LIVERPOOL THRASH BOURNEMOUTH IN A NINE GOAL THRILLER

 Having drawn two and lost one of their first three games, Liverpool were under pressure to win at all cost if they are to compete for the prestigious premier league title.

                   Photo credit: Liverpool  FC

From the blast of the referee’s whistle, Liverpool were on the front foot. The Anfield crowd were behind the players front onset. The boost from the crowd, the sheer hunger from the player resulted in a blistering start from Liverpool.

The first goal was registered in the 3^rd minute by a Luis Diaz header. Three minutes later Harvey Elliot add to the tally with a beautiful curler. It was all Liverpool with the pressing, hunger, and zeal.

Alexander-Arnold made it three for Liverpool in the 28^th minute before Roberto Firmino added the fourth after three minutes. At this point, Bournemouth were no match for Liverpool. Van Dijk scored Liverpool’s fifth minutes before halftime. It was poetry in motion from Liverpool in the first half. The last time Liverpool led 5 nil at half-time at Anfield was in 1958.

 

The tempo of the game dwindled in the second half after Liverpool had scored their sixth goal kind courtesy an own goal. At this was a walk in the park for Liverpool. Firmino scored his second and Liverpool’s Seventh in the 62^nd minute.

Klopp introduced Kostas Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic and James Milner in the 70^th minute for Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino. 

Fabio Carvalho scored his first goal for Liverpool in the 81^st minute and Liverpool eighth. Luis Diaz scored his second of the game and Liverpool’s ninth in the 85^th minute and it was all Liverpool until the end of the game.

This was Liverpool’s first 9 nil win since 1989 when they beat Crystal Palace 9 nil.

SOUTHAMPTON VS MANCHESTER UNITED MATCH REPORT

 Southampton and Manchester United opened match day 4 of this weekend of premier league actions. United started the brighter side of the two but Southampton grew into the game as the play went on.

In the first half of the game, Manchester United created three chances but were unfortunate not to bury them. Southampton had bodies on the line to clear every shot on target. The superiority in possession in favour of Manchester United illustrated how superior they were in the first half even though Southampton had some threatening counterattacks.

In the second half, Manchester United continued where they left off. Their efforts were rewarded in the 55th minute with a goal from Bruno Fernandes. United’s first away goal on the road since April this year.

Southampton upped their tempo after falling behind and there was an appeal for a penalty in the 58^th minute which was reviewed by VAR and was not deemed a penalty. Southampton looked the dangerous side in the second half. 

Erik Teng Hag’s introduction of Casemiero and Fred gave United numbers in midfield and behind the ball. Southhampton’s best chance was in the 93^rd minute but the effort was cleared off the line by Diogo Dalot.

Manchester United held on to win their second match of this season. Their first back-to-back win since February and United’s Second clean sheet since in fifteen games.

There were three yellow cards in the game all going to Manchester United.  Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Fred received were yellow carded.

WHERE IS IT GOING WRONG WITH LIVERPOOL?

In the past few years, Manchester City and Liverpool have set the pace in the English Premier League. Howbeit, this season appears to be indistinct for Liverpool. Even though, it is just three matches played.

Liverpool are seven points behind Arsenal and five behind City, a situation they will not be proud of I believe. Three things come to mind when looking at Liverpool’s horrendous performance this season; Klopp’s 433 formation, Mane’s exit, and the Midfield dilemma.    

The 433 formation has been Klopp’s preferred formation over the last three to four seasons even though there have been in-game formation changes.  Liverpool have thwarted teams with this formation and have won some titles with it. Nevertheless, I fear teams especially those in the premier league have figured it out and I believe it’s high time Klopp changed the formation.

Mane’s exit came as a surprise to many Liverpool supporters although I believe Klopp and Liverpool were in the known. Mane’s last two season at Liverpool was not one he could boast of as a player in terms of performance. There were highs and lows in his performances but Mane was key to the Liverpool attack. Last season for instance, when he was deployed as the false nine, he produced some astounding performances. Players do come to football clubs and go but clubs must prepare for the departure of instrumental players. As to whether Liverpool were prepared for Mane’s departure is a story that would unfold but with time.

Liverpool’s midfield has been under severe scrutiny for some time now. Their midfield options look depleted anything there is an injury. It is easy to admit Liverpool’s midfield is made up of talented players; most of them are injury prone. One can talk of Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita who are prone to injuries. Signing a midfielder should have been a priority, unfortunately; Klopp claims to be happy with his squad once again. Clearly, Liverpool’s midfield lacks creativity, and this has been proven in most of their games. Aside from Thiago, and largely Fabinho and Keita there is no creativity in midfield for Liverpool. Whether Klopp is satisfied with his squad or not he needs that creative midfielder who can change the fortunes of a game with incisive and instinctive passing.

The season is young and Liverpool would definitely improve on their abysmal performance. They would have to work their socks off to be in the title race. I am not writing them off the title race but to win the premier league requires more than just passing the ball around and from side to side. Liverpool have a good manager in Jurgen Klopp and their fans can trust in him to turn things around sooner than later.

DOUBTERS TO BELIEVERS

Liverpool fans, are you believers now?
Believe is trust. Trusting something will happen without proof. In Jurgen Klopp's message to Liverpool fans, he said "We must change from doubter to believers".
After taking over from Brendan Rodgers, Klopp led Liverpool to two consecutive finals of which they lost both.

    Klopp in his first season as Liverpool manager

 Achieving a top four feet after taking charge was difficult if not impossible a task for Liverpool. Liverpool ended the 2015/2016 season in eight position. Fast forward three years later Liverpool have qualified for the champions league successively and have been finalist on two consecutive occasions.

Looking at the status of Liverpool now pundits, journalists and football fans from all walks of life now rank Liverpool Football Club as an elite club in European football and the world at large, a force to reckon with.

Three years down the line Klopp's message of changing from doubters to believers has become the embodiment of Liverpool supporters across the globe. Even when Liverpool was down by three goals to Barcelona and all hope was lost, Liverpool supporters still believed and went to the stadium in their numbers to create a surreal and an unbelievable atmosphere.

 What happened after the game is something you don't need to be told of.

Liverpool FC won their first champions league trophy since 2005 and are on the brink of bringing more trophies to Anfield. The unity and camaraderie amongst the players, staff and the supporters is something to behold.

Everyone affiliated to the club is now a believer. There is a dawn of new era for Liverpool Football Club and everyone related to the club must embrace it and keep believing. Klopp has always been the missing piece of Liverpool Football Club all these while. Having him at the club has impacted everyone close to the club on and off the footballing field.

DOUBTERS TO BELIEVERS INDEED!!!!!!

DOUGLAS COSTA: FROM HERO TO ZERO

Football is a game loved by millions of people from all walks of life. It is a game watched by adults and children alike. Every kick and touch of  the ball either makes one happy or bored depending on the side the person supports. From the sublime save of a goalkeeper to the scintillating finish of a forward player.

I have watched footballers with skills and panache anytime they touch the ball and Douglas Costa is no exception. He is a enjoy to watch anytime he is in possession. His pace, fair and the ability to read the game makes him one of the best players on the planet.

Football fans especially children tend to mimic their icons, from how they play to their private lifestyles. This gives footballers a great responsibility of exhibiting good and acceptable attitudes not only on the field of play but also in their surroundings.

I have seen players evince bad attitudes on the field of play. Notable ones include the kicking of a fan by the Eric Cantona, the famous Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 world cup final and the Suarez bite in the 2014 World Cup.

For a player to elbow another and spit into the mouth of the same player is absurd, surreal and bizarre. In their game against Sassuolo, football fans all over the world were dismayed by the attitude and demeanour of  Douglas Costa.

Definitely there must some the opposing player did or said to him that was infuriating and led to such an unacceptable behaviour. A behaviour which has seen him banned for three months. Not only will his attitude affect him as a player, it is also going to affect his team and team mates as well.

I will not chastise him for what he did since I do not know what really transpired between them but will not also condone that kind of attitude.

Footballers and other sports icons must bare in mind that their actions are mimicked by adults as well as children therefore they must be cautious of what they do on and off the footballing pitch and other sporting arenas.

HENDERSON: THE PLAYER THAT DIVIDES OPINIONS

Jordan Henderson has just signed a new contract at Liverpool. Instead of a joyous reception from all Liverpool fans, the news has rather divided the fan base. For some he deserves it, to others he isn't up to Liverpool standard.

If he really isn't good why has he survived under three different managers? There must be something about the Liverpool captain that has seen him pull through at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers had this to say after making him captain of Liverpool, “Once I saw him grow and develop as the vice-captain then I felt pretty sure that this would be the season he could be the captain”.  Jordan Henderson was made Liverpool captain after Steven Gerrard departed the club in 2015.

Many thought his reign as captain was over due to the introduction of Jurgen Klopp in October 2015 but Klopp has kept faith in him as captain. Klopp had to go to extent of managing his captain to avoid his recurring ankle injury.

Is there something he brings to the team that some supporters are not witnessing  both on and off the field?  To be honest, the Liverpool captain sometimes puts in wonderful performances and at other time he appears to be off rhythm. It must be also noted that, he puts in his best any time he is called upon. 

The arrival of Fabinho and Naby Keita in the summer meant there would be competition for places in midfield. This competition has seen the Liverpool skipper relegated to the bench starting only one of the last five matches and coming off the bench four time. 

The surprise rise of Gini Wijnaldum this season has seen summer signing Fabinho yet to make an appearance for the Reds while the Liverpool captain finds it difficult to make the starting eleven.

I would say on his day Henderson is unplayable but if he can find consistency in his game he will be one hell of a player for Liverpool. For now he is just an average player who is giving his best to keep his team moving. I know Henderson to be a hardworking player, if he keeps working hard he'll soon find his form and become key player for Liverpool just like in 2013/2014 when Liverpool narrowly lost the the title due to his suspension.

ARE ARSENAL IN FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL UNDER UNAI EMERY?

Life after Arsene Wenger did not start well for the Gunners. Loosing their first two matches to Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. Some football fans were quick to write off the Unai Emery era. In sincerity it may not be their fault. Arsene Wenger has never lost his first two matches of any Premier League season.

One could have easily said "new manager same old Arsenal" but things are changing very fast and in the right direction as well.

After match day 4, it seems Unai Emery is now getting his tactics right and Arsenal have won their last two games even though they had to fight to the end in their last game before the international break.

Unai Emery's era has seen the reborn of a player like Alexandre Lacazette. He has thrived in all the games he's played under Unai Emery even when coming on a substitute. Winning two matches out of four isn't a bad start and Arsenal fans can relax and enjoy Unai Emery's treat.

After last week's game I personally feel the Gunners will prove a tough opposition in the coming weeks and other club's must be wary of them.

Whether they can keep up with other top sides in the Premiere League or not, it's only time that can tell. For now Gunners relax and enjoy it game by game.