LFC 22/23 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweeks #18 & 19
Against the Seagulls we were poo, against the Blues we drew. But we advanced in the FA Cup… woohoo! The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.
The Good
The only thing worth smiling about this week is the 0-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup.
On an evening when Liverpool proved they can actually record a win and a clean sheet in a single game, a stunner from youngster Harvey Elliot was enough to put the Reds through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
What’s more, the Reds registered their first clean sheet away from home since the Blue noses in September. And, considering they’re joint bottom with Southampton, that’s not exactly a mean feat now, it’s it?
Into the #EmiratesFACup fourth round 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vKBAbf5SaP
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 17, 2023
Still a win is a win and let’s not be ungrateful for this rare gem. Wolves tried to frustrate the Reds on the night but Captain Time himself James Milner was on hand to put in an assured, steady and calming performance at right back.
I hope the resting Trent Alexander-Arnold was watching from his armchair because the 37 year-old Millie put on a display that demonstrated how the position should be executed.
“It was the reaction we needed”
Jürgen Klopp was rightly relieved with the players’ performance after another recent humbling (see The Ugly below). “It feels like ages ago when we had a feeling of winning and playing well,” said the Reds’ boss after the victory. “It was the reaction we needed”
Liverpool will now face Brighton & Hove Albion in the next round this coming Saturday.
The Bad
Actually not that bad. Liverpool recorded their second clean sheet on the bounce. Yes their second! From looking like they were taking defending lessons in Chinese, the Reds secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw at home against fellow strugglers Chelsea.
In an entertaining encounter, Liverpool got an early let-off when Kai Havertz had his tap-in ruled off for offside. At this point, it looked as though another forgettable game was in the offing for Liverpool. However to be fair, this turned out to be anything but.
Should Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez undertake extra finishing practise after training (which I sincerely hope they do), then good things aren’t far off. The pair both spurned good opportunities but couldn’t be faulted for effort.
Mo Salah on the other hand seems to be a curious case. The boy needs basic football practice, let alone finishing as with his teammates. Since the departure of Sadio Mané, it’s clear who was arguably the biggest contributor. Club talisman Salah is now a shadow of his former self.
He not only cuts a sorry figure running busily around the pitch, but his body language doesn’t inspire. Like the kid no one wants on their team in the park. Resorting to kicking around discarded coke tins instead. A remarkable change in fortunes for the Egyptian King, his crown having slipped to a precarious position.
It finishes goalless at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/CRnsoKAJSN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 21, 2023
All in all, a decent result against a team that is also not having the best of times it must be said. And, on the positive side Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Wolverine Gomez seem to be doing a decent job in the centre of defence.
The Ugly
The embarrassing 0-3 drubbing at the hands of Brighton. Awful. A truly, awful display. In some ways it felt almost as bad as the 7-goal whooping from Aston Villa a couple of years ago.
I can’t remember a worse performance since. Perhaps the Brentford game the other day, but at least we scored in that debacle.
FT: Brighton 3-0 Liverpool.
The good news is that we didn't lose 7-0, because we could have done. It was that bad. Just awful.
From the embarrassing defending, through the non existsnt midfield, to the impotent attack – we have major problems.
Just humiliating. #LFC #BHALIV pic.twitter.com/AUJIwjVDZX
— LFC Photo (@LFCphoto) January 14, 2023
Liverpool got well and truly done over on the south coast and I’m just pleased that this seems to be the kick in the bollocks that the lads needed. In all honesty though, it’s time for a shake-up and we all know that. I’m hoping that Tyler Morton and Stefan Bajcetic can stay next season and become the future of the Red’s midfield. Pray!
Frankly enough said. Roll on the FA Cup fourth round and Gameweek 20. Let’s not forget there’s still 18 (yes, EIGHTEEN!!) games left to play thus Premier League Season.
While You’re Here
If you fancy a look back to happier times, the fourth edition of the double-winning The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is still available from Amazon here. And Apple lovers here.
YNWA
