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  • TLW
    With the title in the books we now look forward to any additions to the squad that Jürgen Klopp could make this summer.

    The manager has often said that the Reds will be quiet in the window as he balances the combination of finances being hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with the fact that he feels content with the strength of depth at his disposal.

    While big money moves are said to be off the table for Liverpool at this present time, there is quite a few bargains about with many clubs wanting to balance their books.

    One of those players is said to be Real Betis defender Aissa Mandi.

    Estadio Deportivo( via the Mirror) say that the central defender is entering the final year of his contract and is highly unlikely to sign a new deal.

    The Reds and Newcastle have been linked to the Algerian international and is reportedly on the market for £10million.
     


    Mandi who came through the ranks at French club Reims before joining Betis in 2016 is described as a versatile defensive asset who is capable of playing anywhere in the back four.

    While he has the pace, agility and the drive of a full-back, he also has the physicality, composure and the positional awareness of a central defender and is also well known for his he is known for his tackling and ball-playing abilities.

    However one black mark seems to his discipline with the 28 year-old collecting 10 yellow cards in his 29 league appearances this season. 

    In terms of the current Liverpool defence, Joe Gomez has consolidated his spot as the partner for Virgil Van Dijk, but the backup positions are a little bit more uncertain.

    Joel Matip is certainly a valuable asset and never lets the side down when he does get selected in the starting lineup, but his tendency to pick up injury which lead to long layoffs is a concern.

    Meanwhile it remains to be seen if Dejan Lovren stays on for yet another season after being talked into staying for this campaign by Klopp or if he chooses to follow Adam Lallana’s lead and depart in the quest for more first-team action.

    The Croatian has been linked with other teams in Premier League, in Italy and most recently Russia with Zenit St Petersburg interested in his services with a proposed £9 million deal.

    But it is thought to be around £6 million under what Liverpool are wanting for the veteran.
     
  • Liverpool may be one of the world capitals of football, but as a supporter, you’ll have plenty of time to spare between a match and another.
     

     
    Whether you plan to stay only a night in the city or longer, a fun way to enjoy what it has to offer is visiting one of the top casinos in Liverpool. Here are three of the best that are worth checking out.
     
    1. Grosvenor Casino
     
    Known as the Leo Casino, the Grosvenor is one of the most popular gambling venues in Liverpool, based down in the famous docks area. It attracts a lot of locals as well as tourists, as it is a great alternative to night’s out in the city centre.  
     
    For gamblers, The Grosvenor offers modern gaming tables as well as many classic slots. If you’ve ever played slot games at the UK’s online casinos then you’ll know how fun these can be. Alternatively you can try low stakes electronic roulette which is playable from just 10p.  There is also Blackjack, Punto Blanco, and other card games, as well as a Texas Hold Em room for those who want to test their metal against other players. 
     
    And finally, if you’re not really into gambling, you can just grab some great food in Leo’s a la carte restaurant or just a drink in one of the two cocktail bars. In fact this place is a great place to start your night out in the city without even gambling at all!
     
    2. Genting Casino
     
    Genting is another big-brand casino that you can enjoy while in Liverpool. It is open in two locations, with Genting Queen Square being unanimously considered the poshest between the two. Situated in the heart of the city, it offers you the ability to enjoy classic casino games, poker rooms, and slot machines. 
     
    There are also poker tournaments and a great selection of cutting edge electronic roulettes. 
     
    When you’re hungry or need a break, you can enjoy the quality in-house restaurant or one of the two bars. And once again it’s not all about gambling – there is also comedy and live music regularly hosted here so check out the website before you visit the city to see if there are any specials happening whilst you are in town.
     
    Most days The Genting opens at noon for roulette and slots, with table games available from 2pm. This one has a very late license so you can also come down late in the evening or early morning for a few hands, spins or just a drink.
     
    3. Mecca Bingo
     
    Located near Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, the Mecca Bingo is another noteworthy casino you should check out in Liverpool. Inaugurated over 20 years ago, the purpose-built venue still retains most of its glitz and glamour, giving it a really luxurious feel, with attractive interiors and state-of-the-art facilities.
     
    But this place is all about the bingo – and Mecca is a massive name when it comes to that! You can play 7 days a week, 12 hours a day should you wish! And of course, there is also slots and table games too – so like Genting and Grosvenor there are loads of opportunities to have a punt and win some cash. Or, if you just want a drink or a bite to eat you can do that too.
     
    These are the best three gambling locations in the city - whether you want to play casino games, try your luck at the slots machines or enjoy a fun bingo night, there is plenty of choice. So if you’re not sure how to fill your time between matches or just want to extend your stay in the city after you’ve watched the game, consider paying them a visit. And remember to always gamble responsibly. 
  • Ok so NOW it feels real. We may have won it weeks ago but I wasn’t really completely feeling it until now. I knew we were Champions and I saw how ecstatic people were, but I wasn’t quite there. Not sure why. A few things I suppose.
     
    Partly because this thing had essentially been sewn up since December. Partly because of the enforced break that halted the procession. Partly because we couldn’t be there in person to see it. But on reflection, I think it’s mostly because I’ve forgotten what winning the league is like and how it’s supposed to feel. 
     
    I was a teenager when we last won it and I don’t really remember much about it other than it was business as usual. It’s completely different to winning other trophies though. Unless of course it goes down to the last day and it all hinges on a one off game, in which case it’s basically the same as any other trophy success. 
     
    Over the last 30 years we’ve had plenty of trophies to celebrate but every one of those either involved being at a final in person or watching it in the City Centre with mates. When you win those, celebrating is easy. You know how to feel as you’re swept up in the moment.
     
    This was different. We didn’t even win it on the pitch. It was clinched when City lost at Chelsea and could therefore no longer catch us. That turned out great for the lads because they were able to watch that game together and go nuts afterwards. For us fans though, it was strange. 
     
    We didn’t have that focal point. That one game where it happened and we could all celebrate afterwards. Even without Covid it wouldn’t have been the same as when you actually win a final, but to have this in the middle of a pandemic just killed the party mood. At least for me anyway.
     
    I just wasn’t as ecstatic as I always imagined I would be when it finally happened. Now I feel it though. This is what it needed to become real for me. Seeing them lift the trophy brought it all to life. Obviously I feel robbed of the opportunity to see it happen live but that’s something beyond everybody’s control. For now at least.
     
    In fairness to everyone involved, I thought this went as well as it possibly could without any fans inside the stadium. I’m not even arsed about Coldplay because to tell you the truth I didn’t even notice it. Did they even play it? I suppose that’s the thing with Coldplay, they’re not very noticeable as they’re so fucking bland (apart from Viva La Vida which is the exception that proves the rule).
     
    It felt great seeing the lads with their medals and the trophy and now it’s finally hit home that we are Champions. Champions of England. Champions of Europe (for a few more weeks at least). Champions of the World. We’re currently the Champions of everything and we should savour this because we’ve never done it before and might never do it again. Then again, we might. Who knows?
     
    As for the game itself, it was a cracker. Chelsea are not too dissimilar to what we were a few years ago. Great going forward, some very talented players but defensively vulnerable and with big questions marks over the goalkeeper. The biggest difference is we had Klopp to put that right whereas they have Lampard, who is still very much an unknown quantity. 
     
    Chelsea started the game well and had a couple of good situations they could have made more of. They wasted them and within the blink of an eye they were 3-0 down. It all seemed to happen very quickly but in that spell we played some great stuff.
     
    We went ahead when Keita won the ball and then lashed one in off the bar from 18 yards. He’s good at that. Not so much the lashing one in from 18 yards, but generally just being a fucking pest and nicking the ball off people. He just seems very good at getting himself in the way, which must be due to good anticipation.
     
    So anyway, he wins the ball, advances to the edge of the box and lets fly. They always look better when they go in off the bar and it’s a great goal. If that goes in against us though I’m looking at my keeper. Maybe that’s harsh, but look at Kepa’s pitiful attempt to stop it. Why is he going for it with his right hand and not his left? Because he’s shite, that’s why.
     
    It’s funny really. Alisson was once the most expensive keeper and Van Dijk was the most expensive defender. Now it’s Kepa and Harry fucking Maguire! Crazy.
     
    I thought Kepa should have done better on the second goal too. I’m not saying he should definitely have saved it but he should be getting a lot closer than that. It’s basically the exact same goal Trent scored against Palace. It’s identical. Same spot on the pitch, exact same strike and it hits the net in the very same spot.
     
    The Palace keeper at least got close to it and he didn’t have the benefit of having seen it before. Kepa should have known where that was going, yet there he was stood there, flat footed, nowhere near it. Shite that.
     
    Chelsea had felt aggrieved at the decision to award us that free-kick and Lampard ended up in a big row with Klopp and the rest of our bench. Because there are no fans in the stadium one of the journalists in the press area was able to film the entire exchange and picked up everything that was said.
     
    Lots of ‘facking this’ and ‘facking that’ from Lampard while Klopp kept telling him to ‘calm down’. When you’re riled up is there anything more fucking infuriating than some patronising cunt telling you to calm down? Hilarious, Klopp was driving him mad. 
     
    Lampard is a cheeky fat cunt though. Seemingly telling Klopp “first title you’ve ever won and you’re giving it the big ‘un”. I’d like to think he was directing that at someone else because it isn’t Klopp’s first title and one thing you’ll never see Klopp doing is getting above his station. Not his style at all.
     
    It seems Lampard’s real beef was with Ljinders and that’s almost certainly who he was referring to afterwards when he said some people are getting arrogant after winning the title. It also explains why Ljinders ran on the pitch to celebrate when the free-kick went in!
     
    It’s obvious what started it. Our bench will have gone mad at the challenge because it looked dangerous. I can also see why Lampard didn’t think it was a foul though. Klopp and his staff wouldn’t have liked it because it was an aggressive looking challenge and he went right through the back of Sadio. Lampard will say he got the ball first. Both are correct.
     
    The general consensus seems to be that it wasn’t a foul. Not sure I agree with that. Look, to me that’s a good tackle but all I’m saying is that in the modern game there will be more refs who give a foul for that than there will be ones who let it go. You can’t really tackle that anymore, whether you or I agree or not. So Lampard can stick his anger up his fat arse (yeah yeah I know he’s not fat, that’s what has always made the ‘Fat Frank’ thing so funny).
     
    It was another great strike by Trent though, who hasn’t looked back since the kick up the arse I gave him after the derby when I said he wasn’t all that at free-kicks. Sometimes you need that. Naby’s form has also improved since I questioned him. 
     
    And then it was 3-0. Robbo’s corner wasn’t dealt with by Chelsea and while everyone else seemed to be appealing for handball Gini just smashed the ball in.
     
    At this stage it was looking like we’d completely humiliate Chelsea but they pulled one back just before half time and that stopped our momentum. Good goal to be fair. It’s hard to defend that simply because that one unexpected flick by Alonso completely takes everyone out of the game. Brilliant by him.
     
    Alisson’s save was stunning but it won’t be remembered because sadly the long (and no doubt extremely well groomed and waxed) leg of Giroud got to the rebound first to prod the ball over the line.
     
    That goal gave Chelsea a lifeline but then guess what, Bobby actually scored at Anfield in the league! Made up for him as nobody wanted him to go through the season with that record. He saw a perfectly good goal disallowed against United so it’s only right that he managed to avoid going goalless at home.
     
    Lovely goal it was too. Stunning delivery from Trent and a good header from Bobby. You could see how much it meant to him and I’m sure all the lads knew about the unwanted record too.
     
    We had chances to extend the lead but then the substitutions started coming and the game suddenly became ridiculously open. We took off Gini and Naby and sent on Milner and Jones. Chelsea brought on Abraham, Hudson-Adoi and Pulisic and all of a sudden they looked like they were going to score with every attack
     
    We should have been well out of sight by then anyway, but wasteful Mo showed up for this one, which was a real shame because finishing aside he was boss and gave Rudiger the run around all night. Maybe if he’d brought his right foot with him he’d have had at least a couple. Even Virg was taking the piss out of him afterwards, saying “Didn’t you want to score tonight, Mo?”
     
    It frustrates me so much when he runs around away from the ball to get on his left foot because his right foot is fine when he actually trusts himself to use it. It should also be pointed out that he seems to have become the victim of a new rule that says it's ok to grab, pull or bodycheck him any time he advances into the penalty area.
     
    I seem to remember similar happening at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea decided the best way to stop Mo playing one twos around the box is to let him play the pass and then just flatten him. Rudiger did it twice in this game yet somehow it's being described on commentary as 'standing his ground'. 
     
    Last time I checked, standing your ground wasn't taking a step to the left, into the path of another player, and bodychecking him. Opponents know now that they can do this without being called on it, as it's happening all the time. Chelsea just happen to be the most blatant exponents of it.
     
    Still, that just makes it all the more important that he makes the most of the clear chances he does get, and he failed to do that once again. I understand he's not going to score with every chance he gets, but his strike rate does seem to be really poor this season, especially since lockdown when he could easily have scored seven or eight.
     
    His profligacy looked like it might prove costly when ‘Eden Pulisic’ started running us ragged. I thought we’d seen the last of that shit when the tricky little Belgian fucker left but this brought back some unpleasant memories. He’d have been a good signing for us wouldn’t he, Pulisic?
     
    We made him look good though. The defending just went to pieces for a spell. Too much space appeared between the midfield and defence (possibly a result of Gini going off) while Trent and Gomez couldn’t cope with Pulisic.
     
    Chelsea got back to 4-2 when Pulisic skipped past three challenges and crossed for an Abraham tap in. He then missed a good chance when he got in behind Gomez but dragged a shot wide. The next chance he got he made no mistake. Gomez and Van Dijk went for the same ball and collided (defo Joe’s fault) which had us scrambling back. 
     
    Trent tried to get across to cover Pulisic but sold himself too much and allowed him to turn and lash one in the top corner. Something that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned though is that Azpilacueta stole 20 yards on that throw in. Honestly, watch it back and it’s easily 20 yards, maybe more. The ball goes on level with the edge of the box and he takes the throw close to halfway. The goal comes directly from that.
     
    At this point I thought we’d concede another as we were all over the place, but the lads regrouped and defended pretty well after that.
     
    I wasn’t thinking this at 4-3 but now, knowing that it all ended well, I have to say that I did enjoy seeing the old roller coaster Reds again. I don’t want this every week but I have frequently bemoaned the fact that we were no longer quite as thrilling as we were a couple of years ago. 
     
    Obviously I wouldn’t swap that for the stability and machine-like ability to win we have now, but there are times I get a little nostalgic for the thrill a minute, four or five goals a game Reds of the 17/18 season. So I did enjoy seeing this throwback performance, even though at 4-3 it wasn’t much fun. 
     
    When Ox finally killed the game it just felt great and capped a memorable night. Grinding out a 1-0 and then lifting the trophy would have been sound, but this was better.  
     
    And we wrapped it up with one of those goals I fucking love. Nothing compares to those fast break goals. There’s just nothing better. You rip the soul out of the opponent when you do that. They have an attacking set-piece and the hope that they might do something from it, then seconds later they’re picking it out of their own net wondering what hit them.
     
    Andy Robbo. What a man. He heads away the free-kick and then ten seconds later he’s putting in the cross for Ox to score. How does that even happen? He’s amazing. He isn’t talked about anywhere near enough for me. I mean yeah, he does get recognition and it seems like MOTD highlight him and Trent every other week. It’s not enough though. He’s so fucking good he should be everywhere. His face should be on a postage stamp and five pound notes.
     
    That goal was as important as a goal could be under the current circumstances. Technically there’s nothing to play for but these patchy results we’ve had lately have still been irritating and had we not beaten Chelsea it would have cast a slight shadow on the celebrations that followed. Not much of a shadow, as it doesn’t REALLY matter, but the lads lifting the trophy after a thrilling win will have given them a little bit more oomph in their celebrations.
     
    So that goal from Ox was a big one and it’s definitely top five for me this season. We’ve scored some great goals but I suspect this one will live longer in the memory than most because it came on the night we got the trophy. Plus it was a fucking phenomenal goal and summed up what this team is all about. 
     
    Robbo running like that so late in the game when we’re in front and the title has been won weeks ago. He is the beating heart of this side and represents everything that you want your team to be. He has every single quality you would want, on and off the pitch. Most of the lads do though to be fair, but especially Robbo. He’s the most relatable in the entire squad. 
     
    So now we have one more game. Away at Newcastle. I have no idea what to expect there as a lot will depend on how last night’s celebrations went. It’s easy enough to motivate players when there are seven games left and they haven’t had the trophy or their medals yet, but this one is much more tricky. I doubt anyone really gives a shit about it now.
     
    I’d prefer to win, that goes without saying, and even a draw would do because it would match last season’s points tally. That won’t matter to a lot of people but it does to me. I think I might be a little OCD about this because picking up less points than last year would bother me far more than it should. I know it doesn’t matter one jot, yet the thought of finishing one point less than a year ago would weigh on my mind.
     
    I wouldn’t be shocked if the lads went out there and just had nothing left though. Who could blame them if that’s the case? They’ve worked so hard to reach their goal and now having got there it might be a case of them just not being able to switch back on for one more, ultimately meaningless game. 
     
    If that happens I’m fine with it. There’ll be no histrionics from me like there was after the Arsenal game for example. Whatever happens on Sunday happens. I really hope Mo manages to get his goal to reach 20 for the season third season in a row though. That’s also irrationally important to me, probably that OCD again.
     
    Star man is Robbo but had Naby played ninety minutes then he’d have ran him close.
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum (Jones), Keita (Milner); Salah (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Firmino (Minamino), Mané (Origi):
  • Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says that missing out on the title in heartbreaking fashion only fuelled the fire within the squad to put things right this season.

    While the title was officially clinched a few weeks back, the Reds had to wait until the final home game to claim the cherished piece of silverware.

    And to celebrate the occasion, the Reds produced quite a display defeating top four aspirants Chelsea 5-3 with a number of world-class goals throughout the contest.

    While Henderson was not on the pitch due to a knee injury suffered against Brighton, that did not stop him doing iconic ‘Hendo shuffle on the victory dais.

    The skipper told Sky Sports (via the Official site) that coming so close to knocking off Man City last season was major inspiration to the squad in the lead up to this memorable campaign.

    “It makes it even more special. 

    “After last season, getting 97 points and not winning it was hard to take, but then we reacted a few weeks later and won the Champions League. 

    “At the start of the Premier League season we knew we had unfinished business. 

    “It’s been an amazing season and I’m so thankful that I’m part of this club and part of this team that has managed to get the Premier League after 30 years.

    Henderson reflected on the journey that he has been on as a Liverpool player and said that the hard yards is what makes this season so special.

    “The Premier League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Liverpool – you want to win trophies and the expectations are so high. But when you come as a young player, it’s so difficult. It’s been a process, a journey and it hasn’t happened overnight. 

    “Over the past five years since the gaffer came in, it’s been a process, a journey and every single player has been a part of that journey. 

    Hendo also said that while the celebrations will certainly be memorable and well earned, they know in a few weeks they will have to start all over again.

    “To finish the season off like this has been really special. We can enjoy tonight but, after this, next season is going to be a big challenge for us. I thought tonight we showed the mentality again to come and perform like we did, and get the result we did.

    The ever humble leader shrugged off any individual praise for his fine campaign and instead pointed at his teammates saying the unity and friendship within the squad is second to none.
     


    “That’s the most important thing – it’s a team. 

    “Of course, you’re going to have individuals that perform but the most important thing is the team. We’re always there together for each other, it’s a really close group – as you can see – and that’s off the field and on the field. 

    “It makes a massive difference and it’s another thing the gaffer has brought since he’s come in: that togetherness in the dressing room. It has made a really big difference on the pitch.



     
  • The new English champions - Liverpool - will try to strengthen their defence before the start of next season with cover for Andy Robertson a priority.
     
    One name which appeared in the British press recently is Norwich City's Jamal Lewis, who has been mentioned by Betindex.bet online.

    The 22-year-old Northern Irishman plays as a left-back, where the "reds" need reinforcements. Robertson is the established first choice but there is no natural cover or competition for him. For this reason, manager Jurgen Klopp wants to find a suitable alternative to the Scotsman and Lewis may fit the bill.

    Veteran James Milner has also been used at left back during recent seasons but he is certainly not an option for the future. In the matches for the League Cup, the 19-year-old Frenchman Yasser Larouci was also tried for this position but he is bound to the Merseysiders only until next summer and refuses to renew his contract at the moment.

    Lewis is a product of the Norwich Academy and this season he has played 31 matches in all competitions, in which he scored one goal. He has a contract with the team until the summer of 2023 and according to the portal Transfermarkt.com his price is 11 million euros.
     
    Money is likely to be tight this summer but that's a price that the Reds should be able to afford, especially if one or two fringe players move on.
  • Tuesday Jul 14:
     
    Guardiola wants an apology and is talking as though City were exonerated of all charges. The sneaky lying bald fuck. Honestly, the fucking balls on this prick. Klopp and Mourinho had both spoken out about the CAS decision being a disgrace and Guardiola had this to say in response.
     
    “When we lose, I shake their hands and congratulate them, all the time we have done that. So, guys, accept it.”
     
    I can’t speak for Mourinho as he has a long standing beef with Guardiola, but Klopp has always shook his hand and congratulated him too. The absolute cheek of the cunt. I’m sure Ben Johnson shook everyone’s hand after he won too, but it doesn’t change the fact he was a cheat, just like City.
     
    “We wanted to be here and we tried on the pitch. If you don't agree, knock on the door and speak to our chairman and chief executive, don’t go whispering.”
     
    Wanted to be here and tried on the pitch? What does that even mean? He sounds like Boris Johnson there, just rambling. As for speaking to the chairman and chief exec, maybe he should be the one doing that if he genuinely believes they haven’t been cheating when the whole world can see they have.
     
    There was a time when I thought he didn’t know. Not because he didn’t ‘know', but because he was like a mafia wife. She knows her husband isn’t ‘in construction’ but she doesn’t need to know what he actually does. That’s how I thought Guardiola was justifying it to himself. I don’t think that anymore. He knows. He’s up to his fucking neck in it.
     
    “We invested a lot of money, but we did it in the right things. We're not banned, because we followed the rules for FFP as UEFA decided. If not, we’d be banned.”
     
    You were banned!!! You were literally banned because you didn’t follow the rules. You got off on a technicality, that’s all.
     
    “We’ve done it properly, in the right way. UEFA say we do it and we did it. If we did something wrong, we will accept the decisions, because we did something wrong.”
     
    You did do something wrong, it was there for everyone to see in the emails. You didn’t accept the decisions though, you got your high powered lawyers to get it overturned on a technicality.
     
    “And we have the right to defend ourselves when we believe what we have done is correct.”
     
    Adolf Hitler believed what he was doing was correct.
     
    “Three judges said this, so it was a good day for football, as we showed we play with the same rules as all the clubs in Europe.”
     
    Your declared wage bill is less than Liverpool’s even though your actual wage bill is probably close to double. So no, you aren’t playing by the same rules as everyone else you duplicitous bald cunt. City were guilty as fuck and were fined £9m for it. The ban was overturned on a fucking technicality because the statute of limitations on any punishment had expired.
     
    Yet here they are, Guardiola especially, talking about being exonerated, proving their innocence and demanding apologies. It’s bullshit, lies and propaganda and it’s straight of the Abu Dhabi PR handbook. He even protested that they can’t match United’s spending and couldn’t afford Maguire or Sanchez. Funny that, because he paid £60m for Cancelo who never fucking plays.
     
    Proper scumbags these you know. Worse than United ever were. As much as I hate United and other clubs, I don’t want them to cease existing. City? I’d happily see them wiped off the face of football forever.
     
    Tell you something else too, Guardiola is the biggest cunt in football because he’s fully aware of what’s going on and he’s lied through his teeth about it because he’s enjoying taking the cash from these human right abusing fuckers.
     
    Meanwhile, Clive Tyldesley is in the news today after he posted a video complaining about ITV replacing him as their number one commentator. I like Clive and he probably should be ITV’s number one, but this shit happens all the time. Sam Matterface is younger and they probably see him as the future, so they’ve promoted him perhaps to prevent him leaving. Clive should know how this works and I’ll be honest, I was a little uncomfortable with him whining like that.
     
    A few of the lads were discussing it in the groupchat and it kind of reminded me of this, with Clive Tyldesley as Johnny Sac and me in the Phil Leotardo role….
     
     
    Wednesday Jul 8:
     
    Arsenal 2 L 1. I know it’s over the top and I know most of you reading this won’t feel the same, but I’m genuinely appalled by this. Not because we lost. Because of who we lost to. We should never be losing to those bums. It’s embarrassing because Arsenal are a disgrace. The only way they would be able to beat us was if we beat ourselves and that’s what we did.
     
    Clearly some of our players have just as low an opinion of Arsenal as I do, but that’s not ok. It’s ok for me to think they’re a pathetic, quivering mess who capitulate any time they face someone half decent. I never have to get on the pitch with them so if I under-estimate them it doesn’t matter. The players can’t be that complacent, but they were and they ended up with egg on their faces.
     
    The Arteta love-in is making me sick. He’s done nothing but because he’s spent time with Guardiola and he’s young and well groomed, people think he’s the bees knees. I actually saw references to an “Arteta masterclass” tonight. You fucking what? They couldn’t get out of their own half.
     
    This was utter domination from us but we literally handed them two goals and then squandered chances to bury them. Masterclass? If this was replayed ten times we’d win every one. But we didn’t win this because as I said in the match report it was the tortoise and the hare. We took them too lightly and it bit us in the arse. I mean fucking hell, Virgil doesn’t do that unless he’s relaxed almost to the point of being comatose. Then for Alisson to follow it up with a daft mistake of his own, it just shows that there’s a lack of focus.
     
    Not a lack of effort. The players are putting in the shift and they desperately want to win, but they just don’t have quite the same focus they had when the stakes were higher. Even so, you don’t lose to this fucking Arsenal team. Jesus.
     
    Also today, the City thing is rumbling on in predictably depressing fashion, with some daft bastards making them out to be some oppressed underdog. I mean fucking hell. Martin Samuel is now being deified by City fans and Evertonians for going after the ‘hateful eight’.
     
    Yeah, that’s the name he’s given (no doubt fed to him by City’s press office) to eight of the PL’s top ten clubs who complained about City’s cheating. The only two who didn’t were City themselves, and Sheffield United. So yeah, in Bluto’s eyes City are the good guys in all this, the valiant little guy being held down by the elite.
     
    In an entirely unrelated bit of info, did you know that Martin Samuel’s son works for Manchester City?
     
    Thursday Jul 16:
     
    Yasser Larouci is off this summer. He’s still got a year left so this is a little bit surprising. He won’t sign a new deal because he wants to play, which is fair enough, but it’s also a decision I think he’ll regret. He’s training with the first team so he’s not a million miles away from it and he’s only 19. He should stay and go out on loan. He’s talented but needs a lot of work defensively.
     
    The clubs he’s being linked with are clubs that would probably take him on loan too, so I don’t see why he’s in such a rush but whatever, it’s his choice. If he does leave then it would make sense for us to sign another young left back (even if it’s just for the 23s), especially as Adam Lewis is supposed to be going out on loan. Maybe they’ll just promote James Norris, as that kid can play.
     
    Meanwhile, I found this really funny. Have a read of these quotes and then try to guess which former player it is. I bet you can't. 
     
    "Look, if we had got beat, I'd have accepted it. Fair enough, we've gone to Arsenal and we lost. But they didn't beat us, we handed it to them on a platter. They had three shots on our goal and scored two, we had 24 attempts and scored one.
     
    "I'm raging. It's about making more history. I get it, 30 years not winning the league and now we've won it, but what, then we get complacent?
     
    "Let's go on to win a bit more, let's be a great team like Man City have been over the last two years. They've won the league and everyone's human so they feel they've got nothing to play for now. But it's like, subconsciously, they're in holiday mode and they've just come off the boil a little bit, but they should keep going.
     
    "We've won the league and we haven't really been allowed to celebrate it properly so why not create a little bit more?"
     
    Honestly, you’ll never guess in a million years. I actually agree with almost all of it, but the reason it’s so funny is because who said it.
     
    Someone not in the least bit qualified to be making any kind of criticism of this squad or of players not showing a great attitude. The other thing that’s so funny is referring to the Reds as ‘we’ when he was only here five minutes. In fact, he spent considerably more time at Arsenal, which makes this even more amusing.
     
    If you still haven’t guessed, I'll reveal at the end.
     
    Friday Jul 17:
     
    Oh here we go. The German media are reporting that we’re in talks with Bayern over Thiago after Klopp told the owners he wants him. There’s a big difference in our valuation and Bayern’s and the clubs are far apart. Could be true, but it all reeks of clickbait to me.
     
    Say that Klopp wants him but add the caveat that the owners need to back him. So when it doesn’t happen Bild are in the clear as they can just say “we were right, Klopp wanted him but y’know, FSG penny pinchers and that”.
     
    My take on it is that these stories coming out of Germany today are most likely bollocks. I’ll say it again, unless Wijnaldum (or Keita or Ox, I guess) is leaving we won’t be signing Thiago.
     
    I forgot to mention this the other day when it became official, but Leeds are back in the big time. I wouldn’t say I’m happy about it but I don’t begrudge them it as they’ve had a shitty time of it since Ridsdale almost bankrupted them trying to win the league.
     
    Like everyone else, I love Bielsa. He seems like a top fella and I always enjoyed watching Chile when he was the coach. The Premier League is going to be more interesting with him - and Leeds - in it, so welcome back, I guess.
     
    Saturday Jul 18:
     
    Ok what the fuck is going on here? Arsenal 2 City 0. What kind of sorcery is this? It has to be the lack of fans. There’s no other explanation for Arsenal actually demonstrating a spine like this. Or maybe there is, and maybe it’s not about Arsenal. Maybe City just aren’t that good anymore?
     
    There’s a shitload of evidence to back that up now. Nine league defeats and now this. THIS? You just don’t see City losing important games to inferior sides like Arsenal. It doesn’t happen, that’s why they’ve been hoovering up all the domestic cups year on year. What we’ve seen this year is that they’ve vulnerable and can be got at, and no-one knows that more than Arteta.
     
    He used his inside knowledge of them to expose their defensive frailties, but not just that, he knew how to stop them too. Ok, Arsenal could easily have conceded a few today and City had their chances, but it wasn’t exactly an onslaught was it? Beating us the other night didn’t really mean anything as we essentially beat ourselves. This was different though.
     
    They deserved this and its weirding me out. City remain the biggest threat to us but they need new blood and given their record in the transfer market in recent seasons there’s no guarantee that the massive FFP defying splurge they’re bound to go on this summer will make that much difference.
     
    Guardiola has spent over £250m on defenders alone, and they’ve got a shit defence. How has he escaped criticism for that? Think about it. All we ever hear about when it comes to City’s defensive troubles is “well Kompany retired” or “they’d have been ok if Laporte hadn’t gotten injured”.
     
    Sorry, but if you spend £265m on defenders you shouldn’t ever concede another goal ever again. Ok, that’s a little over the top but you get my point. Imagine if another manager had spent that much to end up with an even worse defence than before. This bald twat has the wool pulled over so many people’s eyes. He’s obviously a brilliant coach, I won’t dispute that (he may even be the best) but when it comes to buying players his record leaves a lot to be desired. Still, when you have a bottomless pit of cash you can afford mistakes.
     
    Sunday Jul 19:
     
    Hahaha fucking hell, so much for this United revival. What a farce this was. Maguire scoring an own goal, their much vaunted forward line doing fuck all and De Gea gifting Chelsea two goals.
     
    I hope Chelsea win it now as I’d much rather see Lampard having some success than Arteta. On the radio yesterday there was a discussion about why Lampard has been given an easier ride than other managers, including Sarri and Solskjaer. The journalist who was on (didn’t catch his name) said it’s partly because he’s a nice fella who is accommodating with the media and answers whatever questions they put to him.
     
    I agree to a point, but it’s not just that though. It’s partly because he had a great playing career and doesn’t have an epic fail on his CV like Solksjaer, and also because he’s known for being a very intelligent fella. He gets the benefit of the doubt because it feels like he should be a good manager, regardless of whether he turns out to be one or not.
     
    The other reason he hasn’t had the kind of scrutiny Solskjaer has is because he hasn’t had a terrible run of results. They’ve had loads of bad results but they tend to be spread out rather in one run. Chelsea are just wildly inconsistent but when they’re good they look like they’re on the right road.
     
    I reckon (or maybe it's hope?) this is just who they’ll always be under Lampard. Some good, some bad. Same with United under Solksjaer really. Enough quality to sometimes look really good, but neither Lampard or Solskjaer are going to be elite level managers.
     
    The De Gea thing is just mad though isn’t it? I was thinking about this after the game. I remember writing that other than Fernando Torres the most staggering fall from a cliff I can remember is Joe Hart. Torres could at least blame injuries for his fall from grace but Hart just went from being a great player to a bum almost overnight.
     
    Now he doesn’t even have a club. I feel sorry for him actually as I thought he looked pretty good for Burnley earlier this season. They kept losing but he was their best player. Then they brought Nick Pope back in and started picking up wins, which kind of made Hart look bad even though he wasn't the problem.
     
    I tell you something though, I’d much rather have Joe Hart than De Gea these days. This guy is making mistakes at a rate even Jordan Pickford is struggling to match. And it’s been going on for long enough now that it isn’t a run of poor form, it’s just who he is. It’s been the most incredible fall from grace because it doesn’t feel like that long ago he was the only thing keeping United competitive. Now he's arguably the biggest thing holding them back. Along with Maguire. And Pogba. And Solskjaer. 
     
    Monday Jul 20:
     
    With Bournemouth looking like they’re doomed the carcass is already being picked as City are signing Nathan Ake for £35m. Can’t say this concerns me too much. He’s alright like, decent player, but he plays in Laporte’s position and he’s not better than him. Maybe they’ll play him left back? He can’t do any worse than their other options there. Shit, Purple Aki would be an improvement on Zinchenko.
     
    There’s some talk that we might be interesting in a Bournemouth player too. That young left back they signed from Bristol City. His name escapes me right now but we wanted him before he went there and he turned us down to get regular football. He didn’t really get it though did he? He’s only played a few games unless I’m mistaken.
     
    The young left back at Norwich (Lewis I think) is another who we’ve been linked with. I haven’t watched him closely and don’t have much of an opinion of him, but I’m not going to look down my nose on any player we might choose to take from a relegated side and Gini and Robbo have done alright haven’t they? Shaq too. You can pick up some decent players from the teams that go down.
     
    Finally, the mystery player is Jermaine Pennant.
     
    …..and that was the week that was
  • This season TLW has travelled far and wide to get some fascinating opinions from opposition supporters. We last spoke to @chelseaseason writer Karan Dubey ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge in September and it is fair to say a lot has happened both on and off the pitch since then. 
     
    There is not often a dull moment at Stamford Bridge and Karan gives his thoughts into Frank Lampard’s first season as Blues manager, the rapid improvement of Christian Pulisic, and how he sees Timo Werner fitting into their line-up He also pays a glowing tribute to the 2019/20 champions.

    How would you judge Chelsea’s form since the restart?

    I think we’ve been pretty good, for the most part, since the restart. We’ve had 7 wins and 2 losses across all competitions, which isn’t bad considering we beat Man City, Leicester and an in-form Man United in the process, but those two losses against West Ham and Sheffield United have been embarrassing and avoidable.

    There has also been a lot of criticism directed at our defence and the goal-keeper, and to be honest, we haven’t been good enough at the back (it would help if we had an Alisson and Van Dijk, even Lamps admitted that much!), but there have been some clear signs of improvements of late. A finish in the top four and an FA Cup trophy, and I will consider this a successful season

    Who do you believe has been Chelsea’s player of the season and what makes you come to that conclusion?

    It’s a tough question because there hasn’t been one single player who has stood out week in week out for the whole season. There have been a few who have had their moments; Tammy Abraham is our top goal-scorer and he was brilliant in the first half of the campaign, however, he has been blowing cold since January.

    Willian and Giroud have been absolutely scintillating since the restart and so has been Christian Pulisic, but have they done enough over the course of the season? I doubt it!

    So, if I had to go with someone here, I would probably say Mateo Kovacic, for me. The stats might not be on my side, but he’s just as important to our midfield as Jordan Henderson is for Liverpool. I would go as far as saying that he’s our most important player, the one that makes our midfield tick.

    Believe me, the lad is almost unpressable, rarely makes mistakes in possession, works like a donkey off the ball and can pick out passes from nowhere. I don’t exaggerate when I say that he’s one of the most under-rated players in the League and deserves more recognition.

    So, yeah, I would go with Kova.
     

     
    Christian Pulisic seems to be a player who has really thrived since the resumption, and what do you make of his steady improvement?

    Christian Pulisic came to Chelsea with great but unfair expectations. It didn’t help his case that he was seen as an Eden Hazard replacement straightaway. It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you are just arriving in the premier League as a 20-year-old and you are already expected to replace someone like Eden, it’s just an unfair and unrealistic expectation, isn't it?

    And you could see that in his play at the start of the season. He had a real desire to make things happen, but he was constantly bullied off the ball. It took him a while, and a few injuries (welcome to the Premier League!) before he could start to adapt to this league.

    I guess the lockdown helped him immensely too, as he came out physically stronger with more mass on his body, which you need in this League as a winger. Pulisic has definitely been one of our most important players since the re- start with the number of goals/assists that he has racked up in the last few weeks. He’s super quick on that left wing, a good dribbler of the ball and can score world-class goals. Sounds familiar?

    No, he’s not as good as Mane, yet, but there aren’t many in the world who are! Plus he’s still got time on his side to improve further. Hopefully, he can build on his recent performances.

    One player who has been a consistent player for a number of years is Willian. Do you feel his contract issue will be resolved and if not how much of a hole will he leave in your squad?

    I talked about under-appreciated talents with Kovacic, but if there’s been one player in Chelsea’s history who has never gotten the recognition he deserves from the fans, it’s probably Willian.
     

     
    I know a lot of Chelsea fans would probably disagree with me here. And to be fair to them, Willian’s goals/assists column has never been as good as you would expect from a Chelsea starter. But the fact of the matter is that the Brazilian has been an undisputed starter for the club for the last 6 years under a plethora of different managers and that doesn’t happen by luck! 
     
    He’s one of the hardest workers, a full-backs dream as he provides constant help and support on the wing, rarely injured, very unselfish and on his day he can be as good as anyone in the business. Considering his contract situation, it’s clear, he wants a new 3-year-contract, while the club is only ready to offer him two.

    As a Willian fan, I hope both the parties can meet somewhere in the middle because you don’t realise someone’s true worth until they are gone, and I’m pretty sure that will be the case with Willian.

    I read somewhere that Liverpool are one of the clubs that are monitoring the situation, in case he’s available. In the worst-case scenario, he would be as good a backup as any to Salah and Mane, best case; he even pushes Salah for starts...

    While the Brazilian may be a departure in the summer, one highly prized addition is Timo Werner who was linked to a number of Europe’s biggest clubs. How do you think he will complement your other forwards and what does his signing mean for someone like Tammy Abraham who has taken considerable steps forward this season?

    First of all, I can’t thank you guys enough! I was pretty stoked for the Pulisic transfer, but then you guys did it again with Werner. So, thank you for that!
     
    Regarding how he fits in, well, I’ve seen a lot of RB Leipzig matches this season and one thing that became clear to me is that he’s not your out and out striker.

    Leipzig usually played with 2 guys upfront in a counter-attacking setup with Werner just playing off of the big target man upfront. I guess that's one route Lampard can take with Giroud/Tammy being the target man and Werner playing off of them. In that case, it won’t be detrimental to Tammy’s game-time and they can work together.

    Being a versatile player, Werner can also start on the left-wing, play as a no.10 and can also be tried as a traditional no. 9 against a possession based team where we are set up for counter-attacks. Could he also play the Firmino role for us? We’ll just have to wait and see. He’s certainly got the talent and skills to fit in any system and we couldn’t be more excited to watch him play for us.

    While the front third of the pitch seems in good shape, the defence is seemingly another story and something that Frank Lampard has acknowledged needs addressing. Who do you think could be under pressure to keep their spot in the current starting line-up and is there a defender on the market that you would love to see?

    Defence has definitely been our Achilles heel this season and as much as it has to do with the personnel, a lot of it is also the consequence of the way we play against the so-called smaller teams where we go gung-ho on attack and leave ourselves susceptible to the impending counter-attacks. It’s been our story of the season and the absence of Kante in front of the back four hasn’t really helped us in that regard.
     
    Regarding who is under pressure to keep their place, I would say Kepa Arrizabalaga is the one whose time is probably up at the Bridge. Frank Lampard doesn’t seem to trust the Spaniard anymore and he’s the one who will probably face the axe before any of our centre-backs.

    We’ve been linked to Dean Henderson amongst others, and I think he could be an ideal buy for us and should sort out some of our organisational issues during the corners and the set-pieces.
     
    There’s also been a hunt for the left-back with Chelsea being linked to Ben Chillwell. I hope we don't sign him though as I don’t really trust him defensively. 

    We now see a fierce three-way battle for the final two spots in the Champions League. Do you think qualifying for the top four gives Lampard a pass mark or do you think he has earned that already especially with the difficult circumstances he took the job?

    Jose and Spuds did us a favour with their 3-0 win against Leicester on Sunday night.  Man United aren’t as good as everyone (mostly their annoying fans and Gary Neville) seem to think they are, so I think a 3rd place finish is very much achievable, plus an FA Cup trophy too, hopefully.

    Regarding Lampard’s first year, if you go back to the start of the season, almost none of the pundits gave us a chance to finish in the top 4. I remember guys like Gary Neville blabbering around that we would be lucky to finish in the top 6 while Man United challenges for the League. Good times.

    Honestly, considering everything (no Hazard, transfer ban, new manager, young squad), I would’ve been happy with a Europa League spot and a deep run in a few of the cup competitions before the start of the season.
    The fact that we are still fighting for the top 4, have a chance at the FA Cup, (an outside chance against Bayern in the UCL), I would say it has been a really good season for us. Now, if we can just finish it off professionally, (and hopefully, Leicester bins out United on the last day as a bonus) it would be a perfect season!

    What overall improvements are needed for your club to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City next season?

    First of all, we would need patience.

    This is probably the first time in a long, long time that both the fans and the owners are on a similar wavelength as far as the direction of the club is concerned.
     
    Roman Abramovich is known for being immensely impatient, and the fanbase has just been a reflection of that sort of attitude. However, it may not have been planned, but we’ve stumbled on to a more stable model by chance.

    Both the fans and the owners are willing to display patience with the new gaffer even if we miss out on the Champions League spot. I’ve never heard of that kind of sentiment in my life as a Chelsea fan. Usually, we would have
    already lined up a replacement by now!

    But, the fact that we are willing to accept a trophyless season or two and build up more organically and steadily compared to the recent years is a good sign
    for the long-term.
     
    Liverpool has already shown us that if you have a world-class manager and a genius Sporting Director, you can achieve great things by displaying patience and can sustain that success for a longer period of time. We are hoping to emulate that with Frank and Petr Cech. Only time will tell if we are successful but it’s a step in the right direction.

    On closing the gap, we also need to be smarter in the transfer market. Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are brilliant signings and so would be Kai Havertz, if we can pull that off. Again, Liverpool didn’t reach the top of the mountain in a single season. We need to back Lamps and trust in the process.

    Under Jürgen Klopp playing at Anfield had become a more daunting prospect than ever before for opposition sides. While there will be no fans in attendance, it is sure to be a special evening with the presentation of the league trophy. How confident are you of taking something from this important fixture and which player(s) in particular needs to have a big game for you to do that?

    It’s going to be a very special night for the Liverpool fans and the players on Wednesday. The long wait is finally over and no matter what anyone says, the Premier League trophy is well deserved.

    In fact, this Liverpool side is probably one of the best sides of all time and while most of the opposition fans hate to accept that fact, the truth is they are going to talk about this team in a decade as one of the very best that ever graced the pitch.
     
    Like I said, it’s going to be a special night for you guys, so I’m hoping the players would have had a few beers before the game, hopefully, right?

    I think not a single player, but collectively, we need to have an immaculate game, if we want to take anything away from this fixture. We would need to defend as a team, don’t let the likes of Mane, Salah and Firmino get on the ball in dangerous positions and have our counters on point. Up front, a lot will depend on Giroud holding the ball, dealing with Van Dijk and bringing the likes of Willian, Pulisic and Mount with his linkups and one-twos.

    Also Man United play West Ham a couple of hours prior to this game and if the Hammers beat the Mancs (will love to see Gary Neville’s face after that!), we would qualify for the top 4 anyway and we might see a more open game, else, it would be us sitting back, soaking the pressure and playing on the counter.

    While my mind says it would be a hard-fought 1-1 draw, my heart says do us a favour and lose 2-1. We will even let Harvey Elliott score his first goal!
  • Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will have a extra sense of purpose as they look to correct a mini blip of form and end the season in a positive fashion next Wednesday evening at Anfield.

    The Reds produced an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive display against Arsenal last week with mistakes by Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson gift wrapping both goals for Alexander Lacazette and Reiss Nelson.

    The North London outfit offered precious little in an attacking sense throughout the rest of the contest and had Liverpool had been on their A game, the scoreline could have been anything.

    But the truth of the matter was the champions were sloppy on the ball with countless missed passes and wasted opportunities in the final third.

    After the frustrating draw against Burnley where the team did play well, many felt the Reds would put this beleaguered Gunners outfit to the sword. The gap between the two sides is as wide as it's ever been and you'd have gotten a good price on Arsenal winning the game as the best online sports betting companies weren't giving them much hope.
     
    Arsenal upset the odds though and repeated the feat a few days later in their shock 2-0 FA Cup semi final win over Manchester City. They now face Chelsea in an all London final. If you'd like to bet on that you should find the best offer at betcompare.

    The fact that the Reds failed to beat such a poor Arsenal side left many connected to the club extremely frustrated and you sense if given the opportunity, Klopp and the players would have thrived on then opportunity to play another 90 minutes on the spot.
     


    As is his way, Klopp did not look to dwell on the negatives, instead casting his mind to next Wednesday’s clash with Chelsea and highlighted what a special occasion it will be as the Echo reported.

    “We have all been waiting ages, some of us 30 years, and we will finally get this Premier League trophy and it will be a big moment for all of us and our families,” said the Reds boss. “That’s 100%.

    “Before that, we have to play a game. For five millions reasons, we will try to win it.

    “I have had this situation twice in my life where we have got the trophy on the day.

    “It will be difficult, especially when the other team is Chelsea and they are fighting with all they have to get in the Champions League.”

    Despite the opponent, Klopp is confident that they play to their optimum level, they will be able to celebrate the moment in fitting style.

    “I saw tonight that my boys want to win it. They made two wrong decisions, but they wanted to win the game.

    “I don’t think I ever played a game with 24 to three shots against Arsenal, I can’t remember that. There are a lot of goals usually when we play against each other, but not that many tonight – at least on our side. But that dominance we never had before, I can’t remember it at least. So I’m happy about that.

    "They made two wrong decisions, but they wanted to win the game.

    “And that’s what will happen next week, 100%. We will try with everything we have to win the game.”

     
  • Nicolas Anelka says to this day he regrets not signing for Liverpool on a permanent deal.

    The Frenchman came on loan to Reds in December of 2001 in the quest of a renaissance after a terrible time of things at Real Madrid where he scored just two goals from 19 appearances.

    It was indisputable that Anelka was a striker of phenomenal natural talent, but also very poor advised Lessing to poor career decisions.

    While he only made 22 appearances (scoring five goals), his joy for the game returned and despite the countless clubs that he played for in a storied career, Liverpool clearly made a lasting impression on him as he explained to the Echo.

    (Not signing permanently) is my biggest regret because I knew it was the perfect match.

    “Everything was perfect! I loved everything about the club.

    “I had an amazing relationship with the fans. I loved them and I think it was reciprocal.

    “Looking back, I am proud to have worn the jersey of this legendary club and to have known this stadium and these amazing fans.

    The reasons behind the deal not going ahead vary depending on who you talk to and Anelka gave his point of view on the matter.
     
     

    It’s simple: it didn’t happen because Gerard Houllier wanted to pay a lower salary,. “It’s acceptable but you have to say it.

    “I wanted to sign from the first minute. 

    “Of course a permanent move was discussed from the first day I joined the club.
     
    “If you look at the first time they introduced me in the press conference, 

    "I said if I could sign now, I would but Gerard Houllier wanted a loan because he was not sure.”

    "In the middle of March, we were in negotiations to sign. PSG shareholder Alain Cayzac said to me Gerard told him that Liverpool would sign me.

    “Later on Gerard told me face to face he’d sign me permanently.

    “In the middle of April we reached an agreement about the salary, which had stalled things a little, but I was expecting to sign my contract when the league was over but there was no news from PSG and no news from Liverpool

    Anelka said he was never told directly that a deal was not going ahead.

    “I heard on the news that Gerard Houllier was after another player so that’s how I knew they were not going to sign me!”

    Phil Thompson had a fair bit to do with Anelka’s spell on the pitch as he was filling in as manager for the ill Houllier.

    The club legend says that he stood behind the reason why the permanent deal did not go ahead.

    “Nicolas would have upset the football club. Nicolas is a nice guy, but he's moody. He doesn't mix.

    “There weren't any great problems while he was there, but we had problems with his brothers, his contract and everything.

    “Arsene Wenger rang up Gerard and said: 'Gerard, I have to tell you. Nicolas' brothers have just rang me up and they've asked me to take Nicolas back to Arsenal.'
     


    Anelka completely contradicts this tale. 

    “I heard about this Arsenal story,

    “If it was true, why didn’t I sign for Arsenal when Liverpool announced in the press they weren’t going to sign me?

    “And even if it was true, it’s a normal situation. It’s like I’m saying I don’t wanna sign for a club because they are speaking with another striker. It makes no sense.

    “The reality is at the time it was very easy to point the finger at me with my reputation.”

    But despite the comments by Thompson, Anelka does not hold any kind of,grudge and loved his time playing under him.

    “ I loved my time with Phil Thompson, more so than Gerard Houllier,” he said. “

    “Phil Thompson was a typical Scouser. Direct and straight.

    “He’ll tell you what he likes and when he doesn’t like it, you would know. This is exactly what I want and what I like from people. Houiller is the opposite.
    .
    “I know if Phil was the manager I would have signed and stayed many years but fate chose otherwise and I had to take another path to find a big club.

    In one of most vivid sliding door moments of the club this millennium, Anelka at the end of that season moved on to Man City and later on Chelsea fulfilling his talent, while his direct replacement El Hadji-Diouf was a complete flop and in contrast to Anelka, one of the most despised former Liverpool players in history.

    While Houllier has never regretted his decision to deny Anelka his Liverpool dream, the striker recalls having the last laugh in his first game back, ironically which is City’s last win at Anfield.

    "I was focused on my performances at City and I don’t wish people to fail so I had turned the page,”

    .”But when I came back in Anfield and I scored this two goals it was just justice against Gerard Houllier.

    “Not for Liverpool because of course I love the club, but you know what we say.

    “What goes around comes around'.”

    A extraordinary talent, a undeniably complex figure, the Netflix documentary on the Frenchman to premiere next month should be a fascinating watch.


     
  • Chelsea kicked things off for this round of fixtures with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Norwich. They never looked in danger of conceding but it hardly inspires any confidence they'll hold United off for a Champions League place. 
     
    Giroud headed the only goal of the game. I said last week he’s never really been given the credit he deserves and he’s very under-rated. Gary Lineker then tweeted it. So if you’re reading this, Gary, feel free to use my “Portuguese Gylfi” line next time you’re talking about that Fernandez twat. 
     
    Chelsea though. Fucking pricks, they’ve put us in a situation whereby beating them will almost certainly put United in the Champions League next season. I’m genuinely resentful over this. Chelsea should have wrapped this up weeks ago and we could have avoided this unpleasantness. I want us to beat them but it’s going to annoy me if we do because of the consequences.
     
    I wonder what will happen to Norwich over the next few weeks as they have some decent young players they might not be able to keep hold of. Aarons, Lewis and Cantwell might all be in demand this summer.
     
    Tim Krul is too good for the Championship as well. I’d actually take him over Adrian if he was available on the cheap. Krul is an ideal number two for a top club, assuming he's willing to accept that role. Maybe he just wants to play? He’s a bit of a knobhead like, but then so was Adrian.
     
    Speaking of knobheads, Man City beat Bournemouth 2-1 in a surprisingly competitive game. Having gone 2-0 up I’m sure we all expected them to go on and get five again, but Bournemouth gave it a right good go. 
     
    David Silva put City in front with a quality free-kick. Keeper shouldn’t be getting beat like that though. Wasn’t even in the corner.
     
    Stanislas went within a whisker of an equaliser with a free-kick of his own that was tipped onto the post by Ederson. It bounced back off the post, hit his stupid fucking head and hit the post again before bouncing clear.
     
    That free-kick incidentally came about when Solanke dribbled past Otamendi and was brought down. You know how they keep stats on who has dribbled past Van Dijk and it’s seen as a badge of honour? They need to do the reverse on Otamendi. Anyone who hasn’t dribbled past that shit cunt needs to be named and shamed.
     
    Bournemouth were piling on the pressure now and Solanke and Billing both went close before Jesus jinked his way into the box past a couple of defenders to make it 2-0.
     
    King thought he’d pulled a goal back when he tapped in at the back post but the linesman’s flag went up. He looked a mile off at normal speed but the replay showed it was incredibly close. Not close enough though and VAR disallowed it.
     
    I’m not just saying this because it’s City but I don’t know how you can determine that this is offside. The freeze-frame isn’t accurate enough to prove one way or another because this was literally millimetres between King’s toe and Stones’ heel.
     
    If you were to take that back a frame or two then he’s onside, so this is the problem I have with it. Are they freezing the shot at the moment they *think* Stanislas makes contact with the ball or the moment they *think* it leaves his foot? And either way, you can’t get it right to the exact split second.
     
    Tell you what though, it looks like it was going in anyway and King didn’t need to touch it. I'd be pissed off I were Stanislas.
     
    Bournemouth were all over them though and that Dan Gosling jabroni had an effort cleared off the line by Gundogan. Then Lee Mason from Manchester awarded City a pen when Jesus went down under a challenge from Cook. To be fair, it looked like a pen at normal speed and it’s only when you look at the slo mo you can see Cook took the ball first.
     
    VAR over ruled it and said no pen, which was probably the correct call but still annoyed me anyway because we’ve seen so many terrible decisions not changed, so why overturn this one when it was nowhere as bad a decision as others we see week in week out? 
     
    Callum Wilson fired just wide as Bournemouth continued to push forward. Brooks eventually got them the goal they deserved late on and Wilson fluffed a good chance in stoppage time to equalise. They look like they’ve finally rediscovered some form but it may have come too late. They had 14 attempts to City’s 8, which takes some doing.
     
    Final one on this, you know who I have an irrational hatred of these days? Rodolfo Borrell. I can’t stand the cunt. By all accounts he’s a top fella and was very popular when he ran our Academy, but every time I see him stood next to that baldy bastard on the touchline I instinctively mutter “fuck off you, you fat prick”. It’s the Guardiola effect. I despise Arteta for the same reason.
     
    And I’m starting to warm to Mourinho just because he clearly hates Guardiola. Don’t get me wrong, I still want Spurs to lose most weeks but I just don’t have it in me to hate arl Jose these days. I reserve the right to change my mind at any point, but for now he’s alright because he thinks Pep is a cunt.
     
    Spurs had a good win this week away at Newcastle and have somehow sneaked up to 7th spot. Son put them ahead only for Richie to lash one in from the corner of the box. Hell of a strike, he should score far more goals than he does as he’s a tidy player. I actually think he once had ‘my boy’ status when he was at Bournemouth but I might be mistaken.
     
    Kane headed Spurs back in front almost immediately with his 200th career goal. That’s a seriously impressive number for someone who wasn’t a teenage star like an Owen, Rooney or Fowler. He came from nowhere really and hasn’t stopped scoring - or diving, or slobbering - ever since. He added goal number 201 with a close range header.
     
    One of the many things I can’t stand about Kane is his habit of answering questions by starting with “yeah no”. It doesn’t bother me as much as his face, voice, hair, chin or diving, but it does annoy me. 
     
    Mourinho said afterwards “If I was selfish I would tell you that since I came here we are fourth, but I am not selfish I am Tottenham”.
     
    Brilliant, the arl say it without saying it routine. Right up there with the “I’m not the type of guy to say I told you so, but if I were then I’d be saying I told you so”. Kept a straight face too. He’s a funny guy. At least he’s funny when he’s 38 points behind us and not really on our radar. If he ever becomes relevant again he'll no longer be amusing.
     
    Wolves have completely imploded lately and blown what looked like a good chance of getting top four. The only team they’ve beaten lately are the Blueshite who have been on their holidays since they drew with us.
     
    Jiminez brilliantly volleyed them into the lead at Burnley following an explosive burst from my boy Adama but Burnley levelled in controversial circumstances six minutes into stoppage time.
     
    Mike Dean gave handball against Doherty and it defo did hit him on the arm, but the main reason he handled it was because he turned his head away from the boot of Chris Wood who attempted and whiffed at an overhead kick.
     
    You simply can’t give a pen for that as it’s dangerous play by Wood. Doherty thought he was going to get booted in the face and he instinctively brought up his arm which caused him to inadvertently handle. Kevin Friend on the VAR backed up his mate though and Wood emphatically buried the pen. Smashed it right in the top corner. Great pen. Wolves got screwed though, not for the first time this season.
     
    Thankfully Leicester bounced back from their defeat at Bournemouth with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United. Along with Chelsea they’ve been doing their best to open the top four door for the Mancs so this was an important win to keep them hanging on in there. Brendan is still fucking about with his formation though. Remember what got you there in the first place, don’t get too clever.
     
    That loser Ayoze Perez broke the deadlock with a low shot from just inside the box. Vardy the hit the post and then put a chance on a plate for Barnes who shot straight at Henderson. A few minutes he did the same again, and once more Barnes shot straight at the keeper.
     
    Vardy then teed up Tielemans who also shot straight at the keeper. By this point if I’m Vardy I’m thinking ‘fuck all these losers I’m not passing anymore”. But Vardy is a bigger man than me and he then created a chance for Demarai Gray, who succeeded where the others had failed and made it 2-0 late on.
     
    Chris Wilder was brutally honest afterwards, saying “We never deserved anything. I was delighted it was only 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and it would have been the biggest smash and grab there has ever been if we’d got an equaliser because we never deserved it from the first minute to the 94th”.
     
    Biggest smash and grab there’s ever been? It wouldn’t have even been the biggest one of this week. He clearly didn’t see what happened at the Emirates the night before. 
     
    There was more official assisted success for United this week as they somehow escaped from Selhurst Park with three points despite being outplayed for long spells.
     
    Palace were denied a clear penalty when Lindelof clumsily impeded Zaha. Here’s the thing about this. I’m always taking the piss about the amount of penalties Palace get. They get them all the time, but when United come to town suddenly it’s a different story.
     
    United then immediately went up the other end and scored through Rashford. Disgraceful scenes.
     
    Ayew equalised when he arrived at the back post to meet Zaha’s cross. VAR said otherwise. Another one decided by a toenail, and I refer you what I said earlier about how easily manipulated these things are when it comes to the point of contact with the ball. 
     
    Pretty sure they could just as easily freeze frame that to show Ayew onside. The whole system is shite and open to manipulation.
     
    Martial wrapped it up late on with a lovely goal but yet again all the decisions have gone their way.
     
    Have a look at this…
     

     
    But yeah, LiVARpool and all that.
     
    Villa are still just about hanging on in there after a draw at Goodison. That’s a game they needed to win as Everton have had the deckchairs out for weeks.
     
    They took the lead late on through Konsa and Elghazi should made it safe soon after but missed from two yards out. That proved costly as that bum Walcott headed an equaliser three minutes from time. Could be massive that, as Villa should have won easily.
     
    They’ve let in too many goals this season but they have tightened up recently. Their problem is all of the centre forwards they’ve used are shite. They don’t have a goalscorer. Remember when Benteke kept them up virtually singlehandedly for about three years? Maybe he needs to go back there to try and rekindle some kind of form, as he’s been dogshit at Palace.
     
    Elsewhere, Maupay put Brighton in front at St Mary’s with a tidy finish but Ings levelled to keep himself in with a shout of the Golden Boot. Lovely goal. Great run and cool finish. He also hit the post and had one disallowed for a close offside call. He’s absolute dynamite at the moment.
     
    Finally, I’ve saved the worst until last. West Ham are safe now after a comfortable win over Watford, who are still in a spot of bother.
     
    Antonio’s snapshot went through the legs of Foster to set the Hammers on their way. Soucek added the second with a diving header. Like I said last week, this fucker seems to score every week yet I’d barely even heard of him prior to lockdown. Where’ve they been hiding him?
     
    Declan Rice hit one in from 25 yards to make it 3-0 but Foster just stood and watched it go in. Unusually poor from him.
     
    My boy Troy pulled one back after great play by Doucoure but Watford were well beaten in truth.
     
    So it’s two from Villa, Bournemouth and Watford. Ideally I’d prefer Bournemouth to escape but looking at the remaining fixtures I’ll be honest, I haven’t got a clue what’s going to happen.
     
    Bournemouth have got Southampton at home and Everton away.
     
    Watford have got City at home and Arsenal away.
     
    Villa have Arsenal at home and West Ham away.
     
    I expect Watford to get no points but they have a three point cushion so they might not need any. One draw probably sees them safe. Goal difference is much of a muchness and is too close to call because a heavy defeat for Watford against City cancels out any edge they have in that department. 
     
    Villa might win both games you know. Arsenal are shite and will be coming off a mauling by City in the FA Cup semi, while West Ham will be on the beach already now.
     
    Watford also play Arsenal but the problem for them is that Arsenal will have nothing to play for which makes them more dangerous, especially at home. Arsenal are the ultimate win when it doesn’t matter and lose when it does team, so that doesn’t bode well for the Hornets.
     
    So if you push me for a prediction then Villa will be singing “I’m still standing” while poor old Elton will be singing “Sad Songs” or “I guess that’s why they call it the Blues”.
  • For Peter Moore, it is all about winning. To win is about making the right decision; it is as simple as that. As the CEO of Liverpool Football Club, the new Champions of the EPL, there is nobody better to comment. Here we explore in detail what impact Moore has had at the club and why his influence might have something to do with their success. 
     
    The history
     
    Moore came to Liverpool in 2017. He previously worked in the video game sector for mega-companies such as Sega, EA Sports and Microsoft. This might seem like an odd background for the CEO of a sporting franchise. However, there are a lot of crossovers in terms of keeping a fanatical base happy under immense pressure. Therefore, his move from gamers to football fans wasn’t a massive deal to the new CEO. 
     
    You also shouldn’t doubt this British-American’s businessman’s passion for the city. He was born in Liverpool and studied at nearby Keele University.  He received his Master’s degree in California before spending some time as a PE teacher in North Wales. Such a unique CV might have you doubting his vision, but he has always been connected with business and sport in some way - therefore business boss at the leading football club in the world seems a fitting place for the man to end up.
     
    It is also not surprising that Moore was chosen to run the business side of the club when the owners of Liverpool are the American’s Fenway Sports Group. Moore then becomes the perfect bridge between the passion of being a Liverpudlian and understanding the vision of an American company.
     
    His vision for the club
     
    It is not surprising that the connection with the fans is of prime concern to Peter Moore. He has spoken at length about how these super-clubs in Europe seem to be becoming more and more detached from the supporters. His experience in the gaming world has taught him that you need to constantly persuade the gamer to part with their money, as they have no obligation to buy. 
     
     In football, the clubs assume that there is a continued obligation that the fans invest in the club. However, Moore is clear that without transparency and empathy, you will never let the fans into the inner world of the club. It is this lesson that he wants to imprint throughout the Liverpool franchise. 
     
    He is onto a winner, and he knows it. Liverpool is a unique football club that has an incredibly emotive history. The fans are filled with a passion that rightly gets called fanatical. The fans demand accountability at all levels of the club, from the players to the manager and to those in the top office. He holds this accountability close for every decision he makes for Liverpool Football Club, knowing there is a community looking on who deserves this level of care.
     
     
    His recent moves
     
    A recent decision has raised some eyebrows in the footballing world. He has sought to trademark the word “Liverpool” in the context of football products and services. There are two other clubs in the city that might have concerns about this. However, you can see how this would make a sound business decision and bring revenue to the club. It is what has helped Manchester United become one of the richest clubs in the world - it is the power of the brand. However, as Liverpool is a proud city, it was always going to be controversial and might have shown Moore’s first disconnect with his hometown.
     
    However, in the process of this unsuccessful application, we saw the talk of the man put into practice. Throughout the process he sought consultation with multiple parties, looking to address the concerns they had. He maintained the transparency and accountability that he stated was so important to him in his leadership.
     
    Although engaging with the fans on issues such as this is a huge job, it is essential to his success in the role. He again uses his gaming experience to connect with stakeholders using various platforms.
     
    However, he is also happy to be unpopular if necessary. He pointed out that there are times when you have to make decisions that are right for the long-term health of the club. These, in the short-term, might be unpopular to fans and it is then Moore’s role to take the hits. He knows the passion of the fans and he realises that this will hit hard at times. However, his continued commitment to communication will carry him through these difficulties.
     
    One cog
     
    Peter Moore has been a part of the increased success of a club. However, he is realistically just one cog in a machine that is running smoothly right now. The sporting director Michael Edwards deserves a lot of credit at doing some astonishing business for the club. He had sold well and then bought as his head coach requested. We then should look to Klopp who has been instrumental in raising the hopes and the strong sense of belief in the Kop.
     
    Peter Moore accepts the crucial part that Edwards and Klopp have played in the club’s success. As he noted himself, it is his role to make sure they have the resources they need to continue to be as successful as they have been in the past. He also pointed to the more than 800 people who work for the club who don’t kick a football. He, therefore, fully accepts he is part of an incredible team. And maybe, this is why he is so successful.
     
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