A Darwin Evolution
This week Darwin Núñez signed as a Liverpool player, in a deal that could eventually reach £85m. The guaranteed outlay is around the £63m mark (£20m upfront), and if the full fee is to be paid to Benfica, then that would be a mark of extreme success by the player. The cost is of course substantial, but then so is the player.
I’ve never really cared who cost this or that, only that the right tools were afforded to our …
Attacking Through the Middle
Throughout nearly the entirety of Liverpool’s recent domestic and European campaign, Jürgen Klopp’s team was faced with the low-block reality presented by opposition sides. I’ve written before about how elite sides such as Liverpool and Manchester City need to adapt their style of play in order to combat the all too common low-block. Weaker sides have mastered this strategy, and I spoke about how it was a challenge for innovative coaches to overcome.
Manchester City drew first blood this summer …
Mentality Monsters
Despite ending the footballing season on a very low note, the celebrated parade at least brought about some solace and joy for both fans and clubmen. The energy and optimism that went into last season was emphatic, and to walk away with the League & FA Cup must be seen as a good return. Disappointment shows just how far along we have traveled under Klopp, and that ride is far from over.
Liverpool now have a decisive summer ahead, with …
Rage Against The Machine
Revenge is a dish best served cold, supposedly. Well this Saturday evening represents an opportunity for this Liverpool side to take out their obvious frustrations on Real Madrid, who await them in this season’s Champions League Final. The last final meeting was devastating, and memories clearly still linger with key members of the Reds' squad.
Throughout the entirety of last weekend's final league game, I did everything I could to avoid actually sitting and watching the match. With the eventual …
One Last Steven Gerrard Assist
This coming Sunday marks potentially the most important day in Liverpool's season, certainly until the following weekend. The Reds' campaign has been littered with pivotal games, vital weeks, and must win scenarios. This is where the Anfield giants now sit within the hierarchy of all things football, and long may it continue.
Nothing less than a Reds win at Anfield (against Wolves) will suffice this Sunday. To have any chance of clinching the title, three points must be achieved in …
Southampton 1 - 2 Liverpool - Man Of The Match
Southampton 1 - 2 Liverpool - Man Of The Match
Joel Matip
Came into the team at the weekend when Virgil got injured, and started tonight as the defensive leader. The most underrated defender in the league, he is so controlled and alert nowadays.
The goal was vital, and came at a critical moment. Liverpool needed a big moment, and the giant defender gave his manager what was needed …
History Is Being Written
The weekend's games brought up a variation of emotions for all Reds fans, with the jubilant FA Cup Final victory quickly replaced by pure viewership of the West Ham v City battle.
Both games ended in a draw, and where Liverpool's score line eventually produced silverware, it could be that City’s draw will inevitably do the same. Points will still need to be dropped by City for Liverpool to stand a chance, and a stand-alone win against Southampton will keep …
Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool - Man Of The Match
Luis Diaz
Low key good performance, in a tough contest. The minutes are mounting, and fatigue is starting to show. Diaz had really good moments, and was brilliant in his delivery for Mane’s goal.
He was perhaps less incisive from the right, but he stretched the play and still looked to run defenders at every opportunity …
Observations: Heroes and Villans
Liverpool made it through a very chaotic game to manage a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa, but it was far from easy. This was incredibly stressful watching, and it started right from the off. Jurgen Klopp will be very irritated by the manner in which the game began, however, as the Reds conceded after just 3 minutes. In the build-up to the goal, Ollie Watkins was clearly offside, but the assistant didn't flag it and play continued. About a minute …
Take The Red Pill
A point at home to a good Spurs side (who are managed by a world class manager), was seen as a major disappointment at the weekend. That is the mentality and level that this Liverpool team and manager have created, and one that should be respected for getting us to that point. The disappointment was real, but the door remains ajar on the reds hopes of achieving the improbable.
In a period where Manchester City have been obscenely bankrolled by …