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    Sports differ a lot in terms of physical abilities, training requirements, popularity, and obviously the health risks they involve. If we were to compare rugby to tennis or golf, it’s obvious which discipline is more likely to lead to serious injuries.
     
    There are many factors that come into play here, including strength, balance, endurance, and biomechanics, so there’s a lot to take into consideration when assessing the level of risk that each sport involves. 
     
    But one topic that’s not discussed as much as it should be is sports injury prevention. Sport-related injuries may not be as prevalent nor as severe as injuries sustained in a car accident, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice caution before and when stepping on the playing field. A lot of athletes are so eager to jump into action and get so caught up in the game that they completely forget about safety. So, this article is going to address this specific issue and give a few recommendations to reduce the likelihood of sports injuries and help you stay safe on the playing field. 
    Keep your body temperature at the right level 
    One aspect that often gets ignored by most players is body temperature. Although it may not seem like such an important factor, it does weigh heavily in the balance when it comes to helping your body perform at its best and keeping injuries at bay. If you step out on the playing field dressed lightly when the temperatures are low, you risk experiencing muscle contractions which will significantly reduce your flexibility and limit your range of motions, and in turn, increase the risk of getting injured while playing. 
     
    You obviously can’t control the weather outside or the temperature on a sports avenue, but what you can do is dress appropriately for the season. Add an extra layer during colder months, and make sure you choose fabrics that are breathable to ensure comfort. 
    Stay hydrated 
    Drinking enough water every day is important for your health, for a number of reasons: it helps improve brain function, it ensures proper digestion, it gives you a boost of energy, it helps deliver nutrients to cells, it helps regulate body temperature and the list of benefits could go on for much longer, but we’re going to stop here because we want to stress out the importance of staying hydrated while playing sports. 
     
    Athletes who train on a regular basis need to drink more water than the average individual because they subject their bodies to intense psychical activity, so they sweat a lot and lose water, even during colder winter months. That increases the risk of dehydration, which represents a major health concern, and can lead to numerous unpleasant consequences, such as cramps, muscle tightening, and other issues. So, next time you get ready for a training session or a game, make sure you drink enough water to maintain an optimum level of hydration.  
    Never skip your warm-up or cool-down
    One of the golden rules in sports is taking the time to do a complete warm-up before you go into intense physical activities. There’s a good reason why warm-ups play such a vital role in the success of any workout and should always be a part of your training and pre-game routine. Warm-up sessions help increase your heart rate and blood flow, so there’s more oxygen reaching your muscles.
     
    This increases elasticity and reduces the risk of soreness, rips, or tears in your muscles.  But warm-ups are also important from a psychological point of view, as they also help you prepare mentally for the game ahead. A good warm-up session will get you into the right mindset and improve your concertation so you can get ready for facing your opponents.   
    Wear adequate gear
    Pre-game warmup and physical fitness are without a doubt two of the most important factors in enhancing performance and helping you stay safe. But let’s not ignore another key element in the equation: the sporting gear. Depending on what type of sport you play, you should make sure you’re wearing adequate equipment at all times. 
     
    For example, rugby players should wear specific head equipment and body pads to reduce the risk of concussion and other types of injuries, given it’s a full-contact sport where accidents tend to happen quite often. Similarly, hockey players wear a helmet, skates, neck protectors, and athletic cups for goalies to minimize the risk of accidents as much as possible. Sports injuries are not something to be taken lightly, and although sporting gear cannot guarantee you won’t get hurt while you’re on the field, it does improve your chances of being safe and sound at the end of the game. 
    Inspect the playing field 
    Speaking of playing fields, you might want to get in the habit of inspecting the surface on which you’re going to play, just to make sure there’s nothing that could ruin a good game. For instance, you might want to look out for muddy or slippery surfaces on the football field after heavy rain, so you can avoid them during the game. 
     
    Uneven terrain is the culprit for many sports injuries, so don’t underestimate the importance of a thorough inspection prior to the game. 
    Listen to your body’s signals
    As an athlete, you definitely want to make the most out of each training session and win every game you play. But while this drive and determination can help you improve your performances, they can also work against you if you take things a bit too far. 
     
    It’s important to know your limits and listen to your body’s signals. If you’re still trying to recover after an injury or if you feel like something’s not right, don’t push yourself over your limit. It’s not worth risking your health or your career for the sake of winning one game or one competition.  
  • Liverpool may have fallen short in their quest for another European Cup, but the aftermath has left a lasting impression on one of their young stars.
     
    In a campaign where the Reds pushed themselves to the very limit fighting on all four fronts, they ended it with a very respectable two trophies to add to a growing tally in the Jurgen Klopp era.
     
    Trying to put a brave face on after a bitter defeat is never easy and there was some doubts about how the general mood would be for a pre-planned parade celebrating the achievements of the team the day after the Champions League final.
     
    While there would be sets of fans across the country who would struggle to generate the enthusiasm needed for such a occasion, as we have seen over the years Liverpool fans are extremely unique in their love for their team.
     
    And for a relative newcomer like Ibrahima Konate, it completely took his breath away and something that will stay with him as he told the Official site.
     

     
    “When we started (the parade), for me it was already crazy, the first 20 minutes I was very happy. After, I enjoyed it a lot but I was a little bit tired.
     After one or two hours I spoke with Divock and Ox and they said, ‘What? Are you happy now? OK, wait, you will see.’ I said, ‘What will I see?’ 
     
    “At the end, when we arrived in the city… [puffs out cheeks] I was really not ready for that. Oh my God. I will never forget this moment.
     
    “Maybe yes, one of the best days of my life because how you can do that; in my head I imagined if we [had] won the Champions League…!
     
    “It was a very, very great moment for me and my family and I hope we will enjoy it like that a lot of times with Liverpool.”
     
    As is the case with most new signings, Konate took time to find his feet and learn the tempo of a new league. Not a great deal was known about the 23 year-old when he signed from RB Leipzig, but as his confidence grew, his various strengths and personality came into play and by the end of the season, he was a firm fan favourite as well as a regular selection in the first X1. 
     
    One of Konate’s main strengths is his physical build which allows his to outmuscle  his opponent which is vital in a defensive sense, can be a real asset when it comes to attacking set-pieces as he showed in the latter part of last season with some really important goals in big games.
     
    He spoke about the words of wisdom that he got from none other than Thiago Alcantara.
     
    “It was good for the team, that’s more important. When I scored the first goal, after that I was confident. I hope this season I will score more than the last season.
     
    “I spoke about this one time with Thiago in training and he told me, ‘When you go you have to believe. You are strong, you are big, you have to go.’ I said, ‘Yes, this is a good word for me.’ And I did it.”
     
    For a younger player, the beauty about playing for a team like Liverpool is that there is no end of players who are happy to pass on some telling advice and in terms of central defenders, some of the best in World Football.
     
    Konate spoke about what is was like to play alongside Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
     

     
    “For sure I improved a lot with him (Van Dijk). I improved with him because I learn about him, I look how he plays.“But not only him, I learn with also Matip and Joe because we play in the same position. Everybody knows Virg is the best defender in the world and I look a lot at how he plays, how he thinks, before the game he knows a lot of players.
     
    “I take inspiration from him and a lot of players in the world, but with him I have the chance to play with him and to train with him. I think it’s just the start and I hope year after year I will learn, learn, learn again.
     
    “I hope one day I will be like him or better one day. I hope!”

     
     
  • Monday Jul 11:
     
    Some takeaways from the latest training videos from Thailand. Firstly, the South American lads look like they’re trying to recruit Carvalho. Harvey, Curtis and the other young guns have a fight on their hands there. Seconds, ice baths. Just fucking nightmare fuel that for me. I’ve said this before but I couldn’t be a professional footballer if it meant getting in ice baths every day. The idea of it fucking terrifies me. 
     
    I can’t even get a cold shower. Back when I used to go the gym I’d spend a lot of time in the sauna and steamroom (more than I did in the actual gym) and outside them were showers. Some were cold, some were warm. I’m the only person I ever saw using the warm one. There was a plunge pool too that everyone used to go in after they came out of the sauna. One time I plucked up the nerve to give it a try. If everyone else Is doing it then it can’t be that bad, right? Wrong. It took every bit of self restraint I had not to scream.
     
    And now I see the lads casually just sitting in ice baths, throwing ice at eachother and not being the slightest bit bothered by it. They don’t even grimace when they get in. This must be a me problem, right? Maybe I have super sensitive skin or something, because I can’t even get into the sea on holiday without edging my way in, inch by inch, standing on my tip toes because I don’t want the cold water hitting my stomach and chest. Reluctantly, I have to admit it - I’m fucking pathetic.
     
    The final take away I had from watching the stuff on LFCTV though is that I’ve got a strong feeling Harvey is going to completely rip it up this season. I know you can’t judge anything based on these training videos, but even so, he looks dynamite. There was an interview with him too where he was asked about whether he enjoyed his time off and if he was able to relax. He basically said that no he didn’t, he was just itching to get back. Eye of the tiger baby. Eye of the tiger.
     
    One other thing, Harvey was also asked about his mate Fabio and he said “what a player by the way. A true superstar”. This is interesting to me because although Harvey is a kid, he’s quite mature in his interviews and wouldn’t throw that comment around lightly. It’s also interesting to read the quotes from Klopp today about why he doesn’t need a midfielder and he doesn’t understand the obsession fans have about it.
     
    For the record, I do want a midfielder but I also agreed with everything Jurgen said about it. I want one to replace Keita, I don’t want one in addition to what we have because we don’t want to restrict the opportunities for the young talent we have. Klopp referenced Curtis, Harvey and Fabio as creative midfield options and also said they’d be used as a number 10 if we played with just two midfielders. 
     
    The reason he was talking about this was because he was asked about Bellingham. His answer made it obvious that he wants him because he didn’t say “I don’t need a midfielder” he said “he is not on the market this summer”. 
     
    Final point, Billy Hogan did another interview on the site too. Not about Paris this time, just about general stuff to do with the tour, the stadium expansion and stuff like that. As a rule I absolute loathe rich, corporate types, especially American ones. I get a completely different vibe about this fella though. You could go for a bevvy with him I reckon and not come away thinking “what a cunt”.
     
    Tuesday Jul 12:
     
    I was out today so couldn’t watch the game live. I avoided the score until I got home and the plan was to watch it without knowing. As soon as I fired up LFCTV Go though it showed the score. 4-0??? What the fuck? I wasn’t going to bother watching after that but my cousin Al had watched and said to forget the score because it doesn’t really tell the story of the game. So I watched, and we were the better side overall. But they took it REALLY seriously, while Klopp picked three different teams during the game.
     
    17 year old Isaac Mbaya was lively at right back. He looked boss whenever I saw him in the 18s last year. He’s a good midfield player but I like him a lot at right back because he’s so fucking direct and quick. He’s a bit like Kyle Walker in that respect. He made a terrible error for their opener though. Dreadful mistake that. He’s a bit like Kyle Walker in that respect too. 
     
    Harvey looked sharp, I saw nice little flashes from Carvalho, while Diaz looks like he’s picked up where he left off. Defensively it was a mess though. The lads who played the opening half an hour (let’s call them the A Team) were all over the gaff in conceding twice, and then Rhys Williams came on and gifted Martial a goal within seconds.
     
    The B Team had a front three of Bobby Clark in the middle (he never plays there) and Curtis and Ox either side of him. No surprise there were no goals from them. The C Team was the strongest but they lost 1-0 too. 
     
    It’s funny this because we look at that scoreline and shrug because it means fuck all. Loads of United fans will be seeing this as a sign that “Ten Hag ball” is working and that “United are back”. As I say, this means fuck all. They’ve been in training a week longer than we have, they played it like it was a Champions League final and the next time we face eachother we’ll fucking destroy them, because they’re shite.
     
    Wednesday Jul 13:
     
    The senate enquiry states what we all knew. And were blameless and deserve credit, the organisation was a fucking shambles. There was a French senator who apologised to the fans of both teams, which was nice of him, but he wasn’t responsible for any of the shit the fans endured and although it’s appreciated, he’s not the one who should be apologising. 
     
    That Darmanin piece of shit is still dodging the issue and deflecting questions, going on about the local delinquency. My French mate Arnaud, who’ll be reading this as he’s a long time TLW community member, described Darmanin as “the biggest French cunt of all time, and that takes some doing”. 
     
    I just hope Reds don’t see this as a “French thing”. It isn’t the French who are the problem here, it’s like everything else. It’s cunts who are the problem. The way the French public, media and senate have reacted to all this has been heartwarming. The authorities are fucking scumbags, but then so are ours. We’re run by Tory scumbags, the French have a similar problem. 
     
    One final point on this, that Dan Austin lad should never have to buy another pint in his life. The work he’s done to fight on our behalf since the final has been unbelievable. We all owe him our eternal thanks.
     
    Thursday Jul 14:
     
    New deal with Standard Chartered. I don’t care about this one way or the other. There are better brands we could have on the shirt and there are worse ones. £50m a season or thereabouts is decent enough like. Something that struck me when I read about this today though was how good things are for us financially and on the field. 
     
    The reason I was thinking that was I’d just read something about Barca and how utterly fucked they are. It’s only when you read about it in detail that it really hits you just how bad it is. They persuaded their players to take deferred wages but they can’t afford to pay them. They want to sell De Jong to raise cash, but they owe him a load of wages they can’t afford to give him. And any funds they bring in on sales, three quarters of it goes to pay off their debt.
     
    Unlike the PL and Ligue One, the Spanish aren’t fucking about with FFP compliance and it’s hitting Barca really hard. 
     
    Weird thing is though, somehow they’ve just signed Raphinha (even though they can’t register him until someone leaves). I saw someone on Twitter describe them as the mate who is always borrowing money because he’s skint, but then all of a sudden he fucks off on holiday.
     
    They’re so fucked though that they really need this Super League to happen. The court case on that has just started. What would happen if they won the case and the Super League got the go ahead? The English clubs have all agreed that they won’t even enter talks on it in future but money talks. If this thing goes ahead, and Real and Barca join, as well as Juve and whoever else gets on board, it waters down the Champions League and I reckon the PL clubs would have to at the very least enter discussions on it.
     
    If that were the case I wonder how our fans would react to it this time given what happened with UEFA in Paris? I’ve got mixed feelings on it. Getting away from UEFA appeals massively, but we’ve got history with the European Cup and a new competition (and trophy) just wouldn’t mean as much. Plus the big problem last time was the closed shop element. Unless they change that it’s a complete non-starter, but Barca won’t agree to that in case they got relegated. How funny would that be though, they fight and scrape to get the go ahead for this breakaway league and then finish bottom and are replaced by Alaves or Celta Vigo.
     
    Meanwhile, Chelsea are signing Koulibaly. I’d be more concerned if he was three years younger but he’s still a great get for them. It doesn’t worry me though because he’s essentially replacing Rudiger, so it’s like for like. Both great players currently in their prime. I’d be more worried if they’d signed Koulibaly to play alongside Rudiger.
     
    Friday July 15:
     
    We beat Palace 2-0. I watched but didn’t really pay much attention to it as I had the Open on as well, plus I was doing some work. It wasn’t exactly exciting but it seemed like we completely dominated the game. Hendo’s goal was nice, Mo’s was scruffy as fuck. I switched off on the final whistle so didn't see the trophy lift. Hendo did the shuffle apparently, which rival fans will mock but clearly he's just taking the piss and having a laugh. It will have been nice for the fans there to see it in person too.
     
    The only thing that really grabbed my interest from this performance was Carvalho. He’s so much like Coutinho it’s uncanny. He’s going to be great though, you can see it already. He’s just got “it” hasn’t he? Nunez might be more of a slow burner. He kept making runs and the ball either didn’t come, or it was played the opposite side to which he wanted it. 
     
    It’s mental that there is chatter about him already. Rival fans calling him a flop is to be expected of course, but it’s actually getting enough traction that it’s being more widely discussed as though it might actually be a thing. Trent even had to comment on it afterwards, saying the usual stuff about “once he gets one they’ll be like London buses”. Darwin himself tweeted “Resilience” and a shushing emoji so he’s aware of it too. Modern footy at its worst.
     
    He’s featured in two friendlies and hasn’t even played two full halves. He hasn’t scored but so fucking what? Since when did these games count for anything other than fitness and bedding in new players? As I said above, he might be a bit more of a slow burner but equally he might just explode with an opening day hat-trick. We don’t know. I think we’ll ease him in quite gently and we’ll see Bobby start the season alongside Mo and Diaz. Especially as Jota has an injury that isn’t clearing up as quickly as they thought.
     
    Ox got injured to day as well. Not serious but probably enough to ensure he’s here when the window closes.
     
    I’ve seen a bit of complaining about ticket prices for these pre-season games and apparently the cheapest for this was £90. Maybe I’m way off base here, but I have no issue with that whatsoever. The club aren’t going over there for any reason other than because it pays well. It’s a pain in the arse, it’s not how Klopp would ideally want to prepare for the new season so if we’re going to the Far East they better make it worth our while.
     
    As for fans having to pay extortionate amounts for pre-season games, well its likely to be the only Liverpool game they are paying to go to for the next few years so is it really that big a deal? Bottom line, if you want your team to travel to the other side of the globe to play a few pre-season games then you better be prepared to pay top watch them, otherwise they’ll do what Klopp wants and have a camp in Austria  
     
    Rashford says Liverpool and City are the teams he dislikes the most but it’s mainly Liverpool. Bit daft that, considering we like him more than his own fans do. I don’t actually believe him though. He said Anfield is the way ground he likes and dislikes the most and that our fans “can take the game away from you very quickly”. 
     
    He loves the Reds, he just can’t admit it because of who he plays for. If he was any good I’d be well up for us signing him. He’s shite though, United have ruined him. They’ll do the same to Sancho too. It’s just like how Arsenal have ruined loads of talented players over the last decade. They get that stink on them and it’s impossible to get off.
     
     
    ….and that was the week that was
     
  • In the summer of 2017 we decided on the four founding members of the TLW Hall of Fame and then added four more inductees as the ‘Class of 2017’. Another four went in a year later and so on. Every summer four more legends will be inducted. However, we need your help to do it.
      
    HOW IT WORKS 
     
    The voting panel consists of representatives from TLW, the media, the former players association and also a popular fan vote, which is where YOU come in, by voting below.
     
    Each year there will be a group of ten nominees, from which four will be voted in. The six who don’t get in will remain on the ballot for the following year and beyond, until they are eventually selected. Those voted in will be replaced by four new names for the following year. 
     
    In 2017 Ian Rush, John Barnes, Billy Liddell and Ian Callaghan were voted in to join the four founding members; Bill Shankly Bob Paisley, Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard. 2018 saw Emlyn Hughes, Roger Hunt, Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness selected, while in 2019 five players made it in after Jamie Carragher, Phil Neal and Kevin Keegan were joined by Phil Thompson and Ian St John following a dead heat.
     
    There will be a separate category for managers & coaches (with one inductee every four years), but for now we’re just concentrating on the players. 
     
    There was no vote in 2020 or 2021 but rather than skip those years we're just going to resume from where we left off, so although it's 2022 you'll be voting on the "Class of 2020" and we'll do 2021 in a few months and then 2022 soon after so we're all back on track for 2023.

    The five remaining candidates who did not get in last time will now be joined by five new nominees this year. The new five are Ray Kennedy, Sami Hyypia, Ron Yeats, Chris Lawler and Ronnie Whelan.
     

     
    As explained in previous years, it was not just a case of picking the ten greatest players available, which in itself would also have been incredibly difficult. Other factors come into it, although only great players will be considered. For example, few would claim that Phil Neal was one of Liverpool’s ten most talented players of all time, but nobody can match his medal haul or achievements so therefore he's in 
     
    We also felt that it was important to have a mix of players from across several eras rather than just selecting the greats of the 70s and 80s. For example, none of us saw Elisha Scott play but excluding him on that basis wouldn't be right. His career record speaks for itself. Some have missed out so far as a result of the decision to spread it across all eras, but over the coming years they’ll all be added to the mix, usually when someone from their generation (or playing position) has just been voted in. For example, Jamie Carragher went in last time so will be replaced by Sami Hyypia in this year's list. Ray Clemence will go on the ballot when Scott is eventually voted in.
      
    We would really appreciate your support and participation, both in terms of voting and spreading the word by telling your friends and sharing on social media.
     
    So without further ado, here are this year's nominees...
     
     
     
    ROBBIE FOWLER
     

     
    The most natural goalscorer to pull on the famous red shirt. Toxteth born Fowler burst onto the scene as an 18 year old and for the next few seasons took English football by storm, becoming the quickest Liverpool striker to reach 100 goals when he achieved the milestone in only his 165th game.
     
    A succession of injuries prevented him from sustaining that blistering form, but Robbie sits 36th in the all time appearances list and in two spells with the club he amassed 183 goals. Unquestionably one of the most loved players in club history.
     
     

    STEVE NICOL
     

     
    Regarded by many fans as the club's best ever full back, Nicol enjoyed a stellar 13 year career at Anfield where he excelled in a variety of positions.
     
    He took over from the ageing Phil Neal at right back during the 1985/86 season and helped the Reds win the league and FA Cup double, but it was on the opposite flank where he enjoyed his best form, combining with John Barnes to wreak havoc during the 1987/88 season when he was named Player of the Year by the football writers.    
     
     

    TERRY McDERMOTT
     

     
    The scorer of one of the most iconic goals in club history when he headed in at the Anfield Road end in a 7-0 win over Spurs in 1987. Terry Mac was a local lad who had to make his name elsewhere before getting his chance to shine with the Reds.
     
    He started at Bury and moved to Newcastle, where he was part of the side that lost to Liverpool in the 1974 FA Cup final. A few months later he was signed by Bob Paisley. He won five league titles, three European Cups and a host of other trophies, as well as being named PFA and Football Writers Player of the Year in 1979/80.
     
     
     
    ELISHA SCOTT
     

     
    The Ulsterman joined Liverpool in 1912 and left in 1934, meaning he was between the sticks for an incredible 22 years.
     
    In that time he won two league titles but, more importantly, he captured the hearts of those on the Kop. Scott was idolised by the fans, so much so that when the club attempted to sell him (to Everton!) it was the reaction of the supporters that forced them into changing their mind. Legendary Everton striker Dixie Dean described him as the best keeper in the world, and a fan poll in 1939 saw him voted Liverpool's greatest ever player.        
     
     
     
    TOMMY SMITH
     

     
    The Anfield Iron. The man who according to Shanks "was not born, he was quarried". Smith was the hardest man in an era of hard men but he was also a terrific footballer who excelled in a number of positions.
     
    He made his debut in 1963 and his final appearance came 15 years later. In that time he won everything there was to win, with his finest hour coming in Rome in 1977 when he found the net with a thumping header in the European Cup Final. Tommy played 638 times for the club and paid a heavy price for that in later life with numerous ailments including severe arthritis and dementia. He passed away in 2019, aged 74.     
     
     
    CHRIS LAWLER
     

     
    The man for whom the expression "actions speak louder than words" could have been created for. The Silent Night. The Ghost.
     
    Chris Lawler sits in 42nd place in Liverpool's all time leading goalscorers list even though he was a right back. He didn't take penalties. He didn't take free-kicks. He just used to sneak into the box unnoticed and get on the end of things. A great defender with the ability to finish like a striker, Lawler amassed an incredible 61 goals for the Reds. He also sits 11th on the total appearances list and he is perhaps the most under-rated legend in Anfield history. 
     
     
    RAY KENNEDY
     

     
    One of the most stylish, graceful footballers to ever pull on the famous Red shirt, Ray Kennedy was your favourite player's favourite player. Admired and respected by everybody, Kennedy joined the club on the day Bill Shankly retired.
     
    He'd made his name as a striker at Arsenal but his Liverpool career didn't really take off until Bob Paisley converted him into a left sided midfielder. The rest is history. Ray currently sits in 29th spot on the all time appearances list (having played 393 games) and 33rd on the leading goalscorers chart with 72 strikes. Kennedy was one of those players who could be described as being ahead of his time and could have thrived in any era. Sadly Ray's later years were plagued by Parkinson's disease and he passed away in 2021.
     
     
     
    RON YEATS
     

     
    The Colossus. It was the arrival of Yeats and fellow Scot Ian St John that really kick started the Bill Shankly era at Anfield. Those two were the catalyst as the team won promotion to the top flight and wrote a new, glorious chapter in the history of the club.
     
    Yeats was not a man to be trifled with and prior to becoming a footballer he worked in a slaughterhouse. During a 10 year stint with the club he captained the side to three trophies and also made valuable contributions when his playing career ended when he was brought back to the club as a scout by Kenny Dalglish. Unquestionably one of the all time great LFC players. 
     
     
     
    SAMI HYYPIA
     

     
    The giant Finn was a modern day Colossus so it's ironic that it was the original 'Colossus' who discovered him and urged Gerard Houllier to sign him as the solution to Liverpool's defensive weakness.
     
    Hyypia was an unknown when he arrived from Willem II in Holland but it was clear from day one that he was much better than anyone realised. Big Sami forged a formidable pairing with his partner in crime Stephane Henchoz, and would later form an equally effective duo with Jamie Carragher. He wasn't the quickest but he read the game like few others, he was dominant in the air and he could play. Sami also had a knack of scoring important goals and he enjoyed a stellar career at Anfield spanning a decade. 
     
     
     
    RONNIE WHELAN
     

     
    Under-appreciated in his time but history has been kind to Ronnie Whelan. Bixarrely, he was often the whipping boy of the Kop during Liverpool's dominance throughout the 80s but the Irishman is well and truly regarded as one of the greats now.
     
    Coming into the side as a young right footer and being asked to follow in the huge footsteps of legendary figures such as Ray Kennedy and Steve Heighway can't have been easy, but Whelan put his own stamp on the position. He didn't play the way they did but he was hugely effective and had an uncanny knack of cutting inside and bending the ball into the top corner in the biggest of games. After the arrival of John Barnes, Whelan re-invented himself in central midfield and became a key member of what was (and in the eyes of some still is) the greatest side in the club's history. 
     
     
     
     
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  • Curtis Jones is fit and extremely motivated to be a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield rotation for the upcoming season.
     
    The 21 year-old had a frustrating 2021/22 season where he showed flashes of his natural talent, but could not really get any momentum going due to a serious eye injury which saw him miss two months of action as well as a bout of bout of Covid.
     
    In all Jones made 27 appearances, 15 of which came in the Premier League and with pre-season action beginning in earnest for the Reds this week with two fixtures in Asia, the England U-21 international told the Official site that his main aim is to make a strong impression that will put him firmly in the plans of the manager.
     
    “I see that every time that I'm here or [with] any chance that I get. So game after game or season after season is big. 
     
    "I'm ready now and I do think I have a bit of a point to prove.
     

     
    "[Last season] was up and down. There were games when I played and played well, got a couple of goals and a couple of assists. Of course, I want to add to that. 
     
    "But then I was injured with the eye for five-and-a-half weeks and then I came back and got COVID and then picked up a smaller knock as well.”
     
    “It was up and down but now I'm ready."
     
    Being a unused substitute on FA Cup final day and missing out altogether for the League Cup triumph has Jones hungry in the quest of more honours in his own right.
     
    “Since I've been around the team, I've always been in semi-finals, finals and winning things, and last season we were in all four – it's perfect, I'd like that again. 
     
    "And on a personal note, to go in the team, take my chance, keep my place in the team and, of course, score and assist more goals.”
     

     
    The addition of the versatile Fabio Carvalho brings more depth to the squad and Jones sees this only as a positive.
     
    "It's competition in midfield but I don't see it as that. I see him more as a teammate – kind of I help him and he helps me and then Hendo helps us or Thiago helps us. 
     
    "It's competition in terms of a space but at the same time, it's like a friendly thing. There's no sort of, 'Ah, he's playing and I'm not and then I need to completely push him out of the way.' 
     
    "It is that a little bit, of course, because you want to go out there and go and play, but I think the competition is alright and it's just a teammate thing."
     
     
     
     
  • After an extremely well deserved break, Liverpool will begin their pre-season in earnest this week with two fixtures against Premier League opposition.
     
    On Tuesday the Reds face Man United in Bangkok, and a few days later head to Singapore to face Crystal Palace.
     
    The reigning FA and League Cup holders have been their normal efficient themselves in getting their transfer business done.
     
    While they have lost a big member of the squad in Sadio Mane along with domestic cup specialist Taki Minamino, the hope is the addition of Darwin Nunez from Benfica will play a big part of future success.
     
    One of the most admirable and in some ways underrated aspects of the current club set-up is their ability to cast a eye to the future.
     
    When you are riding high in the table winning honours, it’s very easy to become complacent and live in the moment, with no pathway for what comes next.
     
    Among many things, that is something that has led to the downfall of Man United in the post Alex Ferguson era and Chelsea have lacked a future vision to some degree too.
     
    But Jurgen Klopp and his back room staff know that the planning for the next phase takes times and while signings like Calvin Ramsey from Aberdeen and Fabio Carvalho from Fulham might not be headline grabbing at this stage, they have the ability to grow and become vital pieces in time.
     
    The manager spoke to the Official site of his delight in adding the pair to the squad. 
     

     
    “Fabio, wow, what a season he played with Fulham. Getting promoted [with a] football-playing [style], properly football-playing, is not easy.
     
    “So, Marco Silva obviously did an incredible job there, but a big part of that was absolutely Fabio. And Harry Wilson obviously, our former [player], and Neco [Williams] of course.
     
    “When we watched him it was a pure joy to watch him, absolutely. He can play so many different positions for us, the way we play. At the minute he’s not really set on one position – it’s the wing, it’s the eight, it’s the 10, it’s the false nine if he grows a few more muscles.
     
    “It’s a short-term and a long-term project; he can start tomorrow and he needs to adapt, you can see that a little bit, but when he has the ball that’s proper quality. I’m over the moon that he’s here. Fantastic prospect.”
     

     
    With the Scottish U/21 international, it is set to be a slower process with Klopp confirming that he is suffering from a slight injury which needs proper treatment. 
     
    Nonetheless he is very excited about the skill-set of the 18 year-old.
     
    “Unfortunately, Calvin is now not training with us in the moment, he has a little injury. Nobody knew, we found it when he did his medical check. Until today he has no problems but the medical department tells us if we don’t take care for that now, he will have a problem in the future.
     
    “So, when you are that young then of course he has a long career ahead of him, so we are very responsible in these moments, so he didn’t train yet with the team but is doing a lot of fitness work. So, it will not take too long I think.
     
    “So I didn’t see him yet in training but everything we saw about him, we heard about him, I heard from him: a fantastic boy. And what a player he is, what he did for Aberdeen last year, absolutely exceptional.
     
    “In his age group and you know the things we need from a full-back, he is as close as it gets to the things we want and is still a kid. So we really expect a lot from him in the long term.”
     
     
     
     
     
  • Monday Jul 4:
     
    The lads are back in training and I’m just not ready for this yet. Last season was just constant stress as the stakes were so high and every single game felt like it had everything riding on it, usually because it kind of did. The knock out games were, well, knock out, and the league games were too. It was relentless and then it ended on a downer in that last seven days. So yeah, I’m not ready for it to be back so soon but it is what it is I guess and we just have to suck it up and go again.
     
    Lot of rumours yesterday that we’d made a move on Bellingham. As far as I can tell it was a hoax that fooled a lot of people but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a possibility that something is afoot. I speculated about it in last week’s diary when Mo extended. Not having to sign a replacement for Mo is a game changer financially. It frees up money for other deals and we really only need one more player. One more midfielder and we’re set. If that midfielder is someone who could be here for 15 years then all the better. 
     
    The £100m plus fee Bellingham will command is steep but if they are convinced he’s a fit for us then because of his age the fee isn’t that important. If we have the money (which we probably do after our success last season) then just pay what it takes to get him. Ordinarily Dortmund only sell one player each summer, but they got fuck all for Haaland really so maybe they’ll be tempted by the cash?
     
    Meanwhile, Ronaldo wants out at United. Surely that means City will be at the front of the queue then, after all, they wanted to sign him last summer didn’t they? And if you believe that you’ll believe anything. Hell of a job by Ronaldo, Mendes and probably even City themselves to concoct that whole thing to force United into making that deal happen. Now he’s had enough of how shit they are and wants out. I bet that new manager is made up though, as the last thing you want when trying to make your mark at a new club is someone like Ronaldo undermining your every move.
     
    You know where he’s meant to be going? Chelsea! I’m not having that. There’s no way Chelsea are that stupid. They’ve just had to offload one big money striker who didn’t fit the way they want to play, why would they bring in someone who is an even worse fit? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing Ronaldo, he’s still fucking brilliant at what he does. But it’s the baggage isn’t it? He’s such a massive star but he’s not 27 anymore so you can’t build a team around him and let him have free rein to do what he likes. He’s old, doesn’t have much time left at the top and really should be tailoring his demands and expectations to that reality. Except he’s too arrogant to do that. So he’s a problem.
     
    You’d have to be thick as fuck to sign him now. Or you’d just do it for the attention and spotlight it would bring. So Newcastle then. They tick both of them boxes.
     
    Fair play to United though, they’ve managed to convince their local beat reporters to write - with a straight face - that United are annoyed with Ronaldo because he told them he was staying which was why they ‘let’ us sign Nunez. Yeah, THAT is why Nunez didn’t sign for them. Kinell.
     
    Tuesday Jul 5:
     
    Harvey has switched from 67 to 19. Not sure why he’s done that and not just gone all the way to the number 10 shirt vacated by Sadio. Maybe the club told him he needs to earn the right to that shirt, which would be pretty fucking rich considering they let Keita take Stevie’s number. 
     
    Maybe Harvey wanted 19 because it’s his age. Or the number of titles we have. Or maybe it’s just because it was the average age of soldiers in Vietnam. Whatever the reason, I expect another change in 12 months because he looks like a future number ten for me. Unless Carvalho beats him to it. Really looking forward to seeing what both of them can do this year, and Curtis as well. He’ll need to step up now and I think he will.
     
    In the early rounds of the cup we’ll probably see a midfield of Milner, Jones and Elliott with Carvalho and Gordon in the forward line with one of the experienced lads, Bobby maybe. Unless we get really unlucky and draw City or Chelsea of course. 
     
    Still no fee agreed for Neco but it looks like Forest have now moved into pole position as Fulham have dropped out. Surprising that, Neco was amazing for Fulham so you’d think they’d have wanted to get that done. Similar to Big Nat at Bournemouth. Why have they not signed him yet? It upsets me that Phillips doesn’t have loads of clubs beating down his door because he deserves it, the big fucking hero.
     
    Meanwhile, presented without comment
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Wednesday Jul 6:
     
    Sterling has actually signed for Chelsea. Weird that, because when it was mooted I didn’t really take it seriously. Just couldn’t see it happening. Not even sure why, I suppose I just see Sterling as a City player now and can’t picture him playing anywhere else. Now that he’s left them it’s probably a good time to reflect on that career move he made and whether it was the “no brainer” it seemed for him at the time and for a whle afterwards. It's not so clear cut now.
     
    He’s won a lot of trophies there and made a shitload more money than he would have got here. But since he left, we won every single trophy there is to win. He has no Champions League, no Super Cup and no World Club Cup. And what he has won, he’s won at a club that no-one gives a fuck about. Not even their own fans. He isn't loved by City fans either. He's just another one of the many expensive signings they've had and it always felt like he was under-appreciated by them. The only time they sang about him was to try and taunt us ("Raheem Sterling he's top of the league")
     
    Chelsea fans won't love him either. He may end up like Michael Owen the way it's going. I wonder if he has any regrets and if he could do it all over would he hang on here until Klopp arrived? Probably not, but I’d be interested to know what he thinks privately.
     
    City have lost Jesus and Sterling now from their forward line. They’ve brought in Haaland and some South American kid, and they may be stronger as a result. They might not be though. Sterling has played a huge part in their success and Jesus contributed a fair bit too. It’s similar to us, we lost Mané as well as Origi and Minamino, and we’re relying on Nunez and Carvalho to fill the gap. The title might be decided by who hits the ground running first.
     
    On the subject of Carvalho though, I’m just watching the stuff on the club website from yesterday. His interview was good, is like so many of these young players we bring in where they come across as supremely confident yet not in the least bit arrogant. Maybe that’s a sign of the type of personalities we look for, or maybe it's just a sign of the times whereby these kids have been well schooled from a really young age about doing interviews. Either way, he seems like a good lad. 
     
    There’s something about him that really reminds me of Coutinho. He’s got a look of him but even on his highlights video there’s something Coutinho-esque about him. Hopefully he doesn’t share the Magician’s penchant for doing a disappearing act away from home.
     
    Also today, Newcastle are said to have “made contact” with Anthony Gordon. We’ll need slow motion replays to be sure as you can never tell with that cunt. 
     
    Seriously though, they’re mentioning a £35m fee, which is insane. He’s been booked more times for diving than he’s scored goals. He’s a Championship player and it amazes me that people think he’s good. He can run fast and fall over. That’s it. I really hope Newcastle do sign him because that’s a win win. They overpay for a shit player and Everton lose their latest “one of their own” local heroes. Jeffers, Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley and now this turd. What's that expression of theirs... “Once a Blue but never for long”. Something like that anyway, I forget.
     
    Meanwhile, I’ve loosely been trying to keep abreast of what’s been happening in France but it’s hard to follow. The lying ministers are no longer blaming us but they haven’t apologised for their lies either. Now it seems they’re pointing the finger at local youths, which is bollocks. Those feral cunts were a symptom of the problem, not the cause. Easy target for rich politicians though eh? It's the same the world over.
     
    It's no co-incidence that no cunt from our government fought our corner on this. Twats. They’re as bad as French ministers who blamed us. Given the way politics is these days these fuckers will fail upwards and one of them will eventually end up running France in a few years.
     
    Thursday Jul 7:
     
    New deal for Joey G. Made up. I was told a couple of months ago he’d sign and that he had no interest in joining Villa or anyone else. Initially I thought that was a little hard to believe as he’s hardly had any opportunities here and he’s far too good to not play, but his view is that he knows he’s good enough to be a regular and he just needs to wait until the opportunity comes for him to show it. The other factor in his thinking is that he’s six years younger than Virg and Joel so he’s the natural successor if he bides his time. 
     
    I love that attitude; he’s backing himself and refusing to take a step down. He knows this is the best place to be and he wants to to fight to stay here. At the moment he’s fourth choice but that can change with a couple of injuries or just from performance levels in training and pre-season. If he’s the best in pre-season then maybe he gets the nod for the opening game. It’s a clean slate for everyone at centre back now. Except Virgil, obviously he’s going to play. 
     
    Joe Gomez is fucking boss and losing him would have been proper shit. Obviously this isn’t as significant an extension as Mo staying, but it’s still really great news. 
     
    I don’t know what the fuck is going on with Twitter lately but for some reason it keeps throwing Arsenal shit at me. The algorithm is fucked up somewhere if it thinks I’m liking anything to do with Arsenal. Although I do follow Arsenal Simpsons as it’s really funny, so maybe that’s why I’m getting bombarded with ‘recommended’ tweets from Arsenal loons.
     
    Our twitter fanbase is mental too, I know this as well as anyone, but Arsenal are next level deluded. I’m not getting into all that again as I need to keep some powder dry for when the round ups start again in a few weeks, but all week it’s been crazy because they signed Gabriel Jesus. They’re talking like they’ve signed peak Messi rather than a lad who has been a squad player at City. 
     
    Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player and he’ll do alright for them (for a few months until that Arsenal stink gets on him) but these loons are posting shit like “Prem defenders ain’t ready for these two” with a picture of Jesus and Martinelli. Kinell, they don’t even have the best strike force in North London, let alone the entire league.
     
    No-one prematurely smells themselves quite like Arsenal fans though. But when the player and club are doing shit like this is it any wonder?
     

     
    I haven’t seen Milner on any of the training videos even though he’s back. He posted a pic on Monday of him in the gym with Hendo but he’s not been on any of the outside videos. Either he’s injured or he’s in some Rocky 4 style training regime getting ready for the lactate test. If he is, we defo need a montage.
     
    Friday July 8:
     
    “I met only a few (people) who were lucky. All the rest I met – my family included – had massive struggles outside. I think it is clear it was massively mis-organised. Whoever was responsible was not prepared for that. I heard first hand from my family because they were in the middle of everything. I didn’t hear about it properly until the next morning. My family sent me messages before the game, ‘We are in the stadium, good luck’ and all these kinds of things – but they were not. These kind of necessary lies you receive. Then after the game we had this little party. My missus was not ready to party, still exhausted from all the things around.
     
    “It was obviously really difficult. I was not outside but so many people told me the true story and they were all the same story pretty much, so I know what happened.” I think I knew 50 people inside the stadium; 47 people told me exactly the same story. That is what I heard. That is obviously not how it should be.”
     
    “It says it all. It’s why everyone, the authorities, have to make sure this does not happen again. It was clear where it was (held) was a problem. I think in Paris, the authorities would have known about the regional issues there. UEFA decided pretty quick that it will be in Paris. There were other cities, obviously, where it could have been held. I understand that they got the information pretty late.
     
    “So how to organise it? You need somewhere it is easy to organise – and UEFA and Paris, this is not the first time they have worked together, all these kind of things. I’m 100 per cent sure that nobody made a mistake intentionally. It’s not that everyone thought: “ah, pfft, who cares how supporters get in!” But the mistakes still happened and now we have to sort it.”
     
    He’s right, no-one deliberately made mistakes but that’s not really my biggest gripe anymore (easy for me to say and I wasn’t there and didn’t get pepper sprayed). Maybe it’s just me, but it isn’t just the fuck ups that were made that I have the biggest problem with. It’s the lies that were peddled in the immediate aftermath in an attempt to put the blame onto our fans. That angered me more than anything. Same with Hillsborough really. Mistakes happen and admitting them isn’t going to make those mistakes ok or any more forgivable. But lying about it and blaming the victims definitely makes it way fucking worse. 
     
    I’m a little disappointed Jurgen didn’t mention that really but maybe it’s because of this ‘independent’ inquiry UEFA are conducting. Maybe Kloppo is holding on savaging them for blaming us until the results of that are announced and we get the apology that is coming to us. So far UEFA and French authorities have sort of apologised for making a mess of the organisation, but we are yet to get a “sorry we blamed Liverpool fans, that was wrong and not only were the fans not to blame, but their impeccable behaviour undoubtedly saved lives”.
     
    Thankfully a lot of people in France have pointed that out, but not the ones who really should be saying it. That Darmanin cunt reluctantly (and it was very low key) apologised to our fans who “suffered from this poor management” but he didn’t apologise for lying about us, the slippery cunt. That bitch sidekick of his didn’t either. And nor have UEFA, who let’s not forget put it on the fucking stadium big screen that we were the reason the kick off was delayed.
     
    The club (specifically Billy Hogan) have been really good over this though in fairness and I feel like that needs pointing out. Klopp going after them is going to attract a lot more headlines than Billy Hogan doing it though, so this seems like a missed opportunity but let’s see how it plays out with the inquiry I guess. 
     
    Meanwhile, Milner was in the videos posted today. We haven’t seen the lactate test though so what’s up with that? They must have done it as it’s usually the first day back isn’t it? Maybe Millie didn’t win so they’re keeping it under wraps. One thing that was on the training vids though was Joel weaving his way through three challenges before scoring and sending everyone wild, especially Kloppo who was fucking loving it. 
     
    Joel might be the biggest character in the squad despite being the most quiet and private. He doesn’t need to bounce around like a loony to have all eyes in the room drawn to him. He just has to be there. Everyone is drawn to him and fascinated by him. Imagine being invisible and being able to just walk around the training ground and the match day dressing room undetected. I might just follow Joel around the whole time.
     
     
    ….and that was the week that was
     
  • Jurgen Klopp has expressed his delight once again that one of the long term members of his squad has committed his future to the Reds.
     
    Joe Gomez has frequently been linked away from the club that he joined as a 18 year-old in 2015 with Aston Villa reportedly showing the most interest.
     
    Despite the interest and the fact that there is intense competition to partner Virgil Van Dijk in the heart of the Reds defence, the 25 year-old put pen to paper on a new deal on Thursday which is speculated to be around five years.
     
    In the past two campaigns combined, Gomez has made just 33 appearances across all competitions. In contrast he made 43 appearances in the league winning campaign of 2019/20. 
     
    In his seven seasons with the reigning FA and League Cup holders, he has missed 139 games through injury which is basically half his Reds career as he has made 142 appearances in all.
     
    When fit and firing, there is little doubt that Gomez is one of the finest defenders in the country and the fact that he has been through so much adversity in getting his body right means that the respect for the former Charlton Athletic junior could not be higher within the squad.
     
    The manager was glowing about the news as the Official site reported.
     
    "Joe is an outstanding talent. He is also an outstanding defender and an outstanding human being. He has so many qualities, I could talk about them all day, so knowing that he will continue his journey with us is a massive boost – one that everyone who loves Liverpool FC and cares about its present and future should be unbelievably happy about.’
     
    “One of the many wonderful things about Joe is he has experience and youth – that’s not a bad combination. He has not long turned 25 but he was at the club before I was and I think after Hendo and Millie he is our longest-serving player. 
     
    “Incredible. But the best thing of all is that his best years are still to come and I could not be happier that this will happen with us.
     
    “In terms of right now, Joe is in phenomenal shape. We had a few weeks off and when I returned, I saw him and my first thought was ‘Wow!’ Physically, he is in such a good place and now all he needs is a good pre-season and the rhythm that comes from this.
     
    “Everything else is in place and I could not be happier that he will be staying with us for even longer.”
     
    The mutual respect runs both ways with Gomez saying how indebted he is for the support he has received from Klopp.
     

     
    “The gaffer is, I think, the best in the world for me. He has been a massive part of my life, not just as a manager but as a man. He teaches us all principles outside of football each day in the way he carries himself and the way he is as a person. 
     
    “Having the opportunity to learn from him as a teenager until now has been great and I know there is a lot more I can learn from him, hence why I feel this is the best place for me to be. I am definitely grateful for the lessons he has taught me throughout my time here, whether that be through injury or through times when I've been doing well.”
     
    Let’s hope that we get to see Joe flourish in the second part of his career. If there is anyone that deserves the rub of the green in this current squad it is most certainly him.
     
     
     
  • For adventurers looking to explore international destinations and participate in unique trail races, Oceania is a great option. The sport is hugely popular in Australia and New Zealand, which is no surprise given the incredible national parks and nature reserves in both countries.
     

    Blue Mountains National Park, where Ultra Trail Australia takes place (photo via Jacques Bopp on Unsplash)
      
    Ultra Trail Australia
     
    This trail running event is one of the most challenging and prestigious in Australia. Held annually in the serene town of Katoomba, just 90 kilometres from Sydney and in the heart of the Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales, it offers unrivalled views and scenery. In its 14 years of existence, Ultra Trail Australia (better known as UTA) has become the largest trail race in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest in the world. The event takes place over four days and offers, in addition to the usual 100 km course, three other courses for all levels: 50, 22 and 11 km. The UTA is also part of the UTMB World Series, which brings together the best trail running events in the world. 
     
    Participants' efforts will be rewarded by the scenery of this region, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000 and which has made the race famous.
     
    Tarawera Ultramarathon, New Zealand
     
    First held in 2009, this ultra marathon is now New Zealand's most famous trail running event. It is held annually in February in Rotorua, which is renowned for its beautiful scenery, including eight lakes, waterfalls and lush forests. The event is part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour (a circuit launched in 2014 that brings together the world's most iconic and prestigious long-distance trail running events) and the UTMB World Series, which attracts the world's best elite trail runners.
     
    Like the UTA, the race excels at welcoming athletes of all abilities with point-to-point courses over non-technical terrain and trail races of 21 km, 50 km, 102 km and 100-mile race (called the TUMMiler). 
     

    Lake Rotorua, one of the landscapes the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand will run through (photo via Unsplash)
     
    Make preparations and apply for your visa
     
    In order to travel to any of these countries to participate in or watch these races, it is of the utmost importance to plan the trip well in advance. Apart from the obvious preparations such as registration, booking accommodation and flights, in both cases a travel permit is required to enter the country without a visa. An Australia visa is an electronic travel authorisation that can be easily applied for online through a simple digital form. After completion of the payment, the visa application is approved and sent by e-mail within five days on average.
     
    The eVisitor visa for Australia is valid for one year and allows one to travel to the country several times during the validity period for a maximum of 3 consecutive months. This allows sufficient time to participate in the UTA and to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the country.
     
    

For New Zealand, you need to apply for a New Zealand or (NZeTA), which is an electronic permit that is granted within the same delivery time as the eVisitor, but which allows you to travel to the country for the two years that the visa is valid (for up to 3 months per visit). Please note that the validity of both visas will expire earlier if the passport used to apply for the visa expires during the validity period. In that case a new visa must be applied for.
  • Another rock solid season from the skipper, who bizarrely still seems to be not fully appreciated by some of our fanbase. I say that only because of some of the crazy stuff I see written about him on social media. At Anfield it’s a completely different story, there’s never any sense of the crowd doubting him but then I’ll fire up Twitter on the way home and see loads of complaining about him. I don’t get it at all.
     
    He’s a fantastic captain and a top player but he is no longer always a guaranteed starter and there were times when he was overlooked for big games the season just gone. Not just because of the normal rotation either. He plays far more often than he doesn’t of course, and even this past season he has featured in more games than anyone else in the squad. 
     
    No-one is going to start every game of course and statistically there is nothing to suggest he should be concerned. It’s not the number of times he was left out that surprised me, it was the occasions when it happened. 
     
    I’m just saying, he was on the bench for some pretty big games that you would normally expect him to start. That includes the FA Cup semi against City and the Anfield derby. He didn’t start away at Inter or Villarreal either. 
     
    When he doesn’t start he always gets on and I’m not getting the feeling he’s being phased out, but it isn’t just the normal rotation either. Neither Thiago nor Fabinho would be left out in the biggest games and there was a time not so long ago when it was unthinkable that Hendo would be. Occasionally now it’s starting to happen and he gets subbed quite regularly too.
     
    He’ll hate that because of how competitive he is, but he’s a pro and he handles it the right way. In the long run it might help him as his game is very much based on doing a hell of a lot of running. Whatever helps keep him fresh has to be a good thing.
     
    Whenever he doesn’t start it always feels like it’s not long before I find myself saying “we need Hendo on here”. Maybe that’s just me! I feel more reassured when he’s out there because he sets the tempo for us without the ball and he keeps everyone on their toes. 
     
    He’s also rarely far from the referees side, which is more important in some games than others. We needed him on the field in that first half against Everton at Anfield when Seamus Coleman was basically following the ref around the field complaining about every decision, and there was nobody keeping the referee honest when Everton players were diving, feigning injury and wasting as much time as possible. 
     
    Starting a derby without Henderson in the team seems daft to me as that's the exact kind of game where he really thrives and he's always going to give you more in those blood and thunder games than someone like Keita, Jones or Ox for example.
     
    In fact, Hendo's finest performance of the season came at Goodison when he absolutely dominated Everton. He scored that night but it wasn’t just that, he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the field. Utterly dominant in every way. He was brilliant in the rout at Old Trafford too, with the highlight being that exquisite through ball to send Mo clear for his hat-trick. The volleyed winner against Milan at Anfield was class as well.
     
    He really should score more, but then that applies to all of our midfielders (and full backs!) except maybe Fabinho who considering the role he plays is punching above his weight on goals.
     
    Previous Season Ratings:
     
     
    2020/21:   Season doesn’t count
    2019/20:   8/10
    2018/19:   8.5/10
    2017/18:   10/10 
     
    This Season’s Rating: 9/10
     
    This won't be popular and I imagine most will think it should be an 8. I could have taken the easy option and gone 8.5 but fuck that I'm making a stand with my skipper. It's a 9 and if you have a problem with that, see that hill over there? I'll meet you there, and bring yer fucking dinner so this one is to the death.
     
    Best Moment: 
     
    Either the Gerrard-esque pass to Mo at Old Trafford, or the Gerrard-esque putting Everton on his knee and spanking them til they cried.
     
    Worst Moment:
     
    Nothing jumps out at me, but if there is one then it probably involves a shot ending up halfway up the Kop. 
     
    The Future?
     
    I expect another season similar to the last one before a gradual phasing out into a Milner type role when our big midfield splash singing arrives in a year. If that signing were to happen this summer, I still think Hendo is going to play as many games as anyone else in midfield, but this might be the last year that happens.
  • Have you ever wondered why so many people invest their time and money into learning first aid? Unfortunately, in this world we live, accidents are going to happen. Of course, you should do whatever it takes to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, but when an accident occurs, you should be prepared. 
     
    Why do people avoid learning CPR and First Aid?
    Although accidents are inevitable, people are still reluctant to get professional first aid training. 
     
    Some folks worry about doing something wrong during the training process, or when an accident occurs. Fear is normal, especially when something bad happens and someone sustains a serious injury, but knowing what to do can help you improve the situation. 
     
    Those who work long hours often think they don’t have the time to learn first aid or CPR. Some think the course takes days, sometimes weeks to complete, which isn’t true. 
     
    Although you might not see first aid training courses advertised on the internet or television, there are courses available in most cities and towns. There are lots of private courses out there, like this first aid training in Liverpool. Most of these businesses run multiple courses throughout the day, so you should have no problem fitting a course into your busy schedule. 
     
    First Aid can help prevent death
    Every day all around the globe people die due to a lack of timely medical assistance after an accident. If a person comes across a serious injury, their first reaction is to call for professional medical help. However, if there isn’t an ambulance close by, the victim might not survive. 
     
    During first aid training, you will learn exactly what to do in this situation. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, you will be able to perform basic life support skills you learned during the first aid course on the victim, which could help save their life. Standing around not knowing what to do won’t help the person in desperate need of assistance. 
     
    People who haven’t undergone any professional first aid training can matters worse. An untrained person should avoid helping a person who has sustained an injury unless there is someone else who knows what they're doing in the area giving them instructions on what to do. 
     
    Once trained, you will feel more confident and in control when an emergency arises. You’ll be more likely to take action after an accident has occurred. 
     
    Children are prone to accidents
    Most children love to play regularly every day. Kids especially enjoy the great outdoors, so you can expect them to get injured now and again, it's all part of growing up! Also, kids are more likely to have sudden illnesses due to their weak immune systems. 
     
    Treating a child can be a daunting task, even if you know first aid. However, the skills you learn during the course could help you save the child’s life. Whether you are a parent or not, you should make time to complete a First Aid training course. If a child is in need of first aid, you will know what to do.
     
    There is nothing worse than watching a young child in pain. During a first aid training course, you will learn how to relieve pain. Simple solutions, like applying an ice pack to the patient's leg or arm might do the trick. If this works, you won’t have to bring the child to the emergency room. 
     
    First aid might help you get a job
    If you are applying for a new job, don’t forget to mention on your CV that you are a qualified first-aider. Most employers are looking to hire a person who is willing to help others. It shows that you care about people’s health and that you have gone out of your way to learn the skills needed during an emergency. 
     
    Unemployment is on the rise in a lot of countries since the pandemic began. Don’t be surprised if there are hundreds of applicants have applied for the same position. To make your CV stand out, show that you have undergone first aid training, as it might help you secure the job!
     
    If an accident occurs in the workplace, you will be able to step in to help your colleague who is in need of medical attention. By intervening early, you can help reduce the amount of time the patient needs to stay in a hospital.
     
    You’ll learn how to prevent accidents from occurring
    Understanding the cause of basic accidents will help you learn how to prevent accidents from happening down the line. You will learn how to spot potential hazards, and how to create a safe environment in your home, in your place of work, and in public areas. By creating a safe environment, accidents are less likely to occur. 
     
    People should keep in mind that emergency workers often have a lot on their plates. If you contact them about an accident that could have been prevented, they might not have the time to help out another patient in desperate need of medical attention. 
     
    You might be able to put the patient’s mind at ease
    When a patient becomes distressed after an incident, they can make matters worse. If the patient notices a broken bone, or perhaps they are losing a lot of blood, they might begin to feel queasy and begin to panic. 
     
    Those who know how to treat a patient will have the confidence to speak with the patient to help them calm down. During the course experts will teach you on how to de-escalate the situation, to help put the patient’s mind at ease. It's not easy to treat a patient who’s feeling stressed, which is another reason you should consider learning first aid. 
     
    If you are able to provide the patient with emotional support, you might be able to continue helping once the medical professionals arrive. You can continue speaking with the patient so the medics can focus on treating the patient. 
     
    There are different types of First Aid courses
    If you are thinking about taking on a first aid course, you might have specific requirements. A lot of first aid training companies allow their clients to change the course, depending on their profile. If you have a family and want to learn how to treat your children, or perhaps you want to learn how to treat people in your place of business, don’t hesitate to ask the people working at the training facility for help. They should be able to tailor your course to suit your requirements. 
     
    If you don’t want to do the course alone, you might want to ask friends and family members to join you. 
     
    Conclusion
    Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball that lets us look into the future. What we do know, is that accidents happen. When life throws a medical situation at you, you will want to be prepared and confident so that you can deal with the situation. First aid training can help you learn these vital skills. 
     
    You can do an entire first aid training course in a single day. These courses usually last around seven hours, and once the course is over, you will be given a certificate. You will learn how to give CPR, and what to do if a person is choking or losing a lot of blood.  
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