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Peter Anderson ⚽ Last weekend the EPL saw two "flagship" games, games that would showcase English football to viewers around the world.

Liverpool-Chelsea in the Saturday morning slot and Arsenal-Man U in the Sunday evening slot.

What transpired was a massive difference in quality. Liverpool-Chelsea was an absolutely awful nil-nil draw, while Arsenal-Man U was an absolute thriller. 

Given Chelsea's massive injury list, we can forgive the west Londoners for their tepid form, but what has happened to Liverpool is beyond me. Klopp's heavy metal football is looking rather country and western at the mo. I would love to know exactly what is happening in that club, and who exactly is to blame for such a massive drop off in form. I suspect Liverpool fans have their own ideas, but I always presumed it was the club's recruitment policy that was primarily to blame. Now, I am seriously wondering if it is Klopp himself. We have talked about recruitment before. Liverpool have spent £227.5m on forwards in the last 3 years (Minamino, Jota, Diaz, Nuñez and Gakpo) none of whom are as good as the one they let go, Mané. Why was such a critical part of the team's success allowed to leave for £20m feeling unloved? During those 3 years Liverpool have been crying out for quality midfielders, but have only bought old or young ones, no top players at all. Certainly none as good as the the one they let go also feeling unloved, Gini Wijnaldum. 

However, on Saturday there were signs that Klopp himself is beginning to lose his shine. He started with Keita, Bajcetic, Elliot and Thiago in midfield, it didn't work. So he replaced the first three with Jones, Hendo and Fabinho, that didn't work either. Also, he brought on Trent A-A, but he looked disinterested. He strolled around the pitch with his socks rolled down like he was in a training match. The lad has all the talent in the world to be a top player, but not the required application. It is no wonder Southgate won't start him. On Saturday he was useless, giving the ball away on a few occasions and generally not putting in a shift. Has Klopp lost the changing room? It would appear so. Certainly it is a possibility. Next summer's recruitment will be key, especially the bid for Bellingham. Aside from him, they need more quality in midfield which may prove difficult if they don't qualify for the UCL.

By contrast, the game at the Emirates Stadium was a belter. Arteta's young gunners beat ten Hag's rising Man U team by 3-2, scoring the winner in the final minutes. Liverpool and Chelsea can only look on as bystanders while the top four pull away. The quality on show from both Arsenal and Man U was impressive, but ten Hag's side sorely missed Casemiro as they were overrun in midfield during the final 20 minutes as Arsenal seeked (and got) a winner. You would imagine that if ten Hag can get 3 or 4 quality players in next summer they will challenge for the title next season. For now, top four looks nailed on. For Arsenal, first or second looks nailed on. No matter what happens, you would expect them to challenge next season, can you say the same about Liverpool?

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

From Heavy Metal To Country & Western

Peter Anderson ⚽ Last weekend the EPL saw two "flagship" games, games that would showcase English football to viewers around the world.

Liverpool-Chelsea in the Saturday morning slot and Arsenal-Man U in the Sunday evening slot.

What transpired was a massive difference in quality. Liverpool-Chelsea was an absolutely awful nil-nil draw, while Arsenal-Man U was an absolute thriller. 

Given Chelsea's massive injury list, we can forgive the west Londoners for their tepid form, but what has happened to Liverpool is beyond me. Klopp's heavy metal football is looking rather country and western at the mo. I would love to know exactly what is happening in that club, and who exactly is to blame for such a massive drop off in form. I suspect Liverpool fans have their own ideas, but I always presumed it was the club's recruitment policy that was primarily to blame. Now, I am seriously wondering if it is Klopp himself. We have talked about recruitment before. Liverpool have spent £227.5m on forwards in the last 3 years (Minamino, Jota, Diaz, Nuñez and Gakpo) none of whom are as good as the one they let go, Mané. Why was such a critical part of the team's success allowed to leave for £20m feeling unloved? During those 3 years Liverpool have been crying out for quality midfielders, but have only bought old or young ones, no top players at all. Certainly none as good as the the one they let go also feeling unloved, Gini Wijnaldum. 

However, on Saturday there were signs that Klopp himself is beginning to lose his shine. He started with Keita, Bajcetic, Elliot and Thiago in midfield, it didn't work. So he replaced the first three with Jones, Hendo and Fabinho, that didn't work either. Also, he brought on Trent A-A, but he looked disinterested. He strolled around the pitch with his socks rolled down like he was in a training match. The lad has all the talent in the world to be a top player, but not the required application. It is no wonder Southgate won't start him. On Saturday he was useless, giving the ball away on a few occasions and generally not putting in a shift. Has Klopp lost the changing room? It would appear so. Certainly it is a possibility. Next summer's recruitment will be key, especially the bid for Bellingham. Aside from him, they need more quality in midfield which may prove difficult if they don't qualify for the UCL.

By contrast, the game at the Emirates Stadium was a belter. Arteta's young gunners beat ten Hag's rising Man U team by 3-2, scoring the winner in the final minutes. Liverpool and Chelsea can only look on as bystanders while the top four pull away. The quality on show from both Arsenal and Man U was impressive, but ten Hag's side sorely missed Casemiro as they were overrun in midfield during the final 20 minutes as Arsenal seeked (and got) a winner. You would imagine that if ten Hag can get 3 or 4 quality players in next summer they will challenge for the title next season. For now, top four looks nailed on. For Arsenal, first or second looks nailed on. No matter what happens, you would expect them to challenge next season, can you say the same about Liverpool?

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

Jurgen Klopp Liverpool FC Peter Anderson Soccer

1 comment:

  1. Red Ron11:53 AM, January 24, 2023

    Having endured the early k o , I fell asleep @ 8 pm on saturday evening . Looks as if the Anfield credit card is maxed out , the badly needed 3 quality midfielders won't be arriving during this window or in the summer . The Reds are on course for a pathetic 58 points ( same as in Rafa's first season ) & 7 points short of Roy Evans worst tally . On the other side of the dice , Arsenal are trending towards an incredible 100 points - they will need a really big tally to finish ahead of
    City . Top 4 looks done & dusted , Maybe the drained Reds can do
    without the hassle of thursday night games next season , expect a second string to be crushed @ Brighton on sunday . Haaland to break the record books & hit near 50 goals , he broke Van Nistleroy's 58 games to hit 4 Prem hat tricks in one third the time .

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