Liverpool F.C. – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Gameweek 14
The Reds lead at the top by 11, no wonder fans think they’re in heaven. The team leaves the fans wanting more, after a Champions League bore draw. The ‘keeper loses his head, and consequently sees red. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – The week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
The unbeaten run continues. The game against Brighton, although not surprising in terms of the result, was still another three points on the board. Especially seeing as Manchester City could only muster a draw against Newcastle.
Two headed goals from Virgil van Dijk and assists from Trent Alexander-Arnold summed up an afternoon where despite willing opponents, Liverpool came out on top. Apart from earning me 27 points between them for my Fantasy Football team, the defensive duo ensured that Jürgen Klopp’s men remain the only team not to have been defeated this seasons in England’s top flight.
This wasn’t the most exciting of games. The old cliché “professional” summed Liverpool up. No fuss, no drama, just a solid all round performance from the team everybody now has to beat. Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain looked good value until he made way for substitute ‘keeper Adrian after Alisson was sent off (see The Ugly below).
The win now puts the team eight points clear of their nearest rivals, Leicester City. A decent haul for this season so far. The comparisons with Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” side of 2004 are a little far fetched to be fair. For reasons which are only too glaring.
You will have to go back to the 0-1 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in September for the last time Liverpool kept a clean sheet in the league. For now, the heroics of arguably the best strike force in Europe are stopping tongues wagging but should they have a dry patch then the wheels will fall off quicker than a Banger in a Banger Car race.
There’s something about us and winning games 2-1… #BHALIV
— Teneke Mal Zibil (@Suav3_19) November 30, 2019
The Bad
The midweek draw against Napoli in the Champions League. Okay granted, not a total disaster, as Liverpool still top Group E. That said, it wasn’t exactly the stuff memories are made of either.
The Reds fell behind to a Dries Mertens goal in the 21st minute, only to get back on level terms, through the unlikely figure of Dejan Lovren with 25 minutes remaining. The hosts huffed and puffed through what was an uninspiring affair.
Again, not a huge deal. Just a boring match in my opinion. Thankfully, Liverpool were able to salvage a point from a team that frankly always gives them a hard time. Are Napoli a good team? Yes. Are they better than the Reds? I’d say not.
This is simply a classic example of a team raising their game when the “team to beat” is the opponent. Perhaps that’s why they’re seventh in Serie A. In any case, Klopp’s boys done well to avoid defeat and top the group with one game remaining.
https://twitter.com/amicus_arcane/status/1199811242140921856?s=21
The Ugly
Alisson managing to get himself sent off on Saturday. You’re 2-0 up, cruising. Why not get yourself sent off? Just to add a bit of drama to the last 20 minutes. After all, the fans have paid good money to see the game, so let’s give them their money’s worth.
“They are trying to get used to each other and the referee lets it go like this. We cannot change it but for me it’s not 100 per cent right.”
No Alisson… you knob! This is not what the paying fans want to see. Apart from the fact that there was absolutely no need whatsoever to go charging out like that, but to handle the ball. Really? The term Schoolboy error wouldn’t be inappropriate here.
What made matters worse is the fact that referee Martin Atkinson allowed the resulting free-kick to be taken whilst substitute ‘keeper Adrian was still trying to organise the wall after coming on!
Klopp quite rightly pointed this out and I cannot believe the man in the middle is able to engage in what appears to simply be unsportsmanlike conduct. Surely the team should permitted time to organise themselves in such circumstances? Yes there must be a limit to the time taken, but I don’t believe this wasn’t observed.
Put simply, it is cheating. The rulers of the game are quick to make inconsequential rules like penalising a player for removing his shirt when celebrating a goal – yet they continue to allow behaviour which basically goes against the spirit of sport in general. Shocking!
Martin Atkinson in his last three Liverpool games.
1. Foul on Origi in the build up to Utds goal not given
2. Moved the VAR line to make Firmino offside when he wasn’t
3. Whistles when Adrian is still on his post for Brighton’s goal today
Not dodgy at all 🤥🤥🤥#LFC
— David Holmes (@DaveHolmes1985) November 30, 2019
Next up, we have an encounter with the noisy neighbours on Wednesday, followed by a trip down to the seaside to play Bournemouth. Useless fact: Peter Crouch made his debut for Liverpool on this day in 2005.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @TheLFCFile
Facebook: @thelfcfile
And now on Instagram: thelfcfile
