Before I delve into the painful events of Saturday’s fixture, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I really want to get back to ‘normality’, whatever that is anymore. On a selfish note, I want to get to the match and be there seeing my team. Not even win, I’d take a draw, just get me to a game. This past week has seemed particularly frustrating when it comes to COVID restrictions: not involving my selfish desire to get to the match…
Liverpool’s long-serving boss, Jurgen Klopp was the receiver of the worst news. The German was alerted that his mother had passed away. One of those moments where you realise footy actually isn’t everything, despite what Bill Shankly once famously said. The restrictions deny Klopp access to his home country: that’s hard, isn’t it? The man can’t be with his grieving family. Things like this make me feel almost lucky, in a weird way. The things which I complain about recently revolve around things like missing my mates, missing the football and gigs. Comparing that to the devastation in the Klopp family, I’ll definitely count myself lucky more often.
So, after the loss to City I imagine the atmosphere amongst the contingent was odd. The Champions, who have been so used to running riot most weekends have been stopped in their tracks, and perhaps pushed back a tad, too. Back to back losses set up a game which would go on to be somewhat reflective of The Reds’ season thus far. As I mentioned, The Boss received the news which would undoubtedly affect him. I half expected to see assistant manager: Pep Lijnders on the side line at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Saturday, where the out-of-sorts Reds took on the hungry foxes. I can only imagine that most Liverpool fans would have expected this too, as the manager is only human (seems crazy to think, after some of the unimaginable things he’s pulled off in his time: The Barcelona comeback for example). However, our manager arrived to The Midlands with his side and persisted with his task of getting us back on track. I think that in itself deserves crediting: losing a loved one is hard enough, but a mother. Well, that’s unimaginable. Whether this was Jurgen’s choice to manage the side or if he had to because of his contract, I don’t know. We can only hope that he chose to.
Amongst fellow Kopites, it was obvious that the emotions ahead of this fixture were mixed. The hope of getting a win was definitely felt, particularly when pictures started re-surfacing Twitter from the pasting of Leicester by Liverpool on Boxing Day, 2019. We’d done it at this ground when the odds were against us. Last time, I seem to recall that we were counted out before the game as our side had just played three or four physically demanding games in Qatar in the Club World Cup, whilst Leicester had just their domestic campaign to focus on. The outcome of the fixture would be different this time, though.
An hour before kick-off and the teams were in. The LFC faithful were to see new lad: Ozan Kabak, a Turkish centre-half. If you’re following the footy this season you’ll know that a great deal of the suffering for Liverpool has come from our £75million Dutch international, Virgil Van Dijk being injured after Jordan Pickford “left on one him”. Playing our two most consistent and hardworking midfielders at the back has certainly added to this problem. But this looked to be promising, one of our new boys starting, albeit alongside Jordan Henderson. A step in the right direction, you could say.
The game began and immediately Liverpool looked to be in control. I’ve learnt not to be fooled by this, though. So many of my formative years have been spent watching a Liverpool side have a plethora of possession and somehow end up not winning the game.
All too soon, James Milner (another of the most hardworking players) went down with a knock. Not another! To name a few, Liverpool now have: Fabinho, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jota, Milner and Keita all injured. Too many games? Nobody else seems to be dropping at the rate we are though…
The injury left Liverpool a substitute down, as Thiago was given 75 minutes, rather than what would have probably been 15 or 20. Still, Liverpool looked dominant and it seemed only a matter of time before their efforts would prove fruitful. Leicester did look dangerous on the flip side, though: Jamie Vardy (who’s always a pain against us) struck the crossbar on one occasion.
Half time came, and the game was still goalless.
In the second half, as expected, the game opened up further, with only 45 minutes to play, the foxes could turn the tables and go hunting in search of a goal against the champions. This lifted spirit of Leicester was to be momentarily crushed, after Liverpool scored a beautiful goal. This obviously won’t be mentioned much due to the events which followed, but Bobby Firmino found the ever-prolific Mo Salah with a pass straight from Ronaldinho’s textbook. The finish was good, too. No power needed: just an exquisitely placed finish from the Egyptian.
Sadly, that’s about all that went well for The Reds in that second half. Keeping the lead for just 10 minutes, Liverpool conceded a controversial goal, VAR ruling that Firmino’s toe kept the Leicester player onside. It looked similar to the goal that Liverpool had disallowed in the Merseyside derby…
Nonetheless, after the game was levelled, Liverpool were flat. A performance which began in the style of champions was now carried out in the form of a bottom 3 side. A howler in our half, gifted Jamie Vardy a goal when Alisson and Kabak collided in bizarre fashion. It was pretty much dead and buried from here, but Harvey Barnes put the final nail in the coffin with a cool finish past Alisson.
3-1, and the potential for Liverpool to fall to ninth. We still love them, though If there’s any time for Liverpool fans to get behind the team, it is now. The manager has done so much for us, giving fans young and old the best memories of their lives. I might never see a league title won again, and I’ll always remember the elation and celebrations of the summer.
That being said, the boys have to bounce back. At the time of writing this, Mo Salah has put out a promise to all reds that the players will do their bit to turn this season around. We’ve got to do our part. Get behind them.
MC 