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  • TLW
    The true beauty of Football is that it often has a number of ‘what if’ moments. 
     
    What if Luis Garcia’s goal in the 2005 Champions League semi final was deemed to have not crossed the line, would the miracle of Istanbul have happened?
     
    If Stevie hadn’t had not slipped in 2014, would the league title drought have ended a fair bit sooner than what it did?
     
    Indeed, if Liverpool managed to hang on for that triumph, would there even be an Jurgen Klopp era, or would have Brendan Rodgers have had a distinguished tenure?
     
    We as Football fans, often love to reminisce and think of these "what if" moments be they remembered fondly or with despair as it makes the game as wonderfully unique as it is.
     
    The same thoughts would naturally come into a mind of a player,
     
    An untimely injury cutting short a career, a transfer that happened and didn’t work out, or one that could have gone ahead but for whatever reason did not.
     
    Mario Gotze certainly fits into that latter category.
     
    The German international had lived the football dream by the age of 22, winning three league titles (two with Borussia Dortmund and one with Bayern Munich), a Champions League (with Bayern) and scoring the winning goal for your nation in the final of the World Cup.
     

     
    The great majority of footballers past and present would be delighted with a career such as that but instead of being able to build on that momentum and take his star to another level, in his prime years Gotze suffered from a metabolic disorder which was later found out to be myopathy,  a muscular disorder which affects the fibres in the muscles, meaning they do not function correctly.
     
    It was a cruel setback, and at a time where he was weighing up career options after leaving Bayern for a fresh start, his first senior coach in Jurgen Klopp who he had a great deal of success with at Dortmund came knocking and asked whether he would be interested in joining his Reds revolution.
     
    It is a discussion the versatile attacking player who is now 29 and playing his football with PSV reflected on per the Mail.
     

     
    "We spoke back then about me coming to Liverpool.
     
    ‘But I wasn’t in a state of mind where I could consider it, that’s why it didn’t happen.
     
    ‘Do I regret it? It’s always difficult to look back but if you ask me now then yeah, I should have joined Liverpool for sure. I just made a wrong decision but it’s not a regret.
     
    Gotze reflected on his four seasons under his fellow German and like many have said before, he is someone who makes you a better player and person.
     
    ‘Klopp probably made the biggest impact on my career. He can be very demanding – he can be your friend but also very harsh at the same time. It pushes you to great performances. That’s what happened with me back then, and it’s happened with Liverpool now.
     

     
    ‘He is a manager not just for the players but everyone at the club, and then one-on-one he can be a friend as well as a boss. Can I imagine working with him again? I can imagine that, yes – we’ll see.
     
    ‘He’s a good coach, for sure.
     
    Gotze has had the honour of playing for the the two pre-eminent managers in Workd Football at this point of time in Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
     
    And he gave an interesting insight into the personalities of both men.
     
    "Klopp’s strength is speaking to players in a certain way, helping them.
     
    But if you meet Pep off the field he’s a great guy. You can speak to him about family, private stuff, so he’s a great person.
     
    'If you play in his team he is very demanding. That’s a good thing because he’s pushing you a lot but sometimes you need a different angle as a player.
     

     
    Back then, though, I was used to Klopp and this was my comparison. When I look now, I like what Pep does – being distant sometimes, keeping high-performing athletes together. Maybe I would do it the same way.
     
    ‘The title race in England this season is great to watch. It looked very different a few months ago but I believe in the end City will do it. That is my guess.’
     
     
     
     
     
  • I suppose it’s a measure of how great this team is and how much they’ve spoiled us that my over-riding feeling after a 3-1 away win in the first leg of a Champions League quarter final was mild annoyance. That’s ridiculous I know, and probably comes across as a bit “Sky Generation whopper”, but in my defence it wasn’t a case of me just demanding perfection and expecting us to win by five or six.
     
    It wasn’t that, it was just that it was so obvious from early on that this was a game where we could easily fill our boots so I just wanted the tie over, which would allow us to rest most of the big hitters in the second leg. I didn’t go into the game thinking that and I’d have happily taken 3-1 before kick off. It’s just that it was clear from early on that we could create chances at will and the second leg would be a formality if we hadn’t been so wasteful. 
     
    In fairness it is actually close to being over anyway thanks to the late goal from Diaz, but the gulf between these two teams was so big for most of this game that this really ought to have been at least a five goal margin of victory. It wasn’t because we weren’t clinical, with Salah’s profligacy a particular concern ahead of this weekend’s trip to the Etihad. On the flip side of that, I’d probably be more worried about the weekend if we’d scored six or seven in this one, so I suppose I should be happy that we’ve held some back.
     
    That isn’t to say Benfica didn’t have their moments. They had a flurry in the second half after they scored and they made it uncomfortable for us for a 10-15 minute spell, but by the time that happened we really ought to have been completely out of sight. We completely dominated the first half without ever really hitting top gear and it had the feel of those games across the city when we spanked Porto. The only difference was we didn’t convert enough chances.
     
    Any time we went forward we looked like we’d fashion a chance but the finishing wasn’t up to scratch. Salah was lively but wasteful, Keita had a couple of efforts he didn’t make enough of and eventually it was left to the big fella to show them how it’s done when he planted a header into the bottom corner from a Robertson corner. That’s his first goal for us but this should be just the start. He’s going to be a threat on set-pieces, especially when the main focus for opponents is stopping Virgil.
     
    He ran off to celebrate near the corner flag, signalled for everyone to give him room and then he nailed a knee slide. Fabinho tried to copy it and ended up on the floor folded up like an accordion. He’s lucky he didn’t injure himself. Knee slides are so much more difficult than they look. I tried it once and ended up leaving two massive knee divots in the turf before I face planted. You’ve got to get your weight leaning backwards otherwise you end up like Fabinho. And me.
     
    The second goal was a work of art. I love absolutely everything about that goal. There are just so many layers to it. Look at what happens when we win the ball back. Watch the forwards immediately look to see if they can run in behind. Watch Trent. As soon as he sees we’ve got the ball he’s looking towards the front line to see where the runners are. That’s before the ball even comes to him. So when Konate rolls the ball to him, Trent already knows who is making a run and where the space is.
     
    As great as Trent’s passing ability is it’s the game awareness and football intelligence that allows him to play those passes. Like all the great players, he’s got a mental picture of where everyone is on the pitch so he’s always one step ahead. A lot of players could play the pass, but most of them wouldn’t even see it, or by the time they did it wouldn’t be on.
     
    The pass is brilliant, the run by Diaz was great too but I initially did him a dis-service because I wondered if he had deliberately picked out Sadio or if he’d just mistimed his header when going for goal himself. The replay quickly confirmed how unselfish and aware he was as he knew immediately that he was going to nod it across to Mané, who had a simple finish. It’s a brilliant goal and I love how happy Diaz was. You can tell already that there’s just no ego there with him, he just wants to be a part of the group and to play his part.
     
    This was a big game for him because Benfica are his old rivals and their fans made sure he remembered that. He was jeered all night but it didn’t phase him. Picking him to start this game was a no-brainer because he’s so familiar with the opponent that there is a comfort level there for him. It also meant that Jota and Bobby could be held back in case either are needed to start at the weekend. I have absolutely no idea who will start that game but all five should be quite fresh because of the way Klopp has rotated them all recently. 
     
    Sadio played centrally again in this one and was a bit hit and miss. I felt like his touch was really heavy at times but I do like how he’s able to come deep and then get turned to run at the defence. He did that to good effect when he collected near half way, spun and then carried the ball forward before sliding in Diaz. He could have gone around the keeper but the angle would have then been tight so he elected to take the early shot and try to dink it over him, but the keeper was able to make the stop.
     
    Mo also went clean through after another ridiculous ball by Trent. He didn’t do much wrong here and I think this is one of those instances that just highlight the kind of run he’s in. He’s running at full speed so it’s a tricky ball to control into his own path and it kind of bounced up awkwardly onto his knee, which meant by the time he got there the keeper was smothering him and there wasn’t really anywhere to put it. 
     
    He tried to prod it to the side of the keeper but it was saved. He’d had an earlier effort deflected wide off the keeper’s foot too. Again, not much wrong with that but he’s in one of those runs where he’s not getting the rub of the green. He badly needs a goal to get him rolling again.
     
    I felt like it started to weigh on him a bit and some of his touches began to look very un-Mo like. I’ve marvelled at times this season at his ability to pluck the ball out of the air and kill it with one perfect touch, but that just wasn’t there. Some of the passes to him were difficult to take, but whereas he usually makes those look easy, too often here they were bouncing off him.
     
    It’s a concern, but only because of who we have coming up next. We’re still winning games regardless of whether Mo scores or not, but that game at the Etihad is one where we will almost certainly need him at his best. We’ll get chances, of that I have no doubt, but we can’t afford to be as lax in front of goal as we often are. 
     
    I’d go as far as to say Mo is our most important player this weekend, because I feel as though I know what we’ll get from virtually everyone else, but right now I don’t know whether we’ll see ‘best player in the world’ Mo or the slightly off version we’ve had since he came back from AFCON. If he’s on, I’m certain we’ll win that game. If not, well, that makes it a lot more difficult.
     
    Anyway, 2-0 at half time and all good. It felt like we were cruising towards a four or five goal win that would allow us to rest whoever we wanted next week. But then as we’ve seen quite regularly before, we had a lull and ended up under some pressure. Don’t get me wrong, at no point did I ever think we would not win the game but it became clear that we were not going to run away with it and it was actually a game now.
     
    What caused the second half wobble? Probably the goal. Goals change games and it certainly got their crowd into it, and in turn their players got a massive shot of adrenaline and suddenly Benfica looked a bit of a handful. Most teams we face will have some sort of spell in the game because we aren’t coming up against pub sides here, either domestically or in Europe. They all have good players and if we have a bit of a down spell then they’ll be able to cause problems.
     
    Their goal was sloppy as fuck from us, and it’s not just on Konate either. It starts with a casual ball by Trent that looped right up into the air and put Robbo under pressure. Robbo then compounds it with a not especially great header towards Diaz, who then has to jump in a 50-50 to win it. He did win it but couldn’t direct it to Robbo and it sent Benfica off on the attack. Rafa raced away down the right and swung in a cross towards Darwin Nunez. Konate had covered really well and was in a great position to deal with it but he got his feet in a muddle and the ball went through his legs to the Uruguayan, who controlled it and finished well.
     
    He’s really highly rated but I wasn’t overly impressed. He took the goal well but I think my judgement of him is clouded by the constant diving and the dreadful fucking haircut. His record is impressive and we’ve apparently been scouting him, so watch this space I suppose. I do love a good Uruguayan striker so if he sorts the hair out then maybe I could get on board with it, but as of now it’s a hard pass from me.
     
    He had another chance soon after when he was picked out by Everton (I never thought I’d see the day when Everton was playing in the Champions League) but his shot was too close to Alisson. We were wobbling big time in that spell and we were just uncharacteristically sloppy all over the park. Even Thiago was at it. He gave the ball away horrendously and as soon as he did that you knew he was just going to chop the lad down and get a booking. Sure enough, he cleaned him out to stop the counter. Smart foul that.
     
    Klopp had seen enough though. He had a triple change planned anyway and I was sure Keita would be one of the three to make way, because he always is. He’d played quite well but it’s the easy and obvious sub to make. I don’t know if that was Klopp’s intention or not, but after that little mad moment of Thiago’s it was him who got the hook, along with Sadio and Mo.
     
    The changes definitely gave us back control. Hendo made a big difference and I thought Bobby helped with that too. He was getting on the ball and kept us moving higher up the pitch. Jota looked direct and hungry and really should have scored when he was played clean through very late on but he shot straight at the keeper. 
     
    That did my head in because I’m sick of seeing strikers run onto a bouncing ball, with the keeper well stranded off his line, and for some reason they don’t just lob the ball over them. It’s the easiest finish in the world. All joking aside, when I used to play 11 a side when I was younger I reckon half the goals I scored were lobs, because it really is the easiest thing in the world to do. 
     
    If a keeper is running out of his goal he can’t turn and get back in time if you loft it over him. And also, by going over the keeper you now have the entire goal to aim at, rather than trying to squeeze it around him into a tight window. When the ball is bouncing and sits up for you, there’s honestly nothing easier than just easing it up and over the keeper, but Jota chose to try and bring the ball down and then go for the finish, by which point there was basically nowhere to go as the keeper was on top of him.
     
    This isn’t a Jota thing, it’s something I see all the time and it irrationally pisses me off. I feel like it’s a dying skill. You just don’t see people chipping keepers anywhere near as much as you used to. The likes of Dalglish, Bergkamp, Cantona, Berbatov and of course myself, we were the masters of it but now most strikers shit themselves and go for power. It makes me sad.
     
    Anyway, prior to the Jota miss Diaz had shot wide when he should have done better and it was looking like we’d have to settle for a 2-1 scoreline that would still have been a good result but would have left the tie still in the balance. After all, we lost 1-0 to Inter in the second leg of the previous round so it’s not out of the question that it could happen again and we’d therefore need to go close to full strength, which isn’t ideal when sandwiched between games with City.
     
    Thankfully Diaz made amends when he ran onto a deflected pass by Keita, rounded the keeper and finished it nicely before racing off to celebrate in front of the Benfica fans, who understandably weren’t happy. Some tit lashed a plastic flagpole at him though. The damage that could have done doesn’t even bear thinking about. When you see them flying through the air end over end, all I can think is that it’s going to hit someone in the eye. It almost did, as our lads were running in to celebrate and it whizzed narrowly past one of them.
     
    More flagpoles then came raining down too and they should be fined heavily for that. UEFA are quick to go way overboard over flares but this is much worse. Robbo got pelted with lighters as he took a corner late on too. Not really sure why they were so angry as surely they must have expected to lose. They’re miles behind Porto, who we always hammer, so Benfica never really had any chance here barring something mad happening, like us picking up a red card or something.
     
    On that note, a special mention to the ref who had a great game. He wasn’t falling for their diving at all and let the game flow for the most part. Refs in Europe are usually class and it was reassuring to see this guy’s performance after the complete shitshow we got from his compatriot in the last round. Normal service was resumed here and hopefully if we reach the final this guy is in contention to officiate it.
     
    As for the performances of our players, it was mixed I’d say. Everyone was good first half but only a few were good in the second half. Naby is getting an awful lot of praise for his display and I’ve even seen people saying it was one of his best games for us. I don’t see it. I thought he was fine, a solid 7 out of 10 but no more than that. Maybe I need to watch it again and I’ve missed something, but to me he was busy, neat and tidy, did very little wrong but didn’t really stand out as being anything special at all.
     
    I didn’t think Diaz was that great either, although he was definitely one of our better players. I mean he was good, but he’s played better on quite a few occasions since he came here. The difference here is that he had something to show at the end of it with a goal and an assist. His work rate was impressive again and he kept going right until the end, but as I say, he’s played better than this a few times already.
     
    Fabinho was good, and other than that one costly mistake I thought Konate was really impressive. Take the mistake away and he’d be the star man, but because of the mistake I’m not giving it to him and I’ll go with Trent instead. He just oozes quality. We’ve had some great passers of the ball in my lifetime. Molby, Alonso, Gerrard… but Trent is as good as any of them when it comes to dropping a ball on a sixpence.
     
    I’d give him the night off next week though. Play Gomez in that one to keep Trent fresh for the double header with City. I think most of the team for this weekend picks itself but I don’t know what I’d do up top. Mo starts because he’s Mo, but as for the other two, I honestly have no idea. I can make a case for all of them and I’m glad I don’t have to make that call. If you put a gun to my head I’d probably go with Bobby and Sadio because they know what it’s all about and have had a lot of success against City, but leaving the goals of Jota out of such an important game would be a huge call.
     
    It's the biggest game we've had since... I don't even know, we've had lots of huge games over recent seasons but this feels as big as any of them. I'm dreading it to be honest, I hate games with City as the tension is fucking unbearable, especially at their place. Hopefully it goes the way we want it to and we're not left feeling aggrieved at Manchester based officials being inflicted on us again for such a huge game.
     
    You know what I want to see on Sunday? Milner coming on in the 88th minute as that's the sign that all is well and we're just seeing out the game. He must have come on in the 88th minute for what feels like 10 games in a row now. It's every week, and long may it continue.
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago (Henderson), Keita (Milner); Salah (Jota), Mané (Firmino), Diaz:
  • The Reds have one foot in the Champions League semi finals as goals from Konate, Mané and Diaz gave Jurgen Klopp's men a healthy lead to take back to Anfield for next week's second leg.
     
    Your host Chris Smith is joined by Dan Thomas and John Gallagher as the lads look back on a great result in Lisbon before turning their attention to the massive game this Sunday at the Etihad.
     
     
     
  • Arsenal Wenger says that Liverpool face a conundrum regarding the contract status of Mo Salah.
     
    The Egyptian superstar is coming out of contract at the end of the 2022/23 season and there has been differing views on whether he will continue his stellar career at the Reds.
     
    Reports over the weekend said that the 29 year-old was leaning towards putting pen to paper on a new deal with Jurgen Klopp often playing a straight bat to any outside noise.
     
    His response to the question posed by reporters in recent days was that he was 'happy' with the talks and the decisive parties are talking to each other and that's all I need. That's it."
     
    Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas has been rather cryptic and even provocative in his posts on Twitter in regards to how the ongoing talks are going.
     
    And in recent days, Egypt’s Sports minister Ashraf Sobhi has got involved saying:
     
    “I have advised him to continue his journey at a club other than Liverpool, but his direction now is to renew his contract with Liverpool.
     
    “There are campaigns against Salah directed by some to bring him down, but I asked him not to pay attention to them.”
     
    Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are also up for contract renewal in 2023 and as the star trio are in a similar age bracket (either on the verge of, or already turned 30)  and the former Arsenal manager told Bein Sports (per the Echo) that it could this could cause some issues down the track.
     

     
    ‘“It sorts one problem out and creates straight away another.
     
    “You're sometimes in this position.
     
    “You have to do the maximum to keep this player knowing that other players are not far from him, but there is not enough money anymore to satisfy (them) because you've spent too much on this one (player).
     
    “The thing is that once they are 30 years old, it's always how long do you sign then because you know the best paid is already over their peak."
     
    Despite the query over age, Wenger has no doubt that Salah who has scored 28 goals and produced 10 assists in all competitions this season is worth a new deal.
     
    “He has had an exceptional season and since he's come in, every year he's been better. He deserves his contract.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  • Stewart Downing has lauded the signing of Luis Diaz and says he carries similar traits to Luis Suarez.
     
    Diaz has made an instant impression since joining the Reds in the January transfer window scoring two goals in nine appearances.
     
    But his contribution has been more than what you see on the scoresheet with very strong build-up play and a great connection with his teammates in the final third of the pitch.
     
    It is never easy to come to a new league, let alone halfway through a campaign and that is what makes the performances of Diaz even more noteworthy.
     
    The ability and desire of the Colombian to take on his defender and have a attacking mindset has been a real boost to a Liverpool team who is already ticking along very nicely and fighting for honours on all fronts.
     
    The recently retired winger is certainly impressed with the ability of Diaz to adapt to the England game and having played with Suarez certainly sees some similarities with the two players. the similarities as he told Goal.
     

     
    “Diaz has been brilliant. 
     
    "The first thing I look at when a player comes to the Premier League is the physicality. How do they handle all that? But he looks like he likes it. He gets stuck in, he bounces straight back up, he goes again. 
     
    “Suarez was a bit like that. He had all the ability in the world, but he had that burning desire as well, never to give up. I look at Diaz and I see that same desire.
     
    “He’s hit the ground running. It helps that the team is winning and he has unbelievable players around him. The manager has been able to dip him in and out, pick and choose which games he starts and when he comes off the bench. 
     
    “He’s been able to find his feet, and he looks like he’s been here for years. It says a lot about him that he’s been able to do that.
     
    “A lot of clubs were chasing Diaz - I know Everton, Spurs, Leeds were all looking - but it couldn’t have turned out better for him, I don’t think. He’s got the best move and Liverpool have got a great player.”
     

     
    For a fair stretch of time during the Jurgen Klopp era, there has been a dependability placed on the front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane to score the goals.
     
    While they have carried the responsibility with aplomb, Klopp has looked to add depth to ease the burden on the superstar trio and that is exactly what Diogo Jota, and in recent times Diaz have looked to do, while Takumi Minamino has more than played his part in domestic cup competitions.
     
    Downing is greatly impressed with what Klopp has quietly built.
     
    “It’s great for us as supporters, but for Jurgen there are so many big decisions coming up in terms of what team to play, how to manage the squad.
     
    “In the past we’d look at Mane, Salah and Firmino and think: ‘they’re not getting moved’. But now it’s any three from five or six, isn’t it?
     
    “They’ve managed to improve while they were at the top, which is not easy to do. It’s not as easy as you’d think to convince players to come and join a team that has been so settled. Players want to play, and for a long time we knew what Liverpool’s forward line was going to be.“
     
    On the weekend there was reports of a sense of optimism that Salah will sign a new deal and Downing does not see why that wont be the case.
     
    “It takes time, I know it feels like a big thing because he is out of contract next year, but think of the contract Salah is going to be looking for. He’s 29, turning 30, it’s probably his last big one, his last big commitment, so it’s bound to take time.
     
    “For me, I just think ‘where does he go from here?’ He will have offers, but he’s not going to be joining a team as good as Liverpool. He wants to win things, he wants to play for a big club, a great manager, and get a nice, healthy contract, and for me Liverpool tick all those boxes.
     
    “I think it would be very strange to see Salah leave this summer. If he wants to win things, big things, the best chance he’s got is here. Wherever he goes, he’ll get good money, but there’s more to it. Liverpool offer a player so much in terms of history, fanbase, and the quality of their team. 
     
    “And the Premier League is the best league in the world, so why would he want to leave? I think he’ll sign.”
     
     
     
  • So that’s how the biggest month in our history begins; not with a bang, but with a whimper (of sorts). The very fact that Roy Hodgson was involved cut the irony so thick you could build a mansion on it.
     
    Yet it plagued certain pessimistic red minds (who, me?) with unsettling foreboding. Yes, the possession stats, yes, the attempts at goal blah blah blah. Don’t tell me you’ve not been waiting for the one, thunderbolt, Gerrard-esque moment that’ll scupper everything. When it all seems to be going your way, that only gives some of us one more ulcer. It’s genetic.
     
    We’ve come through the international break unscathed. Well, relatively. There was Keita, but that goes down in the book before it happens nowadays. Salah’s took another blow, with the obligatory extra time and pens and Sadio clincher. If they weren’t exactly bosom buddies before, it’ll be tense now. Trent’s injury was supposed to put him out for weeks, but there he was on the bench on Saturday. Hallelujah, praise the Lord!
     
    Ferguson must have given up the same miracle prayer he offered for Giggs on so many occasions. Though that seems less likely than Liverpool messed England around. Hardly surprising when Southgate has been so ambivalent about Alexander-Arnold in the past. There’s a case for both sides, and it may even be offering Gomez a way back into both teams. He’s certainly got the crossing down pat, that was a superb goal and there could/should have been others.
     
    I always felt with Joe there’s a dopey, complacent snafu around the corner. Not of a Traore standard, of course, more of an “I’m too sexy for my shirt” vibe. Even with those mutton chops. You’re not Wolverine, mate……
     
    The semi final with City will still be at Wembley, the pig ignorance of the FA still awe-inspiring in its totality. I suppose when you’ve actually killed people, gridlock and empty seats are sort of a triumph.
     
    During the Watford game you got a sense of premature let-down, that Super April really deserved a better curtain raiser. It called for an efficient performance, no frills or thrills. That’s exactly what it got. Watford stayed deep and shot out of the traps at any Liverpool stumble, which was worryingly frequent. Better teams will punish that, so you hope complacency is all it is, given what’s coming next.
     
    Curtis Jones is in a quandary, like he needs to impress on the odd occasion he gets a start. Klopp must surely be saying that simple and patient is okay by him, either that or the lad’s too dense to listen. You would have got unprofitable odds for “Subbed on 60”.
     
    Thiago’s a better example, the Barcelona plod ideal for stubborn opposition who won’t come out to play and need unpicking. Even he has moments, the back pass at Arsenal and the slide to keep the ball in for a rare Watford attack. Ninety minutes’ total concentration is obviously impossible, so we play the percentages and hope for the best, especially when the second goal won’t come. They all do it now, sit there and just wait for a gift.
     
    As with West Ham, Watford had a bit of a cheek claiming they had been ahem robbed. Hodgson griped about a penalty that changed the score-line, not the result. That he even contested the decision would indicate relegation panic – or senility. Because we’re so good now, perceptions are skewed and teams barely in the game are presented as coming soooo close. Aggravating, but we’ve seen matches in the past when Liverpool were described as “plucky” and this is infinitely better.
     
    Salah was sluggish, again trying too much when a pass looked on. He needs a rest, won’t take one. The manager’s kid gloves may be the way to go, and with the 30 days we’ve got coming up, perhaps rest is a pipedream anyway. There are options, which is the important thing.
     
    Burnley held out for a whole ten minutes, reviving sour memories of 2019. That wasn’t a title ‘race’, it was more of a shuffle. Win followed by win followed by win. I could go on… Next Sunday can and probably will break that sequence, so it may not be like three years ago. It could be more like 2014. Gulp etc.
     
    Steve Kelly
    @SteKelly198586
  • Listeners to the podcast will be familiar with the term “trap game”, the Americanism from US sports which Jules has used a number of times throughout the season to describe various forthcoming fixtures.
     
    Pre-match this theoretically had all the hallmarks of such a game, coming as it did immediately after an international break for a dreaded lunchtime kickoff, the atmospheres at which - as Klopp directly referenced beforehand - are never good.
     
    Throw into the mix the return of Roy Hodgson who, despite his mediocre Liverpool credentials, is no mug when it comes to setting up a relegation-threatened team to do a job against a bigger opponent, and you can see why this game fit the bill. 
     
    And yet it didn’t, did it? It turned out to be exactly what the lads and I all felt it would be as we chatted outside the ground before kickoff: a very comfortable win where we dominated the game in second gear and came away with three points.
     
    Entertainment value was low, admittedly, but at this stage of the season with the stakes remaining high in all three competitions we’re still fighting for as we aim to go all the way in each, our predictions were precisely what transpired: turn up, keep the ball, score a goal or two and then go home with the points in the bag, the squad rotated and injuries avoided.
     
    Watford had two shots in the entire game. One was pretty comfortably saved by Alisson and the other was put a yard or two wide of the post. And that was it. That said, there was a relatively high degree of jitteriness around Anfield, particularly in the second half.
     
    I have to say though that I found this both frustrating and bewildering. The ball barely left our possession throughout the 90 minutes and indeed forays into our half were almost non-existent from Watford. Almost the only times the ball ended up back there was when we recycled possession to start again on the other side after a move had broken down.
     
    Maybe it’s the stakes involved in this potentially most exciting of Aprils or maybe it’s just the scars left by the non-event of last season, but either way, what I was watching in no sense merited the jitteriness on show from The Kop. We’ve seen this team for a good six years now and the trust should be there. There isn’t a flake amongst them and the quality levels are stratospherically high.
     
    The first goal came just before the midpoint of the first half and almost immediately after that save from Alisson. The ball was switched out to the right to Joe Gomez, who I have to say has been the best Trent stand-in of the season so far for me, despite the small evidence base. He put in a quality cross, taking advantage of the fact that his man did not close him down, and Jota darted between the right back and right centre half to score with what is now becoming a trademark header.
     
    With the first goal in the bag, the match reverted to the pattern already established of comfortable retention of the ball at a relatively sedate tempo that did not allow Watford much of an opportunity to even touch it, never mind approximate danger with it.
     
    Gomez and Robertson were pushed quite high up but not aggressively so, an indication to me of Klopp‘s intentions. There is no doubt he saw this game as simply a minor - albeit not insignificant - obstacle to be safely negotiated in order to get to more considerable challenges beyond.
     
    The ball was used and retained pretty well by our midfielders with Bobby dropping in to join them, delivering a pretty good version of the Bobby role. The thing that has consistently frustrated me about him over the last couple of years during his decline is not the lack of goals, as they were never really in abundance; rather it’s been the sloppiness on the ball, the propensity to give it away and the absence of his trademark physicality imposing itself on the opposition. I’m not saying this was a 10 out of 10 from him but it was definitely a seven, possibly approaching eight and that is a welcome and timely return to something approximating his true game. 
     
    Hendo put in a decent showing in the middle and, even allowing for the paucity of opponent, Thiago was sensational, distributing the ball intelligently and with ease. Curtis though was subject to a few grumbles which are becoming a recurring theme. However, while he didn’t pull up any trees, I felt he played to instructions and was no better or worse than anybody else. It does concern me a little though that his age is not factored in to crowd expectations at times.
     
    That said, it goes with the territory doesn’t it? As I’ve said on the pod a number of times, these are the levels and if Curtis wants to be what he absolutely has the potential to be, which is a Scouse mainstay of a truly great Liverpool team, then he has to cope with the mental and possibly emotional challenges such an ambition presents, in addition to the physical and technical ones. 
     
    He eventually made way in the second half for Fabinho, the scorer of the second goal. There was some indication that he’d taken a knock as he seemed to gesture towards the bench before going off but it did not seem especially serious and I can only hope it was merely a precautionary request.
     
    The penalty award for the second goal was a strange one which bemused everybody around me as it came quite late in terms of the timing of the VAR review and was described as a potential handball on the scoreboard at Anfield. Only on getting back home again to rewatch the key moments on telly did I see the absolutely blatant foul on Jota and the penalty was obviously deserved.
     
    The finish by Fabinho showed exactly why he was the designated penalty taker at Monaco: it was hit at pace into the side netting of the top corner of the goal and Foster had absolutely no chance. Class - and with that the match was as good as over with the restart coming right on the 90 minutes and the final four minutes of added time then negotiated comfortably.
     
    So all in all this was exactly the kind of performance the pros always laud when commentating or analysing on TV. Dare I say it, it’s also exactly the kind of performance which in retrospect title winners look back on as one of those “job done, move on” performances. I would absolutely take more of the same on Tuesday night against Benfica if it left us with plenty in the tank for the huge game against Manchester City next weekend. That said, given the way our month looks, I’d really like us to make the Anfield game almost a dead rubber. Either way, we should go strong on Tuesday. 
     
    So overall, a good result and we move on. Star man is the sublime Thiago but just before I close, a special word for Ben Foster. Not only is he that now rarity of an opposing goalkeeper who visibly applauds The Kop before kickoff without a hint of embarrassment that his own fans may see, but he added the classy touch of giving the practice ball which he’d retained until the very cusp of kickoff to a child in The Kop who was clearly delighted. Really nice touch from a guy who has been vocally praising the Reds for quite some time now. 
     
    So another obstacle at the business end of what could be a unique and legendary season is overcome. More of this please Reds. On to Tuesday…
     
    Team: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Jones (Fabinho), Thiago (Milner); Salah (Mané), Firmino, Jota:
  • The Reds briefly went to the top of the table after an uninspiring but largely stress free win over Roy Hodgson's Watford. It wasn't pretty but a 12.30 kick off following an international break is rarely conducive to flowing football so goals from Jota and Fabinho were just what the doctor ordered.
     
    Chris Smith is joined by Julian Richards and Paul Natton to pick through the bones of this one and look ahead to Benfica in midweek as well as casting an eye towards the huge fixture next weekend at the Etihad.
     
     
  • Jurgen Klopp has had his say regarding the decision to keep the FA Cup semi final tie with Man City at Wembley Stadium despite no trains running from the North West to London on the Easter weekend due to engineering works taking place.
     
    The decision to not move the fixture to a more suitable location for fans of both clubs under those circumstances has been met with predictable uproar and the Mayors of both cities and Politicians have also got involved.
     
    Despite the backlash, the FA has remained unmoved and dug their heels in but speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Watford clash, it is a decision that has the Liverpool manager completely bewildered as the Echo reported.
     

     
    “(It makes) absolutely no sense for supporters to be asked to trek across the country without the help of rail services on a Bank Holiday weekend.
     
    “It is one of the most ridiculous stories I have ever heard," Klopp said. "I heard that they knew about the works for 18 months and I'm not sure what the FA thought; that no club from the north west could be part of the semi-finals?
     
    “I really can't believe that things like this can happen with all of the information you have out there. I heard now that the FA or whoever are putting some coaches on the road. What is it, usually four-and-a-half-hours to London?
     
    “It will probably then be 12 with both sets of supporters coming from the same direction. It makes absolutely no sense. Great decision.
     
    While the Governing body has looked to calm the waters by putting on extra buses to make the trip down south, once again it looks a reactive move rather than a common sense one.
     
    Klopp said more dialogue and sensible solutions were required in this situation and once again the fans are the forgotten party.
     
    “I'm not sure when they had to decide when the semi-finals would be but I think there is another weekend between the Champions League games [they could have chosen].
     
    "It would have been our City game. That would have been funny, moving the City game for a City game, but at least on that weekend all fans could have gone to Wembley without making it more difficult for them.
     
    "How I know it, our people, they will find a way, but I'm just not happy that somebody made it so complicated. It should be easier to see your football team in a semi-final than the way they have chosen.”
     
     
     
     
  • Casino gaming continues to be on the rise. The online casino accounts 40 percent of the iGaming market in the United Kingdom and generates more than £5.7 billion in revenue each year. 
     
    Most online casino players enjoy games from their mobile phones, they are also able to play from desktops, tablets and even smart televisions. The number of mobile casino sites and apps makes casino gaming very accessible to sports fans. 
     
    While many choose to play at home, an increasing number access these games while travelling, while at a pub or club or when at a dog or horse race track. Sports fans enjoy many different activities of this type, including wagering on eSports competitions.
     
    It has been noticed that many of the new players joining casino sites are individuals with an interest in sports and sports wagering. There are a number of factors that could be at play in creating this trend.
     
    Around 9 percent of adults in the United Kingdom have placed a bet on eSports gaming competitions and the market appears to be growing at an average rate of 8.5 percent year. Younger players have a particular interest in eSports, with around one fifth of those aged 18-34 having bet on it.
     
    Why do so many of those that place bets on eSports and sports also play games on online casino sites? 
     
    The thrill and excitement of casino gaming
     
    One reason for this trend is the sense of thrill and excitement that comes with gaming. These casino games have great interactive features, bonuses and high quality immersive graphics.
     
    On casinos like Rainbow Riches, players can find fast paced, fun games like online slots to enjoy. There are a variety of other games to suit all interests from poker and blackjack to baccarat and roulette.
     
    Sports fans usually have a preference for one or two sports, so outside competition and tournament times they have free time to visit online or land based casinos. Casino games provide that same mental stimulation and fun that they crave.
     
    Sports fans are naturally competitive individuals
     
    Whether they like to watch golf, cricket, football or tennis, one thing all sports enthusiasts have in common is their competitiveness. They like to win, achieve victory over their opponent and see constant improvements in performance.
     
    Online casino gaming is great for those with a competitive personality. In games like blackjack, players are in competition with the house, while in poker they also compete with their opponents around the table.
     
    The aim of each game is to win a jackpot. While the outcome of many casino games is highly reliant on luck, some also require the development of strategy and skill.
     
    For example, being successful at poker in the long term requires a certain amount of skill. The best poker players will train themselves through watching tutorials, reading guides and engaging forums in order to refine their strategies.
     
    The best players may decide to take part in online tournaments. Some professional players also sign up for world famous events like the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, these tournaments are even broadcast on sports channels like ESPN or streamed online for fans to watch.
     
    Sense of community
     
    Sports fans will feel a sense of community when spending time with people that support the same team or enjoy the same sports as them. The same is true in the casino gaming world, players will spend time bonding over games and gaming tips on online chats and forums, or even at in-person events.
     
    By playing casino games, sports fans have the opportunity to meet new people and develop interests outside of sport.
     
    Sports themed casino games
     
    Lastly, one final reason why casino games are so popular with sports is the range of sports themed games. For example, online slots are one type of casino game that are themed around specific sports or sporting competitions.
     
    One popular slot theme is football, there are games that use symbols and messaging from Premier League football. Another theme is Wimbledon, which is particularly popular with fans of tennis. 
     
    For those who watch motorsports, there are rally themed slot games. These slots sometimes have mini-games within them that give the opportunity to enjoy a virtual version of the sport.
     
    It isn’t only slot games that are created with sports in mind, other classic casino games have been adapted too. One unusual yet fun game that can be found online is a Darts casino game that is a mixture between virtual darts and the wheeling spinning game roulette.
     
    Casino gaming continues to gain popularity around the world and sports fans are one of the groups that are driving the growth in this market. As the variety and accessibility of games continues to improve, so too will the number of players.
  • With much of the same squad still available to manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool will be able to draw plenty from their 2019 Champions League success. The Reds have a settled squad and with that experience from three years ago in the locker, there’s plenty of optimism this side can go all the way in Europe’s elite competition once again.
     
    Core Group Still At Anfield
     
    Such has been the success at Liverpool in recent years it’s not surprising that not many have decided to move on to pastures new since the last Champions League success in the 2018-19 campaign.
     
    Liverpool are currently priced at odds of 49/20 to win the tournament, according to the outright markets for betting on the Champions League. Many a Champions League prediction would have backed the Reds to challenge for the trophy and, with the wealth of experience in the squad, it’s easy to see why.
     
    From the starting lineup that beat Tottenham in the 2019 final, only Georginio Wijnaldum left for pastures new. However, Wijnaldum’s move to Paris Saint-Germain has not gone according to plan and the Dutchman himself has accepted he may have been better staying at Anfield.
     
     
     
    With the rest of the starting XI still mainstays in the first-team under Klopp, the current side knows exactly what it takes to go all the way in the Champions League. With their Premier League title success in the 2019-20 season, the winning mentality has only grown at Anfield, as Liverpool have established themselves as one of the top teams in Europe once again.
     
    While the Reds had to battle to finish second in their group back in the 2018-19 campaign, they managed to win all of their pool games this season. Home and away wins over AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and FC Porto show how far this team has come. Overcoming Inter Milan in the last 16 was no easy task either, but again, the Reds saw off the challenge of the Serie A champions to reach the quarter-finals.
     
    Duo Provide Added Quality
     
    While Klopp knows his players can look to their past experiences in Europe to help them in their quest for Champions League glory this season, there are some newer faces who have added quality to the squad. Diogo Jota is enjoying his second season at Anfield and has managed to force his way into being a regular starter under Klopp. Jota has edged ahead of Roberto Firmino in the pecking order at Anfield and is shining alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
     
     
     
    The arrival of Luis Diaz over the January transfer window has also come as a massive boost for Liverpool in their hopes of domestic and European glory this season. Diaz has hit the ground running since his arrival from Portuguese giants Porto and has added further quality to Liverpool’s outstanding attacking lineup.
     
    With Jota and Diaz’s abilities, added to a squad that has already lifted the Champions League trophy, there is rightly optimism about what Klopp’s men can achieve in Europe this season.
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