LFC 21/22 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweeks #20 & 21
Another game goes with Covid woes, and all twos against the Blues. Threes against the Bees and certainly no stunner against the Gunners. A job well done, an FA Cup win 4-1. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another couple of weeks reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.
The Good
Steady progress in the league. The Reds battled out a four goal thriller at Stamford Bridge. Some may say Liverpool threw away a two-goal lead after Sadio Mané and Mo Salah put them ahead going into the break. However, Chelsea weren’t second in the Premiership by fluke and fought back to earn a draw.
A point apiece at Stamford Bridge. #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/Zs1JdNg0I7
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 2, 2022
Yesterday a routine performance saw the team run out 3-0 winners against Brentford at Anfield. The result meant they leap-frog Chelsea into second seeing as Thomas Tuchel’s side were humbled at the Etihad by leaders Manchester City.
Concerns over the absences of Mané and Salah were put to bed with goals from Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino. What one would call a ‘routine’ win over often underestimated opposition.
So Liverpool remain 11 points behind City with another 15 games to play. There had been talk of the title race being over but, to my humble maths, 15 games means 45 points up for grabs so I’m not sure Pep Guardiola can get the cigars out just yet.
Premier League
Gameweek 22FT: Liverpool 3 – 0 Brentford
⚽️ 44' Fabinho
⚽️ 69' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
⚽️ 77' Takumi Minamino#EnglandKO#PremierLeague#Gameweek22#LIVBRE pic.twitter.com/XWfC0EP7zX— Kickoff (@OfficialKO_Line) January 16, 2022
The Bad
Liverpool had to request a postponement to their Carabao Cup quarter final first leg tie after an outbreak of Covid in the squad.
Pep Lijnders tested positive, whilst standing in for Jürgen Klopp, who was also struck down by the lurgy a few days earlier. The request was granted by the English Football League and the fixture will now be played this week… subject to player availability of course.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his Arsenal team, who somehow managed to hold off Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at Anfield with 10 men. #LIVARS https://t.co/xUccw0v85D
— Sports Brief (@sportsbriefcom) January 14, 2022
In addition to that, when the Anfield leg was played, the 0-0 result will leave Liverpool rueing a huge share of possession, only to be kept out by 10-man Arsenal. Still, we go again this week.
The Smugly
Coming from a goal down to beat Shrewsbury Town 4-1 in the FA Cup. In a weekend where many of the underdogs lead against the favourites, Liverpool we’re able to come from a goal down to secure a comfortable win.
NEW!
Kaide Gordon on how it felt to score in front of the Kop on his first Anfield start, during FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury Townhttps://t.co/7gDpOHg9RG
[Source: Empire of The Kop]— LiverpoolNews_365 (@LFCNews_365) January 10, 2022
Klopp decided to give starts to six Academy youngsters. One of them, Kaide Gordon, brought the Reds back on level terms after 34 minutes, and Fabinho’s effort with half time approaching, sent Liverpool into the break in the lead.
The second half was comfortable for the youngsters. Roberto Firmino scoring and a penalty from Fabinho sealing the passage through to the fourth round.
In all a busy round this week with fixtures pilling up due to positive Covid tests, many of which turning out to be false.
Good News
The latest edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is now available. “3rd Against All Odds” Follow last season’s exploits with relevant Tweets in full colour. Order a copy from the Amazon store here. Or Apple Books here. If you wish to purchase the complete set of three books covering the last three seasons, that’s available here.
