Hello my good football people.
Wow, thanks for the emotional outpouring from the Liverpool section!
Well, it’s more like a tsunami of abuse following my criticism about the worst team in the Premier League currently. Yes, three points out of a possible 15 makes the Scousers more rubbish than Chelsea!
And knocked out the FA Cup by Manchester United… Ouch! I guess my dicky boy comments reminding y’all that I said consistently “last season was a one-season wonder” must have struck a nerve?
It must hurt when you’re parading around as the best team in Europe, thinking that it’s your time, the start of a new era of glory… only to be hit with the realisation that you’re probably just reverting back to the normal, back to the challenge-less Liverpool of the past 30 years.
Of course there’s always the chance that Jurgen Klopp will turn it around, but the inevitability of demise was on the cards given the intensity of the previous two seasons. The German worked his players to the bone and with obvious lack of depth, at some stage the physical and mental pressure had to pop.
There’s no doubt, the starting 11 in their prime were probably one of the best sides in the world, but it was fragile… and a couple of key injuries broke the balance.
The loss of star defender Virgil van Dijk’s command and presence are obviously missed.
His absence and lack of depth meant withdrawing Fabinho from his crucial midfield role and it disrupted the flow. Don’t get me wrong, he’s has been brilliant at the back, but it left a soft spot around the centre circle.
It’s also helped show up Trent Alexander-Arnold as a k@k defender. Without the insurance behind him, his constant runs up field have created a gap at the back.
Importing Thiago to add quality in the middle of the park hasn’t worked well. For me he stagnates things a bit. He’s good, but does he fit the aggressive attacking style we’ve become accustomed to?
Then of course there’s the misfiring frontline. It’s unbelievable, those midgets have been banging in goals for fun over the last couple of years. It’s just proof of how psychological the game is… ask Timo Werner!
Mind you, it doesn’t help that back-up strikers Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri just ain’t in the same bracket.
As mentioned in the past, integrating any player into the famed Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino threesome was always gonna be square peg in a round hole.
But hey, still half a season to go, things can turn around completely.
I must say though, away from trying to look for problems on the pitch, the demise seemed to start at the end of last season. You know when the whole world was just completely sick of the over-enthusiastic celebrating and bragging by Liverpool fans.
Yes, we understood it had been 30 years (and Liverpool looked phenomenal) but that fever pitch was just too much.
To make matters worse it was echoed by management at the club and was highlighted when Chelsea visited Anfield.
Frank Lampard, who was sacked by Chelsea as this column was already halfway to the printers, is the coolest of characters, and for him to get so wound up by the backroom staff (and Klopp) was testament to the “arrogance” that had swept the club, fans, players and staff.
I hope for them it ain’t another 30 years, but I’m pretty sure in my mind that we haven’t entered an era of Liverpool dominance.
United look like they’re on the up as do Man City… Leicester are a genuine threat.
Once this damn Covid stuff is done, I reckon it’ll be hard to choose a winner. Personally, at this stage of the season, I’d back City!
Spurs v Liverpool on Thursday night is gonna be a big test for Klopp and on Saturday, United are off to the Emirates.
Thoughts go out to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.No, not because he hardly scores, but the "personal issue" that has kept him out of the squad must be serious.