🔴 EOTK INSIDER 🔴: Neville claims Liverpool are going backwards, Trent criticism... and more! ✍️
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“I was at the game on Saturday, Liverpool v Chelsea, and I said after the game – sometimes you can’t put your finger on it [but] something’s not right,” Monday Night Football host Gary Neville spoke of the Merseysiders in August.
“Not bad. There’s no massive spirit issue, or the manager falling out with players. Nothing like that.
“[Jurgen Klopp’s] not got that money [to improve the side]. He’s having to deal with a team who are a good team but look like the team that needed a boost.
“There are no massive problems at Liverpool. I’m not saying it is broken. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
“But I don’t think they have got the momentum with them at this moment. They are just plateauting. I’m not sure Liverpool can get to first. I don’t think they will get above [United] this year.”
You almost think half of Jurgen Klopp’s team talks are done for him when you hear how many pundits have not only written off Liverpool at the start of the season but continue to do so despite their strong start.
The drop-off last term following an injury crisis of, quite frankly, ludicrous proportions undoubtedly has firmly lodged itself in the memory of commentators; a remarkable feat considering that the Reds had, in consecutive seasons, secured the two most coveted trophies (one of each) in club football.
We haven’t strengthened appropriately in the summer (that’s our view, at least), fair enough. We can understand the concerns arising from our lack of business beyond Ibrahima Konate.
However, to hold any doubts over this Liverpool side’s title credentials after they’ve secured nine points and advanced to the next stage of the EFL cup in nine days is, it has to be said, absolutely bonkers.
The point will be fairly made that you can’t judge a side until after ten games - what better test to solidify this claim than the upcoming meeting between Klopp’s outfit and league title holders Manchester City?
Either side of domestic and European cup fixtures, the Cityzens have looked a little shaky, a little unreliable.
We’d expect this to change over the course of the campaign, as City often have a knack of finding devastating form at the right time in the season.
However, in the meantime, Liverpool look up for the challenge, despite the worryingly familiar sight of injuries creeping up on us like the ghost of October past.
With our fortunes eventually turning upside down following the precipitating injury to key man Virgil van Dijk at a similar stage of the season, Klopp will no doubt be keeping his fingers crossed that our midfield doesn’t take a further pummeling.
We’re owed the good fortune in that regard but we’ll just have to wait and see how the chips fall.
In the meantime, we’ve got some solid backup options who can do a job against the likes of Brentford and FC Porto.
Though, we certainly wouldn’t turn our noses up at the possibility of Naby Keïta returning to the first-team squad in time for our meeting with Manchester City.
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#Ep13 of The Red Nets Podcast: Gary Neville’s ludicrous Liverpool claim, who comes in for an injured Thiago… and more!
A few Liverpool stars caught the eye in our 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend, with Sadio Mane notably scoring his 100th goal for the club. Despite the Reds securing a trio of difficult wins in a short space of time, however, one Sky Sports commentator couldn’t help but put a dampener on Liverpool’s title hopes.
Liverpool star had 'tears in his eyes' when Harvey Elliott suffered his Leeds injury
Harvey Elliott’s injury was a difficult one to watch for his teammates, as Liverpool fans can imagine. Jurgen Klopp’s built an exceptionally close-knit team, something Pepijn Lijnders was keen to emphasise when discussing the emotional impact of the teenager’s injury on the squad.
Michael Owen accuses Naby Keïta of being a 'slow-burner' after productive half-hour Crystal Palace cameo
No matter what some do, it’s difficult to please everyone. That’s true of Liverpool and also Naby Keïta, with Michael Owen finding time to critique the No.8 after coming on against Crystal Palace and registering THAT wonderful long-range effort. In fairness to the former striker, our Guinean international has once again been struck by injury, but is it generally time we cut him a break?
And last but not least…
One element of Trent’s game sometimes lets him down… but the problem is nowhere near as bad as some think
We’ve seen Gareth Southgate’s experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold crash and burn, which one might have thought would have vindicated Jurgen Klopp’s argument about the stupidity of converting the world’s best right-back into a midfielder. Yet, it seems to have invited bizarre debates over the extent to which the Academy graduate polarises neutrals, with his defensive work cited.