Opinon: United's Transfer Woes a Cautionary Tale (Downfall, Part 2)
Last week I penned a column about how Manchester United's current crisis reflects our own dark days before Jurgen Klopp took the helm. I outlined the struggle that comes with recognizing a "big club" isn't quite so big anymore. This week, for part two of this "Downfall" series on Manchester United, I'd like to look at how Liverpool used intelligent transfers to propel the club to the pinnacle of football, how United's transfer policies have contributed to their current crisis, …
Liverpool and Man United finally meet in fixture to match the hype
When Liverpool play Man United, it always means a huge amount. It remains the No.1 fixture in England, bar none.
The history between the cities, whether it be relating to music, fashion or the success of their football teams, makes it a heavyweight match-up that will forever feel special.
Despite the build-up always being gargantuan and those pre-match nerves arriving regardless of where both sides are in the table, the hype is rarely justified.
For starters, too many recent games …
Marko Grujic vs Denis Zakaria - who suits the Liverpool midfield?
Liverpool’s midfield is a divisive topic, but one thing most fans can agree on is that reinforcements will soon be needed. Jordan Henderson is 30 at the end of the current campaign, Gini Wijnaldum turns 29 this month, James Milner is 34 in January and Adam Lallana is 32 in May.
Of the current crop of midfielders, only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho and Naby Keita are closer to 25 than they are 30, and two of those have had injury troubles.
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Is Roberto Firmino world class?
Very few players in world football have positions named after them. Only a handful do and they're usually individuals who transformed that role. Andrea Pirlo wasn't the first playmaker to be deployed in the defensive midfield role but he certainly enjoyed the most success there and that quarterback position was soon christened the Pirlo role.
Philipp Lahm probably wasn't the first inverted full-back but he was the most memorable. Without him, it's unlikely we ever get to see Trent Alexander-Arnold …
Key Stats As Shaqiri Sends Liverpool Top
Liverpool surged back to the top of the Premier League as they pulled off a superb 3-1 win against arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield. But what were the key stats from a huge evening for the Reds, which sees them stay ahead of City and 19 points clear of their biggest rivals?
Super-Sub Shaq Saves The Day
Xherdan Shaqiri is increasingly becoming a hugely important impact player for Liverpool, scoring five goals and adding two assists in just 630 minutes …
Premier League 2018/19 Season Preview
After an enormously entertaining World Cup full of drama and decadence, we the football faithful have been cast into the darkness of a month without the beautiful game. This has not stopped the majority of the big Premier League clubs from making money moves in anticipation. Ahead, we preview what to expect from them this season.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s relatively early business in securing the tenacious Lucas Torreira (aptly auto-corrected to terrier), supplemented with the earlier additions of Borussia Dortmund’s spine, …
Liverpool vs Manchester United: Coutinho must shine in Mane’s absence
Watch Liverpool take on Manchester United today with NOW TV - AnfieldIndex readers get a special 15% discount!
Liverpool against Manchester United is one of English football’s biggest rivalries, with these age-old enemies set to resume battle at Anfield this afternoon.
For the Reds, it will be an early season acid test to see if Jurgen Klopp’s men can keep pace with one of the Premier League’s form teams, while injuries to key men will make the task tougher.
Sadio …
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool: The Most Feared Team In The Land
When was the last time an opponent took on Liverpool, played their natural game and got the better of the Reds?
When did a game finish and you genuinely thought, “they’ve gone toe-to-toe with us there, and deserved their win”?
It has barely happened in 2016/17 to date, if at all.
Arsenal were their usual selves on the opening weekend and were dispatched of by Jurgen Klopp’s men, and Chelsea were outplayed by a more superior outfit the following month. …
Calmness Personified in Joel Matip
It was the game we had all been waiting for since the start of the season.
After a full weekend of build up that had the feel of a WWE Wrestlemania main event, we finally made it out of work buzzing with anticipation and dreaming of not just beating our greatest rival Manchester United, but destroying them.
The whole country was ready for an entertaining game. We just forgot that Jose Mourinho was the opposition manager.
The Anti-Christ of football …
Liverpool supporters - Be Careful what you wish for
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, having presided over 3-0, 5-1 and 2-1 wins in his opening three competitive games for Liverpool, could probably be forgiven if a part of him has spent the international break wondering what he has done so wrong.
Having recovered from the broken hand which caused him to miss Liverpool’s first five League games of the season, the man who was voted by his peers as second only to Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer amongst Bundesliga goalkeepers last …