Why Klopp needs to put the leash back on James Milner
James Milner's long and impressive career has had many strings attached to its bow, the latest coming as part of an ever-growing Liverpool team.
Whilst many have fairly questioned the decision to bring him in on such large wages in 2015, he's done more than enough to prove his worth to the squad - albeit not perhaps at the level you'd expect of someone on £150,000 per week.
Milner has played left-back, centre-midfield, wide midfield and right-back during his time …
Midfield musings, a new identity and tactical potential for Liverpool
With Liverpool cruising to a 3-0 win over Watford on Saturday evening, Jurgen Klopp maintained the 2 point deficit to Man City. Another clean sheet and a highly satisfying win, albeit with a dogged rather than spectacular performance.
There's a certain symmetry to our away results against Watford since Klopp took over from Brendan Rodgers. From the pitiful 3-0 reverse in his first season, to a thrilling 3-3 draw last season which pointed to our underlying defensive deficiencies. To then …
PSG Test A Huge Opportunity For Liverpool
Liverpool’s away European form under Jürgen Klopp has been incredibly bang or bust. For every 5-0 win in Portugal there’s a 2-0 defeat in Belgrade. Whilst some of the best performances of Klopp’s tenure have been away from home in Europe, some of the worst have also come there.
So far this season, the Reds have been atrocious away from Anfield in Europe, with their 1-0 defeat to Napoli a shambolic attacking display, which was quickly out-stunk by a disgraceful …
Naby Keita is key to Liverpool's evolution going forward
Livepool's midfield is holding us back. Our defence is looking as solid as it has done in years and we possess one of the most feared attacks in Europe but with a midfield that lacks any sort of dynamism or creativity, the Reds will struggle to evolve into genuine title challengers. It goes without saying that our front three lacks the scintillating fluidity it possessed at the back end of last season but is that any surprise when the team …
Liverpool Need A Playmaker
On-ball (in possession)
Off-ball (out of possession)
Transition (between possession)
These are the three phases of football. Liverpool are without a doubt one of, if not the best team in the world in transition, that is, the moment in which a team transfers from a defensive shape to an attacking one, or vice-versa. The speed at which Liverpool move from a defensive shape into an offensive one is overwhelming for most sides. Immediately, the players rush into space, ahead of the …
Liverpool's Season Starts Here
The day that you arrive at a holiday destination can often have a strange feel to it.
You’re still a bit jaded after a long flight, drive or however you’ve made your way there, and you don’t feel completely in holiday mode until you wake up the following morning.
Call it a strange comparison - it is - but Liverpool’s season feels a bit like that. It has all been a bit stressful and tense to date, with almost no …
Why Liverpool's Defeat to Napoli Isn't the End of the World
It was always going to come as something of a hammer blow, but Liverpool's first defeat that they really warranted being on the end of this season really does feel rather rubbish.
It's not so much the fact that the Reds lost, but more so the fact that they went down with a bit of a whimper to Carlo Ancelotti's side in Naples that has made things seen like the footballing equivalent of the apocalypse is upon us.
It could …
Napoli 1-0 Liverpool: What went wrong?
In light of Liverpool's first truly meaningful loss of the season, perspective is important. The Reds are joint-top of the Premier League and are still well-placed to progress to the Champions League knockouts with back-to-back games against relative minnows Red Star to come.
Still, the quite shambolic nature of the performance must be recognised. Some will dismiss it as an 'off night', while others may see genuine cause for concern.
Below is an attempted summation of the reasons for a …
Player Ratings as Reds are neutralised in Naples
Dreadful, absolutely dreadful. Liverpool's worst performance of the season so far rightfully punished with a late Napoli winner.
The Reds were never at the races, with David Ospina not having to make a single save in the home goal.
Onto Sunday, where it has to be better. Here are your ratings.
Three players come away with credit
Alisson Becker (7): Made a couple of really good saves, probably would have been more than 1-0 if not for him. Held a …
Napoli v Liverpool Preview - Tough Trip to Naples for Klopp's Reds
The Details
Venue - Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Referee - Viktor Kassai (HUN)
Date & Time - Wednesday, October 3rd 2018 @ 20:00 BST
Current Odds - Napoli 5/2, Draw 13/5, Liverpool 23/20
Form
Napoli Form
Napoli lost Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea, during the summer. Sarri then also took their fantastic midfield-metronome, Jorginho, to Stamford Bridge with him. Carlo Ancelotti came in and, although he has made a relatively positive start, they are already behind the standards they set, last season. An early-season …