LFC 20/21 – The Good, The Bad The Ugly – Gameweek 13 & 14
The Reds find their spark at Selhurst Park, rivals flop as the team goes top. The fans will surely disapprove now a striker is itching for a move. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Stuffing Crystal Palace 7-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. A brace each for Roberto Firmino and substitute Mo Salah in addition to efforts from Sadio Mané, Takumi Minamino and captain Jordan Henderson put the early Saturday kick-off way, way out of sight of their hosts.
The Eagles’ wings were well and truly clipped in this finishing masterclass from Liverpool. Eyebrows were raised when Salah started among the substitutes, but Jürgen Klopp’s decision to do so was vindicated early on when Minamino fired the Reds in front after three minutes.
It was surprisingly easy for Liverpool. The home side, once the Reds bogey team were simply devoid of ideas, of fight, of will. They were totally shell-shocked by just how clinical, hungry and strong Jürgen Klopp’s side were. Attack after attack reduced this Palace team almost to spectators. Their body language was simply saying “enough already. Let’s stop now”
The Reds were already 0-3 up at half time through Minamino, Mané and Firmino. I doubt many fans expected the score line to develop as it did. Including the home fans.
“We controlled the game and didn’t let Palace back in the game”
Second half efforts from Henderson, Firmino (again) and two from Salah rounded off a dominant and clinical performance. “We controlled the game” said Klopp after the match. I think that was a slight understatement. Liverpool simply bossed an uninspiring and lame Palace team.
That said, for Liverpool it wasn’t all smiles. Salah entered the fray on 57 minutes, at the expense of Mané who was less than pleased about it. And understandably so (see The Bad below).
🤩 𝙁𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤 🤩
Your @carlsberg Man of the Match after a stunning display in #CRYLIV 👏⚽️ pic.twitter.com/kt5hnNvc6f
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 19, 2020
The (Not) Bad
Four points clear at the top of the league. Considering the 7-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa earlier in the campaign, the team have done well to recover. Saturday’s score line basically corrected that in terms of goal difference. A margin of 17 now looks much more respectable and fitting in the light of recent performances.
Tottenham lost to Leicester, although Brendan Rodgers’ side still trail the Reds by a decent margin. Manyoo were able to Dispatch of Leeds to go third and could well turn out to be a dark horse in this season’s race, along with Everton who beat Arsenal.
Klopp and he’s boys now have a full week to recover before playing their next game. A point which shows that not everything is going against Liverpool, as the manager often implies.
Liverpool now have the proverbial bit between their teeth. The momentum is with them as we approach the festive period which is one that traditionally singles out there haves from the have not’s in terms of title credentials.
This begins with the visit of West Bromwich Albion to Anfield on Boxing Day with newly appointed boss Sam Allardyce. A tricky fixture for two reasons. Firstly that Sam has taken the post and he has always had a knack of giving Liverpool a game.
Secondly, the players will be fighting to be seen in a good light for the new man in charge… having got the last one sacked! Call me cynical but there’s a familiar ring to this situation. And, Liverpool have been caught off guard many times before now.
Sam Allardyce was the last manager to win at Anfield , back in April 2017.
Liverpool play Allardyce West Brom at home next ! 👀 #LFC #Liverpool #WestBrom #Premierleague— CHAMP19NS (@OnlyFooty2) December 17, 2020
The Ugly
The situation surrounding Mohammed Salah and his growing disappointment with the club and decisions which don’t give him what he wants.
Frankly and for what it’s worth, I would sell Salah tomorrow if a club wanted to pay £150m and more for him. The one player that I would be genuine concerned to lose is Sadio Mané.
Klopp, on the other, hand seems to agree with most Liverpool fans that believe the sun shines out of the former Chelsea player’s arse. This was apparent on Saturday when the manager chose to take Mané off to bring on his favourite.
“A note of caution for Klopp: don’t mess Sadio Mane around,”
This week former player Garth Crooks was prepared to stand up and talk some sense. Basically that Klopp is “deluded” if he thinks Mané won’t be affected by his decisions.
It’s clear from what I’ve seen of both players, that Mané would be the one to keep. Yes, Salah scores the goals but this is mainly because he’s a selfish player who has benefitted from the quality of those around him. Salah would more likely go the same way as Philippe Coutinho if he left Liverpool.
Time after time we have seen Salah go for glory when there is a better placed teammate around him. I defy any Liverpool fan to disagree with that. There was a time when the attitude was that a striker should be “selfish”.
However, Klopp doesn’t play with strikers. The modern game uses attacking midfielders and this inherently makes that mindset obsolete.
Salah was quoted as saying he was disappointed at not being given the captain’s armband in the final Champions League group match against F.C. Midtjylland. Speaking out publicly about this, simply demonstrates why Trent Alexander-Arnold was given the job and not him.
Ask yourself: Would you expect Alexander-Arnold – a local lad, life king fan and true Red to react like that had Klopp decided for Salah? Moreover, would Jordan Henderson have reacted that way? Salah isn’t captain material and if the reports are true, then the sooner he’s gone the better. Taxi for Mo, please!!
Liverpool are considering selling Mohamed Salah, who is ‘upset’ about his situation at Anfield, claims his ex-teammate #LFChttps://t.co/DSWColZ5iF
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 21, 2020
Up Next
The visit of West Brom to Liverpool with their shiny new manager, Sam Allardyce. Don’t expect a walk in the park big Sam’s team. Then on Wednesday, a trip north to Newcastle.
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).
