The Value Of Squad Depth
I recall watching so many Rafa Benitez games when he was the Liverpool manager. The side would often times be very good, with enough elite players to make them a force within the Premier League and Europe. Despite the obvious Istanbul delight, that period is often tinged with what if’s and regrets, as to what could have been if Rafa had been given more.
Narrow margin games (even narrow margin seasons), often came down to a lack of depth halting …
Molby on the Spot: Optimistic Future, Gale Force Winds & Henderson's Worrying Form
Jan Molby was back with a podcast - hosted by Trev Downey - that included two matches, two wins and plenty to talk about. Topics included the mystifying nature of Diogo Jota, and how to label him as a player; the difficulty of playing conditions versus Burnley; Henderson's worrying drop in form; and the likelihood of settling the Champions League tie with Inter Milan in the first leg.
After praise for Jota, and the victories performance over Leicester City at …
Under Pressure: Fabiago, Perfect Pressing & Aggressive Defensive Lines
After a busy week where the Reds faced Rodgers' Leicester City side at Anfield, and travelled to Burnley to face the team propping up the Premier League, it meant a double header Under Pressure podcast. Gags returned to host and was joined by Dan Kennett, Dan Rhodes and Phil Barter. In a bumper edition there was plenty of detailed statistical analysis including the performance when Thiago and Fabinho start, the brilliant pressing versus the Foxes and the number of offsides …
Post-Match RAW: Superb Set Pieces & Sean Dyche's Face
During an incredibly busy period for the Reds, following the victory at home to Leicester, they had to travel to Turf Moor and play Sean Dyche's bottom-of-table Burnley.
Fabinho's fifth goal in recent weeks came just before half-time from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner, followed by Sadio Mane's flick on, and it was enough to secure maximum points. On Post-Match RAW, Trev, Dave and Hari reacted after the final whistle.
It was always going to be a tough challenge, and when …
The Henderson Dilemma
There was much annoyance in not replacing of Gini Wijnaldum this past summer. Yet as the season enters its final few months, the main worry is that of Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson. In a season where emerging midfield talents have come to the fore, there seems to be a dilemma heading towards Jordan Henderson‘s Liverpool career.
At 36 years old, James Milner is quite understandably dropping down the Anfield pecking order. At 31 years old, Jordan Henderson is now past …
Line-up Porn
It’s rare that a line-up is the most exciting thing in a match. It’s especially unique when the result is 2-0 for the good guys. Yet on this night, with the addition of one Luiz Diaz, the subtraction of Jordan Henderson, the return of Mo Salah from AFCON and the resurrection of Harvey Elliot and Thiago from long term injuries, the resulting line-up card had us celebrating more than any overhead kick or diving save could ever hope to.
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Post Match Raw: Reds Dominate Rodgers' Leicester City
After defeat in the reverse fixture, this was a perfect opportunity for Liverpool to gain some revenge but more importantly move three points closer to league leaders Manchester City.
On Post-Match Raw, Trev Downey hosted Dave Hendrick and Karl Matchett to debate the Reds' performance in their two nil victory over The Foxes. Dave started by saying there wasn't much room for improvement.
Next up was Trev purring about what Thiago brings to the side: pinging passes about, pressing, defending …
Where does Luis Diaz fit into Liverpool's team?
So, it is Luis Diaz. Having been linked with a host of attackers over the last couple of months, the decision has been made and the Colombian looks set to be the latest addition to the Liverpool forward line. At the time of writing this, anyway. We could end up with another Nabil Fekir situation.
For now, everything seems to be moving smoothly.
In a previous feature on the site, we have looked at why Diaz might’ve been targeted. This …
Diogo Jota & His Starting Role
When Liverpool signed Diogo Jota from Wolves, it was a signing that appeared reactionary to the failure to obtain Timo Werner. In the 18 months since he arrived, Diogo has proven to be not only a valuable rotation piece, but a player that can succeed Sadio Mané on the left-hand side of Liverpool‘s famed attack. The Timo Werner bullet appears to have been dodged, and Jota now holds a value twice what was paid.
This season we have seen Diogo …
Trent & The Thiago Effect
The familiar stats regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assists, appear now in each and every game. His rise to world class status has been truly sensational, and even the most deluded fans (or Gareth Southgate) cannot ignore his exceptional impact on the game any longer.
After displacing Nathaniel Clyne some years ago, the slightly built fullback was allowed time to both evolve and make mistakes. As with any trajectory to greatness, issues must always arise so that they can be overcome. This …