By Max Gallagher (@maxgallwrites)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Not since the final scene of Shakespeare’s Richard III has a boggy field in Leicester seen such a dramatic plot twist.

Curtis Jones – whose career had seemed as dead as the Bard himself – arrived in the box to guide home a far post cross from Mo Salah and put Liverpool ahead. There was something in the composure of the finish, something in the audacity of the run, that reminded Liverpool fans of the promise this young player had once shown. It only lasted five minutes of course. By that stage, he had done it again. 

We all know how this story started. Even John F. Kennedy can tell you where he was the night Curtis scored THAT goal. Local lad turns Carlo Ancelotti blue on cold Monday night. From there, it seemed only a matter of time before we’d be seeing him regularly in a red shirt. There were flashes of brilliance when he did get a brief run out. Jones had a top-class first touch, a burst of acceleration, and a cockiness and swagger that boded well. There was a childlike joy to watching him. He is uninhibited, and plays with freedom. When he sprints, he tilts his whole torso forward and runs like a cartoon character. Liverpool’s settled midfield of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum – once described by The Guardian’s Brian Ronay as being as hard working as a team of piano lifters – had always been notoriously goal-shy. The pressure to score in Jurgen Klopp’s greatest teams was always on the front three. Liverpool missed the directness and goalscoring presence of Steven Gerrard, and even when they were winning, fans longed to see a player who could dictate the game, but also arrive in the box on cue. Right from the start, Curtis Jones was always keen to test the keeper when within sight of goal. It made you want to see him play for Liverpool. It made you want to see him succeed.  Fans began to hope for a midfielder who, birthed in the maelstrom of Klopp’s mad clockwork, could not only lift the piano, but then maybe sit down and tinkle out some Cole Porter afterwards. 

But at that time Liverpool were a well-oiled machine, and breaking into the first-XI was going to be difficult for anyone. Competition in a team that was winning trophies was tough, and Jones’ chances were limited. His meteoric rise wasn’t quite as meteoric as some had expected, but he continued to stake his claim with promising appearances for the reserves or in cup games. As a young player, the flaws in his game were evident enough. He played all too often with his head down, holding on to the ball always a second or two too long. He was casual when he should have been urgent, and like all young players, he was often rushed when he should have been composed. Seasoned top-class midfielders can instinctively release the ball before their opponents are within three feet, but Curtis liked to draw his man in close, like the kid in the schoolyard who wants to get the better of his opponent just to show how good he is. The result was that a player who had a God-given ability to speed a game up, would more often than not slow it down. 

It was inevitable that there would be a ‘Second-Act Setback’ in his career. All good stories have one, after all. During the astonishing quadruple chasing season of 21/22, Liverpool were firing on all cylinders. Thiago was pulling the strings, the spark of Harvey Elliott was once more available after injury, and the work-horses were work-horsing. Even James Milner played regularly, winning man of the match in a league game against Aston Villa right at the business end of the season. Of Liverpool’s eight senior midfielders (including Elliott), Jones was comfortably at the bottom of the pecking order. 

READ MORE: ‘To be honest’: Fabrizio Romano shares morning Liverpool update that will relieve the fanbase

READ MORE: Done Deal? Guillem Balague responds to bookmakers’ odds on Xabi Alonso to Liverpool

Then, of course, things changed for Liverpool. They say a boxer ages overnight. Something similar seemed to happen to Liverpool’s midfield in the 22/23 season. After the glory of lifting two trophies and almost winning more, Klopp’s team simply fell apart. The rigours of the previous campaign surely played a part as Liverpool were regularly overrun by younger, more energetic teams. Outfits like Brighton, Brentford and Wolves thought nothing of slotting three goals past Alisson Becker, and even had the audacity to do it in three consecutive games. Liverpool were on the ropes. They needed legs, lungs, and scrap. A horse, a horse, my Kingdom for a horse. 

But when opportunity presented itself, Jones could not deliver. This was his big moment – it was time for the young Prince Hal to stop loitering and pissing about. Now was the time to go and smash the French at Agincourt with a threadbare army of starved peasants, a few archers, and Naby Keita. But Jones could only watch as Liverpool floundered, sidelined by a rare foot injury. ‘Fasciitis’ is said to be so painful that elderly nuns will scream ‘just cut the fucker off’ rather than put pressure on the afflicted foot. The timing could not have been worse. The Afield faithful, for so long famously divided on the prospects of the lad from Toxteth, could finally agree: Curtis Jones just wasn’t going to make it. 

The turning point for Curtis came last April in a match against Arsenal. Klopp opted to start Jones, and he contributed to a fiercely earned point from a losing position against the title challengers. Liverpool went on a remarkable run from then until the end of the season. Jones started every game as the Reds became the form team in the league for the final eleven games. The highlight of this spell, from the point of view of the young pretender, was almost certainly that night in Leicester – his own miniature Bosworth field – when he bagged those two goals and announced his return. A Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick into the top corner could not take the limelight away from the real star that night.  

But what about the revamped Liverpool? Where does Jones fit into Liverpool 2.0? Will he be at the front of the vanguard, or waiting in the wings making the occasional cameo dressed as an Abbott of a ghost? The stats would suggest the former. Both last season and this, Jones has the highest rate of successful passes in the entire team. A pleasing number of these are forward passes, and Jones compliments this side of his game with healthy numbers for his interceptions, tackles and distances covered. He has become the new standard bearer for Klopp-ball, the flag-ship in the armada. Not even the arrival of Szoboszlai, Macallister, Gravenberch and Endo can keep him out of the team. Klopp has reinvigorated Liverpool’s midfield with the dazzling economy of a jewel thief, but Jones still seems to be his first name on the team sheet. 

His game has come on leaps and bounds. He carries the ball forward with dream-like fluidity, now pulling the trigger in front of goal with increasing frequency. His header against Norwich at the weekend was more difficult than it looked. If you watch, you can see that he aims past the post, knowing that the forward momentum of James McConnell’s cross will cause the ball to bend around the keeper and sneak in at the back post. It was a great finish, and the sheer satisfaction he took from congratulating McConnell on getting an assist spoke of leadership qualities. The flaws in his game are diminishing, with the help of some straight-talking from Klopp and Pep Linders. The maturity of his decision-making can no longer be questioned, he is full-blooded in the counter press, and his tactical positioning off the ball is improving. We all know how much a player’s performance off the ball matters to this coach. The German recently said that Curtis Jones now sets the bar for the rest of the team. 

The bombshell announcement of Jurgen Klopp’s departure last week might change all of this of course. Klopp’s successor may envisage a different role for Jones. He may think less of his abilities. He might recoil at his self-confidence, rather than encourage it. But for now, Curtis Jones remains the beating heart of this Liverpool team. At the very beginning of Jones’ senior career, Jurgen Klopp once advised the youngster to ‘ ‘defend like a soldier; attack like a scouser’. He is now finally doing that on a week in – week out basis. Liverpool are currently favourites to lift more than just one major trophy this season. No one has contributed more than Jones to the manoeuvring of his club back into this unlikely position. It remains to be seen whether this will end as tragedy, comedy, or romance. But the story has me on the edge of my seat. 

@maxgallwrites 

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Ousmane Diomande latest, what Klopp needs from next centre-back signing and much more!

The post GUEST: The boy who would be king: The rise and fall and rise of Curtis Jones appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Max Gallagher (@maxgallwrites)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

And so another World Cup is here. And I can’t remember one that was attended by less heraldry, less anticipation, less clamour for tickets, sweepstakes at work, less excitement or boozy plans for the group stages. I first got the World Cup bug in 1986, as the cameras struggled to cope with the glare of the Mexican sun reflecting off the players’ shiny kits. Maradona dazzled, and I was hooked for life. But it wasn’t until 1990 that I first understood the real joy of a World Cup. The buildup. The anticipation of pleasure is pleasure itself, said Jane Austen. It still strikes me as strange that she agreed to do the commentary for the BBC in 1966. But it stands out so clearly – the Qatar World Cup has already partially failed because it has failed to entice.

After the Republic of Ireland qualified for their first World Cup in 1990, for months in advance it was all we could think about or talk about in primary school. The tournament itself did not fail to deliver. Maradona was booed. Gazza cried. Pavarotti sang. And the Republic of Ireland made it all the way to the quarter-finals, eventually getting knocked out in a narrow 1-0 defeat by the hosts. Legends were made. This year an even more extraordinary World Cup awaits, perhaps. The unthinkable has happened. It is FIFA’s worst nightmare. And an outcome that even the Qatari government could never have predicted when their money-greased bid for the World Cup 2022 was accepted: Nobody cares.

Back home, as the footballing lights go out all over Europe, there is still a war being waged in Liverpool. The club’s owners have recently gone public with their intentions to sell up shop, or at least part of it, and it has left the fan base in a frenzy, turning on each other with the ferocity of cousins at a gypsy wedding. The last occurrence on Merseyside that attracted this level of controversy was when EMI offered Pete Best a record deal on the condition that he drop his three other bandmates. Currently, the only people Liverpool fans seem to hate more than supporters of Everton and Utd, are Liverpool fans themselves. Three letters divide them: F.S.G.

Twelve years ago, Fenway Sports Group saved Liverpool FC from bankruptcy and paid off their debts. They pumped a handsome amount of money into the first-team squad, even if this money was largely spent on players who would flop. The early signs seemed good. They had Luis Suarez, and the risky appointment of Brendan Rodgers seemed to pay off early. It wasn’t to be of course, and one year after almost delivering a first league title since 1990, Rodgers’ failings were exposed. Seven years of progress have followed under Jurgen Klopp, bringing among other things, four major European finals and that long-awaited league trophy. Both the stadium and commercial reach have been extended, meaning that by 2020 FSG had delivered everything that they promised. The question is: Did they achieve what they achieved by luck or by design?

Supporters of John Henry’s consortium will point to the overhaul not just of Liverpool’s corporate structures, but their scouting network and their youth team system that has delivered so spectacularly. Their acquisitions and their sales have been the most productive in the modern era. Barely a penny has been wasted at Liverpool – a frugal and canny approach that has put Liverpool back on their perch without having the spending clout of the super-rich clubs they compete with. They even managed to win a European Cup in an era where it has eluded even Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain. FSG have laid out a clear self-sustaining philosophy for Liverpool. They believe that in the future FIFA will clamp down harder on fair play, limiting the amount that wealthy owners can pour into football clubs.

Some would say FSG have created the perfect blueprint of a club that can operate within these future constraints. Should their financial muscle continue to grow on the same trajectory that it has been since Fenway took over, Liverpool will eventually sit alongside Man Utd and Real Madrid in an elite group of the most lucrative clubs in the world. Everything that they need will be provided for by sheer dint of their turnover. However. The reality is, at the time of writing, FIFA have absolutely no power (and perhaps appetite) to police or enforce their financial fair play rules, and Liverpool’s rivals have seemingly endless resources. It has been pointed out by many that this current Liverpool squad seems to be at a turning point – most analysts agree that they have reached their peak, and almost overnight, now seem to be in quick decline.

Last year Liverpool almost achieved the impossible. Had Aston Villa kept their knickers on for fifteen minutes they might have won a treble, and were closer to winning a quadruple than perhaps any team ever will be. The narrative seemed to be that FSG were back in control after the wobble caused by the post-pandemic slump. Liverpool’s record purchase arrived in the form of the £85m Uruguayan heavyweight Darwin Nunez at the start of the summer, and Mo Salah was granted his record-breaking contract. Then the plot all went a bit Game of Thrones. Liverpool’s on field and off field philosophies have suffered a crash in confidence on the scale of Kwasi Kwarteng bursting into a casino with a machine gun. Suddenly, the critics of FSG who had long been saying that their tenure at the club was over were impossible to ignore.

Liverpool fans seem to be split almost 50-50. A tense schism has emerged that revolves around whether FSG are fit and proper owners for the club, and no-one is pulling any punches. On social media, fans will attempt to virtually scratch each other’s eyes out when the subject is raised. The hashtag ‘FSGOUT’ has been trending so often this year that Elon Musk could charge $8 per month to use it and probably double his wealth. Chris Bascombe, writing in the Daily Telegraph in 2020 said that “there are only two clouds on the horizon for Liverpool at the moment. One is the brilliance of Manchester City, and the second is the negativity of some of their own fans.” But is it possible that some of this negativity justified? Fenway Sports Group have made mistakes, there is no doubt, and some fans have long memories.

Broadly speaking, Liverpool fans are divided into two: an older group, who loosely support FSG, perhaps because of their long memories of the dull and bleak years before their arrival. These fans are conservative and calm, and are grateful for FSG’s contribution. The other, typically younger group of fans are passionate and ambitious, and argue that, in elite sport, resting on your laurels is not an option. FSG’s achievements are fine, but they are more concerned about the future of the club. Liverpool simply cannot continue to compete under the auspices of FSG they argue. The club has momentum, but something must change drastically if they are to continue on the same path. Put simply, FSG spend less on players than Donald Trump spends on Mexican artwork.

The disagreement sometimes feels a bit like an argument between two soldiers from different eras: the son frustrated that his father remains loyal to a general who had clearly lost his mind.

‘But father, you don’t understand. You would send us to fight on horseback against Sheikh Mansour! You don’t know what this man is capable of. If we don’t ally with Lord Bellingham soon he will surely join forces with our foes.’

‘You young blades. You think you know it all! You don’t understand war. You were never at Istanbul. We were three nil down at halftime.’

‘We can’t rely on miracles forever. Not with the developments our enemies have made. Istanbul was a fluke.’

‘It wasn’t a fucking fluke! It was tradition and honour and… and spirit.’

‘For fuck’s sake, Father! Vladimir Smicer scored in the final. Even Igor Biscan scored in the last sixteen!’

Or something like that.

READ MORE: BBC pundit blown away by ‘scary’ World Cup ace who could be heading to Liverpool

FSG’s transfer policy has been miraculous, it is true. But hoping for miracles is not a safe policy when planning for the future. No one could possibly have foreseen just how brilliant Mo Salah was going to be when he was purchased from Roma, or Sadio Mane from Southampton. No one could have foreseen that these two players would lead the club to glory, remaining almost completely injury free for five years. The purchases of Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota all for similar fees of around £40m were equally brilliant. Was this good scouting, or good luck? The answer is, of course, a bit of both. It was phenomenal work from Liverpool to bring this group of players, and for such low prices. But a club can’t move forward expecting the scouting department to pull them out of trouble by continuing to find gems at rock bottom prices.

The #FSGOUT contingent of Liverpool fans feel that the club’s woes this season are a direct result of FSG’s failure to grasp this point, and their failure to reinforce the club’s midfield in this summer’s transfer window. Rumours circulate about FSG’s problems with liquidity, but these were addressed when they recently purchased The Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team for $800m. They are notorious for attempting to keep each of their operations financially separate from one another, and where possible, keeping each one financially self-sufficient. However, it does now seem that perhaps even FSG agree that fiscal stimulus is required at Liverpool, and quickly.

What this actually means for the club, and for fans, is still unclear. Is the club for sale completely? Or are they seeking new investment? Which one of these routes is in the best long interests of the club? The two different groups of Liverpool fans are at odds on this topic as well. Should Liverpool sell wholesale to a megarich owner in the manner of a Newcastle, Man City or PSG? They would have limitless funding to compete on the pitch, as well as continuing to expand the stadium, the infrastructure, and even redeveloping the area surrounding Anfield. The problem of course would be that the club may end up sports-washing a murderous oil-funded regime, a villainous oligarch or a dark army tech-billionaire who wants to hack into the NHS database and reprogramme your Granny’s pacemaker. Money alone does not bring success – strategy is also required. Looking around, it is not hard to find situations where rich owners have brought only chaos to a football club.

The other option for FSG is to sell a stake of the club. Between 25% and 35% of ‘Liverpool FC and Stadiums’ could be sold, leaving FSG with the all-important majority stake. Such a sale would raise an excess of a billion dollars. Since Fenway do not take money out of Liverpool in the form of dividends, we can have some confidence that all of this money will be reinvested in the first-team squad and the ongoing extension of Anfield itself. Such a huge sum would surely make Liverpool competitive in the transfer market for between five and ten years, even if some of the money was spent on infrastructure. The benefit of this model is that FSG would remain in charge, continuing the tradition of frugal, sensible, farsighted management. If his press conferences are to be believed, this is the path forward preferred by Jurgen Klopp, who seems to be quite comfortable both with the stewardship of FSG and his relationship with their man on the ground, Mike Gordon. The Athletic recently suggested that any such investment would most likely come from America. This is not for cultural or ethical reasons, but simply because most investment in European football comes, contrary to common misconception, from the west rather than the east.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but Liverpool fans have cause to be excited. The worst-case scenario is that nothing will happen. Even then, there is a decent squad in place that – injuries notwithstanding – are still capable of competing for major honours for the next year or two. But it seems more likely than not that change is coming. How the different groups of fans will reconcile themselves and heal the rifts between them depends on the nature of that change. A complete cessation of hostilities is about as likely as a Pride parade in the centre of Doha to coincide with the World Cup final. Passions run high, and social media will continue to fan the flames of any discontent. The camp will remain divided on this matter I believe. After all, human beings will always find reasons to hate figures of authority, even if they are most successful or benevolent. But we can hope for de-escalation, if FSG turn on the taps in some form or other.

Jude Bellingham is just one of many Liverpool targets who will be on show at the World Cup in Qatar. And so Liverpool fans have got at least one reason to tune in to the most boring and controversial World Cup in history. By the time the January transfer window rolls around, we may know more about the future of Liverpool. It’s even possible that fans will stagger out of the trenches on Christmas Eve for a brief truce, while we look forward to the next chapter in the history of this great club. Time will tell if the Boston Tea Party is over, or just shifting gears.

EOTK Insider: Liverpool’s Two World Cup Winners and 14 Finalists, ahead of Qatar

The post GUEST: A new era for Liverpool? FSGers crossed appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Jamie Barton (@jamieonfootball)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Ah, pre-season. That time of the year when everyone remembers that LFCTV exists, when unrealistic hopes are placed on the shoulders of a 17-year-old, and when Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain gets injured.

It’s utterly pointless to read almost anything into what goes on in the ever-shortening window between seasons. So, let’s begin.

Best player – Mo Salah

It was around Christmas of 2018 when I began to notice a shift in how people talked about Liverpool performances.

Players like Bobby Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri began regularly being discussed as man of the match.

When pressed further, those voting for them tended to concede that ‘Well, it’s obviously Mo Salah, but he can’t win it every week, can he?’

This has been the case once again during pre-season, with completely deserved praise for the likes of Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho masking the fact that the Egyptian has been on a different planet this summer.

Liverpool’s No.11 is here to stay, and goals against Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and Manchester City have seen him looking just as relieved with that fact as we are.

Most concerning – Luis Diaz

If that seems harsh, that’s because it is.

Luis Diaz already appears to be a very good signing and has pitched in with some crucial goals for the Reds, particularly in the Champions League.

Still, his return of six in 26 games for his new side exposes a slight lack of composure, which I had hoped he would improve upon during this pre-season.

The Colombian has not been bad this summer. He has the ability to beat anyone 1v1, and his pressing and tracking back are up there with Firmino’s, but he has snatched at chances and ends pre-season with neither a goal nor an assist.

Fulham on Saturday is the perfect opportunity to get off the mark when it really counts.

Best signing – Darwin Nunez

I think I speak for most when I say that Fabio Carvalho’s performances in pre-season have exceeded almost all expectations.

Signing a 19-year-old on a small fee tends to scream ‘one for the future’, but the No.28 has put in a real bid to be included in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans.

Still, when choosing our signing of the summer, scoring five goals in less than 200 minutes makes Darwin Nunez the natural selection (sorry).

When Real Madrid triumphed in the Champions League final two months ago, Carlo Ancelotti said that Los Blancos knew how to beat Liverpool.

In our No.27, Liverpool now have an elite attacker with a completely different skillset, and he has wasted no time in showing it.

It’s of course early days, but his impact against Manchester City was hugely promising. It would be a big call not to start him at Fulham on Saturday.

Most likely to break into first-XI – Harvey Elliott

This one’s a bit of a cheat, I’m afraid, as had it not been for Harvey Elliott’s horrific injury at Leeds last season, he may well have replaced Jordan Henderson in Liverpool’s full-strength first-XI.

The then 18-year-old had started three of the first four games in a wide-No.8 position, which gave Trent Alexander-Arnold license to come further inside.

The latest iteration of Klopp’s tactical setup was coming into full focus before the youngster’s unfortunate setback.

He would return later in the season but could not pick up the momentum to break back into the side on a regular basis.

This summer was always going to be important for the lifelong Liverpool fan, and along with a new shirt number, his performances have brought renewed optimism.

The No.19 has flourished playing in an advanced role alongside a more traditional forward in Darwin Nunez, providing a glimpse not only into Liverpool’s long-term future, but also into the upcoming season.

READ MORE: Pundit bizarrely thinks Manchester United will finish higher than Liverpool

Most likely to break into first-team squad – Stefan Bajcetic

 It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that I’m a bit of a Liverpool nerd.

I know my Layton Stewarts from my Leighton Clarksons. But I’d be lying if I told you that I knew who Stefan Bajcetic was before a few weeks ago.

Now, as far as I am concerned, he is the future of the club and any chance we have of silverware over the next 15 years rests entirely on his shoulders.

At only 17, the Spaniard has been a commanding presence in the centre of the field throughout pre-season.

Against RB Leipzig, he was the only non-first-team-squad outfielder to feature, and he did not look out of place, winning the ball and sliding in Elliott to create Liverpool’s fourth.

When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled his hamstring against Crystal Palace, it was rumoured that Tyler Morton’s loan deal to Blackburn might be put on hold.

Despite the extent of the former Southampton man’s injury now becoming clear, our No.80’s loan has been confirmed. It would not be a surprise to learn that this is because of Bajcetic’s form, nor would it be a surprise to see him line up for the first-team next season.

Best moment – Darwin’s goal vs Manchester City

Let’s get one thing clear: the Community Shield does not matter.

What does matter, however, is getting one over on your rivals in a game that it was clear both sides were desperate to win.

When Julian Alvarez’s equaliser was confirmed by VAR, Manchester City were jubilant (except Pep, of course).

That’s why, when Darwin Nunez sealed a Liverpool win 24 minutes later, the let off was up there with any important Premier League game.

The fact that this should stop those weirdos making any more fail compilations is the icing on the cake.

Worst moment – Diogo Jota’s injury

If you ever needed any more proof that football fans are obsessed with new, shiny things, then look no further than Diogo Jota.

On 20th January, the Portuguese scored goals number 13 and 14 of his season to almost single-handedly knock Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup and send Liverpool to the final.

He had earned himself an iconic song from the travelling Kop, and he looked set to become a mainstay of the Reds’ attack.

A week and a half later Liverpool had signed Luis Diaz, and despite Jota scoring three in his next two games, we had a shiny new toy. #

Fast forward to the summer and we now have a potentially record-breaking signing in Nunez.

Somehow, Jota has to prove himself all over again. Which is why it was a major concern to learn that he had suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury sustained with his national side.

Having just signed a new long-term contract, the No.20 himself has said he should be back in a few weeks. That is welcome news, but the effects of missing the entire pre-season remain to be seen.

Best facial hair – James Milner

The man can do no wrong.

#Ep56 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Nunez silences critics! Firmino to start v Man City?… & more!

The post GUEST: The storm before the storm: analysing Liverpool’s pre-season   appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Jamie Barton (@jamieonfootball)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

You try and find a way of rationalising it. It’s human nature to tell yourself that maybe it’s time. Maybe Jarrod Bowen could match his numbers. Maybe we’d just sign Kylian Mbappé, the world’s highest paid player.

And then 4pm on July 1st happens and all of that just goes away. The news you had just begun to accept would never come, well, comes.

It is only now, with the dust settling, that we ask how on earth both parties were able to agree on something that seemed so unlikely for so long. Did either side ‘win’ the negotiations? And what can this deal tell us about how the club will conduct its business going forward?

To answer these questions, we must first cast our minds back to the summer of 2020. You could have been forgiven then, as the entire world collapsed in front of our very eyes, for not thinking too much about Mo Salah’s Liverpool contract.

Behind the scenes, however, Ramy Abbas Issa had just received some bad news. Due to Covid-induced uncertainty around finances, Liverpool were not interested in opening talks over a new deal for his client.

It would not take long for Salah to speak up, and a season that had already been so disappointing for the club was further disturbed by the Egyptian’s frequent references to what life after Anfield might be like. Before negotiations had even begun, it appeared that relations were far from cordial.

We can deduce that talks did finally begin in the summer of 2021. In May, Salah told Sky Sports that “no one in the club is talking to me about anything so I do not know”.

By August, however, James Pearce of The Athletic reported that negotiations were already underway. It is logical to assume that the club intended to tie the Egyptian down as part of an off-season which also saw new deals for the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Andy Robertson.

However, given what we now know about Salah’s eventual deal, it is not hard to see signs of trouble in what was written about Liverpool’s opening offer.

The Athletic reported, for example, that the Merseysiders ‘won’t rip up the wage structure that has served the club so well’. One agent with close ties to the club added ‘You’d expect him to be the top earner at the club, but not by too much’.

We know now of course, that Salah would not be too pleased with these sorts of notions. Cue a season like no other in the Egyptian’s Liverpool career, where his ability to shape entire football games to his will was matched in intensity only by almost-weekly reminders that this could be the very last time we see him.

It was clear that it had begun to become personal for Salah, who said in December that ‘Your financial value shows how much the club appreciates you and that they are ready to do anything for you to stay’.

That same month, Abbas had flown to Miami to meet Mike Gordon for further negotiations. It is suggested that Salah was looking to become the sixth- best paid player in the world, which would work out at around £400,000 a week including bonuses.

The club were only prepared to offer a 15% rise on his then-current £200,000 deal. It would be the last time the two parties would meet until a few weeks ago. Still, it appears that, following these unsuccessful talks, Liverpool were finally beginning to understand what they would have to do to have any chance of retaining their star player.

James Pearce wrote on Boxing Day that ‘Liverpool accept they will have to break the ceiling of their current wage structure to keep Salah’, a definite shift from the club’s stance only a few months earlier that they would not ‘rip up the wage structure that has served the club so well’. Was Abbas’ hard and fast stance beginning to reap rewards?

READ MORE: Liverpool make move to snap up 22-year-old Man Utd target as Ten Hag’s men balk at asking price – Football Insider

How fitting it was that the Colombian lawyer, Liverpool Twitter’s favourite pantomime villain, would be the one who finally broke the silence on his client’s new contract.

As more and more information on the deal comes to light, it is difficult to escape the sense that the Egyptian ‘won’ the negotiations.

Pearce has claimed that both sides made compromises, and The Times’ Paul Joyce writes that ‘Liverpool insist the deal will fit in with their existing financial model’, but the simple numbers do not seem to agree. Liverpool’s number 11 now earns £350,000 as a basic wage, a whopping £130,000 more than van Dijk, the club’s next-highest paid player.

If that does not qualify as ripping up your wage structure, then what does? Bonuses mean that Salah will likely earn closer to £400,000 a week, a figure that would see him become, well, exactly what he had been asking for the whole time – the sixth-best paid player in the world.

Of course, one key piece of information we have not touched on is that the man who closed this deal for Liverpool is not the same man who opened it.

It is entirely possible that if Michael Edwards were still at Liverpool, Mo Salah might not be.

Julian Ward’s first summer as sporting director has certainly been a lively one, and there is already the sense in the business that he has conducted so far that the club might be going in a new direction in their negotiation strategy.

While Edwards was famed for his hardline stances, there are elements of compromise in all of the major deals struck by the club in this off-season. It is fair to say that, regardless of how well he goes on to do, the €100 million the Reds paid to Benfica for Darwin Nunez came as something of a surprise.

Sadio Mane ended up departing to Bayern Munich for £10 million less than it was briefed Liverpool were looking for. Even the £50 million Ward agreed to pay Porto for Luis Diaz in January, which now looks like a steal, at the time felt like a sizeable outlay for a 25-year-old who had never played in Europe’s top five leagues.

Therein may lie Ward’s strategy – with players like Diaz, Nunez and Salah, have you really ‘lost’ the negotiations if they make you more likely to win where it really matters?

EOTK Insider Opinion: Ben Davies’ wages and why he is the blueprint of how Liverpool don’t do transfer business

The post GUEST: Mo Salah’s new Liverpool contract – who ‘won’ the negotiations? appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Aaron Cutler (@aaron_cutler)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Pre-season is for the die-hards.

Friendlies played out in soaring temperatures and on the back of double sessions rarely make for good spectacles.

The glimpse of a new signing (in a new strip) breaks the monotony but, in truth, these games are to be endured rather than enjoyed. You suspect that’s a sentiment felt by players and fans alike.

Every so often, however, the Liverpool coaching staff will experiment.

Last summer we saw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deployed as a false 9; a trial that never made it beyond July.

In 2017, Sadio Mane was shifted to the left-wing, a split test that yielded far better results.

The pace set by Manchester City allows no margin for error nor window for experimentation during the season proper.

Jurgen Klopp may then look to tinker with systems and personnel to a greater extent over the next few weeks when the pressure is off.

The expectation is any change will revolve around marquee signing Darwin Nunez and a possible switch to 4-2-3-1.

Yet the manager may choose to revisit an old idea in a bid to solve a new problem.

Midfield Options

‘Problem’ may be exaggerating somewhat, though your view on Liverpool’s midfield options is likely to be shaped by who you follow on Twitter.

Levelheaded fans – capable of actually enjoying the off-season – will assure you everything is fine.

We have eight, maybe even nine players to pick from in the middle of the park, ranging from experienced heads to promising youngsters.

The doom-mongers will protest loudly – our preferred trio are all injury-prone, we still haven’t replaced Gini Wijnaldum and just what were the club thinking releasing Ben Woodburn?

As always, the truth probably lies somewhere in between; Liverpool are well stocked but do not boast the strength in depth of some of our rivals.

It’s generally accepted we moved for Aurelian Tchouameni and continue to court Jude Bellingham. Both links suggest we would like to reinforce but will not compromise on quality. That’s a stance which has served us well in recent years.

Yet the waiting game may necessitate a plan B heading into the new campaign. And so to a debate that seems older than its actual subject– can Trent Alexander Arnold play in midfield? More to the point, should he?

The short answer is no. Feel free to stop reading at this point.

READ MORE: Forgotten ex-Liverpool star Ozan Kabak shares career update after second loan spell following Anfield stint

Generational Talent

The ‘Scouser in our team’ has reinvented the full-back position. A generational talent; he is firmly established as playmaker-in-chief.

The output and numbers are frankly frightening and confirm as much.

61 assists and counting, 32 in the Premier League since 2018/19… second only to fellow Liverpool fan Kevin De Bruyne.

We’re talking about a 23-year-old who has won the lot and so nearly doubled his medal haul.

Why then move arguably the best right-back in the world from a position he has made his own?

You wouldn’t. Not unless circumstances force your hand.

Having risen through the Reds’ academy as a midfielder, there has always been a section of the support that believes our No.66 will be restored to his ‘natural’ position in time.

In reality, there has been little evidence to support that theory.

Indeed Alexander-Arnold has started in midfield for the senior side just twice in five years. Ironically, both appearances came against Stoke – neither went well.

In April 2017, he started as part of a five-man midfield on a day when Klopp rang the changes.

An inexperienced and imbalanced team toiled. Both Trent, who was in truth more right-wing than right mid, and fellow academy graduate Woodburn were swallowed up by the occasion. The pair were substituted at half-time with their team trailing.

A year later a more established Alexander Arnold failed to make an impact from the engine room as Liverpool struggled to break down a resilient Potters side. That contest ended in a stalemate.

His only midfield start since then came for the national team, in one of many examples of Gareth Southgate’s inability to harness a talent.

Shoe-horned in against the mighty Andorra, Trent and England laboured until he was restored to his regular starting berth. For club, if not country.

So, the prospect of Alexander-Arnold being pushed forward would appear remote. Even so, this pre-season may be the time to test it.

Trent’s Numbers

Why now? Because the injury records of some might necessitate a break glass option.

Should the incoming Calvin Ramsey settle, the manager may be more inclined to call upon this fallback if the going gets tough and the treatment room crowded.

Of course, he’ll only do so if it’s been road-tested in pre-season.

Moving our first-choice right-back will though be a balancing act of sorts. This is true of the short and long-term, wherever you see his future.

The idea he would suddenly become more involved is simply not true. Only three players had more possession of the ball in the whole league last season. He currently averages 60.57 passes per game.

For context, that’s more than De Bruyne (52.15), Bruno Fernandes (55.06) and Mason Mount (38.65), the primary architects in their respective sides, all of which will hope to be challenging for the title.

Midfields are by their very nature congested and the likelihood is Trent will see less of the ball fighting for space.

What he may be able to conjure up is more in the way of key passes per game. Yet even that is debatable.

His average of two is bettered by De Bruyne (2.9) yes, but the Belgian is every bit the outlier.

Bruno Fernandes only posts (2.1), while Mount has less cutting edge (1.8).

Elsewhere, our man crosses with greater regularity.

The average across his career is 1.8 per game, compared to De Bruyne’s 1.7, Fernandes’ 1.1, and Mount’s 1.2. This owes much to the space afforded out wide. Space that is harder come by in the thick of things.

Focusing on last season alone, Trent created 18 big chances. That’s more than De Bruyne (16), Fernandes (15) and Mount (10). In fact, only Harry Kane (19) posted more.

What does all that tell us? That he’s having quite the impact from right-back. In case you hadn’t noticed.

From a Liverpool perspective, the closest midfielder to Trent when it comes to big chances created is Henderson – who managed 12 fewer.

The full-back also recorded the most forward passes in the team, 899 compared to Henderson’s 619, Fabinho’s 418, Thiago’s 398, and Keita’s 207.

Possible advantages of moving him forward include improving his average number of through balls per game – which currently stands at 0.1. Given his vision and technique, there is every chance this would rise from the middle of the park.

There is also the likelihood of increasing his shots per game from 1.1.

He clearly strikes a ball better than any of our current midfield options but is rarely in a position to go for goal, unless it’s from a dead ball situation.

Yet that trade-off hardly seems worth it.

In Case of Emergency

These stats serve to underline Trent’s natural ability but also his importance to the system itself.

He would – given time – mature into one of the finest midfielders in the country. He is though already the best right-back in Europe.

And that’s the reason Klopp will resist any temptation to switch his position long-term.

Nevertheless, trialing it now could hold us in good stead over a long, arduous season.

From the moment we kick off at Fulham every game will be defined by jeopardy. The relentlessness of City means no points can be dropped… which leaves no room to experiment.

Having Trent familiarise himself with a midfield berth now could help if an aging midfield is suddenly weakened and you’re unconvinced by alternatives like Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tyler Morton.

The hope is we never get to that point, but this is a regime that leaves nothing to chance.

So don’t be surprised if we see Alexander-Arnold given at least one run out in midfield between now and August. Just in case.

#Ep55 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Farewell Sadio Mane, Mo Salah contract hope… & more!

The post GUEST: Pre-Season 2022: Could We See Alexander-Arnold In Midfield? – Opinion appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Karolina Kurek

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Divock Origi is the player Anfield’s crowd will remember forever.

It’s not only his ability to find the back of the net that will be appreciated but the fashion and timing in which he executed it.

Now, the Belgian has taken his tally to 11 goals scored after coming on from the bench. Calm as you like.

In the past, L4’s supporters were gifted with seeing heroes who emerged from the bench to write their names into Anfield history.

David Fairclough was one of a kind and his feat is engraved in one of the stones that are located outside the stadium.

In life after football, he is still strongly connected with his maiden club; his role involves being an ambassador during meetings with fans, a stadium guide and pundit.

The former Red was hailed as a supersub, as he recorded 18 goals in 62 substitute appearances.

Despite the fact that he hardly ever started in the first XI line-up, Fairclough cemented his place in Anfield folklore with his heroics against Saint-Etienne.

READ MORE: (Video) ‘He didn’t text me back’ – Virgil van Dijk calls out Thierry Henry after Villarreal comeback

That Tuesday night

Liverpool were gasping for a miracle against Barcelona in the second leg of the semi-finals in the 2018/19 season. The first encounter between both teams brought a 3-0 victory for the Catalan giants.

In fact, that night Liverpool were the dominant force at Camp Nou. However, their powerlessness in front of the goal made Liverpool be on the wrong end of the result.

Barcelona’s three goal advantage was impressive and at the same time tough to turn over.

However, with the help of the 12th man in the shape of Anfield’s crowd, anything seemed to be possible.

The second leg of that semi-final was about to go underway; Anfield under the floodlights was electric and packed full with believers.

That was Divock’s night. Having deputised for Firmino from the very first whistle, he had the world at his feet.

The team needed to come back from 3-0 down to get through to the final and Origi bagged the first goal after seven minutes.

Gini Wijnaldum added a brace in the second-half but the Reds were in need of another to go through.

With 11 minutes to go, Trent Alexander Arnold and Divock Origi did the impossible.

The fullback provided a quickly-taken corner for the No.27 who scored the decisive effort and cemented his cult hero status.

Game-changing moments straight from the bench

Origi has never cemented his place in Liverpool’s first-XI. Instead, he has made 106 appearances out of 174 as a substitute player.

However, there were groundbreaking moments featuring the Belgian international that we should be inclined to remember forever.

It’s vital to note that the goals mentioned below were selected on the basis of magnitude and the attacker’s performance from the bench.

13 DEC 2015 – Liverpool v West Brom. Hectic fixtures were approaching for new manager Jurgen Klopp. It was 90+6 minutes on the clock when Divock Origi found the equaliser and delivered a vital point for The Reds.

2 DEC 2018 – Liverpool v Everton. Christmas was in the air with LFC supporters singing “Merry Christmas Everton” at home. You could sense something would have happened with Origi’s previous record against the Toffies.

The derby match went into the injury-time, Jordan Pickford’s serious error led to Divock’s headed goal from close-range meaning he sealed a 1-0 win for Liverpool.

4 MAY 2019 Newcastle v Liverpool. The Reds were chasing the Premier League title and were in need of three points in every remaining game. A 2-2 result was seen on the scoreboard and it was Origi who became a hero with 86 minutes gone on the clock.

4 DEC 2021 – Wolves v Liverpool. Regular game time was over. Origi replaced Jordan Henderson in the second-half and again stole the show with the injury-time winner.

Dubious future

The arrival, understanding with teammates and the instant impact of Diogo Jota meant a reduction of game time for Origi in the 2020/2021 season.

One thing will never change, Divock will be a Liverpool legend whether he stays leave.

Should Divock decide to opt for a change of scenery this summer, he ought to bring some quality to a new team and be a success.

Jurgen Klopp hailed him a world-class player after a match against Everton when he scored during a 2-0 win for the Reds.

In the post-match conference, the German coach gave him credit by saying: “He is a legend on and off the pitch. He is a fantastic footballer for me, and I know it sounds ridiculous as I don’t line him up often.”

“He is a world-class striker, he is our best finisher definitely. He always was and everybody would say the same when you see him do these kind of things in training.”

It looks likely he will bid the club from Merseyside goodbye in the upcoming summer window. Be that as it may, he will remain one of the most respectedd and fondly remembered players among Anfield’s crowd.

#Ep48 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast (Morning Coffee edition): The future of the Liverpool defence, Reds-linked star comments on interest from abroad… & more!

The post GUEST: Divock Origi – The super sub appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Ethan McGlade

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Mo Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool does not look good, a situation exacerbated by the fact that he has only has one more year remaining on his current terms.

Most of us Kopites are worried about his contractual situation and the recent news that Juventus have reportedly offered Salah a reported blockbuster deal to sign for the Old Lady.

However, a future without the Egyptian King may not be all the doom and gloom that is expected as we look into what the future might hold without the wide man.

Firstly, we must look into our attacking assets already at the club; even without Salah, we have a perfect blend of youth and experience.

For example, we have the exciting, new Luis Diaz, an experienced yet ever-flourishing Sadio Mane, and the – better than Figo – Portuguese international, Diogo Jota.

And in our younger generation coming through we find a Jurgen Klopp favourite in Harvey Elliott, a dazzling diamond in Kaide Gordon, and even the 18-year-old Mateusz Musialowski who has torn it up at youth level.

All this squad depth will surely mean that the No.11’s potential absence will not be sorely missed?

Well, even with our already brilliant backup, it would be difficult deny that a Salah-less Liverpool would quite simply not be the same team.

A quick look at the former Roma man’s record-shattering stats would show this.

Just this season, he has 38 goal contributions in 36 games; a sensational goal to game ratio, only bettered by an extremely small grouping of elite footballers (none of which currently ply their trade in the Premier League).

Salah has also played almost every game in the English top-flight and Champions League at the time of writing, so it is not to be ignored that he is integral to Klopp’s system.

READ MORE: Elliott names two Liverpool stars that are a ‘dream for any youngster’ to play with

As far as replacing the winger is concerned, it’s a task the recruitment team would no doubt struggle to perform.

Over his time at Liverpool, the attacker has only scored less than 20 goals in one Premier League season (2019/20), which he made up for by bagging himself 10 assists.

I doubt there is another player in the world who can replicate his form that FSG would be willing to splash the cash for.

On the other hand, we just cannot compete with the mega money that teams like Juventus are offering the 29-year-old.

Maybe it might be worth cashing in on the Egyptian King now, as, unfortunately, is value will only decrease over time in light of the fact that he’s set to 30 in the summer.

It all depends on whether FSG would be willing to take the risk of keeping the player and destroying our sustainable wage structure in the hope that he continues to perform at the highest level.

Otherwise, another option would be to cash in on him now and reinvest the money into other areas of the team – for example, in a Jude Bellingham, with whom we’ve been strongly linked with.

The cards are in the hands of the owners now and we shall soon see which deck will be dealt.

#Ep42 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Is Jota underappreciated? FA failing fans… and more!

The post GUEST: A look into Liverpool’s future without Mo Salah appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Zubin Daver (@zubinofficial)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

It’s a Monday morning after a derby game. One set of fans is whistling and mocking their bitter rivals. An evenly contested match would have ensured there were no death stares flying across the room. However, it ended up being marred by a refereeing decision. The most common things fans say after a dodgy decision is, ‘your manager has his hands down the pants of the FA. Referees never give decisions our way. You’ve paid the refs.’ 

If football games are won fair and square like the 5-0 drubbing Manchester United received at the hands of Liverpool, then there aren’t many concerns fans could share. However, if that game ended 1-0 or 1-1 due to a shoddy refereeing decision, supporters will remember for aeons – just ask some Chelsea fans! 

If there’s one thing we’ve learned of late, it’s that life has become more challenging than ever before. The pandemic, travel bans, work from home, reduced socialising, and empty stadiums have all changed life as we know it. However, there are a few things that we many look forward to, one being the chance to pour out a cold beer and switch on the sports channel to watch your favourite football team in action. 

A football game has a lot riding on it. In those 90 minutes, fans can forget about all their problems whilst glued to proceedings on the pitch just like someone caught in an endless gaze into the eyes of their loved ones. After all, bragging rights are on the line. 

Bragging rights and flailing tempers bring me to the topic of discussion; the many contentious refereeing decisions which tilt and change games as quickly as Mo Salah drops his shoulder and beats defenders. 

When a game of football is marred by contentious decisions, it affects millions. Little did I know that football has the power to ruin my mood, haha! Jokes aside, in the recent past, refereeing decisions have affected far too many football games. 

There are very few things that bring rival football fans together. Wrong refereeing decisions are one of them. Wrong decisions affecting games that lead to incorrect results are a demoralising factor for all fans. All we ask for is fair and consistent refereeing decisions. 

"If Jurgen and myself make big mistakes, we get punished.
If players make big mistakes, they get punished.
If referees make big mistakes, usually the teams get punished".

Lijnders on VAR misuse and lack of accountability for referees #LFC pic.twitter.com/eJSiMQGJiu

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 21, 2021

VAR was brought into the picture to help reduce the errors. I am not saying it has not done its job, however, I do believe that the way it’s been used in the Premier League is erroneous. 

READ MORE: ‘After that, definitely’ – Klopp on when Thiago is likely to return from injury after cup final heartbreak

The funny thing about VAR officials is that there are just four instances in which they are required; Goal/no goal, penalty or no penalty, direct red card (not second yellow card/caution) and, lastly, a case of mistaken identity (when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team). In spite of that, it has ended up altering the outcome of numerous games and either making or breaking a fan’s evening. 

This dynamic VAR table on ESPN is being constantly updated by Dale Johnson, and the picture it paints is a far from pretty one. 

One of the most shocking things that we’ve noticed is that VAR decisions rarely go against the decision taken by the on-field referee. Something similar to ‘Umpires Call’ in cricket. However, something that does not go down well with fans. They want to see consistency, rather than referees sticking to each other and having each others’ backs. 

The idea was to ensure a reduction in on-field refereeing errors. It did so with a lot of resistance, but it was a step in the right direction. However, the ride has not been smooth. Yes, change does have teething problems. However, the problems seem to be biting for much longer than expected.

What is even more shocking is that VAR is being used almost all across the globe. And its implementation is different in different countries and competitions. That poses a question, ‘Why can’t they analyse the league/country in which there are least refereeing errors and use that as a benchmark of using VAR across the planet?’ 

One of the games that come to mind where VAR was horrendous was the meeting between Tottenham and Liverpool. Harry Kane was not shown a red card for a late and clumsy challenge with his studs up where he went sliding in Andy Robertson. That is a prime example of the lack of refereeing consistency in spite of VAR being used. 

This is, however, one of many dreadful decisions that were technically ill-judged by both the on-field official and VAR. 

But let bygones be bygones. There is nothing that we can do to change the past. But what can be done to ensure that things improve? 

Here are a few things that I think can help make referees a little more responsible when it comes to their decision-making. Some of these might not be possible. However, they still present themselves as opportunities to better the officiating in the English Premier League.

• Referees should be a part of post-match interviews – This is possibly something that will not have a huge difference. Yes, I did believe that it is something that could make the referees a little more accountable. However, when it is up for discussion, it is something that will make referees up to public abuse. After all, we live in an age with zero tolerance and high offence. 
• Referees should have hooked-on microphones – Having the entire refereeing team hooked up onto microphones so that we can hear their conversations and record them for future use is something that is effective and possible. In the A-League, the referees are connected on microphones where we can listen to conversations between all the referees. In addition to that, they are also recorded. This is a good example of how referees hooked up onto microphones can help justify decisions and also give closure to fans watching from all around the world. This not only makes it clear to fans why decisions were given the way they were but also ensure that there is absolutely no possibility of alleged bias.

• Change domestic referees to referees from different nationalities – Is it time for us to bring foreign referees into domestic leagues? This is something that can help ensure that the referees that officiate games will not have any sort of domestic background. Please, do not get me wrong; in no way am I trying to insinuate that domestic referees have reduced integrity and honesty. However, it might reduce any sort of bias that angry fans believe existing referees have. Players are already used to playing when they have foreign referees officiating when it comes to continental cups as well as international fixtures. So why not bring that to domestic leagues?
• Ex-players should become VAR officials – Being a referee is not easy. I agree and so do many fans from all around the world. To be a referee do, you not only need an in-depth knowledge of the sport but also need to be able to understand the game from the perspective of the players. It makes a lot of sense to ensure that VAR duties are given to players that have played a minimum of 150 games at the highest level, both domestic and international. This will ensure that the decisions being made are a little more rounded from a common game sense and with the rules being followed.
• In the words of Liverpool’s legendary manager, Bill Shankly, “The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.” Circling back to the Kane-Robertson situation, it was said that the decision of not sending Kane off for his challenge was because Robertson had lifted his standing leg out of the way. Well, had the VAR official been an ex-player, he would have possibly had another point of view.
• On-field and VAR officials should be one team for the entire season – VAR officials should be part of the on-field refereeing team. Collectively they will get better, their communication improves, and the way they see incidents in unison will help reduce errors. 

Even the most fanatic of fans knew that VAR would need time to settle. Change needs time. Change needs acceptance. It’s quite clear we are far away from VAR being used optimally. Fans, players, managers and possibly all stakeholders of the sport we love have mentioned that they love VAR but have problems with the way it is being used.

At Euro 2020, the VAR team was significantly larger than those being used in the Premier League. That unsurprisingly helped speed up the decision-making process. However, the FA does not have plans to ramp up the size of their VAR teams.

One of the highlights of VAR in the season so far was the handball decision given against Everton when Manchester City midfielder Rodri more than clearly handled the ball in his own box in the dying embers of the game.  

There is no football fan or pundit, except Paul Tierney and Chris Kavanagh, who thought that was not a handball. Anyone else defending that decision is doing so just because they could. 

In addition to that, here are a few reactions on Twitter in the past few months when it comes to errors made by referees in the English Premier League.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

If a player has a bad run of form, they’re dropped.

If a manager has a bad run of performances, they’re sacked.

If a referee has a bad run of performances, nothing.

No consistency. No accountability. Nothing.

— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) January 1, 2022

Brighton have just had a Penalty awarded for the same thing, and this wasn't given… https://t.co/WinNNMzsad

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) January 14, 2022

Woah, that’s a penalty surely?

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 26, 2022

Something needs to change before fans start falling out of love with the sport because of such dismal officiating. The solution to these problems already exist. All the FA and the Premier League needs to do is adopt the solutions. 

This needs to happen as fans are running out of time and patience. 

#Ep36 of The Red Nets Podcast: Is Thiago the one we can’t do without? The title race… and more!

The post GUEST: Are refereeing decisions and VAR making football fans fall out of love with the sport? appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

A guest contribution by Riaz Ravat to mark UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. 

In February each year, the United Nations marks World Interfaith Harmony Week. The week has grown to become a month with global activities spread throughout the period.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has been the multi-national, multi-ethnic and multi-religious character of the squad which reflects the international fan base.

Brand ‘Liverpool FC’ owes much to the diverse players who have written their own stories. In the recent FA Cup tie against Cardiff City at Anfield, players from no fewer than 11 different nation states represented the Kopites.

This article showcases four of Liverpool’s players who are proud of their own identities yet have combined to devastating effect as the Reds won the Champions League in 2019, ended the domestic drought in 2020 and are on course for a trophy charge in 2022.

The uniqueness of the club is that when one blends the diversity of all the players with the worldwide fan base, almost every nationality, religion or belief or language is covered. This article focuses on the Christian–Muslim quartet of Roberto ‘Bobby’ Firmino, Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, Liverpool players were the first in the league to ‘take the knee’. The symbol on the halfway line at Anfield during a training session set the scene for football’s wider missive about the need for equality and social justice.  

Klopp’s squad contains a number of champions both on and off the pitch. The line-up of 2022 compared to their predecessors the last time Liverpool won the league under Kenny Dalglish in 1990, could not be more illustrative about how society has changed.

At the start of the last decade of the last century, who would have imagined that the next time Liverpool would be domestic kings, an Egyptian by the name Mohamed would be instrumental in that success? The diversity of this Liverpool has been pivotal on and off the pitch. 

Mo Salah has moved many mountains since arriving at Anfield – if there is a record to break, Mo will target it.

His running down the wing has torn apart the club’s goals per games ratio and transcended Liverpool’s fanbase into a different terrain.

The Egyptian arrived in 2017 with a forgetful previous stint in English football. The Liverpool Mo Salah is unrecognisable from the Chelsea Mo Salah who struggled to get going. 

Since joining Liverpool, Salah has elevated himself in a relatively short space of time into the club’s ‘all-time’ best 11. Based on games, goals and goal assists – his statistics are unparalleled. However, as a Muslim, Salah knows only too well the other responsibilities he carries on his shoulders.

Sport has the power to evade boundaries and with hostility against Muslims on the rise, the phenomenon of Salah has become an antidote to hate. 

In 2019, research by Stanford University found a 19% drop in anti-Muslim hate crimes on Merseyside in the period since Salah signed for the Reds. No other offence had a comparable drop in the same timeframe, while anti-Muslim tweets by Liverpool fans fell by 53%.

The golden boot-winning striker who often celebrates his goals with a prostration was praised by Stanford University because “positive exposure to outgroup role models can reveal new information that humanises the outgroup writ large.”  

Salah does not speak too regularly but when he does, one needs to take note. In April 2019, he used the platform of Time magazine to argue that women must be treated better in the Middle East. A call which the wider world should heed too.

Salah may have missed out on the Ballon d’Or in 2021 and the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2022 but he has shown that adversity merely serves to drive him further as he exorcised the Champions League defeat in Kyiv in 2018 with victory a year later in Madrid. 

In October 2020 it was reported that following a victory over Arsenal, Salah had visited a petrol station outside Anfield when he noticed a group of men harassing a homeless individual. Salah admonished them and handed some cash to the victim. A socially conscious Salah was not prepared to stand idly by. 

In footballing terms, ‘Super’ Sadio Mane is a manager’s dream. Tough and tenacious, the Senegalese Muslim attracts comparatively mild attention in comparison to Salah but Liverpool loyalists know only too well the grit and graft the 2019 African Footballer of the Year and 2022 AFCON champion puts in week in, week out.  

In the 2019-20 season, Mane’s goals were the difference in many close contests – Norwich City away when he scored after coming on as a substitute being one of many pivotal goals he has scored for the club at the highest level in the Premier League and Champions League. 

READ MORE: Liverpool team news confirmed: Harvey Elliott starts as Klopp makes four changes

Mane’s football career prior to joining Liverpool was one of much promise but considerable erraticism. Klopp himself conceded at the club press conference before the 2019-20 Premier League away game at Brighton & Hove Albion, “He came as a young boy and he grew up, matured here”. Klopp added, “The level he performs at is unbelievable. He helps us massively. He is a complete player, offensively and defensively he works hard, he is really quick.”

Mane has not forgotten his roots. For example, in his home village of Bambali in Senegal, he has contributed to building a hospital. Equally, only hours after scoring and leading Liverpool to victory against Leicester City in 2018, video footage emerged of him cleaning the toilets at his local mosque on Merseyside. 

Before the arrival of Diogo ‘Dio-goal’ Jota, Liverpool’s attacking ‘Holy Trinity’ was made complete by Roberto ‘Bobby’ Firmino. The trio has plundered over 250 goals as a partnership which is among the world’s most feared.

Brazilian Firmino is the most versatile forward in world football. If he is not scoring, he is most certainly setting up or biting away at the ankles of the opposition to retrieve the ball.

Bobby has been fundamental to Klopp’s philosophy by setting traps for the opposition and swarming them with his supporting act.

In January 2020, in an emotional ceremony, Bobby was baptised with fellow countrymen Fabinho and Alisson in attendance. According to Premier Christian News, Firmino declared, “I gave you my failures and the victories I will give you too. My greatest title is Your Love Jesus!”

Firmino was born in Trapiche da Barra. According to BBC Sport online,“ a poor neighbourhood squeezed between a polluted lake and a poverty-stricken favela” where violence is rife.

A childhood friend remarked, “Even when he didn’t have a ball, he’d be doing keepie-ups with an orange.”

For Firmino, football was the passport out of poverty. Like his teammates, he remains dedicated to his roots with the donation of food hampers, toys and even paying a local family’s medical bills examples of his generosity. 

At the other end of the pitch and in between the sticks, stands Alisson Becker. In contrast to Firmino, Alisson was born into a middle-class family with a deep dedication to Christianity.

A transformative goalkeeper and a monumental presence to get past, Alisson is always looking to hit teams on the break and is the epitome of the ‘Sweeper-Keeper’. Burnley, Fulham and Manchester United can testify for the times when Alisson was instrumental in setting up attacks leading to goals. 

In an abnormal, pandemic-influenced 2020-21 Premier League season, this extraordinary goalkeeper accomplished a ‘Miracle in the Midlands’. An injury-ravaged season saw Liverpool unable to put up an effective title defence plus the situation was compounded by Champions League qualification which was hanging by the thinnest of threads as the Reds sat outside the top four spots for most of the final few months of the season. 

With Liverpool on equal terms away to West Bromwich Albion in the 95th minute and a referee about to blow his whistle, Alisson charged forward to connect his head brilliantly to a Trent Alexander Arnold corner which flew into the net. It was this goal that provided the impetus to eventually finish the season in third place and secure top-level European qualification. How stories are written.

A few months before, Alisson tragically lost his father following an accident in Brazil. His goal – the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to score a winner was dedicated to his late father. It is a moment that will be etched in Liverpool’s and indeed Premier League history forever.  

In the post-match interview, Alisson said, “Football is my life…I hope my father was there to see it with God on his side celebrating”. It was one moment of many moments for this wondrous football club. 

Like Salah, Alisson is another record-breaker. The ‘clean sheet King’ and former Goalkeeper of the Year winner literally wears his faith. Often seen pointing to the sky after a decisive victory who famously wore a ‘Cross = Love’ t-shirt after the Champions League win in 2019, Alisson has also pioneered global health and well-being messages as a World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion.

Alisson combines fortitude with faith. According to Evangelical Focus Europe, he said in 2019 that “If you want to be a great keeper, you need to work very hard. That’s what I do. You need to be very focused on football and I think faith is important, too. If you believe in God, you know you have to do your best on the pitch and put love into everything you do in life.”

One could be forgiven for thinking that with these levels of religious adherence it would manifest itself in difficulties on the pitch or in the dressing room – far from it. If we need evidence, what better than Alisson’s reaction when he famously set Salah on his way to score the nerve-settling victory over arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield in 2019. Alisson sprinted the length of the pitch to embrace Salah – showing cross and crescent in collective celebration. 

At the helm of this relentless Red machine sits the mesmeric manager, Jurgen Klopp, a self-professed admirer of the great Reformer, Martin Luther. Klopp is a proud Christian who donates a portion of his salary to the Common Goal movement, which supports global youth football development.

Klopp has referenced the impact of his faith upon creating an open environment and culture for all at Liverpool. He does this not in spite of being Christian but because he is Christian. 

At the start of the 2019-20 title-winning season, Klopp wrote an article for The Players’ Tribune where he said, “I have seen what a little round ball can do for the lives of so many of my players. The personal journeys of players like Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and so many of my boys are absolutely incredible. The difficulties I faced as a young man in Germany were nothing compared to what they had to overcome. There were so many moments when they could’ve easily given up, but they refused to quit.” Klopp added, “They’re not gods. They just simply never gave up on their dream.” 

It is this unity against adversity and purpose over ideology that provides a lesson for all of humanity. Many footballers have endured journeys similar to those of Firmino, Salah and Mane. The stories of all three players who as children engineered efforts to escape from their homes to go and play football has endeared them to Liverpool fans.

Whilst many players have suffered disadvantage and poverty in their upbringing, many will not have been fortunate enough to win the biggest club trophies in world football. This is why it is vital for the global fan base to recognise and appreciate that when Salah, Mane, Alisson, Firmino and others such as Van Dijk, Wijnaldum and Robertson carry out acts of generosity, they are connecting the present with their past. 

Christian or Muslim, Hindu or Sikh, Atheist, Jewish or any other belief, Liverpool FC embodies global values of respect and acceptance – the United Nations is very much in evidence at Anfield. 

You’ll Never Walk Alone. 

Riaz Ravat is a member of Liverpool FC’s Equality & Diversity Fan Forum and Secretary General of Baraza – an international charity dedicated to promoting tolerance. He writes in a personal capacity. 

#Ep33 of The Red Nets Podcast: Diaz’s debut, Elliott’s return, Mane to La Liga?… and more!

The post GUEST: Liverpool’s faithful footballing fab four appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Paul Harper (@PaulNHarper)

I had a flashback during Liverpool’s nervy victory over Crystal Palace, prior to the winter break.

As Palace attacked again and again with frightening ease in a nightmare spell from around the 35-minute mark, my mind cast back to the famous FA Cup semi-final against the same team in 1990.

This Liverpool side, with stars such as John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and Ian Rush, were overwhelming favourites as they headed for their 18th league title, but they ended up being humbled by the South Londoners.

Every Palace cross and set-piece filled you with a sense of dread, with the defence appearing completely unable to deal with anything. This wasn’t meant to happen – we’re Liverpool. 

The defenders were a bag of nerves and Bruce Grobbelaar wasn’t inspiring any confidence either. Even when we retook the lead thanks to a Barnes penalty after another slightly contentious decision, we looked there for the taking. 

Alan Pardew’s late winner had an air of complete inevitability and the Eagles deservedly went through to the final (they added insult to injury and lost to United).

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘trying to sign’ highly-rated starlet with expiring contract, claims Sky Sports journalist

On Sunday, unlike the Liverpool side from 31 years, we didn’t capitulate. Alisson Becker was absolutely sensational and made a string of vital saves to keep us in the tie.

But for his contribution, a game that ended up 3-1 to Liverpool could have quite easily instead been a 4-2 loss. 

Not since pre-Virgil van Djik days have Liverpool looked so vulnerable and easy to attack against and this was a team that included the imperious Dutchman, Joel Matip and the normally impenetrable Fabinho.  

Jurgen Klopp himself alluded to the breakdown in the post-match interview: 

“If someone had a proper explanation for what happened after 35 minutes they’d be a billionaire overnight. The relief after 2-0 after an intense week was just so big that we wanted to have a break on the pitch? But that’s not possible.

“It was Jekyll and Hyde football. It showed how insanely good we can be and how bad as well.  

“I said to [Alisson], ‘Thank you for saving our backside again.’ He said, ‘That’s my job.’” 

Liverpool are often accused of playing too high a defensive line and with such attacking fullbacks that they can leave their centre-halves exposed – it’s why Fabinho is such a vital cog in the machine protecting the defenders and clearing up danger as an extra layer.

And also Thiago Alcantara; one telling stat revealed we’ve won every game the Spaniard has started this season.

January has been a strange month. One where we’ve coped admirably without Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, despite all the fears surrounding their AFCON-enforced departure, with seven goals in the last three games alone. That being said, we’ve defended terribly at times.

There’s obviously been a lot of talk about what could happen in the summer to make up for what isn’t happening in January, with names such as Raphinha constantly linked, but Liverpool’s focus should actually be on another defensive-minded midfielder. 

This week John Barnes rightly talked up the prospect of signing Yves Bissouma because he would be a perfect candidate; the Brighton star is an all-action midfielder who is solid defensively but with the right amount of craft and level of experience to slot into the side and perform immediately. 

That Palace defeat at the time 31 years ago, as Barnes will recall, was a chastening blow and in the last title-winning season for 30 years.  

If Liverpool defend and play like they did for part of the Palace game on Sunday, it will be another long wait for any honours. 

And with so much still to play for this season, let’s hope that’s not the case.

@PaulNHarper

#Ep30 of The Red Nets Podcast: One Liverpool starlet could mirror Elliott, rivals fans being ridiculous… and more!

The post GUEST: Let’s hope new Palace meltdown doesn’t spark another long wait for glory  appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Joe Harvey

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

To score a hattrick is a wonderful thing.

Often, people associate a hat-trick with a display of individual brilliance. An incomparable, indefensible show of extraordinary skill and quality. A transcendent exhibition of football genius. Sometimes, though rarely, players achieve the unthinkable: a perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot, header. The pinnacle of football prowess. Other times, however, hat-tricks can be grisly, hard-earned feats, not of extraordinary football brilliance but, rather, being in the right place at the right time. Such was the case when Liverpool hosted Manchester United in 2011, and who else but Dirk Kuyt was present to tap in not once, not twice, but thrice from two yards out.  

The coastal village of Katwijk in the province of South Holland, a land of fishermen and sailors, follows two very important religions. Saturdays are for football. Sundays are for the Lord. Indeed, upon signing for FC Utrecht at 18-years-old from local club Quick Boys, Dirk Kuyt often marvelled at the stark differences between life in the village and life in the Eredivisie: ‘I saw guys who lived with their partners, got a child, and only then got married,’ Kuyt remarked. I’m sure today, having delved deeply into the world of European football, playing in the Eredivisie, Premier League and Turkish Super Lig, Kuyt has grown accustomed to the oft-blasphemous behaviour associated with footballers at the highest level.

For a young Katwijkan, however, the transition from amateur to professional football made for countless revelations. Not that Kuyt would let that phase him, of course. Rarely does football meet a man as unwavering as Dirk Kuyt, and that seems important, given that he hails from a village comprised of Dirk Kuyts. As Simon Kuper describes in ‘The Football Men’, his games against Quick Boys in Katwijk would yield an opponent that not only looked like Kuyt, but were built like Kuyt, had the same irreversible ‘Katwijkan’ first touch as Kuyt, and, more often than not, had the surname ‘Kuyt.’ Amidst this sea of Kuyts, however, it was Dirk that emerged from Katwijk into the Eredivisie in 1998, establishing himself quickly as a regular in the first-team. Ever a model of professionalism and athleticism (and that blonde curly blow), Kuyt worked hard and played harder, and soon enough (thirteen years later, to be precise), the Dutchman found himself celebrating in front of the Kop, cementing a win for Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool side against their bitter rivals. 

Amassing a remarkable combined total of six yards, Kuyt put three past fellow Dutch icon Edwin van der Sar to inspire Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United. Admittedly, the inspiration may belong with Luis Suarez, who was denied a sensational solo goal by Kuyt’s trusty right boot on the goal-line, before having a free-kick palmed out to set up Kuyt’s third, yet the Dutchman, deservedly, received the plaudits. Such a hat-trick, not least because of its importance in one of England’s most fierce derbies, epitomises the career of Dirk Kuyt. Not necessarily the most technically gifted player (forever battling against the hereditary Katwijkan ball control curse), but a workhorse with an uncanny knack for anticipating where the ball was to land, it is no surprise Kuyt is revered in Liverpool to this day. Cult hero status often develops because of individual brilliance, or sheer artistry, but Dirk Kuyt achieved this status through hard work, loyalty and passion – traits that were not only respected by the Liverpool faithful on the Kop, but made him a perfect match.

Whilst deeming a professional football player to not be the most technically gifted may sound patronising coming from a man who’s yet to ever complete a ‘round the world’, much of Dirk Kuyt’s persona was centred around hard work and, another factor that guaranteed his cult hero status on Merseyside, his ability to step up in big games. Football players are defined by moments. Even today, players are judged in the Premier League on their performances against the ‘Big Six’ above all, rather than across the season as a whole (yes, I’m hinting at a certain Manchester United penalty merchant here). Kuyt, undoubtedly, was a player for the big occasion. Kuyt would always be the first to admit that he did not necessarily have the technique of the likes of Robin Van Persie, with whom he competed for a place in the Dutch national team, yet was quick to recognise his mentality as his greatest asset. His goal in the 2007 Champions League final against AC Milan, though ultimately in vain, provides proof that when Liverpool were supposedly down and out, the Dutchman would never lose faith (a ‘mentality giant’, to quote the current Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp). Of course, it was Kuyt himself who had ensured Liverpool were to play in the 2007 Champions League final, scoring the winning penalty against Chelsea in the semi-finals after having a goal disallowed in extra-time.

If that, and becoming the first Liverpool player in twenty-one years to score a hat-trick against Manchester United aren’t enough to prove his nerve, a certain Merseyside Derby in 2007 must be added to his list of credentials. A packed Goodison Park on derby day translates into a cauldron of toxicity and anger. In fact, this effectively describes Goodison on any day. The blue half of Merseyside, never shy to voice their opinion on their neighbours, make it an uphill battle from the get-go, regardless of form or quality. To score a penalty at Goodison is one thing, but to score two in the same game, with the latter coming in the ninetieth minute to ensure a 2-1 victory over the club’s most fierce rivals, is enough to cement a place in Liverpool’s history books. Ever the man for the occasion, if the Reds needed someone to step up, eyes would turn to Dirk Kuyt.  

As with any hero, be it super or cult, Kuyt’s origin story can be found in his homeland. His character arc, including his origins at Quick Boys and Utrecht, took him from Rotterdam, to Liverpool, to Istanbul (if only he’d signed for Roma), and finally back to Rotterdam. His origin story may have begun in Katwijk, but his fairy tale story can be found with Feyenoord. Surprisingly, it was against his beloved Feyenoord, in their own backyard for that matter, that Kuyt’s fledging career began to take shape. The 2003 Dutch Cup final was held, as per tradition, in Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. Utrecht, the only club outside of the traditional ‘big three’ in Holland (Ajax of Amsterdam, PSV of Eindhoven and Feyenoord) to have never been relegated from the Dutch top-flight, the Eredivisie, found themselves in the Dutch Cup final after beating PSV in the semis, and were sets to face the hosts in their own stadium. Kuyt was hardly under the radar at this point, having scored over twenty league goals in an impressive campaign, yet Utrecht went into the final as firm underdogs. Having finished the season in third place compared to Utrecht’s eighth, as well as beating them home and away throughout the league campaign, Feyenoord were expected to claim the trophy on home soil. Utrecht, however, had other plans. Already the clinical, hard-working figure he was to become, Kuyt not only scored in Utrecht’s surprising 4-1 demolition of Feyenoord, but received the Man of the Match award. The day belonged to Utrecht, and the plaudits belonged to Kuyt. Just days later, however, in another of football’s bittersweet ironies, Kuyt was on his way to Rotterdam.  

READ MORE: Klopp shares remarkable Gordon revelation after youngster scores crucial goal in FA Cup clash

Unsurprisingly, Kuyt became an instant fan favourite at Feyenoord. His tenacity, persistence and determination, as well as developing a clinical streak in front of goal that he was never quite able to replicate during his time in England, saw the Dutch winger-come-striker establish himself as one of Holland’s most prolific goal-scorers. His debut season for Feyenoord in 2003/4 yielded a tally of 20 goals, helping Feyenoord to another third-place finish, whilst the following season he took his tally to 29, earning the Eredivisie top scorer award. Marco van Basten rewarded Kuyt’s club form with his first-ever Holland cap in September 2004, replacing veteran strikers Roy Makaay and Patrick Kluivert in the squad. From there, Kuyt remained a regular in Holland’s 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign. At the World Cup itself, Kuyt began the tournament as a substitute, but earned a start against Portugal in the quarter-finals. Holland ultimately lost the game 1-0, but no one cared about that, as everyone was too busy watching the referee produce card after card, adding up to a remarkable 16 yellows and 4 reds. At club level, meanwhile, Kuyt developed a partnership with a pre-Chelsea Salomon Kalou, known affectionately to the Feyenoord supporters as ‘K2’, and Feyenoord established themselves as Eredivisie’s top goal-scorers. Despite this, however, the Rotterdam-based club remained unable to break the Ajax-PSV dynasty at the top of the table.  

Kuyt’s growing influence saw him appointed as club captain at the beginning of the 2005/06 season, a season in which he bagged another 22 league goals, taking his tally to a remarkable 71 in 101 games. Despite such numbers, however, Feyenoord remained far from the Eredivisie title. By the summer, rumours swelled that both members of the beloved ‘K2’ had caught the attention of numerous clubs across Europe, and, hoping to make dreams become reality by playing in the Premier League, it was said both were on the verge of leaving Holland. Kuyt, after receiving the Dutch Footballer of the Year award that year, remained reluctant to leave the adoration of the Feyenoord fans, claiming he’d only sign for a ‘very big club.’ Indeed, by the start of the 2006/7 season, Kuyt’s ‘big club’ came in the form of Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool, whilst Kalou had joined Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. In a testimony to both his character and durability, Kuyt had missed just five games over the course of seven seasons between 1999 and 2006 in Dutch football, having played a consecutive 179 games within this period. Such was his nature, a reliable, hard-working, dogged individual with a proven goal-scoring record, that made Kuyt perfect for Benitez’s system at Liverpool. Kuyt’s switch to English football saw his chapter in Rotterdam come to an end, but that particular story was far from over.                                          

Kuyt’s time at Anfield spanned over six years, playing under three different managers (albeit the Hodgson reign did not last very long). Whilst unable to replicate his scintillating goal-scoring form in Holland, Kuyt’s work rate and defensive capabilities somewhat made up for a lack of goals. This certainly became the case in 2007, after Liverpool signed Spanish talisman Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid, pushing Kuyt out wide to work tirelessly up and down the right-hand side, a role in which he excelled. El Nino’s arrival, and subsequent partnership with Steven Gerrard, spearheaded Liverpool’s title challenge in the 2008/9 season, ultimately finishing in second place, four points behind Manchester United. Between the three of them, Gerrard scored 16 goals, whilst Torres netted 14, with Kuyt adding 12, the Dutchman an integral part of Liverpool’s title challenge. Despite this, it was in Europe that Kuyt truly gained the adoration of the Kop. The aforementioned consolation goal in the 2007 Champions League final, a late goal in a 2-0 win against Inter Milan and a 118th minute winner against Standard Liege at Anfield (to qualify for the Champions League, paving the way for Liverpool’s historical 4-0 rout of Real Madrid later in the competition), each contributed to Kuyt becoming the club’s third-highest goalscorer in European competitions (only Gerrard and Ian Rush at that time had scored more). The Dutchman also scored late on against Chelsea in that ridiculous 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, as well as scoring a valuable away goal at the Emirates in 2008. For a club such as Liverpool, that place such pride on their European legacy, Kuyt’s European record endeared him further to Liverpool supporters.  

Despite such adoration for Kuyt on Merseyside, however, the one thing lacking from his Anfield career was trophies. Within three seasons, Kuyt had come close to both the Champions League and a Premier League title, ultimately earning a runners-up medal in both. Such heartbreaks were only exacerbated at international level, with Holland losing out to Russia in the quarters of Euro 2008, and then losing 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. Kuyt’s performances at the 2010 World Cup drew praise from Johan Cruyff himself, claiming that a player such as Kuyt is ‘worth his weight in gold’, yet, ultimately, the Dutchman found himself with another unwanted runners-up medal. By 2012, in what was becoming increasingly likely to be his last season at Anfield, it seemed Kuyt’s Liverpool career was on the verge of ending trophy-less. His reputation as a big game player continued to be recertified during his final two seasons, scoring a 102nd minute penalty against Arsenal (cancelling out Van Persie’s 98th minute goal) and scoring the only goal across two legs against Sparta Prague to put Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League. Still, the reputation as a big game player meant little without silverware. Two simultaneous cup runs in 2011-12, Kuyt’s last season at Anfield, gave the Dutchman a final opportunity to add a trophy to his cabinet.  

After overcoming Manchester City in the semi-finals (3-2 on aggregate courtesy of a late Craig Bellamy winner), Liverpool faced Cardiff in the Carling Cup final. True to form, Liverpool made hard work of a tie that, realistically, should have been settled long before a penalty was taken. After a 1-1 draw, the game entered extra time. Kuyt replaced club record signing Andy Carroll (haha) in the 103rd minute, and by the 108th had put Liverpool into a 2-1 lead. Again, in true Liverpool fashion, the Reds conceded in the 118th minute from (shock) a set-piece, taking the game to penalties. After both Gerrard and Charlie Adam missed Liverpool’s first two penalties, Kuyt stepped up to tuck his away (of course). Goals from Stuart Downing and Glen Johnson put Liverpool ahead, and the final penalty was rolled wide by Cardiff centre-half Anthony Gerrard (Stevie’s cousin). Finally, Kuyt had added some silverware to his Anfield legacy, and, although probably not the competition of his choice, there are few who could deny he deserved it. Kuyt was unable to add further silverware at the end of the season, coming off the bench as Liverpool succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup final. This proved to be Kuyt’s last competitive appearance for the Reds, as Fenerbahce triggered a release clause in his contract. Having played 285 games for Liverpool, Kuyt gave an emotional farewell to Anfield: ‘the club and supporters I will always carry with me in my heart.’ 

After winning over the city of Liverpool wholeheartedly, Kuyt had a similar task ahead of him upon his move to Istanbul. As one of Turkey’s biggest and most successful clubs, winning over the Fenerbahce supporters would take just as much effort as it did in Liverpool. Fortunately, if there was one man up to the task, it was Kuyt. Having signed for the Turkish club at thirty-one years of age, few expected Kuyt to keep up the same relentless work ethic that had took him so far throughout his career. Far from slowing up, however, Kuyt only seemed to work harder, looking ahead to his place at the upcoming 2014 World Cup with Holland. True to form, Kuyt scored two in Fenerbahce’s Champions League qualifier against Romanian club Vaslui, following by a goal on his Turkish Super Lig debut. Over the course of his first season in Turkey, Kuyt amassed the club’s second-highest number of appearances across all competitions, featuring in fifty-six games, whilst scoring Fenerbahce’s second-highest tally of seventeen goals. Already, as always, Kuyt was a favourite.  

Finishing runners-up in the league, pipped to the title by arch-rivals Galatasaray, as well as losing 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the Europa League to Benfica, placed importance on Fenerbahce’s domestic cup run. Kuyt scored Fenerbahce’s second penalty in their shootout in the semi-final, helping them to progress, before starting in the final against Trabzonspor on the right-hand side, just as he had so often for Liverpool. Moussa Sow scored the only goal of the game in Fenerbahce’s 1-0 win, helping Kuyt to claim just his third domestic trophy. Kuyt continued in similar vein the following season, though this time, after a three-year wait, Fenerbahce went one stop further to claim the Super Lig title, replacing Galatasaray at the top. This was undoubtedly helped by the club’s reduced schedule, having lost to Arsenal in the Champions League qualifying rounds, the club was then banned from the Europa League by UEFA due to a match-fixing scandal. Kuyt’s first-ever league title was cemented in April 2014 with three games to spare. 

The beginning of Kuyt’s final season in Turkey was marked by a Turkish Super Cup win over Galatasaray, in which Kuyt, once again, scored the opening penalty in the shootout after a 0-0 draw. Former Liverpool teammate Raul Meireles also scored his penalty, helping Fenerbahce to a 3-2 win against their bitter rivals. After three seasons in Turkey, Kuyt left with three trophies in his cabinet and had earned himself a place in Holland’s 2014 World Cup squad, despite his age. Of course, for a man like Kuyt, age really is just a number. The 2014 World Cup proved to be Kuyt’s final appearances for Holland, often deployed by new manager Louis van Gaal as either a wing-back, or centre-forward. Even at thirty-three, Kuyt was as versatile as they come. Once again, however, the 2014 World Cup ended in heartbreak for the Dutch. After defeating Mexico in the last 16, then Costa Rica on penalties in the quarters (in which Kuyt scored the final penalty), Holland lost out on penalties to Argentina in the semis (though, inevitably, Kuyt still scored his). Whilst many may have expected Kuyt to hang up his boots come the end of the 2014-15 season, the Dutchman had other plans, announcing to De Telegraaf, ‘I’m coming home after the summer, and I can’t wait to play in De Kuip.’ To the delight of the Feyenoord faithful, Kuyt announced he was to return to Rotterdam, adamant that with his return would come long-awaited silverware. 

Upon leaving Rotterdam in 2006 for Liverpool, Kuyt promised that one day he would return to his beloved Feyenoord. History tells us, however, that the return of lost idols may not necessarily have the desired effect. Just look at Gareth Bale right now, whose long-awaited return to Spurs has not nearly been as successful as anticipated (maybe… Zidane wasn’t the baddy?) However, there are obvious exceptions. Paul Scholes’ resurrection from retirement in January 2012 (which coincided with the much-hyped, yet much ado about nothing return of Thierry Henry to Arsenal), proved to be a revelation, immediately stepping back into the hearts of Manchester United fans far and wide. There was much speculation about Kuyt’s return to Feyenoord, yet there was one man who had no doubt about the Dutchman’s homecoming. Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, having played alongside Kuyt at a national level, instantly named him as captain upon his arrival to De Kuip, where he was presented to over 50,000 fans eager to watch their hero return. 

Kuyt’s return to Holland in 2015 had an immediate impact, quashing the few doubts about his return, whilst reminding Feyenoord supporters why he was so dearly loved during his first spell in Rotterdam. His debut, inevitably, because that is just how football works, came against Utrecht. In another inevitable turn of events, Kuyt scored against his former club from the penalty spot, and Feyenoord battled to a 3-2 victory. Three games later, Feyenoord had maintained their 100% record, whilst Kuyt had scored a penalty in each game, though his performances down the right-hand side were hardly revelatory. In a show of faith in the ageing Dutchman, van Bronckhorst decided to change things. Instead of down the right, Kuyt was moved further inside, given the freedom to roam in the space behind the striker, taking up the number 10 role. The impact was instant. After suffering a defeat to PSV, Feyenoord went six Eredivisie games unbeaten, and after 10 games, Kuyt had scored 10 goals. Back-to-back hattricks in a 5-2 win against Heerenveen, then in a 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar had cemented Kuyt’s place in the hearts of the Feyenoord support, whilst Feyenoord look set to maintain a title challenge. A terrible winter, however, quashed Kuyt’s dreams of a fairy-tale return to Feyenoord, as the club suffered seven straight defeats between late December and mid-February: ‘this is the saddest day of my life, in the field of football… I know it’s not enough, but I will continue to give everything for Feyenoord.’  

Feyenoord did eventually return to form, sustaining a Dutch Cup run, and returning to winning ways in the Eredivisie, though the title challenge was, certainly, over. Kuyt finished the season as Feyenoord’s top scorer with nineteen league goals, his highest return since his first spell at the club. Despite Feyenoord’s failed title challenge, there still remained an opportunity for Kuyt to earn some silverware upon his return to Dutch football, and eyes turned toward the Dutch Cup. Having knocked out Ajax earlier in the competition, Feyenoord then dispatched AZ in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win (obviously, Kuyt scored a late penalty to book Feyenoord’s place in the final. Can I take back my statement about Bruno Fernandes being a penalty merchant, please?) Once again, football had worked one of its ironies, and the only thing standing in the way of a trophy upon Kuyt’s return to Dutch football, was, as I assume you’ve guessed, FC Utrecht – an exact replica of the 2003 Dutch Cup final, only this time, Kuyt was clad in red and white. In a 2-1 win, in which Kuyt did not score, but led his team from the front, Feyenoord had their first trophy since 2008, and Kuyt’s return to Holland had provided him with long-awaited silverware in the Feyenoord colours.  

For most people, that is the fairy-tale completed. Return to Feyenoord. Become captain. Win the cup. However, as this article has continuously stated, Dirk Kuyt is not most people. The Dutch Cup was not enough – Kuyt wanted the title. After performing so inconsistently the year prior, many doubted Feyenoord had enough to sustain a full season-long title challenge. Ajax and PSV were simply too strong, and Feyenoord themselves had not won the league since 1999. Nine games into the season, however, Feyenoord had nine wins under their belt, and, suddenly, the dream became a possibility. Despite Ajax being on their tail the whole way, and a few blips here and there, Feyenoord maintained their first-place position across the entirety of the season. Despite being 35 years of age, Kuyt still managed thirty-nine appearances across all competitions, spearheading Feyenoord’s title push with the passion and determination he had shown throughout his entire career. On top of Feyenoord’s title challenge, Kuyt also managed to stay in the hearts of Liverpool fans far and wide, having been drawn to play Manchester United in the Europa League. In December 2016, Kuyt released a video on Twitter, stating that, following Feyenoord’s clash at Old Trafford,’60,000 supporters shouted against me, and they said “you scouse bastard”, and normally when rivals shout at you it is not the best thing that can happen to you, but actually, it made me proud. I felt proud to be named a scouser, an adopted scouser, because for me, scousers are good people, hard-working people, committed people and people who never give up.’ Who’s chopping onions? 

For his part, Kuyt scored 15 goals across all competitions in his final season at Feyenoord. Following wins against Utrecht and Vitesse, Feyenoord had the opportunity to claim the title with a game to spare, in an away game to Excelsior. Of course, nothing is ever simple, and Feyenoord lost 3-0. Entering the final day of the season, Ajax stood just a point behind Kuyt’s Feyenoord, meaning any further slip-ups against Heracles at De Kuip would lead to a devastating last-day meltdown. Having lost a World Cup final, a Champions League final, an FA Cup final, and finishing runners-up in the Premier League and Turkish Super Lig, Kuyt, surely, somewhere, despite his mentality, despite his drive and level-headedness, must have had some nerves heading into the final day of the season. However, this was a big game. Arguably, in terms of personal meaning, the biggest of games. And Dirk Kuyt loves a big game.  

De Kuip, as ever, was bouncing. On some camera angles, the ball is barely visible amidst the smoke. With just thirty-five seconds on the clock, Kuyt chased a loose ball, harrying the Hercales defender into losing his balance. There was a collective breath as the ball broke free in the box, and, from a tight angle, Kuyt fired into the far top corner. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Feyenoord were 1-0 up inside a minute, and De Kuip had erupted. 10 minutes later, Kuyt added a second with a perfectly executed diving header (every great hattrick to win the league deserves a diving header, doesn’t it?). With the score at 2-0, De Kuip was in full-blown party mood, and Feyenoord were nearly there. A third would guarantee it. In the 83rd minute, Nicolai Jorgensen was dragged to the floor by a Heracles defender, providing Kuyt with an opportunity to complete his hattrick, and cement Feyenoord’s first title win since 1999, from, inevitably, the penalty spot. Cool as you like, Feyenoord’s captain rolled the ball into the bottom corner. If you’d have asked a young Dirk Kuyt, playing week in week out for Quick Boys in Katwijk, how he, 104 international caps later, would have liked to end his career, I doubt even he could have come up with an ending like this. A fitting end to a true fairy-tale story.  

#Ep29 of The Red Nets Podcast: COVID strikes again, who should Liverpool sign in January… and more!

The post GUEST: Rotterdam or anywhere, Liverpool or… Istanbul: Dirk Kuyt, Cult Hero appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Jamie Barton (@jamieonfootball)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

If déjà vu really is a glitch in the matrix, then those big robot guys who are controlling us really need to get someone round to fix it. I could swear that we’ve been here before, no? Almost two years on from March 2020 and football, much like the rest of the world, is falling apart again. It would appear, however, that this time the Premier League is attempting to stagger on. After all, what could be worse than the Reds not playing three games a week? Clubs have been informed that as long as they have 13 available outfielders and one goalkeeper available for selection then they will be required to fulfil their fixtures. Crucially, U21 players who have started a competitive match count towards a club’s 14. It’s them who will bear the brunt of the Premier League’s unabated greed. In the words of Helen Lovejoy, won’t somebody please think of the children!?

Young players now run a much higher risk of being thrown in at the deep end. Any manager will tell you that game time at the highest level is crucial to player development. However, what we often overlook is the care with which managers pick and choose specific games in which to blood youngsters. Give an 18-year-old too much to handle and you can potentially hinder his progress. You only have to look at Wednesday night’s game as an example. Klopp elected to go with Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley and Billy Koumetio from the start. 3-1 down and having endured a torrid time against a strong Leicester side, none of these three re-emerged for the second-half. The Premier League ruling also stipulates that playing positions will not be taken into account when assessing whether a side has enough available squad members, meaning not only that young players could find themselves thrown in at short notice but also that they may be required to play out of position.

READ MORE: Pearce highlights £83.2m truth Liverpool can’t afford to ignore in Mo Salah contract negotiations

The outcome of young players being forced to play could be even more serious if they do manage to impress, as many may end up being driven into the ground. With more emphasis on (read: money in) academies than ever before, we are seeing more and more technically complete teenagers arrive ready-made into the first team. Increasingly, what sets a 24-year-old apart from an 18-year-old is not their ability but their stamina and physicality. Whilst someone like Mo Salah looks like he could play every day, most young players would run the significant risk of picking up potentially career-stalling injuries should they be required to keep up with a fixture schedule Pep Ljinders has called ‘absurd’. Bafflingly, the league has explicitly stated that appearances at youth level shortly before first-team games will not be taken into account, meaning that some players could end up being forced to play for the first-team a day after representing the U21s.

For many young players, the Premier League’s instructions also have the potential to bring about an opposite but equally damaging situation – U21s never making their first-team debut. (Most) managers aren’t stupid. They will know that once a player has started a game for the club they become what the league terms an ‘appropriately experienced U21’ and make up one of the 14 required to play. This is regardless of whether they would be up to the level of the fixture they are drafted into. When Liverpool host Shrewsbury in the third round of the FA Cup, will Klopp think twice about starting the likes of James Balagizi and Mateusz Musialowki for fear that he may then be forced to start them at the Etihad some time down the line? It sets an unfair precedent to assume that a player ready to start a third-round cup tie against a lower-league side is also ready to play in a top-of-the-table clash against some of the best players in the world.

Anyway, all of this feels a little like shouting into the void. The round of fixtures which some clubs asked to be postponed will be shown by Amazon Prime, and given their sports business model relies on people taking out Prime memberships around the time of the January sales, Premier League clubs would lose out on a huge deal if Amazon were not able to show the matches in late December. We often forget that the Premier League is not some independent unattached body but is actually simply the clubs themselves. It is a marker of what modern football has come to that those clubs, most of which are still in relatively rude financial health, are so ready to prioritise the continuation of the league over the careers of their brightest young stars. It really does feel like football is falling apart all over again. If déjà vu really is a glitch in the matrix, then those big robot guys who are controlling us really need to get someone round to fix it. I could swear that we’ve been here before, no?

(@jamieonfootball)

#Ep27 of The Red Nets Podcast: Embarrassing full-strength Leicester, Rodgers’ impossible job… and more!

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By Declan Carr (@Declancarr96)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Many Liverpool fans have accused FSG of being too stingy and not investing enough in the playing squad to keep the Reds competitive on all fronts.

However, the performances of the Red Bull trio (Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita and Taki Minamino) against Leicester show that the club’s recruitment strategy is more hit than miss.

Minamino played the full 90 and was the chief architect of the Reds’ comeback. Possibly his greatest night in a red shirt so far, his link-up with Bobby Firmino and Diogo Jota for the second goal showed glimpses of the player that persuaded the Anfield outfit to part with £7.5 million. Then came the cherry on top of his performance, his 90th-minute drive past Kasper Schmeichel into the far right bottom corner to force a penalty shootout that the Merseysiders would prevail from.

Keita only replaced skipper Jordan Henderson in the 59th minute but showed shades of the creative force that tore up the Bundesliga between 2016 and 2018. The Guinean midfielder is already just one appearance behind his total from last season and has already played a starring role in a 5–0 win at Old Trafford and scored screamers against Crystal Palace and Atletico Madrid. Once he came on, he transformed the dynamic of the game with his progressive passing and driving runs forward. If he can stay injury-free, he’ll play a big part in Liverpool’s season.

Konate was an extremely exciting signing in the summer. It felt like the Reds had swooped under Europe’s other big clubs’ noses to steal one of the biggest centre-back prospects on the continent. The Frenchman’s reputation has only increased since moving to Anfield. Amongst Liverpool players who have started more than three Premier League games, he ranks second only to Virgil van Dijk for the percentage of dribblers tackled (75%), top for interceptions per 90 (2.83) and below just Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and our No.4 for percentage of aerial duels won (69.2%). It’s early days but the 22-year-old has shown that he can easily adapt to the English top-flight and the command and control he demonstrated against Leicester suggests he will be a force to be reckoned with for attackers in England.

The Red Bull market has shown to be an effective one for the Reds, with their previous investments starting to make an impact. Perhaps they can dip into it again to prise Erling Haaland out of the likes of Real Madrid and PSG’s clutches. It would be audacious but they have a solid relationship with the Red Bull Football Group and it would be foolish not to try.

(@Declancarr96)

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By Zach Oaten

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

After signing for Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham in July 2020, Jude Bellingham has attracted the eyes of every major club from around Europe thanks to his commanding performances on the pitch.

Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has certainly been impressed and has added to the hype of the youngster recently, praising Bellingham for his bravery and skill.

“The kid’s unbelievable and I think he will suit that team down (Liverpool) to the ground,” Johnson told bettingodds.com as quoted by the Daily Mail.

“This kid has a clear mind on him. He made a really ballsy decision to go to Germany when he was so young and decided to leave his comfort zone to prove what he can do.”

“For me, it was genius. I don’t think he’s going to rush into anything as he could have probably signed for Manchester United or Liverpool before he went to Borussia Dortmund.”

Bellingham has become a key figure at Dortmund despite being only 18 years old, has represented England at Euro 2020 this summer and has received enormous praise for his performances In the Champions League.

READ MORE: New report claims third outfit interested in signing 24-year-old Liverpool defender beyond West Ham & Newcastle

The 18-year-old will be looking to further his career in the summer and Liverpool could be the perfect move for him, that’s if Manchester City or PSG do not tempt him with higher wages.

Recent reports linking Bellingham to Liverpool place a £90 million price tag on him and with Liverpool’s ageing midfielders such as James Milner (35 years old) and Jordan Henderson (31 years old) Klopp will certainly have an interest despite the cost.

EOTK Insider Opinion: FA’s verdict on Klopp’s critique of Tierney is alarming as well as correct

The post GUEST: Glen Johnson claims Jude Bellingham is “unbelievable” and that he suits Liverpool “down to the ground” appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

By Max Gallagher (@Maxgallwrites)

The following is a guest article by the aforementioned author – linked above – and is not necessarily representative of opinions held by anyone at Empire of the Kop…

Was this the game of the season? It sounds like a big call but I was already convinced after four minutes. The game had barely begun and it already had the stamp of a seven-goal thriller. James Milner (yes, James Milner) had a lovely left-footed shot on target and Trent Alexander Arnold had a lovely left-footed shot on target. It was all systems go. This was a game played at such a frenetic pace that the doors on my advent calendar started opening by themselves.

By half-time, the stats suggested Liverpool had dominated, and yet that old saying springs to mind – lies, damned lies, and playing a high line is fucking dangerous. Liverpool could have easily been five-nil down. Tottenham had the best of the chances, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli wasting glorious opportunities to pour cold water on the visitor’s vim.

It was Spurs who took the lead, at a time when it looked like their more solid and experienced midfield was starting to dominate. A free-kick in a dangerous area was headed out but only as far as Tanguy Ndolembe who played a through ball to Harry Kane, the Englishman allowing the ball to beat him and making mince pies out of Ibrahima Konate and Alisson Becker.

Liverpool recovered their composure and, despite the obvious grit and organisation that Antonio Conte has instilled in this team, started to probe. Mo Salah thumped a right-footed half volley into the body of Hugo Lloris, and the Frenchman’s left knee served as an adequate riposte to Trent Alexander-Arnold attempting the same intrusion. Could the young Scouser become the first right-back to score 100 goals for his club?

The game fizzed and sparkled, and Liverpool became Liverpool again. The only downside of this performance was perhaps the first signs that James Milner is mortal. At 146-years-old, he is allowed to have the odd bad game. And tonight, it was well compensated for by the presence of Tyler Alonso Morton, adding class and vision to Naby Keita’s spics and stomach. Kane should have seen red for an awful studs-up challenge on Andy Robertson, and Diogo Jota, fouled in the box, saw one of the most obvious claims for justice turned down since OJ Simpson tried on those gloves in a Los Angeles courtroom.

The equaliser, whilst not quite predictable, had the hallmarks of everything that was coming, and everything that Liverpool and Jota do best. Breaking from their half, there was the usual interplay down the left-hand side before a lovely ball found the Portuguese international unmarked. But somehow, he’s always unmarked. That can’t be a coincidence, can it? For a player of his stature, his prowess in the air is remarkable. Accuracy, power, and a strange technique that makes him look slightly childlike as he bobs his head forwards. Inevitably though, it’s always into the top corner. Half-time. Can this game get any better?

In the second-half, Spurs were at it again. They picked apart Liverpool’s defence too easily and should have scored but for a wonder save from the Reds’ No.1 when Dele Alli cut back to Harry Kane. The England skipper should have buried, but the Brazilian’s anticipation was outrageous. Flinging himself forward, his cat-like paw came out and blocked as the open goal beckoned.

70 minutes gone and Spurs were now looking strong and ambitious until suddenly the narrative changed. A strong penalty appeal was turned down at one end when Alli fell from a push in the back by Alexander-Arnold, and Liverpool broke. Salah could not convert a cross to the back post with Hugo Loris saving well, but when the Liverpool full-back appeared majestically at the other end of the pitch, he hooked the ball across the six-yard box to Robertson who headed into the empty net.

The statistics pop-up showed that Liverpool had had 18 chances to Spurs’ eight, but something didn’t feel right. Within minutes the London-based outfit would teach Hublot and Opta to mind their own fucking business. A clever run from Son in behind left Joel Matip for dead and Alisson rushed from his line. His anticipation, Liverpool’s saving grace so many times in this game, and this season, was here his undoing. Any touch on the ball would have eliminated the danger, but instead it drifted through the keeper’s legs like the ghost of Christmas present. Son gratefully accepted the gift and slotted into the empty net. It was cruel on Alisson, who otherwise might have been man of the match.

With 10 minutes to go, Andy Robertson was sent off and the game took on a different complexion. Liverpool now had to defend their point, but it was telling that in the closing minutes, it was Liverpool who had the better chances and showed the most urgency, whilst Spurs were happy to run the game down. A draw, in the end, seemed fair.

So many talking points. So much drama. What a game. Two years ago, this fixture was described as the worst European Cup final in history. It may be too late to make up for that, but both teams showed their class here. For Liverpool fans, a huge positive has to be their ability to compete even with so many senior players missing. They took the game to Spurs from the off and were it not for that goalkeeping error, and some contentious refereeing decisions, they would have taken all three points.

My take-home memory from the game was the performance of Tyler Morton, who looks a better prospect than Curtis Jones. Which makes him a very good prospect indeed. And watching Jota head the ball of course. I just want to watch him head the ball all day on Christmas day. There are lots of reasons to believe that this Liverpool team will be right in the mix at the very end of the season- whenever that turns out to be.

@Maxgallwrites

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