Thiago Must Stay For Leadership & Brilliance in Transition
I keep reading this last week how Barcelona is expressing a desire to recruit their former player, Thiago Alcântara. Having left the Nou Camp in 2013, he did so in order to fully establish himself as one of Europe’s leading midfielders. As an academy product, he had the world class trio of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets all ahead of him. Prior to his leaving, the Spanish giants had also signed Cesc Fàbregas back from Arsenal, to create an …
A Timely Reboot
Liverpool finally lost a game at Anfield this week, with their second leg tie against Inter ending in defeat. In a period where Jürgen Klopp has had no choice but to rotate his stellar cast of performers, it was inevitable that a slight bump in the road would occur. It reminded me of a time where Blackburn Rovers once lost to Liverpool, before immediately celebrating their Premier League title win. No Rovers fan cared about the loss that day, and …
Observations: Liverpool 3-1 Norwich - What a difference a day makes
Liverpool came into the match safely in the top four, in the thick of three cup competitions and barely in the chase for the Premier League title. The nine point gap with a game in hand wasn’t insurmountable in any normal circumstance, but Manchester City is no normal opponent.
Klopp’s selection reflected that reality as he put out a heavily rotated team that looked more like a Carabao Cup side than one that the manager would put out in a …
The Reds' Midfield Going Forward
Standards have now become so high that any dropped points can lead to dismay within the Liverpool fanbase. After a draw at home to Brighton, and a loss to West Ham, Liverpool head into this weekend with a clear need to improve.
The international window has (as always) brought back an array of injury concerns. The provisional team will almost pick itself, yet the indications of the starting line up are still encouraging. As Andy Robertson joins the injury list, …
Jurgen Klopp and His Naby Keita Conundrum
Naby Keita joined Liverpool with much fanfare in the summer of 2018.
The Reds pursued the Guinean for the entirety of the summer of 2017, but with his club Red Bull Leipzig, reluctant to sell, a compromise was reached that the English club would pay a £10M premium and sign the midfielder the following summer.
Given Keita's imperious two-season stint in the Bundesliga -- he also played Champions League football in his second season in Saxony -- it was easy …
The Thiago & Fabinho Partnership: The Midfield of Liverpool's Future
Finally, for the first time since October, Fabinho played as a defensive midfielder in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League last 16 win over Red Bull Leipzig.
The Brazilian, who, due to the Reds' huge injury toll, had operated in the centre half role for the majority of the season. The 27-year-old mostly excelled in the heart of the defence, but he was sorely missed in the engine room.
But with the signing of Ozan Kabak -- not to mention Ben Davies, …
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Observations as Fernandes downs improved Reds
Defeat at Old Trafford, but at last reason to be optimistic. Going forward, Liverpool started to tick again.
Having been benched in midweek, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino responded commendably. Salah was the finisher and Firmino the architect as the Reds scored twice at Old Trafford for the first time since 2014.
This time, they were undone by defensive errors and an admittedly magnificent winning goal from Bruno Fernandes.
But they travel to Spurs with something to build on.
The …
Tactical Breakdown: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool
On Monday night the Champions travelled down to St Mary's to face a depleted Southampton side, who were without a number of key players, such as Alex McCarthy, Oriol Romeu and Ché Adams.
The Saints lined up in a 4-4-2, in which they looked to press Liverpool's backline. Ralph Hassenhutl's team were also instructed to form a box around the deepest midfielder, Thiago, who would be pressed from all four players whenever he received the ball. As he passed the …
Everton 2-2 Liverpool: Player Ratings as VAR drama denies Reds a derby win
Liverpool drew 2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park, after a dramatic final few minutes, which saw Jordan Henderson's would-be winner cancelled out by VAR for offside.
Sadio Mane gave the Reds an early lead, which was soon pegged back by Michael Keane. Mo Salah put the Reds back in front in the second half, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin brought Everton back level for a second time.
Mané set up Henderson for what would have been the winner, but Liverpool were denied …
Two New Signings, Two Statement Victories - September 2020, The Month That Was
THIAGO ... THIAGO ALCANTARA!!! The summer's most anticipated, or drawn out, depending on your point of view, transfer has been complete. News broke late of an evening that Liverpool had agreed a fee for Spanish midfield wizard Thiago Alcantara, and while we had long expected Thiago Thursday we instead got Thiago Friday. And fucking hell, it was fun. But before we start drooling over him again, let's go back to the start of the month.
Liverpool got themselves ready for …