Jurgen Klopp's tactical masterclass against Manchester United
It’s been described by parts of the Manchester United media as an Ole Gunnar Solskjær masterclass.
The Red Devils took to the Old Trafford pitch for the match against Liverpool with one purpose. It wasn’t to win, it was simply not to lose. It’s been a common theme over recent seasons with the power shift between the two sides becoming more and more evident. United used to be the clear favourites in these clashes. Now they aren’t even the favourites …
Time for Liverpool's Old Trafford hoodoo to end
So, here we go again. Man United away. A fixture that has provided more misery than any other for Liverpool supporters over the past 25 years.
The Reds return from the international break facing one of their biggest matches in any season, but this one has a different feel to it than many that have taken place before it.
Jurgen Klopp's men will rock up to Old Trafford not only favourites to pick up all three points at the home …
Four wonderful years of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
People often say that you remember exactly where you were when huge moments in history occurred.
I'll never forget hearing about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on the bus home from school, for example, or seeing a kids TV show interrupted in order to inform me of the death of Princess Diana.
I must immediately stress that I don't put the arrival of a Liverpool manager on a par with those events mentioned above, in terms of …
Liverpool's Great Weakness Has Become their Strength
It’s an interesting thing, the human brain. Driven by logic and reason, capable of assessing situations and providing a thoughtful and rational response. Yet subject it to serious trauma, and suddenly that rationality gets chipped away, slowly but surely, until the horrors of what once was, murk what actually is.
Case in point. Sheffield United and Liverpool were at a stalemate. Liverpool were lacklustre, and the chances they did have were being spurned. It was, to put it colloquially, “one …
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle: A Tactical Breakdown
International breaks can often pose a challenge for teams on a winning streak, with an unnecessary interruption to the rhythm of the side. Against Newcastle, for the opening 15-20 minutes at least, it seemed that was the case. Newcastle opted to launch balls into the wide channels, and fight for second balls, but it was an uncharacteristic mistake by the Liverpool defensive line, in an attempt to play Newcastle offside, which was then followed by an individual mistake by Alexander-Arnold, …
Finding the perfect forward to add to the Liverpool squad
Liverpool went into the summer transfer window looking to add attacking reinforcements. Fans wanted it to happen. Journalists mentioned the need for a fourth attacker.
French media linked the Reds with Nicolas Pepe, German press claimed Timo Werner was a target for the European champions while reports in Spain said Philippe Coutinho was set for a return to Merseyside. Yet when the window closed, Jurgen Klopp hadn’t added any attacking reinforcements.
It’s still early days, but the decision not to …
Liverpool's subtle tweak to get the best out of Firmino
Liverpool's exceptional start to the season has meant a number of things have gone under the radar. It’s understandable, too. There’s a lot to process with the Reds winning four from four as well as triumphing in the Super Cup.
Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have all started in fine form, Trent Alexander-Arnold is chipping in with assists down the right side of the pitch and a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley shows Jurgen Klopp’s side have the …
Four From Four - Business as Usual for Liverpool
We are four games into the Premier League season, so naturally, it’s time for an irritating international break. International breaks, of course, have their benefits: being able to focus on the Ashes, the slight increase in quality in David Squires’ cartoons, managing to go a whole weekend without having some sort of stress-induced heart attack, and for those of us that actually enjoy it, the prospect of seeing your national team play.
There are some benefits for Liverpool and its …
Trouble in paradise: Two scandals by Liverpool standards
We've reached the first international break, and so it's time to reflect on the first action of the season. The Reds have rattled off four Premier League wins from four and added another continental crown to their cabinet, but there's also been a rare dose of drama.
First, we had the acrimonious departure of Anfield star-in-waiting Bobby Duncan, and then came Sadio Mane's outburst, directed at Mohamed Salah, after being substituted at Burnley.
So let's take some time to discuss …
Why Firmino Makes it all Work
As the dust settled on a convincing victory at one of Liverpool’s most precarious hunting grounds, and a spat between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané proliferated the post-match headlines, it was one cheeky smile and movement of the eyes that set everybody at ease.
Indeed, it was also the arm of Roberto Firmino around Sadio Mané, as the latter continued his remonstrations with his manager regarding his partner in crime’s noticeable hunger for a goal, that showed Liverpool fans what …