Anthony McIntyre Only two games into the new EPL championship race and Liverpool are already on the ropes. 


Not quite on the floor like Manchester United but closer to it than they are to the ceiling. United have an excuse. They are an incompetent lot who few quality players want to join. They won't run, they won't compete. They just want their pay checks and have the fans boo the Glazers.


Liverpool, well things are a bit more inexplicable. There is an abundance of ability and a happy fan base, yet on occasion defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory. When the points difference at the end of the season is marginal, such mishaps can be fatal. With Manchester City starting as champions should, it does not augur well that Liverpool have only two points from two games, a third of what City has secured.

Last night's home game against Crystal Palace saw the Reds dominate but not penetrate. But for a wonder goal from Luis Díaz, Liverpool could easily have come away with no points and a home defeat in their opening Anfield fixture of the new campaign. It is so frustrating for fans to anticipate Liverpool signalling their intent from the get go only to see them backfiring and fall behind so early in the season, while their blue rivals from the Etihad are going at it full throttle.

We know what this Liverpool side is capable of. After a lacklustre start to the season against Fulham, they came out from the kick off against Palace determined to kick ass. In the second half they responded to the pressure of being a man down to make the London side look as if they were the team who had been dealt the red card. When Núñez was issued red and then saw red, the Spion Kop became the Sighing Kop - as if the team had just been handed the Ace of Spades. The Núñez red card was as much for being "really stupid" to cite Virgil Van Dijk as it was for violent conduct. Behaving as if he was playing for some 1960s Argentine side, the Uruguayan seemed as if he was going to refuse to come off the pitch until given his marching orders by James Milner and Jurgen Klopp.

Núñez was bought to sharpen up an ageing forward line in the wake of the Mane departure to Bayern Munich. Against Palace he gave it the kiss of death. Now he is out for three games. His wages for the suspension period should go to a local charity. He certainly has not earned them and has no right to pocket them. Now he will carry a target on his back for every opposing defender to contemplate - niggle me and I'll snap.

Liverpool can't afford any more costly slip ups if they are to pull the pendulum away from a third consecutive City championship. Losing points when outplayed is one thing, losing them in self-inflicted fashion is something else entirely.

Once again Liverpool will have to rely on City having bad days as they surely will. But already the Manchester side have shown that even without Haaland scoring, they can still find the net, trebling the goal tally of Liverpool.

Since the 1990s the soccer city of Liverpool has lived in the shadow of Manchester, first United, then City. Long and dark, Sylvia Plath's words offer no comfort to Liverpool fans. I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Sighing Kop

Anthony McIntyre Only two games into the new EPL championship race and Liverpool are already on the ropes. 


Not quite on the floor like Manchester United but closer to it than they are to the ceiling. United have an excuse. They are an incompetent lot who few quality players want to join. They won't run, they won't compete. They just want their pay checks and have the fans boo the Glazers.


Liverpool, well things are a bit more inexplicable. There is an abundance of ability and a happy fan base, yet on occasion defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory. When the points difference at the end of the season is marginal, such mishaps can be fatal. With Manchester City starting as champions should, it does not augur well that Liverpool have only two points from two games, a third of what City has secured.

Last night's home game against Crystal Palace saw the Reds dominate but not penetrate. But for a wonder goal from Luis Díaz, Liverpool could easily have come away with no points and a home defeat in their opening Anfield fixture of the new campaign. It is so frustrating for fans to anticipate Liverpool signalling their intent from the get go only to see them backfiring and fall behind so early in the season, while their blue rivals from the Etihad are going at it full throttle.

We know what this Liverpool side is capable of. After a lacklustre start to the season against Fulham, they came out from the kick off against Palace determined to kick ass. In the second half they responded to the pressure of being a man down to make the London side look as if they were the team who had been dealt the red card. When Núñez was issued red and then saw red, the Spion Kop became the Sighing Kop - as if the team had just been handed the Ace of Spades. The Núñez red card was as much for being "really stupid" to cite Virgil Van Dijk as it was for violent conduct. Behaving as if he was playing for some 1960s Argentine side, the Uruguayan seemed as if he was going to refuse to come off the pitch until given his marching orders by James Milner and Jurgen Klopp.

Núñez was bought to sharpen up an ageing forward line in the wake of the Mane departure to Bayern Munich. Against Palace he gave it the kiss of death. Now he is out for three games. His wages for the suspension period should go to a local charity. He certainly has not earned them and has no right to pocket them. Now he will carry a target on his back for every opposing defender to contemplate - niggle me and I'll snap.

Liverpool can't afford any more costly slip ups if they are to pull the pendulum away from a third consecutive City championship. Losing points when outplayed is one thing, losing them in self-inflicted fashion is something else entirely.

Once again Liverpool will have to rely on City having bad days as they surely will. But already the Manchester side have shown that even without Haaland scoring, they can still find the net, trebling the goal tally of Liverpool.

Since the 1990s the soccer city of Liverpool has lived in the shadow of Manchester, first United, then City. Long and dark, Sylvia Plath's words offer no comfort to Liverpool fans. I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

9 comments:

  1. Flipping 2 games in and you are already sharpening your knife for a Kop Hari-Kari. At least you're consistent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. making me out as some sort of Jeremiah!!

      Delete
    2. More of a Noah, get's liquored up and gives everyone a piece of his mind!

      Delete
  2. wasn't liquored when I wrote that! Usually take to the whiskey during a game.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Another one, Anthony, who feel qualified to speak about the Glazers at Old Trafford. I expected something of this nature from others but from you? Are you sure the whiskey had not taken a hammering?
    The Glazers are to blame for the ills at United. I admit, we're playing shite, though could beat the equally shite scousers tomorrow, if the game goes ahead that is, but going back to the AGM back in 2004 they, the Glazers, have been to blame. They even cheated, big time, at that meeting as their reps were lucky to escape with their lives.
    We had in Alex Feguson a manager who could hold things together, just. Even he knew in 2013 the time to go had arrived. He held it together despite of the Glazers. United players are not playing as you would expect, but with an employer like the Glazers, who can blame them?
    Unless you know the background, about the Glazers, and not the version given by various tv outlets I suggest it is best left alone, out of your area of factual knoweledge or, for that matter, all others whose criticisms in all other matters, shit football etc are valid, leave the subject of the Glazers alone. It is not your realm of knowledge. The politics behind it stink rotten!!

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you sound like Don Quixote there Caoimhin fending off imaginary opponents. Have heard no one yet defend the Glazers. They should have been shown red a long time ago.

      Delete
  4. I for one demand the immediate reinstatement of Harry Maguire to the United starting 11!

    ReplyDelete