Liverpool may be heading for heartbreak, but what a ride…

Ian Watson

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com…

One step closer
Watching Liverpool’s victory over Southampton I was struck by the sense that their run towards the title this season has been infinitely more exhilarating than Man City’s.

In the opening 20 minutes against Saints, Liverpool were run ragged, and could (probably should) have been 2-0 down, if Shane Long hadn’t fluffed his chance at a second. If you showed someone a video of those 20 minutes you’d reasonably expect them to think that Southampton were the team chasing the title and Liverpool were languishing just above the relegation zone.

I struggle to think of a similar stretch in any Man City game this season. This, of course, is because City are an exceptionally talented and well drilled team, and one built on dominating possession to create chances. That doesn’t in any way detract from what they’ve done, nor the beauty of the football that they play, but it does mean that there’s a sense of their victories being almost perfunctory. The rare draw or loss for City feels cataclysmic because they are so utterly dominant that it’s almost impossible to conceive of them dropping points.

By contrast, Liverpool’s high tempo style has led them to struggle in so many games this season because the play is so open. Yet, by sheer determination (and a healthy dose of luck), they have managed to consistently snatch critical points to keep themselves in the hunt. Moments like the late OG against Tottenham and Origi’s utterly mental winner against Everton are more thrilling than anything that City has produced this season precisely because, even at their worst, City always look like the team that deserves to win.

Make no mistake, City have one hand on the trophy and their destiny is in their hands. But regardless of which team ultimately takes the title, this has been the most exciting season I can recall in more than 20 years of Liverpool fandom, comfortably eclipsing their nearly years of 2008/2009 and 2013/2014. Personally I’d probably be better off if Liverpool made winning look as easy as City do and spared my heart the stress, but this season has kept me on the edge of my seat at every moment, and I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
Andrew English (LFC in LA)

 

…This Liverpool team is something else. I wouldn’t say there’s an inevitability in it all because actually we manage to spend large chunks of games making mistakes and being wasteful in possession but there is some kind of deep rooted never-say-die attitude coursing through the lot of them.

Let’s also be honest with ourselves; for about half the season that midfield 3 he selected has been our nirvana. It’s been the wet dream midfield of most of our fan base. In fairness Keita has been injured but otherwise it was a bit poo. Maybe at times it felt like Wijnaldum and Keita were both trying to be too forward thinking which left us overawed in the middle a lot. I can’t have been the only one to have been happy to see Hendo coming off the bench to add a bit of steel and discipline.

Salah is curious. He’s a professional footballer who spent most of the first hour of the game consistently losing possession under little pressure because of his own poor touch. But in the middle of looking like a competition winner someone pings one in to him at waist height in the box and he back heels it in midair perfectly to Firmino. The goal itself was magnificent. With the weight of about 3m Liverpool fans worldwide screaming for him to lay it off to Mane and he just sinks it into the far corner.

It’s frustrating that we fight just to keep from sinking. But ultimately now we have reached the section of the season where, if it were to go wrong for City, it would surely be here. We have an equally tough game against Chelsea next but at least we don’t have the congestion of fixtures that Man City do plus the Spursx3 and Man Utd to deal with.

Come on Harry Kane!!!
Minty, LFC

 

…I find myself listening to, or watching, this Liverpool side and thinking to myself…”ah, this is where their luck is going to run out…”. Again tonight, against a Saints much truer to the sum of their parts than under previous management, I found myself thinking – here is where teams sitting in will finally find them out. Somehow though, they find a way to win.

Then I start to ask myself this really simple question – is it luck or just a really, really good side. They’ve lost once all season to what most would accept was a tactical error on their part and a strong performance from City. They could conceivably end the season losing one game and not winning the title. Lets face it, it has been said before but in almost any other season they’d be winning the title at a canter. This is some side. That doesn’t mean that City don’t have a better one, we’ll only know that at the end of the year now. But blimey, it has been a long time since we’ve had the Top 2 sides in the country really quite this excellent for this long.

I still kinda expect myself to be thinking the same thing for the Chelsea game though, when its 65 minutes in and 0-0 still (delighted that Sarri has pushed Hazard out wide to allow Higuain a nice warm seat in VvD pocket for the evening).
Matthew

 

Henderson relish
Ok let’s make hay while sun is shining.

Fabinho comes on in game Liverpool are drawing against difficult opposition. Doesn’t do that much. Is not involved in very fortunate winning goal.

Result – Massive clamour he starts every game.

Henderson comes on in game Liverpool are drawing against easier opposition. Shows remarkable quick thinking and claims an assist. Oh and scores.

Result – Massive realisation that actually he isnt always the reason Liverpool dont win matches? And that when unleashed from defensive duties hes actually got a lot more in his armoury? (As we saw with England last week)

Personally I think Fabinho, Henderson and Keita/Lallana would be Liverpools best midfield (Ox when fit). Once upon a time football365 rated Henderson highly and that was when he had Gerrard behind him. In fact I remember a certain Daniel Storey saying his absence in those final few games in 2014 were the reason Liverpool didnt win the league.

Wijnaldum has been coasting on a few very good early performances earlier in the season (guessing that sentence would be your headline for this letter if published) and hasn’t actually been that great. Hes played less forward passes than Hendo you know this season… hes obviously not bad but declaring love for Wijanudum has become a fashionable sort of avocado esque thing to do (although avocados do seem to now be suffering a backlash).
Howard (not Jordan Henderson) (I really like avocados but am concerned about the carbon footprint)

 

…It’s extremely difficult to accurately pin down exactly what Henderson brings to this team. Passion yes, but that wins you Jack S#/t. Then the commentator here in SA said something that stayed with me:

‘Henderson made it his…’

One of the reasons this was important was because in the first half Mo did something (or in fact didn’t do something) and I shouted at the TV: ‘MAKE IT YOURS!’. He didn’t.

Hendo did that for the assist, he did it for the goal. It’s an important attribute at a time when you have to make things happen.
Barry, LFC

…Jordan Henderson would have never had the thought to make that run before he was coached by Gareth Southgate.

England giving it back.
Sam, LFC (What a rollercoaster)

 

Rocky road
Anyone who can’t see the hilarity of this (often misfiring) Liverpool team continuing to go toe-to-toe with the near perfection of the City juggernaut has no sense of humour.
Aidan, Lfc (We’re watching football’s Rocky IV…still gutted about Apollo)

 

Liverpool the least popular champions?
Just as everyone is getting over the whole ‘fate says they will’ thing, I have a question that is maybe better not answered by ANY Liverpool fans. If they win this year will there have ever been a more hated (and I intentionally didnt say less loved) winner of the league;
Mid-90s – everyone kind of found it funny when KK/Blackburn didnt win more
Late 90’s – Even Arsenal fans had a respect for SAFs teams
Early 00’s – united fans had a respect for AWs invincibles
Mid 00’s – everyone was resigned to Russia Roubles
Late 00’s – SAF was fighting back against the Roubles
Early 10’s – SAF was fighting back against the Saudi Oil money
Mid 10’s – everyone was resigned to Saudi Oil Money
Late 10’s – Liverpool….?

I am not trying to ask for analyse why/debate whether they have spent money blah/blah/blah. The fact we have heard it all before highlights that no one likes them (everyone hates them) so forget the reasons, it is the truth. I am just wondering if there will have ever been a less popular team to win the league ….
Tom, tractor boy in Switzerland

 

City off-peak
To Ed C (in work): Your player comparison are interesting, but the first thought that came to mind was how will these city players be thought of on 10-20 years. Sane is one of the most physically gifted players I have seen since ronaldo was younger. The defence other than walker is young and developing, tell me laporte couldn’t become a classic that people look back on now as being top class. So many of these city players are still pre-peak. Not there fault pep made them an incredible team before they hit their peak years
James, citeh

 

Heritage smeritage
Can we please all agree that anybody trying to justify why, in their opinion, their “big 6” club is big/better than A.N. Other “big 6” club on account of their club having better heritage/history, having won considerably more cups than A.N. Other club/can fill their stadium effortlessly, are complete and utter cocks. Desperately trying to claim that they are still relevant despite the paucity of actual trophies in the recent past/lack of opportunity to win one in the near future. What-aboutery wankers the lot of them!
Andy West CTID (and totally unashamed about it having made it through the first 30 years of my life with Man City being a complete basket case of a club – it’s our time in the sun so get used to it and enjoy it while it lasts cos it won’t be forever).

 

Smalling and Jones defence
Apologies if this has already been said but can we please stop going on about how Utd gave contracts to Smalling and Jones and making it out to be some damning indictment of the clubs future plans and lack of ambition/direction.

Those 2 are probably worth somewhere between 20 and 30 million between them in todays market. It would have been utter madness not to tie them down and protect their value.

Utd will likely bring in a defender or two this summer and push them to 3rd and 4th or even 5th choice. At their age it will likely see one or both agitate for a move and regular game time. If that is the case it will have proved a worthwhile excercise. I would also have no problem with either hanging around as a backup to Lindelof/Varane/Alderweireld/Koulibaly etc or whoever they end up signing. The cost of signing them up to a new deal vs shelling out a transfer fee, agent fee and high wages to a new player who will solely be a back up should also be considered.

However, if Utd dont sign better defenders and they stay on as first choice, then fire away with the criticism.

Thanks
Dan

 

Keep or ditch? – Brighton
So here’s a keep or ditch list for the not so mighty Brighton and Hove Albion. If they end up being relegated, none of this will be relevant or have been worthwhile.

GOALKEEPERS
Ryan – the Aussie number one is Brighton’s number one and long may it last. KEEP

Button – did a job when Ryan was at the Asia Cup. Better keepers out there but the money is probably best spent elsewhere. KEEP

Steele – where else could the club find a keeper that’s happy to hardly ever be on the bench, let alone play? With Walton back from loan at Wigan next season though, Button might be taking over as third choice. DITCH

DEFENDERS
Bruno – he’ll be 39 in October. Sums it up really. He’s an Albion legend but the time has come. DITCH

Montoya – the ex-Barcelona man is first choice right back and hopefully will only improve the more he plays in this league. KEEP

Bong – a loyal servant but always worry he’s going to do something silly when he plays. DITCH

Bernardo – he’s about 427 times better at left back than Bong. KEEP

Dunk – he’ll be club captain next season if Bruno leaves. KEEP

Duffy – a defensive colossus for the Seagulls. KEEP

Burn – haven’t seen much of him since arriving back from loan in January. Fans have liked what they saw though. KEEP

Balogun – now fourth choice and struggled with injuries this season. May get restless with lack of game time. DITCH

MIDFIELDERS

Stephens – the ex-Droylsden man has been at the club for five seasons. Realistically an improvement is needed if the Seagulls are to progress. DITCH

Propper – Can the Seagulls find a better player in their price range to replace him? Probably not. KEEP

Bissouma – there’s a lot of excitement about this lad and his potential. KEEP

Kayal – fans love his attitude and style of play. Some would rather he played more instead of Stephens and Propper. KEEP

Gross – player of the season last year but has struggled since with the change in formation and injuries. Hopefully we’ll see the best of him again next season. KEEP

March – has been a regular in the team this season, partly due to the injuries to our expensive wingers. A great squad player and versatile. KEEP

Izquierdo – hardly seen him this season after returning from the World Cup with an injury. He was a record signing and likely to still be around next year. Hopefully actually playing too. KEEP

Knockaert – amazing in the Championship, alright in the Premier League. Still gets the fans excited when he plays though and can’t see him leaving yet. KEEP

Jahanbakhsh – has been a disappointment this season but his record in the Dutch league is good. Then again, so was Alfonso Alves’. Give him another year to show what he can do. KEEP

FORWARDS
Murray – still our best striker at the age of 35. Which is depressing. KEEP

Locadia – the striker signed in January 2018 and took almost a year to feature regularly in the team. As a winger. Has since fallen out of favour again. Can only see more of the same in the future. DITCH

Andone – a livewire player and offers something different to our other forwards. He can run. KEEP
Danny, Brighton

 

And Spurs
Always up for some bandwagon jumping; so here’s my view of Spurs required summer rebuild:

Lloris – tough call straight up, oh joy!! KEEP. He’s still a decent keeper and captain in general. And we have bigger issues to resolve.
Gazzanigga – I’m not convinced he’s as brilliant as those who want his as no.1 think he is, but he’s a very able deputy. KEEP
Vorm – dropped from 2nd to 3rd choice and in truth should have been let go last summer when his contract expired. DITCH

Trippier – DITCH. Just not at the level we need anymore and at his age, unlikely to improve.
Aurier – I feel given an extended run, he could do a Sissoko and turn it around, but still not the marauding RB we need for Poch’s system to be fully effective (see season 2016 with Walker and Rose), so DITCH.
KWP – a young, improving RB, so KEEP, make him the deputy with a new RB in (give Palace and Wan-Bisaka whatever they want immediately!!)
Rose – KEEP. Get him back to his marauding best (see above!)
Davies – KEEP. Capable deputy at LB and can play in a 3 if necessary as LCB.

Alderweireld – DITCH. He isn’t signing a new deal and 25 mill is worth taking now because we have 2 young improving CBs who can and already have, stepped up.
Vertonghen – KEEP. His experience will be vital in nurturing the next two members of the squad.
Sanchez – KEEP. Continues to improve as a player, still only 23 and has looked good when part of a pairing at CB. Less good as the spare, central CB in a 3 mind, but then we have…
Foyth – KEEP. Composed on the ball, the odd brain fade, but he’s 21 with limited English. Will improve and settle, could be our John Stones type in future.
Dier – Return him to CB and make him the 4th choice. Just don’t make him a definite member of the starting XI!! KEEP.

Winks – KEEP. Developing nicely into the metronomic passing midfielder we need sitting deep that’s able to shift the ball from CB to AM or wide.
Sissoko – KEEP. Surely Player of the Year for Spurs (will probably actually be Son!). But the move to CM has done wonders for him and he’s now actually a dependable squad player.
Wanyama – DITCH. Injuries have caught up with the man.
Dele – Played deep vs. Palace like his old MK Dons days; but surely this negates his best attributes, a goalscoring ability and good understanding with Kane. KEEP.
Eriksen – Like Toby, he ain’t signing a new deal, so let’s get 100mill and reinvest like Liverpool did by selling Coutinho and buying Alisson and VVD. DITCH.
Lamela – Injuries aren’t helping his cause, but with the other upheaval in the squad, he’s worth holding one more season in my mind. KEEP.
Moura – Shown enough glimpses of class (It’s and Pool away) that he’s worth keeping around. KEEP.
Son – No brainer. KEEP.
GNK – Lived in Nantes for a year, so follow them as my French side. Would so love for him to work out; but it’s never gonna happen. Maybe he could return to FCN!! DITCH.

Llorente – If we cannot find someone else to buy, then keep him. But hopefully, DITCH.
Jansen – DITCH. That.is.all
Kane – KEEP, KEEP, KEEP, KEEP. Put the stadium land registry in his name for free, call it the Harry Kane Stadium and plaster his face into every possible surface if that’s what it takes!!!!

Key transfer targets:
Wan-Bisaka
Youri Tielemans (if possible based on Leicester’s contractual arrangement).
Any decent CF willing to be Kane’s rarely used back up.
Paul (Spurs)T.Wells

 

Moving it on
I know F365 started it with their article (and have been doing this format for a few years) but I think the concept of “keep and ditch” is fundamentally flawed. I think football is a weakest-link game. Thus, to improve any team it is more important to find your biggest weakness and make it your biggest strength.

Liverpool did exactly this over the past 18 months and it seems to be working out pretty well. When Salah, Firmino and Mané went mental last year, it was clear that the defense and ‘keepers were letting the team down. Having spent lots of money on VVD and Alisson these are now Liverpool’s two strongest positions and they are being touted for the top individual prizes (the PFA player of the season and F365 signing of the season respectively).

Continuing this strategy, I would suggest the areas of need for Liverpool are midfield creativity and competition at full-back and centre-half. To elaborate, we need a CM/no. 10 who can unlock defenses with a pass and provide a few goals. In defense, we’ve really missed Gomez and struggled when TAA was injured. I think both are the long-term starters but an older, more defensively minded RB who can play CB would provide TAA with a break/impetus to become his best.

So instead of reading through entire team lists and each mailboxers opinion on each player, I’d be keen to know: what is your team’s biggest weakness and who is a realistic target that could make it your biggest strength?
Ziggy (Matip was so far out of position for Long’s goal…)

 

Splinter Mailbox
With so many long emails this week, I would just like to ask people how long they take to compose their emails to F365?

I would also like F365 to publish how much of the published email has been edited. Perhaps giving it a score. It’s that it appears that some people put a lot of time and effort into making a considered and reasonable response to what are often difficult subjects to discuss, whereas some, like me, just shoot from the hip, check for spelling mistakes and then send it.

What I’m saying is that considered, well reasoned arguments are pretty boring, and the responses to those emails are also boring. We’re talking about football here, where opposing teams sing insults at each other, so why not get a bit tribal in the mailbox for a change?

Or

Have a “c*nts” mailbox where we can just have a massive ding-dong and be creative with our insults.

I think it would be a click-bait winner

Think aboot it
Fat Man (just a suggestion to liven things up a bit)