Liverpool FC – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Gameweek 11

The Reds down the Villans to remain front-runners, and stay in the cup after a tussle with the Gunners. Klopp threatens to boycott the cup, after festive fixture pile up. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Another week reviewed at the worlds favourite football club Liverpool F.C.

The Good

Coming from a goal down to beat Aston Villa yesterday. Jürgen Klopp’s men left it late to save their blushes against a well organised and stubborn Villa side. It looked as if Trézéguet’s 21st minute opener was going to seal a famous victory for the Caret & Blues on their return to top-flight football.

To be fair, Liverpool played like a team that didn’t know what defeat meant and just kept going… and going… and going. They were incessant. It has to be said though, that at 1-0 down with five minutes to go, one can’t be blamed for beginning to as “what if…?” As the familiar squeaky-bum time set in.

In the end they were too much for Dean Smith’s side and left Villa Park with all three points. Was it harsh on Aston Villa? Perhaps. Was this a sign of this Liverpool team’s title credentials? Absolutely.

This wasn’t a game in which Liverpool played badly. It was a game in which they were stifled. However, champions are very difficult to defeat in this manner. The Reds team of two or three years ago would indeed have fallen to that fate. This bunch however, are showing they’re made of much sterner stuff.

FULL-TIME Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool

Incredible late drama at Villa Park as Robertson and Mane both score with headers in the last 10 minutes of the match#AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/jhzxrZTZAR

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2019

The Bad

Despite the result, the Carabao Cup game against Arsenal during the week. Granted, the team are into the quarter finals after the win but I’m not sure the team will get much further from what I’ve seen. And, it was primarily a reserve side that Jürgen Klopp fielded against the Gunners (who done the same). But they’ll have to play better to advance further in the competition.

Their next opponents – Aston Villa funnily enough – will no doubt field a full strength side in order to achieve some silverware this season. Let’s face it, they’ve got between fat chance and no chance of the Premiership. Not to mention European football to destruct from their efforts. A tough challenge for the current group of debutants who played against Arsenal.

Overall, when I think that the majority of the players on show represent the future of the team, it’s not hard to wonder how the current first team will be superseded.

On the other hand Klopp has been told by owners FSG to prioritise the league and to this extent, I personally wouldn’t be bothered if the team crashed out in the competition at this stage. The league is the holy grail for Liverpool FC. The raison d’etre.

In view of this, the time would be better spent developing the young players by way of more chances in the league. One could argue they’d do more harm than good, but half an hour here and there when a game is “safe” wouldn’t do any harm. Or would it?

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been told not to focus on domestic cups
Reds' owners want focus on winning Premier League and Champions League. the FA Cup and League Cup are low on their list of priorities. pic.twitter.com/bJGwovxo1A

— Lilian Chan (@bestgug) August 11, 2019

The Ugly

The impending fixture pile-up over Christmas and New Year. The team faces Villa on the 17th December before flying out to Qatar for Fifa’s World Club Tournament. Klopp has already said he would consider pulling his team from the Carabao Cup if a solution can not be found as he refuses to consider playing two teams over the two fixtures.

Sadly, this is a prime example of what the game has become. It’s all about the money. This is the only reason why FIFA will be holding the competition. To please sponsors and business. But surely, shouldn’t the well-being of the players who make the very spectacle be protected?

Much is made of the money the players earn. To a large extent this is due to the sponsors and big businesses that fund the game. However, let’s not confuse commerce with the raw passion and love for the game that has made it what it is today. This and those that create it, both players and the fans, should not be a source of profit for those with little or no genuine interest in it.

I have to ask myself: why isn’t Klopp threatening to pull out of the World Club Cup instead? Call me cynical but there’s likely a higher (not to mention financial) order to please.

Henry: "Our No1 priority is to win the League", "And when you win a championship – and we will – success isnt measured by winning once" #lfc

— Neil Simpson (@Simpson2102) April 6, 2011

Next up we have Champions League visit of KRC Genk to Anfield as well as the game of the week on Sunday when Liverpool play host to title rivals Manchester City. Game on!

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