THE expectation and the reality there. Billed as a cup cracker, in theory it seemed at the very least intriguing. Even more so given the Frankenstein’s monster of a Liverpool team, thrown together from a pool of recent loanees, kids and a forgotten man that should...
THERE has been lots of talk this week of the dilemma facing Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool prepare to face Exeter City in the FA Cup third round tonight. The manager is in an almost impossible position with a squad down to the most calcium-deficient of bare bones. Amid a...
LOOKING forward to the FA Cup game against Exeter City? I am. I mean, I’m not going much as I’d like to as the pay days between December and January are long and concerning so I can’t justify the cost or time off work, but I’m looking forward to it all the same....
LAST week I wrote about the excitement and anticipation of an FA Cup semi-final. While there were traditional nerves, I don’t think any of us envisaged such an insipid Liverpool performance; an absolute dog of show. I’ve had a funny feeling for a while — based...
EIGHTEEN months ago, I wrote a piece titled the The Elephant in Midfield, focussing on Steven Gerrard’s lack of suitability to play a defensive midfield role, writes HAL COHEN. His performances in a deep role, defensively at least, were largely covered up by...
WE lost didn’t we. I’m not sure how else to start but that. Sean Rogers spoke very eloquently in the week about getting buy in from players. About having a plan they could all believe in. He said a manager risks putting it all on his own head if you change...
RIGHT. Dreadful collectively. A reminder that this is: a) Subjective. And 5 is alright. b) Done in the immediate aftermath of the game and all I’ve seen is in the ground. c) Not a discussion of formation(s) or set up but just the 12 lads who played more than...
PLAYING semi-finals at Wembley is a joke but here we are and stomachs are starting to flutter as the hours tick down to Liverpool’s last four clash with Aston Villa in London. We asked DAVE WOODHALL, editor of Heroes and Villains, a Villa fanzine that has been...
WELL, it’s rather nice to be writing the first of my Friday columns on the eve of Liverpool’s Wembley weekend. I wrote earlier this week about attending my first FA Cup semi-final in 1980 and I’ve done the sums to calculate this is my tenth. Despite my advancing...
THOUSANDS of Reds will head south on Sunday to watch Liverpool take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi final. We asked four Anfield Wrap contributors to write about a memorable past last-four clash in the competition. MIKE NEVIN: LIVERPOOL v ARSENAL 1980 I DOUBT my...
The Anfield Wrap’s free podcast reflecting on a opening day draw at Newcastle thanks to an injury time Dominik Szoboszlai penalty after the Reds had conceded two sloppy goals with the second Newcastle goal only minutes after Cody Gakpo had dragged Liverpool back in the game.
Also in the show, Neil chats to The Athletic’s Jon MacKenzie about his new book ‘The Spectre of Pep: How Guardiola Haunts Modern Football Tactics’.
Neil Atkinson hosts Beth Lindop, Ian Ryan and John Gibbons
