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 …
MOTM Fabinho raises levels as Liverpool advance in Europe
Jurgen Klopp hailed the joy of seeing "the best number six in the world" back in his favourite position, as Fabinho put in a Man of the Match display throughout Liverpool's 2-0 win over Leipzig on Wednesday night.
Courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Liverpool rode to a 4-0 aggregate win over the in-form German side, casting aside Premier League concerns to move into the Champions League quarter finals.
Unlike the first leg, where Liverpool weren't brilliant …
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, …
Stop Playing Thiago As The 6, Liverpool
The medium to long term losses of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk and the continued inconsistencies in Joel Matip's fitness record doesn't only impact Liverpool in defence.
Of course, regularly not having three defenders of that calibre is harmful to a team's prospects of keeping clean sheets. But it's the Reds' midfield that has borne the brunt of the defences injuries.
Fabinho, who has excelled in the new role that he's learned on the hoof, has had to moonlight …
Fabinho Proving Himself As Top Class Liverpool Defender
After taking a few months to settle into his new surroundings after his move from Monaco, Fabinho has consistently been brilliant for Liverpool since joining the club from Monaco in the summer of 2018.
As the teams defensive midfield general, the long-legged Brazilian played a prominent role in the Reds having the best Premier League defence in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons, campaigns where the club won the Champions League and Premier League respectively.
And now, thanks to an injury …
What's changed since Van Dijk's injury?
When it was confirmed that Virgil van Dijk’s injury was a serious one, the fear was that the season would be a struggle for Liverpool. Since his arrival from Southampton, he’s practically been ever-present for the Reds. With him as centre-back, Jurgen Klopp’s side have reached two Champions League finals and racked up an incredible 196 points across two Premier League campaigns. Oh yeah, they also ended a 30-year drought to once again be champions of England.
However, the team …
Why an aerially dominant centre-back is so important for Liverpool
Sheffield United caused Liverpool a lot of problems on Saturday night. As revealed on the Anfield Index Under Pressure podcast, Chris Wilder’s men had 29 touches in the penalty area, the fourth most by any team against the Reds since the start of the 2016/17 campaign. The visitors also managed 13 shots, just four fewer than the hosts. They got at the champions and it’s something we can expect to see from opposition teams moving forward.
Liverpool are by no …
Thiago And Passenaccio Approach Could Help Ease Liverpool Defensive
Despite remaining undefeated, with a record of three wins and a draw -- the tie coming courtesy of some of the worst officiating you will ever see, even with the leg up of video evidence -- October feels like a cursed month for Liverpool.
The defensive compartment of Jurgen Klopp's team, in particular, were flooded in misfortune. Virgil van Dijk, the Reds' talismanic Totum of backline dominance, was injured by a horrifically reckless challenge by Everton's Jordan Pickford. The Champions …
Liverpool's Werner Swerve Could Strengthen Team Bond
Excuse the pun, but Timo Werner's decision to join Chelsea came out of the blue.
The RB Leipzig forward publicly flirted with the Reds on an almost constant basis; notably taking time to flutter his eyelashes at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp -- describing both the team and the coach as "the world's best" -- after the Bundesliga side -- thanks to a penalty from Werner himself -- defeated Spurs in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.
Then news …
Liverpool's most important win of the Klopp era
Liverpool have excelled with Jurgen Klopp at the helm, going from mediocre top-four hopefuls to champions of the world in the space of four years.
The German has not only ensured his side play some of the most eye-catching football in the club's history, but has also brought with him a winning mentality that has rubbed off on his players.
When looking back at some of the most memorable victories of the Klopp era, there are a number of games …