Our weekly review of the good, the bad and the potentially awful ugly at the world's favourite football club. Liverpool FC.
The Good
This week, our element of joy comes with the end of another insipid, boring and frankly embarrassing period of international football. The sentiment stems from being spared seeing the dire England eleven for the next month or so . Frankly I've given up watching England. The team - regardless of personnel - never fails to serve up the same old drivel. Their performances make dinner at Fawlty Towers look like tea at the Ritz.
Nice to see Daniel Sturridge on the scoresheet though, notwithstanding the fact that his "ball-greedy" tendencies get worse and worse. It's understandable why Jürgen Klopp doesn't rate him that much. Jamie Carragher rightly told the Echo this week he felt the ex-Chelsea and Manchester City forward's future is likely away from Anfield.
The other upside from the international break is that no Liverpool players with the exception of Gino Wijnaldum came back injured. Fortunately the Dutchman's problem is not as bad as first feared.
The Bad
The pick of the bad this week is the Robbie Savage piece in the Mirror about what is actually a good point. Liverpool confirmed they will introduce a salary cap on younger players' contracts to curb the trend of excess in remunerating unproven players. In addition, the main aim in my opinion is to weed out the Raheem Sterlings and Jerome Sinclairs. Both having left the club following disputes (ultimately) over money.
In fairness to ex-Manc, Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Birmingham City (and a couple of others) player Savage, he put across an articulate account of his time at Manyoo with Beckham, Nevilles, Scholes etc. and why the kids need to achieve first. All worthy stuff. How young players now have big money without even s handful of appearances for the first team. However, it was his closing that made me laugh.
"I hope it doesn’t cost them the next Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher..." What utter sh&te that is! Both of these players would have played for Liverpool FC for half they're salaries. Same goes for the likes of Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes at Manyoo. These guys loved their clubs over money. Absolutely no question. The chance to pull on the shirt meant more to them than cash. Herein lies the point.
Liverpool are trying to identify the lads with this spirit. This desire. Not to rip them off, but to have players who genuinely LOVE the club and what it stands for. These players are the ones you can rely on in the long term. That will give you that extra 5% out of love for the club and not the next buck.
The Potentially Awful Ugly
There was a time when football had more of a conscience than it does now. Games were all played at the same time in the same day - to avoid - inappropriate, speculative behavior from players and punters alike. Games were also officiated by neutral personnel. At least in terms of their geographical base. Not so these days. The Football appointment of Manchester based Anthony Taylor for the Liverpool v Manchester Utd. game tonight has proved to be a controversial one.
Taylor purports to be a fan of non-league Altrincham FC. This may well be true, and even though the Manchester United fan base spreads far and wide (not as far as LFC's I hasten to add), it would have made common sense to have given the game at least to someone from a neutral area and avoid the inevitable suspicion. Another example of the ineptitude of the ruling body of English football. Why do something easy when you can simply cock it up?!
Tonight's game promises to be a thriller and given the form of Liverpool so far this season, it's easy to understand their being favourites. No doubt, José Mourinho will park the bus and try to nick a goal via a set-piece to take advantage of their hosts weakness at set pieces and the lack of a recorded clean sheet in this campaign.
Controversial it will be. Tasty? You bet. Will Taylor have a good game and avoid hogging the headlines? I certainly hope so. Overall, my hope is Liverpool FC will be doing doing just that.
Follow Ben on Twitter @MrBengreen
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