Liverpool FC – Gameweek 11 Review

Welcome to this week’s review of the world’s favourite football club. Scintillating football, top of the league, yet still can’t keep a clean sheet. Internal promotions and a great prospect suffers another injury. The good, the bad and the sadly ugly from the last seven days at Liverpool FC. 

The Good

This has, undoubtedly, got to be the 6-1 drubbing of Watford this afternoon. With this win, the Reds move to the top of the Barclays Premier League for the first time since May 2014.

Two goals from Sadio Mané, plus one each for Philippe Coutinho, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and the first in a Liverpool shirt for Georginio Wijnaldum saw off a tame showing from Walter Mazzarri’s side.

Liverpool started slowly but, after around the 15 minute mark, stepped up a gear to simply mesmerize their visitors with some super football. By half time the score was 3-0 and Watford were sunk without trace.

Coutinho, Mané and Firmino continued their rich vain of form and showing exactly why the Brazilian No. 10 has won the player of the month award for October. The whole team could have shared the award in my view. They’ve been that good.

Jordan Henderson  has demonstrated what a great player he has become and will likely to get even better. The 25 year-old could develop into one of the world’s best central midfielders if he isn’t regarded as such already. I kid you not.

However, after 75 minutes and Liverpool 5-0 up and cruising, the same old bug-bear struck again.  Absolutely shabby defending allowed Daryl Janmaat to sneak a Ill-deserved consolation for the visitors. Which brings me on to the week’s bad.

The Bad

The defence. Oh lord, the defence! It seems this Liverpool side, for all their attacking verve, flexibility and  panache, seem unable to keep a clean sheet for toffee. The goal the team conceded today was softer than a queen’s bed linen. With the installation of Michael Edwards this week as Director of Football, talk has centred around the former Technical Director seeking additions to the attack.

In light of the poor defensive record – a situation that has blighted the club for the best part of I don’t know how long, I doubt he’ll need his degree in business management and informatics to work out the priority should be the less sexy end of the field. A defender is badly needed.

Joel Matip oozes class but needs a solid partner to match. Lucas Leiva, whilst a great servant to the club is no Sami Hyypia.  Dejan Lovren for all his improving, remains likely to implode at any given moment, as his Jekyll and Hyde performance against Crystal Palace last weekend.

The way Liverpool are playing right now, they have to be favourites for the title. Barring an injury crisis and/or a shocking lack of form, number 19 is not out of reach. My only concern is this Kevin Keegan-esque we-will-score-more-than-them approach which is always doomed to failure. Usually in spectacular style.

Describing Anfield as a “Fortress” as some have recently, is a bit rich. A fortress is impenetrable. An analogy: As a fortress, Anfield is often penetrated. However, once inside, an epic, bloody battle ensues where they’re simply the last guys standing. You can win battles like this, but not wars.

The Sadly Ugly

This week it’s sad and ugly. Sadly ugly. The injury to Danny Ings has come about just as the feel good factor was beginning to take hold like the flu on a bus in October.

The 24 year-old has had terrible luck with injuries since joining the club from Burnley in 2015. Having recovered from the dreaded Anterior Cruciate Ligament rupture towards the end of last season, Ings was on the verge of staking a real claim for first team football. Now the England international will have to sit out the rest of the season… Yet again.

The pleasing thing is that Klopp has voiced his support for Ings. We, as supporters can only echo those sentiments.

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