IT’S December 1981 and Liverpool, the champions of Europe, are playing Brazilian aces Flamengo in Tokyo. It’s kicking off at about 3am UK time. I’m virtually 15 years old and very excited at the prospect of The Reds being crowned kings of the world. For some reason,...
THERE was a moment when it was suggested that Liverpool wouldn’t even enter this year’s World Club Championship. It would clearly represent a distraction from the main objectives. There will have been pressure from above to make a go of it though, with...
THIS is unchartered territory. The vagaries of our fixture schedule have all but forced Jürgen Klopp into sacrificing a competition. The League Cup is the fall guy. To be fair, it’s used to being the ugly duckling trophy in which the big clubs field their squad...
IF this Liverpool team have a nemesis, it unleashed all of its power for 30 minutes in the Salzburg arena on Tuesday night. The Austrian side are not the best team in Europe, but in bursts can do a very passable impression of it. Jürgen Klopp’s Reds will face bigger...
FOR an optimist, I can’t half talk myself into some negative mindsets. We’re eight points clear at the top of the league with bookies close to closing bets on us for the league. We are beating every thing that moves, and yet Salzburg away terrifies me. Perhaps...
I’VE always measured out my happiness in points and prizes. If Liverpool are winning, things are generally more right than wrong with the world. As a young man I supported a Liverpool team that broadly kept us in a state of perpetual bliss, but down the decades...
THE divide has become a chasm. Where once we nipped and tucked with them, but always emerged top dog, now we are as estranged cousins rather than warring brothers. Everton are not our business and we should not be theirs. Most of my mates though, just can’t let go of...
THE run in starts here. Just 25 games to go. We’ve built the foundations of a title-winning season, now let’s go and complete the thing. Here’s a bold prediction – if Liverpool win their next four in the league they will be champions. Which makes Brighton at...
AS well as being a very good football team, this Liverpool are also a fascinating case study. Klopp’s side are changing appreciations of what is required to win. Liverpool are winning without money. Liverpool are winning frequently in adversity. Winning when below...
THE weeks before the game that follows the international break fortnight are nervy affairs. Continuity, for better or for worse, is broken. The season, pre Christmas, is like watching a movie with numerous, needless, elongated intermissions. They would make little...
Revisiting Arsenal, Plus Brighton v Man City: The Trends
Video explaining the theory behind the statistics used in football, taking a detailed look at Liverpool’s match against Arsenal and Brighton’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.Neil Atkinson is joined by Josh Williams…
