LFC 20/21 – The Good, The Bad The Ugly – Gameweeks 26 & 27
One win, a glimpse of hope, then another loss makes a player mope. There is hope we hear, as missing man’s return edges near. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
A win at least this week, with three points against struggling Sheffield United. Goals from in-form Curtis Jones and an own goal from Kean Bryan was enough to secure a 0-2 away victory for Jürgen Klopp and his injury-ravaged side.
In addition, the clean sheet would have gone some way to restoring confidence into the side after some less than inspiring results of late.
“This was about us showing we’re still there. We play Chelsea on Thursday, we have to show it again…”
Klopp was keen to point out that his men aren’t dead and buried but yet remain in the race for a top four slot “We have to win football games, we know that. There’s no way into the Champions League without results.” Offered the manager after the game.
Personally, the three points were welcome and as Klopp pointed out, without them they can kiss elite European football goodbye next season, and the multimillion pound windfall that comes with it.
Jürgen Klopp was left delighted with the Reds after a 'very important' away win 👊 #SHULIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 28, 2021
The Bad
No sooner than the fans had dared to believe after the previous result, we were brought back down to earth.
The Reds fell to their fifth consecutive home defeat, losing 0-1 (sounds familiar) to a rejuvenated Chelsea side.
Liverpool can’t complain too much with the result. They recorded one solitary shot on goal compared to Chelsea’s five, from a total of seven compared to the visitors’ 11. Nowhere near the required return for a team with Champions League ambitions in anyone’s book.
Watching the game unfold, I never got the impression that Liverpool really threatened. Yes, Sadio Mané failed to connect with a tantalising looped cross from Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino also went close with a header but other than that, there was nothing.
Fabinho was probably the busiest man in the pitch – overloaded with looking after Timo Werner, closely followed by Alisson, so that means something. The only bright spark for me was Jones who is beginning to fulfil some of the huge amount of potential he undoubtedly has.
Salah looks a shadow of his former self and I don’t believe his reaction to being substituted was warranted. He has been one of the more guilty of culprits from the famed front three. Much has been made of Firmino’s goal m-shyness but in truth, he’s never been a 20-goal-a-season player.
What I’m about to say is pure speculation, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there is something going on in the dressing room. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that since there was all this noise about Real Madrid, Salah couldn’t kick a ball against a barn door, such is his drop in form.
He and Mané clearly don’t get on and I’d personally suggest the Senegalese striker would be more of a loss to Liverpool than Salah should he ever get sick of things, up and leave.
We never know, but in my time there have been many “Aha!” moments when reading an autobiography some years later. Only time will tell but for now, this slump seems far more deep-rooted than a bit of bad luck in front of goal and an injury to (realistically) two, perhaps three key players at most.
5 – Liverpool have lost five consecutive home games (league and all comps) for the first time in their history, while they're also the first reigning English top-flight champion to lose five home league games in a row. Nosedive. pic.twitter.com/Rg25S3pmC0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 4, 2021
The (Sm)Ugly
The sight of seeing Virgil van Dijk escalating his training program. Now, the big Dutchman still has a way to go but seeing him working with the ball, passing and shooting – as well as some nifty footwork is a joy – not to mention relief to see.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to play a pivotal role for Liverpool at the very back end of the season.
Virgil van Dijk returns to outdoor training and is pictured kicking ball during Liverpool session #LFC https://t.co/Vl3YjPYt75 pic.twitter.com/8b5PkhM9bx
— Daily Star Sport (@DailyStar_Sport) February 24, 2021
The way the team is playing, it’s perhaps more likely that the season will be dead and buried by then. However, it’s nice to live in hope.
Next Up
We have the visit of Fulham to Anfield followed by the second leg of the Champions League last 16 knockout fixture against RB Leipzig also at Anfield. So at the very least that removes the likelihood of injury due to travel sickness.
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).
