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  • TLW
    Jürgen Klopp has once again hosed down any expectations of Liverpool being big players in the transfer market this summer.

    The COVID-19 global pandemic has hit the finances of Football clubs all over the world, and in some extreme cases seen some fighting for their very existence.

    While the evolution of a team is a key ingredient to progress, Liverpool are in the inevitable position of having the majority of their key players either in, or approaching their prime years.

    It is a testament to how Klopp has steadily built this side and as he told the Echo, there is plenty of internal growth to come from the next generation, and anyone expecting a slew of new signings will end up disappointed. This isn't like fantasy sports when you can select whatever players you like, although if you are a fan of fantasy sports then this draftkings sportsbook promo code will be right up your street.

    “COVID has of course influenced both sides with ins and outs, that is completely normal.

    “It's just not likely that it will be the most busy summer in the world. But maybe at a later point in the year, if the transfer window is still open, we will know more. But this squad...look at it. 

    "It is not a squad you have to change now and say 'OK, we need this position and this position'. 

    "If you are a football supporter, you want a backup for him and him, even if you are completely happy with everyone, you want backups. 

    "We have a lot of...we don't have a first XI, I say we have a first 16 or 17, they can all play to the same level.

    "But we have to use this, 100 per cent.

    “And what we want to create are our transfers internally. 

    “So now, the first glimpses of Neco Williams, people may have seen him against Arsenal and said 'ah, yes, nice game, he fights a lot'. 

    "But if [elite development coach] Vitor Matos was not here, he would not be here because he has helped a lot. 

    "So bring the boys up. But from the other side, Curtis (Jones), Harvey (Elliott), Ki-Jana (Hoever), Sepp (van den Berg), Yasser (Larouci), Leighton (Clarkson), Jake (Cain), all these boys, they have done really well. And a few I don't know yet but I will know them."
     


    Klopp says splashing the cash is not the route to everlasting success that some may believe.

    “We cannot spend millions and millions and millions because we want to or we think it is nice to do. 

    "We never wanted that. We want to strengthen this squad and this squad is strong. 

    “The problem with a strong squad is how do you improve a strong squad on the transfer market?

    "It works with money, obviously, that is possible. But it never works only with money. You have to be creative and we try to be creative. 

    "We try to find solutions internally.
     
    "And there is still a lot to come. We have three or four players who can make big, big steps. 

    "All players can make steps and that is the pressure we make as well, internally. 

    So while the links to players such as Kylian Mbappe, Kalidou Koulibaly and Jadon Sancho still continue to fill column inches the man that knows best is pretty content with how things currently stand.

    And when you have led the team to Premier and Champions League glory in the last 12 months, life is pretty good.

     
  • Danny Murphy has ridiculed the idea of Liverpool getting a guard of honour by Manchester City ahead of their clash on Thursday night calling the whole tradition as a ‘load of nonsense.’

    City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that his side will honour that tradition in their first game since been crowned as Premier League Champions.

    But the former Liverpool midfielder says that he thinks it is a relic from the past and both supporters and players would.rather it not go ahead especially when it comes to paying tribute to major rival.

    The Echo (via Talksport) reported Murphy as saying:

    “It’s a perception of respect, ‘the right thing to do’, the message you’re trying to send to the football world that when somebody wins, that you show respect and grace.

    “The fact City will be doing it on Thursday will show humility, saying ‘well done’ to Liverpool and appreciation for their quality. I think it’s a load of nonsense!

    “I don’t know where it started and why it started, I would feel uncomfortable doing it. I’d do it because you have to do it, but I wouldn’t want to do it, because it’s not done with sincerity.

    Murphy said respect between the teams is natural but to have such a open display is not necessary.
     


    “If I was a Liverpool player and United won the league, you know they’re better than you, you respect that and you’re trying your best to be like them, so they know you respect them.

    “The fans don’t want you to do it, the players don’t really want to do it, it’s all for effect and it doesn’t mean anything.”

    “Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder, probably, in the world, and he’s clapping his hands and giving a guard of honour to players who can’t even lace his boots."

    Liverpool have had the shoe on the other foot in more recent times, giving Chelsea a guard of honour when they won the league in the 2014/5 season at Stamford Bridge.

    Back then there was a similar discussion, as it was a fierce rival.

    However through gritted teeth and a chorus of ridicule from the home stands, Steven Gerrard led his team in the tribute.

    Whether Murphy likes it or not, the guard of honour will go ahead at a empty Etihad stadium and will be further vindication of this team's fine achievement.

     
  • Luis Suarez has expressed his delight for his former team winning their long awaited league title.

    Suarez was an integral part of the 2013/4 squad which went agonisingly close under Brendan Rodgers.

    The Barcelona striker is particularly thrilled for Jordan Henderson as he knows first hand the turmoil he went through in his personal life, a difficult adaption to life at a big club and trying to learn from one of the best around in Steven Gerrard.

    The Official site reported the Uruguayan as saying:

    “I am so happy for him because when he arrived in Liverpool they had a not-really-good moment. 

    “As some people know he had some problems with his dad (throat cancer battle) and he had really good moments and some bad moments in Liverpool.

    “He came in from Sunderland and it’s difficult for an English player, when they come to a bigger club. I think when he had near him Steven Gerrard, he can see how Stevie is, how he is all of Liverpool. I think the best teacher he had is Stevie

    “I will be happy to see him lifting the [Premier League] trophy because he is a really good person. 

    “I speak sometimes with him and I said to him, ‘You have a really good chance this season’

    “We watch some [Liverpool] games when we can and we see that Jordan, he is the captain from the midfield. 

    "He speaks a lot and for his teammates this is so important, when they have confidence with the captain. 

    “For me, Jordan is one of the best captains in Liverpool’s history.

    Last season Suarez saw first hand the never-say-die spirit of Jürgen Klopp’s Reds and says they have all the key elements required to be an elite team.

    “I think the mentality of the players is so important on the pitch. 

    “We arrived in Liverpool 3-0 up, but when you play there they have the supporters and the manager [and] the players are so focused and concentrated on the pitch. It’s difficult. 

    “They scored in the first 10, 15 minutes and they got the confidence to continue their play and in the second half they played fantastic. 

    “We need to accept that and if we’d have scored one goal we would have had a really good chance to continue, but I think they are really good players.”

    Finally, Suarez had a word with the supporters who used to adore him but the love affair has diminished somewhat due to the way he left the club and the way he conducted himself throughout the semi-final tie last season.

    He used this opportunity to explain his antics and get back in the good books.
     


    “I know some Liverpool supporters were angry with me because I celebrated a goal against Liverpool here in Camp Nou [last season] and for that I am so sad. 

    "I accept that and I say that hopefully they understand my situation: we were playing at home and in the Champions League semi-final. I lived one of the best moments of my life there and I think the supporters didn’t forget how my attitude was in the Liverpool shirt.

    “But this title is amazing for the supporters, for the players and for the so many people working inside Liverpool. 

    “For the last 30 years they didn’t know how it felt for Liverpool to win the Premier League.

    “I think they needed this moment, for the Liverpool supporters, for the Liverpool club, for the people, for the Scouse people. I am so happy for them.”

     
  • James Milner says that his move from Man City to Liverpool has clearly been the right one.

    The versatile veteran made the move in the summer of 2015 for more consistent starting opportunities after being in and out of the City lineup under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.

    At the time of joining the Reds, the club was certainly at the crossroads and seemingly with a awful lot of work to get back to the upper echelon of clubs in England let alone Europe.

    But anyone who has followed the long and distinguished career of ‘Big Games James’ will know that he loves a challenge and would do anything for the team to be successful.

    The Mirror reported Milner as saying: 

    “I like the fact that a lot of people thought I was making a mistake. That is one of the things that drives you”

    “I was in a fortunate position of staying at City or going to Liverpool. 

    “City is a great place and I'm sure if I stayed things would have been good.

    “But it was a chance to go to Liverpool - a hugely successful club but one that didn't have a recent history of winning things.

    The ex-England international will face his old side when the Reds travel to the Etihad next week. Latest premier league betting odds have the newly crowned Champions as slight favourites for a game that had at one time promised to be a possible title decider before Klopp's men surged clear of their rivals.
     
    It wasn't always so, and Milner revealed that he could sense the negative vibes when he arrived at the club but said the mourning period had to come to an end and it was all about moving forward as a club.
     

     
    “There were the near misses a couple of years before where I was on the right side of it.

    "Coming in at Liverpool I saw the hangover of that and the comments such as 'we nearly won the league'. That thinking had to go.

    "They had to move on and you can see from the journey it was bit by bit, improving all the time.

    “Getting 97 points losing out to a special Man City team and not winning the league, now that’s make or break really.

    “It’s either 'what else can we do?' Or is it 'you know what, we can do better”

    After winning the Champions League last season, the final frontier to true greatness was lifting the league title and the players knew exactly what they had to do.

    “When I came I thought how special it would be to be part of winning a League title.

    “Everyone was desperate to do it and so to be able to do that now is incredible and I'm so proud to be part of a side to do that, especially when you see the scenes and how much it means to the fans.”

    Milner has seen a lot in his professional career but what happened on Thursday night was a first and will stay with him for a long period of time.

    “I think what I’ll remember is just being together with all the lads and staff.
     
    “I’ve been fortunate to win it in different ways.

    The last second of a season, last game of a season, and now the earliest ever in terms of games left.

    “But to be together was special. I haven’t experienced that before.

    “If it hadn’t happened Thursday night we’d have still had games to do it but it was just that tension and then the pleasure of being together afterwards.

    “You see what the boys go through, the pain, the hard work, the sweat, the rockets from the manager.

    “We’ve all done it together and to be together when we won it was the most special thing I'll always remember.”
  • It’s hard to be arsed about any of this in the week when we finally ended our 30 year title drought, but the season doesn’t stop just because we’ve won it. I expect our lads to continue putting in maximum effort until the end of the season and therefore so will I. 
     
    So, while I appreciate that you probably don’t give a shit about West Ham losing to Spurs or Bournemouth’s perilous slide towards the Championship continuing apace, I have a job to do here and given that I’ve always had a work ethic that makes Dirk Kurt look like Homer Simpson (stop laughing at the back) the show must go on.
     
    There’s only one place to begin this. Stamford Bridge. An empty Stamford Bridge, which was great because it meant that there were no Chelsea fans there to sing about Steven Gerrard all night. You know they’d have been banging that one out for the entire 90 minutes, just to try and sour our moment of glory. Not that anything could, but still, it was nice not having to listen to them.
     
    Chelsea were the thorn in our side in 2014 and they’ve dined out on it ever since (which is actually fair enough, it’s all the other fuckers who had nothing to do with it yet jumped on the Demba Ba song that really pissed me off). So this was a nice situation. Their fans won’t have wanted their team to be the ones who confirmed us as Champions, but it was a really important game for them and they needed the points.
     
    Lampard’s men carried out his gameplan well and fully deserved their win. There were a lot of encouraging signs for Chelsea but it’s funny because nobody, absolutely nobody, gave a fuck about how they played. Normally after a win like this the conversation would be about how Chelsea look like they’re a coming force and what a good job Frank is doing. They weren’t even an afterthought really.
     
    All of the talk afterwards was rightly about the new Champs. Chelsea barely even got a mention. It was well over an hour after full time that BT eventually showed a post match interview with Lampard. In the meantime, it had been all about the Champs.
     
    Even the next day Talksport was wall to wall Liverpool, to the extent that loads of listeners were texting, calling and tweeting in kicking off about it. Glorious. We don’t even need to rub anyone’s noses in it because the media coverage is causing meltdown’s up and down the country.
     
    Chelsea should be encouraged by how their team played and this was a huge win for them under the circumstances. United and Wolves were breathing down their necks and if they’d lost they’d have been on the brink of dropping to 6th, but you’d think that this result and performance cements them as firm favourites for a top four spot. They’ll probably get third actually as they’re only a point behind Leicester now, who’ve looked shite since the break.
     
    This result wasn’t too surprising as it was City’s most difficult game other than when they play us. Prior to us smashing Palace on the Tuesday night I full expected City to win. After the statement made by our lads at Anfield though I began to get a sneaky feeling that City would falter. 
     
    They’ve been dominant since the restart but they lost Aguero for the rest of the season and with us playing so well against Palace it had to have had some impact on City. They knew they weren’t going to catch us anyway, but after our draw at Goodison they might have felt they could prolong it a bit longer and make us sweat a bit.
     
    So seeing us looking so formidable against Palace, they must have known once and for all it was over. Guardiola was even talking about resting players for the FA Cup this weekend. He didn’t exactly follow through on that but even in the absence of Aguero he did leave Jesus on the bench.
     
    Additionally, he included Mendy at left back and that’s enough to weaken most sides in fairness. He plays football like he acts on social media. Doesn’t seem to take anything seriously. His defending for Chelsea’s opener was comical. Future Arsenal player there if I ever saw one. What a fucking clown. 
     
    Credit to Pulisic though, he took it really well. The little “slow and go” move was vintage Torres. Arl Fernando perfected that before he just went shit and it became “slow and slower”. Lovely goal though from Klopp’s former protege; the balance and the finish, just lovely.
     
    I didn’t celebrate it too much. I may have said “get in” and made an ironic “Captain America” comment (usually I fucking hate that) but I wasn’t overly excited. I’m not entirely sure why but I think it’s because the title has been a foregone conclusion for a long time in my eyes.
     
    If Chelsea couldn’t hold on then no biggie, we’d win it soon enough anyway. Of course I wanted to win it as soon as possible though. Some may have preferred to win it at City next week. Yeah obviously that would have been sound, but fuck that. I’d rather win it in record time and then have them applaud us onto the Etihad pitch next week, but the stakes weren’t really that high in my eyes as we won this title months and months ago.
     
    That would explain why I wasn’t especially deflated when De Bruyne equalised. Great strike but sorry, Alisson doesn’t let that beat him. I find myself saying that a lot, which is a combination of Alisson being great and most other keepers being… well, not so great. 
     
    Kepa is young so may go on to become one of the best, but he’s not very good right now is he? If Abramovich is indeed splashing the cash again then the first thing he should do is sign Oblak. Let’s hope he doesn’t.
     
    Anyway, City’s equaliser lifted them and they had a good spell in which Sterling hit the post. Had he squared it Mahrez had an open goal but he went for glory himself and blew it. 
     
    Following that let off Chelsea weathered the storm, if you can call it that - it was more of a mild breeze really - and always looked dangerous when they attacked. They just didn’t really attack much for some reason. Maybe because they couldn’t get the ball. It’s not easy against a Guardiola side. The good thing is now though that a lot of teams who play City don’t need much of the ball to hurt them.
     
    When Chelsea did win it back the counter attack was on every time. Pulisic ran City ragged and Willian was quality. If we can’t get a shit hot wide forward this summer then we could probably do worse than Willian on a free to give us much needed depth. He wouldn’t be my first choice by any means, but he’d definitely add SOMETHING if we couldn’t land one of the stellar names out there. Can’t see it though.
     
    The pace and skill of Mount and Pulisic combined with the energy and nous of Willian gave Chelsea a real threat on the break all night and City never looked comfortable. Their goal led a charmed life at times.
     
    Pulisic should have restored Chelsea’s lead when he raced clear, rounded the keeper and then produced a real wet wipe of a finish that took an age to reach the goal and allowed Walker to get back and clear. You have to credit Walker for the sense of desire and urgency he showed to get back so quickly. It was as though someone told him the knocking shops were about to open again.
     
    It was all a bit surreal to me because most of my mates were kicking every ball and stressing out over Chelsea’s near misses, but I couldn’t have been any calmer. I genuinely wasn’t really arsed because if City went on to win it didn’t really mean anything.
     
    I just kept thinking “imagine if we didn’t have a huge lead and this game actually meant something”. It would have been unbearable. Last season was stressful enough but this would be ten times worse. As it was, with a 23 point lead I had a serenity about me that is never normally there when watching City.  
     
    So when there was an almighty scramble when it seemed certain that Chelsea would score only for City to somehow get the danger cleared, I was actually laughing. I can imagine most of you will have been on the verge of a heart attack at that moment, but personally I just found it funny and shrugged. What will be will be.
     
    I didn’t even have a clue that Fernandinho had handled until I saw a Chelsea player going mad and chasing the ref. Then they announced the VAR review and you could tell by the guilty look on Fernandinho’s face that he knew he was done for. 
     
    The replay showed a clear, deliberate handball and the worst case scenario now was that even if Chelsea missed the pen they’d still be playing against ten men. So all of a sudden, the title was suddenly within our grasp.
     
    Willian buried the pen and we all knew then. Game over, and I love saying that. City weren’t scoring twice with only ten men. It was done. We finally had our title and all that was left was for the game to play out.
     
    To their credit, City still looked like they were trying to get back into it even though they had no chance. I don’t think there’s too much wrong with them that a couple of new defenders wouldn’t solve, but that’s eight defeats for them this season now. Unthinkable back in August when this all started.
     
    They set the benchmark over recent seasons. What they did points wise in their last two title wins hadn’t been done before. They averaged 99 points over that period. Staggering. That meant that for us to overhaul them we’d have become the greatest side this country had ever seen. And guess what, that’s exactly what we did. 
     
    We’re light years ahead of everyone else now, even City, but that could change. I don’t see anybody else threatening us any time soon but City still might. We’re 23 points ahead of them but we’re not 23 points better than them, if that makes sense. They’ve lost games they wouldn’t normally lose and it’s entirely conceivable that next season they get back to the level they were previously.
     
    And yet it’s also conceivable that they won’t. David Silva is off, Aguero is another year older, Fernandinho is on his last legs and who knows what will happen if that ban is upheld. Maybe De Bruyne and Sterling will want out? 
     
    Then again, maybe with FFP rules possibly relaxed due to the current situation they will just go out and spend a billion quid and rebuild the team. If they signed Koulibaly as has been mooted today then that immediately solves their biggest problem. 
     
    The big thing though is Guardiola. While he’s there they’re a big threat. If they go back to the likes of Pellegrini and Mancini type managers they’ll never catch us while we still have Klopp.
     
    Guardiola’s City have been one of the greatest sides this country has seen but they needed some friendly officiating to finish above us last season and now they’re 23 points behind us. What does that say about us? It says we’re the best ever, that’s what.
     
    Ok, who’s next. May as well get the other mancs out of the way I suppose. Their 3-0 win over Sheffield United has me thinking that the Blades might not pick up another point. They had to wheel out Phil Jagielka (complete with mid-life crisis bleached blonde hairdo) along with some jabroni keeper who replaced the ineligible Henderson.
     
    Martial scored all three goals and I saw he was trending on Twitter. Couldn’t help myself, I needed to see what kind of delusions of grandeur were coming from the smartphones of @Carrick_Philosophy, @CollossalMaguire and all those other Fifa generation virgins.
     
    I wasn’t disappointed. It was mostly nonsense comparing him to Firmino. Here’s a selection (all of these are genuine, I haven’t made any of them up).
     
    “Martial has more PL hat-tricks than Firmino has league goals at home in the last 15 months”
     
    “Don’t ever compare Martial to bums like Lacazette and Firmino again”
     
    “Martial slander from people who have Giroud, Lacazette and Firmino as their strikers. No shame whatsoever.”
     
    “Hat-trick for Martial and Firmino disaster class with 0 G/A on the same day I’m hearing?”
     
    “Martial over that “defensive” striker Firmino all day long”
     
    “Martial just scored more home goals in one game than Firmino has managed all season.”
     
    “#MUNSHU martial > firmino once again”
     
    Cool, when’s the parade? You sad, low standards, how the mighty have fallen fucking whoppers.
     
    This is exactly the kind of thing I’ve been banging on about with United fans. It’s dead funny because they just don’t get it though. They don’t see it. They have no idea what they’ve become.
     
    They’re just clinging onto these completely irrelevant little stats and factoids and using them to convince themselves they’re getting closer. Firstly, Martial isn’t better than Firmino, but even if he was, so fucking what? Does that seriously make you feel better about the fact that your team is *checks table* 37 points behind us? I guess it must do, or why do it?
     
    We probably (definitely?) did similar shit over the years but thankfully we were mostly doing it on our own forums and not on social media for the whole world’s amusement. 
     
    We’ve already had the Maguire > Van Dijk cringefest and the AWB > Trent nonce off, and it looks like Martial v Bobby is now a thing for them. Can’t wait until Dan James scores against Norwich and is suddenly catapulted into the Salah and Mané bracket. Fucking losers.
     
    Speaking of losers, the man who most definitely isn’t a loser because “all I do is win” lost again. What an absolute loser. The “formerly Special One” got the better of the “formerly Chosen One” as Spurs won at West Ham.
     
    Son thought he’d broken the deadlock just before half time but he was offside by about an inch. In general I’m not a fan of these hairlines decisions but I’m good with that one because it was his standing foot that was offside (as opposed to an armpit or an eyebrow) and because I don’t like Son (“he’s a sly little thing him” © my mum).
     
    The Hammers fell behind after the break when the unfortunate Soucek (whoever the fuck he is) put through his own net after the ball hit him from a corner and ricocheted past Fabianski. Kane then wrapped it up when he ran clear from halfway to score his 137th goal in 200 games. Great record that. He’s a great striker, I can’t deny it. He’s massive tit though.
     
    Moyes said West Ham played well and they restricted Tottenham. No mate, the only manager who restricted Tottenham is their own, because that’s what he does. You had nothing to do with it.
     
    Moyes did have a point when he said VAR should have disallowed the Tottenham opener for handball though. The ball brushes the arm of Sanchez before it hits the defender for the oggy. Prior to this season you’d say that’s never a handball offence but with the rule change you have to say that goal should not have stood. Awful from the VAR ref. Still, never mind, eh?
     
    Now that the title is wrapped up if there’s one wish I could have it would be for this deluded fraud, still dining out on the half decent record he had with Everton, to be relegated along with his null and void wanting Tory cunt board. Fuck Moyes.
     
    Meanwhile, Wolves continue to put pressure on the top four while Bournemouth continue to ease the pressure on the bottom three. Wait, are Bournemouth actually already in the bottom three?
     
    *checks table* 
     
    Yep, below West Ham on goal difference. Fucks sake Bournemouth, if you’re the reason West Ham stay up I’ll never forgive you, no matter how much you overpay for our unwanted kids. Get your act together for fuck’s sake.
     
    Wolves have given us our two toughest games of the season. I’m not counting the Watford defeat as although you can say they gave us a tough game, it was mainly because we were just shite. We had to play well to beat Wolves both times and they gave us all we could handle.
     
    They won this one with a familiar goal. My boy Traore (brilliant again) beating two men on the right and dropping one onto the head of Jimenez who powered it home. Out of them and Leicester you’d have to say that they’re looking much stronger currently.
     
    Leicester were held to a draw by Brighton but it could have been worse but for Schmeichel saving a pen from Maupay. Leicester haven’t got going at all yet since the restart and it might cost them that top four spot that at one time looked nailed on. 
     
    Tariq Lamptey started for Brighton. You might remember me talking about him before as I saw him a few times playing against our youth teams when he was at Chelsea and he looked sensational. Keep an eye on him.
     
    Villa picked up a good point after coming from behind to equalise at Newcastle. Substitute Dwight Gayle (I used to really fucking hate him but he’s nothing to me these days) put the Geordies ahead from a right wing cross by Big Andy, only for Elmohamady to steal in and  equalise with a near post header from a corner. Horrific from the keeper though.
     
    Elsewhere, Burnley nearly scored within seconds against Watford but were denied by a smart stop by Foster. They weren’t wasting any time there like, the racists hadn’t even had time to start up the plane. 
     
    The Clarets got the only goal of the game through Rodriguez. It takes some of the heat off them and probably secures their place in the league for next year. Watford still have a bit of work to do though.
     
    Norwich lost again as Michael Keane’s goal was enough to give Everton the points. Norwich are one of the sides who are going to miss their home crowd the most. With a full house they’d probably have gotten something from this game as Everton are shite. 
     
    Speaking of shite, Arsenal actually managed to win a game. It was virtually handed to them on a plate though as Alex McCarthy passed the ball straight to Nketia for the opener. That was what Arsenal needed as their confidence will have been on the floor going into this game. 
     
    It got worse when Hoijberg’s terrible pass sent Aubamayeng clear and Stephens brought him down. Red card for him and Arsenal scored from the free-kick when Willock converted a rebound after Lacazette’s shot had been parried.
     
    What a missed opportunity that was. Arsenal were ripe for the picking and Southampton should have stepped on their throats. Instead they gave them a hand job.
  • Sir Kenny Dalglish believes that Jordan Henderson comfortably belongs in the upper echelon of great Liverpool captains.

    Dalglish is the man who brought the former Sunderland midfielder to the club in June of 2011.

    It is fair to say that the signing had a underwhelming feel to it at a time when the club were looking to get back on its feet again after a horrendous time on and off the pitch.

    However the man who was brought in to raise the spirits of the fanbase and club in general did not have any doubts on the quality of Henderson.

    The Mirror reported the iconic figure as saying:

    “When I signed him) I saw somebody who was better than what we had at that time. That was on the pitch. Then when you get into discussions, he was very balanced, his dad came with him for the conversations which was for me a good sign.

    “He had a secure home life which helps and he was determined to be a success in football. If I hadn’t given him a chance, it would have been me who would have been wrong. I’m not being modest; you see something you like it and you get it.”

    "Jordan will be the only Liverpool captain who has lifted this trophy and be a World Club Cup winner as well. He is up there with the captains who have picked up the Champions League.”

    Dalglish who was the manager in charge when Liverpool won the title 30 years ago says that Jürgen Klopp is a manager that has a unique ability to connect not just with Liverpool fans, but is truly respected by the opposition too.
     


    “Obviously Liverpool fans and the players adore Jurgen, but there are a lot of opposition fans who think he is a good fella, too.

    “You don’t get that with too many managers. You don’t get that. That is quite unique.
     
    "Jurgen is the perfect fit for Liverpool. He is perfect.

    “I am sure he is Scouser. Some people are suited to clubs because of the personality they have and the beliefs they have are similar and that is exactly what Jurgen has.

    “He is very comfortable in himself because he knows what he does is an honest effort and commitment to success, and he doesn’t mind sharing that success.

    “He knows what he is doing is the right way for him. Some people might feel intimidated, but when the club had success there were always people in and around the football club. I think that is important to have that
    .
    “He is very comfortable and he enjoys sharing the success he has with everybody.”

    The King had a special word for the group of individuals who follow the club come rain, hail or shine.

    “The supporters have always been there, right beside the club, it is a fantastic day for them and one they thoroughly deserve,”.

    “You don’t get the success they have had with four trophies in a year without everybody going in the same direction and everyone supporting each other. 

    “That is what they have done. The manager is the one who set that off.

    “Everyone has respected their respective roles to get them to this situation. I am sure it is not finished yet.”



     
  • What makes fans relate to Andy Robertson is his honesty and down to earth nature and that was in full display after Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions on Thursday night.

    After a global health pandemic put the season in severe jeopardy, there were real concerns that the Reds were going to be able to celebrate their fine season in their own right.

    But as general life slowly returns to normal, so too does Football and the players were able to finally let loose after Chelsea defeated Man City giving the Reds their crowning moment.

    Robbo knows a thing about being doubted and proving people wrong.

    It is something that he has done time and time again throughout his career and it is the ethos that Liverpool have carried with them during this campaign.

    There was a sense that after having a sensational season in 2018/9 only to be pipped by Man City, that there would be a lingering hangover much like what happened in 2014/5 after the late collapse the season before.

    But this group isn’t called the ‘mentality monsters’ for no reason.

    The left-back takes us into their mindset as the Mirror reported.

    “We are champions, and we are champions by a country mile this season... and we deserve it.

    “When people thought we might drop points we have shown the world, ‘No, that’s not us’,” he said. “ Leicester away was the perfect example.

    “So many people were talking about us being fatigued or jet-lagged (after the World Club Cup). 

    “There was no chance that was going to happen and we proved a lot of people wrong that night.

    “Time and time again we have proven people wrong, with our mentality and our resilience.

    “Hopefully that continues to be the case, because the minute we stop we will have trouble.

    But the Scottish captain says as far as he is concerned, that will not be happening.

    “We will not allow it, and the manager won’t allow it. As long as it is like that we have a fine chance to win trophies every season.”
     


    Robertson believes the seeds of the success for this season were sown in Madrid last June.

    “It was the Champions League final. 

    “We’d got the hurt of the Premier League, and if we had to go home after the last game of the season against Wolves that would have been really tough.

    “But the fact is, we took the next step. Winning the Champions League made us champions, it made us winners and we got the feeling for it.
     
    “That’s why we came back in pre-season as if this year was going to be our year for the Premier League, that we were going to make it our year for the league and we were going to go out and do it.

    “We just felt we were going to show everyone we can win the league, could go again and get the better of Man City this time.

    “And we did that from the get-go. From day one we showed it against Norwich at home and we have continued that. 

    “We’ve probably been in a league of our own this season.”

    You can say that again Robbo.

    And long may that continue.




     
  • Graeme Souness believes that the newly crowned Premier League champions are set up for a period of greatness.

    The Reds claimed their first league title in 30 years on Thursday evening after Chelsea defeated Man City 2-1 at Stanford Bridge.

    The final whistle in West London sparked wild celebrations for Liverpool fans in the city and across the globe.

    Speaking on Sky Sports (via the Echo), Souness said that this triumph is the culmination of an outstanding last few years.

    “They have been fabulous, this team.

    “It’s not just about this season, if you go back two years, they were in the Champions League final, lost to (Real) Madrid, came back the following year and won it.

    “They missed out on the league to Man City, this is a special team.

    “This is a team that, going forward, you can’t say they are going to win it every year, but they will come close to winning this trophy and a big one, the big European one as well.

    Souness believes that a lot of their confidence and positive energy comes from Jurgen Klopp.
     


    “When they cross that white line, the manager installs that you have to give everything for the cause.”

    “When you combine that effort with the qualities they have up front and along the back, they are some team.

    Souness knows what it takes to win big trophies and says it is not all about looking pretty, sometimes you need to roll up the sleeves.

    And it is something that this team thrives on.

    “This is a special team that that no one enjoys playing against. If you are playing against them, you have to be prepared to go to war with them.

    “Any slip-up, the front three will punish you time and again. At the back, you want to get in a race with (Virgil) van Dijk? 

    “You ain’t going to win that. 

    “You want to try to out-muscle him, you ain’t going to win that.

    “You have a special goalkeeper, arguably the best attacking full-backs in the league right now.

    “And when you factor in the age groups, if you include Gomez, the back five and the goalkeeper, that is a back-line that could be together for the best part of a decade and they are going to take some stopping going forward.”

     
  • Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson could finally let his emotions run free after the Reds were officially crowned Premier League champions on Thursday evening.
     
    It was evident to everyone in Football that the Reds were well on their way to securing a first league title in 30 years, no one could foresee a global pandemic which stopped everything in their tracks and put the season in doubt.
     
    While human life comes before anything else, it would have been the cruelest of blows for Liverpool to be denied the chance to lift up the league trophy they richly deserved.

    Henderson who has been a fine leader for the club on and off the pitch gave people an insight into his emotions during the hiatus and the ability to keep focus on the goal at hand.

    The Echo reported the Premier League winning captain as saying:

    "I’m so happy for all the boys, the fans, the whole club, the city.

    ”I’m a little bit overwhelmed right now, it’s an amazing feeling and I’m just so proud of what we’ve achieved."

    “I know it’s a cliché for me to have kept saying we were taking one game at a time, but that was honestly our mentality.

    “I never ever wanted to think about the end goal, think about what would happen if we did or didn’t win a certain game. The focus was solely on the next game.

    “Of course, when we had the lockdown that changed a little bit because I had a lot of time to think when we were not training or playing. That made it more difficult.

    “You have just got to stay focused, stay positive and pray we get back training when everything was safe to do so and finish the season off, because I knew we were in a great position to go and finish it.
     


    The squad have done an amazing job in their ability to not get swept away by the hysteria surrounding their looming triumph.

    Henderson admits it feels like a large weight has been lifted from their shoulders.

    “It’s an amazing feeling. I haven’t wanted to speak about it for a long time, I know people have been trying to get me to talk about it but now we have finally done it and are finally over the line, I’m so proud to be a part of these bunch of lads, the staff.

    “This football club is so special to be a part of.

    The skipper says while the squad have got the credit for what they have achieved, he wanted to pay credit to one individual in particular.

    “After the Champions League final last year, I said this wouldn’t be possible without the manager.

    “From day one when he came in, what he’s done inside and outside the club, has been incredible.

    “I hope we stay hungry, I know we will, we want more, and hope this journey can last for a lot longer.

    “We don’t want to stop now.

    Just as he has done all season, Henderson wants to keep the focus and hunger within the player group and has no doubt that they will do so.

    “Tonight is about enjoying it and celebrating. But after that, I know what the lads are like, I know what the manager is like. They will want to go and win every game between now and the end of the season.

    “We have a tough game at Man City next week, you can see how good they have been, even after lockdown.

    “Hopefully we can break even more records. There’s still a lot for us to play for.”



     
  • Well that’s how you bounce back from a disappointing performance. Bloody hell, that was something wasn’t it? Complete dominance from first minute to last. We were so good that OPTA reported that Palace didn’t touch the ball in our box (turns out they managed one touch about a foot inside the box) and I can’t even remember seeing Alisson touch the ball with his hands all night.
     
    Absolutely incredible. This is what you’d expect from a team urged on by a full house, not one in an empty stadium. You don’t see intensity and desire like that in behind closed doors games. Certainly not when a team is 4-0 up. I thought Klopp summed up the performance perfectly when he referenced “in the 86th minute four of our boys were chasing one poor Crystal Palace player like he had the last ball on earth”. 
     
    That’s it. That’s exactly it. It was relentless pressure on Palace from the start of the game to the end of it. They weren’t helped by losing Zaha through injury early on as he was their main route of escaping their own half, but honestly I don’t think it would have made any difference if he’d stayed on, and in fairness Hodgson said pretty much the same thing after.
     
    We were very good with the ball but we were fucking unbelievable without it. I reckon if you talk to those Palace players privately they’ll say it’s the hardest game they’ve ever played in. They didn’t get a second on the ball and Jordan Ayew never had a Palace player within thirty yards of him all night. He was so isolated up there, partly because he himself couldn’t hold onto the ball to allow anyone to get close to him. Van Dijk and Gomez just smothered him every time the ball went near him.
     
    This was everything that Sunday wasn’t. When you see this you wonder how it could have been so lacklustre at Everton, but maybe it’s just as Salah said afterwards, that sometimes you just have games where you don’t play well.
     
    Or maybe it was that he was back. And Robbo too. Both played a big part in this, but especially Mo. We just looked a completely different animal in this game and he was a big reason for that. Without harping on too much about Sunday, the main problem was we were just too stagnant and didn’t carry a threat in behind. 
     
    This couldn’t have been more different. With Robbo bursting forward out wide we then had Sadio able to move around and get involved more, while Mo was always looking to play quick give and goes around the box and making runs in behind. Palace defended just as deeply as Everton and with even more numbers behind the ball. They couldn’t deal with us though.
     
    Mind you, the derby could have been hugely different if Trent had done what he did in this game from the first free-kick he had. There’s one big difference right there. Goals change games. You can credit me with the assist for our opening goal as I reverse jinxed the shit out of that with what I wrote in the Everton report. In case you missed it….
     
    "I think that might have been the last time we even remotely threatened until Fabinho saw a decent free-kick tipped over by Pickford. We don’t usually see him on set-pieces but that was a decent effort. Maybe he’ll get another chance, as I do feel we all vastly over-rate how good Trent is at free-kicks. He’s alright like, but he’s not the lethal dead ball specialist he’s portrayed as (here’s hoping I’ve reverse jinxed him there and he pings one into the top corner against Palace or City)."
     
    Absolutely nailed that one. On a similar note, what the hell was going on with Gini’s finishing in this game? He had two great chances when the game was still close and he scuffed both of them. Gini’s ball striking isn’t as great as we think it is (here’s hoping I’ve reverse jinxed him there and he pings one into the top corner against City).
     
    Anyway…. Trent whipped the free kick around the wall and into the corner, leaving Hennessey helpless. It looks like he had no chance of saving it but maybe that’s because he was too far over the other side? I don’t know, I’m not a keeper, but I don’t see Alisson being beaten by free-kicks very often and it’s probably because of his positioning.
     
    Regardless, it’s a lovely hit by Trent and just what we needed at the time. We’d started well and created some chances, but having drawn a blank last time out and not played for three months before that, getting our first goal was hugely important. I have no idea how Klopp or the players felt, but it was a big relief to me anyway.
     
    The whole performance was. I feel like football is finally back now. Until this I hadn’t really been feeling it. It’s interesting that both Mo and Klopp said afterwards that they want to play the best ‘behind closed doors football’ anyone has seen. Clearly that’s been something Klopp has been drumming into them as a motivational tool since Sunday’s drab derby.
     
    We know we’re the best when there are fans in the stadium so he’s telling them that this is a new challenge and he wants them to be the best at this too. The motivation from the lads stood out all night. This looked exactly like a normal game. I can’t say that about any of the other games I’ve watched so far, but this was exactly like one of our normal high octane home performances.
     
    Palace will be relieved to have only conceded four as it could easily have been double that, especially given we were denied two clear penalties in the first half. First Van Dijk was manhandled by Cahill as he attacked a corner. Martin Atkinson has to see that, but if he doesn’t then VAR needs to be telling him.
     
    There was another good shout when Bobby tried to lob the ball over Cahill and the ball struck the defender’s arm. Those incidents are quite subjective and usually I come down on the side of ‘ball to hand’ but that one was 75% a penalty I’d say. Cahill’s arm is not in a natural position, it’s high and to the side and he stops the ball with his elbow. Should have been a pen.
     
    I have to say though (through gritted teeth) that overall Atkinson was good. There were loads of occasions where we won the ball and a Palace player was virtually begging for a free-kick, but Atkinson seemed to get all of those right. He could easily have given fouls in those situations even though they weren’t. The way he refereed the game helped us to play the aggressive, almost maniacal pressing game that just overwhelmed Palace.
     
    That was probably the most pleasing aspect of the performance. Klopp described it as “the best counter pressing performance in a behind closed doors game ever” and that’s just a massive tribute to the players. That kind of desire and discipline to do that without a crowd comes from within. Mentality monsters.
     
    The goals weren’t bad either were they? Trent’s free-kick was a lovely strike, Salah’s was an expertly taken finish from a stunningly weighted pass from Fabinho, Fabinho then replicated his Man City goal with a thunderous strike and Sadio wrapped it up with a glorious “front three” goal as Firmino and Salah combined to set him free.
     
    Klopp was asked which goal was his favourite but he wouldn’t be drawn on it. I’m happy to choose. Number one was the Mané goal because that’s the type of goal I love seeing. I prefer the counter attack from opposition corner type goals, but Sadio or Mo charging into open space and scoring is the type of goal I most associate with this golden era we’re enjoying.
     
    Salah’s pass with his right foot to put Mané clear was fantastic and the outcome was never in doubt after that. Sadio always finds that far bottom corner when he cuts in. So yeah, that was number one.
     
    Number two was Salah’s goal. Why? Because that was everything that we didn’t have on Sunday. That little diagonal run in behind the full back is something Mo does brilliantly. Sadio does too actually. The run was great, but Fabinho has to drop that ball on a sixpence as the window to complete that pass is tiny. A bit less and Van Aanholt heads it away. A bit more and the keeper comes and gets it. It was perfect.
     
    Number three is Fabinho’s thunderbastard because it came out of nowhere. Even when he shaped to shoot I still thought he was going to feint and then lay it off. Next thing it’s bursting the net. And last but not least (actually technically I am saying it is least I suppose) is Trent’s free-kick. Imagine that being the ‘worst’ goal of the four you scored. The quality in this performance can’t be over-stated. 
     
    It was nice to see Williams and Elliott given an opportunity and they both did well. Neco is genuinely brilliant. He might be the best kept secret in the Premier League as I don’t think many people (even our own fans) realise yet just how good he is. Aside from maybe one game when he struggled a little (Shrewsbury away I think it was) he’s looked terrific any time he’s been given a chance.
     
    He’s a strong defender, a fierce competitor and a tidy footballer, but the thing that really sets him apart for me is the uncanny knack he has for being involved in virtually everything. The ball is drawn to him like a magnet. Despite being a right back he’s somehow a huge goal threat and seems to have chances to score every time he plays. 
     
    In the replay against Shrewsbury I remember him having five or six decent attempts on goal and in the short space of time he was on against Palace he was a serious goal threat. He could have scored two with a little more luck. He also played a lovely slide rule defence splitting ball to set Mo in too. I’m telling you, this lad is special.
     
    Getting him games is the problem because he’s got the best young right back in the world ahead of him. There’s a common belief that Trent will eventually move into midfield, especially if Neco continues to progress at this rapid rate, but I see things going a little differently. Having two quality right backs is certainly not a problem.
     
    Besides, there’s no reason why Neco can’t play left back too, meaning he’d be able to cover both full back spots and therefore see plenty of action, which would also allow us to rest Trent and Robbo far more than we are currently able to. He’s more accomplished as a right back, obviously, but his left foot isn’t bad. He’ll never be Robbo as he’s right footed, but who knows, maybe he can eventually be another Stevie Nicol?
     
    I expect him to get at least a couple more starts before the end of the season, especially when we play four games in nine days. It’s an exciting prospect, seeing how Williams, Elliott and Jones do over the coming weeks. Harvey looked like he’s added a few pounds of muscle too, which you’d expect as he’s still growing and doing weights every day at Melwood. If he gets stronger and a little quicker then we could be talking about the best teenager we’ve had since Owen.
     
    We’ll see though. This team is so exceptional that it’s really hard for anyone to break into it. We know what the first eleven is and that’s the line up that played in this game. There are a few positions that are interchangeable (Ox or Keita can come into midfield without weakening it too much, while Matip for Gomez isn’t a big drop off) but by and large we know the best eleven and that best eleven is currently the best club side in the world.
     
    Imagine how good you need to be as a teenager to be able to come in and hold your own. Yet those three all look like they might be able to do that soon. The beauty of the next few weeks is that Klopp should be able to experiment a little because the title will be soon wrapped up.
     
    Mind you, I want that points record too. Some might dismiss the importance of it but to me it’s fucking huge. Yes, it’s being greedy but I want this team to break every record they can, because they deserve to be regarded as the best team to have ever played in this country. If you look at the body of work over the last two to three years, I don’t think there’s much doubt. Who is better? Nobody, that’s who. But if they can beat (and preferably shatter) City’s points record then there’s not really any argument to be had. They’ll be out on their own as the best ever.
     
    If we can keep playing like this for the rest of the season then there’s no reason to think we won’t do it. There is always a danger that once the title is won we might see an easing off and the deckchairs might come out, but I just can’t see that. It’s not who this team is and it’s certainly not who Klopp is. He’ll want them to win every game and they’ll want to win every game.
     
    The Everton game was shite and serves as a warning of what can happen, but there were extenuating circumstances for that and maybe the lads just needed a game to blow off the cobwebs. I worried it might take a few weeks for them to get back to full speed. Turns out it only took a few days.
     
    The football was sensational at times but as I say it was the desire and work rate from the players that stood out. This was what I expected when footy came back. It’s why I was so disappointed at the weekend. I thought we’d be fitter and hungrier than everyone else and that teams just wouldn’t be able to cope with it. Against Palace that’s exactly how it looked.
     
    And in the opening round of fixtures at the weekend Palace had looked like one of the better sides. They played really well at Bournemouth and this had the potential to be really tricky given our frequent Anfield struggles against them. I was worried (about this game, not about the title. Anyone worrying about that needs to give their head a wobble as this was settled months ago) and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.
     
    So seeing the boys play like this has made me feel much better. I’m looking forward to all of the other games we have left now as it was just fucking ace being able to watch the lads do their thing again. I keep saying it, but I haven’t missed football at all during this break - I’ve just missed the Reds. And now they’re back.
     
    Star man is tough as everyone was outstanding. Salah and Fabinho probably stood out the most though and I’ll go with Fab I think. A wonderful goal, a top quality assist and just a completely dominant display all around from him.
     
    By the time we play again we might already be Champions but if not we have the chance to win it against City. In an ideal world I’d want City to win at Chelsea and then for us to stuff them to secure the title next week. If you could guarantee me a win at the Etihad I’d happily cheer City on tonight at Stamford Bridge, but you can’t guarantee me that so I just want it settled as quickly as possible.
     
    Therefore, I’m hoping for Chelsea to do us a favour tonight meaning that next week City will have to give our players a guard of honour. Thinking about it, that might even be a more satisfying scenario than winning it on the field against them. 
     
    Why? Because last year when City won the title their players were on the plane home signing songs about us and poor Sean Cox. How fitting would it be for them to have to stand there applauding us onto THEIR pitch knowing we’ve taken their crown? So yeah, come on Chelsea, do the business tonight so we can see Sterling having to applaud Gomez onto the field as part of the Champions.
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Williams), Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson (Keita); Fabinho, Henderson (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino (Minamino), Mané (Elliott):
  • Jürgen Klopp has hailed the performance of Liverpool in their emphatic 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening at Anfield.

    In a performance which was a total contrast to the dour affair in the Derby, the Reds looked vibrant from the kick-off and got their due rewards with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mané getting on the scoresheet.

    Each goal had a true sense of quality about it and with the unique circumstances that the players find themselves at this present time, Klopp was just thrilled that they could deliver such a mature performance with the absent fans never far from his mind.

    The Official site reported the manager as saying:

    “I want to see actually the best behind-closed-doors football ever.

    "I'm not sure if it was the best football but it was, for sure, the best counter-pressing behind closed doors ever. 

    “The attitude we showed tonight, the passion we showed was exceptional and we played some outstanding football. 

    "The goals we scored were exceptional. In my job you usually have to calm things down and say, 'No, no that was not that good and we can improve.

    "And we can improve, I know that, but that's not important tonight. Tonight is only important that we gave this sign and that we showed our supporters the respect they deserve, that we can play like they are here, even when they are not here.”
     
    What pleased the manager even more was the complete nature of the performance.

    Crystal Palace came into this fixture in fine form and an outside hope of qualifying for Europe after winning four consecutive games and not conceding a goal in those victories.

    However, they suffered a big blow to their chances when their key attacking outlet Wilfred Zaha only lasting 15 minutes before coming off with a injury.

    His loss was profound as the visitors did not have a single touch inside the Liverpool box.

    Klopp said that shows the hunger which every player has to achieve the ultimate goal.
     
    “You shouldn’t underestimate how much this team wants it.
     
    "You should not. This team really wants it; they want to fulfil the wishes of the people at home. 

    “We all have a common dream, but we have to work for it and we have to work our way for it. We cannot play like other teams, but we can play pretty good stuff – and that’s what the boys did tonight.”

    Klopp is well known as someone to not get distracted by events he cannot control.
     
    This applies to the fact that the Reds can be crowned champions as soon as this evening if Man City fail to defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

    But the German will certainly not get too emotionally involved by the result.
     


    “I am not involved in things like this. I have nothing to do with these things, I will watch the game to know what Manchester City is doing and to know what Chelsea is doing as we play them so I have kind of an idea, at least.
     
    "That is why I watch it.

    “But whatever happens we have no influence on it, so I am not too interested to be honest. 

    “But I am pretty sure the game against Man City next week is a must-watch for each football fan on the planet.”




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