Liverpool FC – Gameweek 13 in Review

A performance of patience and determination. A crowd that needs reminding who they represent and proof that football is not beyond the scandals that blight society. This week’s good, bad and downright ugly at the world’s favourite football club, Liverpool FC.

The Good

For a start, it wasn’t the speculation following Steven Gerrard’s decision to retire from professional football. In my opinion this has been more of a distraction to the club. The good of the week is the performance against the Public Service Vehicle that is Sunderland Athletic Football Club. David Moyes made no attempt to play down his “park-the-bus” tactic. Jürgen Klopp, was forced to describe yesterdays’ opponents as “the most defensive team I ever saw”.

This was indeed an understatement, as the Black Cats’ strung the game out in search of a bore draw. You couldn’t even say they were trying to “nick” a goal on the break, such was their intent to play nine defenders and a goalie, behind Jermain Defoe as the lone “striker”. Or odd man out would equally do.

A strike from substitute Divock Origi – on for the injured Philippe Coutinho – was enough to break the deadlock on 75 minutes with a lovely curled effort from inside the box. The points were secured when Didier Ndong – not content with injuring Coutinho – carelessly felled Sadio Mané in the box to concede a penalty. James Milner dispatched the spot-kick with his usual aplomb. The fans in raptures but, it must be noted, not without some prompting from Kopp. Which leads us to…

The Bad

Yesterday we saw an example of how the modern day LFC fan often lacks some of the passion and enthusiasm of his former peers. Klopp was seen furiously trying to rouse a Liverpool crowd that had – for him – fallen far too silent.

This is something I have long noticed. I haven’t been to Anfield for some years now, but the last time I went, I saw the atmosphere had changed. Yes, the crowd sings “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Yes, the crowd rocks when a goal is or almost scored. But, for some reason it’s not the same. Klopp was quoted yesterday as saying the feeling he got from the crowd was like “Come on, we have waited long enough.” And with that, he hit the nail on the head.

Liverpool have not won the league for over 25 years. This in general terms is a generation. So those in the crowd under the age of say, 35, have very little or no memory of the time when the team last won the league. Since then, the crowd and fanbase lay in waiting for number 19.

This is also evident in the crowd. On occasion it is just too “quiet”. The point is that the supporters play the legendary “twelfth man”. The member of the team that makes a difference. When things aren’t looking good, they keep cheering and willing them on – until things do look good. I don’t want to seem condescending but many over the age of 45 would agree. It’s a cliché but it just ain’t what it used to be.

Hopefully with Klopp keeping the crowd on their toes, that will change. There’s no use us as spectators complaining when the team doesn’t play well. The same spectators in the ground have their part to play too.

The Downright Ugly

News broke this week of allegations of sexual abuse against young footballers. The claims were first made by ex-Crewe Alexander defender Andy Woodward. Although Liverpool (thankfully) have not been named, former Reds striker Paul Stewart came forward to reveal he too had been a victim of abuse whilst a trainee at Blackpool in the 1970’s.

Stewart, now 52 went on to say he feels abuse is still happening today in football. Whilst not being totally surprised by these revelations, it just serves to remind us that football is by no means immune to the awful events that blight us as people in every day life. One thought that comes to mind, along with total and utter sympathy for these players, is just how much quality and ability has been lost to the game through these events. One can only imagine because sadly, we will never know.

Not the happiest of notes on which to end this weeks review, but these events are things that can’t be ignored. The fact that it has happened to an ex-Liverpool player, perhaps makes us as supporters take a little more notice. And so we should.

Next up is the tricky quarter-final tie against Leeds at Anfield on Tuesday. With a team performance in keeping with recent levels and the crowd performing to expectations, Liverpool could see themselves in the semi-final. That, and three points against Bournemouth on Sunday would see the Reds negotiate a November which I was going into with trepidation. Now I can go into December with confidence. YNWA

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