Match Report: Liverpool stroll while City stumble
Match Report: Porto 0 Liverpool 2
Champions League quarterfinals aren’t supposed to feel this casual. Nothing Liverpool related is supposed to feel this casual. And, so it was that what you might have thought would be a sunny trip to northern Portugal would end up being a deluge.
Jurgen Klopp sent out a strong side while resting three. Jordan Henderson picked up a knock late in the action against Chelsea, Bobby Firmino deserves a rest more than anyone and Naby …
Man of the Match as Liverpool dispatch Chelsea 2-0
As Jordan Henderson moves seamlessly from defensive midfield to a more advanced role, I look to do similar by taking up the 'Man of the Match' element of this week's post-match work, rotating my 'Virgil Van Dijk (8): What a lovely beard he has' player rating duties to the lovely Aaditya Narayan.
And what a game to pick just one player from! The Reds fight another day in the title race with a 2-0 win over Chelsea, quickfire second-half strikes …
Virgil van Dijk was singing the praises of Naby Keita after Porto win
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk hailed Naby Keita as a "fantastic player" after another goalscoring performance from The Reds' number eight.
Keita had struggled to settle into Liverpool's midfield since his arrival from the Bundesliga's RB Leipzig last summer due to some below-par performances coupled with niggling injury concerns.
However, the Guinean international has started the last two games for Jurgen Klopp's team, scoring hugely important goals in both fixtures.
Last night, Keita got the ball rolling for The Reds …
Could be out of sight, but still in command - Observations from Reds' 2-0 win over Porto
That could've been a lot better. But Liverpool are still in command of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie against Porto, after a 2-0 win at Anfield in the first leg.
The Reds were superb in the opening exchanges, with Naby Keita opening the scoring via a lucky deflection off Otavio. Roberto Firmino capped off a superb team move in the 26th minute to put Liverpool in command. But, the scoring stopped there, despite plenty of opportunities for either side …
Player ratings as Liverpool defeat Porto
A good midfield performance, no away goals conceded and one foot into the last four. Pretty much all Jurgen Klopp could have asked for as Liverpool defeated Porto 2-0 in their Champions League quarter final first leg.
Naby Keita opened the scoring via aid of a deflection early on before Roberto Firmino tapped in a second. Sadio Mané would’ve had a third had he not strayed narrowly offside, but two will do.
Here’s your ratings.
A clean sheet not minus …
Southampton 1-3 Liverpool: Who was man of the match?
It was unconvincing, it was last-ditch, it was downright exhausting, but crucially for Liverpool, it was victory. They are back on top of the Premier League with their rivals' fixtures about to get significantly tougher.
The performance, it has to be said, wasn't good. But Liverpool won this game thanks to a big call from their manager and a big moment from a big player.
The Reds seem to be in a 'win by whatever means necessary mode', and so …
Match Report: Liverpool's Little Dancer Does It!
Hold me closer little dancer,
Count the headlights on the highway,
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
You've had a busy day today.
How much did Liverpool need Mo Salah to score that goal? How much did Naby Keita need to come through like that? How much did Jordan Henderson need to grab the reins of this team and be a big part of a clutch victory?
Strange to say about a Liverpool side that is two wins away …
Joel Matip insists teammate Virgil van Dijk's mere presence raises the performance levels of others
Liverpool's Joel Matip has been singing the praises of The Reds' colossal Dutch centre-half Virgil van Dijk.
Matip has recovered well from a fractured collarbone in early December to start all of Liverpool's previous 12 games in all competitions. Jurgen Klopp will not have missed the importance of Matip's availability in light of the injuries to Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez, also in December.
Gomez and VanDijk was Klopp's first-choice partnership at the back after a hugely impressive first four …
Reds await Van Dijk fate after defender picked up injury in win over Spurs
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk picked up a knock during his man of the match performance in The Reds' 2-1 win over Spurs at Anfield on Sunday.
The Dutch international defender seemed to collide with Moussa Sissoko after brilliantly defending a counter attack where he was alone, defending against Sissoko and Heung-Min Son.
Jurgen Klopp was asked about Van Dijk's injury in the post-match press conference.
“We have to see. I asked him and I think it was in the …
Liverpool still are in the hunt as 3 points are secured against Spurs
It was a rather windy day at Anfield, but no wind could have competed against 50000 people exhaling a sigh of relief right at the end as Liverpool secured three points in rather fortuitous circumstances. As they say, it doesn't matter how they come, till they come.
The key observations from the game are as follows.
That midfield is no longer surprising
A big game against a top 6 opposition means fans usually crave for a dominant midfield (both in …