Liverpool FC – Gameweek 28 Reviewed

A game against “weaker” opposition looms,  and defeat would leave more doom and gloom. A win would avoid more egg on face, while UEFA’s stats show a poor 33rd place. FSG pledge to spend their millions, but will that turn the tide of opinions? The good, the bad and the ugly at the world’s favourite club. Liverpool FC. 

The Good

The obvious realisation from Jürgen Klopp that the club need to spend money in the summer. OK so this is the second week running that this topic has formed the “good”. To be honest, what else has happened? There’s been news surrounding Steven Gerrard in the coaching staff for the U-18s but that’s much of a muchness.

The links with players such as Moussa Dembele and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are welcome. However the former – also a reported target for Chelsea and Manchester City would be unlikely to choose the Reds over either of those two. As for the latter. Well is he that much better than, say, Jordan Ibe if at all? Many would say not.

In any case, the Express claim £150m is available. A sum which i believe to be within FSG’s capability and is a decent budget for three or four quality players. A level that the club must to look at in order to achieve and compete.

An interesting summer awaits if these numbers are to be believed. In the immediate term things don’t seem that promising.

The Bad

The latest UEFA standings show Liverpool in 33rd place in their ranking. There obviously needs to be a generous pinch of salt added to these of course. However, there is clearly some basis for such uninspiring news.

Sadly this is a sign of the times. The fact is – and I know there’s been discussion on this recently – Liverpool are no longer a top club. A big club perhaps, but not a top club. They may be relatively wealthy, but in terms of football, the club’s bread and butter, we’re no more than mediocre. Sad, but true. The game has changed. The world has changed.

In order to return to the heady days of the past that the fans continually hanker for, the club needs to get into the present and spend big in a world of money, money, money. Not great news for the traditionalist but hey, fight fire with fire in my opinion.

The Ugly

The fact that a home game against Burnley is one in which Liverpool has a “point to prove” according to Sadio Mané speaking to the club’s official website this week. Perhaps not as ugly per se as things could be, but bad enough.

The aim this season is clearly to achieve Champions League qualification. Yet, those hopes are ever-hinging on beating an ever-increasing list of “bogey” teams with ever-decreasing standards, as time goes by.

They have to prove that they can play in more than one way. That they too, can soak up pressure and triumph. That they too can stand firm against the rough stuff employed against them by so many teams.

I wish I could say I was looking forward to theee points against Burnley. All I can say realistically, is that I’m hoping for theee points against Burnley today. The visitors know what they need to do. They have a formula. A formula that Liverpool are yet to fathom, and deploy.

Not the most upbeat of reviews but should the team win today – and the next three games against Manchester City, Everton and Bournemouth, then things will sound a little more positive here.

It’s not just Mané who has a point to prove. The entire team has.

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