Bissouma reaction: Some Liverpool fans will never learn
If you're expecting a memorable summer in the transfer market at Liverpool, you're in for a horrible shock.
Unfortunately, this isn't FIFA or Football Manager, so the Reds won't be splashing an endless stream of cash, as Jurgen Klopp's men look to bounce back from this most dispiriting of seasons.
Given the impact that COVID-19 has had on football, and the fact that Liverpool are highly unlikely to be in the Champions League next year, some perspective is needed.
It's …
Virgil Van Dijk's impact on Liverpool
When Liverpool paid a club-record £75million to bring Virgil van Dijk to Anfield, they hadn’t conceded fewer than 40 Premier League goals in a single season since 2009/10. On a couple of occasions, they’d even conceded 50.
To challenge for a place in the top four, teams generally had to finish with a goal difference of around +30. It is obviously a bit more complex, but if you look back over the years, that, more often than not, seems to …
Liverpool Need To Address Lack of Height In Summer Window
With so many defensive injuries, Liverpool's season has really suffered.
It'll take no level of footballing comprehension to know that without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip for most of the season the Reds have suffered in a defensive sense.
But so many absences in their back-line has hurt the Anfield club elsewhere.
Trent Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson -- the team's creative hubs -- have had to cut their attacking wings and play in a more reserved …
Joe Gomez enters defining period of his Liverpool career
Joe Gomez has now been a Liverpool player for almost six years, which doesn't seem possible.
In fact, he is now the fourth-longest-serving player at Anfield, behind Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi and James Milner, yet is still only 23 years of age.
Gomez's Liverpool career has been a curious one, with endless moments of promise, exceptional runs in the team, but also a worrying list of injury layoffs.
His early performances for the Reds in those first few weeks of …
Virgil & The Reds' System
Virgil, Joe Gomez & Joel Matip represent a core defensive unit of players that have for the most part been unavailable this season. The ramifications of not signing a Dejan Lovren replacement, in the form of Wesley Fofana or an earlier acquisition of Kabak to add required depth now looks foolish. The system, the counter press, the personnel stripped from midfield to assist the back line and the utter disruption have left the reds often toothless since mid December. A …
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
Excuse:
a reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offence.
For some bizarre reason, excuses are viewed as negatives these days. I don’t quite understand why given, per the definition, it is a justification as to why something has happened. Obviously, these truths can be embellished and this might why people seem to associate excuses with lies, but, ultimately, an excuse provides context.
Context is often overlooked in football. This is usually tied to stats, but general narratives …
Set Piece Toothlessness Hindering Liverpool After Defensive Injury Nightmare
Liverpool's defensive injury crisis has hindered them in so many ways this season.
Losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip has obviously hamstrung the defending champions in defence, not that you would necessarily know it from the goals conceded column.
The break glass in case of emergency defenders -- Fabinho and Jordan Henderson -- have coped admirably with their new tasks and Liverpool, on the whole, have been solid at the back. The 7-2 evisceration at Villa Park, …
Why Liverpool Shouldn't Sign Ben White
After the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, it was inevitable that the names of several centre-halves would be bandied about and linked to Liverpool.
Sven Botman, David Carmo, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahim Konate have all been suggested as antidote's to the Reds' personnel shortage in the heart of their defence. Perhaps the name most regularly circulated in the media, though, is that of Brighton and Hove Albion's Ben White.
According to reports in the Liverpool Echo, the …
How big of a loss has Virgil van Dijk been to Liverpool this season?
It would be hard to deny that Liverpool’s season took a dramatic turn during their Merseyside derby clash with Everton in the Premier League back in October.
There are a number of reasons as to why that fixture stands out in the memory of those that follow the Reds, and not for all the right reasons. The match ended up being drawn 2-2 however it was marred by a number of controversial decisions.
Thiago Alcantara saw his start to life …
Why Liverpool Shouldn't Sign David Alaba As A Centre Half
David Alaba has been linked to, among other clubs, Liverpool regularly recently.
The Austrian defender is in the final six months of his contract with FC Bayern and can now negotiate with foreign clubs ahead of a possible free transfer in the summer.
It was expected that Alaba, 28, would join Real Madrid but the Spanish giants -- who are also in negotiations to renew the contract of Sergio Ramos -- reputedly cannot pay the versatile defenders' €12M per annum …