Obtuse Spurs thwart Liverpool title challenge

 

A strange topsy-turvy week for the Reds, making unnecessarily hard work of seeing off weak opposition standing in their way of a third Champions League final in five years, but eventually getting the job done, coming from two down to beat Villarreal 3-2 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate; then failing to pile pressure on Manchester City – who exited the Champions League the following evening in heartbreaking and exhausting fashion against Real Madrid – by putting in a below par performance against an obtuse Tottenham side, only managing a draw against the North Londoners.

In fact, Liverpool’s performance against Spurs was so nervous and rushed that the Reds were lucky to come away with a point.

Antonio Conte’s team held its own in the first half, soaking up Liverpool pressure without conceding many chances and taking the lead on 58 minutes after some smart play down the Liverpool right between Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon ended with Son Heung-Min tapping the ball into the Liverpool net from four yards out.

A fluke, deflected goal from a Luis Diaz shot put Liverpool level on 74 minutes but Tottenham – despite needing three points to challenge Arsenal for the fourth Champions League spot and looking like they had the wherewithal to overcome the Reds – resorted to feigning injury and other time-wasting tactics seemingly satisfied with the one point and thwarting Liverpool’s title challenge.

This self-defeating approach may have allowed Tottenham fans to gloat that they had a decisive impact on the destination of the league title but it will probably result in Spurs playing in the Europa League next season. Arsenal’s defeat of Leeds 2-1 today means the Gunners are now four points ahead of their bitterest rivals and they can go into next Thursday’s North London derby knowing they can afford to lose to Spurs and still be in command of their destiny in the fight for fourth.

As for Liverpool, dropping points to Tottenham would’ve revived Man City spirits as they looked to recover from the shock of being knocked out of the Champions League so dramatically by Real Madrid.

And, indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men took full advantage of Liverpool’s slip up yesterday by hammering Newcastle 5-0 at the Etihad, to go three points and four goals in goal difference ahead of Liverpool.

To win to the title, Jurgen Klopp’s men now require a small miracle, involving Man City dropping at least three points – in games against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa – and Liverpool winning the rest of their games, against Aston Villa, Southampton and Wolves. It looks unlikely, if not desperate.

Still, Liverpool have two finals to look forward to in their pursuit of silverware: the FA Cup final against an out-of-form Chelsea next Saturday at Wembley, while on the 28 May in Paris, Liverpool will play Real Madrid and hope to win their seventh European Cup and gain revenge for Los Blancos having humiliated Liverpool at the same stage in 2018.

Reds win again… so do City, as games start to run out in title race

 

Liverpool put in an impressive away performance against in-form and nouveau riche Newcastle to win 1-0 and keep the pressure on leaders Man City, due to play Leeds later in the day.

Newcastle disrupted Liverpool for the first 15 minutes of the game, pressing high, forcing mistakes and misplaced passes, casting doubt on Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make five changes from the side that beat Villarreal midweek in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, bringing in Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and James Milner, but once Liverpool got a grip of the game there only seemed to be one possible outcome.

Indeed, it was the back up players who starred for Liverpool today.

Joe Gomez coming in at right-back for Trent Alexander Arnold was particularly good, both defensively and going forward, as was the belligerent Milner – returning to one of his former clubs – and the enterprising and industrious Keita.

In fact, Milner and Keita were key players in Liverpool’s winning goal that came on 20 minutes.

A superb tackle from Milner on Fabian Schar in the last third – a challenge that had Newcastle players and fans screaming for a free kick that never was – saw the ball squirt out to Jordan Henderson who found an advancing Keita.

The Guinean international exchanged passes with Diogo Jota before calmly dummying and rounding the United keeper Martin Durbravka and thumping the ball into the net, passed the defending players on the line.

Before the break, Liverpool had chances to add to their tally,

Mané should have scored on a counter attack after being played in by Luis Diaz, while a cross from Henderson was met by Jota and his header was well saved by Dubravka,  Milner should’ve done better with a shot outside the area.

These squandered chances added to the nerves as one mistake, deflection or set piece could’ve pegged Liverpool back and ended their championship challenge.

On top of the nerves was a healthy dose of frustration as further chances for the Reds came and went, with Sadio Mané being particularly wasteful.

Still, Newcastle failed to seriously threaten Liverpool and Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal only had one (routine) save to make, from a Bruno Guimaraes shot from outside the area.

With the effort exerted by Klopp’s men and the nerves shredded by the fans, this felt like a significant win for Liverpool.

However, as the afternoon unfolded and Manchester City crushed a hopelessly average Leeds 4-0, the magnitude of the task of toppling the reigning champs became apparent.

Not only did City with their thumping of Leeds go back ahead of Liverpool at the top of the league by one point but they have also caught the Reds’ goal difference, which is now down to one.

Four games left for both City and Liverpool.

The Reds’ next league game is a tough looking home encounter with Spurs, while City play Newcastle at the Etihad.

After that, City have games to play against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa, while Liverpool will have games against Southampton, Wolves and Aston Villa.

It seems that only a freak result will deprive Pep Guardiola’s men of the points that might let Liverpool in, assuming Liverpool are able to take maximum points from their games.

Increasingly, it seems that Liverpool’s failure to take three points off City in the recent game at the Etihad – the game, which City should’ve won, ended 2-2 – will cost Liverpool the title.

There will be an opportunity for revenge in the Champions League final, assuming both sides get there. Liverpool have one foot in Paris and will hope to finish off the job against Villarreal on Tuesday while City, though favourites, will have a trickier game against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Even though City outplayed Real in the first leg and should’ve finished the tie there and then, sloppiness and Real relentless saw the game end 4-3 to City and the Spanish champions in with a chance to progress.

Origi cements legendary status with game-changing performance as Reds triumph in Merseyside derby

 

A shameless cynical game-plan from the Jose Mourinho playbook adopted by the Everton boss Frank Lampard and instilled into his relegation-threatened team may have frustrated Liverpool in the first half – absurd simulation, time-wasting, feigning injury – but, fortunately, for the integrity of football, it couldn’t be sustained into the second half and Jurgen Klopp’s men secured a 2-0 victory to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the league, only a point behind with five matches each left to play.

Still, it took a bold double substitution from the Liverpool gaffer on 60 minutes – not the first time this season that Klopp has made changes relatively early in the game to clinical effect – bringing on the sparsely-used Divock Origi for Sadio Mané and Luis Diaz for Naby Keita – to decisively turn the scrap in the Reds’ favour.

Within two minutes of the changes, Mo Salah played a clever one-two with Origi in the Everton box before the Egyptian king clipped the ball to the far post, just over Diogo Jota but right onto the head of the onrushing Andy Roberston – Liverpool’s man of the match and player of the season – who bulleted the ball into the back of the net.

Apart from a shot outside of the area from Demarai Gray that whistled past the post, a good run to the byline from Dele Alli, whose cross was superbly intercepted from the retreating and ever-alert Robertson, and another Anthony Gordon dive in the box (the Everton striker was booked for a similar piece of theatricality in the first half), Everton didn’t look like or deserve to get themselves back into the game.

Nevertheless, these nervy moments for Liverpool were only allayed in the 85th minute when another chip to the far post, this time from Jordan Henderson, a sub for Jota, was met acrobatically from the hugely impressive Diaz and his scissors kick bounced into the path of Origi four yards out and he firmly met the ball with his forehead and lodged it into the top of the net.

Another vital and iconic goal for Origi, who it seems will leave for Inter Milan on a free in the summer, but will end his Anfield career as a fans’ favourite, a cult hero, an all-time Liverpool great.

Next up for Liverpool, in what will be two games a week until the end of the season, is the Champions League semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday against Villarreal.

Annoyingly for Klopp – who failed to get the timing of the match changed – Liverpool will then face in-form Newcastle away Saturday lunchtime.

It will be remarkable if Liverpool manage to claim a victory against the transformed Magpies, but a victory is what they will need if they are not to give any advantage to Manchester City, who easily overcame Watford 5-1 yesterday and play another weak opponent in Leeds after Liverpool’s game.

The quadruple remains on for Liverpool but it is the tallest of orders.

Realistically, the Reds’ best chances to add to the League Cup is in the other cup competitions they remain active in – the FA Cup (where they play Chelsea in the final) and the Champions League (where a final against Manchester City is likely).

The Premier League title to all intents and purposes requires not only that Liverpool win all their remaining fixtures but that Man City slip up.

It’s not impossible, but the Blues’ run-in is far more straightforward than Liverpool’s and Pep Guadiola’s side’s ability to steamroller weaker teams is undiminished.

Liverpool crush Man United to go top of the league

 

Liverpool followed their 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season with another devastating and, at times, arrogant and contemptuous display to brush their historic rivals aside 4-0 to go top of the league table by two points ahead of Manchester City’s home game against Brighton on Wednesday night.

It’s hard to believe how far ahead of Manchester United in terms of quality Liverpool are. The scoreline could have been anything Liverpool wanted had the Reds, after having gone two up after 22 minutes, didn’t relax and feel so comfortable that they seemed to want to show off their superiority and toy with Manchester United rather than put them to the sword.

Thiago Alcantara was magical in midfield. Audible gasps could be heard from the Liverpool faithful at some of his passing. How did he see that angle? How did he execute that pass with such laser-like accuracy? And his passing wasn’t just clever, it was also incisive, catching the opponents by surprise and creating great attacking opportunities. It was perhaps Thiago’s best game for the Reds and he easily won man of the match.

The rout began after five minutes with a chip from Sadio Mané that found Mo Salah in acres of space down the right and his firm accurate cross cut out the retreating Man Utd defence and fell into the path of Luis Diaz who couldn’t miss from four yards out.

Having assisted the first goal, Salah broke his six-game goal drought finishing off an extended piece of superb team play and passing that ended with Joel Matip, finding himself in the number 10 position, playing an incisive pass to Mané on the edge of the area and his exquisite round-the-corner pass fell into the path of Salah and the Egyptian king controlled the ball with one touch then finished with aplomb passed David de Gea.

Salah’s excellent performance will have quietened all those who’ve been saying that since his disappointments with the Egyptian national side – losing in the Afcon final to Senegal and to the same team in the World Cup qualifying playoff – his form for Liverpool has dipped. Yet anyone who saw how strong, fit and engaged Salah was in the FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City last Saturday would have realised that there was nothing wrong with the Egyptian striker and his goal-scoring touch would return sooner rather than later – which it did today and in spectacular fashion.

Manchester United changed formation at half-time, with Ralf Rangnick abandoning the five at the back and taking off Phil Jones for a more conventional 4-4-2 with Jordan Sancho coming on on the left.

And, indeed, Sancho was at the epicentre of a modest Manchester United revival – and a drop off in Liverpool’s play as their strategy of controlling the game seemed to lead to too much caution, sloppiness in possession and a deterioration in mental sharpness – and fear crept in that rather like Manchester City in the cup Liverpool, having appeared to have won the game, would unnecessarily let the opposition back in.

But Manchester United are not Manchester City and the Red Devils couldn’t take advantage of their 25-minute stronger spell at the beginning of the second half and Liverpool’s deceleration and on 68 minutes Jurgen Klopp’s men finished the game off after Andy Robertson drove into the United half, laid the ball off to Luis Diaz on the the edge of the United area and the Colombian superbly found Mané level with the penalty spot and the Senegalese striker stroked the ball with his left foot into the far post corner passed the outstretched hand of the United keeper.

To prove to his doubters that he was well and truly back to his best, Salah completed the rout on 85 minutes after Diogo Jota – on for Luis Diaz – found Salah in the area and seeing off a challenge from Aaron Wan-Bissaka managed to lift the ball over de Gea and into the back of the net.

Having drawn 3-3 with Benfica and taken the tie 6-4 and secured their place in the Champions League semi-final, which will be played against Villarreal, and earned a place in the FA Cup final (against Chelsea) after seeing off Manchester City, Liverpool have had a spectacular week.

It could get better if Brighton – who have beaten Spurs and Arsenal in their last two games – pull off an unlikely result against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad tomorrow and Liverpool deal with struggling Everton as they should in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool scrape City draw to hang in title race

Having completely outperformed Liverpool in the first half, holding their nerve, composure, playing the game and the football they would’ve wanted and are used to playing, reigning champs Manchester City will have been disappointed to go in to the changing rooms only leading their challengers 2-1 when a true reflection of the Blues’ domination would’ve seen them ahead by two or three goals and the contest – and the title – out of sight.

Still, Liverpool, rattled, playing poorly, with their most reliable players – Alisson Becker and Fabinho – looking particularly ropy, hung in there, doing what they’ve been doing since the New Year, which is rely on determination, willpower and having the gumption to take chances when they present themselves.

Thus, City having gone ahead after five minutes – a deflected Kevin De Bruyne shot bouncing wickedly off the surface and giving Alisson no chance – were pegged back within seven minutes after some superb build up play, involving Thiago Alcantara, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, concluded with the Reds’ right-back on the City goal line knocking the ball back into the path of Diogo Jota who scuffed his shot but still managed to squeeze it underneath Ederson, who may be disappointed he didn’t manage to keep it out.

Reds’ fans must have hoped that equalising so soon after going behind would’ve settled Liverpool, but this wasn’t the case. Rather, Reds’ play continued to be slack and wayward as Manchester City cut through the Liverpool defence at will, with cross-field passes and through balls, looking permanently dangerous and superior to their opponents.

It seemed only a matter of time before the league leaders restored their lead and, indeed, on 36 minutes, a cross from the City left by Joao Cancelo caught Alexander-Arnold, finding himself in the left-back position, off guard and Gabriel Jesus snuck in to knock the ball over the advancing Alisson into the roof of the net.

It was no more than City deserved and Liverpool could have no complaints going into half time behind.

Liverpool’s resilience and good fortune were rewarded within the first minute of the second half when good play down the right between Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson ended with a sublime little pass from Mo Salah into the path of Sadio Mané, who firmly clipped the ball over the City stopper.

For the next 10 minutes, Liverpool were in the ascendancy and looked as if they had enough to overwhelm City going forward. But it was City who scored the next goal, Raheem Sterling, having been put through by man-of-the-match De Bruyne, tucked the ball under Alisson. Fortunately for Liverpool, a VAR review found the City striker was marginally offside when he received the pass and the goal was ruled out.

Substitutions, fouls and nerves conspired to put a dampener on the game for the last 20-25 minutes with neither side managing to maintain sufficient pressure to break down the other team.

The best chance was the game’s last, after Riyad Mahrez was put through, again by De Bruyne. The Algerian went for a chip over Alisson but got too much on the ball, which went sailing over the bar.

Liverpool will be relieved not to have lost the game, even if their need to win was greater, given that they were a point behind City at the start of the day. Conversely, City will be upset that having been the better side, created the better chances, they weren’t able to win this game and take a firm grip on the title.

Still, with seven games to go in the league, City have the easier run-in, which must make them favourites to go on and retain their title. On today’s performances, it will be deserved. Liverpool have been on an extraordinary run to get back in the chase but fell short today when it really mattered.

Next Saturday, the two sides meet again in the FA Cup semi-final and Liverpool will look to play better and have to play to better to progress to the final.

Before that matchup, Liverpool have the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Benfica to contend with, though they do go into it as heavy favourites, having won the first game 3-1.

LIverpool defeat Watford to keep pace with title rivals

This match against Watford coming after a two-week international break with Liverpool players only just arriving back to the UK from all corners of the world, many having experienced the emotional highs of lows of World Cup qualification – notably Sadio Mané for Senegal and Mo Salah for Egypt – and starting at 12:30 lunchtime, when players and crowd traditionally find it hard to rouse themselves, had all the potential for a banana skin for the Reds.

This was even more true given that Watford – in desperate trouble at the bottom of the league and needing to fight for every point – under the management of veteran Roy Hodgson, replacing the hapless Claudio Ranieri in January, have shown good signs of revival. Well organised, aggressive, trusting in the system, Watford proved their quality in their last outing, defeating Southampton away 2-1.

Indeed, the game unfolded as predicted, with Liverpool weary and Watford looking comfortable at the back and threatening on the break.

Yet again the decisive moment of the game came with a terrific trademark save from Alisson Becker, blocking one on one as Juraj Kucka bore down on goal, which was immediately followed by Liverpool going up the other end of the pitch and scoring.

On 23 minutes, found by Jordan Henderson on the right, Joe Gomez, playing instead of the hamstrung Trent Alexander Arnold, put in a pacy, accurate cross that the usual right-back would have been proud of, onto the run of Diogo Jota, whose glancing header ended up in the corner of the net.

In the past, Liverpool, both home and away, have scored hatfuls of goals against Watford but this was never going to be the case today. Despite Jota’s goal, the Reds were restricted to long-range shots – from Jota and Curtis Jones (in for Fabinho) – that invariably went way over the bar and set-piece headers off-target.

The second half saw, on the hour, Fabinho come on for Jones – who did well in places but was frustrating elsewhere – and Liverpool have control of the game without being able to finish Watford off.

Another chance came Watford’s way to equalise when Joao Pedro found himself through on goal only to screw the ball just past the far post when he should have scored. Drawing level would not have flattered Watford.

Not even the introduction, in place of the lacklustre Salah, of Mané, rested after his heroics midweek for Senegal, scoring the winning penalty to take his country to the World Cup ahead of Egypt – the West Africans, again, overcoming the North Africans in a major encounter, having defeated them in the Africa Cup of Nations final – gave Liverpool the impetus to put the game to bed.

Indeed, it was only a fortunate penalty decision in the 89th minute that calmed Red nerves, Kucka wrestling Jota to the ground off the ball at a corner, the referee only giving the spot kick on the advice of the VAR.

With Salah off, Fabinho stepped up and took the perfect penalty, high to Ben Foster’s right in the top corner of the net to secure the victory.

The win temporarily put Liverpool top of the table, a point ahead of Manchester City, playing lowly Burnley in a 3:00 pm kickoff. The reigning champions did what they had to do, defeating the Clarets 2-0 to retake top spot and setting up next weekend’s home clash against Liverpool, the outcome of which will go some way to telling us who will end up as Premier League winners.

Liverpool pass Arsenal test with flying colours

With Manchester City having dropped two points in a scoreless draw against a good Crystal Palace side on Monday night, Liverpool went into the game with Arsenal two days later with the chance to close to within one point of the league leaders.

An enormous night, therefore, for the Reds at the Emirates against one of the league’s in-form outfits that has seen the Gunners rise to fourth and the last, coveted Champions League spot.

Of the 10 league games left in their season, after the Man City clash due on 10 April, this was seen by many as the most difficult challenge facing Liverpool, the one where we would find out the seriousness of the Reds’ title aspirations.

And, indeed, in the first half the magnitude of the occasion seemed to have got to Liverpool, who were nervous, passive and intimidated by Arsenal’s energy and the passion of the home crowd, which, after years of seeing their side in the doldrums, are now optimistic that the successful Wengerian years are on the way back.

Yet, for all Arsenal’s good play in the first half, their chances were few and far between and they had no shots on target. Still, the Gunners seemed more likely to score than Liverpool, for whom the half-crocked Mo Salah, their top goalscorer, only started on the bench. It was a relief for Liverpool to go in at the break with the scores level. Surely, Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t allow his players to get away with similar levels of performance in the second period?

And, indeed, within a minute of the restart, Sadio Mané, latching onto a through ball from Jordan Henderson, slid the ball passed Aaron Ramsdale into the Arsenal goal, only for the linesman to correctly judge the Senegalese striker offside.

The game turned decisively in the 50th minute. A terrible back pass from Thiago Alcantara – Klopp excused the Spaniard after the game by suggesting the skilful midfielder simply couldn’t tolerate to clear the ball haphazardly and was always looking for a team-mate – found itself not at the feet of Alisson Becker but Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker laid the ball to Martin Odegaard, who blasted it goal-wards only for Alisson to make a brilliant block that sent the ball over the bar.

Klopp had seen enough and prepared to bring on Salah and Roberto Firmino.

In the meantime, the lucky Thiago threaded the ball through the eye of a needle into the path of Diogo Jota in the Arsenal area. Despite being wide, the Portuguese got off a hopeful shot, which squeezed passed Ramsdale, not covering his near post properly, to put Liverpool one up.

It was Jota’s last action. Having made a decisive contribution he was, along with Luis Diaz, hooked.

Again, Klopp’s prompt substitutions were just what was required. A goal in front and with Salah and Firmino on – reviving the classic Salah, Firmino, Mané upfront triumvirate – Liverpool never looked back and took complete control of the game.

A second goal came seven minutes later. Great pressing from Firmino ended with Salah and then Andy Robertson having shots blocked by a desperate Arsenal defence.

The industrious Robertson chased his block to the touchline and retrieved the ball after Bukayo Saka had blasted it against him in a vain attempt at a clearance. The Scot dribbled to the goal line, crossed into the path of Firmino who brilliantly flicked the ball passed the despairing Ramsdale. At no point, thereafter, did Liverpool’s lead look in jeopardy, nor did they press significantly for a third goal. The last half hour of the game was, as Liverpool would have wanted, a tame affair.

Next up for Liverpool is an FA Cup quarter final clash away at Championship high-flyers Nottingham Forest, who knocked out Arsenal and holders Leicester in previous rounds.

It won’t be an easy game but even with a Wembley semi-final spot on the line, Klopp is sure to make significant changes to the lineup.

An international break follows, then Liverpool are up against relegation-threatened Watford, a win or draw against the Hornets will put Liverpool on top of the table before Manchester City play against Burnley at Turf Moor.

Luis Diaz stars – and survives assault – as Reds overcome Seagulls

A strange and infuriating game at the Amex this lunchtime still saw Liverpool come away with 2-0 win and, despite 15 minutes of Brighton pressure at the start and 15 more of it at the end, deservedly so.

Indeed, it was Liverpool’s failure to convert command of the game into goals – and another incomprehensible VAR decision – that contributed to the agitation and anger Liverpool fans would have felt as proceedings unfolded.

This was a game Liverpool could’ve won by six or seven, so many were the chances and the openings that the Reds created but failed to take advantage of because of poor finishing or poor choices – Mo Salah and Sadio Mané being the main culprits.

At one point, Jurgen Klopp was shown from the touchline bellowing at Salah to ‘pass it’ as the Egyptian king bore down on goal and chose to attempt to slide the ball past Robert Sanchez rather than knock it across the six-yard box for Mané to tap in.

Mané himself was similarly guilty of selfish play, fluffing a shot from just inside the penalty area when an easy pass to Salah to his right would have been the better option.

Of the three strikers starting today, it was the new-signing, the Colombian Luis Diaz, who played most effectively, posing a constant threat with his pace and skill to Brighton’s defence and showing superb commitment in his pressing.

Indeed, it was Diaz, on 19 minutes, who was involved in the game’s defining moment.

Running onto a clever clipped pass from Joel Matip, the Colombian nodded the ball over the onrushing Brighton keeper into an empty net, Sanchez not only missing the ball by a mile but also clattering into Diaz and flooring the Liverpool 23 after catching him in the head with his thigh.

VAR checked for an offside – there was no question of that – and at Sanchez’s diabolical challenge.

While the speed of the incident might excuse referee Mike Dean and his linesman of missing the serious foul play, it was incomprehensible that VAR Stuart Atwell, who would have seen the crime a hundred times, and in slow motion, decided there was nothing untoward in Sanchez’s tackle.

Atwell will be perhaps the only person who saw the incident back who thought that way. There cannot have been all season a clearer example of a challenge endangering an opponent and no clearer example of a red card. Yet, nothing was given and Sanchez was allowed to stay on the field.

Football has a habit of exacerbating injustices. A player who should not have been on the pitch ends up scoring a late equaliser or winner and when, on 61 minutes, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Naby Keita’s shot was blocked by the raised hand of Yves Bissouma, it seemed that the football gods would further mock the Reds by allowing Sanchez to save the penalty.

Fortunately, Salah stepped up and smacked the ball down the middle past the sprawling Brighton keeper. Order was restored.

There were alarms for Liverpool later on and Alisson Becker had to be at his best to save from Danny Welbeck to keep Liverpool’s lead in tact.

Recently, the Reds have been sloppy while ahead, conceding goals to make the remainder of the game unnecessarily anxious.

This was the case midweek in the second leg of the last 16 Champions League tie against Inter Milan.

Two up from the first leg, Liverpool had several opportunities to completely put the tie to bed – Salah hitting the post twice when he should have scored – only for Lautaro Martinez to score a second half wonder goal out of nothing to give Inter hope and potentially change the momentum of the game.

It was lucky for Liverpool that a second yellow from the otherwise outstanding Alexis Sanchez almost immediately took the stuffing out of the Italian side and the Reds were able to hang on, without much trouble, to qualify for the quarter finals.

The next game for Liverpool is their game in hand against Manchester City. It’s Arsenal away on Wednesday.

Arsenal’s good form has seen them rise to fourth in the league and favourites to qualify for the Champions League. The Gunners should have beaten City when they visited the Emirates on New Year’s Day – some strange refereeing decisions let Pep Guardiola’s men off the hook – but were comfortably beaten 2-0 by the Reds in January in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi final.

Mané goal sees off West Ham to keep up Reds' title tilt

A nerve-wracking 1-0 win against West Ham keeps the pressure on league leaders Manchester City cutting their lead at the top to three points, with Pep Guardiola’s side set for a difficult fixture tomorrow against local rivals Manchester United.

Having made eight changes to the side that beat Norwich 2-1 in the FA cup fifth round midweek – only Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konaté and Jordan Henderson keeping their starting places – Liverpool started as if they were going to steamroller the Hammers, with Mo Salah having three good chances to open the scoring in the first 11 minutes.

The Egyptian king’s failure to convert reflected a frustrating evening for him as he found himself swarmed by defenders, obstructing his path to goal and when he did get to see the whites of Lukazs Fabianski’s eyes, superb blocking tackles and challenges thwarted the Reds’ number one striker.

Meanwhile, at the other end, the industrious, hulking Michail Antonio caused no end of problems to the Liverpool backline with his strength, persistence and unpredictable play. Alisson had to make several saves from the West Ham centre-forward to keep his side level.

Liverpool’s two best players were – again – their full backs, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander Arnold, the Reds' right-sided star claiming the assist for the winner on 27 minutes – the 66's mishit shot falling into the path of Sadio Mané who, barely onside, poked the ball home from four yards out.

The first half may have finished 1-0 to Liverpool but it could have seen the Reds three up or, paradoxically, West Ham going in for an orange and cup of tea with a comfortable lead.

This back and forth continued into the second half, but this time with West Ham creating more and better chances.

Not even the departure to a bad-looking injury of Liverpool target Jarrod Bowen on 53 minutes – to go with the absence through illness from the start of the Hammers’ most influential player, England midfielder Declan Rice – dented the threat to Liverpool.

Alisson continued to be called into action and in addition to the Brazilian’s heroics Liverpool relied on clearances off the line and last ditch challenges to keep their lead in tact.

As the contest wore on and Liverpool’s lead looked more and more precarious, the match was crying out for substitutions from Jurgen Klopp, to tighten up or finish off the game.

It was a surprise, therefore, that when a sub was brought on not that the replacement was Diogo Jota but that the man hauled off was Salah, who looked suitably disgusted when his number came up.

Indeed, if Salah is currently the best player in the world – i.e. is in the class of Messi and Ronaldo when they were at Barcelona and Real Madrid – then it’s hard to see why you’d want to take off such a talent.

The puzzlement at Klopp’s decision deepens when it’s borne in mind that Salah was having just as good – or bad – a game as Mané and that Luis Diaz’s second half performance was not as effective as his first.

Moreover Salah has a habit late in matches of punishing tiring defenders or teams that have over-committed looking to rescue the game.

Still, Liverpool held on, an awful miss in front of an open Reds goal from Manuel Lanzini notwithstanding, and move on to the second leg of their Champions League tie against an out-of-form Inter Milan.

Klopp’s men go into the game at Anfield 2-0 up and it will be interesting to see what changes, if any, the Reds boss will make to his usual starting lineup, bearing in mind that the next Premier League game will be a tricky trip to the south coast to play a Brighton side needing to recover from a dip in form.

Reds crush Leeds to go within three points of Man City

 

A remarkable result for Liverpool, which has put them in touching distance of league leaders Manchester City and has many pundits and Reds’ fans not only lauding the 6-0 mauling of Leeds but also suggesting that it is Jurgen Klopp’s men who now have the momentum to take them to title glory.

Yet, as strange as it sounds, 6-0, while seemingly reflecting a dominant, overwhelming performance from the home side, doesn’t reveal how complicated the game was for the Reds and how, once again, on this run of nine wins in a row, Liverpool’s loose play could easily have found them in trouble and led to a different outcome.

Thus, Leeds got off to a good start and posed a threat to the Liverpool defence – to which Klopp had restored Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander Arnold and Joel Matip to play alongside captain for the night Virgil van Dijk – and, indeed, on six minutes Marcelo Bielsa’s side should’ve had a penalty when Alisson Becker, tardy in clearing the ball with his feet, was suprised by the lurking Dan James.

In his anxiety to get rid, in his follow through, it seemed as if Becker had kicked James in the air.

If the Leeds striker had stayed down after Becker’s challenge, then the foul would have been obvious and a penalty the likely outcome; but James sprung to his feet desperate to get to the loose ball ahead of the covering Matip – the Liverpool defender getting their first and clearing successfully – and it was much harder for the officials, both onfield and VAR, to penalise the Brazilian stopper, deciding that there was more of a natural collision between two players going for the ball rather than something more untoward.

Next, Liverpool went ahead on 15 minutes with a fortuitous penalty.

Robertson’s cross from the left hit the arm of Stuart Dallas, who had instinctively twisted his head and body to block the ball as it came hurtling towards him. By the letter of the law, referee Michael Oliver had no alternative other than to give a penalty, but it was soft, with Dallas’s arm barely outside of the silhouette of his body – which is when a penalty is deemed to have been conceded.

Still, Mo Salah stepped up to confidently score his 18th league goal of the season and put Liverpool ahead.

Leeds’ luck was further out when on 27 minutes Raphinha appeared to have equalised after good play down the Liverpool right by Jack Harrison, who slid the ball across the six-yard area for a tap-in.

However, the Brazilian striker, in his enthusiasm to get himself in position to score, had lost concentration and needlessly strayed offside.

Three minutes later, Matip, having characteristically rampaged through the opposition lines, exchanged passes with Salah, before cleverly chipping over the advancing Illan Meslier to make it 2-0 to the Reds.

Another soft penalty on 33 minutes, this time after Sadio Mané, brilliantly put through on goal by Salah, losing control of the ball, cut across the chasing Luke Ayling, who inevitably – albeit barely – clipped the Liverpool forward, allowing the Egyptian king to make it three from the spot.

In the second half, Liverpool looked to conserve energy and take the sting out of any potential for a Leeds comeback.

Thus, it wasn’t until the 80th minute that the Reds added to the score, when substitute Jordan Henderson latched on to a poor clearance from Meslier, the Liverpool stalwart then running into the Leeds box, where he was brilliantly found with a reverse pass by the outstanding Salah, before crossing precisely for Mané to stroke the ball into the net.

Mané added a fifth in the 90th minute after Divock Origi, who’d come on for Luis Diaz, had his effort saved by Meslier, the ball kindly ricocheting to the Senegalese, who couldn’t miss from five yards out.

The rout was completed with the last play of the game after Robertson’s corner was met by the unmarked van Dijk with a thumping header that Melier had no chance of stopping.

In this way, Liverpool not only closed the gap to Man City to three points – with the two title contenders set to meet at the Etihad on 9 April – but also overtook Pep Guardiola’s side on goal difference. The Reds are +50 while City are +46.

Next up for Liverpool is a much-anticipated Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday.

The Reds have yet to win a domestic cup competition under Jurgen Klopp and despite struggling against Chelsea in both league games this season – drawing 1-1 at Anfield at 2-2 at Stamford Bridge – Thomas Tuchel’s side have shown indifferent form of late, which makes Liverpool slight favourites going into the game.

Thrilling victory over Norwich puts Liverpool back in title race

 

After Liverpool’s thrilling 3-1 home win against Norwich and Manchester City’s even more dramatic 3-2 loss to Spurs, the weekend ended with Liverpool only six points behind the Premier League title holders with a game in hand – versus Leeds this Wednesday – and a trip to the Etihad scheduled for April.

In other words, winning the Premier League title is, theoretically, now in Liverpool’s hands. If the Reds win all their remaining 13 games they will be crowned champions.

Obviously, as the Spartans would say, ‘if’. The task is, of course, enormous and will require effort, luck and faultlessness, and all while Liverpool are pursuing Champions League and FA Cup glory – the Reds are already set to play the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this Sunday.

Asserting that the title is, essentially, now Liverpool’s to lose also overlooks the fact that despite the remarkable run the Reds have been on to get themselves into a position to challenge for four trophies this season, it’s been willpower and desire – emanating from the manager, players and, particularly the home crowd – rather than Liverpool’s crushing form that has counted.

Thus, even in the game against lowly Norwich, favourites to be relegated to the Championship, Liverpool had to fight against adversity.

True, Klopp made seven changes to the side that beat Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek – with Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Naby Keita and Luis Diaz all getting starting places; but the team still looked strong and  there was every expectation that the new lineup would have enough to overcome Dean Smith’s side.

And, indeed, Tsimikas, in for Andy Robertson, and Gomez playing at right-back in place of Trent Alexander Arnold, had excellent games, contributing significantly both in attack and defence. Tsimikas is a more creative footballer than Robertson while Liverpool’s defence looked far more solid with Gomez playing instead of Alexander Arnold, whose defending is erratic.

However, not only did Norwich manage to hold the Reds to 0-0 after 45, but within three minutes of the restart, the Canaries took the lead, weak defending from Oxlade Chamberlain, failing to prevent or block the speculative shot from the edge of the area from Milot Rashica, and Matip’s pathetic dangling of his leg in the path of the ball, ensured the deflected effort wrong-footed Alisson Becker and nestled in the corner of the goal.

Anxiety crept into Liverpool’s play as their championship tilt seemed to be on the brink of ignominiously ending.

It was then, after an hour, that, as in the game against Inter, Jurgen Klopp turned to his bench and made decisive substitutions.

Thiago Alcantara came on for the disappointing Oxlade Chamberlain and Divock Origi – returning from two months out with injury – replaced Naby Keita.

Thiago immediately calmed Liverpool down with his effortless and precise possession and passing. As on Wednesday night, his composure and serenity were breathtaking.

Thus, on 64 minutes, Thiago linked up with Gomez and Jordan Henderson, the captain chipping the ball to the far post where Tsimikas brilliantly looped a header into the path of Sadio Mané who, from six yards out, contorted his body and executed a bicycle kick to equalise past Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal.

Liverpool now scented Canary blood and, two minutes later, a Norwich attack lamely broke down and Alisson retrieved possession, the Brazilian stopper then launching the ball 100 yards down the field into the path of Mo Salah on the edge of the opposition area.

The Egyptian king controlled the ball with a sublime touch, then jinking and spinning sent the Norwich defenders and keeper this way and that before, with his wrong right foot, passing the ball into net.

Liverpool had not only stepped back from the abyss, but had done so with conviction.

To cap off a superb day, it was fated that new-boy Luis Diaz, already a fan-favourite with his skill, pace and endeavour, would score. Thus, in the 81st minute, the Colombian latched on to a precise through pass from Henderson and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Gunn to make it 3-1.

Liverpool overcome conditions and poor first half to win at Burnley

A hard-fought win for Liverpool against a Burnley side who belied their lowly status in the league to put in a combative performance that will have left the Clarets feeling disappointed that they didn’t come away from the game with at least a point.

Burnley’s failure to score in the first half owed a lot to Allison Becker’s efforts as Liverpool struggled to adapt to the high winds and freezing rain, the Brazilian keeper making several crucial saves and interceptions to deny the opposition.

Indeed, Burnley’s newly-acquired Dutch striker, Wout Weghorst, bought from Wolfsburg in the January transfer window with his typically Sean Dychean attributes of physicality and doggedness, caused problems all afternoon to the Liverpool backline, particularly to Joel Matip, who regularly lost out in the aerial duals and battles of strength and only got respite when the Dutch international limped off in the 75th minute with injury.

If Burnley had gone in after forty-five two up, Liverpool wouldn’t have been able to complain and yet the Reds had their halftime cuppa and orange ahead, the outstanding Fabinho having poked home after Nick Pope had saved his initial effort following a Sadio Mané flick from a Trent Alexander Arnold corner.

It was the most decisive contribution made by the two assist makers – Mané and Alexander Arnold – who both had shaky games.

Mané had opportunities to make simple passes to create goal scoring opportunities, particularly for Mo Salah, but too often failed to execute properly and let Burnley off the hook.

Alexander Arnold was similarly wayward in his passing, though he also showed glimpses of his usual exceptional crossfield passes and dead ball deliveries.

Again, Alexander Arnold’s weakness in defence was exposed – the defender’s inability to perform the first task of the full-back, i.e. block crosses, was frustratingly evident – and he had Fabinho to thank for repeatedly getting him out of tight spots.

The second half was a more comfortable affair for Liverpool and, despite Burnley never letting their heads drop as they fought for the equaliser, the Reds had enough chances to score a second and ease nerves as the game progressed.

Two injuries and substitutions were fundamental to the outcome of the game.

First Jordan Henderson went off on 59 minutes with a knee knock to be replaced by Thiago Alcantara, who’d lost his place in the starting lineup to the impressive Naby Keita.

The experienced Spanish midfielder was truly a wonder to behold, controlling the game with his poise and incisive, faultless passing, which allowed Liverpool to play the game at their pace, keeping the ball and blunting any Burnley threat.

Burnley’s threat was further diminished by a painful looking injury to Weghorst, who had to leave the field after 78 minutes. After his departure, Liverpool’s backline never looked like conceding.

While Liverpool’s win today keeps the title race going in theory – putting the Reds nine points behind Manchester City (who thrashed Norwich 4-0 yesterday) with a game in hand and a trip to the Etihad in April to come – the story at the moment is Manchester City being relentless upfront and invulnerable at the back – City have the best defensive record in the league – while Liverpool, whoever they play, always look susceptible to conceding even if their attacking options and play is as good as if not better than City’s.

We’ll be able to say with more clarity if Liverpool’s challenge to Man City is genuine or wishful thinking after the next few games.

After both City and Liverpool have Champions League games in midweek – Liverpool play away to Inter Milan while City face Sporting Lisbon – Liverpool have two eminently winnable games at home – against Norwich and Leeds – while, next weekend, City face Antonio Conte’s Spurs who, despite some wretched results recently – home losses to Wolves and Southampton – will surely put up stiffer resistance than some of City’s more recent opponents.

Jota scores twice to overcome difficult Leicester

 

Liverpool managed to keep their slim title hopes alive this evening against Leicester City, who were coming off a horrible FA Cup performance against East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest that dumped Brendan Rodgers’ side out of the competition they won last season but showed no signs of being a side in decline, rising to the occasion to make the game harder than many anticipated.

Jurgen Klopp decided to start with new-boy Luis Diaz up front with Sadio Mané not yet ready after his heroic exploits in the AFCON final against Egypt that saw Senegal crowned as champions of Africa for the first time.

Other changes from the FA Cup win over Cardiff City saw Thiago Alcantara come in for the injured Jordan Henderson, while Fabinho replaced Harvey Elliott, Joel Matip started ahead of Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson got the nod over Kostas Tsimikas,

The match followed a usual pattern for Liverpool recently, starting like they’re going to blow the opposition away but not able to take their early chances, allowing the away side to gain confidence and create their own opportunities, which Leicester did, with James Maddison finding himself free in the left side of the area and targeting a powerful shot at goal that forced Alisson Becker into an excellent save.

Alisson’s save – like many of the saves the Brazilian stopper makes – was vital. Liverpool’s opponents get few chances and Becker is rarely called into action, rarely finds himself under pressure for sustained periods, but, invariably when he is called on, he’s ready to make an important and difficult stop.

Not that the quality of a goalkeeper is judged by the difficulty of saves he makes. Rather, it is his concentration and consistency, the rarity of his mistakes, that count and, in this regard, Alisson’s record at Liverpool is superb.

Thus, the importance of Alisson’s save against Maddison was soon made apparent as, after 34 minutes, Liverpool won a corner at the other end.

Leicester have a woeful record defending set pieces this season and Rodgers had tried to rectify this by ditching the zonal approach to defending the corner and resorting to old-fashioned man-to-man marking.

But this didn’t work either, as Virgil van Dijk, with a shimmy and a dart, found himself on his own to powerfully head Alexander Arnold’s cross at goal. Kasper Schmeichel could only parry the effort and Diogo Jota was there to lash the ball into the net.

The second half unfolded with Liverpool in control and when, after an hour, Salah and Elliott came on for the disappointing Roberto Firmino – who seems to be losing any pace he had and lost the ball two or three times in the middle of the park, leading to dangerous Leicester counterattacks (a similar mistake by Firmino against Cardiff in the FA Cup on Sunday led to the visitors’ consolation goal) – and Jones, and a second and decisive goal for Liverpool seemed inevitable.

Salah, in particular, desperate to put the devastating AFCON final loss behind him, was on a mission to score, Schmeichel and the crossbar denying him, the second effort was a classic curling shot from the edge of the area.

But having failed to put the game to bed, Leicester grew in confidence and Rodgers felt able to make attacking substitutes. From 70 minutes onwards, Leicester began to dominate possession, winning tackles, corners, free-kicks, the second ball and threatening the Liverpool goal.

Fortunately, on the 85th minutes, some excellent pressing from Thiago and Fabinho as Leicester tried to clear a corner, saw the ball falling to Matip, who prodded the ball towards Jota in the area. The Portuguese striker swivelled and hit the ball hard to make it two for Liverpool.

Liverpool deserved to win and deserved to win by more; but struggled to convert their domination and chances, a recurring theme this season.

However, the Reds won the game and keep the pressure on Man City, who are still nine points clear at the top, though Liverpool have a game in hand – against Leeds United at home – and are due to  play City at the Etihad in April.

Liverpool fans will be saying ‘win those two games and the gap comes down to three points, leaving Man City no margin for error’. An optimistic scenario, especially since Man City show no signs of slipping up as they relentlessly win game after game.

Up next for Liverpool is an away game against bottom side Burnley. Sean Dyche’s side have been earmarked for relegation, but this week’s comeback draw against Manchester United and the improved performance it represented means it would be a mistake to underestimate the Clarets and assume this will be an automatic or easy win for the Reds.

Reds overcome Palace, creep back into title race

A good 3-1 win for Liverpool away at Crystal Palace allows the Reds to go into the winter break with much to look forward to for the rest of the season.

Having secured a Carabao Cup final rendezvous with Chelsea in late February after convincingly seeing off Arsenal at the Emirates 2-0 – the first leg at Anfield a week earlier producing a 0-0 scoreline – and seeing runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City dropping two points after a gutsy Southampton earned themselves a 1-1 draw – Liverpool went into today’s game in South London knowing that a victory would put them nine points behind Man City, with a game in hand and still to play Pep Guardiola’s side in April at the Etihad.

And, indeed, Liverpool started the game at Selhurst Park seemingly aware that the Southampton result had shown Manchester City are vulnerable and that, if the Reds were to go on a spectacular run of wins – like the one that won them the title two years ago – then the title race might not be over after all.

Crisp passing, movement, chances, with Curtis Jones starring, characterised the first 35 minutes for Liverpool, when it looked as if the Reds might repeat last year’s 7-0 demolition of the Eagles.

Thus, on seven minutes, the outstanding Andy Robertson swung in a corner which found Virgil van Dijk all alone five yards out  – the Palace defenders having run into each other – and he powered the ball with his forehead into the back of Vicente Guaita’s net.

Palace looked at sixes and sevens and Liverpool came forward relentlessly, looking as if they were going to score every time. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, having missed a good chance on the far post earlier made up for squandering this chance by, on 32 minutes, finding himself in a similar position after a tremendous cross by Roberston and this time making no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.

Inexplicably, however, just when you thought Oxlade Chamberlain’s goal would deflate the Eagles and allow Liverpool to run riot, complacency seems to have affected the Reds, particularly the centre backs, where van Dijk’s determination to play the game at his pace was being challenged by Palace’s rapid and dogged attackers. Alisson Becker was called into action several times to keep Liverpool’s lead in tact before half time.

Maintaining momentum from the last 15 minutes of the first half, Crystal Palace continued to put Liverpool under pressure and contrive to find a way back into the game.

Deservedly, on 55 minutes, Palace’s resolve and confidence paid off, when a through ball split the Liverpool defence, stranding Joel Matip and van Dijk and leaving Mateta to square the pass for Edouard, who tapped into the empty net.

From here on in, the game was characterised by Palace’s dominance and threat. The Eagles created several good chances that produced a string of outstanding saves from man-of-the-match Alisson to keep Liverpool ahead.

Still, on 85 minutes, when the likeliest outcome remained a Palace equaliser, an extraordinary 60-yard cross-field pass from Trent Alexander Arnold was chested down and into the area by Diogo Jota who, despite the ball running away from him, was clattered into by the onrushing Guaita.

Initially, referee Kevin Friend didn’t see a foul in the collision between striker and keeper but, after VAR suggested he take a look at the pitch side monitor, the referee altered his opinion and gave Liverpool a spot kick.

Fabinho, having scored three goals in his last four games, stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. Game over.

Next up for Liverpool is a home tie against Cardiff City on 6 February in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. The Bluebirds are languishing in the lower depths of the Championship, so Jurgen Klopp will no doubt make several changes to the Reds lineup.

By the time Liverpool play again in the Premier League – on 10 February against Leicester at Anfield – not only will Mo Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mané be back from the Africa Cup of Nations but so will long-term injuries Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi.

Liverpool will need to improve – particularly at the back – if they are to win any of the four competitions they’re still in – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup – but there’s no reason to doubt that the Reds are capable of a run of form that will bring them glory and silverware.

Liverpool ease past Brentford, but title challenge looks over

 

Not as comfortable as the 3-0 scoreline suggests and a performance that doesn’t point to the end of the slump Liverpool have suffered in form in the last few games.

Even though a series of draws and losses have all but paid to Liverpool’s title aspirations the Reds will still welcome this victory, which wasn’t too taxing, although Alex Oxlade Chamberlain seemed to have twisted his ankle in the second half and may well be out of the second leg of the League Cup tie against Arsenal at the Emirates this Thursday, the first game having ended in a tame 0-0 draw at Anfield, and this despite the London club having gone down to 10 men after 25 minutes when the hapless Granit Xhaka was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Diogo Jota, who was clean through on goal after a long ball from Andy Robertson.

Today’s performance was similarly uninspiring and this despite the necessary changes to the lineup Jurgen Klopp had to make after the dismal Arsenal game.

Thus, in came Oxlade Chamberlain for James Milner – the ex-Arsenal man must have been wondering about his long-term future at the club when he was named on the subs bench last Thursday behind the veteran – and Curtis Jones for Taki Minomino, the Japanese striker once again failing to impress against Arsenal, his unimpressive display culminating late on with an extraordinary miss from four yards out in front of an open goal, with the goalkeeper stranded behind him.

And, indeed, both Jones and Oxlade Chamberlain, with their ability to carry the ball, did add to Liverpool going forward, even if the cutting edge – with Sadio Mané, Mo Salah and Naby Keita all absent at the Africa Cup of Nations – was still missing.

Before Liverpool did score on the 44th minute, it was Brentford, without the ball for so much of the game, who had the better chances. A couple of shots just wide of Alisson Becker’s post were ominous.

But fears of an upset were eased when a corner in from the left from Trent Alexander Arnold skidded up off the turf in the six yard box and found the head of Fabinho who nodded the ball into the net. This was the Brazilian’s third goal in a week, having scored two in the 4-1 win against Shrewsbury Town in the third round of the FA Cup last Sunday.

Liverpool added a second on 69 minutes after a whipped long cross from Robertson defeated two Brentford defenders and found Oxlade Chamberlain, who stooped and dived to power the ball into the back of the net with his head.

Typical of Oxlade Chamberlain’s luck, however, having made a decisive contribution and shown his worth to the team, a few minutes later an innocuous challenge in the Brentford area ended with the midfielder on the ground in agony, clutching his ankle.

Once the pain subsided, Oxlade Chamberlain tried to play on but he couldn’t put any weight on his ankle and he had to be subbed off, making him a major doubt for the crucial Arsenal clash in four days.

Oxlade Chamberlain’s replacement, Minamino, added a third on 77 minutes when Roberto Firmino stole the ball off the Brentford defence as it tried to play out from the back, exchanged passes with the Japanese, which ended with Minamino stroking the ball into the goal from five yards out.

Liverpool’s next league game is against an improving Crystal Palace side away next Sunday.

The Reds are now 11 points behind Manchester City in the title race but with a game in hand. In other words, if Liverpool are to stop Man City from turning the title race into a meaningless procession, then they will have to be almost perfect from here on in, not only winning against Man City away in April but virtually every game they play till the end of the season. And even then they will need City to drop a further five points, something it’s hard to see them doing given their run of form and straightforward run in.

Liverpool's title hopes run aground at Stamford Bridge

And thus, barring miracles, Liverpool’s 2021-22 tilt at the Premier League title came to an end not only because of today’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but also because of yesterday’s VAR-influenced victory for Manchester City over Arsenal.

The Gunners, having completely outplayed the reigning champions and runaway leaders and taken a more than deserved 1-0 lead into half-time, then fell victim to some diabolical officiating that saw, after review, Arsenal concede a dubious penalty then have centre-back Gabriel sent off for two yellow cards, both equally innocuous.

As for today’s game, things got off to a bad start for Liverpool when it was announced that not only would manager Jurgen Klopp miss the game because of a positive Covid test but so would goalkeeper Alisson Becker, centre-half Joel Matip and forward Roberto Firmino.

But it wasn’t in these positions that Liverpool struggled today. It was in midfield, where both James Milner and Jordan Henderson started alongside Fabinho and it was Milner and Henderson who found it hardest to come to terms with their more dynamic and skilful Chelsea opposite numbers.

Still, it was Liverpool, on nine minutes, following some poor defending from Trevoh Chalobah, who scored first, when the Chelsea defender made a hash of a clearance, stooping to clear with his head rather than trusting his left foot, which left Sadio Mané one-on-one with the Chelsea keeper, Eduard Mendy, who he rounded before striking the ball firmly into the back of the net.

Liverpool managed to go two up on 26 minutes with a magnificent goal from Mo Salah, brilliantly found in the Chelsea area by Trent Alexander Arnold, before outpacing and outthinking Marcus Alonso, who didn’t know which way Salah wanted to go, the Egyptian eventually going the direct route then fooling Mendy into thinking he was aiming for the far post before firmly striking the ball the over the Chelsea keeper.

Chelsea continued to play well to get back into the game but Liverpool looked strong at the back and Kelleher was having a commanding game in goal; then Milner, just before half time, on 42 minutes, gave away a crazy free kick, unnecessarily bringing down Kai Havertz a yard outside the box, towards the corner flag, with the German striker losing control of the ball.

Kelleher dealt with the ensuing shot well, punching to the edge of the area, only for Matteo Kovacic to catch the ball superbly on the volley, which ended up beyond the keeper’s reach and in the top corner of his goal.

You would’ve hoped the Reds would’ve been able to hang on with the lead till half time; but in injury time some sloppy defensive play on Liverlpool’s right, Salah, Alexander Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were all culpable, saw the ball break to Christian Pulicic who finished with aplomb, clipping the ball over Kellerher into the high part of the net.

Chelsea were ascendant in the second half, playing the more structured and composed football, but it was Liverpool who had the better chances, with Mendy pulling off a super save from a forty-yard attempted chip from Salah and another good stop from Mané, when in fact the Liverpool striker should’ve done better.

Kostas Tsimikas, playing his third straight game for the suspended Andy Roberston, also found himself in many good areas only for his final pass to let him down, not able to pick out a Red and having his crosses cut out, which is a surprise since this was the Greek defender’s strong suit in his early games for Liverpool and made many think that his delivery was better than Robertson’s and merited him getting in the side ahead of the Scotland captain.

That’s three games without a win for Liverpool – drawing against Spurs and Chelsea and losing to Leicester – and it was the same time last season that, having gone into Christmas top of the table, that the Reds’ form fell apart and they ended up fighting tooth and nail to get into the top four.

Cup games up for Liverpool next, two against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final and Shrewsbury in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Mané, Salah, Naby Keita will all be missing at the Africa Cup of Nations. These cup games will be Liverpool’s best chance of silverware this season.

Shambolic officiating costs Liverpool at Spurs

This must have been one of the worst refereeing performances from all officials – referee, assistant referees and VAR – ever in the history of football. Countless stupid decisions were made that affected both teams, although Liverpool will have more to complain about than Tottenham.

 

The Reds came into the game without Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho again because of Covid and Thiago Alcantara joined the list of players who’ve succumbed to the pandemic, while Jordan Henderson was also out because of a non-related Covid illness. 

 

In came James Milner and Naby Keita in midfield to play alongside Premier League debutant Tyler Morton, who has previously impressed in League Cup and Champions League games.

 

The inexperienced midfield and centre back partnership of Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate looked vulnerable in the first part of the game as Tottenham found it easy to break the lines and find themselves in on goal. Alisson Becker made early saves and a last minute lunge and block from Konate kept Harry Kane out.

 

But it wasn’t long before Spurs did score. On 13 minutes, a through ball in between Konate and Andy Roberston – who stepped up too late and played Harry Kane onside – found the England captain in on goal and he slid the ball into the corner of the net, beyond the outstretched hand of Becker who perhaps showed too much of his goal to Kane.

 

Pumped up from scoring, Kane was then guilty of a reckless studs-up challenge on Robertson. Referee Paul Tierney showed the Spurs striker a yellow but on replay it was clearly a dangerous, out-of-control challenge that caught the Liverpool defender. All expected VAR Chris Kavanagh to refer the referee to the pitch side monitor to upgrade the yellow to a red but, inexplicably, VAR did not see what everyone else saw, which was that Tierney had made a clear and obvious error and Kane should have been off for an early bath.

 

Liverpool’s fury at the injustice was compounded when Diogo Jota was assaulted in the area by Emerson Royal, pushed and kicked by the Spurs defender as he went to strike the ball. Again, inexplicably, Tierney saw no foul and, even more bizarrely, VAR did not see fit to alert the referee to his clear and obvious error.

 

For his protests at Kane not seeing Red and Jota not getting a spot kick, Jurgen Klopp was booked.

 

In between these catastrophic and laughable decisions from the officials, Liverpool managed to equalise on 35 minutes – a Robertson cross brilliantly headed in by Jota from eight yards out.

 

Liverpool continued to threaten in the second half and create chances, though Spurs actually had the clearer opportunities, Son, Dele Alli and Kane all missing golden opportunities, the England captain missing a header from two yards out.

 

On 69 minutes, Liverpool deservedly went ahead. Pinball in the Spurs area ended with Trent Alexander Arnold driving the ball across the box and Robertson stooping from three yards out to nod the ball into the net. Tottenham were furious that earlier in the phase of play, a handball wasn’t given against Mo Salah, but the goal was allowed to stand.

 

Spurs had a reasonable shout for a penalty after a clumsy challenge from Joel Matip on Son – a foul in any other part of the pitch – but it wasn’t given. Still, on 74 minutes, a horrific error from Becker – who throughout the game wasn’t his calm self, rushing out unnecessarily on several occasions – in which he fluffed a standard clearance from an overhit through pass to Son, going to ground, then missing the ball entirely, allowing the Spurs striker to slot into an empty net and level the scores.

 

Becker’s horrendous error, which allowed Spurs back into the game, put Liverpool players on edge and Roberston let out his rage by hacking Emerson Royal. It was a challenge far less brutal than Kane’s earlier yellow card tackle and, initially, Tierney gave the Scot the right punishment, only for VAR to recommend he go to the pitch side screen to review whether the card should be upgraded to a red. Again, after several reviews, and bearing in mind that Kane’s far worse tackle was only given a yellow, everyone was expecting Tierney not to change his mind; but he did and Liverpool were down to 10 men.

 

Fortunately for Liverpool, they held on for the draw and had Kostas Tsimikas – who had come on after the sending off – put in a better cross with Salah waiting to strike in the middle, then the Reds could have come away with an unlikely three points.

Last-minute Origi strike secures Wolves win for Reds

 

 

An incredible victory for Liverpool against a dogged Wolves that took the Reds to the top of the table after the lunchtime game saw West Ham defeat leaders Chelsea 3-2.

Although not at their fluent best and competing against one of the tightest and most stingy defences in the Premier League this season, Liverpool created enough chances to win the game comfortably.

In the first half, Diogo Jota – returning to the club from which Liverpool bought him and trying too hard – missed a header from three yards out, connecting well but putting it past the post; while Trent Alexander Arnold got caught in two minds as he came onto a volley, half wanting to lob it to the back post for Sadio Mané, half thinking I should whack this into the back of the net – which he should’ve done – and ending up skying the ball over the bar.

The second half was more of the same. Liverpool pressing but not overwhelming Wolves, Adama Traore on the break posing the only threat for the home side on the occasional break, proving a handful for Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, who had more of a shaky game than usual.

Still, the chances did come for Liverpool and, again, it was Jota who was guilty of not taking what came his way. A mix up between Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa and centre-half Romain Saiss saw the ball break to the  Portuguese striker and he calmly ran into the box, steadied himself on the six yard line then, inexplicably, with the entire goal gaping, blasted the ball into the midriff of Connor Coady, who had retreated to the goal-line.

Chances, not as good as Jota’s, also fell to Mané, Salah and Andy Robertson; but as injury time unfolded, a final chance came to Liverpool, after a sweeping cross field pass from Virgil van Dijk fell into the path of Salah.

The Egyptian darted for the byline, pulled the ball back into the six yard area where Divock Origi – on for Jordan Henderson – was waiting. The Belgian controlled the ball, swivelled and with his left foot blasted the ball into the back of the net.

Cue hysterical celebrations from the Liverpool bench. A 0-0 draw would’ve been a hugely disappointing result for Liverpool, not just because their performance deserved a victory, but because it would’ve meant Liverpool hadn’t taken advantage of Chelsea’s slip up in the title chase.

Next up for Liverpool is the completion of their Champions League group stages campaign. So far, the Reds, in the so-called group of death, have played five and won five and, even though we expect Jurgen Klopp will put out a weakened side away against Milan on Tuesday – with the likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Neco Williams, Ibrahima Konate, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Origi sure to get starts – Liverpool will still expect to win.

Legs will be saved for the game next Saturday in the Premier League against Aston Villa, now managed by Liverpool’s greatest ever player and, probably, their next manager, Steven Gerrard.

Reds crush Everton in Merseyside derby

A superb and controlled performance by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park saw the Reds come away with a convincing 4-1 win that gives cause for optimism that Liverpool will maintain a strong title challenge.

 

A lightening start from the Reds saw them nearly score three times before, on nine minutes, a neat interchange involving Sadio Mané and Andy Robertson on the left resulted in the Scot cutting the ball back to the edge of the Everton area where captain Jordan Henderson was waiting to calmly curl his shot with his left foot into the corner of the goal beyond the hand of the diving Jordan Pickford.

 

Everton looked incapable of keeping up with Liverpool. They tried to turn the game into a war, but Liverpool rose above this belligerence with their calm possession game.

 

Thus, when, on 19 minutes, the outstanding Mo Salah latched onto a perfect Henderson pass and ran into the box and knocked the ball high into the side of the net, Everton fans began to leave the ground, not wanting to watch what looked like would turn into a humiliating drubbing.

 

Yet, rather than Liverpool going on to score a third and fourth before half-time, out of nothing, on 38 minutes, Everton winger Damari Gray found himself one-on-one with Alisson Becker and put the ball between the keeper’s legs to get Everton back into the game.

 

Still, despite Everton’s goal, there was every reason to believe this was a blip and Everton – other than their plan of turning the game into a scrap rather than a football game – did not have the ability not only to get back into the game from an attacking point of view but also to keep Liverpool’s devastating attacking players quiet.

 

And, indeed, on 64 minutes, a clearance from an Everton corner got their captain Seamus Coleman into trouble on the halfway line.

 

Caught in several minds – to control the ball, whack it clear over his head or knock it back to Pickford – the Irishman ended up bobbling the ball into the path of the pressing Mo Salah, who sprinted away passed the hapless left back, in full control of the ball, before clipping it passed the advancing keeper into the corner of the net. A sensational goal.

 

The rout was completed on 79 minutes when Diogo Jota cleverly turned Allan in the Everton area, then lashed the ball high into the net to make it 4-1.

 

Jota’s goal gave Jurgen Klopp the chance to make several substations, which we’ve become used to: James Milner on for Henderson, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain replacing Thiago Alcantara and Taki Minamino for Jota. 

 

Joel Matip started ahead of Ibrahim Konate at centre back, alongside Virgil van Dijk, returning to the scene of the crime of Pickford’s outrageous challenge on him in last year’s equivalent fixture that ended the Dutchman’s season with a knee ligament injury.

 

Despite Liverpool’s outstanding performance and win, they still find themselves only third in the table with Manchester City and Chelsea show no signs of slipping up, beating Aston Villa and Watford away respectively. 

 

Next up for Liverpool is another away game, this time against Wolves, who are having a good season so far under the guidance of Bruno Lage, though in their midweek fixture the Black Country side were frustrated by lowly Burnley, who held out for a 0-0 draw.