Observations as Liverpool Delivered Hammer Blow But Fight Continues
Liverpool were dealt a crippling blow to their Champions League hopes, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou after a seven minute spell from Lionel Messi. With it all to do at Anfield next week, Jurgen Klopp's men will have taken confidence from the fact that they created several chances to get on the scoresheet, but a better cutting edge will be required should they complete a remarkable turnaround.
This was a night that was indicative of Lionel Messi’s quality. …
Key Stats As Reds Power Past Cardiff
Liverpool’s Premier League campaign continues to rumble on, as Liverpool comfortably beat Cardiff 2-0, with Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner scoring the decisive second-half goals. But what were the key stats from a tricky, sticky away win for the Reds?
Keita Runs The Show
Naby Keita has made himself undroppable for Jürgen Klopp, and he justified his presence on the pitch once again in this game with a complete performance. On top of making 5/6 tackles, the most of any …
Cardiff v Liverpool Preview - Potential Key Battles
Liverpool travel to Cardiff off the back of a frenetic 4-1 win against Porto in the Champions League. It’s a tricky away tie off the back of a tricky European away tie, and Cardiff will have their tails up after a terrific 2-0 win over Brighton in mid-week. Nevertheless, there’s a real sense of momentum around the club at the moment, and Liverpool are in a really good space as they look to pile the pressure on City. So what …
Time to ditch the agendas in Liverpool's quest for glory
With five games to go in the Premier League, and with one foot in the Champions League semi-final, Liverpool's season is finely poised with glory tantalisingly close.
It's so close, in fact, that you can almost taste it. The long 29 year wait for a league title is as close to coming to an end as it has been since the ill-fated 2013/14 season.
Following last season's disappointment in the Champions League final in Kiev, the Reds stand a very …
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation - Give It A Rest
A change is as good as rest is how the saying goes, but with a maximum of eleven games to go and only four-midweek matches, is it time for Klopp to give it a rest with his rotation game?
The run-in could favour Liverpool, with City having Chelsea, Spurs and Man Utd still to go, while our biggest game is surely against Chelsea at home. Therefore it's surely time for Klopp to pick his best XI in every game — …
A Lesson In Defending From Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool’s 2013/14 title challenge was defined by moments.
The moment Jordan Henderson saw red against Manchester City.
The moment Steven Gerrard lost his footing and Demba Ba emerged through on goal.
The moment Iago Aspas produced an abhorrent corner to set up a Chelsea counter.
All painful, pivotal nails in the coffin for Brendan Rodger’s side.
Sunday’s 2-1 win against Tottenham carried similar weight.
Manchester City will know their destiny remains in their own hands, with maximum points from their …
Durability A Key Factor In Liverpool's Success
When you look at Liverpool’s success so far this season, one of the key reasons that the team has played consistently well is the lack of injuries to key players. Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold aside, of Liverpool’s main starting XI (or starting X plus one if we’re being fair), nobody has picked up anything more than a minor niggle this season.
And some would say that in that respect, Liverpool have been very lucky. Going through the team, there …
Triumph of the Understudies at Liverpool
It was only a few days ago that Liverpool fans bore witness to another one of Jürgen Klopp’s most repeated sentiments – “I don’t need to spend anything, I’ve got all that I need.”
“I don’t want to talk exactly what we will do, but I don't think this is a team at the moment where we have to spend the big money or whatever. "The best way to do it is bring together a group of players, try …
Liverpool back on top as the Reds hold their nerve to scrape through
Liverpool (and Milner) held their nerve as they beat Fulham by the odd goal in three to go back to the top of the table as the last international break of the season looms. Liverpool conceded an unexpected goal and it looked like Liverpool were going to drop points. Fortunately, the Fulham defence is the gift that keeps on giving and Liverpool snatched the three points which they desperately needed.
The key observations from this nerve-wracking game!
Liverpool back on …
The Ghost of Football Optimism
Anfield Index listeners and readers will know that I assemble some of the more negative verbiage in the Liverpool universe, even in a season where the club are making a run at their first title in the Premier League era.
Like most supporters, the transfer windows always leave me wanting more while the moves by the manager often confound my admittedly limited American, brain. My perspective changed though after a recent trip to England, the real England; past Ramsbottom and …