Liverpool F.C. – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Gameweek 31… CHAMPIONS!

Having hit the Eagles for four, the fans need wait no more. After a wait of 30 years, it’s time for celebrations and cheers. We are LFC, Premier League Champions for all to see. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite Champions – Liverpool F.C.

The Good

This is a tricky one. Many would say it’s earning No. 19 this week. That is of course very good but however, getting back to winning ways after the bore draw at Everton. The team dispatched with Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday evening running out comfortable 4-0 winners.

Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mané, showed the gulf in class and ability that existed between the two teams. The visitors were rocked early on losing star player and talisman Wilfried Zaha to injury. From then on it was pretty much one way traffic as the Reds shrugged off the ring-rust that had plagued them in their previous game.

The Anfield stadium was decked out in banners over the seats in tribute to the missing fans due to the current social distancing rules. That said, the train was not derailed by the lack of presence of the Anfield faithful. Wave after wave of Reds attack came. Alexander-Arnold put the hosts ahead with a super free-kick after 23 minutes. The Reds went into the break two goals for the good after Salah put the second past Wayne Hennessey.

A thunderbolt from Fabinho ten minutes after the restart was no more than the Brazilian deserved for a great evening’s work. Sadio Mané finished things off in the 69th minute when it was long clear that their opponents weren’t going to be putting up much of a challenge. Not today.

Therefore, worthy of being this week’s “Good”. A result that set us up nicely for…

What a night 🙌🏾 4 goals, a clean sheet and 3 points closer… 🔴🔴 #LIVCRY #YNWA pic.twitter.com/ouXZLDNhso

— Gini Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) June 24, 2020

The (Not) Bad

Of course becoming Premier League Champions and winners of the top-flight division for a 19th time. To think the club hasn’t won the league in the Premiership era is somewhat surprising. However, this has now been rectified.

Following Manchester City’s defeat at the hands of Chelsea (who are looking as if they’ll be a force next season by the way), the league is now mathematically – and thus basically – Liverpool’s.

To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement. I remember the last title win and I’m ever surprised to find myself in what is almost a minority of the fans nowadays. 30 years… It doesn’t seem that long. There’s been many near misses. Four, second places since Sir Kenny Dalglish’s side last lifts the trophy in 1990. There have also been some great results along the way. My personal favourites that immediately come to mind are:

• The 4-3 at Anfield against Newcastle. Stan Collymore scoring a fantastic tap-in at the far post at the Kop end. Roy Evans was manager.
• The treble year winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup under Gerard Houllier.
• Of course the Champions League Triumph in 1985. Coming from 3-0 down to win on penalties. Rafa Benitez as boss.
• The thrilling run-in to the 2013/14 season that saw Liverpool lose out to Manchester City under Brendan Rodgers.
• The toe-to-toe battle last season before the team (again) lost out to the blue half of Manchester.

Of course there’s been more but those stand out for me every time. This season, Jürgen Klopp has had his team playing like finely honed athletes – which of course they are. Simply fantastic. Superbly fit, organised, resilient and thoroughly entertaining.

And that’s why #lfc will be worthy champions. No asterisk. No quibbles. Just supreme work ethic, mindset, athleticism. Just pressing, switching play, interchanging. Just relentless. Belief in each other, belief in the manager. One of the finest teams of the modern era. #LIVCRY

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 24, 2020

The (Sm)ugly

The feeling of being able to say Liverpool are league champions once again. It’s been a while but worth the wait.

After such a tight race last year, I’m thrilled that Liverpool have been able to wrap the title up with seven games left to play. That’s an emphatic response to the disappointment from that 2018/19 season.

Everyone connected with the club in whatever way, can and should be extremely proud of the team’s achievement. Whether you’re a fan, an inhabitant of the city or both. We can all hold our heads high and puff our chests out Klopp-style.

Klopp gave a press conference this afternoon and it’s fair to say, he’s still coming to terms with what he, his staff and the players have managed to do and the manner in which they’ve done it.

So when all is said and done, I’m immensely proud and happy to say that I support Liverpool Football Club and have done for over 40 years. I honestly believe there is far more to come from this team and I can’t wait.

On This Day…

In 2009 Glen Johnson signed for Liverpool from Portsmouth for £17.5m. The Greenwich-Born right back was probably one of the first modern right backs who became popular with the introduction of the wing-back. The England international made 200 appearances for the club scoring 9 goals and 13 assists. He left the club in July 2015 having signed for Stoke City in a free transfer.

Despite the title being won, the season isn’t finished yet. Next up, we have a visit to Manchester City, where we can wallow in our glory having beaten the most recent money bags team on pure merit alone.

Remember The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 2018/19 season summary is available now on Amazon. Click here for your store. Details if this season’s edition will follow soon.

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