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    A deserved defeat and a self inflicted one, as the Reds didn't make the most of a lifeline given to them just before half time and proceeded to hand Arsenal the points with some calamitous defending.
     
    TLW Editor Dave Usher is joined by Paul Natton and Julian Richards to sift through the wreckage of a rare defeat that has let Arsenal back into the race and opened the door for Manchester City.
     
     
  • Brentford will play host to Liverpool in this tricky Premier League fixture at home. The Bees have been underwhelming this season but they will be looking at the remainder of the season to build some momentum and stay away from the relegation battle. As for Liverpool, they are back to their very best and are gunning for the Premier League title this season.
     
    Brentford comes into the game heavy on form in terms of head-to-head when the game is played at their ground - a 3-3 draw in 2021 and a 3-1 win last season. However, form in the league has been bad this time but they will be banking on their record against Jurgen Klopp’s side to boost their chances of beating the drop this campaign.
     
    Brentford missed the presence of Ivan Toney for the first half of the season. Toney, who scored 33% of Brentford's Premier League goals last season, was served with an 8-month football ban and a £50,000 fine for his gambling escapades. But with the ban completed, he will lead the side and play a part in their change in fortune.
     
    The goals haven't particularly stopped flowing for the London outfit as the duo of Yoane Wissa (deputizing for Toney) and Cameroonian international Bryan Mbeumo stepped up to provide the goals. The former remarkably is part of the special contingent of a trio of premier league players to have both scored and assisted 10-plus goals in 2023 (Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah). However, Mbeumo is injured now while Wissa, who is currently away at AFCON, could be available to face the Reds.
     
    Defensively, is where the Bees have been lacking having conceded 22 goals and accumulating a goal difference of +1 across the campaign (as of the time of writing). The acquisitions of Mark Flekken from Freiburg - to replace former first-choice goalie David Raya who joined Arsenal on loan during the summer - and Nathan Collins from Wolves in addition to Ben Mee, and Ethan Pinnock should have been enough to shore up the defense but it's been quite the opposite thus far.
     
    Meanwhile, Liverpool have enjoyed a promising start to the season, currently sitting on top of the Premier League with 45 points as of the time of writing. During the summer, the team experienced notable departures, primarily to the Saudi Pro League. Former captain Jordan Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq alongside club legend Steven Gerrard, while Roberto Firmino and Fabinho headed to Al-Ahli Saudi and Al-Ittihad, respectively. 
     
    Other exits included Naby Keita to Werder Bremen after the expiration of his contract, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain to Besiktas, James Milner to Brighton and Hove Albion, Fabio Carvalho on loan to RB Leipzig, and Arthur Melo, who left at the end of a challenging loan spell. 
     
    Marquee signings strengthened the squad, with Hungarian captain Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister from Brighton and Hove Albion, Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, and Wataru Endo joining the ranks from the Bundesliga.
     
    The Reds started their Premier League campaign with an entertaining 1-1 draw against Chelsea, followed by five consecutive wins against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Wolves, and West Ham. Notably, Liverpool beat Newcastle with Darwin Nunez pulling up heroics after captain Virgil Van Dijk was sent off early in the game. 
     
    The team faced their first defeat in a dramatic loss to Tottenham Hotspur, ending with nine men due to red cards for Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota. Subsequent matches included a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion, victories against Everton, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, Brentford, Fulham, and Sheffield, and a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace that saw Salah score his 200th goal for the club.
     
    Liverpool are currently high on confidence and they could go all out for the win in this particular fixture. 
     
    Match tickets
     
    The epic match at Brentford Community Stadium in London kicks off on Saturday 17th February 2024, at 12:30 PM UK time. Brentford’s 17,250-capacity stadium will be playing host to this fixture between the Premier League strugglers and the Premier League title contenders.
     
    Getting tickets for the Brentford vs Liverpool tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels. 
    Team news
    Line-ups
     
    Thomas Frank has a lot of tinkering to do but he will be pleased with the return of Ivan Toney from his betting ban. Rico Henry (Knee injury) is possibly ruled out for the rest of the season, the Bees still struggle with injuries and fitness to key squad players inclusive of Bryan Mbeumo who picked up an ankle sprain in their 1-0 loss to Sheffield in December, club record signing Kevin Schade, Kristoffer Ajer, Mathias Jensen, Aaron Hickey, and Joshua DaSilva all continue to be in and out of the medical room.
     
    Yoane Wissa could have returned from national team duties with DR Congo depending on how they finish and the same goes for Frank Onyeka who is at the AFCON tournament with Nigeria. Highly rated Nigerian teenage winger Michael Olakigbe might just settle for a spot on the bench after making his league debut in the 1-nil loss to Sheffield in early December.
     
    Brentford: Flekken; Ghoddos, Mee, Pinnock, Janelt; Baptiste, Norgaard, Onyeka; Maupay, Wissa, Toney.
     
    Liverpool's upcoming fixture might see the return of some previously injured players. Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara is back in the squad after a 10 month absence, while Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are back in the fold too following time on the sidelines. Joel Matip is, unfortunately, out for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture while Mo Salah has a chance of returning following a hamstring problem that caused him to return home early from AFCON.
     
    Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones; Diaz, Nunez, Jota:
    Prediction
    Brentford have been struggling but with the return of Ivan Toney, the mood around the club might be different going forward. But they will be up against a side that has found form and rhythm again this particular season. 
     
    This is a fixture that could produce a good amount of goals and Thomas Frank will be hoping his side can do the unthinkable and usurp the potential champions. It seems unlikely.
     
    Brentford 0-3 Liverpool
  • Alexis Mac Allister says he has grown into the holding midfield role as the season has progressed and is more than happy that it is playing a part in the success of the team.
     
    The Argentinian moved to Liverpool from Brighton where he was one of the creative architects of their top six finish in the league and reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup.
     
    With Liverpool’s midfield in desperate need of regeneration and some attacking impetus, it was thought the 25 year-old would play a big role in that.
     
    But after a failed bid to bring Mac Allister’s former teammate Moises Caicedo to the club and with Romeo Lavia also knocking back the chance to become a Liverpool player, it meant that there was a big void to fill in the holding midfield role and with options on the market limited, it meant Jurgen Klopp looked internally.
     
    Mac Allister discussed the challenges in learning a different role but also outlined his enjoyment as the Mirror reported.
     

     
    “At the beginning of the season, we didn't have a proper No 6 so I had to do the job - and Jurgen likes it! So I try to do my best and it's all about helping the team. It's quite different, because as a normal No 8 you need to be able to carry the ball more and use it more further forward.
     
    “I like the way I am playing. I like that I'm helping my team-mates if they need any protection. In the position I am playing now, it's more about the defensive things. But at that same time, I'm able to get on the ball a lot and I really like it. I always said it was a position I really like and I think I can do it very well."
     
    That level of confidence is spread throughout the team with no better example than the outstanding midweek performance against Chelsea.
     
    But there is no time to dwell on that success with another major test against Arsenal today.
     
    “We expect a very hard game at Arsenal, like it was in the FA Cup. It was a very tough game, they have very good players, they know what they want to do and have a clear idea of what they need to do.
     
    “They want to win the game, just like we do. It's clear that we have improved a lot now as a team since the beginning of the season. You can see that every player who comes into the team knows exactly what they have to do.
     
    ‌“We are really pleased with our performances so far but we know that we've only just gone past the halfway mark in the season. We need to keep going. We know the potential of this team. If we keep playing like we are and did against Chelsea, then we can achieve something this season.”
     

     
    Mac Allister said that quest has been aided by Klopp announcing that this season will be his last at the club.
     
    “The manager saying he is leaving has given us a greater incentive.
     
    “I don't know if that was his idea when he made the announcement, but it's definitely become an incentive.
     
    “We all know what Jurgen means to this club and the fans - and we want the best for him. We really understand and respect his decision and now we want to do our best to give him a very good season before he leaves.”
     
     
     
  • Monday Jan 29:
     
    Virgil said something about not knowing what his future holds and it was turned into a much bigger deal than it should have been. I read his comments and thought it was more or less what you’d expect from a player in his mid 30s with only 18 months on his contract and not knowing who the manager was going to be next season.
     
    It was interpreted as him saying “I might leave if FSG don’t get the appointment right” but I took it as him saying he doesn’t know what’s going to happen because the club might not give him the contract he wants and the new manager might not want to commit that kind of money on a 35 year old. He’s right to say there’s uncertainty but I don’t think that him saying he might want to leave because Klopp is going.
     
    There is uncertainty in a lot of areas though, not just because of Klopp but because we have no sporting director either. This is the time of year when deals for the summer are sounded out and put in place, and we have no-one to do it and everyone who we might want to bring in will be wanting to know who the manager is going to be. We were linked with some Belgian kid today for £5m but we can’t do it because of uncertainty over the SD and manager and he’s meant to be joining Brentford.
     
    Can’t say I’m arsed about that as we’ve got more boss young players than we know what to do with, but this does need sorting sooner rather than later because we can’t be getting to the summer with Trent only having one year left. Not arsed about Virgil or Mo as at their age it’s fine to get down to the final year, but we can’t be fucking Trent about. I’m not saying he wants to leave as I was told today by someone who spoke to him recently that he’s saying he wants to stay here his whole career and dreams of being captain, but Gerrard thought that way too until he was left hanging when he thought a new contract was coming and started to think about moving elsewhere. I’m not going to relax about Trent until he’s tied down for another four or five years.
     
    Meanwhile, the Mancs yesterday at Newport was the perfect example of why they’re so fucking shit. Look at Antony smugly celebrating his first goal in 9 months, against a league two side. Utterly shameless and lacking in any self awareness. This is why they fail. The culture stinks. Rashford wasn’t there because he got shitfaced in Belfast the night before he was due back at training and phoned in sick. The whole thing is disgusting. Why is he in another country the night before he’s back at training? Because he had a private jet to fly him back, that’s why. Saint Marcus and his Brontosaurus sized carbon footprint. Didn’t I tell you months ago he’s a fucking fraud? The Mancunian Henderson.
  • A full round of fixtures in midweek, starting on Tuesday as Everton drew 0-0 at Fulham. Sounds like it was shit but I watched most of it on a stream and it was a good game with fuckloads of chances at both ends. No-one could score though.
     
    Pickford made some top saves and Beto missed two great chances right at the end. It’s wild to think that a club in desperate financial trouble that had been told not to spend any money, went out and spunked the best part of £40m on Beto and some kid from Sporting Lisbon who never even sees the field. It’s like having just enough money to pay your leccy bill and going down the shop and buying a couple of fidget spinners.
  • Another one to add to the “was that our best performance of the season?” discussion. I’ve heard a lot of people say it is, I’m not sure though. Was it better than the Newcastle game? In fact, are Chelsea better than Newcastle? Probably not, beating Chelsea now isn’t the accomplishment it once was, that’s for sure.
     
    There’s a reason they’re 10th and we’re top. We’re miles better than them and it showed. We were at this one right from the start. You could tell after a couple of minutes it was probably going to be a comfortable win as long as we didn’t have to wait too long to make the breakthrough.
     
    Klopp hadn’t changed the team as much as I thought he might. Trent and Robbo didn’t come back in, but Dom did. I was a little surprised but at the same time Bradley was man of the match last game and Gomez has been one of our best players all season. They deserved to stay in. They probably deserve to stay in at the weekend too, but sports science comes into that to some extent too.
     
    Imagine if someone had sent a couple of months back that Trent and Robbo would be fit and available for selection but they couldn’t get in because Gomez was left back and Bradley was right back, both on merit. It’s mad really, but that’s the level they’ve played at. 
     
    And Bradley upped that level and then some in this game. I don’t want to go overboard, but he might be the best player in the world right now. Ok, I’m joking, but the performance he put in against Chelsea was something really special. It was a performance that Trent would have been happy with, yet this is what, his third league start? Second maybe? Incredible performance from him. I’ll get to that though.
  • What a night at Anfield. The Reds found the net four times, Darwin found the woodwork four times, and Conor Bradley produced a performance for the ages as the title charge continued.
     
    Chris Smith is joined by Dan Thomas and TLW Editor Dave Usher to look back on one hell of a performance in which Bradley announced himself as a star of the present as well as the future, and Liverpool showed Todd Boehly that there's much more to building a great team than just spending more money than everyone else.
     
    The lads also look forward to the weekend's trip to Arsenal and answer some more of your questions.
     
     
  • Jurgen Klopp has gone out of his way to calm any fears that his exit from Liverpool will lead to a player exodus.
     
    The shock news that the German will end his tenure come the end of this season naturally saw its fair share of headlines, but along with that came some tenuous links that senior players may also be considering their future.
     
    None more so than captain Virgil Van Dijk who in the the aftermath of the announcement discussed how different the club landscape will look next season, and when the question was put to him whether he will be a mainstay of the future, he replied ‘ That’s a big question. I don’t know.”
     
    But the Dutchman clarified that comment yesterday and ended any doubts of his commitment by saying:
     
    "Let’s make it clear. I am 100% committed to the club, I love the fans. It is fully taken out if context. It’s not about me, it’s about us. Five days ago we weren’t even talking about my contract (which has another 18 months to run), so it’s a bit silly!”
     
    While Klopp has plenty on his plate regarding upcoming fixtures and keeping the title quest on track, that doesn’t mean he isn’t aware of what has been said about his players and their future.
     
     As any Reds fan knows, there is no manager presently in the game  that provides as much support to his players than Klopp.
     
    And once again he left no one in any doubt to what he thought of the speculation per the Echo.
     

     
    “Nobody has to worry. That's why I say this team, the majority is exactly like it is. If you want to find someone who isn't safe and doesn't have a contract in 2025, you will find it.
     
    "I knew this (speculation) was going to happen because you (the media) can’t wait with these questions. Virgil didn't go out of his way to say it. It is always about the questions. We always need to answer. Write what you want - this club is stable, 100%.
     
    “Everything will be fine, I'm 100% sure. We have to get through this, through your questions and give answers. I people I would recommend to stay calm in this department, massively."
     
    Klopp went further and believed that the fanbase at large see through this kind of hysteria that is whipped up with the presence of social media platforms and is basically a 24-hour football news cycle.
     
    “Very often the fans concerns aren't as big as the media might think. You underestimate the IQ of our supporters, I think. They know these things come up. It's completely normal - there's nothing to worry about.
     
    “All these talks could be part of a possible destruction about this season, and that's the same in all seasons whether you know the manager is staying or not. It's human the boys have to think about things, whenever you make a decision about something then you think.”
     
    And he lastly reminded everyone that the players themselves have a special bond with the club.
     
    “There is enough time to do everything. These players love to be here, don’t forget that. It is not that they have one foot out. They want to know a little bit of perspective but that is there and will happen, especially behind the scenes.
     
    “The only annoying part is you (the media). Because everything is fine, just because we constantly answer questions it feels like 'What's going on there? Why don't they do that?'. Things – especially important things - need time. Don’t worry. You (media) can worry for you at home, don't worry. It is all fine. The boys love this place: I know that for a fact and when will what happen we will see."
     
     
  • Following their 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Liverpool have cemented their spot in the first final of the year. While the EFL Cup is not the most esteemed title, it is an early chance to pocket silverware and often acts as a momentum-builder for teams to push on toward the back end of the Premier League campaign. Can the Reds beat Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea?
     
    Can Liverpool claim a 10th title?
     
    It’s been a scintillating season for Jurgen Klopp’s men thus far, seeing them emerge as early favourites in the football betting odds to lift the EFL Cup at 1/2, with Chelsea 4/6 underdogs.
    Their season has been underlined by a defensive resilience we wouldn’t necessarily associate with a Klopp team. However, with the fewest goals conceded in the division, Liverpool have surfaced as the second-favourite to win the league based on the Premier League 2023/24 title odds at 23/10, with only Manchester City above them at 4/6.
     
    Klopp is synonymous with building dynamic, attacking teams. While Liverpool have maintained their prowess in front of goal, they have also steadied the ship at the back. This is mightily impressive given their defence has been ravaged by injuries this campaign.
     
    The narrative over the coming weeks will largely surround the fitness of star man Mo Salah, who picked up a knock on international duty. The Egyptian has scored 18 goals in all competitions thus far and is so often the man Liverpool look to when tasked with unlocking a defence.
     
    Fans will be desperate to see him walking out of the tunnel at Wembley, but even without their talisman, they will remain favourites to lift the trophy. They have secured the EFL Cup nine times in their illustrious history – no team has won it more – most recently in 2022 when they beat Chelsea on penalties. The Reds have every reason to be confident going into this mammoth clash.
     
     
     
     
    Pochettino’s Chelsea: a tough task
     
    Pochettino has had the difficult task of welding together a squad littered with new signings and hampered by injuries. The result: an absolute mystery on the pitch. You never quite know what you’ll get when watching the Blues.
     
    At the start of the campaign, they won just once in six games, including a woeful home defeat against Nottingham Forest. Next thing you know, they go toe-to-toe with City in an unbelievable 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
     
    On their day, in a one-off game at Wembley, you get the feeling they could beat anyone. However, their record at Wembley doesn’t make for good reading. Since the 2018-19 season, Chelsea have appeared in five domestic cup finals. They have lost all five, including two penalty shoot-out losses against, you guessed it, Liverpool.
     
    Everything you need to know about the EFL Cup final
     
    Liverpool will take on Chelsea in the EFL Cup final on Sunday 25th February at Wembley Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.
     
     
     
    Liverpool are the favourites as they go in search of a 10th EFL Cup title, having lifted the trophy on four occasions since the turn of the millennium.
     
    Chelsea are the competition’s joint fourth most decorated club and are looking to win their sixth trophy. They last lifted the Cup in 2015, losing twice in the final since that 2-0 win over London rivals Tottenham.
    It’s gearing up to be a classic between two heavyweights, one which could spur Liverpool on the lift the Premier League title should they come out on top.
  • High-stakes betting refers to staking huge amounts on the outcomes of popular sports events. Higher-stakes bettors usually get driven by the thrill from risk, the potential for monster gains, and the power they possess with some influence over sports culture.
     
    However, high-stakes gambling also encompasses implications for the sports industry. In this article, we take a holistic perspective of all the issues related to high-stakes gambling in popular sports.
    The Thrill of High-Stakes Betting in Popular Sports
    For many fans, betting is more than just a pastime - instead, it is an experience that spices up the sport and brings excitement. Betting high stakes, in particular, provides its allure and attracts hundreds of millions of people to participate. This involves placing huge stakes on the outcomes of popular sports, such as horse racing. Such sports are most favorable for high-stake betting because they have a wide fan base in all countries, are first-paced in gaming, and are normally unpredictable.
     
    Psychologically, high-stakes bettors are more driven towards the adrenaline rush caused by the risk involved, self-fulfillment, and the amount of social recognition earned. Another psychological belief is that betting at such high stakes helps influence the sports culture by supporting the favorite teams, players, or some cause.
    The Economic Effect of High-Limit Sports Betting
    Higher-limits staking is a multi-million dollar space. As of 2021, higher-limits gambling on sports activities cumulatively generated $4.33 billion in this field. The financial implications in the sports industry due to high-stake betting are vast and diverse. Casinos and premier high-stakes betting sites reviewed by experts have gained from this industry by making lots of money and creating job opportunities. Since the advent of high stakes gambling, it has also been a major source of revenue for sports teams and organizations. The Eastern Economic Journal reveals that high stakes betting generates more revenue than the combined revenue of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. In general, high-limits wagering takes an undeniable role in revenue and job generation.
    The Influence of High-Stakes Betting on Sports Culture
    Sports betting has become ingrained in sports culture. For example, the landmark Supreme Court decision in 2018, expanding legal sports betting in the United States, opened new dimensions not just for sports fans and even the media but also for the integrity of games.
     
    More active players: Betting has converted the viewer into an active player, changing the passive viewing into an interactive affair. The fans are no longer passive viewers as they just watch but have a stake in the outcome and thus feel more part of the game. That thrill of a win or that agony of a loss isn't just felt on the field anymore but in the hearts of millions of fans placing bets.
    Guides fans: Sports media has evolved to be a guide towards the fans of betting; it now provides an analysis of the game and tips on how to go about betting. It's now common to find broadcast lines on sports with the odds and other tip headlines all aimed at attracting fans who can bet. 
    Increase in fan engagement: Fan engagement goes far past the game now that sports betting has been integrated. Every play, every quarter, every inning means something. But as the stakes are increased, so is the temptation to act immorally. Thus, the games must still be kept clean and uncompromised.
    Risks and Responsibilities: Exploring the Betting Highs & Lows
    Prominent risks linked to high-stakes betting involve financial strain and addiction. Responsible betting, which has strategies like budget limits, time tracking, odds comprehension, and avoidance of losing aspects in place, reduces such errors. Regulatory bodies are also central to applying ethics, protecting the vulnerable, and preventing exploitative behaviors. They enforce stake limits, player protection checks, and mandatory levies on betting firms for addiction treatment.
    Emerging Trends in High-Stakes Sports Betting
    Advancing technology is shifting the high stake sports betting scene. High-speed internet and smartphones have made access to it easily possible, as mobile betting applications add much to this convenience. The innovations in in-play betting and AI predictive analysis have further improved the experience of this form of wagering. In addition, bet processing through blockchain has the potential to change the landscape. The predictions make up to $39 billion of this online market by 2033.
    Final Thoughts
    In general, high-stakes betting is a double-edged sword, giving economic benefits and risks. The key will be in finding a middle line between the thrill of high-stakes gambling and the relative requirement to maintain the integrity of sports while at the same time protecting people from possible harm. The future of sports gambling captivates exactly in this tightrope walk.
  • Well, five goals, the youngsters impressing and a successful start to a key part of the season. Can’t really ask for any more than that, given the emotional few days we’ve had. We’re in the hat for the 5th round and that was the order for today. Dan Thomas here with your Norwich report.
     
    It’s getting back on the horse having fallen from the saddle. It’s getting back on the bike after falling on your arse. It’s the first game since Klopp’s bombshell announcement and it’s out of the way.
     
    Even walking around the ground before the game the mood was quite sombre. There is usually excited chatter of people talking about the upcoming match, the tactics, transfers and some dipshit buying a half and half scarf. But it didn’t feel like that today, there was just nothing. A void. Emptiness. Like the inside of Wayne Rooney’s skull. Other fans (who have no idea what they’re talking about) have poked fun at us this week, but it really does feel like a grieving process, like the passing of something that you have no control over.
     
    But when the players and Jurgen walked down the tunnel, we got the applause out of the way. We were ready for business, and it was business as usual. 5-2 was a let off for Norwich if we’re being completely honest.
     
    I’d done a lot of thinking about the team and when I read it when it was released, it was a great advert for why talented youngsters should sign for Liverpool. I am always happy to see young lads in the team and it was great to see James McConnell get his first start. I will get to him later but when I was reading the team, I was happy with what I’d seen. Though the LFC Twitter account needs to list people by position and not number. Come on dude, it’s 2024. Let’s be better. I was expecting Robbo to come in from the start or maybe even Owen Beck with Robbo to come on later, and Gomez to drop in at centre half. But no, Konaté played again which I really didn’t expect.
     
    It is testament to the Academy and to the pathway to the first team that both Quansah and Bradley are just there now. I fully expected them both to play today and Bradley will be unlucky to not play when Trent comes back in against Chelsea. They are not wet behind the ears kids, these are now established first team lads. They aren’t starters yet of course but they are very definitely a part of the first team squad now – and that is a measure of how calm, composed and grown up their football is.
     
    I was a little surprised to see Alisson start but when you think about it, Kelleher has the Carling/Coca Cola/Rumbelows/Carabao Cup and the Europa League. I guess Klopp has told Alisson he has the league and the FA Cup, because it’s not like Kelleher would have been overawed by the occasion today.
     
    Some of the football Norwich played was extraordinary. I don’t necessarily mean that in a good way either. We are a lean, mean gegenpressing machine. We hunt as a vicious pack and drag our prey down. So when our prey is not even close to being as good as we are, you’d think they’d try and spend some time with the ball in the air on the halfway line.
     
    Not Norwich though – they decided to try and pass out like prime Barcelona. I respect that they have an identity, a style and a way of playing. I almost respect that they are saying “That’s the way we play and that’s all there is to it.” Come on though man, it was obvious inside the first five minutes that they were going to try and go toe to toe with our pressing game and it was obvious we were going to create chances because of it.
     
    We had nearly taken the lead early on but Nunez’s curling shot hit the post. He was a menace again today, and was unlucky to not get more than the one he did. He cut onto his right and his shot looked pretty speculative to be honest but it thumped off the woodwork. Again. Feels like poor old Darwin has hit the post hundreds of times this season and here’s another one for the list. Cue the “ShIt AnDY CaRRolL" chants.
     
    I was made up to hear those bumpkins start up with that shit because it seems to me that Darwin is increasingly scoring every time it happens. Proper Football League dickhead bantz, and that was Norwich’s schtick all afternoon. Being loud means nothing when you are wearing green and yellow wigs, doing the whole CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN thing 25 years after it was last seen on TV and spending half the game singing about the atmosphere. Which admittedly was mostly very flat.
     
    But we aren’t exactly going to be up for it on a Sunday at 2:30pm against a heavily rotated Norwich City, are we?  And whilst I’m at it, I hope we’re going to change the away end back to where it was because that has really knocked my karma out of kilter. The away end has been the Main Stand side ever since I can remember.
     
    In fact, whilst I’m at it, I resented drawing Norwich in the first place. They have been up and down (nearly as much as I was sitting down and standing up today, what is it with cup games with jabronis constantly going up and down the aisle? I had seasickness two minutes into the second half!) for much of the last twenty years. I never miss them when they’re gone, I don’t acknowledge them when they are here. They’re just there and the same goes for Watford as well, who we’ve drawn in the next round, providing they can get past Southampton in a replay. Not glamour ties but I’ll take the home draw any day of the week. But I digress.
     
    When the opener came, it was completely expected and it had been coming. We’d nicked the ball in great positions a few times but didn’t quite make the most of it. But McConnell dropped into space, looked up and pinged a left footed diagonal to the back post. The right back lost Curtis and he swooped in for an easy header. The improvement in him this season has been profound and he is regularly chipping in with goals these days. That one will possibly not live long in his memory but it certainly will for McConnell.
     
    He was absolutely fearless today and did not look out of place. He was confident on the ball and put himself about in the tackle. It was nice to see some of our lads go straight to him instead of Jones because it was an exquisite ball that just begged for Jones to do exactly what he did – straight back across the keeper into the corner. Excellent.
     
    Norwich continued with their high risk, zero reward approach and I honestly thought we were going to hit them for seven or eight. However, as it turns out, they got a couple of corners and scored a totally undeserved equaliser. I am a little bit annoyed at that goal to be honest because as a Championship team coming to Anfield in a game where they’d have about 30% possession, Norwich will have been working on their set pieces all week – and we should have been doing the same in the training sessions we’ve had.
     
    To add to this, Gibson had a free run at goal in the corner a few seconds previous but Jota nicked it away. No such luck second time. It looked a good header, just a glance and not even Alisson can do anything about it. However, it was actually spawn central as it’s flicked off his back and Alisson can still do nothing about it.
     
    We looked a bit ropey for five minutes actually, not under any pressure but certainly not showing our considerable attacking teeth. However, Norwich duly obliged us by playing out again. The keeper tried to find the left back with a diagonal which Conor Bradley won back. He then played a lovely 1-2 with Jota the Slotter and suddenly the right back had acres of space to run into. He kept his composure magnificently and played in Nunez.
     
    To be honest, his first touch wasn’t great and he hit the ball quite a bit further ahead of where he would have wanted. But the finish, right footed, was straight in the bottom corner and the keeper isn’t getting that. Very good all round. And that was a perfect demonstration of the importance of making the right choice – when you do so, everything opens up.
     
    Until half time, all hell broke loose. We should have been out of sight and then some. Norwich kept trying to Beckenbauer it up, we kept swooping in and taking the ball. Bradley cut it back for Gakpo and the latter inexplicably skimmed it well wide with the goal at his mercy. A really extraordinary miss for someone who is usually so composed. And then, Norwich tried to play out yet again and Jones nicked it, played in Gravenberch who rounded the keeper but his shot was weak and was cleared off the line.
     
    A truly nuts couple of minutes. Again, I respect you have an identity. You do that against Huddersfield or Southampton or Leeds. You don’t do that at Anfield against a team that actively wants you to try and play your way out. How it was only 2-1 at half time was anyone’s guess.
     
    When all the dickheads got back from their half time pie/pint/piss and making me bob up and down like a fat Woolyback meerkat, they would have seen that we carried on the second half as we ended the first. Total domination. However, the third goal was a bit out of nothing – Jones hit a long one looking for Jota, Gibson had to get there but could only head it into the air. Without breaking stride, Jota has kept on going, got the ball into the perfect position and rattled it into the bottom corner with his left foot.
     
    He didn’t have time to think, he just did. An absolutely fantastic finish from one of the elite finishers in world football. He’s been back a while now but it’s no coincidence that we’re playing better, looking more dangerous and scoring more goals since his return to the side.
     
    Almost instantly, the changes were rung. On came Dom, Virgil and Robbo and off went Jones, Konate and Gomez. It’s genuinely fantastic to have Robertson back but it is a huge testament to how well Gomez has played when you consider we have not missed either Robbo or Tsimikas. Incidentally, can we knock the SHOOOOOT every time Gomez has the ball on the fucking head, please? He will build it and they will come, don’t worry. Leaving that aside though, what a bench eh? Not a bad set of subs to make at all.
     
    It didn’t take long for the substitutes to combine actually as Szoboslai’s corner picked out an unmarked van Dijk, who planted his header from the penalty spot. How you leave the best header of a ball on the pitch as open as that, I have no idea but it was a great header unmarked or not. Scoring from that range is a skill. There’s not many sights in football watching a keeper at full stretch being beaten by a header from a corner. One of the lads who sits in front of me called a goal from a van Dijk header before that ball came in, so fair play Mick!
     
    On came Trent, off went Darwin as the vice skipper got himself half an hour under the belt before Chelsea in midweek. He nearly scored with his first touch actually as a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, but it was blocked. Interesting that he stayed in midfield mostly and Bradley was left on to maraud down the right.
     
    Again I thought Hurricane Liverpool might completely swamp Norwich but it wasn’t quite the case. They had a goal disallowed for offside – there was a VAR check which was a shame as I largely had forgotten it had existed this weekend. It’s no coincidence to me that there has been no talk of high profile refereeing clangers in a weekend where VAR use is limited. I could see in real time it was offside but the check did last a while.
     
    A few minutes later, it was 4-2. A long ball wasn’t hoovered up in midfield and Sainz just ran and ran with it. Van Dijk declined to close him down and suddenly, it’s in. There is so much to pick apart about that goal. It’s a good hit don’t get me wrong I am not detracting from the lad. Glen Johnson did the draw for the 5th round and van Dijk demonstrated some Glen Johnson-esque closing down as he…. Well, didn’t. He just let him shoot.
     
    And as critical as I have been of Kelleher this season, if that goal goes in with him in net we are asking questions about the goalkeeping. “Alisson would have saved that.” For me, if something goes in from that range you’re entitled to ask questions of the goalkeeper and having watched it back a few times, I am not sure what the problem is. Has he maybe seen it late around van Dijk? If you ask him, he’s probably not happy with himself. Or maybe I am expecting too much because he is the best in the world without question and I hate giving the away fans something to celebrate.
     
    I thought that goal demonstrated McConnell was low on batteries because the space in midfield was huge and given he was the holding midfielder he was well behind the play. He lasted another ten minutes before giving way to Diaz. Again, not a bad change to make! Well played young man – see you against Watford on the 28th February. Because that’s how good his performance was.
     
    The last ten minutes was no onslaught by them by any means and we could have scored another three ourselves. Long made a great save following a goalmouth scramble, and Jota was having target practice using someone about 10 rows back in the Kop as he absolutely leathered two shots out wide into the exact same area in quick succession. Not one you want to catch in the face.
     
    He’s the lad from Portugal
    He’ll knock your teeth out don’t you know
    Oh his name is Diogo
     
    Jota looked a bit knackered to be honest but McConnell couldn’t continue so 90 minutes for Jota. Obviously the sports science nerds think he’s alright to play 90 now though which is good for us – and we’re going to need big minutes from the four forwards until Salah is back.
     
    I thought we were done with the goals given Jota’s fancying of Joe in Row 10 of the Kop but we still had time for one more. A diagonal from Dom to Diaz, a diagonal from Diaz to Bradley who fizzed the ball across goal on the bounce for Gravenberch to nod home right at the death. I don’t think Gravenberch will feel that was the best he could have played but he’s now got three goals for us – more goals coming from midfield is great stuff. Curtis has definitely lifted the bar there and an extra 10-15 from that part of the pitch could be crucial come May.
     
    But two assists for Bradley – that’s hugely impressive for a young lad with as little first team football at Liverpool’s level as he has. He was Bolton’s player of the season last year – I know that because my son Jack presented him with the award. Jack is quickly growing into a Red, don’t you worry. He was absolutely superb at League One level last season and he just looks so comfortable. It’s the Jurgen effect obviously but the only thing he has done wrong was get squared up for the Fulham goal on Wednesday night. I reckon he’d have another 7-10 appearances under his belt had he not been injured early in the season. I’ve been waiting to have a good look at him and boy am I glad we have had the chance.
     
    So yeah, life moves on. We’ve loved and lost before, we will absolutely love and lose again. I still think there was a bit of a stunned feeling around the ground because it’s all so sudden. We thought we had another season of this at least and yet here we are contemplating where we go from here. The simple answer is onto the next game which is frankly a bigger fish to fry – we will need the crowd more in that game than we ever were going to against these jeering bums.
     
    The timing of the announcement is strange, I hope that this is to try and galvanise the crowd to be stronger than ever on the run in. We’re fighting on four fronts and let’s be honest, Watford at home is not a million miles away from what we would have been wanting. We have a chance to go very deep in the FA Cup as well and leveraging the last of our time together with Jurgen is going to play a huge role in our quest for all the gold.
     
    Star man – The FA Cup, Roy of the Rovers, Jumpers for Goalposts, Giant Killing, Sheepskin coat wearing cliched gobshite part of me wants to give it to McConnell for his excellent performance on his first start at Anfield. And he’s up there. But I am going to give it to Conor Bradley – two assists, looking so measured and composed and had Gakpo not got the yips it would have been three assists. Honourable mentions to Jones and Nunez as well.
     
    Team: Alisson; Bradley, Konate (Van Dijk), Quansah, Gomez (Robertson); McConnell (Diaz), Gravenberch, Jones (Szoboslai); Jota, Nunez (Alexander-Arnold), Gakpo:
      
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