it cements Manchester City's newly-established status as title favourites.
Belief among supporters and among the players is clearly low. Liverpool aren't functioning as a unit given their makeshift defence and with every match the task of retaining their title is growing more difficult.
Joel Matip's imminent return will …