Preview: Liverpool v Atletico Madrid

Liverpool host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the second leg of their crucial Champions League Round of 16 knockout tie that could define the rest of the Reds’ season. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg thanks to Saul Niguez’s early strike and with the Premier League close to secure, focus will shift to ensuring that Jurgen Klopp’s men keep their European title defence alive.

The Reds have notoriously been out of form since the winter break having lost 3 of their 6 since games since then in all competitions including the first leg in Madrid. Further, having only limped past Norwich, West Ham and Bournemouth during this period, there is a feeling that the Spanish giants could not have picked a better time to visit Anfield.

However, Atletico have their own problems and currently sit in sixth place in La Liga, outside the Champions League places they have finished in every season since 2012/13. Still only 2 points off third place, Diego Simeone’s men have drawn an incredible 12 of their 27 games this season including 2 of their 3 games since the first leg.

With neither Spain nor England yet to feel the full effect of the Coronavirus, a packed Anfield will play a key role on Wednesday night just like it did last season against Barcelona. While there is uncertainty about how the rest of the season will play out, both sides can only look to the task in front of them with Atleti looking to repair the wounds from this stage last season.

Taking a 2-0 lead from the first leg against Juventus 12 months ago, Simeone’s men could only watch in horror as Cristiano Ronaldo inspired the old lady to a comeback in Turin. A late penalty sealed Atleti’s fate and ultimately saw the Mattress Makers overhaul their ageing squad in last summer.

Of course, last time Atletico arrived at Anfield defending a 1-0 first leg lead it was the Madrid side who advanced to the next round courtesy of a victory on away goals after extra time. However, having taken place almost 10 years ago in the 2009/2010 Europa League semi-final and with both clubs in entirely different situations, that result is unlikely to have too much relevance on Wednesday night.

Atleti were good value for their first leg lead after frustrating the Reds and preventing Klopp’s men from registering a single shot on target at the Wanda Metropolitano. It was a classic Simeone performance, one that has been so sorely lacking so far this season and provides a blueprint for what Atletico will attempt to recreate on Merseyside.

Of course, there were positives for Klopp to – despite his attack largely misfiring on the day it is rare that a side will dominate possession (73%) without creating any chances. Further, Atleti didn’t create too much themselves in Madrid but demonstrated how formidable they can be when given a lead to defend.

Team News

The big news for Klopp is that captain Jordan Henderson may be fit to return to the starting lineup having returned to full training on Sunday. Henderson’s absence coincided with the Reds’ recent poor run and while he may not quite be up to match sharpness, the former Sunderland man’s leadership would be invaluable.

Andrew Robertson should also be fit to return having sat out on Saturday’s win over Bournemouth as a precaution meaning that there will likely be no room for James Milner despite his goalline clearance against the Cherries. The only negative for the Reds will be the absence of Alisson Becker who is unlikely to be fit before after the upcoming international break while Xherdan Shaqiri remains a long-term absence.

With the back 4 and front 3 just about picking themselves, especially after both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane found the back of the next against Bournemouth, the only contention remains in midfield. Fabinho has looked sluggish in recent weeks and may be the most vulnerable should Henderson start which Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offers drive and goals in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Simeone has been able to name close to a full-strength side to travel to Merseyside including Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera who all missed the first leg. The Argentine will be sweating on the fitness of Alvaro Morata after the Spanish striker who will have to pass a late fitness test to feature.

With a lead to protect, Alteti will more than likely again field a narrow 4-4-2 in order to compress the space in which the Reds’ front 3 can operate while offering a threat on the break. Stefan Savic and Felipe seem to have cemented their positions at the heart of the Atleti defence ahead of Jan Oblak while Renan Lodi and Trippier should start on the flanks.

Ahead of them, surprise first leg starter Thomas Lemar is also a doubt due to a knock but may have been sacrificed anyway in pursuit of a more functional midfield. With Saul, Koke and Thomas Partey pretty much the first names on the teamsheet, there is one spot remain with Yannick Carrasco and Marco Llorente the main contenders.

Prediction

If the Reds’ cannot overturn the 1-0 deficit on Wednesday night, there is a chance that this incredible season could drift with the Premier League title all but secured. Klopp’s men have no distraction and no excuses with a chance to defend their crown as champions of Europe surely a huge motivation for a team that has never lacked desire.

However, this will be no easy task – Atleti know what they need to do and how to do it while also possessing more than enough ability to score a few themselves to make the Reds task even harder. I don’t see Simeone’s men being kept scoreless, particularly with Alisson out, but I have to be optimistic and go for a 3-1 win for the Reds.

Player Ratings: Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth

Liverpool returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth that sees the Reds move within 3 victories of the Premier League title. However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Reds who had to come from behind against the struggling Cherries after finding themselves behind within 10 minutes.

While the Reds once again dominated possession (75%), Jurgen Klopp’s men still only created 6 shots on target against a side in the relegation zone with 9 games to go. For their part, Eddie Howe’s men looked up to the challenge and registered 4 shots on target themselves but ultimately Liverpool were the more ruthless side on the day.

Let’s take a look at who impressed for the Reds at Anfield.

Adrian – 6.5/10

After making a handling error in midweek to allow Willian to score, Adrian appeared determined to punch rather than catch everything that came his way on Saturday. For the most part this strategy worked for the Spaniard who could do nothing about Callum Wilson’s opener and battered away the rest of what the Cherries had to offer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10

Like most of his teammates, Alexander-Arnold has endured a form slump in recent weeks and did not look near his menacing best marauding up and down the right-hand side. The Scouser’s delivery is just a little off at the moment with the right-back even relieved of corner duty halfway through this encounter due to a lack of quality into the box.

Joe Gomez – 6.5/10

Regardless of whether you think Wilson fouled Gomez in the buildup to the Cherries’ opener, the former Charlton man probably should have dealt with the situation more decisively. The English international did recover to win 4 headers and make 4 interceptions while completing 9 of his 15 attempted long passes.

Virgil van Dijk – 8.5/10

The Dutch captain was dominant in the air against Howe’s men winning 7 headers while also providing an assist with a relatively simple pass to the unmarked Sadio Mane. Van Dijk ended the night with 2 key passes, 1 shot on target and 92.4% passing accuracy in a performance that ensured the Reds returned to winning ways.

James Milner – 8/10

Liverpool’s vice-captain returned to the starting eleven with a typical James Milner performance – diligent, hard-working and fully committed to the cause. The crowning moment was of course the 34-year-old’s excellent goalline clearance from Ryan Fraser’s dink, though Milner also recorded 2 tackles and 3 blocks.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7/10

The former Arsenal man had a mixed night – Oxlade-Chamberlain always looked a threat to the Bournemouth defence but couldn’t get his end product right. The England international dragged 3 efforts wide from distance before but did register 1 key pass and 2 interceptions to round out an overall promising night.

Fabinho – 6.5/10

The Brazilian was not as influential on the ball as he usually is and recorded just 62 passes, albeit with an impressive completion rate of 91.9%. With Bournemouth usually looking to break quickly, Fabinho also had little to do defensively though did cover for Alexander-Arnold on a couple of occasions when the Scouser got caught up the field.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 7.5/10

This had all the hallmarks of a classic Gini Wijnaldum performance – the Dutchman was impossible to shake off the ball, defensively diligent and linked well with Milner and Mane on the left-hand side. Wijnaldum ended the night with 2 key passes, 93% passing accuracy, drew 2 fouls and made 1 tackle in a strong all-round performance.

Mohamed Salah – 8/10

Salah took his chance well to equalise with a low drive to the near post after Mane’s pass momentarily appeared to have wasted a golden chance for the Reds. The Egyptian also completed 4 dribbles and 3 key passes in a performance that showed he is getting close to returning to his best without being quite there yet.

Roberto Firmino – 6.5/10

On a night where two of the Liverpool front 3 seemed to emerge from their recent malaise, Firmino endured another frustrating night where nothing quite seemed to work. The Brazilian had just 44 touches, was dispossessed once and completed just 79.4% of his passes before being withdrawn in the closing stages.

Sadio Mane – 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)

The Senegalese winger ended the night with a goal and an assist, even if the latter was rather fortuitous, and was a regular outlet for his side down the left-hand side. Mane recorded 2 key passes, 3 shots, 3 dribbles and drew 3 fouls while ultimately showing the composure to score the crucial winner for his side.

Adam Lallana – N/A

Replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain with less than 10 minutes to go and kept the ball neatly in the closing exchanges to help see out the win.

Divock Origi – N/A

The Belgian only touched the ball twice after replacing Firmino in stoppage time.

Ratings in full:

Match Preview: Liverpool v Bournemouth

For the fourth weekend in a row, Liverpool play a team from the Premier League’s relegation zone when Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth visit Anfield on Saturday. While the Reds’ fixtures since the winter break have been kind on paper, Jurgen Klopp’s men have only managed to edge past Norwich City and West Ham before the shock loss to Watford last weekend.

Another loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday has put the Reds’ record-breaking season in threat of falling into freefall with Klopp’s men having now lost 3 in 4. While the Premier League title still looks likely to end up on Merseyside, Liverpool’s run could see them out of the Champions League as well with Atletico Madrid set to visit on Wednesday.

It is tempting to overplay the nature of the Reds’ poor form, with most rival fans and many in the media quick to seize upon Liverpool’s wobble as a sign things are falling apart. However, the truth is that even the best teams endure peaks and troughs – the real mark of this Liverpool side will be how they bounce back from the last month or so.

If Klopp was looking for the perfect side to play right now, Bournemouth may well have been near the top of his list with the Cherries in the middle of a poor run themselves. Having won just twice in the league this year, Howe’s men have slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this season and could find themselves in real trouble.

The Cherries did manage to secure an impressive point at home last weekend against Chelsea after 2 goals in 3 minutes after halftime gave Howe’s men an unlikely lead. While the Blues dominated possession, Bournemouth created more than enough chances on the break and will likely seek to play the same way at Anfield.

The Cherries have scored just 27 goals in 28 games this season, less than a goal per game, and 4.2 goals fewer than their expected goals tally for the season so far (31.2). Howe’s men also have the fourth-lowest goals and assists per game in the league with just 1.57 compared to last season where the finished fourteenth on the back of 2.58 goals and assists per game.

The biggest difference this time out has been the form of Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser who assisted each other for 12 league goals last terms but have struggled so far this campaign. Fraser in particularly has been a shadow of his former self with the Scottish winger’s 1 goal and 4 assists a major drop on his output of 7 goals and 14 assists last season.

Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson has helped to pick up some of that slack with 7 goals in the league so far but the Welshman is yet to register an assist this campaign. The 22-year-old is ineligible to face his parent club anyway with Josh King likely to keep his place in the starting lineup having scored the Cherries’ second against Chelsea.

For the Reds, a long string of clean sheets stretching back to the end of 2019 has now well and truly ended with Klopp’s men conceding 8 goals in their last 4 games. However, the defence are far from the only ones struggling with Liverpool also kept scoreless in 3 of those 4 games en route to their worst spell of form since the early days of the Klopp era.

In fact, while the back 4 have conceded some silly, avoidable goals, the lack of firepower is arguably a bigger concern for a side who largely plays attractive, progressive football. The Reds’ front three have looked out of ideas at times against deeper defences with the likes of Atletico and Watford providing a blueprint on how to frustrate Liverpool.

Having beaten the Reds in Klopp’s first full season at Anfield in December 2016, the Cherries have not scored against Liverpool in their last 5 encounters while conceding an aggregate of 17 goals. Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds run out 3-0 victors in the reverse fixture with a similar result much needed at Anfield.

Team News

The big news for the Reds in the Alisson Becker is likely ou until after the international break after sustaining a hip injury in training during the week. The Brazilian will also miss the second leg against Atletico meaning that Adrian will again deputise while Caoimhin Kelleher’s injury means that Andy Lonergan will likely make the bench.

It is slightly better news for Naby Keita who is close to returning from his latest setback while Jordan Henderson is a chance to feature against Atletico on Wednesday. Xherdan Shaqiri is the Reds’ only other injury absence while Nathaniel Clyne picks up his recovery from the ligament damage his sustained in pre-season.

Having rested some of his first-team against Chelsea, Klopp will likely revert to his usual eleven with Georginio Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho and James Milner fighting for the midfield spots. Meanwhile, Sadio Mane could be in for a rest having played 90 minutes against Chelsea and with the crucial Champions League tie on the horizon.

For Bournemouth, Howe is without long term absentees David Brooks, Arnaut Danjuma and Chris Mepham but may be able to call upon returning fullback Lloyd Kelly. As mentioned previously, Harry Wilson is also unavailable meaning that Callum Wilson, Fraser and King will likely make up the Cherries front 3.

In goal, 21-year-old ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale has impressed this season for the struggling Cherries behind a backline marshalled by Dutch centre-back Nathan Ake. Finally, in midfield, Howe will likely stick with Philip Billing and Jefferson Lerma while the likes of Lewis Cook, Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman are in contention for the final spot.

While on paper this Bournemouth side still look like they did in previous seasons, a lack of progression appears to have hurt the Premier Leagues’ smallest club by stadium capacity. Regardless of whether the Cherries manage to beat the drop this season, a fresh start may be in order for both the club and their highly-rated manager.

Prediction

It is hard to know what to expect from this Liverpool team in the last few weeks and while it is hard to imagine a Bournemouth victory, it is impossible to rule out completely. While the Cherries arguably lack a disciplined and physical defence like the Reds have struggled to break down in recent weeks, you wouldn’t bet against them scoring either.

This could be the perfect opportunity for the Reds to kick back into gear, though it feels like I have been saying that for the last couple of weeks now to no avail. I’m going to go for a 3-2 draw that will hopefully prove a turning point for Klopp’s men just before Atletico arrive in England next week.

Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

Liverpool are out of the FA Cup after coming off second best to a spirited Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night – the Reds’ third loss in their past 4 games. The Blues were good value for their victory with 18-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour putting in an impressive performance alongside an experienced Chelsea eleven.

Jurgen Klopp opted for mild rotation with the core of his regular side supplemented by the likes of Divock Origi, Adam Lallana and Takumi Minamino while youngsters Neco Williams and Curtis Jones also featured. While the Reds were well and truly in the game for most of the proceedings, Chelsea punished their opponent’s mistakes and were deserving winners on the night.

Let’s take a look at how each of the Reds performed on the night.

Adrian – 6/10

The Spaniard made the key mistake to allow the Blues a lead on the night when he fumbled Willian’s straight-forward effort from the edge of the area into the back of the net. Recovered well with a one-on-one save from Pedro and a fine fingertip save to deny Olivier Giroud but ultimately the damage was done by that point.

Neco Williams 6.5/10

The 18-year-old right-back had another impressive night in a Liverpool shirt and looked like a mini Trent Alexander-Arnold with his ability to deliver from the right flank. While none of the Welsh youngster’s 10 crosses found their mark, it was not through a deficit in quality on Williams’ part with his teammates in the middle sluggish to react.

Joe Gomez – 6/10

Returning to the starting eleven after a temporary injury concern that saw him miss the loss to Watford at the weekend, the Reds immediately looked stronger on the Englishman’s return. While Gomez generally looked solid, his pass to Fabinho in the build-up to Chelsea’s opener heaped pressure on the Brazilian.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10

Once against the Dutch captain was strong at the back and seemed to be holding his side together at times in the second half when the Reds looked on the verge of falling apart. Van Dijk recorded 4 interceptions, 5 clearances and 1 block on the night while well and truly winning his aerial duel with Giroud.

Andrew Robertson – 6.5/10

The Scottish international had slightly more luck with his delivery than Williams did on the opposite flank and recorded 3 key passes for his side in a dependable performance. A constant threat on the left flank, Robertson will bemoan the lack of quality in the middle to finish off the chances needed to win this game.

Fabinho – 6/10

Alongside Adrian, Fabinho deserves some of the blame for Willian’s opener, though I think the Brazilian was played into trouble by a poor pass from Gomez. The former Monaco man was otherwise solid at the base of midfield but perhaps lacked the incisiveness needed to break down Frank Lampard’s men.

Adam Lallana – 7/10

You can never fault the 31-year-old’s work ethic with Lallana seemingly determined to cover every blade of grass during an impressive, all energy performance. Likely on his way out the exit door at Anfield in the summer, Lallana still has plenty to offer at this level and recorded 3 dribbles, 2 tackles and 1 key pass.

Curtis Jones – 7.5/10

The young Scouser once again demonstrated just why he is so highly rated at Anfield with a calm and composed performance in the Liverpool engine room. Pulled the ball out of the air under pressure on one occasion with ridiculous ease but lost the ball a little too easily in the build-up to Barkley’s strike that put the tie beyond the Reds.

Sadio Mane – 7/10

The Senegalese international seemed to be just about the Reds’ only attacking threat in the first half and was the focal point of everything the Reds did well before the break with 3 shots on target and 4 dribbles. However, Mane definitely faded after the interval as Chelsea came to dominate the game and cut a frustrated figure at fulltime.

Takumi Minamino – 6/10

The Japanese international almost created a goal in the first half with one run in which he turned Antonio Rudiger inside out before feeding Mane in the box. However, unfortunately, that was about as good as it got for Minamino who stills looks to be adjusting to life in the Premier League – it will be interesting to see how he goes after a full pre-season.

Divock Origi – 6.5/10

Like many of his teammates, Origi had some good moments in the first half, notably jinking past Cesar Azpilicueta before delivering a dangerous cross to the back post. However, the Belgian also faded after halftime and was withdrawn in favour of Roberto Firmino with 20 minutes to go.

Roberto Firmino – 6/10

Played the last 20 minutes in place of Origi but in truth the game was close to over by that point with Chelsea looking more likely to add to their advantage than Liverpool were to reduce it. Saw one decent header bounce agonisingly back across the face of goal without a teammate to provide the crucial touch.

James Milner – 6/10

Added some leadership to midfield but, like Firmino, it was too little too late for Klopp’s men to stage a dramatic recovery. The Yorkshireman’s return to fitness is a massive boost for the Reds ahead of the title run-in.

Mohamed Salah – N/A

Replaced Lallana for the final 10 minutes but only managed 9 touches as the FA Cup slipped away from Liverpool’s grasp.

Ratings in full:

Match Preview: Chelsea v Liverpool

Liverpool have a chance to bounce back immediately from their disappointment on Saturday when the Reds visit Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday night. After seeing their unbeaten Premier League run come to an end at the hands of Watford, Jurgen Klopp’s men will hope to get straight back on the horse against Frank Lampard’s Blues.

Chelsea find themselves in 4th place in the Premier League this season – a promising performance from a young side who have been hindered by a transfer ban in the summer. While Lampard’s men have been rather inconsistent at times, the former Blues’ midfielder has given chances to a number of young players who could thrive over the next few years.

Having been unable to make signings during the off-season, Lampard has blooded the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James. Also in his first season managing in the Premier League, Lampard has retained the faith of the Stamford Bridge faithful in part due to his past performances for the club as a player and will be judged more harshly from next season.

When the 2 sides met earlier in the season, Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners at the Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino. The Reds also triumphed after a penalty shootout between the sides back in August to lift the UEFA Super Cup following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

The Reds have enjoyed a decent record at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons and have lost just once in their last 5 trips to South London with 2 wins and 2 draws. However, the last time the sides met in the FA Cup, it was the Blues who came out on top in the 2012 final at Wembley when Ramires and Didier Drogba scored the goals for Roberto di Matteo’s side.

If the Reds do manage to win on Tuesday night, Jurgen Klopp’s men will make it to the sixth round for the first time during the German’s tenure at Anfield. Liverpool last made it this far in 2015 when Brendan Rodgers guided the Reds to a semi-final appearance in Steven Gerrard’s last season with the club before losing to Aston Villa at Wembley.

Of course, the big question is how seriously the two managers take this opportunity for FA Cup silverware with the potential that both will field weakened sides. Klopp’s feelings on the cup are widely known, though Lampard utilised a fairly strong eleven in the previous round as the Blues squeezed past Hull City in the last round.

While it is unlikely that Klopp fields the kids like he did for the fourth round replay against Shrewsbury Town last month, a composite eleven is likely with a crucial clash with Atletico Madrid on the horizon. The Reds face Diego Simeone’s men in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie next week in a game Klopp will surely prioritise over the ‘lowly’ FA Cup.

Of course, Klopp may be more tempted to field a strong eleven in the knowledge that the fifth round ties are no longer subject to a replay in the event of a draw on the night. In order to incorporate the winter break, the fifth round onwards will be settled on the night no matter what with drawn games going into extra time and potentially penalties.

Team News

Lampard has a number of injury concerns to deal with on Tuesday with N’Golo Kante, Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marko van Ginkel all absent through injury. Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen is in doubt after sustaining a knock against Bournemouth at the weekend leaving Lampard with a small squad to chose from.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is likely to be given a chance having been dropped after the Blues’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal in January in favour of Willy Caballero. Lampard has fluctuated between a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3 in recent weeks but will probably opt for the former against the Premier League leaders in order to keep things tight at the back.

If Lampard does make changes, the likes of Ross Barkley, Michy Batshuayi and Willian could be in line for a return to the starting eleven alongside the likes of Olivier Giroud and Jorginho. Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an outside chance for selection having recently returned from a long-term Achille’s injury, though the Englishman featured for the Blues’ U23 side last night.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are still without captain Jordan Henderson and Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri on Tuesday night while Naby Keita is targeting a return against Bournemouth on the weekend. However, Klopp is boosted by the return to fitness of James Milner with Joe Gomez also available after shrugging off a mild concern that saw him sit out at the weekend.

The Reds will also be without young winger Harvey Elliott who featured in the earlier rounds of the cup but is unavailable as he is set to feature for the U19s in Benfica on Tuesday afternoon. Klopp did confirm that Neco Williams and Ki-Jana Hoever have been training with the first-team and could feature against the Blues.

With changes likely, the likes of Adrian, Joel Matip, Adam Lallana, Curtis Jones, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino will fancy their chances of being given further minutes. The big question is whether Klopp rings wholesale changes and brings in the likes of Pedro Chirivella as well or whether a strong core is fielded to give the Reds a good chance of getting to the next round.

Prediction

The joy of the FA Cup is that it is hard to know what will happen in any given tie, especially when the strength of the starting elevens on show is questionable. While the Reds are undoubtedly in a stronger position right now than Lampard’s Chelsea, I think this tie is more significant for the Blues who might cause the Liverpool’s third loss in 2 weeks. I’ll go for a 2-1 win for Chelsea.

Lovren Should Not Be Scapegoated for Watford Loss

On Saturday night, Liverpool did something they had not done in more than 400 days – lost a game of Premier League football. The Reds’ run of 44 games unbeaten in the league stretched back to January 2019 and has seen the Reds race to an intimidating lead at the top of the table this season.

However, all of that came crashing down at Vicarage Road as Watford, who started the day in 19th place in the league, claimed a surprising, but thoroughly deserved, 3-0 win. The Hornets were simply the better team on the night and ensured that Liverpool’s hopes of an unbeaten season went up in smoke after 28 rounds.

Soon after full time, the club’s legions of social media supporters expressed their displeasure at a lacklustre performance with one man in particular subject to the ire of many online – Dejan Lovren. The Croatian started alongside Virgil van Dijk due to a slight injury sustained by Joe Gomez during the week but did not look comfortable against the physical presence of Troy Deeney.

Now don’t get me wrong, Lovren did not have a good game against Watford and arguably made small errors in the build-up to Watford’s first and third goals. Firstly, the Croat failed to deal with Adam Masina’s long throw before allowing mistiming his header to put Trent Alexander-Arnold under pressure in the build-up to the Hornets’ sealer.

However, neither goal would have happened without further, bigger errors from his teammates that enabled Watford to punish the Reds severely for their mistakes. Both van Dijk and Robertson could have done better to deal with the Hornets’ first while Alexander-Arnold really should have seen Ismaila Sarr lurking in a dangerous position on the third.

It is undeniable that the Reds missed both Gomez and captain Jordan Henderson who have both played a key role in Jurgen Klopp’s side since December. The English duo came to the fore just before Christmas and had arguably been the Reds’ 2 best players over the festive period making their absence at Vicarage Road felt keenly.

However, it is not as simple as blaming Gomez’s replacement for the Reds’ poor night – there were plenty of others in Red shirts who played worse than the Croatian. This was a poor team performance and should be treated as such, a moment where the runaway Premier League leaders suffered the sort of blip even the best sides experience.

In many ways, the defeat was reminiscent of the Reds’ 2-0 loss to Burnley in August 2016 with the Reds dominating possession on both nights but failing to create any real chances on goal. While Watford were even more deserving of this result than that Burnley side was, the fact is that these results can happen.

It worth remembering that Lovren had played just 90 minutes of football this year prior to Saturday afternoon with his only previous appearance coming in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury Town. The Croat’s lack of game time can not have helped his preparedness to deal with the threat of Deeney and co, especially as part of a side who looked surprisingly tired.

In truth, Lovren’s days at Anfield are likely numbered with the 30-year-old the obvious candidate to move on in the summer following interest from the likes of Roma last year. Now probably the 4th choice in defence, the former Southampton man will likely look for more regular game time – a fact that will upset few on the Kop.

However, no matter what you think of the Croatian defender who is equally capable of solid defending and horrendous errors, Saturday’s defeat was not his fault. Hopefully, the Reds will learn the lessons that were on display at Vicarage Road and recover in time for the Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid were another disjointed team performance will not be acceptable.

Player Ratings: Watford 3-0 Liverpool

While it was bound to happen at some point, Liverpool succumbed to their first defeat of the Premier League campaign in humiliating circumstances at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Nigel Pearson’s Watford outplayed the Premier League leaders in every aspect of their 3-0 win that saw the Reds’ dreams of an unbeaten league season abruptly ended.

The defeat also ended a run of 18 straight Premier League victories and 44 league games unbeaten for Jurgen Klopp’s men who will need to arrest their post winter break slide soon. The Reds have looked short of their early season best in recent weeks and while they still have a seemingly impenetrable lead at the top of the table, their recent form is more of a worry for their hopes of winning other silverware this term.

On the day in which the Reds put in arguably their worst performance of recent memory, it is natural that most of Klopp’s men had poor nights. Let’s take a look at those in particular who struggled at Vicarage Road.

Alisson Becker – 6/10

On a night where his side conceded 3 soft goals, the Brazilian wasn’t really to blame for any of the strikes the Reds conceded and will take issue with some of the defending in front of him. Did make one handling error on the stroke of halftime but recovered well to save from Troy Deeney – otherwise was restricted to picking the ball out of his net.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5/10

This was probably the young Scouser’s worst night in a Liverpool shirt since being torn apart by Marcus Rashford almost 2 years ago. Apart from the obvious error for the Hornets’ third on the night, Alexander-Arnold was also unusually wasteful with the ball and completed none of his 10 attempted crosses.

Dejan Lovren – 5/10

In the aftermath of the defeat, the Croatian was scapegoated by Liverpool fans for his poor performance on social media with Lovren having been dominated by Deeney all game. While the criticism was fair to some degree, and the Reds certainly missed Joe Gomez, Lovren was far from the worst in a Liverpool shirt and recorded 3 tackles and 3 clearances on the night.

Virgil van Dijk – 5.5/10

The Dutchman usually radiates composure throughout his teammates but looked uncharacteristically nervous and was arguably at least partly to blame for 2 Watford goals. First, van Dijk failed to deal with Aboulaye Doucoure on the right in the lead up to the Hornets’ first goal before being caught out by Ismaila Sarr’s pace for the second.

Andrew Robertson – 6/10

Robertson will wonder if he could have been better positioned to deal with Watford’s opener as Sarr stole a march on the Scot and prodded the Hornets’ into the lead. However, from an offensive point of view Robertson was probably the Reds’ best outlet on a poor night and could not be faulted for his work-rate and linkup play.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5/10

The Englishman looked to add impetus to the Liverpool midfield like he did against West Ham last week but struggled to find the right pass and was hooked just after the hour mark. While Oxlade-Chamberlain shouldn’t necessarily be faulted for attempted to drive his side forward, the former Arsenal man’s end product was close to non-existent at Vicarage Road.

Fabinho – 6.5/10

Probably the Reds’ best performer on a difficult night for the club, Fabinho did his job pretty much to perfection and would have every right to be disappointed with his teammates. The Brazilian kept the ball close to flawlessly at the base of midfield and couldn’t do much to prevent the Watford goals with Pearson’s side taking a more direct approach.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 5/10

The second of Liverpool’s 3 midfielders who had a poor night before being hauled off with half an hour to go, Wijnaldum was largely anonymous as the Reds kept passive possession of the ball. While the Dutchman kept above a 90.9% passing accuracy, it was no wonder that he was first to make way as Klopp looked for more cutting edge.

Mohamed Salah – 5/10

You could argue that the Egyptian was starved of service, with Salah recording just 36 touches during 90 minutes on the pitch and often cut a frustrated figure on the right-hand side. However, such analysis would be generous to Salah who was implicit in his side’s lack of threat against the side who started the day second bottom of the league.

Roberto Firmino – 5.5/10

Like Salah, the usually influential Brazilian struggled to get involved in the game at Vicarage Road and recorded a simply woeful 66.7% passing accuracy. Nothing seemed to work for Firmino whose close control went missing as he lost possession 3 times with heavy touches and gave away a couple of fouls.

Sadio Mane – 5/10

In a similar vein to both of his forward counterparts, Mane struggled to get involved against the Hornets’ and was well and truly outshone by Senegalese teammate Sarr. The former Southampton man has looked particularly rusty since his injury layoff earlier this month will want to put this performance behind him quickly.

Adam Lallana – 6.5/10

Lallana came off the bench with half an hour to go with his side already 2-0 down but added some spark to midfield before Deeney’s strike effectively ended the contest. The England international struck the outside of the post with a well-hit left-footed volley – the closest the Reds came all night.

Divock Origi – 5.5./10

The Belgian replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain for the last half hour or so but failed to have any particular impact on proceedings with his side already well beaten. Given the performances of the front 3, Origi will wonder what he has to do to get a start in the coming weeks.

Takumi Minamino – 6/10

The Japanese came on for a 12-minute cameo with the game already gone but showed some neat touches and wasn’t afraid to get on the ball. Should get more minutes in midweek in the FA Cup.

Ratings in full:

Match Preview: Watford v Liverpool

With just 4 more wins required to mathematically secure the Premier League trophy, Liverpool travel to struggling Watford on Saturday night looking to take another big step towards a drought-breaking league title. With 11 games to go, the Reds have the finish line in sight but will need to be careful they don’t take Nigel Pearson’s relegation candidates for granted.

Pearson is the Hornets’ third manager of the season with the Pozzo family sacking both Javi Gracia and his replacement Quique Sanchez Flores before the turn of the year. The former Leicester manager oversaw a short term upturn in form with Watford winning 4 of Pearson’s first 7 games in charge, though that optimism has rather abated in recent weeks.

That run was enough to take the Hornets from rock bottom and 6 points from safety in December to second bottom and just 1 point from safety come the end of February but Pearson’s men are far from out of the woods. Having failed to win any of their last 5 games in the league and knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One Tranmere, Watford still have a mountain to climb to maintain their Premier League status.

The Hornets’ struggles this seasons have come as somewhat of a surprise on the back of 4 consecutive Premier League seasons without ever finishing with less than 40 points or seriously in trouble. Last season was the best of the bunch with Watford finishing in 11th with 50 points and looking to push even higher up the table this season.

It wasn’t like Gracia lost a number of big-names in the transfer market that would explain the Hornets’ difficult season, though a lack of many big name additions may have seen their rivals make up ground. However, Watford have had some injury troubles losing club captain Troy Deeney for 9 games earlier in the season while right-back Daryl Janmaat has been absent since November with a knee injury.

To make matters worse for Pearson, Watford have a largely terrible record against the Reds in recent seasons which continued back in December at Anfield in the Englishman’s second game in charge. In fact, over the last 4 Premier League meetings between these sides, Liverpool have beaten the Hornets, on aggregate, 15-0 including to 5-0 drubbings at Anfield.

However, prior to that, the Hornets won a creditable point at Vicarage Road after a 3-3 draw on the opening day of the 2017/18 season and upset the Reds 3-0 in December 2015 at the same venue. While those are the Hornets’ only positive results against Liverpool since returning to the Premier League, those results show the Reds will need to be on their toes away from home.

One of Watford’s problems this season has been scoring enough goals to beat the drop with 24 in 27 games the equal worst record in the division and Deeney the club’s top scorer with just 5 strikes. Meanwhile, Gerald Deulofeu’s 4 goals and 5 assists marks him as the Hornet’s most creative player, though the Spaniard has once against experienced an inconsistent season.

With an easier run around the corner including 4 teams from the bottom half in their next 6 games, Watford’s relegation is far from a foregone conclusion. While a result against the Premier League leaders may be a steep task, the Hornets’ will take heart from the Reds’ slight dip since the winter break.

In between struggling to 1 goal victories against sides near the bottom of the table, Jurgen Klopp’s men succumbed to a 1-0 loss in Madrid that leaves work to do in the Champions League Round of 16 tie. In many ways, the fixture list could not have been kinder for Liverpool who host Bournemouth next week to complete 4 games in a row against sides in the bottom 5.

It won’t take Klopp’s phenomenal side long to kick back into top gear and with a record 19th-straight Premier League victory on the line, Watford may have to prepare for a tough night. With changes likely for the midweek FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea, the Reds will be able to focus on the task at hand and could give Pearson another tough night.

Team News

Pearson is back at close to a full squad to chose from with Janmaat returning to full training this week after more than 3 months out of the side through injury. In fact, the only player who Watford are definitely without fellow full-back Kiko Femenia who is also back in training but not yet match fit.

In their absence, Pearson has rotated centre-backs Craig Dawson and Adrian Mariappa on the right side of the defence with the rest of the back 4 relatively settled. Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue have been close to ever-present in midfield all season with Will Hughes or Nathaniel Chalobah likely to complete the side.

Out wide, Deulofeu is one of the first names on the team sheet from the left-hand side while Roberto Pereyra position on the right also seems relatively safe with Ismaila Sarr likely his closest competition. Finally, up front Deeney is Watford’s talisman and is the man who looks to make the rest of the side work, though Pearson may need to give him a strike partner in the coming weeks if goals remain an issue.

For the Reds, both captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner remain sidelined along with Xherdan Shaqiri, though those are the Reds’ only current injury concerns. In the absence of his designated leaders on the field, Klopp will more than likely again hand the captain’s armband to Virgil van Dijk meaning that there will be no leadership void at Vicarage Road.

With the visit to Stamford Bridge on the horizon and the likelihood that Klopp will heavily rotate for the FA Cup, expect the German to field a full-strength side as his side chase these last 4 wins. The likes of Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Divock Origi and Adrian will have to content themselves with minutes alongside the kids on Tuesday night with midfield the only really contentious selection.

It seems likely that Fabinho, still working his way back to full fitness, will anchor the midfield away from home with Georginio Wijnaldum also close to a certainty the 5th most minutes of any Liverpool player this season. Having made an impact from the bench against West Ham, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to complete the midfield though don’t be surprised if Klopp shows faith in Naby Keita after an indifferent performance against the Hammers.

Prediction

As with seemingly every week at the moment, it is hard to see how Watford can get anything out of this record-breaking Liverpool side, especially given the Hornets’ offence is coming up against the best defence in the league. Sooner or later the Reds will get back to their form from earlier this season and while that may not happen at Vicarage Road, I think the Reds will run out comfortable 2-0 winners on the night.

Player Ratings: Liverpool 3-2 West Ham

It wasn’t the result many were expecting, but Liverpool just about eaked out another victory at Anfield thanks to a second half comeback against West Ham. Jurgen Klopp’s men now need just 4 more wins to secure the Premier League title but were made to work for this result by a dogged performance from David Moyes’ relegation-threatened Hammers.

Let’s take a look at who impressed for the Reds and who has had better nights at Anfield.

Alisson Becker – 7.5/10

Alisson came up big in the dying moment secure the 3 points for his side with a big save from Hammers’ new boy Jarrod Bowen when the 23-year-old found himself one-on-one. However, the Brazilian arguably could have done better for West Ham’s first on the night and seemed distracted by Michail Antonio, though admittedly Issa Diop’s header was directed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)

Alexander-Arnold once again pulled the strings for the Reds and ended the game with 2 delightful assists which could have been every more on another night. The Scouser also almost found the back of the net from distance on a couple of occasions and made 3 tackles in a standout performance.

Joe Gomez – 6/10

This was not Gomez’s best night in a Liverpool shirt – the Englishman was beaten in the air by Diop for the Hammers first and seemed to lose his bearings for Pablo Fornals’ second. Compounding matters, Liverpool’s number 12 almost gifted Antonio a goal when he slipped in his own half, though his ambitious, deflected long-range strike eventually resulted in the Reds’ winner on the night.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10

Defensively, van Dijk looked a lot more secure than his defensive partner but was also somewhat to blame for the confusion that left Fornals completely unmarked for West Ham’s second. Could have scored at the end of the first half when his header clipped the top of the crossbar and was generally dominant aerially throughout.

Andrew Robertson – 8/10

On a mixed night for the Reds, Klopp’s fullbacks were both outstanding with Robertson providing an assist for Mohamed Salah, even though the Egyptian’s finish was lucky to find the net. The Scottish captain recorded 6 key passes, the same amount as Alexander-Arnold, and also defended well with 4 tackles, 1 interception and 2 clearances.

Fabinho – 6.5/10

Still looks slightly below his pre-injury best and was made to look particularly sluggish at times when the likes of Felipe Anderson and Fornals moved into his area of the pitch. As usual, the Brazilian kept things ticking in midfield with his simple but effective distribution and recorded 3 tackles on the night to break up play.

Naby Keita – 6.5/10

Another polarising performance from the polarising Guinean midfielder – Keita was withdrawn just before an hour after failing to take advantage of another chance in the first-team. Keita struggled to get involved at Anfield but showed signs of his immense quality at both ends of the park with 2 key passes and 5 tackles.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 7.5/10

Showed some of the predatory instincts he usually reserves for national team duty with a well-timed header to open the scoring, even if Lukas Fabianski should have done better. Wijnaldum also recorded a simply incredible 98% passing accuracy from 50 passes once again performed his role diligently for the good of the team.

Mohamed Salah – 7.5/10

Found the back of the net to equalise for the Reds in the second half but needed more than a slice of luck with his tame effort inexplicably finding it’s way past Fabianski. Salah still didn’t seem to have his shooting boots on and was mostly wasteful in front of goal but still finds himself in the right positions and will start finding the back of the net regularly soon.

Roberto Firmino – 6.5/10

Firmino had a poor night in front of goal and failed to even find the target from any of his 5 efforts on goal including an effort from just about under the crossbar. The Brazilian was still integral in his side’s build-up play and ultimately his misses didn’t prove costly but will need to make sure he takes these chances in the big games to come.

Sadio Mane – 7/10

Mane regularly looked a threat on the left-hand side and proved a handful for young Jeremy Ngakia drawing 3 fouls and completing 5 dribbles. The Senegalese international could have had a double on the night if not for straying offside from Alexander-Arnold’s late cross, though both efforts were tap ins.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7.5/10

Oxlade-Chamberlain added a new dimension to the Reds when he joined the fray with half an hour to go and played an instrumental part in Liverpool’s equaliser with his cross-field ball to Robertson. 2 key passes in his 30 minutes on the field are a sign of the creativity the English international offers for the Reds which will give Klopp something to think about.

Joel Matip – N/A

Came on in the dying minutes as Klopp looked to hold onto what was a tougher result than expected. While hope to get more substantial minutes in the coming weeks.

Ratings in full:

Match Preview: Liverpool v West Ham

For the second time in a month, Liverpool will take on relegation-threatened West Ham on Monday night in a clash that could have ramifications at both ends of the park. At the end of January, the Reds ran out 2-0 victors at the London Stadium with Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finding the back of the net for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

West Ham have still won just once in the Premier League since David Moyes returned to the club at the end of December and have slipped into the relegation positions in recent weeks. With a tough run of fixtures on the horizon, it seems unlikely that the Hammers will find themselves out of trouble any time soon with a trip to Anfield their latest concern.

Since the sides last met, Moyes’ men twice threw away a 2 goal lead against Brighton to draw 3-3 before losing convincingly to Manchester City last Wednesday. The Hammers were incredibly passive at the Etihad Stadium with just 22% possession and 0 shots on target and will need to show at least a little more ambition if they are to get a result against the Reds.

Meanwhile, Klopp’s men will be keen to bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Madrid which leaves them with plenty of work to do in the second leg next month. While Atletico Madrid may have provided a blueprint for how to stifle this Liverpool side, it seems unlikely that too many sides will be able to match the intensity of Diego Simeone’s men.

In fact, it seems more likely that the opposite might happen with the Reds keen to prove a point and make an example of a West Ham side that is low on confidence. Additionally, with just 4 more wins needed to secure the Premier League title, Klopp’s men will be focussed on the task at hand and it could prove to be a long afternoon for the visitors.

Interestingly, the Hammers rank in mid-table for most of the key stats usually used to judge the health of a side – 16th for shots per game (10.2), 16th for possession (46.4%) and 13th for pass accuracy (76.7%). Despite these stats, an inability to take their chances has seen the Hammers slide into relegation trouble with no easy route to safety.

For the Reds, Monday night’s game at Anfield is a chance to go 44 games unbeaten in the Premier League and equal Manchester City’s record of 18 straight victories in the process. That would put the Reds among the elite teams of the Premier League era in terms of statistics and within 3 wins of securing the Premier League title.

Team News

Having hobbled off with 10 minutes to go at the Wanda Metropolitano, Liverpool will be without captain Jordan Henderson on Monday night. The former Sunderland man sustained a hamstring injury in Madrid and will be out for around 3 weeks at a crucial stage of the season for his side – a particular worry given Henderson’s recent form.

Klopp is also still without Xhedan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne but otherwise has close to a full squad to chose from, especially with almost a week until the Reds next play. That gap should see the German field a strong eleven at Anfield with the elusive title getting closer and closer with each passing week.

While the back 4 and front 3 likely pick themselves, the big question is who starts in midfield, especially given Henderson’s absence and the Reds’ difficult night in Madrid. It is possible that both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will return to the Liverpool eleven in a more attacking lineup with either Georginio Wijnaldum or Fabinho to anchor the midfield.

For West Ham, Andriy Yarmolenko is still unavailable for selection while Ryan Fredericks is also doubtful having injured his shoulder against City. Otherwise, Moyes has close to a full squad to choose from with January signings Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek both in contention to add extra firepower to the Hammers attack.

Moyes has tended to opt for a back 5 since his return to the London Stadium with the combination of Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell regularly starting at the heart of the defence. Ahead of them, Mark Noble and Declan Rice are certain to start while new boy Soucek offers a physical presence in midfield.

Further forward, things are less clear cut with the likes of Sebastien Haller, Michail Antonio, Robert Snodgrass, Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Bowen in contention to start. Having not scored since his side’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the beginning of the year, Haller appears to have fallen out of favour though offers the best chance of the Hammers being able to hold up play.

Prediction

With West Ham in terrible form and Liverpool looking to avenge their defeat in Madrid, it is hard to see this one going any other way than another victory for Klopp’s men. While Moyes has indicated he will look to be more positive than at the Etihad last week, in truth that may well play into the Reds’ hands and take them without 3 wins of Premier League glory. I’ll go for a 3-0 win for Liverpool.