LFC 22/23 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #25

Manyoo given a good spanking, the Reds move up in the ranking. Hopefully the wayward fan won’t get a ban. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.

The Good

The crushing and record-breaking 7-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday. WOW!! What a game.

To be fair, it was a tight first half. I’d even go so far as to say Manyoo were a tad unlucky to be 1-0 down at the break. They had the best chances and Liverpool although industrious didn’t really create the openings that their visitors did. Still a goal is a goal and Cody Gakpo was on hand to put the hosts ahead after 43 minutes.

Cut to the second half. One of the most extraordinary games of football I can recall seeing. Perhaps up there with the Newcastle 4-3, Istanbul and the Barcelona semi-final. Such was the unexpected and clinical turn around in this game.

A brace from each of Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, and Mo Salah. The Egyptian’s goals making him Liverpool’s all time leading Premier League scorer. To cap it all, a final goal from Roberto Firmino to close an emotional week for one of Liverpools most decorated, not to mention much-loved players of recent times.

Simply incredible. pic.twitter.com/teYSuCFFIX

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 5, 2023

The extent to which Manyoo capitulated was startling. Just as startling as the score line to be honest. “I’m Baffled!” said The LFC File’s own Karolina Kurek. This was the day when we got a glimpse into what the future attack could be like, and it looks frightening!

Gakpo and Núñez are starting to show why the club has paid a combined £120m for the pair. Both took their goals superbly. The whole team played their part on Sunday and my hope now is that they can push on and secure a place in the Champions League for next season.

The (Not) Bad

Liverpool are now on a five-game unbeaten run. Nobody has really noticed, and honestly… that’s the way I like it.

This season has been difficult. Personally, I believe the exploits of last season has taken its toll. Team Vice-Captain James Milner referred to last season in the We are Liverpool podcast a couple of months ago and I was surprised that he (and presumably the team) genuinely felt they had a chance to deliver the quadruple last season. That kind of expectation, focus, emotional investment has to take its toll.

As things stand, we’re in fifth place, with a game in hand over Tottenham Hotspurs and Manyoo in fourth and third respectively. As I’ve pointed out numerous times recently, there is so much Football left to play this season and fans forget that.

By my humble math we still have 13 games to play. That’s 39 points up for grabs. To win the league, although mathematically possible is very, very unlikely. But fourth or even third? Why the hell not? And I’m not even going to mention Madrid!

The Ugly

The sight of the Liverpool fans crashing into Andy Robertson whilst celebrating the seventh goal of Sunday’s rout.

Rumour has it, the lad could receive a lifetime ban from Anfield. A sanction which believe it or not, I feel is a tad harsh.

Of course I’m not condoning what he done. In fact we can all sigh a huge sigh of relief that the left back was unscathed after the incident.

The fact is, a lifetime ban for an offence committed at 16 is quite frankly ridiculous. I could understand it if he intended to hurt the player, but this certainly wasn’t the case. Just a young kid celebrating an outstanding result.

Personally speaking, when football starts banning racists or those guilty of homophobia for life AND the subsequent imprisonment, then and only then can I support the measures taken in this case. In reality, this boy is simply an easy target.

YNWA