Sports - Football - Premier League - HUDLIV
Pre-match notes:
14th Huddersfield's league run:
D D L L L
4th Liverpool's league run:
W W W W L
Six changes for Liverpool after their FA Cup defeat against West Brom, keeper, three in defence, two in midfield. Not really surprising after the last couple of results and Jürgen Klopp's general rotation policy and rhythm this season.
David Wagner made seven changes from his side's 1-1 FA Cup draw against Birmingham, a long injury list not helping the German, but a bold move with just three at the back, a clear message to his best mate, no favours tonight!
I'm expecting the worst, but hoping for the best, don't have a clue what to expect after the last few matches... #LIVMCI #SWALIV #LIVWBA 💩🙈🙏🏻🙈💩
My (optimistic) prediction: 1-2 (cursing myself) #jinx? #COYR ⚽️👊🏻👏🏻👊🏻⚽️
Match notes:
1' Kick-off by the Reds, the ground bouncing, echoing, mad, the French commentators not knowing what hit them. Love it.
3' Mané messes up collecting a fine cross, fails to break past the last two in the process, Firmino picks the ball up, shoots from afar, Lössl has it, easy. First attempt on target though.
6' Chaotic start, neither side settling, the ball bouncing and falling here, there and everywhere, the fans still dominating every and all attention and focus! Awesome!
8' Can loses the ball just as Liverpool looked like dominating and pressing, the home side hit back with some lovely interplay, keeping the ball well.
9' Karius collects. And breath. Robertson breaks on the other side, right side of the box, wins a throw, comes to nothing.
11' Free kick to the Terriers near the centre circle, they're taking it slow.
12' Neither side able to keep the ball atm, give, take, shake, make, break, leak...
13' Milner puts the ball out for a goal kick, no threat by the visitors there.
14' Robertson smashes the ball out for another goal kick, I think that was supposed to be a cross...
15' Huddersfield threat cleared, the only thing Liverpool are dominating at the moment is possession, nearly 80%!
17' KARIUS SAVE! Van La Parra cross from the left met by Depoitre free in the box, right-foot shot is kept out nicely, strong save, the Red defence just watching again, where was the cover? I think I've scribbled and questioned that plenty of times before in much frustration...
20' Lössl collects, after Salah surrounded by Huddersfield players was unable to do much with the ball.
22' First corner for the Reds, Salah won it and takes it, punched away by Lössl, another Liverpool corner on the other side eventually.
23' Milner takes the second corner, cleared, the Reds keep the ball and the home side back, on guard.
24' CAN SHOT curled to the left corner, Lössl dives to his right, keeps it out. Strong performance by the stopper so far.
Over halfway through the half, Huddersfield can be happy the way they have kept Liverpool out and frustrated - CAN SCORES WHILST I WRITE THAT!!! 0-1 deflected right-footed low volley from outside the box into the bottom right-hand corner, a smacker, no chance for Lössl. 26' #BOOM
30' Liverpool with 90% possession over the last 10ish minutes, a couple of chances blocked, I wouldn't say they are bossing it just one goal ahead, but will be very happy having finally broken down the Terriers! The Red fans are now the louder ones, just. Hardly.
35' Lössl collects, most of the play has been around the centre circle, neither side pushing for much, the Reds dominating possession still.
37' Kongolo clears another Liverpool threat, Salah behind him in the box, not far, well played.
39' Mané concedes a free kick, Hogg falling all over him, a couple of yards outside the box...
40' Ref Friend is taking his time, making the marks, whistles, nice curled shot by Löwe but wide, not far off though. The crowd is on fire.
42' BALL IN THE NET FOR HUDDERSFIELD but the ref had already blown the whistle, flag up against Mooy, calm down (talking to myself).
43' Firmino flagged offside as Lössl blocks his shot away with his gloves.
45' Liverpool pouncing around the Huddersfield box again and again, the home side blocking and defending for their lives.
FIRMINO MAKES IT TWOOOOO as the announcement of one minute added on is made. From the tightest of tight angles on the left, right-footed sneaky low shot in past Lössl, squeezed between keeper and post, 0-2.
And that is half time, 0-2. #WOOHOOOOO
HT Stats: HUD 0-2 LIV
Possession: 23%-77%
Shots: 2-7
On target: 1-4
Corners: 0-3
Fouls: 2-4
The Terriers looked to frustrate their visitors, but the Reds are on top at the break thanks to Can and Firmino.
46' Huddersfield restart the game, no changes made by either side during the interval.
Just read LFC have scored most away goals in the PL this season = 30, two ahead of league leaders MCFC (28), followed by CFC (24) and MUFC (22).
53' Browsing through all the tweets, loving it, Swansea have taken the lead against Arsenal, Twitter going mad, not much happening here, Liverpool with most of the ball, not much in and around the box though. Can hear the fans chant Mo Salah, Mo Salah, Mo Salah.
54' Mané header straight to Lössl who only has to make half a dive to his left, Liverpool with 89% possession since the break. Comfy?
58' Milner slashes one shot in from outside the box with his right foot, not bad, Lössl punches it up and out for a corner, which is cleared.
59' Huddersfield are looking tired now, lucky Mané slips in the box and the ball goes out for a goal kick, Liverpool were all over them then.
63' The Terriers with the ball for a change but Robertson coped and clears.
64' First change made by Wagner, Quaner replaces Mounié.
183-704 passes made, says it all.
66' Can cross from the right, Schindler clears for a throw on the right.
69' MANÉ HEADER wide. Not. His. Night. It was a nice diagonal cross by Can though.
73' PENALTY APPEAL by the Terriers, the ref waves play on. Robertson v sub Quaner in the box, high boot by the defender, towards the ball, not the player, would have been very very harsh, right call.
73' Salah run, beats Lössl storming towards him, with a cheeky left-footer from the outside of the boot, into the side-netting. Shame. Would have been a nice one.
Just read the Swans have gone 3-1 up against Arsenal, my boyfriend next to me swearing his face off (a Gunner in case you didn't guess). Oh how I know how he feels. BUT NOT TODAY!
77' PENALTY TO LFC Can brought down by Hogg in the box!
78' SALAH NETS IT TO MAKE IT 0-3 easy to the keeper's left after he jumped the other way. That surely seals the three points for the Reds! ⚽️👊🏻⚽️👊🏻⚽️
81' Firmino on the left, left-legs the ball into nowhere, out for a goal kick, laughs all round. Looking at the scoreboard, okay, I will lay off him...
82' LFC double- substitution, Salah is replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wijnaldum comes on for skipper Henderson, who will be happy with this game after a long time out.
85' Karius kicks the ball away for a Huddersfield throw, no threat whatsoever, his team mates looking at him bewildered.
86' Flag up against the Terriers, Liverpool take their time to take the kick.
87' Ince with a low shot out for a throw, and I just realised I completely missed the home side's double-substitution shortly after the third goal... *quickly*editing*and*correcting*below*
89' Firmino comes off for Solanke, last change for the Reds.
Three minutes added on. YNWA echoes in the background.
The FT whistle blows, three goals and three points for the Reds thanks to Can, Firmino and Salah. THREE POINTS! BOOM!
That's more I like it! Dominance from start to finish, some threats, but nothing to break Liverpool for a change. A CLEAN SHEET!!!
FT Stats: HUD 0-3 LIV
Possession: 25%-75%
Shots: 5-14
On target: 1-7
Corners: 1-4
Free kicks: 8-8
This is exactly what the red doctor ordered, especially ahead of the clash against Tottenham on Sunday.
Here are a few facts and stats to finish with:
Liverpool have lost just once in their past 16 Premier League games, winning 11 and drawing four.
This was the 58th ground at which Liverpool have played in the Premier League - they've won at more stadiums than any other side in the competition (54).
Huddersfield are without a win in their past seven Premier League games (three draws followed by four losses) and have enjoyed just two wins in their past 14 in the competition (D3 L9).
Mohamed Salah has had a hand in 25 Premier League goals this season, the most of any player in the competition (19 goals, 6 assists).
More on the BBC website.
Liverpool Goals: Can 26', Firmino 45'+1 & Salah pen 78'.
Huddersfield Team: 1 Lössl; 5 Löwe (22 Ince 79'), 25 Jorgensen, 26 Schindler, 5 Kongolo, 33 Hadergjonaj; 8 Billing, 6 Hogg (c), 10 Mooy (17 van La Parra 79'); 20 Depoitre, 24 Mounié (23 Quaner 64'). 5-3-2 (not 3-5-2 as first thought)
Subs not used: 2 Smith, 13 Coleman, 21 Pritchard, 44 Hefele.
Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 6 Lovren, 32 Matip, 6 Gomez; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c) (5 Wijnaldum 82'), 23 Can; 19 Mané, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 89'), 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 82'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 4 van Dijk, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Emre Can
Ground: The John Smith's Stadium
Attendance: 24,121
Click here for my last LFC match report.
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.
Showing posts with label Mignolet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mignolet. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Monday, 29 January 2018
LFC Crash Out Of FA Cup 2-3 Against WBA
Sports - Football - FA Cup - LFC 2:3 WBA
Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup falling 2-3 against West Brom and ending their 19-game unbeaten run at Anfield with the video assistant referee (VAR) at the centre of the attention in the late kick-off Saturday evening.
It was a frantic first half, Roberto Firmino chipping in the opener for the Reds from close range after just five minutes, before Jay Rodriguez thumped in the equaliser just 71 seconds later.
Four minutes after that, the visitors were ahead thanks to Rodriguez again, the former Burnley forward slotting home and Albion 1-2 up, Liverpool just watching. What is defending again?
With just under twenty minutes gone, Gareth Barry thought he had made it 1-3 off Craig Dawson's through-ball, only to be disallowed eventually for offside confirmed by the VAR Andre Marriner. Close call.
Halfway through the first half, Mohamed Salah was brought down in the box by Jake Livermore, referee Craig Pawson ignored the appeal, for the VAR to cancel his decision. Another close call but correct.
It was the first time a referee had referred to the new technology to make a final decision correcting the official's first call, it took over four minutes, Barry was booked in the process for his protests.
And after all that, Firmino missed the spot kick, his right-footed shot hitting the cross-bar.
Alan Pardew was forced to make two changes before the break due to injury, losing Kieran Gibbs and Hal Robson-Kanu, replacing them with Ahmed Hegazi and Matt Phillips respectively.
But the changes did not deplete the Baggies' game, quite the opposite, they stayed on top, confusing and destroying any kind of organisation and threat by the home side.
The VAR was called for a third time before the break, Rodriguez in an offside position when Dawson's cross-shot went in off Joel Matip, but was deemed not to be interfering with play, the own goal stood, 1-3.
It was a weird back-heel clearance attempt by the Red defender, keeper Simon Mignolet not exactly strengthening his case of his position in the team with an oblivious display, his defensive colleagues not much better though.
Liverpool conceded three goals in consecutive home games for the first time since January 2007, West Brom the first away team to score three first half goals at Anfield since Real Madrid in October 2014.
Jürgen Klopp looked surprisingly calm.
The second half was less frantic, more settled, Liverpool dominating with chances and possession, but West Brom never out of control.
The visitors' stopper Ben Foster kept strong, denying substitutes James Milner and Danny Ings and defender Virgil van Dijk late on.
The stats show who was doing their job: Mignolet 0-6 Foster in saves made.
Salah did pull one back for the home side with just over ten minutes to go, becoming only the fourth LFC player this Millenium to hit 25 goals after Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suárez. Even in Daniel Sturridge's best season, he only scored 24. And it's only January.
That's the only positive-ish stat of the match, even Klopp conceded the Reds were just not good enough and West Brom deserved to win, not blaming the referee nor VAR as other managers would have loved to place the blame, that's for sure.
How quick the form has crumbled to bits for the German's side, after the ultimate high of beating the league leaders Manchester City, to losing against the bottom side Swansea and then this, another chance of silverware out of the window.
Next, the Reds travel to Huddersfield on Tuesday, who will dare to predict the result? How good or how bad can it get for the board to make changes? To buy? To invest more? What is consistency?!
If you want more, you have to do more!!!
Liverpool Goals: Firmino 5' & Salah 78'.
West Brom Goals: Rodriguez 7' & 11' & Matip OG 45'+2'.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 18 Moreno, 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can (booked 61') (7 Milner 65'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (28 Ings 65'); 19 Mané (14 Henderson 65'), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez, 29 Solanke, 52 Ward.
West Brom Team: 1 Foster; 3 Gibbs (26 Hegazi 37' (booked 85')), 6 Evans, 25 Dawson (booked 83'), 2 Nyom; 11 Brunt, 20 Krychowiak, 18 Barry (booked 26') (5 Yacob 71'), 8 Livermore; 19 Rodriguez, 4 Robson-Kanu (10 Phillips 39'). 4-4-2
Subs not used: 9 Rondón, 13 Myhill, 14 McClean, 17 Burke.
HT Stats: LFC 1-3 WBA
Possession: 65%-35%
Shots: 12-5
On target: 3-2
Corners: 2-1
Fouls: 2-4
Yellow cards: 0-1
FT Stats: LFC 2-3 WBA
Possession: 69%-31%
Shots: 23-8
On target: 8-3
Corners: 6-2
Fouls: 5-9
Yellow cards: 1-3
Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Jay Rodriguez
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,342
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter and beIN sport live match coverage.
Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup falling 2-3 against West Brom and ending their 19-game unbeaten run at Anfield with the video assistant referee (VAR) at the centre of the attention in the late kick-off Saturday evening.
It was a frantic first half, Roberto Firmino chipping in the opener for the Reds from close range after just five minutes, before Jay Rodriguez thumped in the equaliser just 71 seconds later.
Four minutes after that, the visitors were ahead thanks to Rodriguez again, the former Burnley forward slotting home and Albion 1-2 up, Liverpool just watching. What is defending again?
With just under twenty minutes gone, Gareth Barry thought he had made it 1-3 off Craig Dawson's through-ball, only to be disallowed eventually for offside confirmed by the VAR Andre Marriner. Close call.
Halfway through the first half, Mohamed Salah was brought down in the box by Jake Livermore, referee Craig Pawson ignored the appeal, for the VAR to cancel his decision. Another close call but correct.
It was the first time a referee had referred to the new technology to make a final decision correcting the official's first call, it took over four minutes, Barry was booked in the process for his protests.
And after all that, Firmino missed the spot kick, his right-footed shot hitting the cross-bar.
Alan Pardew was forced to make two changes before the break due to injury, losing Kieran Gibbs and Hal Robson-Kanu, replacing them with Ahmed Hegazi and Matt Phillips respectively.
The VAR was called for a third time before the break, Rodriguez in an offside position when Dawson's cross-shot went in off Joel Matip, but was deemed not to be interfering with play, the own goal stood, 1-3.
It was a weird back-heel clearance attempt by the Red defender, keeper Simon Mignolet not exactly strengthening his case of his position in the team with an oblivious display, his defensive colleagues not much better though.
Liverpool conceded three goals in consecutive home games for the first time since January 2007, West Brom the first away team to score three first half goals at Anfield since Real Madrid in October 2014.
Jürgen Klopp looked surprisingly calm.
The second half was less frantic, more settled, Liverpool dominating with chances and possession, but West Brom never out of control.
The visitors' stopper Ben Foster kept strong, denying substitutes James Milner and Danny Ings and defender Virgil van Dijk late on.
The stats show who was doing their job: Mignolet 0-6 Foster in saves made.
Salah did pull one back for the home side with just over ten minutes to go, becoming only the fourth LFC player this Millenium to hit 25 goals after Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suárez. Even in Daniel Sturridge's best season, he only scored 24. And it's only January.
How quick the form has crumbled to bits for the German's side, after the ultimate high of beating the league leaders Manchester City, to losing against the bottom side Swansea and then this, another chance of silverware out of the window.
Next, the Reds travel to Huddersfield on Tuesday, who will dare to predict the result? How good or how bad can it get for the board to make changes? To buy? To invest more? What is consistency?!
If you want more, you have to do more!!!
Liverpool Goals: Firmino 5' & Salah 78'.
West Brom Goals: Rodriguez 7' & 11' & Matip OG 45'+2'.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 18 Moreno, 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can (booked 61') (7 Milner 65'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (28 Ings 65'); 19 Mané (14 Henderson 65'), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez, 29 Solanke, 52 Ward.
West Brom Team: 1 Foster; 3 Gibbs (26 Hegazi 37' (booked 85')), 6 Evans, 25 Dawson (booked 83'), 2 Nyom; 11 Brunt, 20 Krychowiak, 18 Barry (booked 26') (5 Yacob 71'), 8 Livermore; 19 Rodriguez, 4 Robson-Kanu (10 Phillips 39'). 4-4-2
Subs not used: 9 Rondón, 13 Myhill, 14 McClean, 17 Burke.
HT Stats: LFC 1-3 WBA
Possession: 65%-35%
Shots: 12-5
On target: 3-2
Corners: 2-1
Fouls: 2-4
Yellow cards: 0-1
FT Stats: LFC 2-3 WBA
Possession: 69%-31%
Shots: 23-8
On target: 8-3
Corners: 6-2
Fouls: 5-9
Yellow cards: 1-3
Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Jay Rodriguez
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,342
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter and beIN sport live match coverage.
Monday, 8 January 2018
Late Drama & LFC Winner At Burnley
Sports - Football - Premier League - BUR 1:2 LIV
Late drama with two goals in the final minutes saw Liverpool destroy any kind of Burnley fight back and clinch a 1-2 win at Turf Moor.
The Reds were sloppy in the goalless first half, Sadio Mané especially wasting and giving away the ball a lot.
The Clarets had a couple of chances, tight tight tight, challenging the Reds in their dominance of possession.
The weather did not help, wet wet wet, players slipping all over the place.
The only stop Nick Pope had to make in the first half was against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And Simon Mignolet denied Scott Arfield with an easy dive to his right, the only other shot on target before the break.
With an hour gone, finally a breakthrough came for the visitors, Mané turning on the edge of the box and sending a rocket into the back of the net with his left foot to make it 0-1, his eighth goal of the season.
Red youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold stretched Pope to the keeper's top left, a brilliant save with just over 15 minutes left in the game.
Ashley Barnes put a chance wide for the home side late on, testing the Reds again and again.
The Ox got denied by Pope after Liverpool took too long to make something out of the ball in the Burnley box.
Substitute Sam Vokes' header was kept out and away by Mignolet shortly afterwards. The biggest drama was left for last.
Three minutes left on the clock, Vokes' wide header to his right found Berg Gudmundsson who made no mistake of a diving header past the back post to make it 1-1, the Reds defense caught sleeping.
With four minutes added on, Clarets manager Sean Dyche was much more on his toes, whilst Reds boss Jürgen Klopp looked more frustrated.
In the dying seconds, man of the match Dejan Lovren's header off a free-kick found Ragnar Klavan who headed the ball in to make it 1-2.
It was the first goal scored by an Estonian player in Premier League history.
Relief for Liverpool, after recording their 16th game unbeaten, grief for Burnley, losing after they fought so hard till the end.
HT Stats: BUR 0-0 LIV
Possession: 37%-63%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 1-1
Corners: 1-1
Fouls: 2-8
Action areas: BUR 18.3%-57.2%-24.5% LIV
FT Stats: BUR 1-2 LIV
Possession: 42%-58%
Shots: 13-19
On target: 4-5
Corners: 3-9
Fouls: 4-12
Burnley Goal: Gudmunsson 87'.
Liverpool Goals: Mané 61' & Klavan 90'+4.
Burnley Team: 29 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 17 Berg Gudmunsson, 4 Cork, 16 Defour, 37 Arfield (21 Wells 86'), 13 Hendrick (9 Vokes 71'), 10 Barnes.
Subs not used: 2 Lowton, 18 Westwood, 19 Walters, 22 Lindegaard, 28 Long.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum, 19 Mané (9 Firmino 72'), 20 Lallana (7 Milner 86'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (32 Matin 90'+6'), 29 Solanke.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 26 Robertson, 28 Ings, 58 Woodburn.
Referee: Roger East
Man of the match: Dejan Lovren
Ground: Turf Moor
Attendance: 21,756
Click here for my last LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Late drama with two goals in the final minutes saw Liverpool destroy any kind of Burnley fight back and clinch a 1-2 win at Turf Moor.
The Reds were sloppy in the goalless first half, Sadio Mané especially wasting and giving away the ball a lot.
The Clarets had a couple of chances, tight tight tight, challenging the Reds in their dominance of possession.
The weather did not help, wet wet wet, players slipping all over the place.
The only stop Nick Pope had to make in the first half was against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And Simon Mignolet denied Scott Arfield with an easy dive to his right, the only other shot on target before the break.
With an hour gone, finally a breakthrough came for the visitors, Mané turning on the edge of the box and sending a rocket into the back of the net with his left foot to make it 0-1, his eighth goal of the season.
Red youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold stretched Pope to the keeper's top left, a brilliant save with just over 15 minutes left in the game.
The Ox got denied by Pope after Liverpool took too long to make something out of the ball in the Burnley box.
Substitute Sam Vokes' header was kept out and away by Mignolet shortly afterwards. The biggest drama was left for last.
Three minutes left on the clock, Vokes' wide header to his right found Berg Gudmundsson who made no mistake of a diving header past the back post to make it 1-1, the Reds defense caught sleeping.
With four minutes added on, Clarets manager Sean Dyche was much more on his toes, whilst Reds boss Jürgen Klopp looked more frustrated.
In the dying seconds, man of the match Dejan Lovren's header off a free-kick found Ragnar Klavan who headed the ball in to make it 1-2.
It was the first goal scored by an Estonian player in Premier League history.
Relief for Liverpool, after recording their 16th game unbeaten, grief for Burnley, losing after they fought so hard till the end.
HT Stats: BUR 0-0 LIV
Possession: 37%-63%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 1-1
Corners: 1-1
Fouls: 2-8
Action areas: BUR 18.3%-57.2%-24.5% LIV
FT Stats: BUR 1-2 LIV
Possession: 42%-58%
Shots: 13-19
On target: 4-5
Corners: 3-9
Fouls: 4-12
Burnley Goal: Gudmunsson 87'.
Liverpool Goals: Mané 61' & Klavan 90'+4.
Burnley Team: 29 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 17 Berg Gudmunsson, 4 Cork, 16 Defour, 37 Arfield (21 Wells 86'), 13 Hendrick (9 Vokes 71'), 10 Barnes.
Subs not used: 2 Lowton, 18 Westwood, 19 Walters, 22 Lindegaard, 28 Long.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum, 19 Mané (9 Firmino 72'), 20 Lallana (7 Milner 86'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (32 Matin 90'+6'), 29 Solanke.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 26 Robertson, 28 Ings, 58 Woodburn.
Referee: Roger East
Man of the match: Dejan Lovren
Ground: Turf Moor
Attendance: 21,756
Click here for my last LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Thursday, 28 December 2017
Liverpool Crush Sorry Swans 5-0
Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 5:0 SCFC
Liverpool thrashed managerless bottom side Swansea 5-0 at Anfield in the late kick-off on Boxing Day, a dominant home victory that consolidated their place in the top four.
Philippe Coutinho captained the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence.
The Brazilian Barcelona target opened the scoring with a perfectly timed whip, curled into the top corner from 20 yards out, with just six minutes gone.
Caretaker player-manager Leon Britton had organised the Welsh side well though to keep the home side at bay and cover cover cover, the lead staying just 1-0 at the break.
Liverpool had made four changes to the side that drew against Arsenal on Friday. It was a first Premier League start for Swansea frontman Oliver McBurnie.
But the home side soon took over and their opposition out, Roberto Firmino doubling the lead six minutes after the break, firing home Coutinho's free kick.
Scouse youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold made it three with his first Premier League goal for the club, smashing the ball in off the bar from close range, with his family watching.
Firmino tapped home the fourth a couple of minutes later, off Mohamed Salah's fine cut back, his fifth in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made it five in the final ten minutes, pouncing on a poor clearance by Jordan Ayew.
And it could have been more, substitute Dominic Solanke coming close a few times,keeping stopper Lukasz Fabianski stretched left, right and centre.
Salah was not on the scoreboard for a change, wasting a few good chances but providing a couple.
The Welsh side had crumbled to bits after working oh so hard, Britton crying out for help and changes, quickly.
LFC manager Jürgen Klopp was a very happy man, but pointed out the hard work of the first 55 minutes.
And then the fun started for the Reds, "the last half an hour was fantastic, a joy to watch, a deserved win." Indeed.
It was the 10th time Liverpool have scored 5+ goals in 128 matches in all competitions under their German boss (6th time in the Premier League, 4th at home)
Keeper Simon Mignolet can also be very happy, keeping a clean sheet on his 200th Liverpool appearance after making a great fingertip save denying Tammy Abraham with the last touch of the game.
Since getting thrashed by Tottenham on the 22nd October, the Reds have been unbeaten in 14 games (9W, 5D), scored 45 goals and conceded 10.
Klopp's men have scored 72 goals in all competitions this season, way ahead of the likes of Barcelona (67), Manchester United (63), Chelsea (60) and Real Madrid (59).
The Brazilian duo have 43 goal involvements between them this season, man of the match Firmino with 15 goals and 7 assists, Coutinho 13 and 8 respectively.
And at home, Liverpool have only been behind for three minutes all season, conceding just three goals in the league at Anfield this season, the best defensive record in the Premier League.
But somehow it still feels like there is room for improvement, too many times the Reds have been shaken and dropped points disappointingly.
And with the January transfer window moving closer and closer, the rumours and talks are heating up once again.
But first things first, next on the fixture list are Leicester at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 6', Firmino 52', Alexander-Arnold 65', Firmino 66', Oxlade-Chamberlain 82'.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 26 Robertson (7 Milner 75'), 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 10 Coutinho, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 68'), 11 Salah (20 Lallana 69'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez, 19 Mané.
Swansea Team: 1 Fabianski; 16 Olsson (booked 56'), 6 Mawson, 33 Fernandez, 26 Naughton; 14 Carroll, 51 Mesa (17 Clucas 65'), 8 Fer (35 Renato Sanches 78'); 62 McBurnie (10 Abraham 62'), 18 Ayew, 15 Routledge. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 5 van der Hoorn, 12 Dyer, 13 Nordfeldt, 22 Rangel.
HT Stats: LFC 1-0 SCFC
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 8-3
On target: 2-2
Corners: 1-0
Fouls: 3-4
Yellow cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 5-0 SCFC
Possession: 55%-45%
Shots: 22-7
On target: 9-4
Corners: 4-2
Fouls: 5-8
Yellow cards: 0-1
Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,850
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.
Liverpool thrashed managerless bottom side Swansea 5-0 at Anfield in the late kick-off on Boxing Day, a dominant home victory that consolidated their place in the top four.
Philippe Coutinho captained the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence.
The Brazilian Barcelona target opened the scoring with a perfectly timed whip, curled into the top corner from 20 yards out, with just six minutes gone.
Caretaker player-manager Leon Britton had organised the Welsh side well though to keep the home side at bay and cover cover cover, the lead staying just 1-0 at the break.
But the home side soon took over and their opposition out, Roberto Firmino doubling the lead six minutes after the break, firing home Coutinho's free kick.
Scouse youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold made it three with his first Premier League goal for the club, smashing the ball in off the bar from close range, with his family watching.
Firmino tapped home the fourth a couple of minutes later, off Mohamed Salah's fine cut back, his fifth in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.
And it could have been more, substitute Dominic Solanke coming close a few times,keeping stopper Lukasz Fabianski stretched left, right and centre.
Salah was not on the scoreboard for a change, wasting a few good chances but providing a couple.
The Welsh side had crumbled to bits after working oh so hard, Britton crying out for help and changes, quickly.
And then the fun started for the Reds, "the last half an hour was fantastic, a joy to watch, a deserved win." Indeed.
It was the 10th time Liverpool have scored 5+ goals in 128 matches in all competitions under their German boss (6th time in the Premier League, 4th at home)
Keeper Simon Mignolet can also be very happy, keeping a clean sheet on his 200th Liverpool appearance after making a great fingertip save denying Tammy Abraham with the last touch of the game.
Since getting thrashed by Tottenham on the 22nd October, the Reds have been unbeaten in 14 games (9W, 5D), scored 45 goals and conceded 10.
The Brazilian duo have 43 goal involvements between them this season, man of the match Firmino with 15 goals and 7 assists, Coutinho 13 and 8 respectively.
And at home, Liverpool have only been behind for three minutes all season, conceding just three goals in the league at Anfield this season, the best defensive record in the Premier League.
But somehow it still feels like there is room for improvement, too many times the Reds have been shaken and dropped points disappointingly.
And with the January transfer window moving closer and closer, the rumours and talks are heating up once again.But first things first, next on the fixture list are Leicester at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 6', Firmino 52', Alexander-Arnold 65', Firmino 66', Oxlade-Chamberlain 82'.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 26 Robertson (7 Milner 75'), 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 10 Coutinho, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 68'), 11 Salah (20 Lallana 69'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez, 19 Mané.
Swansea Team: 1 Fabianski; 16 Olsson (booked 56'), 6 Mawson, 33 Fernandez, 26 Naughton; 14 Carroll, 51 Mesa (17 Clucas 65'), 8 Fer (35 Renato Sanches 78'); 62 McBurnie (10 Abraham 62'), 18 Ayew, 15 Routledge. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 5 van der Hoorn, 12 Dyer, 13 Nordfeldt, 22 Rangel.
HT Stats: LFC 1-0 SCFC
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 8-3
On target: 2-2
Corners: 1-0
Fouls: 3-4
Yellow cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 5-0 SCFC
Possession: 55%-45%
Shots: 22-7
On target: 9-4
Corners: 4-2
Fouls: 5-8
Yellow cards: 0-1
Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,850
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.
Saturday, 23 December 2017
Crazy Six-Goal Draw At Arsenal
Sports - Football - Premier League - AFC 3:3 LFC
Three goals in 388 crazy second-half seconds saw Arsenal come back from two goals down, but Liverpool grabbed a third to make it 3-3 and a point each in a gob-smacking encounter at the Emirates on Friday Night Football.
The Reds bossed the Gunners around in the first half and could have been three or four goals up at the break.
Despite losing captain Jordan Henderson early on due to a suspected hamstring injury, James Milner replacing him, the visitors dominated.
But only Philippe Coutinho's first headed goal for the club separated the two sides at half time, both Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah missing a couple of sitters.
The great Egyptian doubled the visitors' lead after the interval with a deflected strike after another one of his great individual runs, recording his 15th league goal of the season.
It looked like Jürgen Klopp's side were going to crush the home side, such was their command.
But suddenly Arsène Wenger's men woke up!
Alexis Sánchez headed in Hector Bellerin's cross from close range before Simon Mignolet failed to save Granit Xhaka's powerful strike from 25 yards.
A couple of minutes later Mesut Özil clipped the ball over Mignolet off Alexandre Lacazette's cheeky back heel to make it 3-2 and turn the game on its head.
Liverpool were gob-smacked. Frozen, zoned-out defence + slow, insecure keeper = three goals conceded in 388 seconds, their confident two-goal lead out the window.
It was end-to-end stuff after that goal-rush, both sides looking to add more to the scoreboard.
The Reds had the final say thanks to man of the match Roberto Firmino's powerful finish, Arsenal keeper Petr Cech could only slow it down but not stop it from bouncing over the line.
So, 3-3 it ended, the point keeping Liverpool in fourth and Arsenal in fifth, a point between the two.
Under Klopp, the Reds have lost 43 points in the league from winning positions, the most of any team in Europe.
There is no doubt in their strike force, the "Fab Four", but it's the back that crumbled and leaked too much once again.
But hey, we're used to goals galore between these two sides!
There have been 27 goals scored in the past five Premier League meetings (10 for Arsenal, 17 for Liverpool), an average of 5.4 goals per game!
Liverpool have scored 54 away goals in all competitions in 2017, their most in a calendar year since 1982 (66).
And since Klopp's first Premier League game in October 2015, the Reds have seen 279 goals in their games (174 scored, 105 conceded), more than any other side.
I don't know whether to cheer or cry or both, because we're so awesome and useless at the same time (front and back respectively, contrast).
Something/someone has to change in January to make sure these insecurities don't end up costing and make us drop out of the top four!
Arsenal Goals: Sánchez 53', Xhaka 56', Özil 58'.
Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 26', Salah 52', Firmino 71'.
Arsenal Team: 33 Cech; 24 Bellerin, 6 Koscielny (c), 18 Monreal (20 Mustafi 45'), 30 Maitland-Niles; 10 Wilshere, 29 Xhaka; 17 Iwobi (booked 58') (23 Welbeck 78'), 11 Özil, 7 Sánchez (14 Walcott 89'); 9 Lacazette. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Ospina, 31 Kolasinac, 34 Coquelin, 35 Elneny.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 26 Robertson; 14 Henderson (c) (7 Milner 13'), 23 Can; 11 Salah, 10 Coutinho (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 84'), 19 Mané (5 Wijnaldum 80'); 9 Firmino. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 20 Lallana, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
HT Stats: AFC 0-1 LFC
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 4-8
On target: 0-4
Corners: 3-3
Fouls: 4-4
FT Stats: AFC 3-3 LFC
Possession: 54%-46%
Shots: 11-14
On target: 4-9
Corners: 7-8
Fouls: 9-11
Yellow cards: 1-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Emirates
Attendance: 59,409
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.
Three goals in 388 crazy second-half seconds saw Arsenal come back from two goals down, but Liverpool grabbed a third to make it 3-3 and a point each in a gob-smacking encounter at the Emirates on Friday Night Football.
The Reds bossed the Gunners around in the first half and could have been three or four goals up at the break.
Despite losing captain Jordan Henderson early on due to a suspected hamstring injury, James Milner replacing him, the visitors dominated.
But only Philippe Coutinho's first headed goal for the club separated the two sides at half time, both Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah missing a couple of sitters.
It looked like Jürgen Klopp's side were going to crush the home side, such was their command.
But suddenly Arsène Wenger's men woke up!
Alexis Sánchez headed in Hector Bellerin's cross from close range before Simon Mignolet failed to save Granit Xhaka's powerful strike from 25 yards.
A couple of minutes later Mesut Özil clipped the ball over Mignolet off Alexandre Lacazette's cheeky back heel to make it 3-2 and turn the game on its head.
It was end-to-end stuff after that goal-rush, both sides looking to add more to the scoreboard.
The Reds had the final say thanks to man of the match Roberto Firmino's powerful finish, Arsenal keeper Petr Cech could only slow it down but not stop it from bouncing over the line.
So, 3-3 it ended, the point keeping Liverpool in fourth and Arsenal in fifth, a point between the two.
There is no doubt in their strike force, the "Fab Four", but it's the back that crumbled and leaked too much once again.
But hey, we're used to goals galore between these two sides!
There have been 27 goals scored in the past five Premier League meetings (10 for Arsenal, 17 for Liverpool), an average of 5.4 goals per game!
Liverpool have scored 54 away goals in all competitions in 2017, their most in a calendar year since 1982 (66).
I don't know whether to cheer or cry or both, because we're so awesome and useless at the same time (front and back respectively, contrast).
Something/someone has to change in January to make sure these insecurities don't end up costing and make us drop out of the top four!
Arsenal Goals: Sánchez 53', Xhaka 56', Özil 58'.
Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 26', Salah 52', Firmino 71'.
Arsenal Team: 33 Cech; 24 Bellerin, 6 Koscielny (c), 18 Monreal (20 Mustafi 45'), 30 Maitland-Niles; 10 Wilshere, 29 Xhaka; 17 Iwobi (booked 58') (23 Welbeck 78'), 11 Özil, 7 Sánchez (14 Walcott 89'); 9 Lacazette. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Ospina, 31 Kolasinac, 34 Coquelin, 35 Elneny.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 26 Robertson; 14 Henderson (c) (7 Milner 13'), 23 Can; 11 Salah, 10 Coutinho (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 84'), 19 Mané (5 Wijnaldum 80'); 9 Firmino. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 20 Lallana, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
HT Stats: AFC 0-1 LFC
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 4-8
On target: 0-4
Corners: 3-3
Fouls: 4-4
FT Stats: AFC 3-3 LFC
Possession: 54%-46%
Shots: 11-14
On target: 4-9
Corners: 7-8
Fouls: 9-11
Yellow cards: 1-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Emirates
Attendance: 59,409
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Willian Nicks A Late Point For Chelsea At Anfield
Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 1:1 CFC
Substitute Willian grabbed a point for Chelsea late on, Liverpool failing to hang on to a lead once again after Mohamed Salah put them ahead, the much anticipated Premier League clash ending 1-1 at Anfield.
Liverpool started strong, dominant in possession, in control but didn't produce much danger, not giving Thibaut Courtois much to do.
Halfway through the half saw a block by Simon Mignolet one-on-one against a dangerous Eden Hazard and then seconds later the Belgian keeper put Davide Zappacosta's attempt out for a corner, followed by ping pong in and around the box, tense, tense, tense, first real chances and pressure by the Blues, or either side actually.
Chelsea were all over the Reds in those crazy ten-ish minutes, Marcos Alonso's 25-yard free kick going over the wall but bending just about a yard wide. And breath.
A threatening Salah created most for the home side, putting a left-footed shot just wide a few minutes before the break, still no shots on target for the Reds though, Courtois looked beaten but remained unthreatened.
The referee Michael Oliver ignored a penalty shout against Hazard bringing down Philippe Coutinho in the box as an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain threat was cleared. It would have been harsh.
It stayed goalless at the break, Liverpool with more of the ball, but Chelsea with more chances and closer to breaking the deadlock.
Chelsea were on top after the interval, Hazard tumbling into the box a bit too over-dramatic, nothing given.
Seconds later Courtois spilled Daniel Sturridge's cross/shot, the ball squirming under the keeper and out for a corner, Liverpool's first of the match. The second followed shortly after, both were cleared.
A daft kick out by Tiemoué Bakayoko against Coutinho conceded a free kick, which the Brazilian took and saw blocked out for a corner. Joel Matip wasted that set piece out for a goal kick.
The first attempt on target for the Reds came in the 55th minute, skipper Jordan Henderson with a shot, easily collected by Courtois.
Another penalty shout came with just under an hour gone, this time against Gary Cahill, Sturridge's ball, arms by his side, nothing in it, game on.
Chelsea threatened a couple of more times with Zappacosta and Alvaro Morata before Liverpool mounted threats and chances of their own with Coutinho and Salah.
The Egyptian former Chelsea man then finally found the breakthrough, nicking the ball off Bakayoko in the box and putting it past Courtois and in, 1-0 with 65 minutes gone. Cheeky, too easy, his 15th of the season, BOOM!
Jürgen Klopp took off Sturridge straight after LFC took the lead, Georginio Wijnaldum replacing the under-fire striker with just under 25 minutes to go.
The game slowed down a lot after that. Chelsea needed changes, made changes, more attacking after falling behind.
Substitute Wijnaldum saw a shot deflected out for a corner by Cahill, before some poor decision making by Chelsea conceded another counter by the Reds which won them a corner.
So, both sides kept threatening, Alonso missing the biggest sitter right in front of goal, kicking the ball high in the sky with his left foot.
The Reds did look nervy at the back, it's surprising they had only conceded once at Anfield in the Premier League this season.
That was until Willian stunned and fooled everyone with a cross/shot from the right edge of the box, the curl and turn lifting over and beating Mignolet to make it 1-1 with five minutes to go.
Five very tense minutes, plus three added on which saw a late double-change for the Reds, Adam Lallana returning from injury and coming on with Sadio Mané, and a great save by Courtois denying Salah late on.
It ended a goal and point each, the Reds throwing away a lead once again, disappointing, but showing much more strength, fight and threat against the Blues, who will be much happier with the point, Antonio Conte's reaction said it all.
Much in contrast to that, Mané was not happy with Klopp after the match, no surprise there. Everyone was caught out by the German's changes and too late substitutions, he blamed it all on the referee in the post-match interview. Harsh.
With this draw Liverpool remain unbeaten in their last six Premier League meetings with Chelsea.
However, the Blues haven't lost any of their last six Premier League visits to Anfield.
One point gained, but two points dropped in the chase for the top four, especially annoying after Tottenham also dropped points against managerless strugglers West Brom earlier in the day.
No rest for the wicked as Liverpool will travel to Stoke on Wednesday.
Liverpool Goal: Salah 65'.
Chelsea Goal: Willian 85'.
HT Stats: LFC 0-0 CFC
Possession: 64%-36%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 0-2
Corners: 0-5
Fouls 5-4
Yellow cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 1-1 CFC
Possession: 53%-47%
Shots: 16-11
On target: 4-3
Corners: 7-8
Fouls: 10-7
Yellow cards: 0-0
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c), 21 Oxlade- Chamberlain (19 Mané 89'); 10 Coutinho (20 Lallana 89'), 15 Sturridge (5 Wijnaldum 66'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 9 Firmino, 26 Robertson, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Chelsea Team: 13 Courtois; 24 Cahill, 27 Christensen, 28 Azpilicueta; 7 Kanté; 3 Alonso, 14 Bakayoko (11 Pedro 77'), 6 Drinkwater (4 Fàbregas 74'), 21 Zappacosta (22 Willian 83'); 10 Hazard; 9 Morata. 3-1-4-1-1 or more like 8-1-1
Substitutes not used: 1 Caballero, 2 Rüdiger, 15 Moses, 30 David Luiz.
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,225
Click here to read my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Substitute Willian grabbed a point for Chelsea late on, Liverpool failing to hang on to a lead once again after Mohamed Salah put them ahead, the much anticipated Premier League clash ending 1-1 at Anfield.
Liverpool started strong, dominant in possession, in control but didn't produce much danger, not giving Thibaut Courtois much to do.
Halfway through the half saw a block by Simon Mignolet one-on-one against a dangerous Eden Hazard and then seconds later the Belgian keeper put Davide Zappacosta's attempt out for a corner, followed by ping pong in and around the box, tense, tense, tense, first real chances and pressure by the Blues, or either side actually.
Chelsea were all over the Reds in those crazy ten-ish minutes, Marcos Alonso's 25-yard free kick going over the wall but bending just about a yard wide. And breath.
A threatening Salah created most for the home side, putting a left-footed shot just wide a few minutes before the break, still no shots on target for the Reds though, Courtois looked beaten but remained unthreatened.
The referee Michael Oliver ignored a penalty shout against Hazard bringing down Philippe Coutinho in the box as an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain threat was cleared. It would have been harsh.
It stayed goalless at the break, Liverpool with more of the ball, but Chelsea with more chances and closer to breaking the deadlock.
Chelsea were on top after the interval, Hazard tumbling into the box a bit too over-dramatic, nothing given.
Seconds later Courtois spilled Daniel Sturridge's cross/shot, the ball squirming under the keeper and out for a corner, Liverpool's first of the match. The second followed shortly after, both were cleared.
A daft kick out by Tiemoué Bakayoko against Coutinho conceded a free kick, which the Brazilian took and saw blocked out for a corner. Joel Matip wasted that set piece out for a goal kick.
The first attempt on target for the Reds came in the 55th minute, skipper Jordan Henderson with a shot, easily collected by Courtois.
Another penalty shout came with just under an hour gone, this time against Gary Cahill, Sturridge's ball, arms by his side, nothing in it, game on.
Chelsea threatened a couple of more times with Zappacosta and Alvaro Morata before Liverpool mounted threats and chances of their own with Coutinho and Salah.
Jürgen Klopp took off Sturridge straight after LFC took the lead, Georginio Wijnaldum replacing the under-fire striker with just under 25 minutes to go.
The game slowed down a lot after that. Chelsea needed changes, made changes, more attacking after falling behind.
Substitute Wijnaldum saw a shot deflected out for a corner by Cahill, before some poor decision making by Chelsea conceded another counter by the Reds which won them a corner.
So, both sides kept threatening, Alonso missing the biggest sitter right in front of goal, kicking the ball high in the sky with his left foot.
The Reds did look nervy at the back, it's surprising they had only conceded once at Anfield in the Premier League this season.
That was until Willian stunned and fooled everyone with a cross/shot from the right edge of the box, the curl and turn lifting over and beating Mignolet to make it 1-1 with five minutes to go.
Five very tense minutes, plus three added on which saw a late double-change for the Reds, Adam Lallana returning from injury and coming on with Sadio Mané, and a great save by Courtois denying Salah late on.
It ended a goal and point each, the Reds throwing away a lead once again, disappointing, but showing much more strength, fight and threat against the Blues, who will be much happier with the point, Antonio Conte's reaction said it all.
Much in contrast to that, Mané was not happy with Klopp after the match, no surprise there. Everyone was caught out by the German's changes and too late substitutions, he blamed it all on the referee in the post-match interview. Harsh.
With this draw Liverpool remain unbeaten in their last six Premier League meetings with Chelsea.
However, the Blues haven't lost any of their last six Premier League visits to Anfield.
One point gained, but two points dropped in the chase for the top four, especially annoying after Tottenham also dropped points against managerless strugglers West Brom earlier in the day.
No rest for the wicked as Liverpool will travel to Stoke on Wednesday.
Liverpool Goal: Salah 65'.
Chelsea Goal: Willian 85'.
HT Stats: LFC 0-0 CFC
Possession: 64%-36%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 0-2
Corners: 0-5
Fouls 5-4
Yellow cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 1-1 CFC
Possession: 53%-47%
Shots: 16-11
On target: 4-3
Corners: 7-8
Fouls: 10-7
Yellow cards: 0-0
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c), 21 Oxlade- Chamberlain (19 Mané 89'); 10 Coutinho (20 Lallana 89'), 15 Sturridge (5 Wijnaldum 66'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 9 Firmino, 26 Robertson, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Chelsea Team: 13 Courtois; 24 Cahill, 27 Christensen, 28 Azpilicueta; 7 Kanté; 3 Alonso, 14 Bakayoko (11 Pedro 77'), 6 Drinkwater (4 Fàbregas 74'), 21 Zappacosta (22 Willian 83'); 10 Hazard; 9 Morata. 3-1-4-1-1 or more like 8-1-1
Substitutes not used: 1 Caballero, 2 Rüdiger, 15 Moses, 30 David Luiz.
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,225
Click here to read my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Sunday, 5 November 2017
LFC Break Hammers At London Stadium
Sports - Football - Premier League - WHU 1:4 LFC
Mohamed Salah's double helped Liverpool to their first consecutive league win since August, thrashing West Ham 1-4 at London Stadium on Sadio Mané's much awaited return from injury.
Click here for my FT Notes on the match.
The opening goal came off a killer counter from West Ham's first corner in the 21st minute, Mané with the break, run and pass to his right, where Salah gratefully collected, controlled and tapped in the ball with his left boot, Joe Hart well beaten. Exemplary.
Two minutes and 37 seconds later, Salah took Liverpool's first corner of the game, Hart punched away skipper Mark Noble's block, nearly conceding an own goal, for Joël Matip to net the rebound with his right boot and make it 0-2 to the Reds.
The visitors were happy to play kick-about in the middle of the park after that, frustrating the hell out of the hosts, manager Slaven Bilić and co-owner David Gold no happy men.
To many Reds fans' surprise, Simon Mignolet captained the visitors in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury, and showed too many shakes and nerves once again.
To many Reds fans' surprise, Simon Mignolet captained the visitors in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury, and showed too many shakes and nerves once again.
Manuel Lanzini pulled one back ten minutes into the second half, off the chest, onto the right foot and into the right corner, nice one.
But seconds later, the bubbles were still blowing, former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain restored Liverpool's two-goal cushion with his first league goal for the club, netting the rebound after Hart blocked and denied his first attempt, nicely set up by Roberto Firmino.
Lanzini came close again seconds later in an action-packed few minutes with just over an hour gone.
Salah made it four and sealed the deal for the Reds with 15 minutes to go, Mané in the build-up again, running, stumbling, getting back up again, running on, providing the Egyptian with the perfect ball into the box, which he netted with the left foot.
London Stadium emptied very quickly, YNWA echoing around with the boos at the full-time whistle, LFC manager Jürgen Klopp all smiles.
It was much needed goals, a much needed win, much needed points for the Reds. A big blow for the Hammers.
The win takes Liverpool closer to the top four whilst West Ham dropped down dangling into the relegation zone.
Their points total after 11 games equals their 2010-11 season when they were relegated from the top flight.
Klopp and Co meanwhile, will be much happier going into the international break after their fourth consecutive win in all competitions, scoring 17, conceding just one.
Liverpool Goals: Salah 21', Matip 24', Oxlade-Chamberlain 56' & Salah 76'.
West Ham Team: 25 Hart; 21 Ogbonna, 8 Kouyate, 2 Reid (booked 47'); 3 Cresswell, 16 Noble (c) (booked 37') (Arnautovic 61'), 10 Lanzini (booked 90'), 14 Obiang, 31 Fernandes (9 Carroll HT); 17 Hernandez (15 Sakho 72'), 20 Ayew. 3-5-2
Substitutes not used: 13 Adrian, 23 Haksabanovic, 26 Masuaku, 41 Rice.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet (c); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (6 Lovren 87'); 19 Mané (7 Milner 77'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 77'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
HT Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-3
On target: 0-3
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 5-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
FT Stats: WHU 1-4 LFC
Possession: 48%-52%
Shots: 6-15
On target: 1-7
Corners: 2-3
Fouls: 9-13
Yellow cards: 3-0
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: London Stadium
Attendance: 56,961
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report and SFR live match coverage.
Saturday, 4 November 2017
FT Notes: West Ham 1-4 Liverpool
Sports - Football - Premier League - WHU 1:4 LFC
Biggest pre-match news: Sadio Mané starts for Liverpool after long absence!!! And stopper Simon Mignolet skippers the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury.
2' West Ham keeper Joe Hart blocks Roberto Firmino after an early Liverpool free kick, Alberto Moreno brought down loud and painful.
6' Hammers play the ball too far and out for a throw a second time they look close to pushing forward, Obiang with the overhit this time.
9' Ayew hits the post after breaking clear and collecting Lanzini's ball over the top, looking to curl the ball around and past a hesitant Mignolet, Liverpool caught sleeping and running behind.
13' Hernandez goes to ground a little too over-dramatic there, ref doesn't give anything, Bilić is furious. A couple of minutes break as Hernandez receives treatment.
15' Lanzini takes a free kick from about 25 yards out, cleared by the Reds.
16' A lot of tumbles and falls, appeals for free kicks, the ref's whistle on high demand, the visitors winning the call this time in their own half.
18' Offside flag up against Hernandez, Hammers pushing more as the Reds keep losing the ball.
21' Fernandes wins the first corner of the game, on the right, off his throw, the home side on top at the moment. As I write that, the corner is cleared, Mané and Salah break clear, KILLER COUNTER, 0-1! Mané runs and runs and passes to his right, Salah gratefully collects, controls and taps it in with his left, Hart well beaten. BOOM!
24' Salah corner, first for the Reds, Hart punches away NOBLE's block, nearly an own goal there, but MATIP NETS the rebound with his right boot, wham, bam, thank you ma'am, 0-2.
Liverpool are on their way to their first back-to-back league wins since August.
There were just two minutes and 37 seconds between the two LFC goals. West Ham co-owner David Gold does not look impressed.
34' Liverpool happy to play kick-about in the middle of the park, comfy with the two-goal lead, West Ham growing more and more frustrated.
37' First booking goes to West Ham skipper Noble for diving, cheeky one the French commentators say, stupid one I say!
40' Some harsh tackling, but Klopp and Bilić are going more mental than anyone else at the moment, great entertainment on the sideline, like a dance choreography between the two managers.
44' Roadrunner style, Salah breaks on the right, wins a corner, second for the Reds, Hart collects.
45' Mané gives away a free kick, soft one, the home side looking for anything and everything, desperate.
Two minutes added on before the break, loud boos echoing around London Stadium, the Hammer fans are not happy.
Mignolet comes out of the box, unable to clear the ball against Ayew on the right, flappy, floppy, needless.
But I'm happy, nothing comes off that little slip up, Liverpool stay two goals up at the break, West Ham drawing a much more sloppy and frustrated picture!
HT Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-3
On target: 0-3
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 5-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
Andy Carroll is brought on for West Ham at the break. Surprised to see Fernandes is the one replaced, who had a lot of influence and power in the first half, the little the Hammers created.
47' Reid booked for foul on Mané, cynical one.
49' Mané shot wide, goal kick for the Hammers.
51' Carroll elbows Matip, concedes a free kick, but avoids a card, very lucky escape there.
54' Flag goes up against Lanzini, clearly offside.
55' Mané goes down again, nothing given, lucky not to end up in the books... LANZINI, chest, right foot, right corner, cheeky, pokey one! 1-2 AND GAME ON!
56' OXLAAAAADE right foot, blocked and denied well by Hart, BUT CHAMBERLAIN NETS THE REBOUND with his left foot!!! 1-3 thanks to Oxlade-Chamberlain, the former Gunner's first league goal for the Reds, just when the Hammers thought they were back in it!!! Hart looks devastated, Bilić can't believe it! Nicely set up by Firmino by the way.
59' LANZINI AGAIAIAIN, this time high, tight angle again, so close. I. Can't. Keep. Up.
60' Mignolet gets the ball, Lanzini goes down, soft, softer, the softest, nothing given, game on.
61' Bilić has had enough, brings on Arnautovic in place of Noble. The skipper is injured actually. My mistake.
62' Free kick for the Hammers on the left, Lanzini takes, Chicharito heads it high.
64' Lanzini flagged offside again, close one this time. Hammers edging closer, Mignolet takes the kick.
65' Free kick given against the Ox, a bit late there, and nowhere near the ball, faire enough.
66' Mignolet catches, Carroll and Can are down after a collision.
69' Hernandez heads high, claims push, nothing given, goal kick. Firmino puts a shot across goal and wide on the other side.
72' Last change for the Hammers, Javier Hernandez is replaced by Diafra Sakho with just under 20 minutes to go.
75:01 SALAH MAKES IT FOUR!!! Sadio Mané with the build-up, runs, stumbles, falls over a challenge, gets back up again, runs on, provides Salah with the perfect ball into the box, edge of the box, the Egyptian takes and nets with the left foot! 1-4, a lot of fans are heading for the exits.
Salah is just one league goal behind a certain Harry Kane totalling seven in the league and twelve in total for the Reds this season.
77' And James Milner replaces Sadio Mané, Klopp is taking no fitness risk here.
81' Salah left-footer from the centre of the box, Hart catches.
84' Liverpool attack again, Salah shoots again, blocked by Hammers defence this time, for a change.
86' Milner shot wide, had all the time and space in the world, with a couple of team mates, a bit selfish there by the sub.
86' Liverpool on the attack again, Firmino shot goes high.
87' Second Liverpool change, Dejan Lovren comes on for the Ox. And last change at the same time, Solanke replaces Firmino, hug from the German coach.
89' Chance after chance for the Reds, the visitors win a corner, Milner cross, blocked, free kick to the Hammers, Matip fouled Reid.
90' Lanzini is booked and free kick goes to the Reds near the middle-line.
Three minutes added on, YNWA echoes around the London Stadium. Klopp is all smiles with the fourth official.
Kick-about for the Reds near the centre circle, Hart clears the ball eventually.
Goal kick to the Hammers, the whistle and boos go eventually, Bilić gutted, the ground is empty already.
Klopp is pushing and sending his team out onto the pitch, with many thanks I hope and think.
Much needed goals, much needed win, much needed points for the Reds.
The win takes them up to sixth, level on points with Chelsea and Arsenal in fourth and fifth respectively, who face Manchester United and Manchester City respectively tomorrow.
West Ham drop down to 17th, one point off the drop zone, where Everton and Palace have a game in hand.
Their points total after 11 games matches their 2010-11 season when they were relegated from the top flight.
I will be very surprised if Bilić stays in the job... The international break giving more time to find a replacement...
FT Stats: WHU 1-4 LFC
Possession: 48%-52%
Shots: 6-15
On target: 1-7
Corners: 2-3
Fouls: 9-13
Yellow cards: 3-0
West Ham Goal: Lanzini 55'.
Liverpool Goals: Salah 21', Matip 24', Oxlade-Chamberlain 56' & Salah 76'.
West Ham Team: 25 Hart; 21 Ogbonna, 8 Kouyate, 2 Reid (booked 47'); 3 Cresswell, 16 Noble (c) (booked 37') (Arnautovic 61'), 10 Lanzini (booked 90'), 14 Obiang, 31 Fernandes (9 Carroll HT); 17 Hernandez (15 Sakho 72'), 20 Ayew. 3-5-2
Substitutes not used: 13 Adrian, 23 Haksabanovic, 26 Masuaku, 41 Rice.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet (c); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (6 Lovren 87'); 19 Mané (7 Milner 77'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 77'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: London Stadium
Attendance: 56,961
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC website and SFR live match coverage.
Biggest pre-match news: Sadio Mané starts for Liverpool after long absence!!! And stopper Simon Mignolet skippers the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury.
2' West Ham keeper Joe Hart blocks Roberto Firmino after an early Liverpool free kick, Alberto Moreno brought down loud and painful.
6' Hammers play the ball too far and out for a throw a second time they look close to pushing forward, Obiang with the overhit this time.
9' Ayew hits the post after breaking clear and collecting Lanzini's ball over the top, looking to curl the ball around and past a hesitant Mignolet, Liverpool caught sleeping and running behind.
13' Hernandez goes to ground a little too over-dramatic there, ref doesn't give anything, Bilić is furious. A couple of minutes break as Hernandez receives treatment.
15' Lanzini takes a free kick from about 25 yards out, cleared by the Reds.
16' A lot of tumbles and falls, appeals for free kicks, the ref's whistle on high demand, the visitors winning the call this time in their own half.
18' Offside flag up against Hernandez, Hammers pushing more as the Reds keep losing the ball.
21' Fernandes wins the first corner of the game, on the right, off his throw, the home side on top at the moment. As I write that, the corner is cleared, Mané and Salah break clear, KILLER COUNTER, 0-1! Mané runs and runs and passes to his right, Salah gratefully collects, controls and taps it in with his left, Hart well beaten. BOOM!
24' Salah corner, first for the Reds, Hart punches away NOBLE's block, nearly an own goal there, but MATIP NETS the rebound with his right boot, wham, bam, thank you ma'am, 0-2.
Liverpool are on their way to their first back-to-back league wins since August.
There were just two minutes and 37 seconds between the two LFC goals. West Ham co-owner David Gold does not look impressed.
34' Liverpool happy to play kick-about in the middle of the park, comfy with the two-goal lead, West Ham growing more and more frustrated.
37' First booking goes to West Ham skipper Noble for diving, cheeky one the French commentators say, stupid one I say!
40' Some harsh tackling, but Klopp and Bilić are going more mental than anyone else at the moment, great entertainment on the sideline, like a dance choreography between the two managers.
44' Roadrunner style, Salah breaks on the right, wins a corner, second for the Reds, Hart collects.
45' Mané gives away a free kick, soft one, the home side looking for anything and everything, desperate.
Two minutes added on before the break, loud boos echoing around London Stadium, the Hammer fans are not happy.
Mignolet comes out of the box, unable to clear the ball against Ayew on the right, flappy, floppy, needless.
But I'm happy, nothing comes off that little slip up, Liverpool stay two goals up at the break, West Ham drawing a much more sloppy and frustrated picture!
HT Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-3
On target: 0-3
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 5-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
Andy Carroll is brought on for West Ham at the break. Surprised to see Fernandes is the one replaced, who had a lot of influence and power in the first half, the little the Hammers created.
47' Reid booked for foul on Mané, cynical one.
49' Mané shot wide, goal kick for the Hammers.
51' Carroll elbows Matip, concedes a free kick, but avoids a card, very lucky escape there.
54' Flag goes up against Lanzini, clearly offside.
55' Mané goes down again, nothing given, lucky not to end up in the books... LANZINI, chest, right foot, right corner, cheeky, pokey one! 1-2 AND GAME ON!
56' OXLAAAAADE right foot, blocked and denied well by Hart, BUT CHAMBERLAIN NETS THE REBOUND with his left foot!!! 1-3 thanks to Oxlade-Chamberlain, the former Gunner's first league goal for the Reds, just when the Hammers thought they were back in it!!! Hart looks devastated, Bilić can't believe it! Nicely set up by Firmino by the way.
59' LANZINI AGAIAIAIN, this time high, tight angle again, so close. I. Can't. Keep. Up.
60' Mignolet gets the ball, Lanzini goes down, soft, softer, the softest, nothing given, game on.
61' Bilić has had enough, brings on Arnautovic in place of Noble. The skipper is injured actually. My mistake.
62' Free kick for the Hammers on the left, Lanzini takes, Chicharito heads it high.
64' Lanzini flagged offside again, close one this time. Hammers edging closer, Mignolet takes the kick.
65' Free kick given against the Ox, a bit late there, and nowhere near the ball, faire enough.
66' Mignolet catches, Carroll and Can are down after a collision.
69' Hernandez heads high, claims push, nothing given, goal kick. Firmino puts a shot across goal and wide on the other side.
72' Last change for the Hammers, Javier Hernandez is replaced by Diafra Sakho with just under 20 minutes to go.
75:01 SALAH MAKES IT FOUR!!! Sadio Mané with the build-up, runs, stumbles, falls over a challenge, gets back up again, runs on, provides Salah with the perfect ball into the box, edge of the box, the Egyptian takes and nets with the left foot! 1-4, a lot of fans are heading for the exits.
Salah is just one league goal behind a certain Harry Kane totalling seven in the league and twelve in total for the Reds this season.
77' And James Milner replaces Sadio Mané, Klopp is taking no fitness risk here.
81' Salah left-footer from the centre of the box, Hart catches.
84' Liverpool attack again, Salah shoots again, blocked by Hammers defence this time, for a change.
86' Milner shot wide, had all the time and space in the world, with a couple of team mates, a bit selfish there by the sub.
86' Liverpool on the attack again, Firmino shot goes high.
87' Second Liverpool change, Dejan Lovren comes on for the Ox. And last change at the same time, Solanke replaces Firmino, hug from the German coach.
89' Chance after chance for the Reds, the visitors win a corner, Milner cross, blocked, free kick to the Hammers, Matip fouled Reid.
90' Lanzini is booked and free kick goes to the Reds near the middle-line.
Three minutes added on, YNWA echoes around the London Stadium. Klopp is all smiles with the fourth official.
Kick-about for the Reds near the centre circle, Hart clears the ball eventually.
Goal kick to the Hammers, the whistle and boos go eventually, Bilić gutted, the ground is empty already.
Klopp is pushing and sending his team out onto the pitch, with many thanks I hope and think.
Much needed goals, much needed win, much needed points for the Reds.
The win takes them up to sixth, level on points with Chelsea and Arsenal in fourth and fifth respectively, who face Manchester United and Manchester City respectively tomorrow.
West Ham drop down to 17th, one point off the drop zone, where Everton and Palace have a game in hand.
Their points total after 11 games matches their 2010-11 season when they were relegated from the top flight.
I will be very surprised if Bilić stays in the job... The international break giving more time to find a replacement...
FT Stats: WHU 1-4 LFC
Possession: 48%-52%
Shots: 6-15
On target: 1-7
Corners: 2-3
Fouls: 9-13
Yellow cards: 3-0
West Ham Goal: Lanzini 55'.
Liverpool Goals: Salah 21', Matip 24', Oxlade-Chamberlain 56' & Salah 76'.
West Ham Team: 25 Hart; 21 Ogbonna, 8 Kouyate, 2 Reid (booked 47'); 3 Cresswell, 16 Noble (c) (booked 37') (Arnautovic 61'), 10 Lanzini (booked 90'), 14 Obiang, 31 Fernandes (9 Carroll HT); 17 Hernandez (15 Sakho 72'), 20 Ayew. 3-5-2
Substitutes not used: 13 Adrian, 23 Haksabanovic, 26 Masuaku, 41 Rice.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet (c); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (6 Lovren 87'); 19 Mané (7 Milner 77'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 77'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: London Stadium
Attendance: 56,961
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC website and SFR live match coverage.
HT Notes: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Sports - Football - Premier League - WHU 0:2 LFC
Biggest pre-match news: Sadio Mané starts for Liverpool after long absence!!! And stopper Simon Mignolet skippers the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury.
2' West Ham keeper Joe Hart blocks Roberto Firmino after an early Liverpool free kick, Alberto Moreno brought down loud and painful.
6' Hammers play the ball too far and out for a throw a second time they look close to pushing forward, Obiang with the overhit this time.
9' Ayew hits the post after breaking clear and collecting Lanzini's ball over the top, looking to curl the ball around and past a hesitant Mignolet, Liverpool caught sleeping and running behind.
13' Hernandez goes to ground a little too over-dramatic there, ref doesn't give anything, Bilić is furious. A couple of minutes break as Hernandez receives treatment.
15' Lanzini takes a free kick from about 25 yards out, cleared by the Reds.
16' A lot of tumbles and falls, appeals for free kicks, the ref's whistle on high demand, the visitors winning the call this time in their own half.
18' Offside flag up against Hernandez, Hammers pushing more as the Reds keep losing the ball.
21' Fernandes wins the first corner of the game, on the right, off his throw, the home side on top at the moment. As I write that, the corner is cleared, Mané and Salah break clear, KILLER COUNTER, 0-1! Mané runs and runs and passes to his right, Salah gratefully collects, controls and taps it in with his left, Hart well beaten. BOOM!
24' Salah corner, first for the Reds, Hart punches away NOBLE's block, nearly an own goal there, but MATIP NETS the rebound with his right boot, wham, bam, thank you ma'am, 0-2.
Liverpool are on their way to their first back-to-back league wins since August.
There were just two minutes and 37 seconds between the two LFC goals. West Ham co-owner David Gold does not look impressed.
34' Liverpool happy to play kick-about in the middle of the park, comfy with the two-goal lead, West Ham growing more and more frustrated.
37' First booking goes to West Ham skipper Noble for diving, cheeky one the French commentators say, stupid one I say!
40' Some harsh tackling, but Klopp and Bilić are going more mental than anyone else at the moment, great entertainment on the sideline, like a dance choreography between the two managers.
44' Roadrunner style, Salah breaks on the right, wins a corner, second for the Reds, Hart collects.
45' Mané gives away a free kick, soft one, the home side looking for anything and everything, desperate.
Two minutes added on before the break, loud boos echoing around London Stadium, the Hammer fans are not happy.
Mignolet comes out the box, unable to clear the ball against Ayew on the right, flappy, floppy, needless.
But I'm happy, nothing comes off that little slip up, Liverpool stay two goals up at the break, West Ham drawing a much more sloppy and frustrated picture!
HT Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-3
On target: 0-3
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 5-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
LFC Goals: Salah 21' & Matip 24'.
WHU Team: 25 Hart; 21 Ogbonna, 8 Kouyate, 2 Reid; 3 Cresswell, 16 Noble (c) (booked 37'), 10 Lanzini, 14 Obiang, 31 Fernandes; 17 Hernandez, 20 Ayew. 3-5-2
Substitutes: 7 Arnautovic, 9 Carroll, 13 Adrian, 15 Sakho, 23 Haksabanovic, 26 Masuaku, 41 Rice.
LFC Team: 22 Mignolet (c); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 19 Mané, 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Ground: London Stadium
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC website and SFR live match coverage.
Biggest pre-match news: Sadio Mané starts for Liverpool after long absence!!! And stopper Simon Mignolet skippers the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence due to injury.
2' West Ham keeper Joe Hart blocks Roberto Firmino after an early Liverpool free kick, Alberto Moreno brought down loud and painful.
6' Hammers play the ball too far and out for a throw a second time they look close to pushing forward, Obiang with the overhit this time.
9' Ayew hits the post after breaking clear and collecting Lanzini's ball over the top, looking to curl the ball around and past a hesitant Mignolet, Liverpool caught sleeping and running behind.
13' Hernandez goes to ground a little too over-dramatic there, ref doesn't give anything, Bilić is furious. A couple of minutes break as Hernandez receives treatment.
15' Lanzini takes a free kick from about 25 yards out, cleared by the Reds.
16' A lot of tumbles and falls, appeals for free kicks, the ref's whistle on high demand, the visitors winning the call this time in their own half.
18' Offside flag up against Hernandez, Hammers pushing more as the Reds keep losing the ball.
21' Fernandes wins the first corner of the game, on the right, off his throw, the home side on top at the moment. As I write that, the corner is cleared, Mané and Salah break clear, KILLER COUNTER, 0-1! Mané runs and runs and passes to his right, Salah gratefully collects, controls and taps it in with his left, Hart well beaten. BOOM!
24' Salah corner, first for the Reds, Hart punches away NOBLE's block, nearly an own goal there, but MATIP NETS the rebound with his right boot, wham, bam, thank you ma'am, 0-2.
Liverpool are on their way to their first back-to-back league wins since August.
There were just two minutes and 37 seconds between the two LFC goals. West Ham co-owner David Gold does not look impressed.
34' Liverpool happy to play kick-about in the middle of the park, comfy with the two-goal lead, West Ham growing more and more frustrated.
37' First booking goes to West Ham skipper Noble for diving, cheeky one the French commentators say, stupid one I say!
40' Some harsh tackling, but Klopp and Bilić are going more mental than anyone else at the moment, great entertainment on the sideline, like a dance choreography between the two managers.
44' Roadrunner style, Salah breaks on the right, wins a corner, second for the Reds, Hart collects.
45' Mané gives away a free kick, soft one, the home side looking for anything and everything, desperate.
Two minutes added on before the break, loud boos echoing around London Stadium, the Hammer fans are not happy.
Mignolet comes out the box, unable to clear the ball against Ayew on the right, flappy, floppy, needless.
But I'm happy, nothing comes off that little slip up, Liverpool stay two goals up at the break, West Ham drawing a much more sloppy and frustrated picture!
HT Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-3
On target: 0-3
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 5-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
LFC Goals: Salah 21' & Matip 24'.
WHU Team: 25 Hart; 21 Ogbonna, 8 Kouyate, 2 Reid; 3 Cresswell, 16 Noble (c) (booked 37'), 10 Lanzini, 14 Obiang, 31 Fernandes; 17 Hernandez, 20 Ayew. 3-5-2
Substitutes: 7 Arnautovic, 9 Carroll, 13 Adrian, 15 Sakho, 23 Haksabanovic, 26 Masuaku, 41 Rice.
LFC Team: 22 Mignolet (c); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 19 Mané, 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Substitutes: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Ground: London Stadium
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC website and SFR live match coverage.
Monday, 23 October 2017
Spurs Thrash LFC 4-1 At Wembley
Sports - Football - Premier League - THFC 4:1 LFC
Harry Kane scored two and set up one as Tottenham downed Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley in the Super Sunday afternoon kick-off.
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The super striker didn't even take four minutes to rip through the Red back line and round keeper Simon Mignolet to break the deadlock.
Eight minutes later, the 24-year-old set up Son Heung-min to double the score, the Red defence just lagging behind.
Mohamed Salah pulled one back for the visitors just over halfway through the first half, putting away Jordan Henderson's through ball.
But just before the interval Dele Alli's volley from the edge of the area made it 3-1.
Kane sealed the deal just over ten minutes after the break after Mignolet flapped and failed to clear a free-kick, the rebound of Jan Vertonghen's shot falling to the Ballon d'Or nominee to make it 4-1.
Liverpool's defence was just over-stretched. All goals were due to leaks, massive gaps, lack of physical presence, speed and any kind of cover.
Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren were nowhere near good enough, too slow, too sloppy, clueless, Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno unable to cope.
It said it all when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for Lovren with just over half an hour gone.
But the visitors were unable to get back into the game, despite Salah's and Philippe Coutinho's best attempts and dominance in possession.
Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris showed the opposition how it's done with some great stops, quick reaction, strong and solid presence. Something the Reds are missing!!!
Their Belgian stopper has made 13 errors leading to goals in the league since making his Liverpool debut in 2013, three more than anyone else.
The London side's boss Mauricio Pochettino was very happy for his fans, in front of Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant, "Wembley starts to feel home" with a Premier League record crowd of 80,827.
Tottenham are up to third on 20 points, level with United in second, four points ahead of Chelsea in fourth, after their second consecutive win at their new home.
LFC manager Jürgen Klopp took "100% responsibility" pointing out the "bad, bad, bad defence. Their desire was better than ours."
Sad but true. It was no contest. The Reds are left slumbering in ninth on 13 points, trailing the top by 12 points.
Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in the league this season, their worst defensive record after nine top-flight games since 1964-65.
They have struggled most on the road, conceding 15 goals, the most in the league this season.
Next on the fixture list: A little break as the Reds are out of the League Cup, until they host Huddersfield at Anfield on Saturday.
The Tigers are high-flying after beating Manchester United 2-1 in a very convincing, strong, organised and confident display.
Again, something the Reds are missing!!!
Tottenham Goals: Kane 4' & 56', Son Heung-min 12' & Alli 45'+3.
Liverpool Goal: Salah 24'.
Tottenham Team: 1 Lloris, 4 Alderweireld, 6 Sánchez, 5 Vertonghen, 2 Trippier, 23 Eriksen (15 Dier 81'), 29 Winks, 20 Alli, 24 Aurier, 10 Kane (18 Llorente 88'), 7 Son Heung-min (17 Sissoko 69').
Subs not used: 3 Rose, 13 Vorm, 14 Nkoudou, 33 Davies.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 31'), 18 Moreno, 7 Milner, 14 Henderson, 23 Can (booked) (16 Grujic 83'), 10 Coutinho, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 77'), 11 Salah.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 17 Klavan, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Match Stats: THFC 4-1 LFC
Possession: 36%-64%
Shots: 14-12
On target: 6-7
Corners: 3-5
Fouls: 2-8
Yellow cards: 0-1
Red cards: 0-0
Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Harry Kane
Ground: Wembley
Attendance: 80,827
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, quotes, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD2, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Harry Kane scored two and set up one as Tottenham downed Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley in the Super Sunday afternoon kick-off.
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The super striker didn't even take four minutes to rip through the Red back line and round keeper Simon Mignolet to break the deadlock.
Eight minutes later, the 24-year-old set up Son Heung-min to double the score, the Red defence just lagging behind.
Mohamed Salah pulled one back for the visitors just over halfway through the first half, putting away Jordan Henderson's through ball.
Kane sealed the deal just over ten minutes after the break after Mignolet flapped and failed to clear a free-kick, the rebound of Jan Vertonghen's shot falling to the Ballon d'Or nominee to make it 4-1.
Liverpool's defence was just over-stretched. All goals were due to leaks, massive gaps, lack of physical presence, speed and any kind of cover.
Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren were nowhere near good enough, too slow, too sloppy, clueless, Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno unable to cope.
It said it all when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for Lovren with just over half an hour gone.
Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris showed the opposition how it's done with some great stops, quick reaction, strong and solid presence. Something the Reds are missing!!!
Their Belgian stopper has made 13 errors leading to goals in the league since making his Liverpool debut in 2013, three more than anyone else.
The London side's boss Mauricio Pochettino was very happy for his fans, in front of Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant, "Wembley starts to feel home" with a Premier League record crowd of 80,827.
Tottenham are up to third on 20 points, level with United in second, four points ahead of Chelsea in fourth, after their second consecutive win at their new home.
Sad but true. It was no contest. The Reds are left slumbering in ninth on 13 points, trailing the top by 12 points.
Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in the league this season, their worst defensive record after nine top-flight games since 1964-65.
They have struggled most on the road, conceding 15 goals, the most in the league this season.
Next on the fixture list: A little break as the Reds are out of the League Cup, until they host Huddersfield at Anfield on Saturday.
The Tigers are high-flying after beating Manchester United 2-1 in a very convincing, strong, organised and confident display.
Again, something the Reds are missing!!!
Tottenham Goals: Kane 4' & 56', Son Heung-min 12' & Alli 45'+3.
Liverpool Goal: Salah 24'.
Tottenham Team: 1 Lloris, 4 Alderweireld, 6 Sánchez, 5 Vertonghen, 2 Trippier, 23 Eriksen (15 Dier 81'), 29 Winks, 20 Alli, 24 Aurier, 10 Kane (18 Llorente 88'), 7 Son Heung-min (17 Sissoko 69').
Subs not used: 3 Rose, 13 Vorm, 14 Nkoudou, 33 Davies.
Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 31'), 18 Moreno, 7 Milner, 14 Henderson, 23 Can (booked) (16 Grujic 83'), 10 Coutinho, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 77'), 11 Salah.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 17 Klavan, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
Match Stats: THFC 4-1 LFC
Possession: 36%-64%
Shots: 14-12
On target: 6-7
Corners: 3-5
Fouls: 2-8
Yellow cards: 0-1
Red cards: 0-0
Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Harry Kane
Ground: Wembley
Attendance: 80,827
Click here for my previous LFC match report.
All pictures, quotes, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD2, Twitter and SFR match coverage.
Sunday, 15 October 2017
MUFC Parked Bus Gets Point At Anfield
Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 0:0 MUFC
Liverpool were once again unable to capitalize on their dominance, handing bitter rivals Manchester United a point at Anfield in the Saturday lunchtime kickoff.
Click here for my live match notes.
The goalless draw was not as boring as last season's, but José Mourinho will be just as satisfied with his bus parked at the back getting him another point, again.
The Reds were on top, from start to finish, chance after chance, the Red Devils just had star keeper David de Gea to thank for keeping a clean sheet.
On the other side, Simon Mignolet did not have much to do, but the couple of times the Belgian stopper was called upon, he kept solid.
Jürgen Klopp's side coped much better at the back in general, covering, marking, challenging, which was missing a lot in previous matches.
Romelu Lukaku, who scored in every league game before this meeting, created most and pulled one save out of Mignolet in the first half for the visitors.
But in the second half, there was no sign of him. The home side took over completely.
Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah worked most and hardest to push and produce something for the Reds, but the final edge, inch, push was missing.
So many misses, close calls, 10-0 shots in the second half, but none on target, just showed once again, stats don't count, goals do!
Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum missed sitters, even Joel Matip came close, keeping de Gea on his toes, literally (making a crucial save with the tip of his boot earlier in the first half).
All those misses and frustrations aside, Liverpool can take some encouragement out of this point though too.
Klopp has just lost once against Mourinho in seven meetings (W3 D3).
The Reds have kept their first clean sheet in the league since the 27th August, when they thrashed Arsenal 4-0.
The fact that Mourinho is happy with the point shows how times and forces have changed.
The draw keeps United unbeaten in second place on 20 points, two points and six goals behind high hitters City, whilst the Merseysiders are down to eighth, but level on 13 points with Burnley, Arsenal and Chelsea above them.
Next weekend LFC will be heading to Wembley to face 3rd placed Tottenham, who scraped and scratched out a 1-0 win against Bournemouth who are 19th.
Fingers crossed, the Reds can jump on Spurs' weaknesses at home and it will finally work and click for them. At some point, eventually, it just has to. It's their best chance to close the gap to the teams above, gain confidence and start a run.
I'm staying sober for October - please click here to help and sponsor me and Macmillan Cancer Support!
LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno; 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 23 Can; 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 78'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 87'), 10 Coutinho (15 Sturridge 78'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
MUFC team: 1 De Gea; 25 Valencia (c), 12 Smalling (booked 74'), 4 Jones, 36 Darmian; 21 Herrera, 31 Matic; 18 Young (booked 87') (2 Lindelof 92'), 22 Mkhitaryan (14 Lingard 63'), 11 Martial (19 Rashford 66'); 9 Lukaku. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 8 Mata, 17 Blind, 20 Romero, 38 Tuanzebe.
HT Stats: LFC 0-0 MUFC
Possession: 63.4%-36.6%
Shots: 9-6
On target: 5-1
Corners: 1-3
Offsides: 2-1
Fouls: 2-6
Yellow cards: 0-0
Red cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 0-0 MUFC
Possession: 62.2%-37.8%
Shots: 19-6
On target: 5-1
Corners: 7-3
Offsides: 3-1
Fouls: 7-13
Yellow cards: 0-2
Red cards: 0-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: David de Gea
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,912
Click here for me previous LFC match report.
All images, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports and coverage.
Liverpool were once again unable to capitalize on their dominance, handing bitter rivals Manchester United a point at Anfield in the Saturday lunchtime kickoff.
Click here for my live match notes.
The goalless draw was not as boring as last season's, but José Mourinho will be just as satisfied with his bus parked at the back getting him another point, again.
The Reds were on top, from start to finish, chance after chance, the Red Devils just had star keeper David de Gea to thank for keeping a clean sheet.
On the other side, Simon Mignolet did not have much to do, but the couple of times the Belgian stopper was called upon, he kept solid.
Jürgen Klopp's side coped much better at the back in general, covering, marking, challenging, which was missing a lot in previous matches.
But in the second half, there was no sign of him. The home side took over completely.
Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah worked most and hardest to push and produce something for the Reds, but the final edge, inch, push was missing.
So many misses, close calls, 10-0 shots in the second half, but none on target, just showed once again, stats don't count, goals do!
Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum missed sitters, even Joel Matip came close, keeping de Gea on his toes, literally (making a crucial save with the tip of his boot earlier in the first half).
All those misses and frustrations aside, Liverpool can take some encouragement out of this point though too.
Klopp has just lost once against Mourinho in seven meetings (W3 D3).
The fact that Mourinho is happy with the point shows how times and forces have changed.
The draw keeps United unbeaten in second place on 20 points, two points and six goals behind high hitters City, whilst the Merseysiders are down to eighth, but level on 13 points with Burnley, Arsenal and Chelsea above them.
Next weekend LFC will be heading to Wembley to face 3rd placed Tottenham, who scraped and scratched out a 1-0 win against Bournemouth who are 19th.
Fingers crossed, the Reds can jump on Spurs' weaknesses at home and it will finally work and click for them. At some point, eventually, it just has to. It's their best chance to close the gap to the teams above, gain confidence and start a run.
I'm staying sober for October - please click here to help and sponsor me and Macmillan Cancer Support!
LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno; 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 23 Can; 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 78'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 87'), 10 Coutinho (15 Sturridge 78'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
MUFC team: 1 De Gea; 25 Valencia (c), 12 Smalling (booked 74'), 4 Jones, 36 Darmian; 21 Herrera, 31 Matic; 18 Young (booked 87') (2 Lindelof 92'), 22 Mkhitaryan (14 Lingard 63'), 11 Martial (19 Rashford 66'); 9 Lukaku. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 8 Mata, 17 Blind, 20 Romero, 38 Tuanzebe.
HT Stats: LFC 0-0 MUFC
Possession: 63.4%-36.6%
Shots: 9-6
On target: 5-1
Corners: 1-3
Offsides: 2-1
Fouls: 2-6
Yellow cards: 0-0
Red cards: 0-0
FT Stats: LFC 0-0 MUFC
Possession: 62.2%-37.8%
Shots: 19-6
On target: 5-1
Corners: 7-3
Offsides: 3-1
Fouls: 7-13
Yellow cards: 0-2
Red cards: 0-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: David de Gea
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,912
Click here for me previous LFC match report.
All images, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports and coverage.
Saturday, 14 October 2017
FT Notes: LFC 0-0 MUFC
Sports - Football - Premier League - FT LFC 0:0 MUFC
LFC have made 24 starting XI changes in the opening 7 PL games, more than any other side.
The Reds have conceded 12 goals in the last 7 games, their joint worst.
Klopp just lost once against Mourinho in 7 meetings (W3 D3).
2' Conceded two early corners... Gulp...
5' First free kick goes to LFC, 21 Herrera v 10 Coutinho.
13' Another free kick for LFC, in their own half, Young fouled Moreno.
15' Wijnaldum first shot on target, soft, slow, curl, into de Gea's gloves. 70%-30% possession!
17' Foul by Young, another free kick for the home side, Mourinho fuming to the fourth official. Salah goes down too easily, looking for contact, nothing given.
20' Liverpool on top, pushing, pressing, Salah omnipresent in around the box, but missing that final touch/inch/boom.
22' First free kick for the Red Devils, Martial fouled. A couple of yards outside the left corner of the box. Cleared, LFC counter, offside?!
24' Lukaku cross from the right finds no one, out wide for a throw-in.
26' Young fuming, free kick not given, Liverpool offside again.
27' Emre Can wins a free kick in his own half.
30' Matic shot high, but not far. Closest United have come so far. 5-3 shots, 3-0 on target.
34' Coutinho shot deflects out for a corner. De Gea kicks one chance away with his left boot stretched out, Matip's shot, Salah puts rebound just wide.
36' Ref has a word with Henderson & Lukaku, prior not happy with latter's felling down of his team mate. Tempers rising.
38' Free kick given against Salah, looked like a nice dive to me... Cleared.
40' Young wins a corner on the right. Cleared. Free kick to LFC. Offside? Foul.
41' Salah shot inside the box straight to de Gea.
42' Firmino wins a free kick just inside his own half. Coutinho with some lovely footwork through into the box, shoots to de Gea, who collects comfortably.
43' MIGNOLET SAVE punches away Lukaku's left-footed attempt. Closest United have come.
44' Lovren down, LFC kick ball out... Replays show Lukaku is just bigger, stronger... But did his foot kick/lash out afterwards?!
1 minute added on. HT 0-0, Possession: 63.4%-36.6%, Shots: 9-6, On target: 5-1, Corners: 1-3, Offsides: 2-1, Fouls: 2-6, Yellow cards: 0-0, Red cards: 0-0.
Liverpool on top, chance after chance, but as always, stats don't count, goalless at the break, 0-0.
46' United kick off the second half, conceding a free kick.
47' Liverpool creating again, Can from the left, Firmino in the middle but de Gea collects again. Flag was up anyway for offside.
49' One half of Anfield cheered but the ball came off the outside of the net for a Liverpool corner. Coutinho with the chance.
50' Liverpool free kick on the left, conceded by Young.
53' Coutinho again with a great break and cross, but flag goes up again, way offside.
55' Wijnaldum right-footed shot high. Goal kick.
57' Can misses a sitter! How did he head that wide so close to the goal line?!
60' Strong run by Salah on the right, wins a corner.
61' Coutinho takes the corner, poor, clear. The Brazilian goes down too easily on the edge of the box, nothing given.
63' First change for United: 22 Mkhtaryan off, 14 Lingard on.
65' Another Liverpool corner cleared.
66' Second substitution for the visitors, Rashford replaces Martial.
67' 16-6 shots, 5-1 on target after Salah missed another chance, shooting off target from the edge of the box. Will the stats count for nothing once again come the FT whistle?! The Reds' dominance is just unreal!!! But it's the goal(s) that count(s)!!!
69' Herrera's gone down, Wijnaldum late on him, United free kick in their own half.
71' Coutinho cross from the left, great run by Salah, but can't quite get there to head it in. Inches away. So close. But yet so far.
73' United free kick, Firmino foul on Smalling, wasted wide and away, not much threat there.
74' YELLOW for Smalling, free kick to Liverpool near the halfway line.
76' Another chance wasted for the Reds, 8-0 attempts this half!!!
77' Free kick to United in the centre of the pitch. Sturridge is getting ready to come on.
78' Double LFC change, Salah replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge on for Coutinho. Like-for-like the commentator says, I don't quite agree.
81' Liverpool pushing, subs making first impact. United clear the threat, win a throw-in in the opposition's half.
82' Emre Can wins a free kick against Darmian, replays show a dangerous high boot. Whistle goes a again, another free kick closer to the box...
83' Headed out for a goal kick. Disappointing.
84' Emre Can with an urgent, aggressive run from the left, shot doesn't quite create the threat he was looking for, de Gea collects.
87' YELLOW Young sees yellow for a dangerous challenge. Last change for Liverpool, Firmino is replaced by Solanke.
88' Jones down, United free kick, Liverpool threat stopped, Klopp not happy. De Gea takes it.
89' Mignolet catches, Liverpool with the ball again, get a throw-in.
90' The Ox gets a cross in, blocked out, Gomez takes the throw, ball defended out for a corner.
3 minutes added on, the Ox takes the corner, blocked by Lukaku, another corner comes from it eventually. The Ox again, headed high & away for a goal kick by Lovren. Another chance. Another miss. 2 minutes to go...
92' Last United substitution, Lindelof comes on for Young. Mourinho killing more time.
94' Corner for the Reds. Headed high once again. How many chances! How many misses! The FT whistle blows, 0-0! Possession: 62.2%-37.8%, Shots: 19-6, On target: 5-1, Corners: 7-3, Offsides: 3-1, Fouls: 7-13, Yellow cards: 0-2, Red cards: 0-0.
LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno; 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 23 Can; 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 78'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 87'), 10 Coutinho (15 Sturridge 78'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
MUFC team: 1 De Gea; 25 Valencia (c), 12 Smalling (booked 74'), 4 Jones, 36 Darmian; 21 Herrera, 31 Matic; 18 Young (booked 87') (2 Lindelof 92'), 22 Mkhitaryan (14 Lingard 63'), 11 Martial (19 Rashford 66'); 9 Lukaku. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 8 Mata, 17 Blind, 20 Romero, 38 Tuanzebe.
All facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports website and match coverage.
LFC have made 24 starting XI changes in the opening 7 PL games, more than any other side.
The Reds have conceded 12 goals in the last 7 games, their joint worst.
Klopp just lost once against Mourinho in 7 meetings (W3 D3).
2' Conceded two early corners... Gulp...
5' First free kick goes to LFC, 21 Herrera v 10 Coutinho.
13' Another free kick for LFC, in their own half, Young fouled Moreno.
15' Wijnaldum first shot on target, soft, slow, curl, into de Gea's gloves. 70%-30% possession!
17' Foul by Young, another free kick for the home side, Mourinho fuming to the fourth official. Salah goes down too easily, looking for contact, nothing given.
20' Liverpool on top, pushing, pressing, Salah omnipresent in around the box, but missing that final touch/inch/boom.
22' First free kick for the Red Devils, Martial fouled. A couple of yards outside the left corner of the box. Cleared, LFC counter, offside?!
24' Lukaku cross from the right finds no one, out wide for a throw-in.
26' Young fuming, free kick not given, Liverpool offside again.
27' Emre Can wins a free kick in his own half.
30' Matic shot high, but not far. Closest United have come so far. 5-3 shots, 3-0 on target.
34' Coutinho shot deflects out for a corner. De Gea kicks one chance away with his left boot stretched out, Matip's shot, Salah puts rebound just wide.
36' Ref has a word with Henderson & Lukaku, prior not happy with latter's felling down of his team mate. Tempers rising.
38' Free kick given against Salah, looked like a nice dive to me... Cleared.
40' Young wins a corner on the right. Cleared. Free kick to LFC. Offside? Foul.
41' Salah shot inside the box straight to de Gea.
42' Firmino wins a free kick just inside his own half. Coutinho with some lovely footwork through into the box, shoots to de Gea, who collects comfortably.
43' MIGNOLET SAVE punches away Lukaku's left-footed attempt. Closest United have come.
44' Lovren down, LFC kick ball out... Replays show Lukaku is just bigger, stronger... But did his foot kick/lash out afterwards?!
1 minute added on. HT 0-0, Possession: 63.4%-36.6%, Shots: 9-6, On target: 5-1, Corners: 1-3, Offsides: 2-1, Fouls: 2-6, Yellow cards: 0-0, Red cards: 0-0.
Liverpool on top, chance after chance, but as always, stats don't count, goalless at the break, 0-0.
46' United kick off the second half, conceding a free kick.
47' Liverpool creating again, Can from the left, Firmino in the middle but de Gea collects again. Flag was up anyway for offside.
49' One half of Anfield cheered but the ball came off the outside of the net for a Liverpool corner. Coutinho with the chance.
50' Liverpool free kick on the left, conceded by Young.
53' Coutinho again with a great break and cross, but flag goes up again, way offside.
55' Wijnaldum right-footed shot high. Goal kick.
57' Can misses a sitter! How did he head that wide so close to the goal line?!
60' Strong run by Salah on the right, wins a corner.
61' Coutinho takes the corner, poor, clear. The Brazilian goes down too easily on the edge of the box, nothing given.
63' First change for United: 22 Mkhtaryan off, 14 Lingard on.
65' Another Liverpool corner cleared.
66' Second substitution for the visitors, Rashford replaces Martial.
67' 16-6 shots, 5-1 on target after Salah missed another chance, shooting off target from the edge of the box. Will the stats count for nothing once again come the FT whistle?! The Reds' dominance is just unreal!!! But it's the goal(s) that count(s)!!!
69' Herrera's gone down, Wijnaldum late on him, United free kick in their own half.
71' Coutinho cross from the left, great run by Salah, but can't quite get there to head it in. Inches away. So close. But yet so far.
73' United free kick, Firmino foul on Smalling, wasted wide and away, not much threat there.
74' YELLOW for Smalling, free kick to Liverpool near the halfway line.
76' Another chance wasted for the Reds, 8-0 attempts this half!!!
77' Free kick to United in the centre of the pitch. Sturridge is getting ready to come on.
78' Double LFC change, Salah replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge on for Coutinho. Like-for-like the commentator says, I don't quite agree.
81' Liverpool pushing, subs making first impact. United clear the threat, win a throw-in in the opposition's half.
82' Emre Can wins a free kick against Darmian, replays show a dangerous high boot. Whistle goes a again, another free kick closer to the box...
83' Headed out for a goal kick. Disappointing.
84' Emre Can with an urgent, aggressive run from the left, shot doesn't quite create the threat he was looking for, de Gea collects.
87' YELLOW Young sees yellow for a dangerous challenge. Last change for Liverpool, Firmino is replaced by Solanke.
88' Jones down, United free kick, Liverpool threat stopped, Klopp not happy. De Gea takes it.
89' Mignolet catches, Liverpool with the ball again, get a throw-in.
90' The Ox gets a cross in, blocked out, Gomez takes the throw, ball defended out for a corner.
3 minutes added on, the Ox takes the corner, blocked by Lukaku, another corner comes from it eventually. The Ox again, headed high & away for a goal kick by Lovren. Another chance. Another miss. 2 minutes to go...
92' Last United substitution, Lindelof comes on for Young. Mourinho killing more time.
94' Corner for the Reds. Headed high once again. How many chances! How many misses! The FT whistle blows, 0-0! Possession: 62.2%-37.8%, Shots: 19-6, On target: 5-1, Corners: 7-3, Offsides: 3-1, Fouls: 7-13, Yellow cards: 0-2, Red cards: 0-0.
LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno; 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 23 Can; 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 78'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 87'), 10 Coutinho (15 Sturridge 78'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 66 Alexander-Arnold.
MUFC team: 1 De Gea; 25 Valencia (c), 12 Smalling (booked 74'), 4 Jones, 36 Darmian; 21 Herrera, 31 Matic; 18 Young (booked 87') (2 Lindelof 92'), 22 Mkhitaryan (14 Lingard 63'), 11 Martial (19 Rashford 66'); 9 Lukaku. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 8 Mata, 17 Blind, 20 Romero, 38 Tuanzebe.
All facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports website and match coverage.
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