THIS is Daniel Sturridge’s 10th season as a first-team footballer at a Premier League club. He has started just 94 league games in that time. But there are circumstances and dynamics that contribute towards a dubious statistic that makes Fabio Aurelio or Daniel Agger...
DEJAN Lovren. Two words that have spread fear throughout the Liverpool fanbase like no other. When Mamadou Sakho crumpled to the floor as he landed awkwardly contesting a header against Crystal Palace, Anfield drew a deep breath. The lanky Frenchman has had a...
THE League Cup can provide magic from nowhere. This is my favourite thing about it. It can become a laugh — Clinton Morrison showed how that is meant to work; it can spiral out of control — Arsenal can come to Anfield and score six; it can supply a sudden...
AFTER recording yesterday’s episode of The Coach Home, I had a chat with big Blue Dave Downie about Everton’s League Cup tie against Middlesbrough tonight. He was desperate to get up there, but couldn’t find a ticket for love nor money. The...
THE fella driving the bus told me he had sparred with Tyson Fury back in the day as I paid for my ticket to the ground yesterday. He was big enough and hard-looking enough to be believable. “I’m not having him as world champion, mate,” he said. “Just not having it.”...
IN writing about Swansea City you are also writing about Bordeaux. Which is hugely convenient as there wasn’t a review of Bordeaux. There wasn’t a review of Bordeaux because pretty suddenly I wasn’t at all well. Aching joints, sweating profusely,...
ON a blustery day that was tough to watch football in, never mind play in, Liverpool had just enough to get past a disappointingly spirited Swansea side. The Reds started well, but found it harder to create chances as it went on and Swansea bedded in. The goal came at...
PART one of the Jordon Ibe prediction likened him to a lucky packet: the bags of sugary treats that are crowned by a mystery toy. It was hard to tell exactly what secret prize Liverpool would get with the 19-year-old, but you figured it would be exciting. The surprise...
JÜRGEN Klopp revealed this week that he has met Brendan Rodgers since taking the Liverpool job. I can’t help but wonder what Rodgers makes of everything that has happened since he was sacked following the draw at Everton in October. In recent weeks, Klopp has...
A FEW years ago I went to see a shrink about my fear of flying. It was becoming too big of a problem for me. I wanted to take my wife to New York for a big anniversary, but the prospect of long-haul flights was keeping me reticent. I didn’t like myself for feeling...
