Liverpool FC – Gameweek 9 Review

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you may be. Welcome to the week nine Liverpool FC review. The continuance of the unbeaten run, sloppy defending and sour grapes. The good, the bad and the downright bitter at the worlds favourite football club. 

The Good

Without doubt, the continued form of the team. Not just in the league, but also the beginnings of a “fortress Anfield” mentality. Yesterday’s win over West Bromwich Albion takes the tally to 12 league matches unbeaten – since losing out to Manyoo in January of this year. That is actually some record. This term, Liverpool has lost only once to Burnley and these are the reasons LFC are now challenging at the top of the table.

We are also seeing Jürgen Klopp playing a settled eleven. The starters yesterday has generally been the first choice since the season began. Emre Can has come into the side for  Gino Wijnaldum who was returning from injury. Adam Lallana, recovering to recoup his starting berth from Daniel Sturridge.

The goals from Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mané were enough to confirm the manager’s choice. Both strikes involved Lallana and Can. One has to wonder what remains at Anfield for Sturridge who again, cut a lonely and unhappy figure in the paddock – ultimately to be unused in the game.

The defence of Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and James Milner is also proving to be a resilient choice. Loris Klarius between the sticks appears to signal the end of Simon Mignolet’s reign as first choice and will likely be relegated to cup games going forward.

The Reds dominated the game from start to finish against a Baggies side who were content to sit back and take scraps. In recent history, this has proven to be a worthwhile tactic against Liverpool. This indeed paid off as the visitors pulled a goal back to set up a close fought final 10 minutes. Which of course, leads to…

The Bad

Liverpool were again undone by poor defending from a set piece. This in my opinion, will ultimately be the difference between this side challenging – an achievement in itself after the last couple of seasons – and perhaps winning the league or silverware this season. It’s just the same old story. Nathaniel Clyne told the LFC official website this week, he felt the defence is improving. Perhaps in his eyes, but not mine.

There is only one new player in the back four. Two if you include James Milner’s change of role. However, I don’t see much in terms of stinginess from them. One clean sheet in nine games (11 goals conceded), despite scoring the most goals – 20 – smells very much like 2013/14 season territory – and we all know what happened then. I firmly don’t think Liverpool will win the league this year. However, I do fancy them for second or third. This is for sure. What will turn me into one of Klopp’s believers? More clean sheets.

The Downright Bitter

We don’t have an “Ugly” section this week per se. There is however, the comparable bitter comments of José Mourinho. The Manchester United boss told the BBC after Monday’s bore draw  Liverpool “..are not the last wonder of the world that the media like to say they are”. Yeah right! The ex- Chelsea boss is as bitter as a ton of lemons. This is best explained by comments Danny Murphy made a few weeks back.

The former Liverpool midfielder told Talksport, Mourinho “massively wanted” the Manager’s job at LFC. However, the board (quite rightly) chose Rafa Benitez due to his winning the league in Spain and not as Mourinho had done up to then – in the one horse race that is the Portuguese Primera Liga – with Porto.

Poor José as a result, was “massively disappointed” with the decision (yes, another “massively”, but you can get Danny’s point!). Like your average Batman villain, he has vowed revenge ever since. “I’m gonna get you Liverpool. Mark my words…!”. And so the vendetta began. Never since Hamlet has there been a better story of revenge than this one. So now we all know the reason behind Mourinho’s disdain for the club.

Looking ahead, Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield this week for the EFL Cup tie. After that, a visit to “saaaf” London for the Premier League match against eternal bogey team Crystal Palace containing none other than recently departed Liverpool striker Christian Benteke.

Victories in both of these games will surely place most supporters – me included – in dreamland. Let’s see if next week’s review contains more of the same.

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