LFC 21/22 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #15
Talisman scores in the last minute, keeping the Reds totally in it. And as he can, scoring the winner in Milan. The boss gets it in the ear, for not being totally clear. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.
The Good
The legend that is Divock Origi scoring the winner in the 0-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderer over the weekend. The Belgian has struggled for game time since arriving from Lille. However, he has become known for scoring important goals and on Saturday he duly delivered once more.
…I hope people will write books about him!
In a game where the Reds struggled to produce their customary dominant game, chances were limited. Wolves were intent on soaking up Liverpool’s pressure in the hope of nicking a winner. As much-employed tactic against Jürgen Klopp’s side.
The club talisman was on hand to swivel and convert Mo Salah’s centre, just when all hope of three points looked to be lost. “I hope people will write books about him” enthused Klopp after the game. Describing his player as a “legend”. A tag the 26 year-old has earned over his time on Merseyside.
DIVOCK WINS IT IN STOPPAGE TIME!!!!!! 😍😍😍 #WOLLIV pic.twitter.com/K12jF8j9YB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2021
Up until Origi’s 95th minute winner, former Molineux attacker Diogo Jota was guilty of spurning a golden opportunity. Former Liverpool youth captain Conor Coady blocking his wild shot at goal with the ‘keeper stranded.
The (Not) Bad
Liverpool qualifying from the Champions League group stage with a 100% record, courtesy of a 1-2 away victory against AC Milan.
The team are now the only English side to have qualified for the knockout stage of the competition by winning all six of the group games. Liverpool fell behind on 29 minutes when Fikayo Tomori scored for the hosts.
Less than 10 minutes later, Liverpool drew level through of course, Salah with a textbook strike, volleying in the rebound from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s trademark long ranged effort. From then on it felt like only a matter of time before the Reds took full control.
That moment came on 55 minutes even Origi was on hand to head in a parried shot from Sadio Mané. The visitors were largely untroubled after that and went on to close the game out comfortably.
A teenager who has come through the academy, pulling the strings in midfield at the San Siro for @LFC take a bow @tylermorton02 #ACMLIV
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 7, 2021
Special mention goes to youngster Tyler Morton who had a stellar performance in the centre of midfield. The academy graduate is continuing his steady progress into the first team.
Rounding off our #UCL group by making it 18 points from 18 🟡🔴
𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗦 🙌 #ACMLIV pic.twitter.com/vOYEUrSzPW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 7, 2021
The Ugly
Something I missed from last week, but this is Klopp causing a stir when he reportedly, belittled Africa by referring to the African Cup of Nations as a “little competition”
The Liverpool manager was called out over his comments by an African reporter who demanded an apology to the African players, supporters and the entire continent. In reality this was no more than selective reporting, where Klopp’s comments were quoted without context.
Klopp, from the Black Forest area near Stuttgart in Germany, was trying to point out to a reporter after the Porto game, that although there are no international breaks coming up, there was still the African Cup of Nations tournament to consider.
The manager could have said: “the small matter of…” as pointed out by the Sky TV presenter when reporting the confrontation. This though, to be fair isn’t really a phrase I would expect Klopp to habitually use, as good as his English is.
The original argument was rather contrived and people could do well to examine the original interview in its ENTIRETY before reaching conclusions. Otherwise, you’re no better than the ‘journalist’ that started the whole thing.
I still maintain Klopp made an error, an error which he made precisely because his mastery of the language is not perfect. When I say he had to apologize it's not an apology to Africa, because he offended Africa, when I say he should have apologized it's for the misunderstanding
— Early Life Crises (@ThatBlaq) November 26, 2021
Nevertheless, I do believe Klopp could have at least apologised for the confusion. Instead, he just insisted he’s not a native speaker. This may well be, but as a French and German speaker myself, I’m know first hand, this can often diffuse a sticky situation and remind others of the challenges a non-native speaker faces.
Not the end of the world in my view, but just something I picked up on the week before, and worthy of a mention and clarification in my opinion.
Good News…
The latest edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is now available. “3rd Against All Odds“. A bit late this time, but better late than never as they say! Order a copy from the Amazon store here.
YNWA
