Liverpool FC – Weekly review
Another week has passed and another seven days of ups and downs at Liverpool Football Club. Here we take a look back at the week’s events and of course a look at the coming week ahead. The good, the bad and the awfully ugly.
The good point for the week is that the team hasn’t lost. Not just that but against two good sides, the work ethic was there in both of the games. The 0-0 at Tottenham was a more than satisfactory result in my opinion and in view of the fact that Spurs have only lost once all season – which was away to Manchester United on the first day – then there is definitely no shame in coming away from White Hart Lane with a point plus a clean sheet to-boot.
The stand out performers on the day, Mamadou Sakho and Simon Mignolet were worthy of the plaudits they received. Add to that, very encouraging performance from Emre Can and there alone are three reasons to be happy. I don’t think it’s out of order to say that Emre Can can likely replace the departed Steven Gerrard over the coming years. I’d even go so far as to say the young German at 21 years-old is arguably better than the old captain was at the same age. Certainly in terms of strength and tactical awareness.
Now I’ve ruffled a few feathers, let’s move on to the bad. This is probably a little harsh, but bad would describe the recent performances of Martin Skrtel over the last couple of games. At 30, he’s beginning to show his age in my opinion. He’s positioning in both matches has left a lot to be desired and for me, I’d say a central defender to complement Mamadou Sakho should be the priority in the next transfer window if money and availability permits. We saw in the week that Dejan Lovren didn’t even make the squad against Rubin Kazan shows just how short the club is in the centre of defence, and of course that Jürgen Klopp doesn’t rate him. Perhaps if there is a chance to bring Tiago Ilori back from loan at Aston Villa in January? Either way, reinforcements are needed as an injury to Sakho now would be bordering on catastrophic. OK, perhaps an overreaction, but definitely bad.
Last but definitely not least and speaking of overreactions, has been the response from some of the LFC “faithful” to the Rubin Kazan result during the week. Many supporters on Social media have been sorely disappointed by the fact that the opponents weren’t thrashed 4,5 or 6 nil. Liverpool played a very, very defensive side on Thursday. I don’t think there are many teams would have had more success against them. Jürgen Klopp was forced to start with Divock Origi who, let’s face it is probably the fourth choice striker at the club.
The introduction of Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke who let’s not forget were barely fit, put a much different complexion on the game. Unfortunately, Liverpool FC is not Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea or Barcelona. Fact. It irritates the hell out of me to hear Liverpool supporters acting as if we’re back in the early 1980’s. The club is not where it was, this is for sure, and Brendan Rodgers’ tenure didn’t work out as planned. All the club can do is try to move forward and this takes time.
Klopp said that in his first season at Dortmund, he had 15 draws in his first season. Fifteen draws! Liverpool have drawn both matches under Klopp and from what he’s saying, we’d better get used to these “half wins” as he calls them, because that quite rightly in his eyes, means the beginning of stability. This is where we need to start. It’s about time, the supporters chilled, got real and took a large dose of reality.
Up next, we have the visit of Southampton to Anfield on Sunday which will be as equally a big an ask as Tottenham was. Then Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup and then a huge encounter away to Chelsea before the away game at Rubin Kazan in Kazan. None of them are easy fixtures. Let’s hope we’re talking about more good results in next week’s review.
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