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Liverpool Half-Season Review

In the 2018/19 Premier League season, Liverpool finished on 97 points, the third highest points achieved in the league’s history but still managed to finish second behind Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp’s turnaround at Liverpool in the nearly four years he’s been their manager has been remarkable.

The champions of Europe came into this season, off the back of their sixth Champions League, knowing they needed to make a statement this year by winning the trophy that has alluded them for so long. Liverpool started their season by winning the UEFA Super Cup, beating Chelsea and setting themselves up for another successful campaign.

After their superb performances last season, the fans expect no less than the Premier League title, as they hope to prevent Manchester City winning the trophy for the third successive year. There’s no doubt that at the start of the season that Liverpool had one of the best teams in the world so there was no concern for the quality of player at the club. No, the concern at the start of the season came due to the sheer number of games that Liverpool would be playing this year.

As well as the domestic competitions that they would be playing in, there was also the added fixtures that came with, the UEFA Super Cup and also, the Club World Cup and, of course, another Champions League campaign. This is far more games than most other Premier League sides and it seemed as if this could’ve been an issue.

However, despite this worry, Liverpool currently reside at the top of the Premier League table, 13 points clear of Leicester City in second place. A remarkable start to the season with the term currently unbeaten. Klopp’s side has already shown their ambition having won the Club World Cup, making them world champions and now they aim for more trophy’s.

Their notorious front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino have picked up from where they left off last season, between them scoring 35 league goals already. The defence that helped them win the Champions League last season has also continued to get them results, conceding just 14 goals and keeping 7 clean sheets.

They will feel confident that they can continue their winning ways and finally win the Premier League trophy, the one competition they have craved above the rest. Now that the January transfer window is open, the team may feel as if they can add a little more depth to their ranks. The club have already bought Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg who adds cover for their pacey forwards.

The odd few players such as, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne may look for moves away with this window but other than that, it’s clear that Jugen Klopp is happy with his side. Liverpool have been linked to some high profile players this window, whether they will manage to bring them in during this window is unclear but names such as Jadon Sancho and Kylian Mbappe are being thrown about. Also, others such as Leon Bailey and Allan have been mentioned. There’s no doubt that Liverpool can attract the big names but it’s whether they will in the current transfer window.

I feel confident that from this point on that Liverpool can get the job done and win the Premier League. There’s no reason why they can’t also go on to win other trophies also. They still remain in the FA Cup after their recent Merseyside derby win and also have Atletico Madrid to play in the round of 16 in the Champions League. I can foresee more than one trophy at the end of their current campaign.

Who knows how far this Liverpool side can go…

LIVERPOOL’S BEST STARTING 11: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Premier League Matchday 20 Results

Brighton 2-0 Bournemouth (BRI: Jahanbakhsh, Mooy)

Newcastle 1-2 Everton (NEW: Schar, EVE: Calvert-Lewin x2)

Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace (SOU: Ings, CRY: Tomkins)

Watford 3-0 Aston Villa (WAT: Deeney x2, Sarr)

Norwich City 2-2 Tottenham (NOR: Vrancic, Aurier og, TOT: Eriksen, Kane)

West Ham 1-2 Leicester City (WHU: Fornals, LEI: Iheanacho, Gray)

Burnley 0-2 Manchester United (MUN: Martial, Rashford)

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (ARS: Aubameyang, CHE: Jorginho, Abraham)

Liverpool 1-0 Wolves (LIV: Mane)

Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United (MCI: Aguero, De Bruyne)

Premier League Matchday 19 Results

Tottenham 2-1 Brighton (TOT: Kane, Alli, BRI: Webster)

Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City (ASV: Hourihane)

Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal (BOU: Gosling, ARS: Aubameyang)

Chelsea 0-2 Southampton (SOU: Obafemi, Redmond)

Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham (CRY: Kouyate, J. Ayew, WHU: Snodgrass)

Everton 1-0 Burnley (EVE: Calvert-Lewin)

Sheffield United 1-1 Watford (SHU: Norwood, WAT: Deulofeu)

Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle (MUN: Martial x2, Greenwood, Rashford, NEW: M. Longstaff)

Leicester City 0-4 Liverpool (LIV: Firmino x2, Milner, Alexander-Arnold)

Wolves 3-2 Manchester City (WOL: Traore, Jimenez, Doherty, MCI: Sterling x2)

Two HUGE Managerial Appointments Announced

A huge 24 hours for the Premier League. It was officially announced yesterday that Mikel Arteta would become the new Arsenal Manager and it has also just been announced that, three time Champions League winner, Carlo Ancelotti has become the new Everton manager. Where to start?

When Unai Emery got the sack, a big list of candidates to replace him began to surface, with former player, Freddie Ljungberg taking over as interim manager during the hunt for a new long term appointment was made. In this time, Ljungberg, lost two, drew two and won just one of his games in charge. He was previously a candidate to become manager on a permanent basis but his results whilst in charge kind of put him to one side.

Other options for manager were, Patrick Viera, former Arsenal player with some managerial experience in the MLS and Ligue 1, Carlo Ancelotti, now Everton manager was also linked, Massimiliano Allegri, former Juventus manager who is currently a free agent, Mauricio Pochetino, former Spurs manager and Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta.

The club made it fairly clear from the start that Arteta was to be their main target. He knows the club well having been at the club in his playing career, he’s been working with arguably the best manager in the world for three years and he has been praised by former manager Arsene Wenger as always had the ability to be a top manager and has shown that over the years he worked with him.

Despite this being Arteta’s first permanent managers role, it is being seen as a strong appointment by Arsenal, he has been watching and working with Guardiola for three years now, winning two Premier Leagues with City and therefore has the potential to be something special.

He has a big task ahead of him however, with Arsenal sitting tenth in the table just before Christmas, the players have been slacking in recent games but we’d like to think that they will want to impress their new manager. One thing I would say is, Arsenal need to give Arteta time, I believe they need to give him at least two years to get used to managing Arsenal, it’s a big job and it is ultimately his first job.

This could also be a turning point for out-of-favour midfielder Mesut Ozil. Ozil has been used as a scapegoat at Arsenal for the last couple seasons given the price the club signed him for and his poor form, we know he is a world class player but only when he wants to be and it’s clear that over the last couple years he hasn’t been truly committed to Arsenal Football Club. Having played with Arteta as a player, perhaps this will allow the new manager to get the best out of his former teammate and show him how good he can be with a bit of confidence and backing from the manger.

The January transfer window is approaching an I’m sure Arteta will make a few changes, the first we think of is most likely, getting rid of Granit Xhaka who has fallen out with the Arsenal fans. Arsenal do still need a new defender or two to try and strengthen their back line as well as perhaps another midfielder, but I’m sure these are things Arteta is already thinking about. Guardiola has also come out and said that he is very disappointed that Arteta is leaving him but backs him to do well and become a great manager.

In his first press conference, yesterday afternoon, Arteta vowed to change the energy at the club and says his new club need to make an immediate impact if they want to finish this season strong. Arteta also said that he would bring a new style to the club, this is something that should excite Arsenal fans. He takes over as manager on Sunday after Saturday’s game against Everton, which Ljungberg will manage.

Other breaking news has just come out today that three-time Champions League winner, Carlo Ancelotti has just become the new Everton manager. This is a huge appointment for the Toffees who are struggling in the league this year, sitting sixteenth in the table.

Everton decided to sack manager Marco Silva at the start of the month and from the get go, made it clear they would target a big name to replace him. During their time searching for a new manager, former player, Duncan Ferguson took charge as interim manager. In that time he has beaten Chelsea, got a draw against Manchester United and got knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leicester on penalties, which isn’t too bad but Everton we’re searching for a manger with a reputation, someone like, Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti has been out of work for just over a week, after he was sacked by Napoli after their poor start to the Serie A season. Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world, including, AC Milan, PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. He’s a manager with a terrific CV. He has experience in the Premier League after his two year run as Chelsea manager, in which he won the Premier League and the FA Cup.

Everton fans will be licking their lips at tho appointment as he has the potential to really turn the team around and get them out of the slump they are currently experiencing. It’s difficult to say what Ancelotti’s aims will be for this season given where they currently sit in the table but I’m sure a top ten finish would suffice the owners of the club but given that he is given time and money to really work with the club then perhaps the club could be pushing for at least a top six finish in the near future.

These two appointments are huge for both clubs concerned and I know I speak for fans of Arsenal, Everton and generally football when I say, I’m excited to see what they do at their new clubs. I’d like to Arteta completely change Arsenal’s vision and be the next Pep Guardiola in his first managerial position and I’d also like to see Ancelotti get the best out of his players and get Everton back to a position which shows their worth.

Premier League Matchday 17 Results

Liverpool 2-0 Watford (LIV: Salah x2)

Burnley 1-0 Newcastle (BUR: Wood)

Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth (BOU: Gosling)

Leicester 1-1 Norwich (LEI: Krul og, NOR: Pukki)

Sheffield United 2-0 Aston Villa (SHU: Fleck x2)

Southampton 0-1 West Ham (WHU: Haller)

Manchester United 1-1 Everton (MUN: Greenwood, EVE: Lindelof og)

Wolves 1-2 Tottenham (WOL: Traore, TOT: Lucas Moura, Vertonghen)

Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City (MCI: De Bruyne x2, Sterling)

Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton (CRY: Zaha, BRI: Maupay)

Mid-season Premier League Predictions

It is just a couple weeks from the new year and the Premier League is just as exciting and unexpected as ever. Here are my mid-season predictions:

Winner: Liverpool

Top Four: 1. Liverpool 2. Leicester City 3. Manchester City 4. Chelsea

Relegation: 18. Norwich City 19. Southampton 20. Watford

Top Scorer: Jamie Vardy

Player of the Season: Sadio Mane

Young Player of the Season: Mason Mount

Manager of the Season: Brendan Rodgers

Mid-Season Team of the Season: Schmeichel, Perreira, Van Dijk, Evans, Robertson, De Bruyne, Maddison, Mount, Mane, Vardy, Salah.

Surprise Players of the Season: Tammy Abraham, John Lundstram, Caglar Soyuncu, Todd Cantwell, Marcus Rashford.

Premier League Matchday 16 Results

Everton 3-1 Chelsea (EVE: Richarlisson, Calvert-Lewin x2, CHE: Kovacic)

Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool (LIV: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah)

Tottenham 5-0 Burnley (TOT: Kane x2, Lucas Moura, Son Heung-Min, Sissoko)

Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace

Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United (MCI: Otamendi, MUN: Rashford, Martial)

Aston Villa 1-4 Leicester City (ASV: Grealish, LEI: Vardy x2, Iheanacho, Evans)

Newcastle 2-1 Southampton (NEW: Shelvey, Fernandez, SOU: Ings)

Norwich City 1-2 Sheffield United (NOR: Tettey, SHU: Stevens, Baldock)

Brighton 2-2 Wolves (BRI: Maupay, Propper, WOL: Jota x2)

West Ham 1-3 Arsenal (WHU: Ogbonna, ARS: Martinelli, Pepe, Aubameyang)

My Premier League January Transfer Thoughts

I’d just like to go through some of the Premier League’s top teams and discuss their team, discuss who’s doing well, the players I believe would strengthen their teams and also the players I think they need to offload.

Liverpool:

Currently top of the league and look as if they are finally going to go all the way. Their team looks strong and at this moment in time, you have to assume they can go unbeaten this season. However, just based on their performances this season I do believe that despite not winning the Premier League last year, I do believe that their team played better in the previous season, yes they’re unbeaten in the league but I felt like their general play was more enjoyable to watch and with the amount of games they still have, still being in all the cup competitions, as well as, the Club World Cup which. Players will start getting very tired, however, with that in mind, I still feel that their team is strong enough to get the job done.

In terms of their team, I do not believe it is necessary to bring in any new players but there are rumours that Liverpool are interested in signing RB Lepizig striker Timo Werner, the rumours say that they will sign him this January but would loan him back to Leipzig for the rest of the season. This would be a interesting signing as he is, a terrific talent with a great deal of potential, but what would this mean for Roberto Firmino?

Manchester City:

It’s difficult with Man City this season because, on the one hand, they’ve looked one of the best sides, arguably in the world, with the best players but on the other hand they’re not top of the league, they’ve got a lot of injury issues and are relying on Liverpool slipping up. I still see Man City as true contenders for every competition that they’re in but it will be tough.

Their team is probably the most talented squad in the world with an insane amount of depth and so all they really need is maybe a defender to help deal with their injury issues. We know money isn’t an issue and so I think they should look at players such as, Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and RB Leipzig’s young centre back, Dayot Upamecano.

Chelsea:

Frank Lampard has shocked us all this season with a new style at Chelsea. Being in the top four at this point, despite their transfer ban and a new manager has been remarkable. The youth in this team have starred this season with Tammy Abraham in contention for the golden boot in the league. If they can remain in the top four for the rest of the season then Lampard has to be in contention for Manager of the Year.

Sadly, their transfer ban will not allow them to be able to sign anyone in this upcoming window but I’m sure in the summer, Frank will look to add more depth and take his side to the next level.

Leicester City:

Another contender for Manager of the Year? Brendan Rogers’ side are surprising everyone this season. Second only behind Liverpool, they seem a real contender this season. Jamie Vardy is top scorer in the league at this moment in time and I could see him continuing his goal scoring for the rest of the season.

I don’t think much needs to change given their impressive run, similar to the others, just depth. I’d love to see them get a top four finish this season but it’s a big ask.

Tottenham Hotspur:

A new manager in Jose Mourinho, he loves to add big players to his sides so Tottenham fans should be excited. We know, owner Daniel Levy is smart with his money so everyone is looking forward to see who Mourinho will be allowed to bring in. Wins in his first two games and 3 or more goals in each shows that perhaps Mourinho isn’t about all out defence. They’re still in a lower position in the league than their fans have become accustomed too and therefore a top four finish would be superb. We also know Jose has won a trophy in his first season with every club he’s managed and so perhaps some silverware in the cup this year?

First thing’s first they have to deal with the contract issues with Toby Alderweirald, Jan Vertoghen and Christian Erikson. I could see the two centre backs choosing to stay to work with Jose but I believe Erikson’s mind is already made up and he’ll be looking for a move to one of the European giants. In terms of recruitment, they definitely need a new striker, someone they can bring on off the bench and as back up for Kane if an injury were to occur. I can see Jose changing a lot in terms of his team so the only players I think are safe are Harry Kane and Son.

Arsenal:

Emery Out.

Manchester United:

Sell Lingard.

USW Men’s 1st 6-0 Swansea Uni Men’s 2nd

Rampant USW 1st win 6-0 against Swansea 2nd in an entertaining encounter at the USW Sports Park.

USW 1^st came into the game, coming off a defeat in their last game and started the game quickly with two early goals from captain Dominic Roberts and Joe Lee, which put them 2-0 up after the first quarter.

Coming into the second, USW carried on from where they left off in the first with more pressure being put on the Swansea defence with more chances coming from Roberts and Lee.

In the 25^th minute, USW’s Harry Longin picked the ball up after a coming together with the Swansea defender and a run through the middle gave him the opportunity to hold off the defenders and fire into the back of the net to make the score 3-0 just before half time.

It didn’t take USW to get their fourth and Longin to get his second after the break. Longin caught the ball after a defensive mistake from Swansea and from distance her fired into the bottom of the goal to make the score 4-0 after 35 minutes.

A number of great runs from USW captain Roberts did eventually lead to the next goal. Roberts picked the ball up on the half way line and sprinting past the defenders, with some skilful shoulder drops, found enough space to fire past the keeper for USW’s fifth and his second.

The final quarter was no different to the previous ones with more chances for USW. It was clear that Swansea players were beginning to get frustrated and the referee did need to blow for a couple of fouls.

With five minutes to go, Joe Lee picked the ball up in the Swansea half and after initially looking for a player to pass to, he saw the space to run into instead, which gave him the space he needed to fire in the sixth goal for the home side.

USW showed their respect for the away side after the game with a round of applause, but it was them who came out on top to win 6-0.

Captain Dominic Roberts praised his players after the game and said he looks forward to their next fixture.