LFC 20/21 – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Gameweek 9
The foxes are sent back to their den, defeated again. Concern grows with injury woes, and this means a bench full of teens. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Liverpool moved to joint first with a convincing win over Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City side. An own goal from Jonny Evans, and headed goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino (yes, that’s right – Roberto Firmino) secured the the 3-0 win for the hosts in Red.
Jürgen Klopp’s side, missing a host of first team regulars, was expected to struggle. Especially given the most recent absentee being Mo Salah, who tested positive for COVID-19 whilst on international duty with Egypt. In reality though, Liverpool showed that whilst their squad is not filled with established experience, it does have ability and desire in abundance.
Ex-Reds boss Rodgers described his team as “passive” in his post match interview but truth is, Liverpool made them look as much. This was the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from this team. Passion, guile, spirit, cohesion. Qualities with which the Foxes couldn’t cope.
The build up to Jota’s goal showed that the team can be patient and clinical, after what seemed like a gazillion passes leading up to Andy Robertson’s centre and assist.
The missing Salah wasn’t actually missed at all. Jota showing why he’s turning out to be a snip at £40m. Firmino showed us doubters that he’s still very much in the game. In addition, a solid performance from Curtis Jones in midfield demonstrated the quality of depth Klopp is building with this squad.
A well-earned three points, and deservedly joining Tottenham at the top of the table.
FULL-TIME !
LIVERPOOL 🔴 3-0 LEICESTER 🔵
WHAT A WIN 😍#LIVLEI #LFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/RbjiwEN1ho
— Liverpool FC 🔴 (@Reds_ENG) November 22, 2020
The Bad
The growing list of injuries. Naby Keïta was forced off with a muscle injury on Sunday, which was his first game back. On the bright side, at least the defence came through the fixture unscathed. A point that wasn’t lost on Klopp.
“…We have centre-halves, they are really young. They are not experienced, you saw the bench tonight.”
Liverpool now have no fewer than ten first team squad members out through injury. Not a pretty thought. The medical department at the club must be putting in extra hours to try to get the numbers down, and players ready for action.
Henderson will miss Sunday’s game against @LCFC, but we will assess the condition of Fabinho and Thiago ahead of the Anfield clash.#LFC | #LIVLEI
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 20, 2020
Not much more to say about that, just that it’s the worst injury situation I can remember. Is it due to the amount of games the team has to play? A good point leading up to…
The Ugly
The apparent running battle between Klopp and the Premier League. At the moment, with the games coming thick and fast, the boss is very keen to let the governing body know about it.
“If we keep playing Wednesday and Saturday at 1230, I’m not sure if you’ll finish the season with 11 players”
Following the victory over Leicester City – in which Naby Keïta limped off with a muscle injury, the manager was at pains to point out that the fixture pile-up and the amount of injuries among his players are no coincidence. “We have to make sure we recover but the Naby injury didn’t help at all.”
As things stand, Liverpool have eight games in December. A staggering amount. Especially when we consider the fact that the Premier League has scrapped the five-sub rule which was in place during the last COVID-19 outbreak.
It seems clear, from the league’s reluctance to increase the sub quota, that the powers that be are more concerned about revenues than the welfare of players. For me, the discussion regarding players’ salaries is irrelevant.
They are human at the end of the day and deserve more consideration granted to them by those – many of whom have likely never participated in competitive sport in their lives, and preside over the game.
Klopp on Sky: "If you don't start talking to BT, we are all done. If we keep playing on Wednesday, and Saturday at 12:30, I'm not sure if we will finish the season with 11 players. I know you don't care, and that's the problem."
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) November 22, 2020
Let’s see how this pans out. If I’m honest, I don’t see things changing, although obviously, I’d love to be proved wrong.
Up Next
We have the visit of Atalanta to Anfield tonight for the return leg of the Champions League Group D game. Followed by a trip to the seaside to take in Brighton & Hove Albion.
While you’re here…
The latest book from the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly weekly is out now. Relive this historic season. Available for purchase on Amazon, or directly from The LFC File. Click here to secure your copy. Either as an eBook (€5) or as a physical paperback (€8).
