Liverpool's handling of Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate has made just two starts for Liverpool following his £36million transfer from RB Leipzig this summer.
The first arrived in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League and then he was included in the starting XI for the 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City. It has now been close to a month since he last featured for the Reds and I’ve seen complaints from some fans.
With injuries stacking up elsewhere, people are starting …
Gini & Emre - The Need to Replace System Players
The summer window is now gone, and the next two windows will require some short and long term thought, with many areas now requiring you attention. Where the defence was strengthened (in the form of giant Ibrahima Konate), we are now witnessing a midfield dilemma, one that should have been avoided. The process of recruitment will have surely taken a hit (given the pandemic), but in order to both maintain and build the playing squad, ways forward needed to be …
The Rearguard Solution
Centre-back partnerships can offer sublime foundations and turn teams into serial winners. Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi jump to the front of that formidable list, as a partnership that allowed the rest of the side to dominate literally everyone.
In the modern game (especially within the Premier League), the ferocity of play and sheer culmination of games has now enforced adjustment to Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp’s thinking. The reds have started the season in an impressive manner, and the four …
Klopp’s Campaign Management
Stubbornness, single mindedness, arrogance and an absolute inability to adjust one's methods, can be the downfall of even the best managers in modern football.
In recent years we have seen the likes of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, unable to adapt to the modern needs of Premier League football, with both departing the division at relative low points. The signs are often evident, the fall off from brilliance usually gradual, but the reason for the decline always consistent. Football changes, …
The World Class Upgrade
Under the Roy Evans regime, Neil Ruddock, John Scales, Phil Babb & Mark Wright were the options in defence. They were the central defenders in the mid nineties that saw a period of great attacking football from the reds. The likes of Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman were part of an exciting line up that fell short of major honours, often let down by the sides defensive deficiencies. Robbie Fowler certainly underachieved (in terms of silverware) in his career, despite …
Liverpool’s Magnificent Seven
I recently watched the remake of the Magnificent Seven, a modern take of the original classic. The film revolves around impossibly unrealistic scenarios, a suicide squad of unlikely heroes, with a battle to overcome the odds and succeed.
The plot of the film is ridiculous, how the movie then plays out absurd, but the idea of magnificent individuals being required to overcome the greatest of obstacles, not so far fetched.
Fenway Sports Group have chosen their means of running the …
What will the return of Van Dijk mean for the Reds this season?
Liverpool were unable to defend their Premier League title last season. The Reds went through a disastrous period midway through the season, where injuries and poor form contributed to a steep decline.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were able to steady the ship towards the end of the season. Impressive end of season form, including eight wins in their last 10 matches, helped the Reds to finish third and reach the Champions League places.
Many injured players have returned for Liverpool this …
Don’t Look Back In Anger
The nervous nature and anticipation of a big major game rarely sees the emotional ride end when the final whistle blows. There’s sometimes jubilation, now and then dismay, and here and there it’s bitter annoyance. Football can offer the best of times, yet deliver periods of distress that can be absolute weekend destroyers.
As match week three drew to a close, there’s a few conclusions that can be garnered from this early period. It’s a short duration in the early …
The importance of Virgil Van Dijk
Earlier on in pre-season, Liverpool journalists claimed Ibrahima Konate was likely going to start the season alongside Joel Matip in defence. It was something of a surprise to see Virgil van Dijk named alongside the former Schalke man in the starting XI against Norwich City on Saturday.
He'd come through the friendlies unscathed but it felt like a start in the Premier League was a bit too soon. Maybe Jurgen Klopp felt the Canaries were an ideal team to ease …
Liverpool Begin Premier League Campaign With Norwich Win
Liverpool opened up their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win away to Norwich.
Goals from Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah wrapped up the points for the Reds, continuing the good form they showed at the end of last season in a good -- if not spectacular performance -- performance.
Jurgen Klopp elected for an attacking lineup with the front three of Sadio Mane, Salah and Jota supported a midfield of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and James …