LFC 21/22 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #35
The Reds stage a stunning comeback, but in the league nerves crack. Is the talisman’s lack of form now the norm? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.
The Good
The superb comeback against Villareal in the Champions League semifinal second leg. Liverpool came from two goals down to win 2-3 in the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The Reds were stunned by an enthusiastic home side who racked up a 2-0 lead with goals in the 3rd and 41st minutes. Liverpool however, have become experts at using half time to regroup and re-strategise.
In the second half we saw a different Liverpool. More hungry, more aggressive, more determined. Villareal must have felt an onslaught coming as they retreated into their own half and invited the Reds to come forward. Big mistake.
It took a while, but on 62 minutes the red onslaught bore fruit when Fabinho slammed home Liverpool’s first from a tight angle. Luis Diaz who replaced Diogo Jota, headed the visitors level. The outcome was kind of inevitable now.
FT
🇪🇸 Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool 🏴 (Agg 2-5)
Liverpool are through to the final of the Champions League!#Villarreal #VILLIV #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/fUgDbj7Iij
— SportyBet (@SportyBet) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mane tapped into an empty net with 15 minutes remaining. Game over! Villareal deflated, Liverpool elated. The travelling supporters and those watching around the world in raptures. The Reds had delivered and are now into their third final of the campaign.
The Bad
The result against Tottenham at Anfield yesterday. Not the worst performance ever, but the 1-1 result was definitely a bad day at the office. Despite ending the day leading the Premiership on goal difference, an overarching feeling of disappointment reigns.
Liverpool had the lions share of possession – as usual, and shots. Although three shots on target – equalling Spurs’ return, from 22 in total paints a picture of profligacy and even desperation as the home team poured forward in search of a result.
It ends in a draw at Anfield.#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/IeIZj17wRg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 7, 2022
Falling behind to a Son Heung-min effort after 56 minutes gave way to an even greater sense of desperation. The home fans seemed as nervous as the players as pass after pass and attack after attack broke down (see The Ugly).
Liverpool’s blushes we’re spared when Luis Diaz’s shot hit the back of the Spurs net with the help of a heavy deflection. With 15 minutes to play, we still had the feeling that the team could turn this around. Sadly though, it wasn’t to be.
The Ugly
Just the performance yesterday. It’s easy to get despondent and criticise the team which most of us have done.
I for one felt Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game was far too predictable. Hopeful punts into the area are meat and drink for most top defenders – as Tottenham certainly have. That most defenders in the Premier League now know how to defend against Mo Salah – who is so very, very one-footed… I could go on.
“You need in these situations a little bit of luck…”
But actually, Liverpool we’re overall just unlucky on the day. Had Virgil van Dijk’s header gone in and we’d won 2-1 everybody would be singing a different tune now. Jürgen Klopp told the BBC after the game that you need that little bit of luck and that eluded the Reds yesterday.
Good game & a draw was a fair result, that point could still turn out to be important!
I always felt both teams would drop points so prove me right please Man City! #LIVTOT— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) May 7, 2022
At the time of writing, Liverpool are top of the league and until Manchester City beat Newcastle United- which isn’t guaranteed, and so shall it remain. This race definitely isn’t over yet.
We keep going…
YNWA
