Liverpool have bucked the trend, claiming they have plenty of money to spend. The injury list grows ever longer, the prospect of not achieving could grow longer. Today Crystal Palace came through Anfield's gates - and left with the points on a plate. The good, the bad and the ironic. A week reviewed at the world's favourite football club, LFC. The Good
News coming out of Anfield suggests that Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool are looking to spend in order to beef up the currently depleted squad. It's no shock, following injuries to Jordan Henderson, the absence of Sadio Mané and the club's failure to replace Mamadou Sakho, the team has fallen short at the business end of the season.
Klopp has described recent talks as "very positive" so he clearly feels there is progress being made. However without wanting to p*ss on anyone's parade. I do have my reservations.
Many a year before now, the club has been hot on the heels of some game-changing transfer, only for it to hit the rocks and said game-changing player went off and changing the game elsewhere.
According to the Liverpool Echo Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt, Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita and Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk are all among those on Klopp's "wish list". All good players. Let's see what happens. I'd prefer the manager kept his cards closer to his chest - in the time-honored Liverpool tradition - and let the outcome of transfer talks to the talking.
The Not Bad
As there's nothing really bad per se this week - apart from Daniel Sturridge being injured again, which doesn't count as it's same old, same old - so I've stuck "not" before it. Hardly genius but it works. So hopefully, will the club's new CEO appointment.
Peter Moore will soon assume his role as new Chief Executive Officer replacing Ian Ayre who will depart for pastures new. What's interesting is the role the new man will be taking up rather than the role the old incumbent leaves.
The reshuffle of the senior roles at the club should lead to some improved fortunes on and off the pitch. Moore will not take any part in transfer proceedings as his predecessor did which can only be a good thing for the Liverpool. This means he will focus on business more than football. An area that many would agree, the club has often fallen short innocer recent years.
Moores previous roles include senior positions at Microsoft, Sega, Reebok and more recently Electronic Arts (or "EA Sports... It's in the game") as ageing gamers will recall. From a business perspective, his experience of dragging ailing businesses into a competitive position is exactly what Liverpool Football Club needs.
The Ironic
It's like rain on your wedding day, a free ride when you've already paid... A striker that didn't fit your style of play, only to return and score two goals one day... Isn't it ironic? A different take on Alanis Morissette's song, but you catch the drift. Christian Benteke reminded Liverpool this afternoon that it wasn't just stupid business to have paid Aston Villa £32.5m for him, only to be sold a season later for £30m. It wasn't the best footballing decision either.
Decide they did and the Belgian showed why it was such a bad move. The Reds' bogey team, led by the wily Sam Allardyce - the bogey manager, strolled into Anfield and strolled out with the spoils, against a very poor Liverpool side. Coming from a goal down to win 1-2. They say stats can be taken to prove any point. Only one shot on goal - at home - in 90 minutes can only prove one thing. The hosts simply weren't good enough.
Liverpool are now limping across the line this season. Speaking of which (and to be fair), the team's most reliable performers are out injured. Adam Lallana- out. Sadio Mané - out. Jordan Henderson - out. Those in addition to Lucas Leiva and Joel Matip who despite playing today, were clearly not fit enough from what I saw. Klopp's team are currently top of the injury table with 10 players out. At least their first in something right now.
With the absentees in the team, it would be a nailed on certainty for the top four. However, a look at the bench today shows just how bad things are. Only one player over 23, and that was Alberto Moreno at 24... Need I say more? This is not the match day squad of a top-four side, so if Liverpool do secure fourth spot, it'll be a HUGE relief. Not to mention fortunate, as the current players available are short of the standard required.
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