What We've Learnt About Klopp's LFC | Part 3: The Reds Making Great Strides Forward
Much has been made in recent months about Jurgen Klopp's stubbornness. From slow in-game changes to persevering with persistent underachievers. However, Klopp has come out fighting since the Spurs game and stuck the proverbial fingers up to the critics, with his team showing some really good form. This form culminated in what was a largely magnificent tactical performance against Man City (despite our defenders' best efforts to throw the game away!).
Character
The City game showed Klopp's ability to go …
Liverpool v Manchester City Preview - Key Battles
After what seems like forever, Liverpool have had a whole week between two games, and the break couldn't have come at a better time than in the lead-up to a game against Manchester City, who have made a mockery of the Premier League this season.
City have only dropped points twice this season but come into this game having not won at Anfield since 2003. For Jurgen Klopp's Reds, it has been an eventful week with a dream Virgil van …
Van Dijk & Keita | Posing A New Threat From Deep
I started writing a tactical piece a few months ago which was set to be titled ‘How to Stop Liverpool’. This was around the time that Liverpool suffered two bad results at Anfield in the space of a week by drawing with both West Brom and Everton despite dominating the ball in both matches. The reason I looked to write that piece was because it seemed so easy to nullify Liverpool when watching each game - by simply allowing Liverpool’s …
Radio Silence Of Window A Sign Of Things To Come At Liverpool FC?
Radio silence makes everyone nervous, particularly when it comes to transfers.
Having allowed Coutinho to make his highly anticipated big-money move to Barcelona midway through the season with the top-four, FA Cup and Champions League still all to play for represents a huge risk from Jurgen Klopp and the owners. Naturally, that's sent fans into meltdown over who could possibly replace the Brazilian's verve and creativity in the No.10 role.
Such unease hasn't been helped by the stark lack of …
The Presence Of Virgil van Dijk Will Lift Those Around Him
Something that stands out immediately when you look at Virgil van Dijk is the authority he possesses. There is a real aura about him.
It is something that has always been evident with the Rolls Royce centre-back, whether it be as a youngster at FC Groningen, someone way ahead of the rest at Celtic or during an outstanding three-year spell at Southampton.
The 26-year-old has only made one appearance for Liverpool, so going overboard can risk future mocking, but he …
Virgil And The Perfect Debut
Nothing scares me more than the debut of a big money player.
It takes me back to the passage in Carra’s autobiography where he discusses the signing of El-Hadj Diouf from Lens. ‘The Serial Killer’ (and we can assume that he gave himself that nickname) cost Gerard Houllier £10m – the equivalent of about three times that today – shortly before the 2002 World Cup and claimed it would have fans on the edge of their seats. Well, if that …
Observations as a Virgil Van Strike beats Everton
TELL YER MA, YER MA,
TO WIPE AWAY ALL YOUR TEARS,
NO TROPHIES FOR 20 YEARS,
TELL YEAR MA, YER MA.
Thanks to big Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool fans will be able to sing that for another year yet.
It was touch and go at times, especially when the Reds spontaneously combusted defensively to let Gylfi Sigurdsson level up, but in the end, a combination of James Milner's penalty spot talent and Van Dijk's aerial prowess mean that the Reds …
Liverpool 2-1 Everton: Van Dijk Knocks Everton Out FA Cup
I'm sure Virgil Van Dijk would've been dreaming about his debut for Liverpool for some time now, but even he couldn't have imagined it going as well as it did.
The game got off to a gritty start, with Everton flying into a number of meaty challenges as you'd expect from the 230th Merseyside Derby. Wayne Rooney could easily have seen red for several offences, none more so than a late challenge on Joe Gomez before clashing with Emre Can …
Liverpool 2-1 Everton - Player Ratings from the Virgil van Dijk Derby
Some things are just meant to be, such as Everton not winning at Anfield. What looked to be heading towards another frustrating Anfield derby this season turned into a game that put a 75 million pound smile on every Red's face. Virgil van Dijk got the winner at the Kop end on his debut to win the game for Liverpool, who despite a rather disjointed performance, saw off the near neighbours in the FA Cup third round. James Milner opened …
Will Virgil Van Dijk Cement A Top 4 Place For Liverpool?
Two days after Christmas saw an announcement made by both Southampton and Liverpool to confirm that centre back Virgil van Dijk would be heading to Anfield on the 1st of January from St Mary’s. The fee is believed to be in the region of £75m, which means the Dutchman will become the world’s most expensive centre-half; as he is drafted in to shore up Jurgen Klopp’s leaky backline. Will his arrival secure a Top 4 finish for Liverpool though? Or …