Liverpool F.C. – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Gameweek 29
Liverpool return to winning ways, as Mo and Mané save the day. A trip to London goes belly-up, when the Blues dump the Reds out of the cup. Klopp shows there is a God, as flop is dropped from the squad. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Returning to winning ways against Bournemouth. The Cherries came to Anfield in confident mood, despite their 18th position in the Premiership. For Liverpool, a tad downbeat after losing their last three games, a win was a must in order to restore confidence and stop the inevitable wave of “discussion” should they extend their losing run.
Jürgen Klopp reverted to his favoured lineup following the midweek loss to Chelsea (see “Bad” below). Adrian started in goal due to a “muscle injury” to Alisson in training ahead of the Chelsea game. The fans can be forgiven for having that sinking feeling as Callum Wilson put the visitors ahead after only nine minutes despite what seemed to be a fowl on Joe Gomez in the build up. Cue anxiety in Anfield.
In any case, it was clear that Liverpool would get back into this game. The problem is that they were very sloppy in possession it has to be said. I’m not sure what it is with Liverpool at the moment, but they don’t seem their usual selves. Was it the manner of the defeat against Watford? Has Klopp brought a couple of the players down peg or two? Is it just nerves? It’s difficult to say, but something seems a miss.
However, on 25 minutes, they were back in the game. Mo Salah connecting with a lay off from Sadio Mané to squeeze a shot past Aaron Ramsdale for the equaliser. Eight minutes later, Liverpool were back in from when Mané latched onto Virgil van Dijk’s perfect through ball to slot home. After the break, Mané almost made it three with a rasping shot from the left edge of the Bournemouth penalty box, that shook the upright.
The second half, on the whole was quite a dour affair. Liverpool resolved to keep possession and play a slow patient game. Bournemouth content to sit back and wait for their chance – which ultimately didn’t come. The host’s will to win was epitomised by a superb goal-mouth clearance from Ryan Frazer’s goal-bound effort late on.
Overall a good result and, another record was set for home wins. Liverpool’s 22nd successive (top) league victory at home, surpassing that set by Bill Shankly’s team in 1972.
https://twitter.com/fiireanddice/status/1236601224050376705?s=21
The Bad
Losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round. Personally, I’m not that bothered about the competition if I’m honest. But to be fair, I never really like to see the team lose. Klopp made a number of changes to his regular lineup, including young Neco Williams at right back and Curtis Jones in midfield.
New signing Takumi Minamino started, but remains somewhat of an enigma for me. He seems to be quite bright and lively but still comes short in my opinion. A tad lightweight and still not yet up to speed with how Liverpool play. I hope it’ll come with time but for now, I’m unconvinced. Still, many thought that about Jordan Henderson and look how he’s turned out!
The scoreline was fair in a game that Liverpool played a good part in, but just didn’t deliver ultimately. The villain’s hat has to go to ‘keeper Adrian for his balls-up that gifted Chelsea their opener. The ball bouncing off his body and into the net. Not a great sign, considering Alisson is now injured.
The Reds were continually caught on the counterattack, and again when they succumbed to Ross Barkley’s breakaway goal midway through the second half. Youngsters Williams and Jones along with the rest of the Liverpool side actually gave a good account of themselves but in the end it wasn’t to be.
Long live Liverpool …still my best♥️⚽ #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/PXQuUaO8QX
— N:I:C:K:Y (@NickyKiptoo) March 3, 2020
The Ugly
Klopp’s defence of Dejan Lovren. The manager referred to Lovren as “an outstanding centre half” in the aftermath of the Watford game.
“It’s not fair, but that’s the world – if anybody gave Dejan Lovren the blame for our defeat then I can’t help these people”
I’m sorry but I don’t agree. Virgil van Dijk is an outstanding centre half but the club wasn’t on the verge of selling him in the summer. I don’t believe anybody thinks Lovren was solely to blame for the loss to Watford. That would be absurd. However, it’s fair to say that he’s currently the fourth choice central defender at the club… out of four, so that means something.
The fact is, Lovren is below the standard set by the other defenders. Therefore it’s perfectly within reason to say the defence was weaker as a result of him playing. It’s unlikely Troy Deeney would have targeted any others of the clubs centre halves. He just felt – obviously, he’d have better chances to score against him.
At the end of the day, the manager is hardly going to say: Lovren is shit, but sadly we couldn’t sell him in the summer. A tad extreme, but as the club would sell him to a willing buyer, it would be foolish to talk him down. Save to say, he hasn’t featured since, so if actions speak louder than words, he may privately share this opinion anyway.
'If anybody gave Dejan Lovren the blame for our defeat then I can’t help these people,' Jurgen Klopp with a rebuke for those critics who have made his defender a scapegoat https://t.co/Q1KwnAwG3g
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) March 2, 2020
On This Day
In the year 2000, one Emile Ivanhoe Heskey signed for Liverpool from Leicester City for the princely sum of £11m. The then 22 year-old went on to make 223 appearances for the Reds, scoring 60 goals in the process. On occasion followed by his trademark DJ celebration. 22 of those goals came in his first season with the club – the famous treble-winning side of 2000/2001.
Next up we have the replay against Athletico at Anfield tomorrow, followed by a trip across Stanley Park to visit the noisy neighbours on Monday. An intriguing week ahead.
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