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Liverpool FC – Gameweek 38 in Review

Ben Green

The end of another Premiership race, the Reds have secured fourth place. Could they have finished higher? Well, they took the Champions League to the wire. Klopp and his men have good reason, to be proud of their achievements in this season. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, a week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool FC.

The Good

Despite letting third place slip from their grasp, Liverpool fans can be proud of the team’s overall placing this year. In fairness, it’s evident the team has had one eye on the Champions League final (more on that later). As a result, this affected results in the league negatively with two wins, three draws and one loss from their last six games. Not exactly the stuff of champions but commendable in the circumstances.

One stat I saw this morning was that Liverpool were third in the clean sheet ranking on the Premier League Website. This is actually quite reassuring, especially as many Reds fans – me included – thought the team leaked more goals than Liza’s bucket. On the contrary indeed, with 17 behind Manchesters United and City with 19 and 18 respectively.

Overall not a bad showing from the boys this time around. Jürgen Klopp also deserves credit for his good use of the squad. The 50 year-old has used it to full effect over the Christmas’s and New Year program and into a hectic January and February. Not to mention the league games allied to the Champions League run-in. Perhaps the deployment of second-rate players cost the team in the end but still, you can’t have everything, can you?

The Bad

With the long-awaited purchase of Virgil van Dijk completed in January, the team has looked a lot more assured at the back. Sadly, this wasn’t done in time to ensure a third place (or higher) finish. Many of said clean sheets came in the second half of the season following the big Dutchman’s arrival.

I know this may be “ifs”, “buts” and “maybes”, but it’s not unreasonable to say that the two points that separate Liverpool and Tottenham in third place could have been avoided with a better defence. Dejan Lovren, in my opinion is in no way a suitable partner for van Dijk and I can’t see any improvement next season until this is addressed.

Again this season, we see the club linked with this attacker, that attacker. Any attacker who is either viable, or designated as such by his agent. Fact is, another dependable, reliable and consistent centre back would likely complete the puzzle. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and van Dijk are all good defenders but the team needs more.

The Smugly

That Liverpool have reached the Champions League final is nothing short of remarkable. Nobody would have given the Reds a chance at the beginning of the season. The 6-3 aggregate win over Hoffenheim was expected. Qualification to the group stages and maybe into the last 16. But to reach the final… the FINAL of the Champions League I say… a superb achievement by Klopp, the team and all involved at the club.

Whatever happens on 26th May, we can only be proud. I don’t have a particular expectation ahead of the game. Obviously I’d like Liverpool to win, but so long as he team puts in the kind of performance we know they’re capable of, then I’ll be happy. There will be the “knockers”, or “tits” if you prefer. In fairness though Klopp has taken a decent team from also-tans to rubbing shoulders with the elite of the game.playing Teal Madrid in the games flagship competition. You don’t get more elite than that!

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Ben Green

Avid LFC supporter for 50 of his 53 years. Seen it all, ups and the downs. Now praying for a return to winning ways. Whichever way it comes!

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