Reds Bash Hammers 4-0

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 4:0 WHU

Liverpool recorded their 500th Premier League win in convincing fashion, beating West Ham comfortably 4-0 in their season opener at Anfield on Sunday early afternoon.

The home side impressed and dominated possession and play from kick-off with their front trio constantly threatening, Egyptian king Mohamed Salah taking only 19 minutes to tap in the opener from Andy Robertson’s precise cross.

An unmarked Sadio Mané doubled the lead from close range just before the break, becoming the first LFC player to score in three consecutive opening top-flight fixtures since John Barnes between 1989-92.

The Senegalese forward looked offside when he drilled in his second off Roberto Firmino’s pass to make it 3-0 to the Reds after the interval, but the flag stayed down, replays showing some oh-so-slight deflection off a Hammer.

New signing Naby Keita impressed with a driving performance as well, with some slick moves and plenty of tempo, also contributing to the first goal.

Meanwhile skipper James Milner bossed the pitch from start to finish (rugby-style with a headband wrapped around the stitches on his forehead), and Virgil van Dijk’s presence was heard, felt and seen at the back for the Reds.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge added to the party scoring with his first touch, 24 seconds after coming on in the 87th minute, making it 4-0 and sealing Liverpool’s biggest opening home league win since 1932. 

New Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini watched his side being well beaten and not giving the new Red record-signing keeper Alisson Becker much to do, easily catching Fabián Balbuena's header, one of just the two attempts on target for the visitors.

And the defeat could have been heavier with chance after chance for the home side, leaving Jürgen Klopp all smiles and full of praise, the German could not have asked for a better start to the new season, but also warning of the bigger and harder challenges ahead.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 19’, Mané 47’ & 53’ & Sturridge 88’.

Match Stats: LFC 4-0 WHU

Possession: 64.8%-35.2%

Shots: 18-5

On target: 8-2

Corners: 5-4

Offsides: 5-3

Fouls: 14-9

Bookings: 1-2

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 21’); 9 Keita, 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c); 10 Mané (23 Shaqiri 82’), 9 Firmino (14 Henderson 69’), 11 Salah (15 Sturridge 87’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 1 Karius, 2 Clyne, 3 Fabinho, 20 Lallana.

West Ham Team: 1 Fabianski; 26 Masuaku, 21 Ogbonna, 4 Balbuena (booked 55’), 24 Fredericks; 41 Rice (11 Snodgrass 45’), 16 Noble (c); 8 Anderson (17 Hernández 62’), 19 Wilshere, 30 Antonio (booked 52’); 7 Arnautovic.

Subs not used: 5 Zabaleta, 13 Adrián, 14 Obiang, 20 Yarmolenko, 23 Diop.

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Ground: Anfield

Attendance: 53,235

Man of the match: Sadio Mané

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports coverage and app and Twitter.

Red Over Blue Again & Into CL Semis

Sports - Football - Champions League - MCI 1:2 LIV

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League semi-final for the first time in a decade after coming back from behind to beat Manchester City 1-2 in the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, thrashing them 1-5 on aggregate. 

Mohamed Salah started for the Reds after missing out the goalless Merseyside derby on Saturday due to injury, whilst the Citizens made four changes to the side that lost the mad Manchester derby at the weekend with Sergio Agüero on the bench.

And the home side could not have asked for a better start after their shock in the first leg at Anfield, Virgil Van Dijk losing the ball looking for a free kick, former Red Raheem Sterling ripping through the visitors, given too much space to run and provide Gabriel Jesus who netted the opener after just one minute and 57 seconds! Too easy!

Kevin De Bruyne sent a chance high soon after, before Sadio Mané and Nicolas Otamendi collided, City keeper Ederson Moraes getting involved and pushing the Senegalese again and again, both names were added to the referee's book after just 14 minutes.

It was a feisty, breathtaking start, the home side dominating and pressing, testing the visitors again and again, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Andrew Robertson dealing and coping well with all the pressure, clearing the ball again and again, top class.

Sterling went down too easy too many times, desperately looking for trouble against Robertson, the referee had a word, whilst Alexander-Arnold and Bernardo Silva were cautioned for choking Leroy Sané and verbal protests respectively.

Roberto Firmino was also booked for catching De Bruyne too late, the Belgian too quick for the Brazilian striker on the counter before Liverpool finally got their first shot on target with nearly 40 minutes on the clock, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain serving Ederson an easy catch.

The first half ended as crazy as it started, Bernardo Silva hitting the bar before Jesus' shot was blocked, James Milner with the last touch and Loris Karius nowhere near, Sané netting the rebound, but the flag was up, goal disallowed.

The Ox and Salah combined well in the final seconds before the interval, a nice one-two and rare Red combo attack, but the chance went just high. It stayed 1-0 at half-time without any time added on.

Spanish referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz probably needed the break more than anyone else after a crazy 45 minutes, City boss Pep Guardiola was not happy with the officials and sent to the stands from the restart, obviously having taken his protests too far.

Jürgen Klopp could be glad it was only 1-0 but surely needed the Reds to step up if they did not want to collapse under all the pressure and after having worked so hard. And they didn't. Quite the opposite.

Their Egyptian star shined once again, beating Ederson with a lovely move and finish after collecting the ball off a falling Mané in the box, making it 1-1 with his 10th European goal and 39th in all competitions eleven minutes after the break.

Guardiola communicated with his coaching staff to make changes, Agüero and Ilkay Gündogan were brought on, the home side looking to make their continuous dominance count, but to no avail.

Firmino gave the Reds the lead with just under a quarter of an hour to go, 1-2 on the night, 1-5 on aggregate, his 24th goal of the season after Otamendi gave the ball away and Fernandinho backed away, breaking more European records.

The front duo of Salah and Firmino have both scored more goals in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign for Liverpool than any other player in the club's history (10 each = 20).

These two goals bring the Reds' total to 33 goals in the Champions League this season, the most by an English side in a single campaign.

It was just not City's night, seeing another goal disallowed for offside, correctly this time, Sané mistiming his runs too regularly, no wonder the officials kept raising their flags. 

It stayed 1-2, the Reds' persistence paying off and breaking down the Citizens once again, making it three wins out of three meetings, to reach their 18th European semi-final.

City had scored three or more goals in 12 out of their 26 home games this season, so, they are more than capable to come back from three goals down, but Klopp's men were able to stop them.

Liverpool have only lost by three or more goals three times under Klopp:

Watford 3-0 (2015)

Manchester City 5-0 (2017)

Tottenham 4-1 (2017)

The German made sure that didn't happen again this time, recording his seventh win against Guardiola, the first time the Catalonian has lost three times in a row since May 2015 with Bayern.

Next on the list for the Reds are Bournemouth at Anfield Saturday evening, surely the Kop will be bouncing still after this display - ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ! :-D

Man City Goal: de Jesus 2’.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 56’ & Firmino 77’.

Match Stats: MCFC 1-2 LFC

Possession: 68%-32%

Shots: 20-5

On target: 3-3

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 5-7

Yellow cards: 2-4

Man City Team: 31 Ederson (booked 14’); 14 Laporte, 17 De Bruyne, 25 Fernandinho; 30 Otamendi, 2 Walker; 7 Sterling, 33 de Jesus, 21 D Silva (c) (10 Agüero 66’), 20 B Silva (booked 30’) (8 Gündogan 74’); 19 Sané. 3-2-4-1

Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 4 Kompany, 18 Delph, 35 Zinchenko, 47 Foden.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk (booked 65’), 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 29’) (2 Clyne 81’); 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 19 Mané (booked 14’), 9 Firmino (booked 35’) (17 Klavan 81’), 11 Salah (28 Ings 89’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Referee: Antonio Miguel Matheu Lahoz

Man of the match: Mohamed Salah

Ground: Etihad Stadium

Attendance: 53,461

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter, BT Sport and beIN sports match coverage.

Salah Seals Reds Comeback at Selhurst Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - CPFC 1:2 LFC

Liverpool bagged all three points against Crystal Palace thanks to top scorer Mohamed Salah's late winner after a less convincing performance by the Reds in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Selhurst Park.

Click here for my ByTheMinute match coverage.

It was Jürgen Klopp's 100th Premier League match in charge, his record being W54 D28 L18 and seeing 324 goals with this result.

Only Manuel Pellegrini saw more goals in his first 100 PL games with Manchester City (329).

With this win, the Reds completed the double over the London side for the first time since 1997-98.

Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic put the home side ahead from the spot after 12:26 minutes, following Loris Karius barging into Wilfried Zaha.

It wasn't the start the visitors wanted and the hosts kept frustrating the hell out of the Reds.

Sadio Mané was booked for his overdramatised diving antiques just over halfway through the first half.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took his time, replays showing James McArthur had made no contact, instead of making something of the chance, with the ball in the box, the Senegalese decided to go down.

The Eagles fans booed him on after that, he headed the ball in minutes later, to be flagged offside.

Just before the break, Mané's downward header was kept out well by Wayne Hennessey.

The interval saw no changes, former Reds boss Roy Hodgson surely the happier with his side's stubborn display against the shaky visitors.

But it didn't last long, four minutes after the restart Mané levelled from close range fed by James Milner from the left.

Former Liverpool forward Christian Benteke missed a couple of sitters wide, making life too easy for Karius after the keeper's shaky start.

Mané was lucky to escape a second caution and sending off with just under half an hour to go when he was involved in a bit of a tangle and rumble and picked up the ball after falling down once again.

A free kick was given against the number 19, but nothing further, Palace were not happy, Klopp took him off seconds later.

Karius made a cracking save denying Patrick van Aanholt, keeping out a nice left footed free kick into the top left corner, it stayed 1-1.

Sub Adam Lallana didn't last long, being replaced by Dejan Lovren just a few minutes after coming on for Georginio Wijnaldum.

Palace kept pushing but were unable to release a shot nor get anything on target.

Momo made it 1-2 with his 29th league goal of the season in the 84th minute.

The PL top scorer collected and took the shot patiently inside the box, netting from close range into the bottom left corner, assisted nicely by man of the match Andy Robertson from the left.

The Egyptian is now just three goals short of breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007-08 Premier League scoring record.

With this defeat, Palace have lost each of their last four home games against Liverpool in all competitions and drop down to 17th just two points above the drop zone.

Three points keeps LFC comfy in third, five points ahead of Tottenham in fourth and only two points behind United in second, but both have games in hand.

And this match was definitely not a confidence gainer for the Reds ahead of their Champions League quarter final first leg clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

No matter what Klopp tries to blame it on, criticising the ref or whatever, the Reds were just not good enough most of the match and have to do much better to have a hint of a chance to progress against the league leaders.

Palace Goal: Milivojevic pen 13'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 49' & Salah 84'.

HT Stats: PAL 1-0 LIV
Possession: 24%-76%
Shots: 2-12
On target: 2-4
Corners: 1-4
Fouls: 4-5
Yellow cards: 2-2

FT Stats: PAL 1-2 LIV
Possession: 30%-70%
Shots: 6-16
On target: 3-6
Corners: 4-6
Fouls: 6-8
Yellow cards: 2-2

CPFC Team: 13 Hennessey; 3 van Aanholt, 12 Sakho, 34 Kelly, 29 Wan-Bissaka (24 Fosu-Mensah 88'); 7 Cabaye (8 Loftus-Cheek 73'), 4 Milivoyevic (c), 18 McArthur (booked 45'); 11 Zaha, 17 Benteke (booked 38'), 10 Townsend. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 14 Lee Chung-yong, 16 Cavilieri, 23 Souaré, 24 Delaney, 44 Riedewald.

LFC Team: 1 Karius (booked 12'); 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (20 Lallana 65' (6 Lovren 70')), 14 Henderson (c), 7 Milner; 19 Mané (booked 24') (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 64'), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 2 Clyne, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Andy Robertson
Ground: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 25,807

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and Sky Sports coverage.

Swans End Reds Unbeaten Run

Sports - Football - Premier League - SWA 1:0 LIV

Here are my match notes of a very frustrating display and rare defeat for Liverpool, suffering against stubborn Swansea, losing 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night, ending the Reds' unbeaten run after 18 games.

The first half an hour just saw one shot, way off target high over the bar by Mohamed Salah. That's it.

Swansea kept Liverpool quiet staying in their own half after creating one or two threats themselves with Jordan Ayew the main producer and danger, but nothing close.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain produced the first shot on target after 33 minutes, straight to the Swans keeper Lukasz Fabiański.

Defender Kyle Naughton volleyed way over after the home side's free kick on the right was headed away by Virgil van Dijk.

There were some shaky moments for Joe Gomez. The home side ended the first half on top, corner after corner... AND GOAL! Their first shot on target and it's in, five minutes before the break!

A corner was not cleared, van Dijk headed the ball down straight to Federico Fernandez who provided Alfie Mawson with an easy finish from close range, 1-0! The defenders did it all for the Welsh side!

Again, Liverpool showed how weak they are at the back! Yes, van Dijk didn't help the Reds there either! Jürgen Klopp must have been fuming!!!

Andy Robertson and Ayew clashed, the Red got booked for it despite his protest, not happy, a minute left in this dreadful half.

Joel Matip was the next one in the book for a nasty challenge against midfielder Sam Clucas, frustrations showed on the visitors at the end of the first half...

One minute was added on, Salah on the left, to Sadio Mané, who put it wide! Right-footed, falling, wasted chance.

HT 1-0, as always, Liverpool didn't make it easy for themselves, Swansea holding and then taking advantage well thanks to Mawson. Klopp will have been fuming and wanting to wake the Reds up!!!

The home side could be and probably were very happy at the break. No changes were made by either side.

And the second half mirrored the first, Liverpool nowhere, Salah with another miss well wide, frustrated, Swansea in control, the fans loud and happy.

Robertson was there but not really, in and around the box, but kept missing and messing up chances, passes and crosses. Argh.

Just under an hour gone, Fabianski tapped over Salah's free-kick for a corner, Swansea cleared the threat.

Liverpool were still surrounded and denied by the Swans, every move ending nowhere. Complete opposite to the last match!

The first substitution was made by the home side, 64', Tom Carroll replacing Nathan Dyer.

Liverpool brought on Adam Lallana for the Ox, 68', Klopp looking like he's pulling himself together...

Danny Ings came on for Georginio Wijnaldum who looked disappointed, 73', Klopp giving out instructions... Hands, arms, shouts, all waving and echoing around... There was not much else happening of note.

Ings got a shot off Salah eventually, but Fabianski held on, Liverpool getting closer but still looking shaky, the home side holding firm.

The Swans made their second change, 79', slowly but surely Ayew walked off, Wilfried Bony on, applause all round, deserved.

Gomez put a shot wide, summarising his useless/helpless/poor game.

Salah created another chance after a short corner to van Dijk who directed a soft header to Fabiański, who collected it easily.

Pf. I think all the Reds put in against City looked lost and lacking on Monday night. Who was I being optimistic and thinking we would thrash the Welsh side?! Apologies and applause to Swansea!

Four minutes were added on, the Swans still fighting, Liverpool still missing. Salah put another one wide, nowhere near.

Last minute, the Liberty Stadium was echoing louder than loud. Liverpool on the attack again, Fabianski collected again.

Roberto Firmino headed against the post late on, Lallana unable to make much of the rebound. Fabianski punched the following corner clear... And that was full time.

There was some late drama but the Reds just couldn't give enough, Swansea took it, easy, and topped it, three crucial points in their battle for safety. Deserved.

Swans manager Carlos Carvalhal was understandably over the moon with Swansea's first home win under him and the Portuguese boss summarised the game brilliantly with the quote of the season:

"They (Liverpool) are like a Formula 1 car. But at 4pm in London it will be difficult to speed, they would be a car like any other.

"We (Swansea) needed to make sure there was traffic, we could not let them have open roads to drive in."

Swansea have earned seven points in their four Premier League games under Carvalhal (W2 D1 L1), two more than they'd picked up in their 12 before his arrival (W1 D2 L9).

On the other side, Klopp admitted defeat, feeling like it was pretty much a giveaway:

"I am more frustrated about the performance than the result. We didn't play how we wanted to play.

"We gave them the opportunity to score and then we did exactly what Swansea wanted. Swansea knew that to win they needed our help, and unfortunately we gave it to them."

This was Liverpool's first defeat in 15 Premier League games (W10 D4), and just their third of this season.

But the German boss seems to dislike this Welsh side, having lost three Premier League games against Swansea, more than against any other opponent in the competition.

What a difference a week makes. Next on the list are West Brom in the FA Cup at the weekend, and then Huddersfield in the league next week.

It can only get better, right?

Swansea Goal: Mawson 40'.

Swansea Team: 1 Fabianski; 16 Olssen, 6 Mawson, 33 Fernandez (c), 5 van der Hoorn, 26 Naughton; 17 Clucas, 4 Ki, 8 Fer, 12 Dyer (15 Carroll 64'); 18 Ayew (2 Bony 79'). 5-4-1
Subs not used: 11 Narsingh, 13 Nordfeldt, 27 Bartley, 51 Mesa, 62 McBurnie.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson (booked 44'), 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip (booked 45'), 12 Gomez; 5 Wijnaldum (28 Ings 73'), 23 Can (c); 18 Mané, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (20 Lallana 68'), 11 Salah; 9 Firmino. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

HT Stats: SWA 1-0 LIV
Possession: 35%-65%
Shots: 2-4
On target: 1-1
Corners: 3-2
Fouls: 4-6
Yellow cards: 0-2

FT Stats: SWA 1-0 LIV
Possession: 28%-72%
Shots: 3-21
On target: 2-4
Corners: 3-9
Fouls: 5-9
Yellow cards: 0-2

Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Alfie Mawson
Ground: Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 20,886

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, quotes, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter and SFR match coverage.

Liverpool Knocked Out At The King Power

Sports - Football - League Cup - LCFC 2:0 LFC

Leicester rediscovered their winning ways, seeing Liverpool fall once again after dominating most of the play and wasting chance after chance, the League Cup clash ending 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.

Click here for my full ByTheMinute match coverage.

It was an impressive comeback by the Foxes after being dominated in the first half. The stats speak for themselves. The Reds didn't make their chances count and their defence made them trip and fall once again.

Both sides had made a lot of changes, as normal for the early stages of the cup competition. But it was the substitutions during the match that cost dearly, top for the hosts, flop for the visitors, the Reds eliminated OUT of the League Cup, first hurdle, third round.

The match started very competitive, a professional clash, high-tempo but missing the edge, the Reds on top but with still no lead at the break, Craig Shakespeare's men holding on solid and strong.

Andy Robertson created a lot with some fine runs and crosses, Philippe Coutinho showed some of his good old magic with some awesome moves and Dominic Solanke shared plenty of chances with both of them.

But LFC just could not find a breakthrough. Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked more clumsy and wasteful, frustrating to watch, losing the ball too many times.

Why Jürgen Klopp opted to replace Coutinho with youngster Ben Woodburn after the break, hell knows. The Brazilian had created most and produced most quality and chances.

And the Reds were punished for their wastefulness just past the hour-mark.

Substitute Shinji Okazaki, who had come on for an injured Leonardo Ulloa not long after the interval, made no mistake. It was a scruffy finish after a couple of headers and Liverpool failing to clear a corner, Vicente Iborra the last one to head it straight into Okazaki, who put in the rebound.

Klopp then took off Georginio Wijnaldum and gave Danny Ings a run-around. Another questionable move, especially looking at the contrasting experience... And score-line!

Islam Slimani doubled the score a few minutes later with an unstoppable beauty, a left-footer into the top left corner, from the edge of the box. That was game over.

Simple: Liverpool hadn't taken their chances. Leicester have. The Coutinho substitution didn't help. And the defence was lacking and leaking once again.

Danny Ward made a couple of strong saves late one, denying Okazaki a double and Demarai Gray, who both starred for the home side.

Liverpool's defence let them down once again, no marking, too much space and question marks everywhere.

It will be the same clash again on Saturday, Liverpool back at the King Power Stadium, for the Premier League evening kick-off. Leicester will be on a confident high after this win.

The line-ups will surely change a lot, but will this trend of frustration, misses and leaks stop for the Reds??? It's getting too much!!! It's just not good enough! Beam me back to the Arsenal game, please! :-S #FFS

Was soll das Jürgen?!?!?! Scheiß-Dreck-Kack!!! -.- #COYR #ARGH

Leicester Goals: Okazaki 65' & Slimani 78'.

Leicester Line-Up: 12 Hamer, 18 Amartey, 16 Dragovic, 5 Morgan, 3 Chilwell, 11 Albrighton, 21 Iborra (booked 90'), 25 Ndidi (38 Choudhury 84'), 7 Gray, 19 Slimani, 23 Ulloa (20 Okazaki 55').
Subs not used: 8 Iheanacho, 13 Musa, 17 Jakupovic, 26 Mahrez, 29 Benalouane.

Liverpool Line-Up: 52 Ward, 38 Flanagan, 12 Gomez, 17 Klavan (booked 75'), 26 Robertson, 14 Henderson, 16 Grujic (booked 57'), 5 Wijnaldum (Ings 73'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 10 Coutinho (58 Woodburn HT), 29 Solanke.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 18 Moreno, 50 Markovic, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

HT Stats: LCFC 0-0 LFC
Possession: 24%-76%
Shots: 2-13
On target: 1-3
Corners: 2-3
Fouls: 3-5

FT Stats: LCFC 2-0 LFC
Possession: 30%-70%
Shots: 8-20
On target: 5-3
Corners: 4-6
Fouls: 9-10
Yellow cards: 1-2

Referee: Stuart Attwell
Man of the match: Shinji Okazaki
Ground: King Power Stadium

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, BBC Radio and Sky Sports match coverage.