Liverpool FC – Gameweek 31 in Review 

To be concerned, Liverpool fans have good reason, for Mané is out for the rest of the season. One thing, however, is good to see – football triumphs over thuggery at BVB. One has to ask: Where did that come from: The clean sheet at West Brom? Another week of the good, the bad and the ugly in football and LFC. 

The Good

A midweek trip to Signal Iduna Park to watch Borussia Dortmund take on AS Monaco. Made possible by my good friend and super staunch BVB fan Dennis Molitor of the BVB ZwanzigZwölf supporters club. I have to say a cracking time was had – apart from losing 2-3 of course. Needless to say, the attack on the Dortmund team bus which injured Spanish international Marc Bartra was an unwelcome distraction.

When the game did finally get under way, the spectacle of the Gelbe Wand (Yellow Wall) was awe inspiring.  The supporters were superb and never stopped singing throughout. But as the saying goes: there’s no pleasure without pain and we certainly got that.

Two goals down by half time – one of which being an exquisite headed own goal from Sven Bender. A sure contender for goal of the month had it been at the right end, added to the sour taste. Despite the lions share of possession in the second half and goals from Ousmane Dembele and Shinji Kagawa, the hosts were unable to salvage anything from this quarter-final first leg match.

I have to say, being a Liverpool fan of over 40 years, I saw many similarities between this BVB side and LFC. A penchant for giving the ball away in dangerous areas (leading to Monaco’s third goal for example), poor passing and terrible defending. They certainly made me feel at home. Not to mention a super rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. But for the colour scheme, this could have been Anfield!

The Bad

This can only be news that Sadio Mané will miss the rest of the season through injury.

I hate to say I told you so but I warned his injury looked pretty serious in my last review. Despite the initial optimism, it’s clear the 25 year-old will take no further part this season.

Mané has been hugely influential for Jürgen Klopp’s side this Season and his absence arguably led to this years January horribilis when the Reds didn’t record a single win.

As things stand, Divock Origi seems to be the first choice replacement, ahead of Daniel Stirridge who clearly has a lot of convincing to do if he is to remain a Liverpool player past the end of the season. Ben Woodburn, for me is probably a season – and a few goals – away from being seriously considered.

The Ugly

I use the term loosely because I’m referring to the ugly win against West Bromwich Albion this afternoon. And… a clean sheet to boot. Liverpool’s first away one in the league for what seems like eons.

Winning this kind of game is the bread and butter of any side with top four ambitions. To retain third spot as well is a job well done and Klopp and his boys should be congratulated. This was no vintage performance by any means, as the score line suggests. Being 0-1 up at the Hawthorns on 90 mins plus 2 is never a pretty affair and the visitors dealt with the aerial onslaught admirably. This, despite Alberto Moreno missing an open goal very late on after Baggies ‘keeper Ben Foster took up a position in attack. The Spaniard snatched his shot wide and thus he’ll likely continue to start from the bench going forward!

In closing we can’t review this week without sharing a thought for the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives 28 years ago yesterday. A very sad event in the club’s history. As was sung in Dortmund on Wednesday night: YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.

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