HAVING to win to stand still is what we had to do. And it’s demoralising. At kick-off at Anfield yesterday Liverpool trailed Chelsea by nine points at the top of the league. The timing of the fixtures meant there had been no opportunity closing what was a six-point...
CHELSEA played. And won. Merry Christmas. Manchester City played. And won. Merry Christmas. Arsenal played. And won. Merry Christmas. For those of you still mildly concerned Manchester United played and won. Merry Christmas. (Quietly United are genuinely playing very...
Simon Mignolet 8 Very unlucky with the goal, had no right to get anything on it and going backwards — was always a hard ask. His kicking was sound and made a very good, and match changing, stop with his feet that would’ve made it 2-0. Nathaniel Clyne 6...
I’M penning this note on Boxing Day 2016. George Michael is dead. Rick Parfitt is dead. And Bobby Firmino’s been busted on a DUI. To put a top hat on it all, there’s no game today. It feels like the end of days. It’s been over a fortnight since Anfield was last...
GEORGINIO Wijnaldum is a prime example of how football can split opinion. The Dutchman, playing in a role envisaged for him by Jürgen Klopp, has been a revelation in Liverpool’s midfield. However, not everyone thinks so – yet. Even those who appreciate him whisper...
I WAS going to write this piece predominantly on the euphoria of Sadio Mane’s goal on Monday night. It has been said many times since, but there really is no better way to reaffirm your own title credentials than inflicting yet more unbearable anguish in the dying...
SORRY it’s late. I’ve been in the post office. You all bought loads of T-shirts and Christmas subscriptions. Which is very kind of you, but did rather get in the way of, well, just about everything else. It’s not too late to talk about Everton...
IT’S easy to have fun when the sun’s shining. There’s nothing better than having a pint in a beer garden when the sun’s beating down on you, having a laugh with your mates. I’ve got no idea if it was actually bright and sunny when Liverpool last won a trophy, but in...
ALL wins are equal, but some wins are more equal than others. The nominal value of a League victory never changes. The same amount of points were awarded to Liverpool last night as they were to, say, the Sunderland game. Three. No more, no less. You don’t get bonus...
IT simply doesn’t get any better than that. Just when you’re telling yourself that it’s a tough game, a hard place to go, a point is a decent result and eight points to Chelsea is a gap that can be bridged, Sadio Mane pops up and taps the ball into an empty net. Joel...
Podcast explaining the theory behind the statistics used in football, looking at Wolves, shot data and the wider picture from Matchday 18.
Neil Atkinson is joined by Josh Williams.
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