Liverpool FC – Gameweek 1 in Review

The circus that is the English Premier League roles back into town. Thrills and spills mean no standing still. The 2017/18 season is set to be another roller coaster. The Good, the bad and the downright ugly at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool FC. The Good

The signing of Mohamed Salah for a club record fee of some £40m. The Egyptian international has wasted no time in showing the Liverpool fan base just what an astute purchase he’s been.

Goals aplenty in preseason, together with another in the opening fixture of the season against Watford represent money well spent in anyone’s book. One of the best performers in what can only be considered a total disappointment to start the new campaign.

Salah already appears to compliment Sadio Mané for pace and guile and will also serve as a replacement should the ex-Southampton attacker be forced into international duty or pick up an injury at a crucial stage of the season.

Speaking of Southampton, we come onto…

The Bad

A double whammy for this one. The failure – thus far – to land Mané’s former team mate Virgil van Dijk from the Southampton.

To think the club didn’t even make an offer for the player before claiming right to him simply sums up Liverpool’s activities in the transfer market this year. Arrogant, sloppy and poor.

The abysmal so-called defending witnessed against Watford at the weekend only compounds the abject failure and blatant incompetence of the club to address their failings of last season. And it gets worse.

Chelsea are reportedly looking to jump into the mix with a bid. Sneaking up and past Liverpool like a rank outsider in the final two furlongs at the Grand National. Spurred by Southampton’s desire to avoid dealing with the Reds at all costs. If successful, this will add a huge dollop of salt to self-inflicted wounds.

The farce that turned out to be the pursuit of Naby Keïta from RB Leipzig didn’t help either. Step forward Jürgen Klopp in the aftermath of the Watford game.

The German finally hearing the penny drop in admitting that reinforcements are needed. Do you think so?? A far cry from the relaxed and overly confident Klopp that we saw a few weeks ago when defeating a rusty Bayern Munich side 0-3.

In all this, what I struggle with is the fact that no suitable plan B appears to exist. Perhaps a reminder of Liverpool’s general tactical approach last season.

The Ugly

The Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona situation. Personally, if the club could get £100m+ for a player they bought for just over a tenth of that, then it’s good business. Business? I hear you squirm. Yes, for I’m afraid that’s what the game has now become. A serious business of money, money and a bit more… money.

For a player who manages perhaps four top drawer performances in a row at best in between just showing up in others, I see no need to get so emotional.

The old adage no player is bigger than the club applies. If he wants to go, sell him. The Brazilian is supposedly “injured”. Coincidental on two counts.

Firstly, he avoids the rough and tumble of a team like Watford. Secondly, he’s unavailable for selection against Hoffenheim for the Champions League qualifier tomorrow. On the bright side, at least he won’t be cup tied for his new club!

Without overreacting, one can’t help but be disappointed. The fact that Liverpool go into a season which will mean two games a week (either Champions or Europa League), plus domestic cup games – with only one proven new signing in Mo Salah, simply isn’t good enough if ambitions are to be achieved. The return of John Flanagan or the emergence of Trent Alexander Arnold don’t really count in my opinion.

The season is in it’s infancy and there remains two more weeks before the transfer window slams shut. That’s time to redress the current situation.

Yesterday’s result could have been worse. The team could have lost. The fact they “deserved” to win is irrelevant to me. Truth is they drew and the table shows only one point. We move on.

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