Neil Atkinson’s post-match review after Burnley 0 Liverpool 3 in the Premier League at Turf Moor with The Reds in the driving seat for top four…
THIS isn’t simply about qualifying for the Champions League. It’s about trying to win the Champions League.
Liverpool, the very mortal Liverpool, the wounded Liverpool, are now unbeaten in nine in the league. They’ve won seven of them. Other than Manchester City that’s a run which stands comparison with any nine-game run from any side over the course of the campaign. The two they haven’t won in that run have come by virtue of late equalisers and Newcastle’s, at the very least, was harsh given Liverpool’s chances.
The point that matters is that Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe. In normal circumstances they could well be on the verge of being acclaimed as the best team in Europe.
The reason to qualify for the Champions League given by so many is the money. In a season where everyone is determined to discuss money in football as a negative, this drum will be banged. That is the normal reason to want to qualify. Not for Liverpool. The reason why it is imperative that Liverpool qualify for the Champions League is so that Liverpool can win the Champions League. There is no other game in town.
That now goes to the last day but is as near as being in Liverpool’s hands as it plausibly could be before a ball is kicked. The 0-3 winning scoreline means that for goal difference to become a factor Leicester would have to win by four more goals than Liverpool do or alternatively Liverpool lose 0-4 and Leicester lose 1-5. It’s best to be aware of all the possible eventualities.
Imagine being a football player. One, Thiago Alcantara, is a reigning European Champion and is tonight, by some distance, the best player on the pitch.
He came to Liverpool to end his career winning the highest honours playing for a legendary club. He wants those European nights and tonight he showed (yet again, frankly) why he is worthy of them. He was an absolute delight to watch.
Again, the biggest flaw in his game is the extent to which his teammates don’t anticipate his brilliance. His technique was incredible. He looked after the ball brilliantly. He won his battles. He scrapped. The game was his. Next season will be too.
Another – Nat Phillips isn’t a European Champion. He spent last season playing football a division below Alcantara and at times he looks like that is the case. But he battles his way through moments. He creates and then solves his own problems. If Liverpool pull this off, this run, ending the season with this centre-back partnership they currently have, then they will have had to have been brilliant.
And these two centre backs will have had to be brilliant in their own way, against their own current level. Repeatedly tonight both Phillips and Rhys Williams create problems for themselves but then they solve those problems.
One of the things about Jurgen Klopp has always been he is a great manager, a great educator of his players about what to do when mistakes are made. Since 2015, Klopp’s Liverpool have been marvellous both profiting from and dealing with mistakes. These two centre backs could well be his finest hour.
They are crucially so relaxed when things go wrong, I suspect Jurgen has looked them in the eye and made it clear he expects things to go wrong. That bit is on him. What happens next is what defines you.
It’s easy to get bleary eyed. As observed earlier in the week, since Jurgen Klopp arrived Liverpool have taken every season to the last game with the exception of the season where they win the league. If this, all this, isn’t a metaphor for life then what is? Things go wrong. What happens next is what defines you. Further, The Reds have yet again won when we can go for a drink. Indeed, they have won when hugging is allowed.
Things go wrong. What happens next is what defines you. I’m completely committed to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having a big season next season for The Reds. I’m into all of these lads, into all of their stories, all of their professional lives, all of their special moments being Liverpool special moments. It makes little sense not to be.
Some will come and some will go because this is football. But they have been and will always wear a cloak of being ours for the most special time. The last five years has been the most special time.
And there is no reason for it to stop. Chamberlain scores. Phillips arrows his header. Roberto Firmino arrives emphatically and Norris is left defenestrated.
Things go wrong. What happens next is what defines you. And you get a good review and then you get a bad review, but don’t get suckered either way because none of them know you. I’ll hold off on the hors d’oeuvres, that’s not what I’m in it for, I only want what I deserve, I want no less, I want no more.
Liverpool more than any other team in the country get good reviews and bad reviews. But currently more than any other team in the country, weirdly, strangely, deserve to take their place in the biggest of competitions next season. One more push in front of 10,000, in front of 10,000 friends, 10,000 lovers, 10,000 to represent us all in every kick, in every moment.
Let’s all remember that things go wrong. Things have gone wrong. Things will go wrong. What happens next is what defines us. I only want what we deserve, I want no less, I want no more.
I want one more.
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“The narrative has been about the teams around us dropping points but if you look at the form table we’re top.”
“Chelsea and Leicester have performed as you’d expect. It’s Liverpool that have kept going.”
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Yes! Well said. Let’s get that one more now. Let’s finish this properly.
“These two centre backs could well be [Klopp’s] finest hour. Yes.
Much of the conversation going into this match was whether he’d put Fab in the back. Part of me thought that would be the sound, conservative move. But most of me wanted Klopp to send Rhys and Nat out there to do the job, to tell them that he believed in them, whether they did or not (and whether he did or not). You’ve nailed it that he didn’t expect perfection: He expected solutions. This was a brilliant night for all three.
You been on the disco biscuits again Neil?
Nah,in all seriousness this has been by far the most exciting part of the season and almost worth what we have had to watch earlier.
Nat Phillips is becoming everybody’s favourite player and has earned the right for a cheeky contract in my eyes.
Up the reds!!
I wonder if we are seeing the “re-invention” or re-moulding of Chamberlain as a Firmino-style forward – false nine. He has the energy, skill, ability. He is a bit more mobile and pacier than Bobby. Looks like he is two-footed which would be no bad thing. His goal was something we have been missing. Not as good in the air as Bobby but who is? He could be a threat in the box and on the break.
And we know Jürgen loves a redemption story.
Special, Neil … again!
Just want to mention that I think the whole team are doing their bit defensively. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mo work so hard.
” the biggest flaw in his game is the extent to which his teammates don’t anticipate his brilliance.”
Nope. Not having any of that. Thiago had an overall disappointing season. In the last few weeks he was consistently on a good level. But let’s not pretend that his tackling wasn’t horrific and his passes went awry so many times. That has nothing with others not anticipating.
There was a reason he wasn’t selected in the 2nd leg against Real.
Fab and Hendo behind him as well as VVD and Joel/Gomez as stability will help him to thrive. Thiago is a luxury player. He would not walk into a Fab-Hendo-Gini midifeld. Not in a million years.