Following hard on the heels of our 4-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Carra, we now anticipate a visit to Anfield for an encounter with the mighty Reds of Liverpool tomorrow. It never rains but it pours, hey?
And after a visit from the Bees of Brentford – which takes on a “must-win” significance for me – we travel to Merseyside yet again to take on Jurgen Klopp’s men in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Four fixtures in a season against the same club isn’t unique of course but it’s quite unusual outside the SPL nevertheless.
To find out what the mood is like behind the Shankly gates, MFW has once again turned to the admirable Tony Evans, who is a columnist for The Independent, a former Football Editor of The Times, a contributor to talkSPORT and Five Live and is heavily involved with Reds website, The Anfield Wrap.
Tony is looking forward to Saturday and here is what he thinks:
“Well, Liverpool and Norwich will certainly have learned a lot about each other this season! This will be an interesting game as Dean Smith is far more pragmatic than Daniel Farke and Norwich now play in a different way. I’ll say what I’ve always said: we won’t change under Jurgen so you’ve got to try and stop us.
“Farke played far too open and the last two times we’ve played you there was no real attempt made to stop the two players who bring us our width, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. We’ll have to see how Dean Smith’s plan works out on the day. He’ll have an idea on how he will aim to stop us and that’s for sure.”
I am a long-time admirer of Mo Salah and was a little surprised when Tony said he’s sure to play on Saturday.
“Salah has such an effect and makes an impact by his off-ball movement alone.
“We’ll be a little bit mindful of the selection but Klopp says that trophies in the bag mean a lot to him and we’ve got a lot of irons in the fire. It’ll be a strong side for sure.” [“Irons in the fire” include the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and a Carabao Cup final against Chelsea: the full set – Martin]
So can you reel in City then?
“Sure we can. We’ve got a game in hand and we’ve still got to play them.
“Of course, we’re fighting on four fronts – but we’ll give it our best shot in every one of them.”
There was the small matter of a Champions League Quarter Final first leg against Inter on Wednesday night. Before the game Tony told us:
“Inter were the first foreign team I ever disliked – it all goes back to a match years ago when allegations of a bent ref were flying around. They have that *second club in a huge city* syndrome.
“It’s really important to be playing that away leg first so we can get them back to Anfield in front of our fans in the second, hopefully with a nice lead as well. We’ve got enough to get past them!” [And the match followed Tony’s script to perfection as the Reds duly won 2-0 with goals from Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah – Martin]
So the inevitable question mate. Can you see us staying up?
“I sure hope you do! Liverpool fans largely want you to stay up. You’re in that mini-league down there with Burnley, Watford, Newcastle and Everton. You’ve got the chance to get a clutch of points between now and April.
“Newcastle have bought badly. KieranTrippier was the best of them but he’s out for the foreseeable and I question the likes of Chris Wood and Dan Burn. The other couple I’ve barely heard of.” [Me neither – Martin].
Can you see us dragging anybody else into it?
“Yes. Brentford and Palace could slide down and maybe Leeds too. I’ve seen a bit of Brentford this season and they’ve not got much about them. Marcelo Bielsa has done okay with Leeds but I’m not sure he’ll be around for that much longer come the end of this season. It’s quite a long time at the same club for him”
As ever Tony and I concluded by discussing a bit of footy philosophy and his definition of what the game means to those supporters who are not merely “consumers” is more eloquent than mine so it should stand alone.
“It’s all about culture, belief and friendship. Football is a vehicle for all these things and goes far beyond the kicking of the ball itself.”
Many thanks as always to Tony Evans who will be back to speak with MFW before we play out the final meeting this season between the Reds and the Yellows, the FA Cup Fifth Round game at Anfield on Wednesday week.
***
UPDATE FROM DEAN SMITH’S 9am PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING
It’s the usual mixed bag from Colney with the worst news being that young striker Adam Idah is out for the rest of the season following knee surgery on a torn meniscus.
That’s a huge blow, but Deano says there are others who can [and must] step up to the plate.
To balance that, Matias Normann is apparently ready for a start.
Back to the bad side of life, Lukas Rupp and Andrew Omobamidele [off to the back specialist once more] have been unable to train this week and are not available and Tim Krul is not expected back *for weeks* as he needs a further injection to his shoulder.
To the positive once more: Ozan Kabak has recovered from his unidentified illness and both he and Christos Tzolis showed up well in a midweek behind-closed-doors friendly, the very existence of which had been kept very quiet until now.
And still no update on Jacob Sorensen.
That’s all, folks.
Hi Martin
A very unusual article but a good read
Liverpool supporters sadly think they are entitled to a trophy every season I hope they get ab OSCAR for all the play acting in and around the penalty area that they do.
Klopp says his side doesn’t get the penalties the deserve, no team deserves a penalty so 8s his game plan for his players to bully and deceive the Ref into giving them decisions, at present city don’t need that as they are have less 50/50 decisions go in our favour.
Early in the season the supporters were up in arms after a late goal against them due to the Ref playing more extra time than was up on the board last night the whistle was blown 30secs after extra time and Salah had a clear shot now they are complaining the Ref did go long enough.
Sadly like the other top so called clubs not one adhere to the rules about approaching the Ref and really bully them into making decisions in their favor and Klopp has a pop every chance he gets then says of course I respect them for the job they do.
I would say to all the rich clubs leave the premiership and set up your super League we will survive without you but how long will the superleague survive without supporters travelling to away games.
I can see ManC winning at least 2 trophies this season possibly 3 they have the best all round squad in the league and the Liverpool squad already have one badge of dishonour more penalties award in one season than any other club.
Onwards and upwards
Hi Alex
I think it’s part of human nature that we all moan when things don’t go our way and this is exacerbated because we have no influence on the pitch whatsoever. From a one-sided referee to a *diver* in the box, all we can do is moan.
Footballers and their fans are passionate people as we all well know and for that reason alone I wouldn’t single out Liverpool in any particular way, either the club or its supporters. It’s about level of expectation and theirs is naturally higher than ours.
As for the super league I would welcome it too, but only as a clean breakaway. I’ve no desire to see 38 games a season with 18 of them potentially rearranged to suit the top six.
Well, top three. Citeh, Liverpool and Chelsea, in that descending order, are head and shoulders above Arsenal, Man U and Spurs.
Cheers
I suppose a supporters life isn’t an easy one.
As city supporter knows no matter how much they would like to see a long list of potential players arriving we know it’s more likely to be a list of our better players leaving.
Unlike the riches clubs in the league who collect players at all levels like stamp collectors do the sell them on for profits.
City are ridiculed by other clubs for their financial stance and yo yoing between the leagues, but we have a club that that we truly support unlike many that only support clubs that win things we live in hope and enjoy the moment and not in expectation and then cry into our cheap Italian Prosecco for our supper rich owners to spend a Prince Andrews ransome on the next big name to get us out of trouble
I think supporters of big clubs have very little time for the *Johnny-come-latelies* who have latched on to them via the TV and have far more respect for followers from, say, Asia or Africa who basically have to choose a team via the media so even go as far as to feel a little bit flattered.
When Liverpool, Spurs or Arsenal rock up at Carrow Road it’s 99% hardcore died in the wool people. Man Utd I am not so sure about.
Liverpool , a good football club , good players , but omg the fans omg . Never responsible for anything , always someone else to blame . Sorry but that’s how I see it .
Hi Bernie
I worked in Huyton quite a bit and got to know some of the lads there pretty well. There were more Evertonians than Reds but I actually went to the last game at the standing Kop with Fergie and his mate Kev and stood with them.
On the Kop.
I know the reputation that has grown up around Liverpool supporters [with the help of a certain newspaper] and maybe it’s justified, but my personal experiences have always been very positive indeed.
Cheers mate – hope Eunice doesn’t come round for tea at yours today 🙂
I suspect the Goat will be on his own up front, especially now that Idah is out for the rest of the season. Which means little threat from us in attack so one way traffic, hope the lads can keep the score respectful. Your season ticket may be going up but at least you should see a few more wins in the Chump next season and the walk home will seem more enjoyable.
Hi Cutty
Yep, agreed. Teemu Pukki is fast becoming a very overburdened capra, as you Latin scholars would say.
I’m not too fussed about the hike in ST prices – I’ve known they would be going up for some time now and therefore wasn’t totally surprised at the increase.
The walk home is something I try to avoid at all costs these days 🙂
Cheers
You nearly gave me a heart attack! The Cup game is before Brentford-if you had been right my brother would have had to change his flight from Panama.
Bad news about Idah, just as he had a suitable role in the team. I don’t hold out much hope that we can get anything out of Saturday’s game. If we’re going to, we definitely have to find a way of stopping Max (or, maybe, Sam) being exposed. Citeh exploitedthis weakness mercilessly and other teams have identified it. I trust S&S to perform some tactical genius.
Ha!
I meant the trip to Southampton on Friday of course. Your bro can rest easy.
RoI manager Stephen Kenny will be equally concerned about Adam Idah.
Only Dean Smith will know whether to play Max Aarons or Sam Byram but I cannot recall Max being *dropped* before.
That doesn’t mean it might not happen tomorrow of course.
Cheers mate
“They have that *second club in a huge city* syndrome.”
I’m sure Tony’s a nice chap, but that sort of patronising sneer seems ingrained in the likes of Liverpool, Man U and Villa fans. I doubt if they even know they’re doing it.
How are City travelling to this one? Having seen video of Man City’s flight failing to land at Ringway the other night I wouldn’t fancy flying in this weather.
Got to have a lot of sympathy for Adam Idah; just as he was becoming effective too. With Omo crocked as well, the ROI manager must be truly hacked off. I wonder if Kamara will be promoted to the bench? I think he’s got more potential than Dickson-Peters (who’s out on loan anyway).
Hi Keith
I could easily have had some light-hearted banter with Tony about that during our chat but I think he was solely considering Inter and their relationship to AC as he said it – he really does not like Internazionale very much at all 🙂
Dean Smith said this morning that we’ll fly if we can find a pilot willing to take us to John Lennon and I am presuming he was jesting although I wouldn’t particularly fancy an internal flight myself this afternoon. KLM have already made cancellations.
Abu Kamara on the bench? Yes I think that’s a very real possibility.
Cheers
Hi Martin,
Shame for Idah but he’ll come through the knee surgery stronger with treatment and rest.
We have Sargent and Pukki up front with Rashica for supply – and maybe this is the moment for Tzolis to step up to the plate? Been a while since we’ve seen him really attack a game – which he was more than capable of doing in Greece!
If Norwich play with the same commitment we’ve seen over the last month or two they’ll give a good account of themselves. They will have to defend like lions, and work hard to frustrate Liverpool’s wide players and midfield.
Here’s hoping, and as someone else suggested somewhere – definitely glass half full here!
COYYs !!
Hi Kev
Tzolis is seen less than a marsh harrier these days.
Maybe his time will arrive as he and Rashica seem to be the only options to stand in for Pukki should the unthinkable happen.
As Tony Evans said we have to cut off the Liverpool supply line.
I can see 10 exhausted outfielders trooping off at the final whistle tomorrow and the subs won’t be filled with energy either. Let’s hope it’s not a case of chasing shadows!
Cheers