Liverpool FC – Gameweek 26 in Review

A week training in sunny Spain, following a win over Tottenham to ease a January of pain. Of course this doesn’t mean they’re out of the woods, but a new training ground in Kirkby might just help to produce the goods. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool FC.

The Good

The news that the club plan to redevelop the Kirkby training facility to house both the senior and Academy set-ups is the highlight for me.

Should the plan go ahead, it will mark a huge change for the Merseyside club. The intention is to sell the Melwood training facility in the West Derby district of Liverpool, after almost 70 years at the site. The estimated cost of the project has been put at £50m.

The development of the younger players can be better monitored by management. For the youngsters, seeing the professionals at work on a daily basis can only aid their development. Currently, one gets the idea that the Kirkby facility is a place where the future of the club is kept at a firm distance from the present – and its illustrious past – despite playing a major role in both.

The 70-acre site will (hopefully) provide some-needed seclusion and privacy around the first team. Many have speculated that Liverpool’s lack of success has, to some extent, been due to the their training methods and plans being open to scrutiny and observation. I’m inclined to agree as I don’t believe that all those peeking into the Melwood facility atop a bin or car are only starry-eyed youngsters hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Pre-match and half-time talks are always held in private. But hey, let’s show the world how we train and prepare… A rather Johnny English-esque approach to privacy.

The Bad

The win over rivals Tottenham Hotspurs in the last Premier League match. Does this mean Liverpool are back? A question posed by Sky Sports after the result. Alas the answer is likely: no, not really. That said, the victory was a welcome one following a dismal run of form in January. P:11; W2; D4; L5. Yes, lost five.

However, a win is a win and Liverpool need to repeat their heroics against the likes of Swansea, Southampton and Wolves. All came to Anfield and left victorious in January. The pundits and press often forget that Liverpool – not just under Jürgen Klopp but Brendan Rodgers also – have been repeatedly guilty of not stamping any kind of authority over teams outside the top six in the league.

This is why Liverpool will remain only the best of the rest until they can achieve some consistent and ruthless form.  Not to mention the apparent reliance on the mercurial Sadio Mané. As I’ve pointed out in previous articles, Liverpool could do the double over the top six and still end up in a relegation “dogfight” as it’s often called. Presumably, a dog’s breakfast would be equally as ugly. Not as brutal, but messy enough to describe their plight.

Klopp has urged his side to win ALL of their remaining 14 Premiership games. A nice thought. If those games are against the teams other than the top six, then there’s more chance of Donald Trump becoming King.

The Ugly

In the light of Claudio Ranieri’s sacking, Liverpool fans have been quoted as saying they hope “we smash them 10-1 now”, “disgrace” etc. In my opinion Leicester have taken the decision they had to. The way things were heading, they would likely become the first Premier League side to be Champions and then relegated in successive seasons. Honestly, who wants that pub quiz question for an honour?

Given Liverpool’s record against teams in Leicester’s position, the fans could do well focusing on themselves instead of the right or wrong doings of others. One has to wonder whether, if the Foxes weren’t the next opponent, would we even be bothered?

Nobody seemed to care when Alan Pardew was sacked as Crystal Palace manager in December, or Mike Phelan from Hull City last month. The very day preceding their defeat of Liverpool, incidentally! Or, is it because Messrs. Pardew and Phelan didn’t win the league last season? Whichever, discretion remains the greater side of valour and LFC fans could do well to observe this. Especially if  Ranieri’s sacking has the same effect on Leicester as Phelan’s did on Hull.

Roll on 8pm tomorrow night. A seemingly unlikely victory would put Liverpool in second position – other fixtures permitting of course. In the meantime, I won’t be expressing any concern for dearly departed opposition club members. Only my hope that LFC can record another three points.

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