Well. An interesting weekend of sport brings me to an unfamiliar position, writing about Liverpool’s second Premier League defeat in a row. In times like these it becomes obvious that Liverpool fans like myself have perhaps taken for granted the plethora of victories which Klopp has given us over the past few seasons.
That being said, nobody likes losing. It’s not unusual to see displays of aggravated fans seething at their teams lack-lustre performances like those we saw against Brighton and Burnley. Various Tweets hit the nail on the head with those games: it felt like watching the exact same game twice, just with the opposition in varying kits… The reds persisted sternly with their somewhat unusual approach of relentlessly pumping the ball high into the opposition’s box and hoping for a super flick from Bobby Firmino and (when that failed) looking to the paper thin bench and calling on Divock Origi, who has most certainly tainted his legacy amongst some reds. I’m not one of those who feel like this, though. I think we’re forever in debt to that man: the moments he gave us are some of the best I’ve experienced in my footballing life. However, all good things must come to an end and perhaps it’s time for Big Divock to move on whilst he can still salvage the rest of his career (and maintain the love for him held by The Kopites.) In simplistic terms, Liverpool had been hit and miss. Dull performances in the Brighton and Burnley games seemingly ignored when the side put in remarkable shifts against both West Ham and Spurs. Perhaps the dips in form were inevitable, playing so many games with a squad already riddled with injuries.
The strange form of the Premier League Champions set up, perfectly, their ‘title clash’ with runaway league leaders, Manchester City. The boys from Manchester arrived on Merseyside with burning belief that they could scrap the poor records of recent years when they faced Liverpool away from home. With no fans in the stadium to drum up that feeling of hostility towards the Mancs, City were right to sense that they had a great opportunity to do away with their fellow North-West inhabitants.
On approach to the game, many wondered if we’d see the new central defenders bought in the January Transfer window in a bid to rescue our pursuit of those above us in the table. Neither Ozan Kabak nor Ben Davies featured in the starting line up (the right call in my mind, a baptism of fire could prove too much for the pair, who had not faced the likes of Man City as regularly as we have.) Of course, the leaving out of these two would spark debate amongst some online (not that everyone on Twitter is right for being annoyed, they aren’t the ones who make judgements on a daily basis after all.)
Emerging from the pre match build up, The Kopites would learn that the back line was to be centrally controlled by both Captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho: both world-class in their areas, but at centre half, perhaps not. Fab proved on numerous occasions that he was not only capable but actually a Premier League worthy centre back, providing he was playing alongside a natural defender… Oh, and that his vacant midfield role was occupied by Jordan Henderson. We’ve seen now that the pair can defend, but as a result of their position change, the midfield suffers. Far less crunching tackles are provided by the midfield, and far less dominance is shown by The Reds in the middle of the park. This would be highlighted against the league leaders.
The game was played out in similar fashion to many of those this season. The lack of spectators seeming to play a part once again in the proceedings. This was highlighted by Neville and Carragher on Sky Sports early on when Ederson’s unconvincing clearance was nearly capitalised on by The Champions… Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Despite what some clueless accounts will tell you on social media, Liverpool were actually alright in that first half. Not appearing to be out of their depth against the side who’ve won their last 10+ games. Players like Trent got stick for not producing, but it was a clear improvement from the Brighton game just days before. It seemed apparent that Curtis Jones was the man for us: he ran the middle of that pitch as best he could, in the absence of his two colleagues who found themselves lumbered with the task of keeping Foden and Co. out. It eventually became obvious that this was a waiting game for City, who would aim to pounce at the curtain raiser of mistakes from Liverpool: Sterling being “brought down” in the box by Fabinho being that mistake. Ilkay Gundogan had other ideas, though and blasted the penalty kick into my friend’s garden in Devizes, Wiltshire (mad, but true- so he says. @ashton_ynwa for the video…) With that, came half time: and it seemed that the second half was all to play for.
Inevitably, Alisson is the one who received a great deal of stick from people online for the second half, but this slander highlights people who only watch football highlights. Yes, Alisson lost his concentration on two occasions, but the entire process was started by the entire team early on the second half. Just four minutes into the half, a hungry Gundogan would seize his opportunity of redeeming his penalty miss. He tapped in an open goal and City led.
This could’ve been the point where The Reds buried their heads in the sand, but that would come later. An inspiring fightback came in the form of a Mo Salah penalty about fifteen minutes into the second half (he’s good, isn’t he?!) One-One.
Liverpool’s comeback was short lived, but I can’t help but wonder once more, what the result would’ve gone on to be had there been a rocking 50,000 fans in the stadium. Nonetheless, both Gundogan and Sterling would go on to score goals which were gifted to them by Liverpool. At this point I felt like we’d been unlucky, and that we had given away a lead for free. This emotion, like the comeback, lived a short life. Phil Foden put to bed any glimpse of hope for the Premier League champions. What a player. The young man from Stockport showed his class with a terrific finish, which concluded City’s monumental victory.
Obviously games like this hurt, a lot. But it’s been highlighted now that the only way that Liverpool can go is back up. No excuses, just results now. Leicester are next and in a way I think this is the perfect way to introduce at least one of the new central defenders. We’ve just conceded four: what’s the point in aiming to be defensively perfect now? This side need time: time for the new boys to get started, and time for our big hitters to get back.
Make no mistake about it, Liverpool will be back. When? Well, let’s see.
MC 