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    Another week another step closer to a possible quadruple. The Reds overcame a below par first half to win comfortably at Arsenal in midweek and then edged past a spirited Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup to book a semi final date with Man City.
     
    Chris Smith is joined by Julian Richards and TLW Editor Dave Usher to recap an eventful week in this bumper length edition of the pod.
     
     

  • Not pretty but there’s one important thing about cup ties – getting your name into the hat for the next round. Team selection, performance and everything else can be discussed at a later date. Just win.
     
    Of course, we had an extra incentive to overcome Nottingham Forest given that we’d been given a date with Manchester City in the semi-final draw and we did our part to meet them at Wembley next month. 
     
    Even when not at our best (Inter, West Ham, Arsenal, Forest) and even without a full strength team, we have again become a results machine. Another clean sheet notch on our tomahawk and our first FA Cup semi-final since Lovren blazed the ball into Wembley Retail Park in the last minute of injury time against Villa. And yes, by the fact I have recalled it so vividly means I am not even close to being over it! 
     
    It wasn’t a terrible performance but there were some really terrible individual displays. Firmino and Jota in particular absolutely stunk the place out. I have come to expect that of Firmino now, he frustrates me beyond all reason and I hate myself for getting annoyed with him because he’s Bobby. Jota has been grim since coming back from that short layoff with his ankle but did what Jota the Slotter does – comes up with the big play, puts it in the net, wins the game. 
     
    But in terms of the performance, I certainly didn’t peg us as “Lucky Liverpool” or anything like that – we did enough to win that game comfortably. For the most part we played on the front foot, controlled the ball and dictated the tempo of the game. I think that is probably the best that Forest could have played against us, they worked their balls off and their fans were right up for it. And that’s not intended to be patronising or disrespectful to them, that is genuinely better than some of the teams in the Premier League manage. They were brave, tried to press us and weren’t afraid to play out even though we nicked the ball on more than one occasion.
     
    In reality, if we would have gone up a gear and maybe had Salah out there, we would have won 3-0 with ease. We made plenty of chances but our finishing was profligate, our decision making lacking and our final ball off the mark. Even without Salah and Mané we shouldn’t have won the game in the manner we did because we had the chances to make it comfortable, but win we did.  
     
    I hate the FA Cup these days. It’s full of commentating cliches, the normalising of dickheads running on the pitch and ThE MaGiC of The CuP excusing incredible refereeing decisions. But we are long overdue a run like this in the FA Cup – it just so coincides with us going all the way in the Carabao Cup and having the best draw we could hope for in the Champions League. It’s all going a bit 2001, when every game was of critical importance. 
     
    But before I start going down that fork in memory lane, to the game at the City Ground. Beforehand I was wracking my brains for the last time we won there and I couldn’t remember when – easy reason for that, the last time we won there was 1984, a few months before I was born!
     
    Our record there was pretty bleak, even the 87/88 team lost there and we all know how highly regarded those boys are. Even when they were getting beat 8-1 at home in 1999, we were contriving to draw 2-2 with them. I completely forgot about van Hooijdonk scoring an injury time free kick the last time we played them all those years ago until John Gallagher brought it up before. Getting jobbed out almost every week until the 1999 Reds come to town…
     
    And we haven’t played them since. 23 years have passed and the Forest fans were right up for it. I had this down as a hard game. Not because this is the best Forest team ever or anything, but because they are well organised, play at high intensity and we were obviously going to rotate.
     
    The team was about what I expected, the biggest surprise was probably Elliott starting on the right. That was the first time I’ve watched him play and thought he looked out of place. He has excelled in the centre of midfield for us this season before the long injury layoff so I can only think we put him out there to “do a job” and get some minutes under his belt as he has not really played all that much since he came back. I’d take Elliott “doing a job” wide right over Ox any day of the week!
     
    Gomez at right back was an enforced change. He had a perfectly fine game but when in good positions, the ball in wasn’t of the same standard as you’d get from Trent, which is to be expected of course. Had Trent been fit I expect Gomez would have partnered Konaté. But up against the tricky Brennan Johnson, who I am assured is currently the talk of Nottingham, he was assured apart from a daft booking late on.
     
    So it was no surprise that they came flying out of the blocks backed by a raucous crowd. Even though they are very much in the Championship playoff picture, Forest were up for the cup. They had already seen off Arsenal and embarrassed rivals Leicester City in earlier rounds and though massive underdogs, fancied their chances of getting amongst us and giving us a scare. They would have felt emboldened by seeing no Mo or Sadio either starting or on the bench.     
     
    But despite them really getting into it for the first ten minutes, it all felt a bit like bluster. And again, no disrespect intended to Forest there. But they had the odd dangerous ball in and that was your lot for most of the game – except for the last ten minutes which I will get to in a bit. Everything they did was via that Brennan Johnson kid, who was flitting between the left and the right. He was quick and skilful and looks like one to watch, but their fast start fizzled out and once we started to knock the ball around we looked like we were going to take control. 
     
    We threatened here and there, some nice moves down the right in particular got Gomez into good positions but the final ball wasn’t right. Jota was almost through but Worrall got back to nick the ball. Or not – I still can’t decide whether or not he got the ball and if he didn’t then it should have been a penalty. But really, The Slotter should have hit that earlier than he tried to anyway.
     
    Tsimikas had a good effort whistle just over as well. I like Kostas, he has a really good left foot on him and I reckon he is going to score a screamer one of these days. The biggest chance of the half and probably the game was put on a golden platter for us by Jack Colback, who lost the ball in a dangerous position on half way and Firmino was put clean through.
     
    I didn’t think he was going to score at any point. He had all the time in the world and instead of firing it low and hard, which is hard for any goalkeeper to get to, I thought he tried to dummy to go round the keeper before changing his mind. He then just clipped it straight at the keeper who reacted well enough to get the ball away. It was a really, really bad miss and at the time of the game, it would have put us in full control.
     
    This is just what Bobby is now I’m afraid. He scored that lovely goal at Arsenal in midweek when he had no time whatsoever to think and today he has made a mess of a straight run in on goal. Is there such a thing as too much time? It’s something I hear a lot but it was not the finish of someone confident or in form. But this is who he is now – infuriating, inconsistent and adding to my growing legion of grey hairs by missing simple chances. 
     
    The second half was the same as the first – Forest came flying out and eventually we wrestled back control. However, I didn’t think it was assured and Jurgen decided to empty the bench just after the hour. I think that we usually make the right sub at the right time, but I thought we became worse despite making what most of us were probably thinking would be the right changes.
     
    Thiago to control, Henderson to set the tempo and a change of formation with Firmino going up top with Jota, Minamino and Diaz just behind him. But it didn’t work did it?
     
    Whilst we were not hanging on by any means, we didn’t smother control of the game like I was expecting. I thought all of the substitutions were the right ones to make but we looked frankly ragged and chaotic for long spells after they were made.
     
    We were almost caught out on the break with Tsimikas upfield on a lightning Forest counter. Johnson got in down the right and put over a perfect ball but Zinckernagel put it wide when perfectly placed. It was a really terrible miss, he didn’t even hit the target. Forest were always going to get one big chance and that was it. 
     
    The same thing happened on Wednesday at The Emirates. Lacazette missed a huge chance and then we go down the other end and score not long after. It was a lovely goal. Henderson nicked the ball, Tsimikas put it into a perfect area cutting back onto his wrong foot and Jota’s finish was predatory. I didn’t celebrate initially as it looked offside and to be honest, I haven’t seen an angle that leads me to believe it was onside.
     
    But it was given without too much ado so I can only think the jabronis in Stockley Park had got their protractors out and quickly decided it was onside. It was what we deserved, we’d had the chances throughout the game, but extra time was starting to loom large and it was a goal not in keeping with Jota’s performance. He was rotten. But it was the exact kind of goal he scores – Jota the Slotter. 
     
    Of course, we can’t have a Championship vs Premier League team without “controversy” and I have to make a confession – I thought Mr Pawson refereed the game well. I don’t think our game management was anything to shout about (and I am not so sure it has been all season to be honest) and we gave away three big chances in the last 5 minutes. The biggest was Ryan Yates’ “penalty” shout.
     
    I have to give Mr Pawson a lot of credit for spotting the clear dive by Yates. He left his feet in to try and manufacture contact. It’s as crystal clear an example as you’ll see of it and the referee bought none of it. Whilst the commentators screeched for a penalty (until they saw the replay) I had my heart in my mouth but the bum in Stockley Park didn’t get involved for once. It was ragged defending from us and Yates had a lot of space to get into. Alisson was kind of nowhere as well but a goal kick was the right decision – I thought this kind of cheating was supposed to be an automatic yellow now and treated like a dive? 
     
    Yates had a header straight down Alisson’s throat as well thankfully and Cafu (big thanks to Lee Dixon for pointing out that it’s not *that* Cafu as I was confused…) blazed over from a tight angle late on. Again, credit to Forest for keeping going and being a threat until the very end but that was always going to be the case in a cup game.
     
    We should have sealed it with the last kick of the game, but Jota succinctly summed up his performance by blazing the ball into the Trent (no Lee, not *that* Trent) when well placed. He was honestly absolutely awful. But again, two goals in a week despite two stinking performances. 
     
    I was relatively confident we would win this but knew it would be a challenge. We can rotate many parts of this team seamlessly but there’s a big drop off when Trent doesn’t play and with better delivery we would have won that game much more comfortably with the openings we made in the first half.
     
    Forest are no mugs, they are right up in the playoff picture and they played about as well as they could and showed us respect but no fear. Had we been on it, they might have got a smacking, but we weren’t and we had a really edgy last ten minutes when they were coming at us time and time again. We didn’t play well following the substitutions and Jurgen must have been really frustrated at that. 
    But any win is a good win, especially in the business end of the season which we are now undoubtedly in.
     
    We now have a two week rest. I am one of the biggest moaners about the international breaks but it feels like we need this one a bit. We are a momentum team but it feels like we need to recharge physically and mentally before we go over the top. April is one of the biggest months in the club’s history. We might well need to go 100% in the league to win it, we have a two legged tie against Benfica and we have an Easter weekend showdown with City in the semi-final, a stage in the competition in which they aren’t always the best. It feels apart from the Leeds game we haven’t played too well for the last month or so, and I am hoping a rest allows us to get ready for final after final.
     
    The Star Man for me is a tough pick but I will go with Fabinho. I was surprised when he went off and I do think that maybe that was why we looked a bit more ragged after the subs. We always look more balanced when he is on the field. You could always make the argument to give it to the match winner but I am not giving it to Jota under any circumstances after that stinker! 
     
    But again, it’s a great sign that we can gnash our teeth at the performance but we won yet again. Keep the clean sheets coming!  
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho (Henderson), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Thiago), Keita (Diaz); Elliott (Minamino), Firmino, Jota:
  • A week is a long time in football. At Brighton, Luis Diaz was taken to the cleaners, and they recommended nothing should happen to the man who did it. At Forest, VAR was once again trying to drop trophies in our lap. Normal disservice has been resumed.
     
    We beat Arsenal, and for perpetual gloom-mongers like me there was far too much clarion calling, “City will be bricking it” nonsense.
     
    You’d like to think everybody was recharging their own fortitude, that they realise what we’re up against; a winning machine no-one’s ever seen in football before. But you can’t frown too much about our own chest-beating; a team that’s only lost two league games through to March isn’t too shabby, either.
     
    There’s been yet more exaggeration of our opponent’s performances. Seems the more wins we get the luckier people think we are. The 1980’s finally make sense. Some of the reaction during and after the Emirates match, you’d think we were battered but for, y’know, the evidence of your own eyes.
     
    They’re good, they’re in form, they were at home; expecting a stroll in the park was foolish, but once your heartbeat fell below 100 after Thiago’s madness and Jota was back on track, there was little to worry about. You knew my boy Diogo was going to go through a barren patch, because what had gone before was too good to be a fluke. We’ve said that about Mo for three years and still await a dip.
     
    The first half was lame. Diaz is in form, but I wonder if Mane reacted badly to having his position taken off him quite so soon? Was this a response to Luis’ brilliance or Sadio’s current lethargy? This intricate thread of rotation, and competition for places, depends greatly upon footballer maturity, often in short supply, and Mane’s not exactly been the breezy sort where that’s concerned.
     
    Robertson was exceptional, creating the second and dealing with Saka throughout. Trent had more problems with Martinelli, as might have been expected. Klopp got stroppy about his defending, inviting critics to “put ‘em urrrp”, like the lion in The Wizard of Oz. I had visions of him coming round to my house for a straightener!
     
    You can’t complain about our collective defensive record, and Andy always has Van Dijk to rely on after the odd lapse. Everything’s good, but people are bound to focus on any weakness they can find, out of boredom, probably. We’ll soon find out what we’re missing, anyway.
     
    You hope it’s one of those sly international ‘injuries’, followed by a coincidental miracle. Giggs did it all the time with United. If his replacement (probably Gomez) struggles, Klopp won’t be going “See? See?” for the Alexander-Arnold doubters, obviously, since he was the one who felt we could send Williams off to Fulham without a qualm. I don’t remember many complaints then, but the idea of a quadruple was laughable at the time.
     
    So, to Forest, and a nice gesture for the Hillsborough memorial. It will only be bitter curmudgeons like me who remember what most of them were like in 1994, when Clough’s book came out. He opened the floodgates, and the bullshit poured out. He was their Shankly, so ambivalence might have been understandable, but it was as if they breathed a massive sigh of relief that someone had told it “Like it was” and reacted accordingly.
     
    Their fanzine, which I’d swapped with until then, was full of it. Anyway, water under the bridge now. We’ve plenty of our own past disgraces to remain mute about, after all. The team selection again hinted at complacency.
     
    It’s hard to believe any time Oxlade-chamberlain is selected, we’re respecting the opposition. He wasn’t up to much on Sunday either and still had the nerve to be grumpy about being replaced. We could introduce a new game, Ox Sub Lotto, although everybody would be lumping on 60 minutes.
     
    Firmino’s deft touch at Arsenal wasn’t called for here. Just finish it, lad. The smartarse in him always wins out. Are they lackadaisical, or is this becoming so strenuous a challenge that occasional wilts are inevitable? Maybe we ask too much? Actually, there’s no “maybe” about it.
     
    When the four subs came, it was hard to figure out how Jota wasn’t one of the replaced. Like Salah, he always has a goal in him and thus it proved.
     
    As their team fell behind, they indulged themselves with “always the victim”. You knew it was all for show, in the end. TV commentators screamed for a home penalty, and now we must listen to more talk of referee bias. Craig Pawson? Seriously? So, two weeks to wait patiently before the impossible dream starts all over again. It’s not just the players who need a break.
     
    Steve Kelly
    @SteKelly198586
  • Sunday evening sees a fascinating FA Cup quarterfinal in prospect between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the City ground. The late 70s and early 80s saw the two teams engage in some captivating contests both on the domestic and European stage. 
     
    While the rivalry was intense at the time, such is the nature of Football that as quick as it developed, it disappeared almost just as quickly. In fact it has been over 20 years since the two teams have met in a competitive fixture.
     
    In many ways, this is what the true essence of the FA Cup is all about for, pitting teams that don’t often meet into battle and even better, having the fixture being played at the ground of the underdog.
     
    Matt Wilkinson from @Forestfanbase gave an in-depth synopsis of the rise and fall of the East Midlands club and the genuine hope that there could be a rebirth under former Liverpool academy coach Steve Cooper.
     
    As well as being a writer on the fortunes of the club, Matt is a artist and has a business called @gallery_rogues. Not only does has he designed pieces of art that feature around the City Ground, he has also he has also done plenty of Liverpool art including terrific prints of Jurgen and Bob Paisley amongst others, as well as paying tribute to the 2019/20 title win.  Well worth a look.
     
    Forest have enjoyed a terrific F.A Cup run this season knocking out the last two winners on your way first quarter final appearance in this competition for over 20 years. Is it reasonable to assume that this fixture against Liverpool is one of the biggest in recent history for your club?
     
    Yeah it is not just because we are playing one of the best teams in World Football, it is also a re-birth of the big rivalry from the late 70s and early 80s. It was a massive rivalry then and some of our biggest wins were against Liverpool.
     
    So there is history there and we haven’t played you for so long, and when you put all that in the mix along with your current status, the fans all wanted this tie. In fact it probably is our most mouth-watering tie since we have been out of the Premier League.
     
    It has been a difficult last two decades or so for the club, fluctuating between the Championship and League One. Can you talk us through that time and how have fans that were around in the glory days of the late 70s dealt with this downfall?
     
    Yeah well it has obviously we were the biggest club in the world 40 years ago, and then we became the biggest club who went furthest down when we ended up in League One for a season or two. It is the longest hangover in the history of Football, but the party was well worth the hangover that has followed.
     
    It is hard to put your finger on one reason why we haven’t come back, we have gone from one problem to another with different ownership and basically it has been a lack of patience and over anxiety in trying to get up as quickly as possible and I think we have shown that sort of plan does not work. I think really the thing we need now is patience.
     
    Steve Cooper is a name familiar to those associated with Liverpool due to his work with the club academy. Since taking over from Chris Hughton he seems to have made quite an impression. How have the fans seen his reign so far?
     

     
    The fans couldn’t be happier with what Steve has done. With Hughton, a fair proportion of the fan base were happy to give him more time, although it must have been the worst year of Football in the history of the club, even worse than what we produced in League One. It was so bad, so unambitious and players were considering retiring from the game than play Football under his management.
     
    So Hughton was an absolute disaster and when Steve took over for a game things transformed immediately, he kept (former Blackburn and West Brom midfielder) Steven Reid as first-team coach, added to the squad and has done remarkably well. We are just about the form team in the league, since he has been in charge we are averaging around two points a game, which is the kind of average that you need to require for automatic promotion.
     
    But it is not just the turnaround, he seems to be the most fantastic bloke, its almost like he has bought everyone associated with the club, a cup of coffee, a beer, a shirt or lent you his umbrella. So it’s not just what he has done, it is the way that he has gone about things and people are ecstatic to have a manager like this after all these years.
     
    It has only ever been Billy Davies who has managed after Cloughie that has given us much to cheer about. But Cooper, he just gets the club and the club absolutely love him so it is a marriage made in heaven really. We weren’t that sure when we got him, but he has done everything you can possibly imagine and more.
     
    I think we stand a chance of going up this season, and a even better chance next season and if we stick with him post that point, we will definitely be going up.
     
    How impressed have you been with Watford loanee Philip Zinckernagel this season?
     
    Well Zinck has flattered to deceive I think you could say, he has done some things of note but really and I think he would agree that it hasn’t clicked. So the effort is ok but attainment is a little bit lacking. He is the kind of guy that we were hoping would step up towards the end of the season and put in the kind of single-handed match winning performances that he should be capable of because he is a talented player and so far things haven’t quite clicked. He hasn’t been bad, but not been the greatest either.
     
    Lewis Grabban has made many stops throughout his career but never really settled at one club until joining Forest? Despite approaching his mid 30s do you think he has plenty left in the tank?
     
    Well last season we were a bit concerned as we put everything on Lewis as he was our only true goalscoring outlet and obviously getting older in a footballing sense, he struggled having done well in the 19/20 campaign. So we entered this season with a lot of trepidation and to be honest he has had a very good year. Like every player he has improved under Cooper, I hope he gets another year’s contract and I think he is worth it.
     
    Time is eventually going to catch up with him, but he is always going to be a good poacher at this kind of level, but the encouraging thing is that we have made two signings in Sam Surridge (Stoke) and Keinan Davis (on loan from Aston Villa) who have come in and performed well above expectations.
     
    Keinan (pictured below) is surprisingly skilful a bit like a mini Michail Antonio, Sharp and strong, just not really a finisher but he makes the team click I think. There is talk that his move from Villa will become permanent, all sides seem keen for that to happen. But his price is sure to keep rising if he performs to this level.
     

     
    So with that said, when Grabban returns from an ankle injury, he is going to have trouble winning his place back. 
     
    We previously touched on the magnitude of this fixture for your club, but it is also worth noting that a generation of Forest fans have never seen the team play Liverpool with the last competitive fixture coming in 1999. How excited are you to see the likes of Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold play at the City Ground?
     
    Yeah, absolutely I think the fans are just excited to see these world-class players at such a famous ground as the City Ground. And I’m sure the players are excited by the challenge as they haven’t had the chance to come up against this calibre of player very often, so there is no doubt that we are going to enjoy the day and going to give it a good go and be up for it whatever happens.
     
     Without doubt there is a clear differential in the talent level and it’s going to be really interesting to pit our players against the best in the world.
     
    How has Cooper approached the fixtures with Arsenal and Leicester in a tactical sense and do you think he will go down the same route against the Reds? 
     
    Every game in the cup seems to have followed a similar pattern where the first 20 minutes or so is tight, competitive, tense and then gradually we look to control the game and sort of impose ourselves on the game, basically there is a lot of intensity.
     
    Even when we fell behind against Huddersfield, we kept pressing and competing. We have a strong defence and have some dangerous options on the wings. So it has worked and I expect that he will look to keep that plan. He is certainly not going to go gung-ho, he is going to hope to kill the game, creating a foundation with a strong defence, let the players get into it, not score on the break, but just look to keep it a contest because we got some dangerous options down the wings.
     
    So I think that would be the game plan, to neutralize Liverpool, calm everything down and just hope to get that goal, and we also seem to have better second halves, so 0-0 at the break would be a success in the first instance.
     
    What is your score prediction for this Cup tie?
     
    That’s a really difficult one, well you can’t seriously predict that Forest are going to win, but I think we will get close to it. I have a feeling it will be something like 2-1 to Liverpool, and we could give you a little bit of a scare because I don’t think this team knows when it is really beaten and I think they will make a really decent fist of it.
     
    It could also go horribly wrong and we could lose 5-0, but I don’t really see that, we will give you a decent game. It will be outstanding if we manage a victory but I have to keep some sense of reality.
     
  • After a sensational run, Liverpool have closed the gap to Manchester City at the top of the league table. Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, however, now claims Liverpool won’t win the title, despite referring to Jürgen Klopp’s attacking line as an “absolute joke”.
     
    Only a couple of months ago, Manchester City were the obvious favourites to the Premier League. When City had a 14-point margin down to Liverpool, many pundits claimed the season of 2021/22 was already decided. But now, after an over two-month long series of wins, the Reds are back in the race.
     
    Man City Still Favourites to Win
     
    Many fans, pundits and football enthusiasts now describe the battle for the title as wide-open. However, not all bookmakers seem to agree. After Liverpool’s latest results, the odds for the trophy returning to Merseyside have obviously dropped, but not to the same level as the odds for a back-to-back win for Manchester City. 
     
    However, higher odds do not mean it cannot happen. Just look at a casino, for example. At Mr Vegas Casino, to name one, players can find many games where the house has an edge, such as blackjack. Although the dealer has an advantage, lots of players still manage to pull off a win or two. If this was not the case, gambling at an online casino would not be as popular as it is today.
     
    Gary Neville on the Liverpool Attacking Line
     
    One of the pundits who claimed Manchester City had already won the league was Gary Neville. The former Manchester United captain expected City to secure the title as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané left the team for approximately a month to participate in AFCON. However, the Sky Sports pundit now admits he was wrong and gives credit to the attacking side in Liverpool.
     
    More specifically, Neville praises Jürgen Klopp, who managed to get the most out of his attacking alternatives during the time that Salah and Mané were out. Luis Díaz, who arrived at Merseyside in January, is one of the attacking players that made the biggest impact on Neville. 
     
    The former United right-back visited Wembley to watch the Carabao Cup final. This was the first time he got to see Díaz live. Neville now says he could not believe what he was seeing, and that the 25-year-old winger is “absolutely sensational”.
     
    Luis Díaz, Roberto Firmino, and Diogo Jota, alongside Salah and Mané, are now all pushing to start, and Neville states that Liverpool possesses an “absolute joke” of an attacking line.
     
    Neville Makes His Prediction
     
    Although he’s impressed with the Liverpool squad, Neville does not believe the Reds will be the ones to celebrate after the final whistle of the season. He indicates it will be a close race, but that Manchester City are the favourites and will be the ones who get to raise the trophy towards the sky.
     
    However, as we have learned from this season and many times before, pundits nor bookmakers do not always make the right predictions. There are still lots of points to play for, and a dramatic finish to the season is upon us
  • It’s starting to get a bit real now, isn’t it? And it’s both exciting and terrifying in equal measures. Nine torturous games await, all-consuming and each more fraught than the last. Number 20 or heartbreak awaits, with nothing in between. Would we have it any other way? Well, yeah. Doing it the easy way would be bloody nice, but it’s not our style.

    For 45-minutes at the Emirates, you wondered whether the golden chance served up on Monday night could pass us by. It was, relatively speaking, as bad as we’ve seen in a while and the timing couldn’t be worse. Klopp was raging on the touchline and Arsenal looked like their self-belief was – for the first time in about a decade against us – justified. 
     
    As the bloke who usually writes these reports likes to say, they were smelling themselves and for once it wasn’t their dad’s rancid bottle of Old Spice stinging their nostril hairs. 
     
    We seemed laborious on the ball, used it very poorly, and *gasp* failed to match Arsenal’s fight and intensity. Without looking like too much of a threat, Arsenal certainly looked more likely. Where was the Gunners side that rolls over to have its belly tickled and collapses at the first sign of adversity when he needed them? Well, thankfully those lads turned up when Jota stepped up a few minutes into the second half. 
     
    We started pretty well though and looked like we could get a bit of joy from set pieces. Virgil forced a decent save from Ramsdale in the first few minutes and we looked in control. Then they started to have a little joy with longer balls and they beat the press a couple of times. The home side should have led after a quarter of an hour when Martinelli and Tierney fashioned a great opening. Virgil and Alisson seemed to leave the ball to each other, and Robbo was in the perfect position to boot it clear.
     
    After that we struggled to really regain control for the rest of the half. Keeping the ball was an issue, from the midfield to the front three. It seemed we lacked the intensity of the home side, roared on by a crowd encouraged to see that rearrest of things – an Arsenal side displaying a bit of boldness and courage. I’d have been on my feet too if I’d seen so little of that over the last decade. 
     
    Thiago hadn’t had a great first half and it continued after the break, when an errant back-pass went straight to Lacazette. He laid it on for Ødegaard, who lacked a clinical finish and Alisson made a great recovery with the goal gaping. If we’d have conceded there, things may have been very different. Arsenal, clearly are a different animal, with their tails up. 
     
    It did serve to wake the lads up a bit and suddenly we were snappier and first to everything. It certainly woke Thiago up. Jesus Christ. What about that through ball for the goal? It literally dissected half of Arsenal’s outfield. He’s going to be unfathomably important for us in the weeks to come. 
     
    As good as the pass was, it left Jota with plenty to do from a tight angle, but the trueness of the strike beat Ramsdale at his near post. He seemed to be expecting a cutback but he should be keeping that out. At least he’s great with his feet though, huh?
     
    What an impact player Jota’s turning out to be though. He’s already got 7 (SEVEN) against them in less than two seasons. In those games, Arsenal have scored once. Add ‘constantly beating up on Arsenal’ to that lengthening list of Fowler comparisons. This goal was Robbie all over. 
     
    Jota’s most telling contribution was his last. His replacement finished the job. Our tails were up and it was soon 2-0. A period of sustained pressure saw Robbo get in at the by-line and substitute Firmino finished with deftest of touches under the goalkeeper’s body. What movement, what a finish, what a man. Made up for him. With some ready to call time on his Anfield career, I reckon Bobby’s most telling contributions may still be to come.  
     
    The subs were planned before the goal, and earlier than usual. I think it was David Maddock who pointed out on Twitter that when he was feeling the pressure (which he was), Klopp put the band back together. Back to the classic front three. Don’t be surprised if that’s the case plenty more times in the biggest moments before the end of this increasingly remarkable season.
     
    One the subject of the second goal, how good was Robbo there? The energy needed to close Saka down (he was poor I thought, I expected loads more from him and he’s done himself no favours if he really does fancy that dream move to Anfield), charge down his clearance and then deliver a perfect cross for Bobby to ease it under Ramsdale. Game over and bedlam in the away end as Bobby earned himself a booking. Great scenes. 
     
    It took the second goal for Arteta to bring on Saka’s mate Emile Smith Rowe (“Here we goooooo! Saka and Emile Smith Rowe!” is a boss chant and the only reason I could ever think of to envy Arsenal fans). I was made up to see him on the bench to be honest.
     
    He’s more dangerous than Ødegaard, who basically seems like a slight upgrade on that Arsenal specialty of lightweight great-when-the-going’s-good creative midfielders who don’t really have a proper position. Young Emile carries a threat, he’s more direct, can get at people and can finish too. 
     
    So, Arsenal didn’t exactly hit the self-destruct button here as they did against City on New Year’s Day. There was no dumb red card or rash challenges, so they are getting better at least. On tonight’s evidence, they’re probably going to get the ‘Best Loser’ top-four spot. 
     
    Thankfully the inability to cope with adversity remains and their heads dropped after the second. All we had to do was ensure we didn’t give them a morale boosting route back in and the points would be ours. And so it proved. 
     
    A fraught 45 minutes became a relatively comfortable three points over the 90 minutes and that’s incredibly encouraging. The boys will have got a rocket from Klopp at half time and responded brilliantly.
     
    Mo looked good when he came on and probably could have started if needed. Bobby was pin sharp and although Diaz tried hard, not much came off for him. The midfield had a poor first half but regained full control of the game once we went ahead. Although the home side fashioned a few decent openings, the back four dealt with most things, but I thought Robbo in particular was outstanding. His assist and his first half clearance from a similar incident were huge flashpoints in the game. He was fantastic against Saka too. He’s my star man for the evening. 
     
    Games like this are going to happen now, though. Our run-in is undeniably tougher than City’s, but the momentum is unquestionably ours. We won’t have everything our own way. There will be referring decisions to lament, robbed points to bemoan. I'm certain there are more twists and turns to this race than during the shootout of 2019.
     
    As fans, we’ll get irritated and antsy, and we’ll probably overreact to stuff quite a lot. A bit like Kloppo on the sideline tonight! Did you see how intense he was with Curtis when sending him on in the 90th minute, with the game won? I'm not sure Curtis knew how to react so he just smiled awkwardly. Brilliant. I’m not sure I’ve seen the manager quite like this, you know. Between this game and what happened at Brighton, you can tell he’s feeling it. You sense he reckons we can do this with sheer force of will, as much as the quality of our performances.
     
    Nine wins in a row. Repeat the feat and we’re certain champions and there’s nothing anyone could do about it. We’re not conceding goals, and we have plenty more in us. We were clinical when we needed to be this week, when our rivals were not. Our leaders were leading; our rivals' were losing their rag with Nathaniel Clyne. 
     
    There’s a little Portuguese bloke down the East Lancs who remains adamant that he wouldn’t switch places with us. But who’s he trying to convince? He might have a point, but it was 14 not too long ago.
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago (Jones); Diaz (Salah); Jota (Firmino), Mané.
     
  • Jurgen Klopp has little doubt that his team are up for a title fight but he is very careful not to look too far ahead as the Reds look forward to play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
     
    At the turn of the year, Man City looked for all intents and purposes to have the title in the bag and seemingly full of confidence. Liverpool did have a couple of games in hand of their fierce rivals, but also knew that they were to lose key players in Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to the African Cup of Nations.
     
    However the Reds did not bemoan the sense of unfortunate timing and instead began chipping away at the deficit and the tide began to turn.
     
    So much so that as we begin to enter the home stretch, if the Reds claim all three points in North London, they will only be one point adrift with a meeting at the Etihad still to come.
     
    Ahead of this fixture Klopp reflected on how the title landscape looks at this moment as Sky Sports reported.
     

     
    "It is nice that we are having these discussions (about being in title contention) because it means that we are close enough to kind of have a chance. It is better than being 20 points behind. But all we can do is try with all that we have to win the next football match.
     
    "The most important one and the most difficult one is now.
     
    “Away at Arsenal. It is a tricky one because they are in a very good moment. They are at home. I don't think there is any team in the world that would go to Arsenal and count the points already, adding them on before you have played the game. We will not."
     
    Klopp says learning from the experience of previous campaigns where they had to deal with all sorts of adversity has served his team very well when it comes to the challenge of this season.
     
    "We had to fight through this (fixture pileup). It was super intense. We had five games in 13 days. We had to win all of them." It needed a penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup and a first-leg lead over Inter, but they did it.
     
    “We are on our toes, definitely.
     
    "But we are used to that from the last few years. Last season we had to get results in I don't know how many games in a row just to make the Champions League. The year before that we won the Premier League so that was different for many reasons.
     
    "The year before that was a massive race right until the last day."
     
    Klopp has carefully built his squads through phases, when he first arrived it was all about building belief that had completely evaporated, then it was finding consistency in the league and finally becoming contenders on different fronts.
     
    The current squad at the German’s disposal has kind of quality across the board that top managers always hope for, but being able to put it together is another thing together.
     
    Klopp has specifically scouted the players he wants with the latest example being Luis Diaz who already looks a natural fit for the Reds.
     

     
    “Funnily enough, apart from Luis, it is the same squad that we had when we started the season. We had this strong squad, they were just unavailable. 
     
    “Now they are available. That makes it the squad that we always wanted to have."
     
    The flip side of having all that talent at your disposal is being able to fit them into the lineup.
     
    It is a pleasant headache to have, but Klopp certainly has sympathy for those on the inside looking in such Taki Minamino and Divock Origi.
     
    Naturally players grow old over time while others move on for more opportunities and Klopp is already planning for that moment, but if possible he wants to keep the key players in tact as long as possible.
     
    “It is unlikely with the size of the squad that we now stay exactly like this together. For sure, some of the players do not play often enough for their own understanding and we will see what will come in the summer and find solutions for those situations.
     
    “But the core of the group has to stay together.
     
    “There is no doubt about that."
     
    It is also why the additions of Diaz and Ibrahima Konate in the summer just gone are pivotal as they are not just for the present but the future as well.
     
    “We did quite well because we have brought in an incredibly talented, very young centre-half, which massively made sense. Diogo is at the best age. Luis is at the best age." Both are 25.
     
    "Yeah, some of the other guys, they are not old but in three or four years you might call them that. But for me, the best time for them is yet to come.
     
    "But we have to prepare the club for the time after these boys as well because there must be a time after us and this time should ideally be more successful than we are now."
     
    Back to the job at hand being the title race and fighting for honours, you just know Klopp lives for moments such as these.
     

     
    “lf you reach March in an interesting part of the table, in the quarter-finals, in all the competitions, then it looks like it could be a really good season.
     
    "Being there, being ready for the fight of your life is a challenge.
     
    "But the boys are greedy in a good way and hopefully they can get something from it.
     
    “The finishing line is never straight and you never go over it at full speed, you limp over it.
     
    "But as long as you make it, it is all good."
     
     
  • With ten games to go, Liverpool still have a great chance of winning the Premier League. They trail leaders and defending champions Manchester City by just four points and have a game in hand on their rivals.
     
    Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes received a big boost on Monday, March 14. Manchester City were only able to draw 0-0 at Crystal Palace. That was a golden chance to extend their lead at the top to six points. However, they dropped points for the second time in four league games. It was also their second game in a row in which they have failed to score.
     
    Those are statistics to put a smile on the face of any Liverpool fan. With an away game at City to come, Liverpool know that if they can win all their remaining league games, the title will be coming back to Anfield.
    Liverpool’s hopes of a second Premier League title in three years weren’t looking so good in early January.
     
    A 2-2 draw at Chelsea meant they’d earned just two points from their last three league games. What was even more frustrating was the fact they had led in games at Tottenham and Chelsea and only came away with a couple of draws.
     
    A long unbeaten run was needed for Liverpool to put the pressure on Manchester City, who had won 11 straight league games at that stage. Liverpool have most certainly met that target and closed the gap on the leaders.
    Saturday, March 12 saw Liverpool earn a 2-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion. The win over the out-of-form Seagulls was the eighth consecutive win for the Reds in the Premier League. Now, the  2/1 title odds on Liverpool being champions are looking very good indeed.
     
    There are some tough battles ahead in the coming weeks. Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Wednesday, March 16, and it’s vital that they win that match. Doing so will take them to within a single point of Manchester City with level games played.
     
    Away Premier League form needed to be improved on if they were to catch City. Points had been dropped in five matches on the road, though only West Ham United and Leicester City had beaten Liverpool.
     
    Their last three away Premier League fixtures have all been won. That’s the form they need to continue if they are to be the champions again. Arsenal are in good form and looking likely to finish In the top four.
     
    It seems a long time ago since Liverpool beat the Gunners 4-0 at home. Arsenal have improved since then but just how good are they? Liverpool have to be fancied to beat them if again showing their current form.
     
    When you think of Liverpool, the first thoughts are of their impressive attack. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota have all continued to show good form this season. All three of them are in double figures for Premier League goals this season. Liverpool have scored 73 goals in their 28 league games but have only conceded 20 themselves.
     
    The Reds have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League fixtures. If the defence can continue in that form, then another Premier League title is possible. That good defensive display has also put Liverpool in the position where their goal difference is better than that of their title rivals.
     
    The away game at Manchester City will be vitally important for Liverpool. Avoiding defeat must be the main aim, especially with so few games remaining. The two teams meet at the Etihad on April 10 with Liverpool hoping for a first Premier League win there since 2015.
     
    Both Crystal Palace and Tottenham have won Premier League games at Manchester City this season. If they can do it, then surely Liverpool must have a chance of going to the Etihad and returning with three points.
     
    Those dropped points at Palace have given more hope to Liverpool. It does take a little bit of pressure off them as a draw at the Etihad wouldn’t be a disastrous result. City have dropped points in two of their last four away Premier League games. 
     
    A draw at City would prevent the league leaders from extending the gap at the top. Then Liverpool can just win their remaining matches and know just one slip-up by City would see them again become champions of the Premier League. They have the momentum at present; Klopp’s team just has to keep that up until the end of the season.
  • Neco Williams has spoken publicly about the extremely difficult period he had during last season dealing with online abuse.
     
    Jurgen Klopp gave the young full-back a chance to impress in the EFL Cup clash against Lincoln City in September 2020, but while the Reds registered a convincing 7-2 victory, Williams was unfairly critiqued for his own performance.
     
    So bad was the abuse online, that the Welsh international blacked out his whole Twitter page. 
     
    It is another sad example of those who go under the banner of ‘so called fans’ that take pleasure in deliberating hurting others with their words or actions and why they do not associate with the club in any shape or form.
     
    Williams who is spending the second half of the season at runaway Championship leaders Fulham reflected on that very difficult time in his young career (per the Echo.)
     

     
    “I had a hard time on social media when I was probably 19.
     
    “I remember that time quite well because it was the first ever time that I got abused on Twitter for one of my performances.
     
    "I'm not going to lie, it was a very tough time. Everything was just horrible on there, and that was the first time I've ever experienced that.
     
    "I didn't want to be around anyone. I just went straight to my house in Liverpool and stayed there on my own.
     
    “I just felt angry, embarrassed. I didn't know what to do."
     
    Reflecting on the moment 18 months down the track, Williams said he would have done things a little bit differently and said how important it is to speak out if you are troubled with similar issues to what he went through.
     
    "Looking back on it now, I just wish I would've spoken to more people.
     
    "I would 100% tell younger people to connect with real people and tell them what's going on, how you're feeling and just get it all off your chest. 
     

     
    Williams has scored two goals and contributed two assists in nine appearances for the West London club and speaking after the Cottages’ 2-0 win over Blackburn last week manager Marco Silva was suitably impressed by his progress so far.
     
    "He’s settled really well and he’s always open to learn and knows he has to work really hard.
     
    "He’s helping us and had a very good game again. The connection and triangles he’s creating with Harry (Wilson) are always improving."
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  • A potentially trick fixture negotiated with the minimum of fuss. It wouldn’t have taken much improvement for us to have hit five or six here as the chance was there to do it in the second half. We were just really sloppy, but it didn’t matter because we did enough.
     
    I’m fine with that, although Klopp didn’t seem to be as he had a proper angry head on with the players for most of the game. He was fine afterwards but he was really letting the lads have it at various points. Salah and Diaz both got absolute bollockings for not passing it, but the one on Mo was well harsh as the pass was never on at any point. I’ll get to that in a bit.
     
    The reason I’m not bothered about the sloppiness is because if we’d hammered Brighton I’d be concerned that we’d used up all of our goals and would struggle on Wednesday. Seeing how many goals we left out there through not being clinical enough with our counter attacks actually gave me more confidence ahead of the trip to the Emirates. I think we’ll twat Arsenal.
     
    Brighton haven’t been on a good run but their form has been decent enough. Not much has changed from when they were winning games. With them, they tend to play well, dominate possession, and the result just depends on whether they take their chances or not. Recently it’s been ‘not’. 
     
    They didn’t create much against us but what they did create they didn’t finish. The opening 10-15 minutes they were very spritely but I didn’t feel like there was much for us to be especially worried about. You sometimes have to let these sides blow off a little steam in front of their own fans and just wait for the chance to put them back in their place.
     
    Brighton play terrific football and they know how to play against us, which makes them more dangerous than most. But having drawn at Anfield you know our lads will have had a score to settle and they rarely allow anyone to get the better of them twice. Brighton didn’t fluke that draw, they played well and deserved it, so there was no chance we wouldn’t take them seriously.
     
    Klopp went with his strongest possible team which currently means Jota on the bench. The injury he had wasn’t serious but it disrupted his rhythm and he doesn’t have it back yet. In his absence, Sadio has looked good in the middle and Diaz has been boss on the left.
     
    So unsurprisingly Klopp stuck with the three who have been playing the most in recent weeks. They looked really lively in the first half once we settled.
     
    Brighton had their early flourish but as soon as we got to grips with that we looked the more dangerous side. Sadio had an effort brilliantly tipped wide by the keeper after getting on the end of a Salah cross. Had that gone in there’s every chance VAR would have showed him to be a fraction offside, but you can’t always tell without the lines so he might have been on. I thought he was just off though.
     
    Then we went ahead with a simple but brilliant goal. Newly crowned Premier League Player off the Month Joel Matip (that’s his full title for the next few weeks) ambled forward and then picked out a pass that Trent would have been pleased with to find the excellent run of Diaz who had made a nice diagonal burst across the line.
     
    The keeper came charging out but Diaz got there first and headed past him before getting completely taken out by a combination of flying knee and forearm clothesline. I knew he was onside so didn’t need a replay for that, but I did want to see what happened to him and how bad it was.
     
    It looked bad but thankfully it wasn’t. He was shaken up but not seriously hurt and was able to carry on after the couple of minute delay for the VAR check. Incredibly, Stuart Atwell didn’t refer Mike Dean to the screen. There’s a problem here and it’s twofold.
     
    Firstly, Dean has almost certainly not made the call because he’s thinking that if there’s anything that needs dealing with, that’s what VAR is for. But then you have Atwell looking at it with the mindset “Dean hasn’t given it, is there enough there for me to say it’s a clear error”.
     
    I mean, the answer to his question should still be yes and I’m not defending Atwell (or Dean in this instance), but the process is not helping here and that needs looking at. Refs need to sort this among themselves. Either they give decisions and ask VAR to help them out of they’re wrong, or don’t give it and tell VAR to refer them to the screen if there’s any doubt.
     
    What you have too often is refs not giving it because they think VAR will, but VAR not doing anything because they don’t want to undermine the ref on the pitch. It’s easily sorted out just by them communicating with eachother.
     
    I defo think the big factor in the decision not to send the keeper off was simply that we scored. They probably rationalised it by saying that a goal is enough punishment. If we don’t score, it’s a pen and a red card 99 times out of 100. The one outlier is when you have a combination of Tierney and Kavanagh. Diaz would have probably been booked for diving by those two clowns. The most pro-Man City double act since Little and Large.
     
    So it was 1-0 but it should have been 1-0 and playing against 10 men, so that was frustrating. I wasn’t angry as I usually would be because I didn’t think it would be decisive as I was confident we’d go on to win comfortably regardless. I was kind of right, but it wasn’t quite as comfortable as I expected it to be just because we didn’t get the third goal.
     
    Mo almost bagged what would have been a really special goal even for him when we broke from a Brighton corner. Robbo played a ball down the left and Mo was left isolated against Bissouma. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think he’d beat him as those situations aren’t necessarily Mo’s biggest strength. Bissouma had stayed with him and I expected him to make a tackle and put it out for a throw. 
     
    But Mo was too fast, too strong and too good for him. It was really impressive how he lured him in and then just wriggled past him. For a brief second Diaz was in space in the middle but there was no way Mo could have played the pass while he was still trying to get away from Bissouma.
     
    By the time he’d held him off and collected the ball again, Bissouma was in a position that prevented any kind of cutback to either Diaz or Mané and there were other defenders blocking any potential cross too. It’s an impossible ball and the only option available to Mo was to try and score.
     
    His shot was saved as he held off Bissouma. Mo wanted a pen (no chance) and Klopp wanted his pound of flesh as he threw his arms up and angrily yelled at Salah “pass the ball!”. I did wonder if that was related to Mo’s agent taking the piss out of Jurgen on twitter the day before, but it’s probably not that. He was yelling at others in the second half so Mo wasn’t the only one copping flak.
     
    Brighton started the second half quite brightly and “Young Farage” Trossard blazed over the bar from 15 yards. Maupay had clearly handled before teeing him up so I doubt that would have counted anyway.
     
    Our front three were lively though and it felt like only a matter of time until they scored again. Mo hit the bar with a deflected shot after jinking away from a couple of defenders in the box, but I think that might have been when he got hurt as he went in for a block challenge that might have caused the foot problem he would soon go off with.
     
    Shortly after that he scuffed a shot horribly wide after a brilliant Diaz run and pass had set him up for the kind of chance he normally buries. Sensational from Diaz, but he stood out all day. Not just with his exciting runs forward either. His willingness to battle and scrap for loose balls and chase people down is really impressive. 
     
    He looks like the total package. The other lads all seem to love playing with him, even the forwards. There doesn’t seem to be any rivalry there and he’s really struck up a good understanding with Sadio in particular.
     
    Another Diaz run eventually led to the penalty as his run was halted and Naby smashed the loose ball towards goal (probably off target) and Bissouma blocked with his hand. Definite pen as his hands were up and he charged down the shot. Mo dispatched the pen, even with his injured foot, but he went off not long after.
     
    Oh, that reminds me. Lallana came on at half time and lasted about five minutes before getting injured. So predictable. I feel sorry for him but this seems to happen quite a bit when he comes off the bench. I think they either need to start him or just not pick him.
     
    Klopp brought on Thiago and Jota, which is quite the luxury to have really. We also had the likes of Jones, Elliott and Bobby on the bench, with Taki and Div in the stands. Scary depth.
     
    A glorious Thiago pass set Diaz clean through with a chance to wrap it up, but he took a poor touch which allowed the keeper to get out and make a block. It’s too small a sample size to question his finishing as he hasn’t exactly ‘missed’ loads of chances. He’s had plenty of good efforts and near misses, but the only thing he hasn’t really done so far is score regularly. 
     
    He’s got two which isn’t bad, but it feels like he’s going to score loads as he has chances every game, even when he only comes on for 10 minutes. I wish he’d put that one away though as it was such a great counter attack.
     
    Brighton had barely offered anything but they had a late flourish and Alisson had to make a smart save to keep Danny Welcrap off the scoresheet. Generally though we defended them very well and Ali didn’t have much to do.
     
    Speaking of Alisson though, I was fucking steaming when that little Maupay shithead was yelling abuse at him. He went in late and flattened Ali, and then had the fucking gall to start screaming “you little fucking bitch”. He called him “soft” too. Who the fuck does this arrogant little cunt think he is disrespecting the world’s nicest man. 
     
    Alisson will have laughed it off, turned the other cheek and shook his hands afterwards. I’d have smashed his stupid little fucking face in, the mouthy twat. He’s always snarling and causing shit. If he spent less time being a prick and more time scoring goals Brighton would be pushing for top four, because they dominate most of the games they play. Honestly though, the fucking balls on him talking to Alisson like that.
     
    Anyway, it’s another good three points and it’s eight league wins on the spin. We need to just keep it going and this was one of the trickier fixtures we have remaining so it’s nice to be able to check this box as a win.
     
    Arsenal away next but before then we’ll see City go to Palace on Monday Night Football. I’ve been saying for weeks I’ve got high hopes for that so let’s hope for a positive result there. If not, no problem, we just have to win all of our remaining games and that will more than likely be enough barring something mad happening with goal difference.
     
    Star man is Diaz and when you look at what he’s done since arriving, it really does have a Ronny Rosenthal feel about it. A player who can come in and excite the crowd and kick start a team to go on a winning run. He’s already helped us win trophy and I think it’s obvious already that anything else we might win, he’s going to be a big part of it. 
     
    He’s already first choice in my eyes, which is fucking mad when he’s competing with Jota and Mané (and Bobby too of course). I’m not saying he’s out best player because I’m not fucking mental. He is the player I look forward to watching the most though. He excites me and every time he starts a game I go into it now thinking he’s going to do something boss.
     
    I can’t wait to see what he does to Arsenal. I’m assuming he’ll start, especially if Mo’s injury keeps him out. I’d bring Jota back in too in place of Sadio, but that’s only because Arsenal are terrified of him. Sadio’s performances have been really good through the middle and if I was picking a team to play in a final this weekend he’d be in it. 
     
    For Arsenal away this week, I think we need Jota on the pitch. That said, Klopp has so many options that it doesn’t always matter who starts, as often it’s who comes on that will decide the game. If we’re sharper on the counter than we were in this one, I can’t see Arsenal coping at all. 
     
    Having Thiago out there is important too. We can rest players at the weekend in the cup so let’s go balls out to fucking smash Arsenal everywhere and keep the pressure on City until they crack.
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson (Milner), Keita (Thiago); Salah (Jota), Mané, Diaz:
     
     
  • Still in everything. What did Frank Zappa sing; the torture never stops, wasn’t it? At least we’ll die with smiles on our faces. Putin or heart attack, whichever comes first. Inter were good, it would be mad to deny it, but the usual recalibration of who was dead lucky and who deserved what seems to happen to the Reds on a weekly basis now.
     
    It must also include a (Dr Evil quotes) watershed moment, such as the Sanchez red card. Here was someone who, from the first whistle, wanted to get himself sent off. Impartial observers like (checks notes) Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry were outraged. Apparently, a commentator said it was Fabinho’s fault for getting there too early! I seem to be saying “whatever” an awful lot these days.
     
    We faced the usual dilemma when a first leg away from home has gone so well. Stick or twist. It’s not like we couldn’t have scored a few more goals, but there was a nervous fumbling air to the whole evening. We were just as dull and unnerving when we beat Porto 5-0 that time, only that was genuinely over.
     
    Maybe Roma in the treble year is a better comparison, especially with the league cup already snaffled and the FA Cup still possible. But I’m getting ahead of myself, and jinxing it too, probably. It’s getting harder and harder to keep giddiness at bay, We hit the woodwork three times, and by the end we were somehow the lucky ones. You must be double-jointed to assume the positions some football pundits get themselves into.
     
    Liverpool aren’t judged by normal standards. That’s par for the course, or whatever cliché helps whenever you’re suppressing anger at how snide others are. Was tiredness creeping in? Was it the inevitable disjointed result of regular rotation? If somehow there were a system in place where we only played once a week, Liverpool would wipe the floor with everyone. Everyone.
     
    As it is, success and ambition increase and the burdens also. Probably just as well, since the biggest clubs walk away with everything anyway. It’s taken a war for people to cotton onto Abramovich, what it’ll take for them to notice City I’m too frightened to guess. Armageddon’s flames, most likely.
     
    Mo’s agent is at it again. Social media is not an arena for nuance, obviously, but if he starts on Klopp, he’s gonna wish he hadn’t. If it’s a sign that Salah simply doesn’t care any more, it’s bad obviously. The manager is number one here. Apart from the Woy months, it’s never been any different post-Shankly. Of course, he might not be staying either and future guarantees may be what Mo’s really after, but it’s usually all about the money, stupid.
     
    Covid rumours, early kick-off, the general lethargy against Inter; all pointed to a possible Brighton upset, and if they’d made more of their decent start who knows? Then we began talking about referees and VAR. Again. Diaz has been sensational, ample proof that if Salah does leave, we won’t need to worry unduly with this manager. Heroes come, heroes go, other heroes come seems to be the enviable rut we’re in.
     
    What the hell was Mike Dean doing here anyway? I vaguely understand his Anfield appearances, since the Premier League is so utterly impoverished it needs to clamp down on referees’ petrol expenses. It would seem far simpler to stick with old ways and make the officials’ place of birth equidistant from the opponents.
     
    Maybe the authorities believe supporters have grown up and no longer think referees are conspiring to harm their team and their team only. That’s a tad presumptuous, isn’t it? Especially when you see what doesn’t count as even a yellow card in Mike Dean’s eyes. Complain about VAR too, but it shouldn’t have needed that. Cynics knew we were getting a goal or a card – not both. No harm done, anyway, to Luis or our chances of victory.
     
    Not that we didn’t try to keep it interesting at times. It’s an awful paradox, how the team with most league goals seems to be one of the least clinical. We are fabulously creative, no doubt about it, but it would be nice not to worry so much during such one-sided encounters. Wellbeck’s effort came to nought but can be the kind of accident that scuppers an entire season.
     
    Nice touch by Brighton to give Lallana ten seconds of the game to give us a wave and then scoot off again. Their own fans must be a bit peeved, surely? Couldn’t he just do that from the touchline?
     
    PSG’s annual Champions League collapse suggests their chequebook may be coming out again, and that may be a way out of this whole Salah conundrum. There’s only Klopp I’d trust to replace the seemingly irreplaceable. When you think about Torres and Suarez, we’ve got more out of him than we normally do.
     
    I idly fantasise about the Reds being so good nobody would want to leave, but the longer this lingers on you fear it’s the usual pipedream. Team spirit is in the clouds, Klopp is exceptional. Those must remain in place. When Jurgen says everything’s fine, even a shambolic old cynic like moi can get on board with it.
     
    Steve Kelly
    @SteKelly198586
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