LFC 21/22 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #10

Cup form is on the mend, winning against Preston North End. Players should take heed, after squandering another lead. Time for heads to roll as injuries take their toll. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club

The Good

Reaching the League Cup 5th Round for only the second time in five seasons with a 0-2 win against Preston North End at Deepdale during the week.

A volley from Takumi Minamino and a rather suspect effort from Divock Origi was enough to see Liverpool set up a quarter final tie with Leicester City in December.

Into the Quarter Finals we go! 🙌🔴#PNELIV pic.twitter.com/vsr70h7X0y

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 27, 2021

This was the usual cup approach by Liverpool with the fringe players getting a chance to impress. There was indeed a number of good performances throughout as you’d expect in a tournament that it seems, Jürgen Klopp has bigger fish to fry.

The Bad

Dropping two points in the 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. This was without doubt a classic example of the ”game of two halves‘. The first saw Liverpool pick up where they left off following last week’s dismantling of Manchester United. Despite equaling the Anfield 24-game unbeaten record, the afternoon ended in frustration.

An early goal from Jordan Henderson after only four minutes and another 20 minutes later from Mo Salah saw the Reds on their way. It looked as if another battering was on the cards as the hosts dominated.

Sadio Mané had an effort chalked off by VAR, correctly, for handball. However, there were signs that the Seagulls weren’t here too make up the numbers.

Their seventh place in the Premiership is no fluke and reported Liverpool target Yves Bissouma provided a timely reminder when Allison’s outstretched arm turned his shot around the post.

Enock Mwepu lobbed in a classy although suspect lob over Alisson to give the visitors a lifeline. Midway through the second half Leandro Trossard, assisted by former Red Adam Lallana, equalised for Brighton.

FULL-TIME Liverpool 2-2 Brighton

A thrilling four-goal draw ends with goals from Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane for the Reds, and Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard for the Seagulls#LIVBHA pic.twitter.com/shrzuu1KnU

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 30, 2021

A special mention goes to Lallana who got a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd and a nice acknowledgement from Klopp also. A fitting reaction for a player that was key to Liverpool’s resurgence in recent years.

The Ugly

Liverpools lacklustre performance on Saturday. Klopp was quite rightly annoyed with what he called their “body language” during the game. It was rather surprising to see the stark difference in this Liverpool team from one half to the next.

“The second half we were not good enough. The body language I didn’t like at all…”

In all fairness, credit has to go to Brighton because they have shown since returning to the topflight that they are no pushover and deserve there place on merit. Graham Potter is a shrewd operator and players like Bissouma, Trossard and Tariq Lamptey are making their mark among the elite.

Liverpool and Klopp may well rue their decision not to spend in the summer. After losing Naby Keïta to yet another injury, his replacement Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain fell short of the standard the Guinean had set.

Sometimes you don’t have to ask many questions in a post-match interview. Just let the managers speak.

Here’s Jurgen Klopp’s 3 minute answer where he analyses in detail Liverpool 2-2 Brighton for ⁦@BBCMOTD⁩ #BBCFootball #LIVBHA https://t.co/p0NmRDRtKj

— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) October 30, 2021

With the exception of his assist for Salah’s goal the former Arsenal midfielder made far too many mistakes. The difference in quality between him and Keïta is a stark one.

Oxlade-Chamberlain though, let’s not forget, is part of a team and his teammates didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either. Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté and Curtis Joined all failed to step up.”The second half we were not good enough. The body language I didn’t like at all…” said Klopp after the game.

We’re now at the 10-game mark. A point where we can begin to see how things may shape out over the season. Chelsea by no means have an insurmountable lead. However, we all know, including the team that consistency will be key if they’re too overturn the Londoners’ 3-point lead to reclaim their crown.