RipCordless

A pop-culture consumer who keeps it, by design, in the shallow end of the pool.

Premier League

Liverpool Make History

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It is an interesting time to be a Liverpool supporter in light of their recent history making come-back against Barcelona last Tuesday. Long have I endured the collapse of the club, weak managers, and failed attempts to reach the pinnacle of the Premier League. There have been mistakes, slips, hiccups, and directionless seasons but I remained faithful while echoing, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to my beloved Reds. I still remember where I was the day Liverpool brought in Jurgen Klopp as manager. It was a typical day at work, I was surrounded by the various tasks of the day, and hanging with friends who don’t comprehend the nuances of English tribalism when it comes to domestic football (soccer). They looked at me with mild amusement as I extolled the virtues of a German manager now in charge of Liverpool. They tolerated my exuberance as I rattled on with giddy enthusiasm about how Klopp would change everything. And now, all that blind faith yields results.

Gone are the weak comparisons of Brendan Rodgers to Jurgen Klopp. Dismissed are the mid-table players who once made up the bulk of the roster. Diminished are the doubts of achieving a top-four finish. Jurgen Klopp has done what no other modern era manager could have accomplished — he’s set Liverpool back on a path to greatness. He’s reset the course, redefined the players, and educated the dedicated supporters. By willing his club into the Champions League finals for a second consecutive year, Klopp has established himself as an elite manager at an elite club. And we’re still in with a very minor chance to win the Premier League for the first time this Sunday.

When Barcelona arrived at Anfield on Tuesday, they felt confident. Up 3-0 from their home leg in the Champions League semi-finals, all seemed concluded. Surely Liverpool would roll over and die but not so fast. After a quick start, Liverpool were up 1-0 at the half, then an inspired substitution brought in my favorite player, Gini Wijnaldum, who scored a brace bringing the aggregate level at 3-3. Late in the second half, Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right-back of cheek and courage, took an opportunity and caught the Barcelona defense napping. A quick corner got the ball to Divock Origi who buried it, finishing the game 4-3. In an unlikely but inspiring moment in football history, Liverpool will go to their second Champions League final with a chip on their shoulder from last year’s failure — but I expect a different result this time around.

Liverpool are focused, experienced, practiced and ready for a redemptive chance to lift the cup. Should they win the final on June 1st, it will be the sixth Champions League trophy in club history and path will be forged for a new and exciting chapter in Liverpool red. Meanwhile, check out the intense celebrations and an incredible rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone from the crowd.

Incredible.

UPDATE

When the dust cleared from the season, Manchester City won the Premier League, defending their title, and confirming their status as a top shelf talent. Liverpool finished the season with 97 points, 1 behind City, and locked into second place. All in all, a stunning season and I’m proud to be a Liverpool supporter.

Liverpool with Five Left

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Am I nervous? Of course. Do I think Liverpool Football Club can win the remaining five games left in the 2018/19 Premier League season? Uh, yes. Do I think Liverpool will win the Premier League for the first time since the league was formed 26 years ago? Now that is another matter. Why? Because Liverpool don’t control their own fate. Manchester City, the Pep Guardiola led juggernaut, is currently two points behind Liverpool but have one game in hand. Should Manchester City win all their remaining games, there is nothing Liverpool can do except finish in second place finishers, bereft of the title once again. So you’re saying there’s a chance?!

All it takes for that chance is for Manchester City to slip up. One draw, or loss, and Liverpool are in with a shout — if they have the bottle to remain in first place for the remainder of the season. Tomorrow, Sunday, April 14, is likely an important moment in deciding exactly who will win the Premier League title in 2018/19, because Liverpool face an old foe in Chelsea, the team responsible for “The Slip” and capitulation in Gerrard’s final run at glory. Without a doubt, Chelsea mark the biggest hurdle of quality players (no disrespect intended) remaining in the schedule. Should Liverpool lose, it’s likely over. Should Liverpool win, they remain poised to snatch the title if Manchester City falter.

Truth be told, there’s more going on than simply the Chelsea game. Some Reds look over the Manchester City run-in and eyeball the Manchester United game as a possible hurdle. Not me. You ask any self-respecting Man United fan who’d they’d rather see win the league, every one of them will tell you they don’t want Man City, but despise Liverpool. From where I sit, Manchester United will fold gracefully to City on Wednesday, April 24. The real test for Manchester City will be the week before when Spurs come to town. Hungry for a top-four finish, Spurs may likely be the strongest test of City’s resolve and Liverpool’s chance at daylight. Barring that game, things appears quite comfortable for City on the way to the finish line — much to Liverpool’s chagrin.

My final thought is on of what could have been. Liverpool had a ten-point lead during the holidays but clearly felt the pressure of that lead. No team in Premier League history has managed to piss away a ten-point lead and fail to win the league, since it’s inception. But Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp aren’t used to winning or being in the lead — they are used to being the underdog. Sure enough, they managed to leak points and piss away that lead, finally succumbing the unrelenting pressure of Manchester City. Why?

Honestly, I think Liverpool are running on emotion these days. They ebb and flow, like tidal water, and want it so badly, they can taste it. Meanwhile Man City quietly go about their business as professional winners, dispatching opponents with relative ease on their way to another title. The true difference between Liverpool and Man City is the mechanics of their respective journeys. One team, dressed in powder blue, coldly execute the plan. The second team, dressed in red, are driven by passion. Passion is certainly exciting but may not get it done. And I’ll be devastated.

Post-Match UPDATE

Liverpool 2, Chelsea 0

Pressure is an interesting thing. Something people fold, other thrive. Liverpool continue to deal with the pressure after dispatching their most dangerous opponent, 2-0 on Sunday. Chelsea left without a repeat of five years ago and their hand in preventing Liverpool from lifting the Premier League trophy. Not this time. Salah scored a stunner from the top of the box to secure a two-goal lead. Chelsea had their chances almost immediately and Hazard continues to show his brilliance, thumping one off the post but when the dust cleared, Liverpool resume their position at the top of the league and hope Manchester City stumble just once in the final few games.

Four New Faces at Liverpool

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August 11, 2018, marks the beginning of the 2018/19 Premier League season in England and I cannot remember being this excited about a campaign in a long time. Why? Jurgen Klopp. He arrived at Liverpool almost three years ago and implemented wholesale changes. Brendan Rodgers weak leadership quickly faded as Klopp changed tactics, but most importantly, he slowly changed personnel. I find myself wondering how the recent (top quality) additions to the club will impact the coming season.

Naby Kieta (CM/CAM) wasn’t a surprise because he signed for Liverpool last summer but was allowed to finish his contract at RB Leipzig before his 2018 transfer. A box-to-box midfield talent, Keita looks like the real deal and in pre-season has displayed talent, vision, finesse, and speed. His dogmatic approach to ownership of the midfield will only enhance Klopp’s vision of complete control on the pitch. In tandum with other players, Liverpool’s midfield has taken a big step forward and appears to improve one of the weakest aspects of Liverpool.

Next to arrive was Fabinho (CDM). On the heels of the Champion’s League final loss, Fabinho was signed from Monaco seemingly out of no where — almost as a salve to our wounds. A dyed-in-the-wool midfield enforcer, Fabinho replaces the departing Emre Can (one of my favorite players) with rock solid defensive talent. Though he’s likely going to take a moment to become settled in the English game, Fabinho will be the anchor behind Henderson and Keita which Liverpool’s midfield sorely needed.

Stoke were relegated. Stoke’s best player and someone I really wanted to bring into the fold, has arrive. Xeridan Shaqiri (LW/RW) is an offensive talent. Short, stocky, with tricks and speed, Shaqiri fits the prototypical mold of the speedy attacker Klopp has imprinted upon the Liverpool squad. Trained in the prestigious Bayern Munich academy, Shaqiri has shown flashes of brilliance and class while plying his trade at Stoke but now he’s handed a real test seeing if he can rise to the next level at Liverpool. Personally, I believe he’s a massive talent and will flourish at Anfield.

The final piece of the puzzle centers around something the supporters have been vocal about for some time — the goal keeper. Mignolet was solid but seemed vague in the air. Karius had potential but absolutely fell apart in the Champion’s League final and now appears to be suffering a crisis in confidence. Enter Alisson (GK), the Brazilian national team goalkeeper and now Liverpool’s number one. With cat-like reflexes and presence which drips gravitas, Alisson appears to be the final piece of the puzzle for Liverpool. He instills confidence and creates a foundation of safety so attacking players can focus on their task — going forward and doing damage. In an inspired signing, Alisson is easily the most exciting element of this summer’s transfer window — though Keita may rival the Brazilian in impact.

Truth be told, I don’t expect much else and if the window closes just like this, I’m quite happy. The midfield appears solved. The defense appears solid, and we already know about the attacking talent. Liverpool Football Club are now facing ridicule and harassment, not for being weak, but for having the potential to be stunning. For me, that’s the ultimate compliment — it’s kinda like being accused of cheating when you’re not. The impending season is teasing me with potential. Once this club comes together, I expect to hear continued ridicule from whining opposing supporters.

Screw Man United. Screw ’em.

Four New Liverpool FC faces
Keita, Fabinho, Shaqiri, and Becker
These players will change the face of Liverpool FC this season

Liverpool | The Aftermath

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It’s been a few hours since the 2017/18 Champion’s League Final concluded. Real Madrid won their third consecutive cup fielding a team rich with talent but my heart centers on Liverpool Football Club and what could have been for the Reds.

In the lead up to the game, Liverpool faced a monumental task of dethroning the Los Blancos giant. Pundits and supporters alike said Liverpool have a unique team spirit, a style of play which, on any given day, could keep up with anyone. This season was evidence enough to prove that as Liverpool stopped the Manchester City juggernaut and booted Roma fromt the cup — games few thought we had a chance. Sure, winning the cup would be a long shot. Afterall, Real Madrid’s reputation has been forged in the crucible of numerous cup finals while Liverpool seek to recapture past excellence with players who are vastly inferior in experience.

As the game began, I was understandably nervous but quickly settled as the team played our game. Sharp from the off, the Reds attacked quickly, maintained pressure, and kept their defensive shape … but then the first in a series of mishaps unraveled Liverpool Football Club. Mohamed Salah, the best player in Europe this season with 43 goals, was awkwardly pulled to the ground by Sergio Ramos, a Real Madrid defender. Salah remained on the ground, writhing in pain and eventually tried to continue but his shoulder had been dislocated due to the fall. Salah left the field in tears, his cup final done with an injury which could impact his participation in the World Cup. I was shattered and so were his teammates. When the game resumed, Liverpool looked slack while Real Madrid surged but the Reds somehow managed to hang on to a 0-0 tie going into the half.

I knew Klopp would settle the players, ensuring they were on task and up for a fast paced second half. Sure enough, the second 45 minutes was much more balanced and Liverpool looked up for an exciting finish until Loris Karius … happened.

After collecting a routine ball, he attempted to roll it out to a teammate but a sharp Real Madrid player named Benzema reacting swiftly, sticking out a foot and the subsequent rebound ended in the back of the net. Karius’ mistake put the Reds down 0-1 while Real Madrid celebrated. Impressively, Liverpool remained resolute and clawed their way back into the final with a well executed corner which was pounced on my Mane and buried in the net. Liverpool found themselves tied, 1-1 and for about 20 minutes the energy from both teams promised an exciting, end-to-end finish.

Real Madrid saw the need for an infusion of creative energy with the substitution of Gareth Bale for Isco. Bale didn’t wait and within three minutes of hitting the pitch, he connected with a reverse scissor-kick for the ages. It was a stunning blow, defeating both the defense and Karius in a single moment. I can take nothing away from Bale, the goal was beyond human, and Real Madrid had earned their 2-1 advantage. While that hurt, the next and final goal was the one which shall forever be etched into Liverpool history. Bale, aggressive and purposeful, took the ball in space and from about 30+ yard out, struck a shot right at Karius. It appeared routine, even pedestrian in flight but in a goal keeping error for the ages, Karius misjudged the ball, fumbled it, and sank to his knees in horror as it ended in the back of net. Bale had scored his second and Real Madrid were up 3-1, cup final done and dusted.

Unfortunately, Karius has become the story post-game. Initially he received wave after wave of acrimony but to his credit, Karius has owned the mistakes, has publically apologized (on social media) and is taking his lumps. In an interesting twist, now there are waves upon waves of sympathy for the German but perhaps we should all step back. Ultimately, one question remains: Is Karius good enough to remain between the sticks for Liverpool? Can the attacking and defensive players ever truly trust him again?

With all that being said, the future looks bright for Liverpool under Klopp. The club qualified for Champion’s League play next season and have the beginnings of an electric club. I hope this season’s presence on the European stage will entice high quality players to join Liverpool … and we sorely need both depth and quality to progress to the next level. We need a midfield which can dictate, depth in attack, and the most obvious and glaring issue: Decide if Karius will be our goalkeeper.

Liverpool Set for Defensive Problems

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Well, shit. The Premier League summer transfer window has slammed shut and Virgil Van Dijk remains in Southampton, Phillipe Coutinho remains resolute on leaving the club, and Naby Keita remains at Red Bull Leipzig until next summer. But should we dwell upon the negative? Nah. How about touching on the impact of these decisions but also chat about the success of the 2017/18 summer transfer window?

If you recall, the first signing of the summer was Dominic Solanke, a striker squirreled away on the Chelsea bench. A tall, target player with a nose for goal, Solanke has been nothing short of exceptional since joining the Reds. His positioning, aerial expertise, and vision are already quite polished and I feel as though Klopp is looking for another Robert Lewandowski clone — a BVB player who blossomed under Klopp’s tutelage into one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Perhaps Solanke can develop into a similar player? All in all, a solid addition to the depth of the squad.

Next signing was Mohamed Salah, a blazingly fast winger who played for Roma last season. Salah was a Chelsea player two years ago but just hadn’t sorted out the unique nuances of the Premier League game and thus was sold. This is Salah’s second opportunity and thus far, he has played across from Sadio Mane and the pair look shockingly good flying down the wings. As Klopp has said, it is very difficult to defend against speed — and Salah has speed in rich abundance. As a nice cherry, he can also score thus he remains a solid choice as starter on a weekly basis.

Third signing of the summer was Andrew Robertson from Hull (a relegated team from last season). Robertson plays the much needed LB position and is a natural left-footed player. With a tendency to go forward, Robertson is slightly better defensively than Moreno (the player he’s replacing) but seems more comfortable in that role. For the record, though Moreno has been playing in early season PL games, he continues to look horrendous defensively. Moreno tends to panic, lunges into tackles (in the box) and appears soft in defensive positioning and recognizing runs. We can only hope Robertson develops into a more well rounded LB. Time will tell.

The fourth signing was actually a name pushed around early in the window, Naby Keita, a box-to-box midfield player currently playing for the aforementioned, Red Bull Leipzig. Considered a very good midfield player with extremely high potential, Keita agreed to join Liverpool in the 2018/19 summer window, which is both shrewd and slightly disappointing. Supporters are required to wait before we see his skills on display at Anfield, but it also sends a clear message to the current midfield players that high-level effort is required or Keita will replace them. Don’t get me wrong, Keita will likely replace someone anyway but it doesn’t hurt the mindset of current players. Yes, it difficult waiting but at least it puts a positive spin on next season. I’ll take the future arrival of this highly sought after player as a sign of Liverpool FC intent.

The fifth significant signing of the window was the slightly surprising Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal. The “Ox,” as he’s been dubbed, has been playing a wing-back role on Arsenal but was vigorously pursued by Chelsea during the summer window. Interestingly, Ox declined the Chelsea interest in favor of Liverpool’s “project” (as Klopp calls it). Rumor has it, Klopp offered Ox a midfield role, a place where he prefers to play and thus he jumped at the chance. This signing is actually another excellent addition to the depth of the squad — with potential to positively impact the starting XI.

Enough of the positive, let’s wax negative for a second. There is no doubt the biggest problem for Liverpool is their inconsistent back line. After giving up the second most goals in the Premier League top-6 last season, it appeared to supporters this would be a likely area of focus during the summer window. Strangely, after the Virgil Van Dijk fiasco, the focus appears to have shifted off this priority. The Reds fan-base has been quite shocked by this decision and is concerned defensive liabilities will be exposed time and time again by patient teams. I hold a glimmer of hope Van Dijk will sign in the winter (January 2018) window but that is speculation rather than fact. Meanwhile, I can only hope the available depth of defensive players generally helps the defensive focus. Another, “we shall see.”

The second glaring issue for Liverpool supporters is our Little Brazilian Magician, Phillipe Coutinho. He dropped a transfer request on Liverpool management roughly 24 hours before the first game of the season (which didn’t endear himself to the faithful supporters) because he wanted to move to Barcelona. Honestly, one cannot blame him. When one of the best clubs on the planet want you, it’s hard to say no. Spain, sunshine, and did I mention one of the best domestic clubs on the planet?! Anyway, Liverpool saw fit to decline Coutinho’s transfer request despite being bombarded by high-value offers topping out above £100 million from Barca. Klopp went on record saying Liverpool aren’t a “selling club,” they keep their talent and bring in additional players to improve the quality of the club. Quite a refreshing message but now the transfer window in closed and Coutinho remains in LFC red, now what? Hopefully, Klopp can speak with Coutinho and bring his focus back to Liverpool for one more season. Truth be told, that is likely as good as it is going to get. Coutinho likely won’t be staying beyond the 2017/18 season, irrespective of what happens between now and next summer. Unfortunate but understandable. I know he’s getting a ton of grief from Liverpool supporters, and I should probably join in — but I won’t. I just hope Coutinho comes out and lets the supporters know he’s focused on Liverpool for one more season and looks forward to contributing to the team. That would go a long way to salve the wound created by his early season transfer request.

And thus, the Liverpool FC squad is set for the Premier League campaign from now until January 2018. It should be an interesting run, playing in the PL, the Champion’s League, and other concurrent (less important) championships. Not watching the Premier League? Don’t have a team to pull for? Why not check out Liverpool FC on NBCSN on Saturday or Sunday, see what all the fuss is about.