Early hiccup not a concern, can Liverpool bounce back?

It has been a while since we last witnessed Liverpool broke the bank for over 400 million pounds on new signings, but the reality is now but most definitely not the start the fans were expecting. 

The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott (loan), and a few others, saw the incoming of some big names, such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike. 

Despite splashing the cash, most if not all the new recruits have failed to fully hit the ground running and this is slowly becoming a concern among the Anfield outfit. 

On a personal level, we need to understand that when Klopp came to Liverpool in 2016, he admitted in a press conference that time is all the Liverpool team back then needed to return to their perch, and it took him several years to rebuild the team and grab his first silverware. 

Last season, when Klopp left, he not only left but he trademarked a group of red warriors that understood each other so much, the chemistry they had, and the winning mentality he instilled from the start. 

When Slot arrived, of course it was not a surprise he won the league in his first season because all he had to do was understand the squad and manouvre accordingly, capitalising on the family that Klopp built over the years, putting aside several big names that left the squad too, such as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Thiago, Henderson, Fabinho, and others. 

This season, it's starting to look like Slot is shifting gears in rather different approach, which so far has proved to be okay but not up to par. Salah is clearly struggling to find his form, probably missing the link-up with Trent that he enjoyed in previous years. 

The right flank is now occupied by Conor Bradley, who is no short of an outstanding young lad, but maybe he needs a little more playing time to link-up better with Salah. Frimpong is currently sidelined due to injuries, and once he's back, I am certain he will create a greater impact, which was evident during his time at Leverkusen under Alonso's leadership.

Wirtz, well, what a player but he is yet to hit top form too, and once he does, the other teams better pray and brace themselves because just like Klopp recently said, "Florian is a once in century talent". He certainly is but we really hope he shines soon than later. 

Kerkez has showed glimpses of his talent but clearly there's room for him to shine better, and its really good we still have Robertson, who can lead the left flank in Kerkez's absence. 

As for Isak, who sealed his move to Liverpool after a series of controversies with Newcastle United, is also yet to find his goalscoring boots in a red shirt after the record-breaking fee of over 140 million pounds from the Magpies. 

He missed pre-season, and he's down with injury, so it is understandable. I am confident that once he's fit, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with as how he's always been in the past. 

Among the signings Liverpool sealed in the last transfer window, Ekitike has by far been impressive, scoring 3 and assisting 1 in the league. The tall Frenchman is proving to be a good buy and in Isak's absence, he's doing a good job. If not scoring, he's definitely contributing good amount of work rate and high contain playing style. 

Losing 4 in a row is an unusual phenomenon to be in Liverpool's standards, but it didn't prolong because they finally picked a win against Aston Villa last weekend before also defeating Real Madrid in the Champions League in a mid-week clash at Anfield. 

Liverpool kept clean sheets in both games, creating a much-needed boost as they head into a Super Sunday blockbuster clash with Pep's Manchester City this Sunday (Nov 9). 

Captain chaos costly miss, Liverpool extend lead but is it enough to make the cut?

As much as I hate saying this, the current scenario indicates that history is about to repeat itself. 

Liverpool have bottled their lead one too many times this season, resulting in draws that should have been won! The Reds conceded late equalisers against Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Everton, and we are talking about six points that could have been protected. 

Despite extending an 8-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Arsenal, Arne Slot's men suffered their latest setback after a fairly disappointing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park in a late afternoon kick-off today. 

The draw meant Liverpool have now played an extra game (26), one ahead of Arsenal (25), who have a rather easy fixture against West Ham United this weekend. 

Liverpool will have another storm to weather through when they travel to the Etihad Stadium this Sunday to face a wounded Manchester City, who could possibly give it all following their Champions League exit this morning, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid. 

Pep's men have nothing to lose since they look far from being a contender to retain the Premier League title this season, sitting fourth in the table and 17 points behind leaders Liverpool. 

City, over the years since dominating the Premier League, has been friendlier with Liverpool than Arsenal, especially this season following the on-field remarks Haaland and Arteta shared together. 

They might just go on and do Liverpool a favour by handing them a win to deny Arsenal any chance at all or beat Liverpool and bring this title down to the wire. 

Whatever or however it may be, Liverpool needs to remain calm, composed, consistent, and determined to finish the season on a high. 

We still have several tough fixtures to see through, including the one against City this weekend, Newcastle, and Arsenal, which could potentially be a title decider. 

Darwin Nunez needs to go after this season, and we need a proper number 9 because Jota is often injured, and we cannot afford to only rely on Salah for goals. Although Salah still performs at the top level, he's over 30, and sooner or later, the age factor will kick in. 

After a long time, we finally have a solid midfield that the fans don't have to worry about but they can be vulnerable at times too. 

So far, the likes of Mac Alister, Gravenberch, and Szobozslai have been a deadly trio, and let's hope they continue to perform at the highest level. 

I really wish Chiesa could have more playing time but I understand Slot's concerns. 

Overall, Liverpool have surprisingly started well under Slot. We are in the Carabao Cup final, UCL last-16 and still in the chase for the Premier League title. 

Not too bad after all eh? Let's hope our smiles shine as brightly as Slot's head at the end of the season. 

GW2: Liverpool beat Bournemouth, Chelsea's misery continues

Liverpool picked up their first win of the season after coming from behind to beat Bournemouth at Anfield last weekend (Aug 19). Bournemouth drew first blood after Alexander-Arnold's sloppy defending allowed Semenyo to fire in a thunderous strike into the bottom right corner, giving Allison no chance of stopping it. 

Despite scoring early, Bournemouth failed to pose any immediate threats, which meant Liverpool had the upper hand and dominated most parts of the field for the remainder of the game. 

Luis Diaz has been in fine form not only since the start of the season when he opened his account through a beautifully-taken goal against Chelsea last weekend but he's been showing his true credentials during the pre-season matches. 

It took Liverpool about 20 minutes or so to respond to the early goal by Bournemouth through a sumptuous goal by Diaz after he controlled it effortlessly and fired in a half-volley, courtesy of a Diogo Jota assist. 

Diaz missed a huge portion of matches last season after he suffered an injury, which ruled him out of many key fixtures leading to Liverpool's desire to stay in Europe. Liverpool missed out on a top-four finish last season, which meant they will compete in the Europa League instead of the Champions League. 

But who cares, honestly? We have won the Champions League six times, the most for a top-flight English club! To those in the tournament, good luck catching up. 

Salah, who has scored in all the first games of the new season since he became a Liverpool player, had a rather disappointing start to the campaign last week after he failed to score. His frustration became more expressive after he was subbed off for Harvey Elliott in the 77th minute of the game. 

That was not the case this week as he finally found the net on the rebound after missing a penalty in the 36th minute. Liverpool won the penalty after Szoboszlai, their new midfielder, was brought down just inside the box. 

Szoboszlai deservingly won the Man of the Match award after a scintillating performance throughout the 90 minutes. After having sold Henderson, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and a few more in this transfer window, Jurgen Klopp stacked up the midfield with a couple of influential midfielders, including Szoboszlai and Alexis McAlister from Brighton. 

While Szoboszlai had a tremendous 90 minutes on the field, McAlister couldn't complement because he was sent off just after the 58th minute for a so-called dangerous tackle on Christie. Both players went for the ball and it was unfair to show the red card just because Christie was first to reach the ball. 

Although a man was down, Liverpool refused to rest on their laurels and went on to put the icing on the cake as Jota made it 3-1 after Szoboszlai's shot, which was deflected off a defender and blocked by the goalkeeper, fell kindly on the feet of the Portuguese. 

Enzo's penalty saved. 

Meanwhile, Pochetinno's wait for a first win in the new season as Chelsea's new head coach continues after the Blues suffered a shocking 3-1 defeat at the hands of David Moyes's West Ham United. 

It was a night to forget for Chelsea's 100 million midfielders - Enzo Fernandez for missing a penalty and Caicedo who committed a foul and gave away a penalty, which allowed West Ham to seal the night with a win. 

License to midfield - Trent Alexander-Arnold's new love affair

I still remember when Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool several years ago, he made changes to the team that many managers in the past failed to do, which was to make the team great again by bagging some significant silverware, including ending the 30-year wait to get their hands on the English Premier League trophy. 

The achievements were made possible after the German-born finally bought players capable of winning games, ultimately possessing a champions mentality, displaying top draw performances week in, week out, relentlessly!

I even remember blogging about Liverpool's new-look midfield when they paid a good amount of money to bring in players such as Fabinho, Keita and Shaqiri to make sure the players in the centre and flanks were a force to be reckoned with, mainly serving as back-ups for the forwards. 

From the new-look midfield era, Liverpool is slowly becoming the old-age midfield. It's a fact, the intensity, hunger, and winning mentality have been very bad, and it's no surprise their form has been rock-bottom despite still being 7th on the table. 

Many say the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich was a curse that Liverpool should not have welcomed at a time when they were close to winning not the treble but the quadruple the season before, but only went on to win the FA Cup and Caraboa Cup. 

Well, it's not like they didn't win anything. Two is better than none, but maybe winning the Champions League and becoming Premier League champions for the second time under Klopp would have been more significant. 

So, when Mane left, Liverpool bought Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a record 75mil euro. The only reason I could possibly think of why would Klopp splash such a hefty amount on Nunez was that the forward had a great spell at Benfica when Liverpool squared against the Portuguese club in the Champions League last season. 

He scored several at both ties but as for his time so far at Liverpool, I can say it started rather poorly, especially when he picked up his first red card in his debut match at Anfield against Crystal Palace. 

Since then, he's been a threat on the left, and Liverpool had another steal when they brought in Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. Cody was flying in the World Cup. He's got energy, skills, strength and a spectacular finisher in front of goal! 

While Liverpool's forward line is looking ever-competitive, especially with the returns of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz from injuries, the midfield and back-four remain a worry for now. But they might have just found the perfect solution to resolve the ageing midfield after Trent Alexander-Arnold was given the license to explore his new role as a defensive central midfielder just behind the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. 

TAA has been criticised one too many times for flopping in his right-back position. He was often second best when facing the likes of Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Mitoma (Brighton) and Martinelli (Arsenal). 

Defensively, he is not too bad but definitely below average considering we have other right-backs in the Premier League who are far better than him, namely Reccee James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka or even Luke Shaw. 

Trent, who played a key part in Liverpool securing a last-minute equaliser against Arsenal a few weeks ago, delivered a sumptuous cross after bursting through the midfield, nutmegging Zinchenko before putting it on the plate for Firmino to head in to make it 2-2. 

That was when the Trent-midfield love affair started. Since then, Klopp gambled and fielded Trent just behind the two central midfielders in the previous two matches against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. 

Guess what, Liverpool emerged victorious in both, hitting Leeds for 6-1 and narrowly cruised past Nottingham 3-2 at Anfield. Unsurprisingly, Trent was influential and played an integral part in the wins, assisting three goals! That's more than what he has achieved since the start of the season. 

I have always said this. Trent is the future of Liverpool. He has what it takes to be a Liverpool legend and this new role that he has taken on actually isn't really new after all because when in the academy, he played more of a holding midfielder. 

Well, does that mean Liverpool doesn't have to spend in the next transfer window? Absolutely not! The recruiting process must happen considering the squad is ageing and we can expect quite a number of outgoing players when the season ends. 

Naby Keita, Oxlade Chamberlain are some wantaway players in the team. And the news about Roberto Firmino, who won't extend his stay at Anfield is heartbreaking! Bobby was among the best and he's made some memorable moments that we can remember for a very long time. 

Just like Mane, when that happens, it's going to be truly emotional. 

Messi makes history, Mbappe takes step towards greatness

It was a night full of anticipation, excitement and adrenaline rush moments as Argentina locked horns with defending champions, France in this year's World Cup Final 2022 in Qatar. It was not just a final between two heavyweights, but one that Argentina took it personally since day one to help bring the World glory back to their homeland, and all that for one purpose, to ensure Messi completes the missing trophy in his highly illustrious and decorated cabinet. 

It was all to play for, and rightfully, the Argentinians started the match brightly and took the French players to school since the first whistle, dominating from front to back, leaving the Frenchmen with minimal control of the ball, and most importantly, keeping the young superstar, Kylian Mbappe very quiet. 

Angel Di Maria was dominating the left wing and earned a penalty in the 22nd minute after being brought down by Dembele. The man of the moment, Messi, converted from the spot and blew the roofs of the Lusail stadium full of France and Argentina faithful. 

France looked dull and they were barely seen comfortable with the ball and things only got worse after Argentina worked out an excellent string of passes that led to their second goal scored by Di Maria on the 36th minute. 

It was not even half time and the reigning champions were already fading away hopelessly. Didier Deschamps made two changes by bringing in Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram in place of Giroud and Dembele. 

Argentina took the 2-0 lead through half time and still had the upper hand at least until the 80th minute when Kolu Muani won the race to win the bouncing ball with Otamendi, which resulted in the Argentine right back to commit a foul inside the penalty box. 

France just needed one chance, and Mbappe stepped up and nailed the perfect penalty past Martinez, who went the right way, but the power and pace was enough to get past the big goalkeeper. 

No time to celebrate, Mbappe quickly picked up the ball from inside the net and the game restarted. In the space of just 70 seconds, the French magician once again proved why he's the real deal after working out a spectacular one-two with Thuram before firing in a ferocious volley to draw the match at 2-2. 

Celebrations were wild because to those who witnessed the game from the start, there's no chance France was going to pull an absolute rabbit from a hat because Argentina displayed pure dominance and it looked as though the script of a 'Messi to lift the World Cup' was written and ready to be published until Mbappe had different ideas. 

France, who had zero number of shots on and off target in the first half, were looking far from their usual best. The hopes of retaining the trophy were fading, but you just can't write them off, especially when you have a world-class talent like Mbappe. 

Match ended 2-2 in normal time and the game was dragged to extra time. Argentina slowed down after conceding the equaliser. France slowly picked up pace and were dominating, and their momentum rose even higher after Deschamps introduced the likes of Camavinga and Coman, who offered more strength and speed. 

In a match of such nature, anything was possible, and either team just needed the right chance to finish off what will go down as one of the finals ever played in the history of the World Cup!

The right moment came, and it had to be for Messi, who caught the French defense napping early in the start of the first half of extra time. 

Messi took the script to himself and wrote a line that would see Argentina lift their third World Cup after finishing from close range. 

Again, Kylian Mbappe came to the rescue after earning the second penalty for his team deep into the second half of extra time. The calmness of a veteran, Mbappe completes the hat-rick and single-handedly gave France a glimpse of hope of retaining the trophy. 

Martinez vs Lloris. Clearly, the animated Emi has the edge over sloppy Lloris in penalties. And finally, the script was written for Messi and team as Argentina won 4-2 in penalties after Coman and Tchouameni missed from the spot kick. 

It was a final that had it all, but in the end, the grandest of stage was meant for Messi to complete his missing trophy and possibly, putting an end to the long-time GOAT debate with Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner finally is a World Champion. 

He surely has done the late Great Maradona proud by bringing home the World glory. 

What Messi has done in his footballing career so far is quite exceptional, and adding this latest achievement surely is worth of a book to shout out about. 

But let's not forget Mbappe. What an 'amazing force of nature he is' - as quoted by the poetic commentator, Peter Drury. My idol after Martin Tyler and Andy Gray. Peter makes football so much exciting to watch and what a pick by FIFA for the final last night. 

Mbappe is a force to be reckoned, and he has proven it multiple times in the past, especially in the last World Cup where France beat Croatia 4-1. This time, although he had put a tremendous Kylian show, but it proved to be so near yet so far. 

Messi fans, it's time to celebrate. Enjoy this moment. Congratulations Argentina.  

New boys Haaland and Nunez off to a flying start in the new campaign

Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez didn't take long to make their mark in the Premier League after each scored in their debut matches over the weekend at the start of the new 2022/2023 campaign. 

Liverpool played a tough 2-2 draw with a stubborn Fulham at Craven Cottage in an early kick-off on Saturday afternoon, in which Nunez was brought on in the second half, replacing Roberto Firmino to score a spectacular goal, courtesy of an assist by Salah. 

Despite starting the game strong, Liverpool trailed 1-0 in the first half after Fulham's big, strong striker, Mitrovic, wrestled off Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold for a well-headed goal. In my opinion, Trent could possibly have jumped higher to give Mitrovic a challenge to deny the Serbian a clear-cut chance of finding the net. 

There's so much Allison could do because Mitrovic's header had some real pace before travelling past the Brazillian goalkeeper. 

Luis Diaz was clearly the busiest among the front three in the first half as Salah and Firmino were unusually quiet by their standards. The Colombian missed a chance to give Liverpool an early lead after seeing his shot from the left flank hit the crossbar. 

Bobby Firmino is still a strong favourite in Klopp' list and as claimed, the Brazillian is very much involved in the German's long-term plan moving forward, but his performances of late have proved otherwise. 

The once upon time Bobby Dazzler, a nickname he gained for his skill moves, quick feet and intelligent finishing, is slowly seeing a dip in form. 

But there's no denying that Firmino is still one of the key players in Klopp's line-up because believe it or not, there are very few players who can make football look so easy at times, and he's right up there. He is also a fan favourite, so there's no way Klopp could possibly even imagine dropping him from the squad. 

Another player the fans were eagerly waiting to see was Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan was brought on in the second half in place of Firmino, and he didn't take long to get off the mark after equalizing in style through a flying backheel goal. 

Liverpool thought they could go on and win the game and get the next goal until Mitrovic scored from the spot kick after he was brought down by Van Dijk inside the penalty box. 

Not only it is rare to hear Van Dijk give away penalties but to get himself dribbled past is also an unusual phenomenon. I was shell-shocked when Van Dijk committed himself. There were discussions that Mitrovic could have possibly dived but VAR showed that the big Dutchman did touch the Serbian in the process. 

Liverpool were on the brink of defeat with only 10 minutes left to play but guess who stepped up when it matters again? Mohammed Salah! 

Salah had a quiet 90 minutes, but his equaliser to rescue Liverpool a point was good enough to prove how important he is for the team. Salah tapped in from close range after Nunez assisted him inside the penalty box. 

Clearly, this Liverpool side is missing Sadio Mane. The Senegalese star was a massive hit at the kop and often comes to the rescue in times of need. The Salah-Mane link-up will be missed but Nunez looks promising. 

Nunez was criticised during pre-season friendlies as he failed to convert some clear goalscoring chances but he has certainly proved his resilience and worth since scoring in the Community Shield against Manchester City last weekend. 

He's hungry and wants to win the ball and score goals. That's what Liverpool needs, and that's why the Reds shouldn't and won't miss Mane's absence because Nunez has shown us all that he can fill in the gap and deliver what the team requires out of him. 

Overall, Liverpool's performance could have been better if they had converted the chances they had. Another worry was to see Thiago being substituted due to an injury. 

While Nunez is considered a strong candidate for the Golden Boot at the end of the season, here's a reminder that he's got competition in Manchester City's new boy, Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has arrived too, and he has a 2-1 lead against Nunez after scoring a brace against West Ham United in the final match of the weekend last night. 

Regular penalty takers are usually Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez, but Haaland was given the green light to convert after winning the spot kick all by himself in the first half. 

Also, the team thought it would be a fitting way for him to introduce himself by getting on the scoresheet. Calm and composed as a veteran striker, the boyhood City fan scored and hit his famous meditation pose. 

City dominated the majority of the game. West Ham looked exposed and lost their confidence after losing their number one, Fabianski through injury. Areola, who stepped in, got off to a bad start after conceding the penalty. 

Haaland's second goal came after West Ham's back four were completely exposed, leaving the Norwegian with no one to fight with except a helpless Areola. 

A much-deserved win for Pep's side but it's just the first game. We have 37 to go, and anything can happen in the remaining games. 

City won, Liverpool drew. What about Erik ten Hag's United? New season, new players, new manager, but same old United? Or is it too early to say anything? Yes, United lost 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford. 

Drink that in folk. I think most of the Manchester United fans would agree that until and when United make some serious changes in their defensive line-up, they have to get used to seeing winless results. 

Ronaldo and Varane were benched, and God knows why. Ten Hag, this is not the Dutch league, this is the English Premier League, where teams like Brighton plays like Barcelona and can cause upsets. 

Ronaldo's decision to return to England was probably one he wish he never made. Harry Maguire is still the captain and starts. I thought someone as influential as ten Hag would make changes many fans were wishing for, but it looks like he is going to remain. 

It is time ten Hag makes the right move and make the fans happy by making sure his team delivers. 

Spurs beat City, title race wide open!

Manchester City losing at the Etihad is a very unpopular sight considering the fortress of a squad they have, but Tottenham Hotspur had other ideas when they visited the Blues last night for one of the best matches we have witnessed thus far in the season. 

Harry Kane, who was previously rumoured for a move to the Manchester club, caused Pep and his team misery and pain after scoring twice in the second half to clinch a famous 2-3 victory over City. 

Kane, who certainly wasn't in his best form last season and the start of this term, deservingly claimed the man of the match (MOTM) title after putting on one his best performances throughout his footballing career. 

From the get-go, Kane was blistering in attack and the way he contained the ball showed us glimpses of the kind of top top player he is. The moment he released Son, who stood his ground and timed his run perfectly without being caught offside, you knew Spurs were set to steal the lead. 

Son is always a threat, especially when you give him the freedom to sprint freely, which he did after being squared by Kane, and it did not end there, as he had more work to do. 

So unselfishly, he assisted new boy Dejan Kulusevski from the left flank, and the lad squeezed past between the legs of Cancelo to make it 1-0. 

City defenders had to take it on the chin for committing numbers for the first goal. Dias and Laporte were exposed, leaving only Cancelo to cover, but the clever finish by Kulusevski was enough to put Spurs in front. 

City equalised late before half-time through a well-taken goal by their captain, Gundogan. 

Spurs defended for their lives, and they refused to concede a second goal. 

Etihad was stunned for the second time last night after Kane had restored the lead for Spurs in the 59th minute. 

Later, the men in white thought they had extended their lead after Kane found the net past the 70th minute mark, only to have it ruled out after Kulusevski found himself offside before assisting the English man. 

Deep into 90 minutes, City earned themselves a penalty after Romero had handled the ball, courtesy of a Bernando Silva's cross. 

Mahrez stepped up and nailed in an absolute thunderbolt, leaving Lloris with little chance or none although he went the right way. 

Just when you think City, who had dominated the game thoroughly, were safely stepping out with a point, but it was not the case as Spurs refused to leave with a draw. 

Kulusevski, this time, with an inch perfect run after being released by Bentancur, put in a top-notch cross to find Kane, who was lurking and came up big against his fellow countryman, Kyle Walker, to head in the stoppage time winner in the 94th minute. 

As much as Spurs needed that goal to win and climb the ladder to stand a chance in the top four, Liverpool fans had the final dance as the win had blown the title race wide open. 

Earlier, Liverpool faced Norwich and went through a tough test after falling behind early in the second half through a deflected goal. 

In the past, Liverpool have so often left it late to take home maximum points, and the call was alarming once again yesterday. 

They showed great character and pulled one back through Sadio Mane before Mo Salah gave them the lead within two minutes after the first goal. The Red press, at the end, was too much for Norwich to take, and they sealed the win after Henderson's through pass found Luis Diaz, who went on to bag his first goal for Liverpool after his big money move from Porto during the January transfer window. 

Six points behind leaders City, with a game in hand, Liverpool have all the rights to still stay in title race. What seemed like one-horse race, has now turned into a two-horse race, unless Chelsea show good interests as well. 

Liverpool fans, brace yourselves. We are up for a narrow end to the season. YNWA!

The 'Magician' that should have stayed

He could have seen himself wrestling with the top boys for the annual Ballon d'Or Award if he had denied the big money move (estimated euro 160 million) to FC Barcelona from Liverpool in 2017. 

Philippe Coutinho, 30, had a shining start in his early days for Italian giants, Inter Milan, before sealing a move to the Merseyside club in 2013, for an estimated euro 8 million. 

The Brazilian was quick, tricky, skillful and super deadly not only in front of goal, but he was a nightmare for defenders and goalkeepers even from a distance. Naturally a right-footed attacking midfielder, Coutinho, who is also popularly known as the 'Magician' in world football, was a master with his left foot and could play in any given attacking role. 

He was one of the best signings former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had made during his tenure at the club, and Coutinho didn't take long to adapt to the English game, and although he did not pocket as many goals as expected, he remained a key player in the Liverpool squad ever since joining them. 

Bossing the midfield, especially sprinting upfront and playing a crucial role in Liverpool's goals was one of Coutinho's trademark. What more can you expect from a Brazilian player who had it all? He was literally on cloud nine on his heydays for Liverpool, and he only matured and became increasingly important for the squad as days went on. 

In the 2013/2014 top-flight season, Liverpool went very close to ending their 30-year wait for the English Premier League title, in which the fire was rekindled from the start of the season, only to see it re-extinguished right at the end as Manchester City nicked it with a 2-point difference. Coutinho was a major part of the short-lived triumph, joining the then star-studded squad which consists of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and others. 

When Klopp took over and transformed Liverpool into a heavyweight European team, a title very familiar for them many years ago, the German had the opportunity to work with Coutinho and continued to start him in matches and regarded him as a crucial asset to the club. 

During Klopp's early managerial start at Liverpool, Coutinho proved his caliber and scored twice in Liverpool's famous 4-3 victory over bitter rivals, Arsenal in the 2016/2017 season. One was a simple tap in but the other was a stunning free-kick from outside the box. 

Despite having signed a five-year contract with the Merseyside club with no release clause which would keep him at the club until 2022, the Brazilian already started attracting interest from Spanish giant, Barcelona. 

Although talks were held, Liverpool rejected Barca's initial bids until a bigger sum was put on the table, and the deal was agreed in early 2018. 

As a Liverpool fan, it was really hard to see him depart, especially for being such a key member of the squad, scoring wonders and making headlines in countless games. Reality had hit us, the fans, really hard. 

Klopp sent out a reminder to the lad, saying that if he stays, a statue will be built for him, but none of those words helped him stay. Coutinho, during his spell at Liverpool, scored 54 goals in all competitions. 

Playing for FC Barcelona or Real Madrid is a dream for any player, but question is, do you see yourself fitting into such a competitive dressing room? Coutinho was tipped as a top player at Liverpool and was a regular started, but it was never the case at Barcelona when he had the likes of Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and others biting on his neck for a start. 

At Barcelona, the Brazilian netted only 17 goals in all competitions, and when loaned to FC Bayern Munich in the 2019/2020 season, he scored 8 goals for the German club. The statistics have clearly indicated that Coutinho struggled to find his top form, only to see himself loaned out to Aston Villa in the Premier League. 

Aston Villa that is currently being managed by a former Red, ex-Liverpool talisman, Steven Gerrard, grasped the opportunity and has landed Coutinho. 

Gerrard, as claimed, has always been a top fan of Coutinho as both have played alongside during their days at Liverpool, and he has regarded the Brazilian as a true 'Magician', and that the title is not one that any player can attain.

The English Premier League will look set to welcome the former Liverpool number 10 to Villa Park when Aston Villa hosts Manchester United this weekend. Even if Coutinho doesn't start the match, which very likely he might not, I hope he will at least be on the bench and be given some minutes in the later part of the game. 

Defenders, be scared, be real scared.

Red-hot Sunday ahead as English fiercest rivals lock horns

Decades ago, we all know how a match between bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester United could end, and when I say this, it doesn't end nice but nasty. 

That's how intense it was back then. It was all about which team outclassed the other for maximum points, and of course, the one that walks away with swag at the end of the final whistle. 

These days, it is just sad to no longer witness the intensity, blood-thirsty attitude to win the ball, outrageous tackles, 100 per cent commitment that players in the past had. 

I am a die-hard Liverpool fan, and honestly speaking, I have seen my team at their worst and best forms in the past, but till today, I still feel extreme and irregular bowel movement when they play Manchester United. 

That's the exact situation right now! Honestly speaking, I would buy a ticket and watch Liverpool lose to West Ham United, but not against Manchester United. I believe this applies to ardent fans out there, you know how I feel. 

Now, that's why rival games are different. We can't deny that when the English Premier League releases the list of fixtures for the new season, we immediately search for the matches against our rival teams. 

And I don't know why, or is it just me feeling this way, Liverpool always end up locking horns with Man United in late October every year. This has been a trend, at least in the last few seasons. That's okay with me, so long as they don't play on my birthday. Can't afford to be visiting the toilet more often on my big day

In the past, when we had players like Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Michael Owen, who were enjoying prime days in the league, you know that you not only have a stadium-filled with electrifying fans, but even the commentators would equally embrace the moment. 

The modern-day rival games has had little to offer, and frankly speaking, the hype has relatively faded in recent campaigns. 

Thanks to players like Mo Salah, Mane, Robertson, Van Dijk and Allison, I could somehow still feel the passion when they play Man United. 

You can be a world-class player, but if you lack passion, which is considerably the most important trait when playing a rival team, you are not in my list!

Well, I have nothing much to complaint about the modern-day game because Liverpool have been different these days, playing slicky and solid football. 

We had a bunch of talented players many years ago, but they were all unable to break the 30-year curse. 

Then, Klopp happened. Man, what a difference maker he has been so far. Transforming a mediocre Liverpool squad into a Champions League winning team and of course, how could I forget, ending the three decades of agony to claim the English Premier League medal. 

Anyways, about this Sunday's clash, Liverpool are certainly the favourites but I am so not prepared to write off United's chances in this one. 

Can we see Salah celebrate like this again on Sunday?

Come on, it's Old Trafford, and with Ronaldo's return, this is going to be a spicy one. 

But, surprisingly, United's home and away matches in the league in the past few games were poor, and Solksjaer's 'Ole out' campaign is back among unhappy fans. 

They say trust the process, but it looks like their fans are having a tough time trusting Solksjaer at the moment. Despite the popular campaign that has claimed its spot on social media lately, looks like the Scottish might just be able to stick to the chair with the backing of the management. 

If Sunday's match is to be the decider over Ole's career at United, then chances are deeply slim for Liverpool of nicking this. You all know why. They are certainly going to put their hearts, souls, kidneys, livers to win this. 

Meanwhile, it is great seeing Liverpool back at their actual best. This is the Liverpool I know. Boy oh boy, what a result in Madrid last week. 

I was never over the defeat we suffered at the hands of Atletico two seasons ago. Revenge is indeed sweet. Salah again at it. The Egyptian looks hungrier, sharper and extremely clinical in front of goal. 

The front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino, who went missing for the most of last season, are now back and kicking asses again. 

Despite having found their regular goal-scoring boots again, I still have to thank Van Dijk because it was his long-awaited return from injury that has made all the difference. 

He's such a huge influence on and off the field for the Reds. Although it was rather a quiet transfer window for Liverpool, Klopp seems confident that with the same squad he has now, winning trophies is not mission impossible. 

Sunday's showdown with United is a very important fixture as Chelsea and Manchester City are racing close for top spot. 

Chelsea will look to maintain their top spot when Norwich visits the bridge for an early kick-off today, while City will look to overcome Brighton in a late fixture at midnight. 

Liverpool, let's do this! You'll Never Walk Alone. 

Messi opens goal-scoring account for PSG in dramatic style

Although it took Lionel Messi several games before finding his goal-scoring boots for PSG, it was all worth the wait because the way he bagged his first for the French giants was absolutely amazing. 

Since his free transfer from FC Barcelona in August this year, Messi started a few games but failed to find the net in all the occasions, but it wasn't the case against Manchester City during the Champions League group stage match on Tuesday. 

Getting on the scoresheet is not a uncommon act by the Argentine, who went on to break multiple goal-scoring records during his spell at Barcelona, but it certainly was a special moment for Leo when he broke his duck for PSG against a rather stubborn Manchester City. 

Leo is clearly still a magician, and of course, still has what it takes to be one of the best in the world. When he's on the ball, no way defenders should go to sleep but all eyes on him. If you take your eyes off him even for a second, the next thing you know, he would have smashed the ball into the net and reeling away in delight. 

Against City, he was a major threat to the defenders, and it was further headache for the back four when you not only have Messi, but Neymar and Mbappe biting on your neck. 

It was very exciting to see him on the scoresheet, that too in Leo's most favourite style, sprinting in pure pace, pulled out a one-two with Mbappe, and then BOOM, goal!!!

That second goal by Messi showed how vulnerable even one of the best back fours' in the world can be. 

Even City's standing keeper, Ederson, was caught ball watching when the ball flew to the top left-hand corner. You simply don't stop such shots, that often drives into the net with maximum pace and clean placing. 

Messi is an expert at making even world's best defenders or goalkeepers look average on the field. His vision, quick thinking and outrageous skills are some elements that doesn't come with scripts. It just happens. Either you embrace it or live with it. 

Can PSG finally bag the Champions League trophy this season with the arrival of Messi? As much as they have spent handsomely in the past on Mbappe and Messi, they did the otherwise this season on the arrivals of Messi, Wijnaldum, Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and Donnarumma. 

Despite the all-star squad that PSG has, it still remains a doubt if they can do it this time around, even with the likes of Messi around. 

I can't think of a better person than Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa, as he previously said that what makes football beautiful is that even the smallest team in any league can beat the greatest team you ever know. 

Big-money clubs like PSG and Manchester City, who are yet to win the Champions League, will be racing to do it this time around, but it won't be as easy with many equally strong teams competing for the top prize this season. 

Show-stopper Ronaldo is back and making headlines again

Ronaldo celebrating in front of the fans. 

It was a day to remember for all the Manchester United fans on Sept 11, 2021 as their homeboy, idol and long-gone main man, Cristiano Ronaldo made a spectacular return by scoring two goals on his second debut for the team that was responsible for the latter's resounding success in modern day football. 

Boy oh boy. What a time to be alive. First, it was Messi who made a sensational move to PSG, and now Ronaldo. 

Old Trafford has always been home for Ronaldo, and quite frankly, last night's performance was just a glimpse of what the 36-year-old can still do to inflict pain on the opponent team. 

Although in late 30s, he is a living proof that age is just a number. A man with such dedication, commitment and desire, it was no surprise to see him pull of a decent performance against the Magpies.

Last night, it was the Red Devils against Newcastle United, but the atmosphere in the stadium gave a different feeling. 

It felt as though United were playing Liverpool in a Champions League Final. The response was staggering and fever-pitch! 

What a way to mark your second debut, that too at the Stratford End, bagging a brace and sealing it with his iconic SIUUUUUU celebration! 

It was never in my wildest dreams that I thought Ronaldo would make a return to the Premier League, but it happened. What a fitting way for him now to retire at the club that defined him as a world-class player. 

Starring as a United player once again after over a decade, Ronaldo was no stranger at the dressing room and when he walked out of the tunnel to a stunning reception by the fans. 

There were rumours and speculations of the next club he would head to after announcing his exit from Italian giants, Juventus. 

Having previously played in the Portuguese, English and Spanish league, the lad had a rather unconvincing spell at Juventus, which clearly could have sparked his interest to leave the club. 

Before United, Manchester City entered the frame and the once Redman was tipped for a move to the opposite side of Manchester, but City showed least interest and of course, it would have been a crime to see Ronaldo in a blue jersey than a red one. 

As the saying goes, 'once a red, always a red'. Now, that's a fitting scenario to describe CR7's return to United. 

Sources claimed that Alex Ferguson, the man who played an incredibly important role in Ronaldo's footballing career, once again entered the scene to influence the Portuguese star to move to the top-flight English club. 

The return of the King forced Manchester United to make several changes, starting with the immediate sale of Daniel James to Leeds United, allowing Edinson Cavani to take over his shirt number (21). 

This was solely done to hand over the famous number 7 jersey to the man who made all the difference while wearing it many years ago. 

Many United greats in the past have held the number 7, such as George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham. 

Among these greats, Ronaldo's return has undoubtedly scripted another milestone in his impressive portfolio, as he becomes the first player in a United shirt to wear the number 7 jersey for the second time. 

We've seen many top class players who have played alongside or against Ronaldo in the past. To name a few, Zinedine Zidane (when Portugal and France met during international games), Andre Pirlo (when Ronaldo was at Real Madrid) and even Solksjaer (when both played together at United). 

Guess what. These three former players have or are now coaching teams, while Ronaldo, with tank full of energy, is still kicking ass on the field. 

His longevity is simply insane! 

Although his first goal for the Devils after returning was rather a simple tap in, his second was a quick reminder of the pace and clinical finishing he still possesses. 

That burst on the left following a pitch perfect pass from Luke Shaw was wrapped up in a goal more similar of his style, driving it hard pass in between the keeper's legs. 

As much as I am a Ronaldo fan, I have fears too. This is because if he moves at this ferocious momentum for the rest of the season, it's bad news for the immediate competitors in the league, including Liverpool. 

Can't wait for the day when Ronaldo will meet our tower of defence in Virgil Van Dijk. That will be some game to watch. 

Dark days as pressure mounts at Liverpool FC

The unprecedented situation of Covid-19 pandemic has halted the world economy on an unimaginable scale, robbing millions of lives across the world, and it could have possibly impacted football players as well along the way. 

Well, as a die-hard Liverpool, I am not trying to look for an excuse to describe my team's worst start to the EPL campaign ever since Klopp took over, but I strongly believe the pandemic has a mitigating effect on the players performances. 

After enjoying a couple of spectacular seasons under Klopp, winning the Champions League after 14 years and Super Cup in 2019, and ending the 30-year drought of winning the English Premier League title in 2020, Liverpool, who seemingly got off to a great start this campaign (2020/2021), now find themselves in fourth place and six points behind, well I hate to say this, current league leaders Manchester United. 

Well, what's funny is that, just a run of few poor games in the start of 2021, many have described Klopp as a 'one season wonder', not realising it was this man who brought immeasurable happiness when he lifted the EPL title after almost three decades. It was this man who lifted the Champions League trophy for the club after almost 14 years of wait. 

The criticism and illogical remarks by haters, never for a second, can deny the type of professionalism and caliber this man carries, and of course, the much-needed depth the team had been longing for all these years. 

I mean, come on, Klopp has seen it all, When he first took over the Reds in 2015, he had already lost several major cup finals such as the clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League final in 2018, Europa League final to Sevilla in 2017 and a few more. 

What's unbelievably amazing about Klopp is that, despite downfalls, he doesn't lose the spirit and only gets hungrier each time, and it clearly mirrors his relationship with the players. 

Look guys, the season is far from over, we're just midway through, but yes, it won't be as easy as how it was last season, where we took off in top gear and went clear more than 10 points of second placed Manchester City. There is still hope, Klopp will slowly but surely bounce back. 

Separately, it is notable that Mo Salah has clearly lost his scoring ability, most of the time kicking the ball at players instead of behind the net. As a player who lacks creativity, at least he should be making extra efforts to contain the ball and make quick passes when needed, and not fry too long, which eventually opens the gate for the opponent team defenders to intervene. 

Salah's other drawback, which is something that is quite unacceptable for a very long time now, his failure to look for his fellow teammates when they would actually be in a clear goal-scoring scene than him. 

Previously, we have seen Mane who reacted angrily in one of the league matches when Salah did not pass him the ball, in which he could scored before being substituted. 

Mo is a great player, can be considered as a lethal finisher, but once you start eating the entire meal all by yourself, you are only leaving room for hatred and bad impression among your teammates. 

Mane, meanwhile, is probably one of the few players at Liverpool that has retained a good form this season, despite making goals count. His ability of controlling the ball and tireless efforts are some of the key elements that makes him one of the best forwards in the world now. 

Firmino, on the other hand, has been firing blanks more frequently between the other two, but he still remains one of Klopp's favourite for obvious reasons (outrageous skills at times and vision). 

After losing Virgil Van Dijk who suffered a horrific injury through a clash with Pickford in the Merseyside Derby last year, Fabinho stepped in and has proven to be instrumental while the big Dutchman is absent. Van Dijk is currently going through rehabilitation, and the signs are very encouraging as he could potentially make an early return than scheduled. 

It has been a season filled with ups and downs so far, especially losing some key players through injuries, but what's more important is that, we need to stay intact and in no time, our team will bounce back. 

We've gone through greater storms, and am sure we can go through this too! 

YNWA

Liverpool - Champions of England after 3 long decades!

It has been a painful journey to hear all kinds of critics in the past, especially Liverpool's inability to regain momentum as English champions, a recognition that was long buried in the 90's era. Kenny Dalglish was the last scouser to have won the grand prize for the Reds back then. Many stepped in, hereafter, but none managed to carry the club's long buried legacy since 1990, but one man, Jurgen Klopp totally wiped out all critics as he has led Liverpool to become English champions for the 19th time this morning after Manchester City surrendered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.


When Klopp took charge of Liverpool in 2015, he promised that in four years time, the club would win one title, and guess what, he has delivered as mentioned. Since 2015, under Klopp's supervision, Liverpool went on to win the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and now, the latest addition of becoming English Champions for the 19th time!


Although Liverpool had to wait 30 long years to end the top-flight drought, another notable achievement is that the Reds actually won the title with seven games still remaining in the league, a new Premier League record and in the history of English football. Such dominance is a living evident in the form they've displayed throughout the season and it is truly immensely satisfying seeing Liverpool clinch the title after such a long time.

The team has often been criticised in various occasions, even when Klopp and his team went through to the Champions League final in 2018 and lost it to Real Madrid, but none of those criticism affected the Reds mentality! The just kept on going with high determination and Klopp never failed to believe in his players. Klopp was the kind of coach that any team would dream to have, mainly for the affection, coaching style, the extremely positive chemistry he shares with his players and most importantly, his passion for the game. He is something else and his achievements at the club thus far has shown what class he has been to the club.


All these years, Liverpool have been coached by some really remarkably talented coaches, and it is no doubt that this triumph will be dedicated to all those that have played a huge role in the building up of this club. Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley would be proud of this achievement. As much as it's impressive to watch Liverpool finally win the title, it is equally disappointing not to have the one man which I really wish was part of the success now, Steven Gerrard. Boy oh boy, imagine Stevie G at Liverpool now. The intensity is quite unimaginable and it would truly be explosive, even at the rare thought of it. To become Champions of England once again is definitely something special and it's even more special for Liverpool to have done it with such talents.

Liverpool came close last season but thanks to City's narrow win against the Reds at Etihad, the Citizens emerged winners with just a one-point lead at the end of the season. This time around, it's a whole new scenario, one that not many predicted knowing City's incredibly talented pool of players. With seven games left to play for, Liverpool have drifted far off the title race with a 23-point gap with close rivals, Manchester City. City's defeat at the hands of Chelsea on 26 June in a late evening kick-off, has mathematically proven that the Citizens bid to challenge the Reds finally came to an end.


Klopp praised his players for the outstanding form they've shown this season but the German find it unbelievable that his team has drifted far away from this Manchester City side - a team that he feels is no less of creativity, pace, power and extremely skilful players. He then admits, "That means we've done something really special this season."

Pep showed true class after he commended Liverpool's extremely brilliant performance this season and congratulated the team over the long-awaited title triumph in a post-match interview after his side surrendered a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.


The players have done a magnificent job ever since Klopp stepped in and went through such a hard-fought transformational period to stand where they are now, majestically!

This is the dawn of a new era and many more successes to come for the club.

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm

There's a golden sky

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone