Liverpool 1 West Ham United 0
The “Scouser in our Team” with a Man of the Match performance and the Reds remain in the Title Race.
The “Scouser in our Team” with a Man of the Match performance and the Reds remain in the Title Race.
I’ve posited the notion in my recent articles that the Reds haven’t had to raise themselves from 3rd gear in their previous 3 league games and the cumulative 9 points collected out of 9, scoring 10 goals in the process whilst conceding only once, but I fully expected them to have to run through the gears today against a tough, hard working West Ham United. In actual fact they rather coasted, again, to another 3 points and barely touched 4th gear let alone a comfortable cruise in 5th or 6th. It mattered not, as despite the late scares Sadio Mane’s opportunist goal on 27 minutes was enough and whilst not a vintage performance it was enough for those valuable 3 winning points and to yet again close the gap on league leaders Manchester City to just 3 points with 11 league games to go.
Luis Diaz was immense again this afternoon, typified by his run on the half hour from penalty area to penalty area that was only curtailed by a crude challenge from West Ham defender Craig Dawson. He was also involved in yet another sweeping move that so typifies the style of play under Jurgen Klopp and after both himself, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane had exchanged quick and precise passes, Diaz curled a beautiful effort just past the post of West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were imperious in central defence for the Reds and given a stiff workout from the “Hammers” central striker Michail Antonio. Twice in 7 first half minutes Antonio forced simple enough saves from Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker but he was a constant pain and threat to a Liverpool defence marshalled by van Dijk and ably assisted by the man mountain that is Konate. Tomas Soucek also pushed Alisson Becker into an easy first half save as West Ham looked the more threatening team to score despite the Reds having 2/3rds possession of the ball and seeming control of the game.
Two further sporadic chances would typify West Ham’s Anfield afternoon: first a pinball style as the ball bounced around the Liverpool penalty that forced a Reds clearance off the goal line, twice in a matter of seconds, before Manuel Lanzini had the clearest chance of all with just 20 minutes remaining. With the ball bouncing around the Liverpool six yard box it was easier for the Argentinian international to score but he contrived to balloon the ball over Becker’s crossbar and despite some latter game half chances and scares, a Liverpool coasting in 3rd gear welcomed the final whistle as well as the thoroughly earned 3 points.
But my “Man of the Match” was local born youngster (who has grown into a man before our Red eyes), Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was the covering Liverpool defender who raced to hook away Lanzini’s goal bound effort from the goal line before repeating the trick mere seconds later as mentioned above. It was his quick thinking as well as his pinpoint quick free kick that set Mo Salah free on the West Ham goal inside 90 seconds but surprisingly Salah’s golden early opportunity was easily saved by Fabianski. Before the first half was concluded Alexander-Arnold would be involved twice more as first his scuffed shot was turned into the West Ham goal by the predatory Sadio Mane for the crucial 1–0 lead before he was the third in a triangle of Liverpool players sweeping forward as together with his Skipper Jordan Henderson and Fabinho he set up an almighty goalmouth scramble that should have seen his team increase their lead. 60 seconds later he was twice clearing from his own goal line before turning his ire on a tardy linesman and the rest of his fellow defenders. It was a true “MOM” performance and further exemplified in the 2nd half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was seemingly everywhere in the 2nd half, either marauding up and down the right flank, coming centrally to dictate play and forward moves and forever springing cross field passes with a beautiful unhurried ease. Fabinho rarely gave the ball away, Henderson was efficient if unspectacular and Andy Robertson never stopped running from his left wing back spot. Naby Keita flickered into life and grows stronger with each game and I wish Sadio Mane would look just a tad happier with life! I’ve long joked that despite his placid, laid back off field nature, on it Mane would start a fight in a proverbial “empty house” if only to get his competitive juices going. Mo Salah was below par today but then again, just take a peek at the mountain top where his form, skill and otherworldly footballing gifts reside. He’ll come good.
He always does.
But this was another 3rd gear win topped off by a magnificent display by the Kopites favourite son and “Scouser in our Team” and the motoring comparison is the highest of praise rather than the condescending slight it may appear to be at first glance. 4 league wins on the spin (11–1 aggregate score) and all as comfortable as can be. A dirty dozen consecutive victories too in all competitions and barring a shocking reverse on Tuesday against Inter Milan, the Reds will be a handful of points from top spot in the “Bread and Butter” of English football as well as in the Quarter-Finals of both the FA Cup and the European Cup.
This is quite some team, perfectly epitomised by today’s comfortable win and the man who stood above all with a man of the match display of constant guile, endeavour and free spirited verve. It was barely a mere shake of a new born lamb’s tail when Trent Alexander-Arnold was a skinny, raw teenager and so eerily reminiscent of another local born Scouser in the Liverpool team, Steven Gerrard. Now aged 22, he’s physically developed beyond all recognition, a regular (or should be) in the England team and one of the first names on every Jurgen Klopp team sheet.
I have long stated that this Liverpool team play “PlayStation Football” and this right wing back, socks around his ankles, desperate local lad and Scouser in the team is the absolute prime example of the ridiculous and never before seen football around the fields of Anfield Road.
Liverpool 6 Leeds United 0
Luis Diaz lights up Anfield as the Reds continue to chase down Manchester City at the top of the League.medium.com
Liverpool 3 Norwich City 1
Thiago and Henderson inspire the comeback that keeps the Reds in the Title Race.medium.com
Burnley 0 Liverpool 1
Through the wind and rain, the Reds grind out an old school win to stay in the Title Race.medium.com