Tag: Alisson Becker

Player Ratings: Norwich 0-1 Liverpool

Liverpool overcame a resolute Norwich side 1-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday to ensure Jurgen Klopp’s men need just 5 more wins to secure the Premier League title. While the Reds dominated possession throughout, 64% at fulltime, the Canaries, currently bottom of the table, held the league leaders at 0-0 until 12 minutes from time.

Let’s take a look at who impressed most for the Reds on the night.

Alisson Becker – 7.5/10

The Brazilian made a vital interception in the first half with the score at 0-0 to deny Lukas Rupp from setting up Teemu Pukki for an easy tap in. Otherwise, Alisson had a quiet night and had to wait until the dying minutes for Norwich to register a shot on target which he snaffled with relative ease to secure a 10th clean sheet of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5/10

The young Scouser’s passing was a little off on the night with the right-back completing just 2 of his 14 crosses and 8 of his 18 long passes for an overall pass completion rate of 73.9%. May be somewhat excused by the blustery conditions which particularly played havoc with set-pieces but it still wasn’t a vintage night for Alexander-Arnold

Joe Gomez – 7/10

What threat Norwich were able to create usually came down the Liverpool flanks meaning that it was a quiet night for the Reds’ centre-backs – not that that will bother Gomez. The 22-year-old made 1 tackle and 1 clearance but was otherwise a spectator defensively while completing 89.5% of his passes on the night.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10

Like his centre-back partner, van Dijk had a quiet night at Carrow Road as his side dominated possession for large chunks of the encounter. The extent of the defending the Dutch captain had to do culminated in winning 3 headers while van Dijk also kept the ball well with 91.8% passing accuracy.

Andrew Robertson – 7.5/10

Robertson was a constant threat for the Reds down the left-hand side and seemed to click into another gear once regular partner in crime Sadio Mane joined the fray just before the hour mark. The Scot recorded 4 key passes and whipped a number of dangerous deliveries into the box that easily could have resulted in goals on another night.

Jordan Henderson – 8/10 (Man of the Match)

The Liverpool captain continued his recent good form with another fine display at the base of the Reds’ midfield that included a number of now trademark accurate long passes. Henderson put both Firmino and Alexander-Arnold in behind the Canaries defence prior to assisting Mane for the goal that continued the Reds’ winning run.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 6.5/10

It was a relatively quiet night for Wijnaldum who was shifted to the right of the midfield three to accommodate Naby Keita on the left and only recorded 36 touches in his hour on the park. Was almost played in behind in the first half after a delightful swivel by Roberto Firmino but couldn’t sort his feet out in time to round Christoph Zimmermann.

Naby Keita – 7.5/10

Making his first start in the Premier League since December, Keita had an excellent game and lasted 83 minutes before being withdrawn as the Reds sought to hold their narrow lead. Keita recorded 5 tackles, 2 dribbles and 1 key pass but will feel he should have scored when following in a Mohamed Salah effort only to see Tim Krul smother the ball at his feet.

Mohamed Salah – 7/10

Another mixed night for the Egyptian who was never afraid to get on the ball and created problems for Daniel Farke’s men but lacked his usual end product. For example, just 1 of Salah’s 4 shots was on target while the former Roma man also found himself running down blind alleys on a number of occasions.

Roberto Firmino – 8/10

Another man who has been in excellent form recently, Firmino was full of tricks and flicks and could have scored in the first half when he took down Henderson’s ball in the box beautifully but was crowded out by Norwich defenders. In this sort of form, the Brazilian is capable of making a chance out of nothing, though Firmino will be disappointed to have blazed a late chance wide.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6.5/10

While Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t have a poor game by any stretch of the imagination, the difference on the left-wing when Mane entered the fray was stark. The England international registered 2 key passes but didn’t really offer the direct threat in behind as his Senegalese teammate does, with the latter approach resulting in the Reds’ winner on the night.

Fabinho – 7/10

Replaced Wijnaldum with half an hour to go and slotted seamlessly into the Liverpool engine room and completed 84% of his passes including 3 out of 4 long passes. The Brazilian also added his typical bite at the base of midfield and helped his side pin the Canaries in with a tackle and an interception.

Sadio Mane – 7.5/10

I must admit I thought the Senegalese winger initially looked a little rusty upon his return from a 3-week injury absence but cometh the hour, cometh the man. Mane made his finish look ridiculously easy when it really wasn’t – the winger showed good strength to keep his markers at arms-reach before slamming home a crucial strike for his side.

James Milner – N/A

Another returning for an injury layoff, this time stretching back to the beginning of January, Milner returned to his customary role as the man to see a Liverpool victory over the line. The Englishman’s experience could prove to be key in the coming weeks and months.

Ratings in full:

What Could Liverpool’s Starting Eleven Look Like in 2030?

Towards the end of 2019, we went a little crazy on the end of the decade content and posted a number of articles including our team of the decade, goal of the decade and player of the decade. At that time, we also considered taking a look at how the Reds may look in 10 years time at the beginning of the next decade, 1 January 2030.

Given the performance of some of Liverpool’s youngsters in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, the future of the Reds in certainly very bright at the moment. Of course, it is close to impossible to predict which signings the Reds will make even this summer let alone in 10 years time, so we will focus on those still at the club for this eleven.

In effect, for the purpose of this article, we are going to assume that the Reds are hit with a 10-year transfer ban sometime between now and the end of the current season. In this imaginary universe, we have the option of any player currently contracted to the Reds as an option in our futuristic-looking team.

But without further ado, let’s get into the eleven, remembering that this is a bit of fun and none of the below is actually likely to happen.

Goalkeeper – Alisson Becker

So far, so familiar. While the Reds have a number of solid young ‘keepers right now including Caoimhin Kelleher and Kamil Grabara, we predict that Alisson will still be around in 10 years time. By far the oldest member of this eleven, the former Roma man will be 37 by the time 2030 rolls around but we back the Brazilian to take after the likes of Italian great Gianluigi Buffon who is still going at 42 years of age.

Right-Back – Neco Williams

Currently just 18 years of age, Welsh full-back Williams has been one of the biggest breakthrough stories of the season so far having risen from relative obscurity to become Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deputy at Anfield. While the youngster is yet to make his Premier League debut, expect that to change in the coming months with Williams likely to be at or near his peak at the turn of the next decade.

Centre-Back – Joe Gomez

This was probably one of the easiest choices in this entire eleven – currently aged 22, Gomez is already a key member of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad and has 94 appearances for the Reds. In 10 years time, the England international will still be in his prime as a defender and will be tasked with leading the defence after learning from Virgil van Dijk for a couple more years.

Centre-Back – Ki-Jana Hoever

We go from one of the easiest decisions in the eleven to one of the hardest with young Dutch centre-back duo Hoever and Sepp van den Berg fighting it out for one place in the side. Born within a month of each other either side of New Year’s Day, there is little to separate the promising defenders right now – we went with Hoever as the slightly younger of the two, leaving van den Berg as a more than capable backup in 2030.

Left-Back – Yasser Larouci

It’s another tricky decision at left-back where we considering including a 35-year-old Andy Robertson but decided we would need fresher legs on the flank in 10 years time. That left a choice between Larouci and Adam Lewis, with the Algerian the slightly younger and more promising of the duo getting the nod in what looks to be one of the weaker areas of the 2030 squad.

Central Midfield – Trent Alexander-Arnold

While I’m not necessarily convinced this move will happen in real life, Alexander-Arnold plays in central midfield in this parallel universe to accommodate Williams at right-back. Aged 31 at the beginning of 2030, the Scouser has all the attributes to succeed in midfield and will most likely follow in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard by captaining his boyhood club.

Central Midfield – Naby Keita

The oldest outfield member of this starting eleven, Keita will be 34 come the year 2030 and will have to break his run of injuries since joining Anfield in order to fulfil his potential – something which we back the Guinean to do. Keita is a complete midfielder and would have the ability to roam up and down the park while Alexander-Arnold sprays long passes from a deeper position.

Right-Wing – Harvey Elliott

It seems crazy to think that Elliott is still only 16 in real life given that the former Fulham man is already on the cusp of the first-team squad and will be the youngest member of this eleven in 2030 at the age of 26. While no players are guaranteed to live up to their potential, Elliott appears to be as close to a sure thing as they come and will be right at the peak of his powers in 10 years time.

Attacking Midfield – Harry Wilson

Currently in the middle of a season-long loan move to Bournemouth, Wilson appears unlikely to get an opportunity at Anfield in real life but is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this alternative universe. The Welsh international will turn 33 in March 2030 and has scored 7 goals for the struggling Cherries this season, most from long-range.

Left-Wing – Curtis Jones

Undoubtedly one of the talismans of this side, Curtis Jones is another who will be in his peak in 10 years time as a 28-year-old when the Reds enter the new decade. Has shown in recent weeks he is ready for first-team action already and his ability to play a number of positions should see him integrated into Klopp’s side more regularly from next season.

Striker – Rhian Brewster

The second of 2 players currently on loan away from Anfield, Brewster joined Championship side Swansea in January until the end of the season and has 2 goals in 7 appearances for the Welsh outfit at the time of writing. A regular star a youth level for England, big things are expected of the former Chelsea man who has recovered from a serious knee injury and will be 29 at the start of 2030.

Manager – Pepijn Lijnders

While we would love for Klopp to be at the club for another 10 years, the German’s current contract expires in 2024 with the former Dortmund coach unlikely to extend his stay on Merseyside beyond then. The two people most commonly linked to take over after Klopp are current assistant Lijnders and current Rangers manager Gerrard, with Lijnders the perfect choice for this eleven given he is already contracted to the Reds.

The Team in Full:

Alisson is the Best ‘Keeper in the World Right Now – and the Stats Prove it

On Wednesday night, Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 19 points with 14 games to go courtesy of a 2-0 victory against West Ham. While the end result, and in fact much of the 90 minutes at the London Stadium, was relatively routine for Jurgen Klopp’s men, the result could have been different without a certain big Brazilian in goal.

As the Hammers grew into the game in the second half, David Moyes’ men forced 3 crucial saves out of Liverpool number 1 Alisson Becker. While one was a relatively straight-forward parry from Declan Rice’s effort from the edge of the area, the other two were simply world-class, even if the former Roma man made them look easy.

First, Alisson plunged low to his left with a strong wrist to deflect Robert Snodgrass’ effort from the edge of the area around the post. Minutes later, the Brazilian was at it again to react to another Rice effort, this time with the Irishman’s head, and pull off a fine save having been momentarily wrong-footed.

The most remarkable aspect of both saves was the calm with which Alisson pulled them off – not only did the Brazilian ensure another clean sheet, he also settled those around him. A lessor ‘keeper may, and we mean may, have been able to pull such a save off, but right now no one in the world can do so with the authority Alisson possesses.

When Alisson was injured earlier in the season, the Brazilian’s brilliance was soon forgotten as his understudy Adrian defied expectations and did a good job between the sticks. The Spaniard conceded just 14 goals in 12 appearances for his new club and pulled off some crucial saves against Napoli in particular despite the Reds losing at the Stadio San Paolo.

However, despite taking a couple of weeks to come back to full match fitness, Alisson has demonstrated the difference between a good shot-stopper and a great ‘keeper. Add to the package that Alisson is also phenomenal with the ball at his feet, it is no wonder the Brazilian is held in such high regard at Anfield.

Even by his own lofty standards, Liverpool’s run of clean sheets in recent weeks has been nothing short of phenomenal – 8 in his last 9 Premier League appearances. Put another way, Alisson has conceded just 1 goal in his last 810 minutes of league action and is currently equal top of the league for clean sheets despite having played just 16 games.

In those 16 starts for the Reds, which includes the 39 minutes before his injury against Norwich and 75 minutes against Brighton before being sent off, Alisson has faced 40 shots on target. Incredibly, the Brazilian has saved 34 of those shots representing an 85% save percentage, the highest in the league by some way.

As a comparison, Adrian has a save percentage of 64% from 25 shots on target while Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga has the lowest percentage in the league at just 53.6%. The comparison with Arrizabalaga is stark – Chelsea broke the record transfer fee for a goalkeeper Liverpool had set to bring Alisson to Anfield but the pair have had dramatically different fortunes on the field.

Interestingly, Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson ranks second in terms of save percentage with 75.3%, better than David de Gea’s 66.7% at parent club Manchester United. The Englishman also ranks second to Alisson in terms of goals conceded per 90 minutes with 0.87 while the Brazilian has conceded a mere 0.39 goals per 90 minutes.

Further, while Alisson has conceded 6 goals from the 40 shots in the Premier League, according to stats website FBref, the Brazilian could have been expected to concede 10.4 goals. That means that Alisson has made 4.4 saves he wouldn’t have been expected to, 0.29 extra saves per game which places him second in the league behind Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka.

Put another way, every 3 games or so, Alisson pulls off a world-class save to deny a ‘certain’ goal-scoring opportunity – for reference both de Gea and Arrizabalaga have conceded goals more than expected. Finally, the Brazilian has completed 53.9% of his passes longer than 40 yards, the second-highest in the league.

Add into the equation the Brazilian’s assist for Mohamed Salah a fortnight ago against Manchester United and we begin to get the picture of the influence Alisson has on his side. Also adept at coming off his line quickly to stifle opposition attacks in their tracks, the former Roma man’s influence on Klopp’s men cannot be understated.

But while all that may prove that Alisson is the best all-round ‘keeper in the Premier League right now, how does the Brazilian compare to those in Europe’s other top 5 leagues? Well, unsurprisingly, he fares pretty well – for starters no other ‘keeper comes close to his 85% save percentage (Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon comes second with 78.6%).

Further, only Keylor Navas and Thibaut Courtois have kept a higher proportion of clean sheets, each while conceding more goals in the process and in arguably weaker leagues. Finally, the Brazilian’s out-performance of his expected goals conceded ranks him in the top half dozen in Europe, a fine achievement for a man who faces relatively few shots per game.

All things considered, this season Alisson has returned to the level Liverpool fans became used to at the back end of last season and is the most complete goalkeeper in world football right now. On Wednesday, he did what he had to do and with minimum fuss, but do not let the lack of frills fool you – we are witnessing arguably the greatest ‘keeper to ever grace Anfield.

Player Ratings: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool have stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 19 points following an ultimately comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium. Jurgen Klopp’s men were rarely troubled in the first half and took a 2-0 lead just after half time before holding off a late second half Hammers recovery.

Let’s take a look at who impressed the most for the Reds on a night in which Klopp’s men reached 70 points faster than any team in Europe’s top 5 leagues has ever done before.

Alisson Becker – 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)

Alisson was called into action on a couple of occasions in the second half but dealt with everything the Hammers had to throw at him to maintain another clean sheet. The Brazilian’s saves against Robert Snodgrass and Declan Rice were particularly outstanding while the former Roma man distributed the ball well as always.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10

Played a part in the opening goal for his side with a lofted ball over the West Ham defence for Roberto Firmino to control but otherwise found his delivery slightly off at the London Stadium. Dealt with Arthur Masuaku relatively well whenever the Congolese wing-back got forward.

Joe Gomez – 8/10

Another strong performance from the English centre-back who must now be well and truly in contention to start for the Three Lions at Euro 2020 after his recent run of form. Used his recovery pace well to cancel out Sebastien Haller and makes defending look easy with his reading of the game and comfort on the ball.

Virgil van Dijk – 7.5/10

Enjoyed somewhat of an aerial battle with Haller which on balance the former Southampton man came out on top of with 5 headers and 4 clearances. Also passed the ball well with 92% passing accuracy and 5 completed long balls out of 9 attempted.

Andrew Robertson – 8/10

Robertson enjoyed one of his better performances in recent weeks at the London Stadium and looked to be a constant threat down the left-hand side. combined well with Mohamed Salah to create a chance for Firmino in the second half that was well saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Jordan Henderson – 7.5/10

Henderson again showed his worth to Klopp’s side with another impressive performance which encompassed three different positions – defensive midfielder, number 8 and right back. The Liverpool captain also made 2 tackles and 3 interceptions while completing 6 of his 10 attempted long passes.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 8/10

Another who played multiple positions on the night, Oxlade-Chamberlain started in the midfield three but ended up on the left-hand side once Divock Origi was withdrawn. The English international finished off a sweeping counter-attack early in the second half with a neat finish that effectively ended the game as a contest.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10

Presented West Ham with a gilt-edged opportunity to get back into the game when his pass found Lanzini on the edge of the area only for Alisson to bail the Dutchman out. However, that was the only blip on the night as Wijnaldum otherwise maintained 93.9% pass completion and drove his side forward with 2 dribbles and 1 key pass.

Mohamed Salah – 8.5/10

The Egyptian ends the night with a goal and an assist but it could have been more after Salah struck the base of the upright in the closing stages. Still doesn’t look quite at his best but took the penalty well to give Fabianski no chance before timing his pass for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s second to perfection.

Roberto Firmino – 8/10

Once again Firmino was excellent on the night and popped up all over the field to cause problems for the Hammers, none more so than when he kept the ball from Angelo Ogbonna to set up his side’s first on the night. Also could have scored twice on the night, but was denied the first by a fine low save from Fabianski before skewing the second wide after skinning Masuaku in the second half.

Divock Origi – 7.5/10

Handed a rare Premier League start by Klopp, Origi looked sharper than he did against Shrewsbury at the weekend and won the penalty for his side with a nice control before being hacked down. Also tested

Fabinho – 6/10

Came off the bench for Origi with 22 minutes to go and again looked rusty on the ball. Presented a decent chance to Rice within minutes of his introduction and needs to get back up to speed as soon as possible.

Naby Keita – 6.5/10

The Guinean made his first appearance of 2020 and looked okay during his 13-minute cameo when the game was already won. Will hope to be back up to speed and ready to go when the Reds return from the winter break at Norwich.

Curtis Jones – N/A

Making just his second Premier League appearance for the Reds, Jones looked comfortable during his limited time on the pitch. Is well deserving of more first-team minutes given his Carabao and FA Cup heroics so far this season.

Ratings in full:

Brazilian Duo Shine as Reds Run Goes On

At either end of the park, it was a pair of Brazilian’s who shone brightest on Saturday as Liverpool held off a late surge by Tottenham to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to 38 games. While we have already spoken earlier this week about the Reds truly unprecedented form over the last 12 months, today we thought we’d focus on the exploits of two of Jurgen Klopp’s most in-form players.

The form of Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker far predates Liverpool’s ultimately narrow victory at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – both have been excellent during that last month or so for the Merseysiders. After a mid-season dip and a long-term injury respectively, the duo have come back to the boil at just the right time for Klopp to ensure their side navigated the festive fixtures successfully.

Let’s start with Firmino who has recovered from his 9-game goal drought earlier in the season to score 5 in his last 6 games for the Reds including two vital goals at the FIF Club World Cup. While the former Hoffenheim man’s game is about far more than pure goal-scoring, Firmino’s 4 goals over the opening 4 months of the season was low even by his standards.

Throughout the Brazilian’s dip, Klopp held no concerns about Firmino’s form even if the man himself was his own biggest critic and even apologised to his manager for missing some presentable chances against Spurs. While it is true that on another day Liverpool’s number 9 could have scored a few at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it took a brilliant goal-line from 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga to stop the Brazilian opening the scoring early on.

Interestingly, all 9 of Firmino’s goals this season have come away from Anfield, including 2 in Qatar, a brace against Leicester and important strikes against Chelsea and Southampton. Even more remarkably, 6 of the Brazilian’s 9 goals have proved the difference for his side in close games including late winners against Crystal Palace, Monterrey and Flamengo.

During his recent run of form, Firmino has also averaged more than 1 key pass per game while making a more intangible impact with his clever movement creating space for those around him. It is no wonder that Klopp was never worried by the Brazilian’s goal-scoring record with his recent purple patch in front of goal merely augmenting his excellent overall performances.

Meanwhile, Fimino’s Selecao teammate Alisson has been just as crucial for the Reds in recent weeks after initially looking shaken upon his return from injury. The former Roma shot-stopper was notably sent off against Brighton at the end of November when he was indecisive in coming off his line and handled the ball outside his penalty area but has returned to the Alisson we know in the last month.

In this regard, the stats do not lie with Alisson having kept a remarkable 8 clean sheets in his last 9 appearances for the Reds including a run of 6 in a row in the Premier League dating back to his return from suspension against Bournemouth. Having not kept a single clean sheet before December, the Brazilian is now equal fifth on the Premier League clean sheet table with the Reds having now conceded 7 fewer goals than the second-best defence in the league.

While those stats are impressive, the real influence Alisson permeates through the Liverpool defence is his calm demeanour which has made the trademark jitters of the past a distant memory. While the Brazilian’s tendency to sweep behind his defenders has been well documented and is certainly key to the high line the Reds play, Alisson’s superb handling can be underrated at times.

Against Spurs, the Liverpool number 1 face a number of late efforts from Jose Mourinho’s men but Alisson not only dealt with seeming ease, he also managed to hold onto the ball. In an era where most ‘keepers feel it is safer to punch or parry the ball, Allison’s ability to not only save but hold onto the ball helps to settle those around him and ensures that the Reds get possession of the ball.

While the Brazilian has rarely been called into a spectacular save during the past month, Alisson’s positioning, handling have all been top-notch and give the Reds an incredibly strong base upon which to build. In a team that rarely relies on one individual performer, Firmino and Alisson have come to the fore since December and will hope to continue that form in the Reds’ next fixture at home to Manchester United at the weekend.

Improved Defensive Stability Key as the Reds Chase Invincible Season

Whisper it quietly, and yes there are still 18 more games to go before the end of the 2019/20 Premier League season, but there is a chance that Liverpool could go the entire season unbeaten. While Jurgen Klopp’s men still have a long way to go before they can become just the second team in the Premier League era to go an entire season without losing, their recent form at the back gives more reasons to be positive about their chances.

When Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal went unbeaten in the 2003/04 season, thus earning the nickname ‘The Invincibles’, the Gunners combined the meanest defence in the league with a potent attack. While Thierry Henry and Robert Pires fired the goals that brought home the title, a back four of Lauren, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and Ashley Cole was arguably the best the Premier League had ever seen.

Looking at Jurgen Klopp’s current first-team squad at Anfield, there has never been any question that the front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has the firepower to win a league title. However, while each has the ability to win a game with a moment of individual brilliance, it is often said that defences win trophies and that is even truer when talking about the elusive unbeaten season.

Up until recently, despite their stellar form in the league, Liverpool had a tendency to leak silly goals and had not yet been truly punished for their occasional lapses at the back. While usually good enough to secure the three points this season, as evidenced by 19 wins from 20 league games, there was a feeling that a defeat was coming.

Over the first 4 months of the season and up until the 5-2 victory over Everton in the first week of December, the Reds had kept just 3 clean sheets in all competitions (2 in the league and 1 in the Carabao Cup). However, since then the Reds have kept 7 in 9 games with that run including the 5-0 loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and 5 straight shutouts in the Premier League.

Even more impressively, that run has coincided with an injury crisis which has seen Klopp shorn of Fabinho, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip, all of whom had been key during their runs in the side. While the likes of Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson have stepped up in the absence, the Reds recent run is as much down to a new-found maturity as it is individual excellence.

Where before Klopp’s men seemed liable to creak under late pressure, the Reds have shown an ability over the past month to manage games effectively and give their opponents limited chances to score. During this run, Alisson has been close to a spectator as the 10 players in front of him relentlessly win the ball back and starve their opponents of field possession.

For example, over the course of the season, Liverpool have conceded an average of 9.2 shots against in the Premier League and 8.2 in the Champions League. However, against before Leicester and Sheffield United, the Reds conceded just 3 shots in each game with the Foxes unable to record a single shot on target and the Blades managing just 2.

Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United were the latest to fall foul of the Reds strangulation policy with the Blades’ manager admitting his side didn’t lay a glove on the Premier League leaders at Anfield. Despite a late blip that presented Oli McBurnie a golden opportunity to pull one back for his side, the Blades were played off the park and could not match the intensity of Klopp’s Reds.

Having played 5 games on 2 continents in a little over 2 weeks, and with a squad currently riddled by injury, the dip in intensity towards the end on Thursday night was understandable. In fact, that this was the first sign of fatigue is a testament to the fitness Klopp has instilled in his squad with the help of fitness coach, and part-time Klopp look-alike, Andreas Kornmayer.

With tougher tests to come for the Reds, starting with a first visit to the new Tottenham Stadium next weekend, it is, of course, far too early to say whether the Reds can continue their form into the second half of the season. However, if they can maintain their new-found defensive composure that will go a long way towards ending the 30-year title drought and may even end with a new ‘The Invincibles’ on the block come May.

Player Ratings: Monterrey 1-2 Liverpool

Liverpool have overcome a stubborn and resolute Monterrey side, the reigning CONCACAF Champions League Winners in order to set up a showdown with Brazilian side Flamengo on Saturday. An injury-hit Liverpool defensive necessitated Jurgen Klopp to field a makeshift backline which struggled at times to deal with the direct and pacey approach of their Mexican opponents.

However, the Reds did enough in the end to squeak through to the final and a chance to lift the Club World Cup for the first time in their history, breaking Monterrey hearts in the process. Let’s take a look at the key performers for the Reds on the night.

Alisson Becker – 9/10 (Man of the Match)

With a makeshift defence in front of him, the Brazilian was called into action more frequently than he may have hoped but the former Roma man stood up excellently to keep Mexican side at bay. Makes relatively difficult saves look easy with his positioning and quick reactions and was a little unlucky to see another fine save fall to the feat of Rogelio Funes Mori for the Monterrey equaliser.

James Milner – 7/10

In his 200th game for the club, Liverpool’s Mr Reliable again put in a solid performance in an unfamiliar position and probably looked the most assured at the back for the Reds. Involved in the build-up for the opener and could have scored himself went played in behind the Monterrey defence only to see Marcelo Barovero save his effort well.

Joe Gomez – 7/10

Asked to lead a makeshift defence in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Gomez struggled at times with Monterrey’s direct approach but largely settled as the game wore on. Was positive on the ball and started a number of attacks driving into midfield on a night where Liverpool played 6 midfielders but lacked creativity at times. Could have seen red for a second half handball when already on a caution to the chagrin Monterrey manager Antonio Mohamed, though it was probably the correct call to give the Englishman the benefit of the doubt.

Jordan Henderson – 6/10

The Liverpool captain is clearly not a centre-back and while the Reds’ longest-serving player did a willing job for his side in the midst of an injury crisis, Henderson never looked comfortable. Appeared to lose Funes Mori in the lead up to the Argentine’s goal and will hope that Virgil is fit and ready to go before the Reds met Flamengo on Saturday.

Andrew Robertson – 6/10

Another who seemed to really miss the presence of a big Dutch centre-back alongside him, Robertson was given a difficult time by Monterrey captain Dorlan Pabon on the left-hand side of the Reds defence. Was bailed out by Alisson on a couple of occasions and seemed to hesitate in the build-up to Monterrey’s goal.

Adam Lallana – 6/10

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record but while Lallana has shown some of the qualities of a ball-playing defensive-midfielder in his limited playing time this season, the former Southampton man was exposed defensively in front of a makeshift back 4. Kept the ball well as the Reds held 69% of possession but was drawn out of position far too easily.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6/10

On a night where Klopp was forced into naming a starting eleven full of creative midfielders, Oxlade-Chamberlain was arguably the quietest of the bunch and struggled to find space to operate in. Largely on the periphery of the game throughout though he did put in a shift defensively in the absence of the likes of Milner, Henderson or Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield.

Naby Keita – 8/10

Had the composure to apply a fine finish to give the Reds a first half lead and could have had a second when his quick feet in the second half put him through again only for Barovero to make a solid save. By far the most positive of the Liverpool midfielders on the night, Keita showed Liverpool fans exactly what he can bring to the side, though it remains to be seen whether the Guinean can operate alongside Oxlade-Chamberlain in a midfielder three.

Mohamed Salah – 9/10

The Egyptian King was greeted by a loud cheer every time he touched the ball, which was quite a lot as the Reds looked to get their talisman involved as much of possible in the absence of his usual strike partners. Set up Keita’s goal with a beautiful defence-splitting pass, repeated the trick to put Milner through later in the half and played a key role in Roberto Firmino’s winner as well for good measure.

Divock Origi – 6/10

Started through the middle but struggled to get involved in the game and ended up on the left flank before being replaced by the match-winner, Firmino, with 5 minutes to go. Seems to put together his best work off the bench and can go missing when asked to deputise through the middle – an issue Klopp will likely need to address in the transfer market either next month or in the summer.

Xherdan Shaqiri – 6/10

Another who struggled to get involved against a side who were content to give the Reds the ball before looking to hit back on the counter-attack. Shaqiri started on the left but drifted all over the front third in search of the ball, often to no avail, and was the first to be hooked looked to change things to find a winner.

Sadio Mane – 7/10

Looked bright in his 20 or so minutes on the pitch and certainly got involved more than Shaqiri or Origi as the Reds pressed for a late winner. Strung the palms of Barovero with a rasping left-footed effort after wiggling his way free on the inside left channel.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10

His quality deliveries were missed in the first half as the Reds struggled to break down a resolute Monterrey defence. Came on for the final 15 minutes and provided the moment of quality that took his side to the final with a perfectly measured cross along the ground for Firmino to finish.

Roberto Firmino – N/A

The Brazilian spent a measly 5 minutes on the pitch, not long enough to get a rating here but enough time to ensure his side avoided a draining extra time period with basically his only contribution. Took the finish well too though it was put on a plate for him by Alexander-Arnold.

Ratings in full:

Ballon d’Or 2019: 4 Reds in the Top 10 but Messi Claims Another Award

Virgil van Dijk has finished second in the voting for the 2019 Ballon d’Or, with Lionel Messi taking home the prize in a ceremony in Paris on Monday night. The Dutchman became the first Liverpool player to crack the top 3 in Ballon d’Or voting since Fernando Torres in 2008 and became the second Reds’ star to finish runner up after Kenny Dalglish in 1983.

The centre-back was joined in the top ten by Sadio Mane (fourth), Mohamed Salah (fifth) and Alisson Becker (seventh), with the latter also taking home the Yachine trophy for best goalkeeper. Roberto Firmino (seventeenth), Trent Alexander-Arnold (nineteenth) and Georginio Wijnaldum (twenty-sixth) rounded out the Liverpool nominees on a glittering night for the club.

Some may feel van Dijk was unlucky to miss out on the top prize after an individual season that saw him lead his club to Champions League glory and his nation to a Nations League final. The former Southampton man has been a colossus for the Reds ever since his arrival and came as close to the award as any defender since Fabio Cannavaro somewhat controversially claimed top spot in 2006.

The race at the top was incredibly tight, with only 7 points separating Messi and van Dijk with Cristiano Ronaldo more than 200 points behind in third place. However, while Liverpool fans will be disappointed with the end result, it is hard to argue with the brilliance of the man who pipped Virgil to a record sixth Ballon d’Or.

It can be easy to forget the superhuman ability of Barcelona’s Argentine number 10 given that he posts phenomenal numbers each and every year. However, even by his lofty standards Messi was imperious last season and almost single handedly brought the La Liga title home with 36 goals in 34 appearances.

Further, while his Champions League campaign ended in heartbreak at Anfield, the La Masia graduate took the Reds apart at Camp Nou in the first leg and found the back of the net with an unstoppable free-kick. If anyone was to pip van Dijk to this award, it is fitting that it was one of the greatest players of all-time, one who we may never truly appreciate until he is gone.

Liverpool News Roundup – New Balance, Nike and The Best FIFA Awards

Over the past three seasons, it is fair to say that Liverpool have gone from strength to strength both on and off the field, with clubs overall health in great shape right now. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Red’s perfect start to the Premier League season is being mirrored by positive news away from Anfield in both player recognition and financial terms.

Let’s start with the imaginatively named The Best FIFA Football Awards, where Jurgen Klopp and Alisson Becker brought home personal accolades to further cap a fantastic 12 months on the pitch for the Reds. Klopp was acknowledged as the Best Men’s Coach ahead of Premier League rivals Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola while Alisson took home Best Men’s Goalkeeper after a stunning debut season on Merseyside.

Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk finished as runner-up for the top gong of the night, the Best Men’s Player, which was taken home by Barcelona star Lionel Messi. While van Dijk would have been a worthy recipient of the award, it is hard to begrudge Messi who almost single-handedly guided his side to another La Liga title.

However, the biggest shock of the night came in the team of the year where Real Madrid trio Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Luka Modric all featured despite poor personal seasons. The inclusion of Marcelo in particular is strange given the performances of Liverpool’s own Andrew Robertson, though the results are indicative of the fact that players and managers vote for the awards (for example, Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t vote for van Dijk or Messi…).

Off the field, rumours continue to abound about Liverpool’s kit supplier starting from 2020/21 when the current deal with New Balance expires. Firstly, reports have re-emerged overnight suggesting that the club is on the verge of signing a deal worth around £70 million with Nike, rumours of which had first surfaced around a month ago.

Not long after, a club spokesperson confirmed that New Balance had commenced legal proceedings against the club. While Liverpool did not comment further on the matter, it is believed that Boston-based sports manufacturer has filed a lawsuit against the Reds for breach of contract relating to a potential move to Nike.

New Balance are said to have attempted to trigger a contractual clause allowing them to match Nike’s bid and remain as the club’s kit supplier. Such clauses are very common in business deals and if there is one in the current contract between New Balance and the club, it is hard to see how the club can get out of such an arrangement.

This is definitely a story to watch for Liverpool fans, though either way, it seems the club are set for a massive increase on the previous kit deal in the region of £25 million. It is also positive that there seems to be genuine competition for the Red’s business, though only time will tell whether New Balance can successfully intercept what otherwise seems to be an impending switch to Nike.

Why the FIFA World11 Nominations are a Joke

FIFA have announced their shortlist for the 2019 FIFPro Men’s World11, with Jurgen Klopp’s European Champions rewarded with seven inclusions. Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah represent the Reds on the shortlist for the team that will be announced on 23 September in Milan.

Van Dijk has also been nominated for Best Men’s Player alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, while Klopp is up against Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino for Best Men’s Coach. The plethora of nominations are a just reward after a stellar campaign by Klopp’s men who came so close to a Premier League and Champions League double.

However, with the list of nominees stretching to 55 players, enough for five full teams, the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Joel Matip can consider themselves unlucky to have missed out. This becomes even more apparent when you consider some of those who did make the cut – most notably demonstrated by Real Madrid’s 8 nominations.

Los Merengues had a season to forget in 2018-19, finishing 19 points behind Barcelona and in third place in La Liga, while crashing out of the Champions League to Ajax in the Round of 16. Despite this, Real are second only to Barcelona’s 9 nominations for the World11 with many of their players making the list on reputation and past performance.

This is no more evident than in defence where the entire Los Blanco’s back four make the list despite conceding 46 La Liga goals and looking a shadow of their former selves. 31-year-old left-back Marcelo looked particularly below par and found himself in and out of the team on course to registering just 21 La Liga starts.

To suggest that Marcelo has been among the best 5 left-backs in the world this year is just blatantly wrong and Brazilian has seemingly relied on former glories. The same could be said of 33-year-old centre-back Sergio Ramos who was suspended as Real crashed out of the Champions League while midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric both also had their worst seasons in recent memory.

That a large number of players made the list on past performance and reputation alone makes a mockery of the entire process, though it is hard to expect a different outcome when players themselves vote for the award. Real weren’t the only ones to profit, with the likes of Arturo Vidal, David de Gea and Dani Alves lucky to be included on based on their past 12 months.

Meanwhile, the confusing selections continue even at the top where Manchester City, probably the best club team in the world last season, as evidenced by their Premier League title, also only have seven inclusions. More bafflingly, Kevin De Bruyne does make the list despite being restricted to just 11 league starts through injury.

The Belgian is one of the best players in the world when fit, but his injury-ravaged season means his inclusion ahead of the likes of Fernandinho and David Silva is hard to justify. These kinds of decisions make the entire event seem silly and has seen any significant performance outside of the current European elite ignored in favour of the established big-name stars.

Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is perhaps the most unfortunate to miss out on a nomination after scoring 22 goals on route to sharing the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season with the Gunners. Meanwhile, the likes of Duvan Zapata, Lucas Digne, Bruno Fernandes, Nicolas Pepe and Liverpool legend Iago Aspas also had excellent seasons outside the Champions League elite but miss out due to the big club bias.

We can only hope that the eventual eleven named on 23 September is a little more true to last seasons form than the list of nominees released by FIFA. While the Liverpool players and fans should be proud of our seven inclusions, a sign of the progress the club has made under Klopp, the award cannot be taken too seriously in its current form given the shortlist produced.

While I obviously hope all seven eligible Liverpool players are named in the FIFA Men’s World11, for the record, based on those now eligible, I think the team could/should look like this: