Liverpool stun Milan, take unassailable advantage back to Anfield

It wasn’t a particularly good performance from Liverpool tonight away against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 but the 2-0 result was outstanding and makes the Reds extreme favourites to qualify for the next round.

For large parts of the game, Liverpool were sloppy and unsure of themselves as Inter time and again found a way to make the Reds uncomfortable, particularly down the Reds’ right where Trent Alexander Arnold was having a torrid time defensively, giving the impression once again that he hates this part of the game, that the glory is at the other end of the pitch and defending is beneath him.

While the Italians weren’t forcing Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal to make saves, there was a repeated need for last-ditch interventions from man-of-the-match Virgil van Dijk, his centre back partner, Ibrahima Konaté, in for Joel Matip, and Thiago Alcantara and Andy Robertson.

Jurgen Klopp went for a strange midfield lineup, the first time it would have played together, involving Harvey Elliott, Thiago and Fabinho and while, in the first half, despite Inter’s ferocious competitiveness, the experimental Liverpool scheme held up well, the first 15 minutes of the second half saw the Reds under serious duress and it seemed that Inter would score at any moment.

Having already brought on Roberto Firmino for the injured Diogo Jota at half time, on the hour, Klopp did what he’s not known for and what he’s often been criticised for, and made early and bold substitutions, three in fact, bringing on Luis Diaz for the ineffective Sadio Mané, Jordan Henderson for Fabinho and Naby Keita for Elliott.

Instantly, Klopp’s changes had an effect. Henderson and Keita were busier and more physical in midfield, while Diaz brought an attacking threat that seriously troubled Milan’s defence.

Thus, after 75 minutes, a corner to Liverpool from the right, taken by Robertson, was met by Firmino on the edge of the six-yard box and his glancing header caught Handanovic in the Milan goal by surprise, moving to his right while the ball settled in the bottom of the opposite corner.

Deflated, Milan never threatened again as Liverpool took the sting out of the game, passing the ball around effortlessly, the cherry put on the cake after Alexander Arnold’s chip into the Milan area was nodded down by van Dijk and Mo Salah running on to the ball had his shot deflected into the net to make not only the game but, surely, the tie safe.

Back to the Premier League for Liverpool. On Saturday, they face strugglers Norwich at home followed, on Wednesday, by another game at Anfield, this time against Leeds, hovering uncomfortably above the relegation zone and shipping goals.

Two wins here and Liverpool will be six points behind Manchester City, assuming City beat Spurs on Saturday.

Reds’ fans might think this would put Liverpool back in the title race but, on current form – with Man City crushing all comers while Liverpool are having to claw their way to victories – it’s still hard to see City throwing away their advantage.

Liverpool brush past Milan for perfect six

 

While there was nothing at stake for Liverpool – other than pride and the chance to become the first English side to win all six of their Champions League group matches – a win tonight for legendary Italian side and current Series A leaders, AC Milan, would’ve meant they would’ve put themselves in position to qualify for the knock out stages or, at least, keep their European campaign going with qualification for the Europa League. Defeat for Milan would mean elimination from all this season’s European competitions.

Such a surprise, therefore, that the Italian side were so poor this evening or, maybe, we were expecting too much from them, are overestimating the Italian league, particularly in light of the national side becoming European champions over the summer, or, indeed, underestimating how dominant English sides – plus, maybe, PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid – currently are in the Champions League.

Thus, having made eight changes to tonight’s lineup, Jurgen Klopp was able to see his Liverpool side dominate play from start to finish and run out comfortable 2-1 winners. And this despite going one down on 29 minutes after a Milan corner – their first of the match – saw some sloppy near-post defending from Taki Minamino and some questionable keeping from Alisson Becker to allow Fikayo Tomori, on loan from Chelsea, to smash the ball into the back of the net from three yards out.

Perhaps doubt would’ve crept into Liverpool minds if Milan could hold onto their lead for any period of time but it took only seven minutes for the Reds to equalise. A snapshot from Alex Oxlade Chamberlain from the edge of the box, after an effective dribble, was only parried by the Milan keeper, the ball landing at pace at the feet of Mo Salah who whacked it first time high into the back of the net.  

The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with Liverpool dominating and AC Milan not able to lay a glove on the Reds. A second goal for Liverpool seemed inevitable and on 55 minutes it came when a mix up between Mike Maignan and his centre back allowed Sadio Mané in. The Senegalese striker’s powerful shot was fisted out by the Milan keeper, but a predatory Divock Origi – coming after his match-winning performance against Wolves at the weekend – was waiting to cleverly head the ball into the net.

Milan tried to rouse themselves to get back into the game, but they rarely troubled Alisson and Liverpool looked more likely to get a third than the Italians did to equalise.

Next up for Liverpool is the return of Steven Gerrard to Anfield. He’ll be rocking up as manager of in-form Aston Villa, having won three of his first four matches in charge. Still, given the way Liverpool have been playing recently, since the West Ham defeat, it’s hard to see anything other than a Reds’ victory.

As for the Champions League, Liverpool will find out who they play in the first round of the knockout stages when the draw takes place on Monday. Talking of draws, yesterday’s third round FA Cup draw was favourable for the Reds, resulting in them being asked to play League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town at home.

Thiago scorcher keeps Liverpool Champions League run going

You imagine that when you attend a football match, particularly at a ground like Anfield, particularly on a Champions League evening, where traditionally Liverpool fans are determined to add to the atmosphere and spur on the players, bearing in mind the legendary European nights, against St Etienne, Dortmund, Barcelona, it’s somewhat peculiar not to have anything riding on the game, with the Reds not only already qualified for the knock-out stages but guaranteed to be group winners, and indeed Liverpool’s first half performance against Porto reflected the fact that Liverpool have already done what they needed to do.

 

However, on nights like this, Liverpool fans will still go home delighted that they turned up with memories to last because of two spectacular goals, from Thiago Alcantara and Mo Salah, that ensured a Liverpool victory, five wins out of five in the so-called group of death.

 

Thiago’s goal will live long in the memory. A weak free kick from the right from Alex Oxlade Chamberlain was headed out to the Spanish midfielder who caught it on the half volley in a controlled fashion, slashing the ball with the outside of the foot, skimming the ball with pace and accuracy across the grass into the corner of the net. A perfect strike, a brilliant goal from a player now finding his form for Liverpool, having arrived with a big reputation from Bayern Munich and not yet having lived up to it, injuries and the disruption of the pandemic having set him back.

 

Salah’s goal was less spectacular but oozed quality. Salah exchanged intricate passes with Jordan Henderson on the right of the Porto area before a beautiful shimmy from the Egyptian left the defender on the floor. Salah then deceived the keeper into thinking he was going to curl the ball into the left of the goal, only to strike it low and hard in the near post.

 

Porto did have chances in the first half to score, but it would be wrong to assert that they were on top or that Liverpool were on the ropes. Liverpool, too, had opportunities to score and, indeed, apart from the two that were put in the back of the net, the Reds had two disallowed after VAR ruled them offside. Sadio Mané’s goal – a one-on-one that he calmly slotted past the keeper – was particularly marginal. Taki Minamino was the other unlucky player to have a goal ruled out.

 

Lots of changes for tonight’s lineup – Ibrahima Konate in for Virgil van Dijk, Neco Williams for Trent Alexander Arnold, Tyler Morton for Henderson, Minamino for Diogo Jota – and it was the two academy products who shone most. Williams looked solid defending and threatening going forward, while Morton, making his first start for Liverpool seniors, having made his debut with a substitute appearance against Arsenal at the weekend, was impeccable, and looked a better prospect than his contemporary, Curtis Jones.

 

Next up for the Reds is Southampton at home in the Premier League. The final game in the Champions League group will be away at AC Milan.

Liverpool brush aside Atletico Madrid to qualify for Champions League knock-out stages

With a comfortable 2-0 victory against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool not only qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but they did it with two games to spare and, after AC Milan and Porto played out a 1-1 draw in Italy, have gone through as group winners. 

 

What this means is that with four wins out of four, for the rest of the group stages, Jurgen Klopp will be able to rest players, mix up the team, give fringe players the chance to impress and play themselves into form. 

 

Apart from an injury to Roberto Firmino – who’d come on at half-time for Sadio Mané, the Senegalese striker being targeted by the Atletico players trying to get him sent off for a second yellow – this would have been a perfect night for the Reds.

 

Starting with Kostas Tsimikas in for Andy Robertson, Joel Matip for Ibrahim Konaté, Fabinho Tavares returning for Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeping out Curtis Jones, Liverpool saw off a good start from the Spanish champions to go one-up after seven minutes with tidy play down the right from Mo Salah and Jordan Henderson who knocked the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold who crossed with deadly intent for Diogo Jota to dive onto the ball from six yards out and knock it into the back of net with his head.

 

Liverpool never looked back and, after 13 minutes, a shot come cross from Alexander-Arnold was sharply latched onto in the area by the irrepressible Mané who slammed the ball into the back of the net. 

 

Immediate thoughts were that this is exactly what happened in Madrid two weeks ago, when a dominant Liverpool went up two nil only for Madrid to respond with two quick goals of their own. That game only turned back in the Reds’ favour when Antoine Griezmann was sent off for violent play, allowing Liverpool to go on and win the game with a Salah penalty.

 

This time, it was Felilpe who was dismissed, on 37 minutes, for violent play, hacking Mané as he sprinted into the Atletico half after a corner had broken down. 

 

There was confusion as to whether Dutch referee Danny Makkelie had shown red not just for the challenge but also for Felipe’s dissent – refusing to acknowledge Makkelie as he commanded him to come towards him for a dressing down; but such was the cynicism and force of the foul that a straight red for that act alone was justified.

 

In the first twenty minutes of the second half, Liverpool’s dominance was such that they appeared able to score from every advance towards the Atletico goal. Chance after chance was created. Tsimikas’ delivery was particularly threatening. Every time he was on the ball you expected something to happen, and the game only died down when Luis Suarez’ defected goal was disallowed for offside – thwarting any chance the Spanish side had of getting back into the game – and Diego Simeone decided that this wasn’t going to be his side’s night and the best thing to do would be to prevent a thrashing.

 

Defenders were sent on and Liverpool, too, took their foot off the gas, deciding that there was no need for extra exertion. Divock Origi and Taki Minamino were given a runout, and Thiago Alcantara was a welcome returnee after a month out, even if he made a bad error on the halfway line, losing the ball and allowing Herrera to go through for a shot, which he should have done better with and had he done so would’ve made for an uncomfortable last 15 minutes for the Reds. 

 

The injury to Firmino will have antagonised Klopp, but he will have been heartened by the performances of Tsimikas – whose good defensive work matched to his Alexander Arnold threat going forward must surely put pressure on Robertson – while Oxlade-Chamberlain put in a strong and purposeful performance.

 

Next up for Liverpool is a Premier League game with David Moyes’ in-form West Ham United, currently fourth in the table and flying in all the competitions they’re involved in. 

 

A good result for the Reds will mean that going into the international break, they would’ve got off to a more than promising start to the season and can look forward – despite draws not only against title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea but also against sides they would expect to be beating, i.e. Brentford and Brighton – to getting their teeth stuck into all competitions.

Liverpool come away with win from Atletico Madrid cauldron

A crazy third Champions League game for Liverpool away against Atletico Madrid saw the Reds maintain their 100 percent winning start to the campaign, defeating the Spanish champions 3-2 and, given results elsewhere in the group, putting Jurgen Klopp’s men on the verge of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

The Reds were two up after 13 minutes with goals from Mo Salah and Naby Keita. Salah went on a snaking run across the 18 yard box looking for a shooting angle and when he found one unleashing a strike that took a small deflection off Kondogbia, which was enough to wrong foot Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal, and find its way into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, a poor defensive clearance from a Trent Alexander Arnold cross fell to Keita on the edge of the area and, just like his goal against Crystal Palace earlier in the season, the Guinean connected with a looping volley that gave Oblak no chance.

A comfortable night could have been expected, but what followed was anything but.

Keita, having made a great impression with his goal, then showed why his Liverpool career has never really taken off, with some shocking defensive play, not once – when he allowed Koke to breeze past him on the goal line to cross the ball for Antoine Griezman to strike home; but twice – when he allowed Joao Felix to dance past him without significant challenge to play in Griezmann to strike underneath Alisson Becker to square the game.

At this point, Atletico were on top and Liverpool’s failings against the better teams they’ve played this season, such as Manchester City and Chelsea, where Liverpool were lucky to come away with draws, seemed to point to serious deficiencies in the Reds’ make up that might come back to haunt them as they go for the Premier League and Champions League titles.

At half-time, Klopp made the necessary change – bringing on Fabinho for Keita (whose long-term Liverpool career must now be in doubt) – and even though Atletico were still the better team, it was a catastrophic error from their goalscorer, kicking Roberto Firmino in the head as the Liverpool striker went to head the ball clear in the Liverpool third, earning Griezmann a deserved red card, that changed the game.

Liverpool retook control and had to keep their emotions in check as the referee, despite making the right decision to send Griezmann off, berated by the Atletico players and their hyper-excitable manager Diego Simeone on the touchline, looked to even things up by sending off a Liverpool player. James Milner was given a yellow card for a challenge on Kieran Trippier, which was barely a foul, which had Atletico players baying for a red.

Still, the referee showed composure when another mad Atletico moment occurred, when a hopeful up and under from Alexander Arnold bounced in the opposition area and Mario Hermosa made the lunatic decision to charge into Diego Jota – who’d come on for Sadio Mané – and give away a clear penalty. Salah cooly stepped up to send Oblak the wrong way and give Liverpool the lead again.

There was still time for more drama, when the referee awarded the Spanish side a penalty when Jose Maria Jimenez went down under the mildest of nudges from Jota. VAR advised the official to go to the pitch side monitor to take another look and, rightly, the referee determined that the contact was minor and certainly not enough for Giminez to go over in the way he did.

The referee’s change of mind deflated Atletico and Liverpool held on comfortably for the rest of the game, their win putting them on nine points, five ahead of Atletico and Porto, who beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the group’s other match.

Next up for Liverpool is an away game against arch-rivals Manchester United, who have been struggling under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so the Reds will fancy their chances of coming away from Old Trafford with a victory.

Liverpool thrash Porto to top Champions League group

Liverpool couldn’t have asked for a more comfortable Champions League evening as they crushed Porto 5-1 in the Estadio do Dragao and put themselves on six points after two games in Group B, labelled the group of death – but not proving so for the Reds – given the strength of teams involved, Atletico Madrid beat AC Milan 2-1 in the other game tonight, Luis Suarez scoring a last-minute penalty to secure the win for the Spanish champions.

Jurgen Klopp played the same 11 that drew against Brentford on Saturday, a surprise given that Liverpool have a giant game coming up at the weekend against title rivals Manchester City, except that Trent Alexander Arnold was replaced at right-back by James Milner after the former went down yesterday with a groin injury. 

Speaking before the Porto game, Klopp seemed to imply that Trent wouldn’t be available for Sunday’s game, which might take away from Liverpool’s offensive play, but given the torrid time Raheem Sterling has subjected the Reds left-back to in recent matches between the two clubs, having Milner or Joe Gomez – who came on for Milner after 64 minutes – in that position might provide extra defensive solidity for the Merseysiders.

Indeed, in his early part of his time at Liverpool, in the big games, Klopp was prone to leaving Trent out and playing Gomez in his place. Later, the Reds manager decided that Trent’s attacking play was so vital that it was worth taking the risk with his defensive deficiencies.

As for tonight’s game, Liverpool took control after 10 minutes and on 18 minutes Curtis Jones – tonight’s man-of-the-match, with four assists – picked up the ball on the Porto left, drove into the box, let off a curling shot which keeper Diogo Costa weakly parried into the centre of the goal and Mo Salah nipped in ahead of the defender to poke the ball home.

The goal provoked no reaction from Porto. Liverpool continued to dominate and on 45 minutes deservedly scored a second when Milner’s low cross from the Liverpool right again prompted indecisive keeping from Costa, who let the ball skid right across his area where Sadio Mané was waiting for a tap in.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Porto not able to lay a finger on Liverpool, who created and squandered chances, with Diogo Jota being particularly profligate. Inevitably, on 60 minutes, the Reds scored a third. Again, Curtis Jones was heavily involved, winning the ball in his own half then driving towards the Porto goal where he calmly found the free Salah, who swept the ball passed the advancing keeper.

The game seemed to be over and Klopp rang the changes, bringing on Gomez for Milner, Roberto Firmino for Salah and Taki Minamino for Mané. Unfortunately, the substitutions seemed to disrupt Liverpool and on 74 minutes Porto scored a fine goal after Vieira crossed from the Porto right and Taremi twisted his neck to get his forehead on the ball and power it passed Alisson Becker.

For a couple of minutes, it seemed that Porto had the momentum to stage a comeback; but then a hopeful long ball from Jones found Firmino 30 yards out and with Costa inexplicably rushing out of his area, Liverpool's Brazilian striker slid the ball into the open goal.

Four minutes later, a Jones volley from the edge of the area ricocheted after a Porto defender into the path of Firmino, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, scoring his second and Liverpool’s fifth.

Reds start Champions League campaign with nervy win

 

A win for Liverpool in their opening game in the Champions League Group of Death against Milan at Anfield, but the three points shouldn’t mask some worrying traits in the game that don’t augur well for the rest of the season in this tournament and in the Premier League.

Manager Jurgen Klopp made a number of significant changes in the lineup, dropping Sadio Mané for Divock Origi, who impressed before going off injured, bringing in Joe Gomez for Virgil van Dijk at centre half, Henderson for Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita for the long-term absentee Harvey Elliott. Kostas Tsimikas can count himself unlucky not to start ahead of Andy Robertson, the Greek international having shown in the first two games of the season against Norwich and Burnley that he’s a more than a competent deputy for Scotland’s captain.

The changes looked justified in the first half hour of the game as Liverpool completely dominated their Italian opponents, going one up after nine minutes when a shot from the edge of the area from Trent Alexander Arnold defected off Fikayo Tomori and ended in the back of the net.

Liverpool’s dominance should have been rewarded further when they were awarded a penalty for handball, but Mo Salah’s weak effort was easily saved by Mike Maignan and the Reds’ seemed to lose momentum.

Still, no one could foresee what transpired in the last five minutes of the half, when Milan, having barely crossed into Liverpool’s half, with two attacks down the right, which exposed once again Alexander Arnold’s defensive deficiencies, particularly when he doesn’t have van Dijk to protect him, scored two goals, the first by Ante Rebic, the second from Brahim Diaz, making a mockery of all Liverpool’s efforts in the first half.

The second half got underway with Milan on the front foot and a clever corner saw Theo Hernandez prod the ball passed Alisson Becker, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside to save Liverpool the humiliation of going down 3-1.

Having been saved by the offside flag at one end, it looked like Salah’s clever finish from a smart chip from Origi would also fall victim to the linesman’s flag, with the Egyptian striker mutedly celebrating as VAR checked to see that the official had made the right non-decision. He had, the goal stood.

Relieved that they were still in the game, Liverpool upped the ante and put Milan under intolerable pressure. Thus, on 69 minutes a corner from Alexander Arnold fell to Jordan Henderson on the edge of the box and his controlled strike skated passed the Milan keeper to put the Reds ahead again.

James Milner, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Thiago and Curtis Jones all came on to see out the game and there were few serious scares and Liverpool even found themselves in a couple of promising positions to put the tie to bed, but both Jones and Mané – who had come on for Origi and whose cameo was another frustrating exercise – weren’t decisive enough to take advantage of the situation. 

 

The next two games in the group are away to Porto and then away to Atletico Madrid, both will undoubtedly be tougher games for Liverpool and they’ll have to be a lot better defensively to come through them unscathed. It’s hard to imagine that van Dijk will start these crucial matches on the bench.

Reds not good enough to overcome Madrid

A frustrating exit from the Champions League after Real Madrid managed to hold off without too many complications any suggestion of a Liverpool fight back.

Liverpool threatened in five-minute spells creating a chance here, a chance there, but never looked like upsetting the Spanish giants.

Mo Salah squandered Liverpool’s best chances and there was no better chance than the one that came to him after two minutes, when he found himself on the penalty spot with just Thibaut Courtois to beat. Nine times out of ten, you would have fancied the Egyptian to score – especially with the ball on his left foot – but a tame effort came off the Madrid keeper’s left foot and went to safety.

It felt like a massive moment in the game. Divock Origi’s early goal in the Barcelona semi two years ago put the frighteners up the Catalans and gave Liverpool the momentum to go on and perform a miracle; but this time there was no such turning point and Madrid instead of suffering a psychological blow were boosted and put themselves in a position to take the sting out of the game, which they did, more or less, for the rest of the first half.

James Milner – captaining the side tonight – had a curling shot saved with a strong hand by Courtois; Wijnaldum and, again, Salah, shot over the bar from inside the box – good chances, which Liverpool needed to take.

Madrid rarely threatened to score an away goal that would’ve put the tie even further beyond Liverpool’s reach, though Karim Benzema’s deflected shot did hit the post.

Liverpool started the second half as they started the first, on the front foot, and created good chances, this time it was Roberto Firmino who found himself in the area but his fierce shot was straight at Courtois, who parried comfortably. Further chances fell to Salah but there was hesitancy and anxiety in his finishing – as there has been all season with Liverpool’s strikers – and no breakthrough accrued.

Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara came on after 60 minutes for Ozan Kabak – Fabinho dropped into defence – and Milner; but neither managed to affect the game. Jota had one chance deflected behind, while Thiago gave the ball away or overhit his passes too many times. Unfortunately, the Spanish midfielder in his first season with the Reds, has flattered to deceive and his omission from the starting 11 in such a big game speaks volumes for his indifferent form since arriving.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri came on for Firmino and Sadio Mané with 10 minutes to go, but made no impact and the game fizzled out, Madrid looking in control, to a goalless draw and Madrid going through to the semis having won 3-1 in the first leg.

Liverpool’s season has only seven games to go, all in the Premier League, with the aim being to finish in the top four. The Reds face Leeds United on Monday.

Abject Reds on verge of Champions League exit

 

If England boss Gareth Southgate wanted to make a presentation as to why he dropped Trent Alexander Arnold from his last squad, eliciting much criticism, he would show the video of the Liverpool right-back’s abject performance against Real Madrid in the first leg of Champions League quarter-final.

It was perhaps one of the worst defensive displays ever given by a professional footballer and reminded us of why Jurgen Klopp when he first came to Liverpool refused to play Alexander Arnold in the big games and preferred instead to start with Joe Gomez or James Milner.

Alexander Arnold was at fault for all three Madrid goals – particularly the second – where, inexplicably, he headed the ball into the path of Asensio to score – and the third, when he failed to track the movement of Vinicius Junior in the box allowing the Brazilian to latch onto a pass from Luka Modric and squeeze the ball passed Allison Becker, who should have done better to keep it out.

Usually, Alexander Arnold’s defensive ineptitude is forgiven by his dangerous attacking play, but against Real Madrid so horrible was his defensive display that it seemed to affect all aspects of his game and even his mentality suffered, which descended into petulance.

Ultimately, Klopp will have to make a decision about what to do about the right-back position. He cannot continue to play Alexander Arnold there. He is costing Liverpool goal after goal, game after game. Southgate is not an idiot.

But before Klopp makes a decision about Alexander Arnold, he will need to justify why he persists with Naby Keita and, in particular, why he picked him tonight over Thiago Alcantara.

Keita has had an undistinguished Liverpool career, admittedly blighted by frequent injury, and has at no point suggested he is capable of making the difference at the highest level.

Thiago, on the other hand, while having an indifferent start in a Reds shirt, with Fabinho returning to anchor the midfield, has begun to look like the classy player who can control a game Liverpool bought him for. The fact that Klopp hastily took off Keita on 41 minutes, when Madrid were threatening to add to the two goals they’d already scored, replacing him with Thiago, tells us that Klopp knew he had made a mistake.

Klopp is capable of making these catastrophic mistakes. We recall his insistence on playing Lorius Karius ahead of Simon Mignolet when it was obvious from the start that Karius was a calamitous keeper who was going to cost his team sooner or later; and we recall how Liverpool’s season had to implode before the manager realised that playing midfielders at centre back was destroying the team.

Liverpool’s best player on the night was Gini Wijnaldum and it seems another oversight on the Reds’ part not to have tied the Dutchman down to an extended contract and forcing him to look elsewhere to continue his career.

Real Madrid ended up winning 3-1 and the truth is they were so dominant that they will feel disappointed not to have put the tie to bed, allowing Liverpool a 10-minute period at the start of the second half in which they threatened and Mo Salah scored a scrappy goal that gives the Reds a glimmer of hope for next week’s return at Anfield, even if it's difficult to see how Liverpool can go so quickly from an awful performance to a magical one, especially without 50,000 fans there to make a difference.

Trent chopped by England, Reds face Real Madrid in Champions League quarters

A weekend off for Liverpool after their important win last Monday against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, which just about keeps them in the hunt for fourth spot and qualification for the Champions League next season.

There were, however, a couple of newsworthy stories that developed concerning the Reds.

First was Thursday’s announcement by England manager Gareth Southgate that he was omitting Trent Alexander Arnold for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland, citing a recent drop off in form from the Liverpool right-back. Ahead of Alexander Arnold, Southgate chose Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, Chelsea’s Reece James and Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier.

Many expressed shock, surprise, even anger that the England supremo had decided to overlook the Liverpool star; but there is no doubt that one of the reasons for the Reds’ disastrous Premier League form in 2021 has been Alexander Arnold’s failure to improve his defensive play in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, who in the past have all been able to cover for Alexander Arnold’s license to play adventurously and defensive inadequacies.

Now, given that Southgate’s England do not play Liverpool-style rock and roll football and their centre halves – Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, John Stones and Tyrone Mings – are nowhere near in the same class as Liverpool’s and nowhere near good enough to protect their right-back when he goes wandering or doesn’t fulfil his defensive responsibilities, then Southgate’s decision looks quite rational.

On Friday, the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League was made and Liverpool came out with a good tie against Real Madrid, with the away game to be played on 6 April and the return leg on 14 April.

Most of the talk after the draw was of Liverpool being given the opportunity to redeem themselves against the Spanish giants for the humiliating defeat they handed the Reds in the final of the competition in 2018, and in particular the chance for Mohammed Salah to exact revenge on Sergio Ramos for the challenge that ended the Egyptian’s game early and set the tone for the calamities that were to come for Liverpool that fateful night.

The truth is, however, that Ramos’ grappling move wasn’t as diabolical as some made out and Salah was just unlucky in the way he fell on his shoulder. The loss to Madrid was a consequence of perhaps the worst goalkeeping display in modern football. Loris Karius was at fault for all three Real goals, including Gareth Bale’s overhead kick, which was in the centre of the goal and, inexplicably, Karius decided to watch into the net, as if mesmerised by Bale’s athleticism and audacity, rather than making the decision to make a straightforward save.

Real Madrid are the last team from Spain left in the competition, giving an indication of the decline in quality of La Liga and, if this were the Liverpool of the last two years, you’d have to have the Reds as strong favourites to go through to the semi finals, where they would meet either Chelsea or Porto.

However, Liverpool have been atrocious these last three months and even their victories in this period have not suggested that the old Liverpool is back. Indeed, how confident can anyone be that Liverpool will progress with their fifth and sixth choice centre backs – Ozan Kabak and Nat Philipps – likely to come up against Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior? But better Real Madrid at this stage than Bayern Munich, PSG, Man City or Chelsea.

Reds cruise into Champions League quarter finals

 

No drama for the Reds tonight in the last 16 Champions League second leg tie with RB Leipzig, Liverpool repeating their 2-0 win in the first leg to finish with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Liverpool played with Fabinho in his customary No. 6 role, leaving Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak as the centre backs, and from the start this configuration looked far more comfortable with the Brazilian’s shielding of the defence and link up play as the Reds went forward reminding us all of the Liverpool of the last two seasons, when they won the Champions League and then the Premier League.

Liverpool had enough chances in the first half to put the game to bed, with Diogo Jota, in for the injured Roberto Firmino, finding himself in good positions on several occasions to open the scoring only to fluff his lines. His best chance fell on 45 minutes, when the ball broke to him on the edge of the six yard box, but with the goal gaping the Portuguese striker managed to shoot the ball the wrong side of the post.

The second half continued in the same vein, with RB Leipzig rarely threatening and Liverpool always looking the more likely; but the more the game went on the more concern grew that a goal from the Germans could turn the momentum – and there was a scare when a looping header from Alexander Sorlorth on the 67th minute hit the bar – only for all fears to end on the 71st minute when some classy combination play on the edge of the Leipzig area between Jota, Sadio Mané and Mo Salah ended with the Egyptian striker cutting in and stroking the ball into the corner of the goal.

Liverpool could relax and manager Jurgen Klopp brought on Divock Origi for Jota and Naby Keita for Thiago Alcantara and the two subs immediately combined on the 75th minute for Origi to send in a powerful curling cross from the right into the path of the oncoming Mané who couldn’t miss from two yards out. Game over.

Liverpool can now look forward to the draw for the quarter finals in 11 days time, with the first leg of the tie not due to be played for another month. By that time, it’s hoped Liverpool’s injury crisis would have eased and a clearer picture would have emerged of what part Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson might play for the rest of the season. These players will be needed if Liverpool are to progress deep into the Champions League competition, since it’s hard to see the Reds lifting the trophy with Phillips and Kabak as the centre-back partnership.

Liverpool dominate RB Leipzig and look set for Champions League quarter finals

A classic away European performance from Liverpool in neutral Budapest saw them come away from what was predicted to be a difficult tie against an in-form RB Leipzig, currently second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, with a two-nil win and one foot in the quarter finals of the Champions League.

Leipzig started both halves well and created chances that Alisson Becker, showing no signs of the dip in form that has badly cost Liverpool in Premier League matches against Leicester and Manchester City, dealt with in the way we’ve come to expect from the Brazilian goalkeeper.

These Leipzig forays weren’t sustained and in between Liverpool were comfortably the better side, the traditional front three of Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mané looking their old selves, sharp, hungry and in tune with each other. They gave the Leipzig back-line a torrid time, with the much-touted Dayot Upamecano – who Liverpool had been linked with as a solution to their defensive problems – looking particularly uncomfortable with the high press, struggling in possession and misplacing passes,

The breakthrough came on 53 minutes, when Marcel Sabitzer’s wayward pass fell into the path of Salah who, two perfect touches later, was in the opposition area where he waited for Peter Gulacsi to dive one way while he stroked the ball the other and Liverpool were one up.

Five minutes later, another Leipzig defensive nightmare in which Nordi Mukiele made a mess of a hopeful ball from Curtis Jones and Mané sprinted through for another one-on-one with Gulacsi. The Senegalese striker took his cue from Salah and in an identical finish cooly slotted past the onrushing keeper.

Liverpool controlled the remainder of the game, only giving up a chance at the very end when Leipzig’s South Korean sub Hwang Hee-Chan found himself through on the Liverpool goal only to squirt the ball past Allison and the Liverpool post.

The second leg is not due to be played at Anfield for another three weeks, and Liverpool can look forward to the game with confidence.

A two-nil advantage won’t be overturned unless the Reds put in one of the lethargic, error-strewn performances they’ve been putting in for the last six weeks. Hard to imagine this will be the case, especially when injured players, like Diogo Joto, Naby Keita, Fabinho, James Milner, should all be back, not only for the Champions League but for the Premier League run-in, where Liverpool now lie sixth, having been overtaken by Chelsea and West Ham after the London duo won Monday games, and where the campaign resumes at the weekend with the derby against Everton.

Liverpool have good reason to remember the Goodison game earlier in the season. Virgil Van Dijk suffered a grotesque long-term injury following a sickening and stupid challenge from Jordan Pickford; Thiago Alcantara was sidelined for two months after a shocking, out-of-control tackle from Richarlison – for which the Everton striker saw red; and Liverpool were denied a late winner from Mané after a perplexing VAR reversal.

Salah strikes early as Reds end Champions League group stage with draw

Mohamed Salah became Liverpool's record Champions League goalscorer as the Reds completed their group-stage campaign with a draw at Midtjylland.

Jurgen Klopp's side were already assured of top spot coming into the game and they began in perfect fashion as Egypt international Salah ran clear and poked home after just 55 seconds.

It was the quickest goal the team had scored in the Champions League and on a night of numerous records for the much-changed visitors, Salah's strike was his 22nd in the competition, surpassing club legend Steven Gerrard.

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Reds defeat Ajax to win Champions League group

 

Curtis Jones scored his first Champions League goal after a horrific goalkeeping mistake as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the last 16. 

Andre Onana misjudged the flight of Neco Williams' cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took advantage to score with the outside of his right foot. 

Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for first-choice keeper Alisson who was missing with a hamstring injury, also played his part in Liverpool's win, a tremendous stop to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the pick of his saves. 

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Jota scores hat-trick as Reds make easy work of Atalanta

 

In-form Diogo Jota scored a terrific hat-trick as Liverpool made a big Champions League statement of intent with a stunning win at Atalanta.

Jurgen Klopp's side have won all three Group D games without conceding a goal, and victory in one of their remaining fixtures should be enough to take them through to the knockout stages.

Portugal international Jota showed why he was given a start ahead of Roberto Firmino by scoring for a fourth consecutive game, dinking in a delightful opener before doubling the lead with a thumping strike at the near post.

He completed his triple in the second period, collecting Sadio Mane's pass before going round goalkeeper Marco Sportiello and slotting into an open net.

In between Jota's third, the Reds netted two quick-fire goals at the start of the second half as Mohamed Salah took full advantage of an exposed backline to run clear and curl home and Mane clipped in the fourth.

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Fabinho injury mars victory over FC Midtjylland

Liverpool moved two points clear at the top of Group D with victory over Champions League rookies FC Midtjylland on a night their defensive problems mounted with the loss of Fabinho to injury.

The Brazilian, who has slotted in alongside Joe Gomez in the centre of defence since the loss of Virgil van Dijk to a serious knee injury on 17 October, had to be replaced after suffering a suspected hamstring injury.

Starting without influential forwards Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Liverpool failed to register an attempt on target in the first half.

They broke the deadlock after Trent Alexander-Arnold played a neat one-two with Xherdan Shaqiri, the former teeing-up Diogo Jota to tap home in front of an empty Kop.

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Doubts raised over wisdom of allowing Champions League match to go ahead

At a packed Anfield on that floodlit night not two weeks ago, before anybody knew Liverpool’s tumultuous 3-2 defeat by Atlético Madrid would be England’s last major football match for a very long time, it was – in sporting terms – a privilege to be there. It was genuinely a great European night, at a ground and club whose very essence is celebrating great European nights, stretching back decades to Bill Shankly’s great rebuilding. That night, before Boris Johnson’s government finally decided “mass gatherings” were no longer so safe in the Covid-19 pandemic, dazzled visitors were as ever taking selfies by the statue of Shankly, with its winning inscription: “He made the people happy.”

Whether it was quite such a privilege to be there in health terms is a question a growing number of Liverpool supporters have been asking. If an inquiry is held in future into the government’s handling of this crisis, it must surely ask how a mega-event, bringing 54,000 people into the old atmospheric streets, pubs, bars, shops, chippies and stadium, with 3,000 from Madrid, was allowed to go ahead at that time.

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Liverpool knocked out of Champions League

The chance of winning back to back Champions League titles is over for Liverpool. The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League with a 3-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their round of 16 tie on Wednesday at Anfield.

After losing the first leg, 1-0, in Spain, Liverpool finished regulation of the second leg up 1-0 to force extra time. Atletico Madrid got two goals from substitute Marcos Llorente in the first period of extra time to advance 4-2 on aggregate and send the reigning champs packing in a stunning result.

The Reds were without superstar goalkeeper Alisson due to a hip injury, and backup Adrian struggled, giving away the first goal with a poor clearance before getting beat too easily on the second. On the other side, Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak was one of the heroes of the night, making a number of crucial saves to help his team move on.

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The miracle of Anfield: Liverpool's greatest ever comeback?

Reliving the miracle of Anfield: Liverpool 4 v 0 Barcelona