Liverpool 4 Stoke City 1: Liverpool demolish Stoke after lacklustre start

For the first half hour Stoke were as impressive as any opposing team at Anfield this season.  They negated Liverpool's abilities to sear through teams upfront by confining the space to roam in.  Joe Allen back at Anfield for the first time since being sold in the summer, looked a class above any player on the pitch, seemingly possessing masses of time on the ball.

Liverpool entered the game unchanged for the third successive game with Daniel Sturridge on the bench as was Lucas Leiva with Anfield abuzz with the news that his tenure at the club drawing to a close with Inter Milan a suitor for the midfielder’s talents.

Stoke also started with old Anfield favourites Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch and to conclude the Anfield reunion Charlie Adam was named on the bench.   Mark Hughes game plan was well thought out, not just intent on strangulating Liverpool up top, Crouch and Walters were sent out to highlight the cracks in Liverpool’s perceived vulnerability in defence.

The goal when it game didn’t just emphasise Liverpool’s susceptibility to the physical presence of Jon Walters, but to their inability to deal with the height and aerial ability of Crouch, who to be fair was also knitting the play together with the assurance as those with long memories at Anfield know only too well.  Crouch caused havoc in the area heading down a ball played in of which the defence could only scramble out.  After 12 minutes in Stoke were ahead

The ball found its way out to Erik Pieters who delivered a superbly fizzed in cross to the near post where Walters did well to beat Lovren before powering a headed toward goal which Mignolet disappointingly palmed in.

Granted Mane should have closed down the cross; granted Lovren should have defended on the correct side of Walters, but top class goalkeepers make those saves and it’s those deficiencies which makes one wonder if Liverpool will fail in the long run.  Every top-class team requires a top-class goalkeeper and Liverpool does have a top-class centre-half, unfortunately for us it’s not Lovren.

Stoke looked comfortable and 6 minutes later should have gone two nil up.  With Liverpool struggling to cope with Stoke’s confident brand of football, Joe Allen sauntered in the area, before his well struck shot was instinctively saved low down by Mignolet with Pieters shot from the resultant breaking ball blocked off.

It was a miss that Stoke would come to regret as Liverpool with the ubiquitous Lallana coming more into the game looking more threatening.

Sensing the need to bring something else to the party Origi shunted the ball out wide to Mane who crossed low.  Glen Johnson in trying to control the ball only knocked the ball into the path of Lallana following in and from a sharp angle the inform midfielder made his former teammate pay emphatically dispatching his shot past Grant against the run of play.

It was the kick start Liverpool needed.  James Milner saw his shot saved by the Stoke keeper down to his left.  A minute later and Roberto Firmino instead of burying his shot in the net sent a spiralling shot sailing into the Kop.  Liverpool were ramping up the pressure and Stoke were ostensibly waiting for the break.

The break would come, but not before Liverpool would first see Firmino’s shot saved off the line by Crouch and then the same player receiving the ball on the left of the area, was allowed to turn before dispatching his shot off the far post on to the near post before going in.

With Liverpool now looking in fine fettle, Mane almost scored hooking his shot just wide of the far post from the centre of the area.

Stoke will have felt hard done by having controlled much of the first-half, but the difference was the clinically nature in which Liverpool took their chances and once Liverpool grabbed a foothold Stoke looked one dimensional.

After parrying with each other for the first fifteen minutes of the second-half with Liverpool looking decidedly comfortable the game was as good as over almost on the hour.  Henderson picking up the ball centrally, played in Origi with a slide rule pass inside the right-back.  The striker showing great awareness posted an exquisite ball in between keeper and the retreating defence with Imbula feeling the pressure of the challenging Mane only able to prod the ball into his own goal.

Liverpool were in total control and with the festive games coming think and fast Klopp rested Lallana and Origi for Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge respectively.  Fifty-six seconds after Sturridge’s entrance he’d scored his first Premier League goal of the season.  Fastening on to Shawcross ill-judged back pass, the England striker went around goalkeeper Grant with great alacrity before rolling the ball into the net from an acute angle to kill off any chance of a Stoke comeback.

Man of the match: Roberto Firmino – produced an upgrade on recent performances and could easily have had a hat-trick.

Critical eye:  Showed tremendous tenacity to comeback against a Stoke City side who were hell bent on pressing Liverpool all over the field and showing up the much talked about problems at the back.  Worryingly, Lovren’s proneness for sloppy defending continued beaten all-ends up by Walters and Mignolet’s ineptitude at only palming the resultant header into the net only highlights the habitual defensive problems.

In a well thought out game plan Walters and particularly Crouch, spread doubt into the Liverpool’s backline which eventually led to the first goal.

That we were able to come back and overrun a Stoke side full of hustle says a lot about the mindset of Klopp’s side, but the inability to keep only the odd clean sheet could cost so much more in the long run.  As I’ve continually said, Philippe Coutinho’s absence hasn’t up to now cost Liverpool in an attacking sense as we continue to be prolific, but just how long we can go on leaking senseless goals without patching up a suspect defence is open to question.

When fit Liverpool’s best choice pairing could well be Matip and Klavan being defenders in the purist form, but one senses in Lovren Klopp sees the need for a ball playing centre-half, although Matip is somewhat underrated in that regard.

Daniel Sturridge first Premier League goal of the season was just what was required with Sadio Mane on the verge of leaving for the African Nations Cup.

Teams:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 20 Lallana (Can – 69 mins) 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnaldum, 19 Mane, 27 Origi (Sturridge – 70 mins), 11 Firmino (Moreno - 79 mins)

Subs: 1 Karius, 15 Sturridge, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 23 Can, 53 Ejaria, 58 Woodburn

Stoke: 33 Grant, 8 Johnson, 17 Shawcross, 15 Martins Indi, 18 Diouf (Afellay – 75 mins), 6 Whelan (Sobhi – 66 mins), 21 Imbula, 4 Allen, 3 Pieters, 25 Crouch (Bony – 84 mins), 19 Walters

Subs: 12 Bony, 14 Afellany, 16 Adam, 22 Shaqiri, 24 Given, 27 Krkic, 32 Sobhi

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 53,094

Everton 0 Liverpool 1 - Mane late late winner keeps us within fighting distance of title race

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)

Pre-Match Thoughts: The talk before the Derby game was mainly about the return to the bench of Can and Sturridge which made the match day squad seem a lot stronger. Especially great to have Sturridge available from the bench as he is always likely to produce a moment of magic to score or create a chance for a team mate. Matip completely unavailable is a further worry but Klavan played very well in the previous game so is a very capable replacement.

We go long from the opening kick-off. It’s already end-to-end and tackles are flying in from the opening minute. Barkley very early on already has a torn shirt as a token of the early exchanges. Both sides are showing they do not want to give an inch to their local rivals.

Everton have been the slightly more energetic side in the first ten minutes. Their press is doing well to keep us pinned back, but neither side has looked particularly dangerous.

Everton as the home side seem to be bossing us about with their aggressive long ball game with their main tactic being to bypass our more talented midfield three by playing the long ball up to their main striker Lukaku for him to hold it up and for their midfielders to play off him. We were not showing enough tactical nous so far to overcome this tactic.

Twenty-six minutes in and we finally have their first shot. Wijnaldum’s attempted curler from outside the box was never likely to make the net bulge, but it’s far better than what we’ve seen so far from our opening passage of play.

Since Wijnaldum’s shot, Liverpool have slowly started asserting themselves in the game, though still haven’t created much going forward.

Divock Origi after a quiet game so far finally gets involved in a big way. Some quick build up (and a brilliant Mané dummy) sets Clyne free down the right flank, and his inch-perfect cross finds the in-form big man in the middle of the box. However, he couldn’t keep his first-time chance down and on target, and the score remains knotted.

Apart from a couple of shots we were somewhat dominated in the first half by Everton and surely must play better in the second half.

Halftime Thoughts: It looks like we weathered Everton’s best shot in the opening 25 or so minutes just like an experienced boxing champion giving its rival a chance to show what they have, but still did little to create at the other end. 

We have also been very wasteful going forward, with several errant passes to no one in particular in and around the box. We really needed to step it up in the second half if we wanted to get anything out of the fixture.

Ultimately our first real clear cut chance falls to Firmino very early in the second half courtesy of a comedy of errors. Firmino latches on to a through ball, but hits it straight at the keeper. 

Then the ball comes back to Firmino, who tries to pick out Mané and/or Lallana, only for both of them to take each other out, and the best chances of the night go unrewarded.

A quick 1-2 with Mané and Firmino nearly produces the opening goal, but the chance dribbles just past the far post. Stekelenburg is hurt in the process, and can only last a few more minutes before being replaced by Joel. I have to admit, it’s quite funny watching the diminutive Everton trainer “helping” Stekelenburg off the pitch.

Barkley comes in late with a studs up challenge on Henderson in what should have been an easy decision for a straight red. Barkley somehow stays on the pitch and Henderson somehow isn’t spending the next several months on the trainer’s table. With the reactions to Barkley’s tackle causing angry scenes involving several players on the pitch leading to Coleman being yellow carded but Lovren (heavily involved in the pushing) getting away without a card despite being yellow carded earlier in the game.

We nearly find a break through on a corner, but the backup Everton keeper Robles was equal to Firmino’s excellent volleyed shot that was bound for the lower near corner with a very good save.

Klopp now realising the desperate need for a goal decides to make a change, bringing on Sturridge and Can for Origi and Lallana in the 82nd minute. The second half has nearly been all about our control and dominance but still no goals.

Sturridge creates some space for himself on the edge of Everton’s box and his low shot goes past the reserve Everton keeper and bounces off the post and Mané follows it in! Liverpool lead 0-1 in stoppage time! The biggest moment of our season so far with super sub Sturridge having such a massive role to play in it! 

Also delighted for Mane as he has played a big part in our start to the season and will be a massive loss in a few weeks’ time when he goes off to the African Nations in early January for a month.

Final Whistle Thoughts: The first Merseyside Derby of season 2016/2017 was pure chaos, and not in the good sort of way at times. Both sides were full of passion and energy, but the football was decidedly lacking. We did very well to play our way back into contention after absorbing the best Everton had to offer in the first half, but never had an answer going the other way for the majority of the time until our class showed towards the end of the game.

An away draw was probably the deserved result, but we nabbed the victory in the end and have shown we are up for the fight for the title. Bring on Stoke next !!!

Man of the match: Dejan Lovren – Didn’t put a foot wrong handling the aerial threat of Lukaku and leading the defensive troops to a second consecutive clean sheet.

Special mentions: Ragnar Klavan – Had a tough baptism in the first half struggling to deal with Lukaku but improved in the second half.

Daniel Sturridge – much maligned and criticised striker but is always able to produce a moment of class and this time his shot resulted in a win for the lads so deserves a lot of credit for this.

Everton: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Funes Mori, Williams, Baines, Gueye, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, Valencia, Lukaku

Subs: Robles, Holgate, Kenny, Calvert-Lewin, Barry, Cleverley, Mirallas

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Mane, Origi

Subs: Karius, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Sturridge

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 39,590

Manager’s viewpoint: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp "I don't agree it was a poor first half. Maybe not the best football - you have to adapt to Everton's wild game. A game like this you have to interrupt their rhythm with passing.

"In the second half it was clear they couldn't do the same. We were better, we didn't give one chance away I think.

"The goal was not the hardest shot from Sturridge, but hard enough. It was a wonderful feeling.

"I don't like the flares too much. I'm a little bit scared about this. It was a long, long stoppage time. We gave them no chance."

On Barkley's tackle on Henderson: "I saw it one time. Everything is clear. I think the referee had a difficult game. Maybe Ross was really lucky and Henderson was really lucky."

My last comment on this game is that I was pleased that our manager made an attempt to change the result by making good use of his substitutes and it paid off with such an important goal and I just hope if needed he can utilise the subs bench to have a massive positive impact on our results moving forward.

Middlesbrough 0 Liverpool 3: Adam Lallana a class apart

I must admit to being filled with trepidation before the match as the previous games against West Ham and Bournemouth left one feeling deflated.

Since the unfortunate injury to Philippe Coutinho, the struggle has not been to score or create goals, but keeping goals out.  Loris Karius struggling with his form and pilloried in the media by muppets (Gary and Phil Neville) doing passable imitations of Statler and Waldorf, although not as funny was dropped reintroducing Simon Mignolet to the fray with next Monday’s Merseyside Derby on the horizon.  Ragnar Klavan replaced the injured Matip.

Middlesbrough at the Riverside were expected to be a tough challenge and started as if they fully intent on causing as much problems to the heart of Liverpool’s suspect central defence.  That said, Sadio Mane had an early chance heading wide from Jordan Henderson’s cross.

Liverpool began to dominate Boro to such an extent that the game was being played on the edge of Middlebrough’s area with Klopp’s men challenged to break down at times 10 outfield players in a compact defensive unit.  Lallana and Divock Origi had shots blocked and on a rare excursion up field Fabio saw his shot easily saved by Simon Mignolet.

The incessant Liverpool pressure was bound to pay dividends with Aitor Karanka’s side stretched to the limit to contain Liverpool’s pace and movement.  What Liverpool miss with the undoubted talents of Coutinho, they have gained in being more direct with the pace and power of Origi aligned to the similar threats of Sadio Mane. They now possess the ability to stretch teams with the occasional long range pass thrown into the mix and with both player’s ability to run the channels it makes it even more difficult to track and allied to the neatness of Firmino and Lallana Liverpool have found another dimension to their game.

The opening goal when it game was brilliant in its make-up.  The transitional play to get Clyne (disappointing with his first few crosses) rolling down the flank was rapid with Liverpool recognising the need for width.  The England defender on the run whipped a cross full of pace to the back post where Adam Lallana arriving like a steam train headed in.

The ex-Southampton man is playing so well as the moment that his growth as a footballer is on the upward curve with a feeling of he being the spiritual leader of Klopp’s gegenpressing.

Liverpool were in full tilt and almost went two up just before the break.  Divock Origi sent Mane through with the forward, stop starting to throw off any accompanying challenge before seeing his left-footed shot hit the post with Origi’s crashing his follow-up shot into the side netting.

If Boro thought Liverpool’s intensity would drop off in the second-half, they would get a sharp awakening with attempts flooding in around their ears.  In the first 5 minutes Firmino and Mane with two attempts each could easily have put the game to bed.   Total dominance in games this season hasn’t meant victory for the Reds (or in this case lime green), and for that matter neither has being up goals to the good.

One sensed that this was a game Liverpool had a point to prove and would not be denied.  Fantastic interchange saw Wijnaldum find the onrushing Lallana, who with one look up rolled across for Origi to put Liverpool to goals ahead.

Eight minutes later the game was as good as over.  Brilliantly intricate play between Mane and Wijnaldum resulted in Mane being sent through before being mowed down.  Referee Jonathan Moss played an excellent advantage allowing Origi to cross from the right for Lallana to collect his second of the match and add gloss to resounding victory.  Make no mistake this was among the best results of the season.

While I am not suggesting Ragnar Klavan is the long-term answer, what is patently obvious is that the Estonian does exactly what it says on the tin and that is to defend.  While Adam Lallana will rightly take the plaudits, the Estonian captain, who completed 91 per cent of his passes, went about his business in an unassuming manner.

Lovren has failed to cement his place and with a leaky defence Klavan deserves his chance to become a permanent partner to Matip and would add vital experience to Liverpool’s spine.

Man of the match:  Adam Lallana – Was brilliant from start to finish.  Always a gifted technician, the midfielder has now combined strategically clever play to stamina laden performances.  His opening goal said a lot about the power injected into his play.  Arriving late he powered through challenges to head in which was reminiscent of a former Liverpool midfielder recently retired.

With the extreme pace of Origi and Mane ahead of him stretching opponents he can operate by stealth arriving late on the scene ad nauseam bothering defences.  Origi, benefiting from a run in the side looks the real deal, with pace, power and control gives Klopp a different dimension to his attack which although without Coutinho is still based on pressing is more direct and offers up the chance to throw in the occasional long ball with a willing runner leader the line.  It’s also good to see that Origi scores ‘striker’s goals’ from inside the area.

Ragnar Klavan produced the type of steady performance which will hopefully see Lucas Leiva’s starts at central-half reduced to that of cover.   Klavan is an old-school defender who recognises the need to clear his lines and goes about his business quietly.

Teams:

Middlesbrough:  26 Valdes, 17 Barragan, 25 Chambers, 6 Gibson, 2 Fabio, 34 Forshaw, 8 Clayton (Leadbitter – 56 mins), 14 de Roon, 37 Traore, 10 Negredo (Rhodes – 77 mins), 11 Fischer (Downing – 56 mins)

Subs: 5 Bernardo, 7 Leadbitter, 9 Rhodes, 12 Guzan, 19 Downing, 24 Nsue, 35 Nugent

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 20 Lallana (Lucas – 82 mins), 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnaldum (Ejaria – 87 mins), 19 Mane, 27 Origi (Alexander-Arnold – 90+1’), 11 Firmino

Subs: 1 Karius, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 35 Stewart, 53 Ejaria, 58 Woodburn, 66 Alexander-Arnold

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Attendance: 32,704

Liverpool give West Ham an early Xmas present of a point – Liverpool 2 West Ham 2

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)

Pre-Match Thoughts: With Emre Can being out with a “non-serious” knee injury, it was good to see the returning Lallana and normally calming influence of Matip back in the starting eleven. With both Spurs and Man City dropping points this was a good opportunity to put some daylight between us and those title rivals against a West Ham side which had struggled all season but had completed the league double over us last season.

From the kick off we were back to our quick incisive passing and movement and this led to a swift attack which culminated in Mane beating his man and then crossing for Lallana who swivelled and placed a cool left foot finish into the far corner of the West Ham net for an excellent start 1-0.

Inexplicably like last weekend we took our foot off the high tempo play and let West Ham back into the game with them having a shot pushed away by Karius.

We did not heed the warning and Lallana then gave away a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of our area. West Ham’s best player Payet then curled a free kick beating the outstretched Karius for the Hammers to draw level. When you look at replays it clearly shows that Karius’s position for the free kick was too far to the left and Payet proceeded to punish him for this mistake. 1-1

We were not playing well and not creating clear chances as normal and therefore it came as no surprise when Antonio gave West Ham a 1-2 lead. West Ham’s Nortdveit’s angled driven pass from the right had been deflected off Henderson, wrongfooting completely our last man (the normally reliable) Matip in the process. This mistake allowed Antonio to run through on goal and he dinks the ball gently past the shockingly static Karius. Matip was also slow to react to the change of trajectory of the ball which ended up in our net. So for the second time in as many weeks we fall behind after leading.

There was some good play from Wijnaldum, who beats his man down the right and crosses towards Firmino. His header drifts just wide of the far post so we were showing signs of reacting to going behind.

The final main incident of the first half we were denied a penalty shout when referee Clattenburg felt that Payet hadn’t fouled Lallana in the area, whereas replays showed he had rugby tackled him.

Halftime Thoughts: We continue to let ourselves down defensively but this scoreline totally flatters West Ham. We have so far only managed one shot on target which was Lallana’s which ended up in the net.

Klavan came on for Lovren which I assume is due to a possible injury. We start the second half on the front foot and equalize very early on. Mane sends in a cross to no one in particular but the West Ham keeper spills it right in front of Origi who finishes with an assist off the post.

Moments later Wijnaldum nearly restores our lead with a shot that goes just wide of the post, we continue to dominate possession, pinning West Ham back but without getting enough clear shots on target in my opinion.

West Ham then bring on our former striker Andy Carroll to see if he can cause further havoc to our defence.

Henderson then produces a peach of a curling shot (similar to his scorcher versus Chelsea) that looks like a goal all the way until the West Ham keeper Randolph tips it over the bar.

As we approach the last 10 minutes of the game we look totally gassed and have ran out of ideas so we need our manager Klopp to influence the side by making a late couple of substitutions but surprisingly he does not do anything.

Our last real chance fell to the wrong player when Clyne plays it down the right to Mane, who crosses first time on the turn, Lallana then flicks it daintily behind him to Clyne, who as per usual panics and thrashes the ball well over the bar from the edge of the box. Clyne is a very good defender but is extremely poor at shooting.

Liverpool team: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Origi, Firmino.

Subs: Klavan on for Lovren at half time – Unused subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Lucas, Alexander-Arnold, Ejaria, Woodburn

Man of the match: Sadio Mane – the only bright light throughout our dip in form – he will be a massive loss to the side when he goes off for the African Nations in January 2017.

At the final whistle all we can do is complain about another two points thrown away with another very disappointing result but in my opinion Klopp is not helping the team by retaining the error strewn Karius in the side. Mignolet may not be the answer but surely he has more confidence than the current LFC number one.

Firmino has gone off the boil since the injury to Coutinho and Wijnaldum is a very good player but we need him to get his shooting boots on.

We are in third place in the league but missed out on the opportunity to stay with the current leaders Chelsea and now fall six points behind them and are now three points behind second placed Arsenal with us now having two tough away games over the next eight days versus Middlesborough and our local rivals Everton respectively.

Bournemouth 4 Liverpool 3: Old failings return as Liverpool throw away a golden opportunity

Liverpool’s fantastic run came to a grinding halt and how. Cruising at two-nil and then at three-one, we capitulated from the moment Ryan Fraser began to assert himself to the pace of the game.  It was embarrassing, nothing more, nothing less.

Without Joel Matip we appeared rudderless once Bournemouth began to apply pressure in the last third.  The midfield, so dominant for an hour began to leak and the defence which previously had looked granite like started to look ponderous and Bournemouth led by the impish Fraser started to pour through.

One defeat doesn’t suddenly make us a bad team or suddenly derailed our Premier League challenge, but what it does do is throw up questions.  Early days, but is Karius a top keeper or just a kicking machine with gloves on? Why is Lucas, a midfielder playing ahead of Ragnar Klavan an international centre-half and is Joel Matip so intrinsic to Liverpool that without him the spine of our  defence loses its stability?

Make no mistake the loss was devastating.  Devastating in that for seventy-five minutes, even after giving a way a trivial penalty, we purred along as if there were gears aplenty to go through.  Mane, Firmino and Origi terrorised the Bournemouth backline with Liverpool pressing to such an extent that it only seemed a matter of time before the breakthrough.  When it came it was not the intricate football we’ve become accustomed too, but a long, but cultured through ball from Emre Can from the left touch line which saw Mane running through into the area almost on top of the goal keeper to prod home.

The home team were being carved open as if Liverpool had a fleet of surgeon operating in midfield.

We were soon two-nil to the good.  With time and space to work in Henderson found Divock Origi streaking down the right-hand channel unchallenged.  Inexplicably, goalkeeper Artur Boruc flew out of his area making it easy for Origi to go around him.  What was not easy was the finish. From an acute angle and with defenders rushing back to cover the gifted striker lifted his head to gauge what was required before hitting a well struck curling effort inside the far post.  The strike was so good it looked easy.

It wasn’t a case of if Liverpool would win, but a case of by how many.  Game management seemed to kick in with Klopp’s team coasting through the rest of the half allowing Bournemouth to get a foothold, so much so that a penalty claim was waved away and on another day it could have been given.

If that was a warning of things to come Liverpool fail to take heed.  Fraser, just warming up it seemed was upended by Milner after surging past the left-back and into the area.  Callum Wilson dispatched the penalty with assurance.

Even so, there seemed very little to worry about especially when we soon regained our two goal advantage.  Mane robbed Ake and rolled the ball to Can at the edge area.  The German international with transcendent technique, squaring up to the ball arched his body to magnificently curl the ball into the top corner of the net.  It felt and appeared job done.  It wasn’t.

Liverpool almost made it four.  Milner’s corner curled in from the left was almost taken over the line by Boruc as goal-line technology showed the ball was within millimetres from assuring another away victory.

From the seventy-sixth minute onwards Liverpool proceeded to throw away their advantage.  Stuck in game management mode and with Bournemouth sensing the possibility of a comeback, the chance came which Fraser grabbed with relish slamming home the ball which bounced into his path after a goalmouth scramble.

Worryingly, even with 14 minutes left the energy of the first half was missing and the resurgent home team sought parity and looked dangerous at every turn with Liverpool being pushed back.

Two  minutes after Fraser’s star turn Bournemouth drew level with a top quality strike.  With his back to goal, Cook brought the cross down brilliantly, before swivelling and smashing home his shot pass Karius.

With time running out Origi almost pulled off a superb winner, controlling the ball on the turn in the area he volleyed over.  The ebb and flow of the game was now at a level which one would not have expected during the half and with five minutes added time, the final minutes were suddenly being played out in Liverpool’s half.

And then suddenly calamity.  A long range shot by Cook was mishandled by Karius, doing a passable impression of anyone of Liverpool’s most recent keepers, before Ake popped up to deliver the game winning goal.

Critical eye: Interesting to see that as soon as Bournemouth turned up the wick of opportunity without the poise and power of Matip in the backline Liverpool fell apart (where was Lovren?).  Without Philippe Coutinho we scored three, but it the heat of battle we lacked leaders and the defence was in capable of withstanding the home team’s direct running.

With the defence and midfield under the cosh, it was inexplicable to understand why Klavan or Ejaria weren’t used to bolster the defence and instil fresh running power in the midfield respectively.  With Lucas Leiva continually picked ahead of Klavan it begs the question what role the Estonian fills at the club.

It also begs the question just what does Dejan Lovren brings to Liverpool?  In the absence of Matip and the enforced absence of Sakho he should have been the de facto leader in the defence, but appeared as paralysed as Lucas when the heat hit the fan.

Karius was tested for the first time in a while and failed ingloriously and although a player cannot be judged on one game.  His previous weakness was thought to be from crosses, yet here he seemed slow to get down to one shot and fumbled another.  The jury is well and truly out and it would be no exaggeration to say that Liverpool have the weakest goalkeeper of any team in the top six.

Manager’s thoughts: “We opened the door and they ran through and scored some wonderful goals.  So that’s the deserved result.

“It doesn’t feel too good right now but sometimes we need it. Of course this can help us.  No roadis without rocks and stones.

“It’s three points, no more. You cannot be champions in December.

“We are not ice stating, it’s not about how it looks.  I know we can lay football.  Nothing is decided at 2-0.  The boys know now we gave it away – only because of us Bournemouth came back. It was our mistake to let them back in the game.”

Teams:

Bournemouth: 1 Boruc, 2 Francis, 3 Cook, 5 Ake, 15 Smith, 8 Arter, 4 Gosling (Afobe -75 mins), 17 King (Ibe – 45 mins), 32 Wilshere, 19 Stanislas (Fraser – 55 mins), 13 Wilson

Subs: Pugh, 9 Afobe, 14 Smith 23 Federici, 24 Fraser, 26 Mings, 33 Ibe

Liverpool: Karius, 2 Clyne, 21 Lucas, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson, 23 Can, 19 Mane (Lallana – 69 mins), Origi, 11 Firmino

Subs: 17 Klavan, Moreno, 20 Lallana, 22 Mignolet, 53 Ejaria, 58 Woodburn, 66 Alexander-Arnold

Referee: Robert Madley

Attendance: 11, 183

Liverpool 2 Leeds United 0: Origi and Woodburn see off spirited Leeds

As one would expect there was an impeccable minutes silence for the 75 people tragically killed in the plane crash in Colombia, which took the lives of members of the Chapecoense football team from Brazil.

As Karl, our Liverpool FC WhatsApp member and Brazilian expert Tom Vickery agreed the calamitous plane crash brought up memories of the Munich plane crash.

Liverpool versus Leeds from the late sixties to the mid-seventies this was arguably the biggest fixture on the Football League roster and Leeds brought the support to remind us of that fact.

In the match itself Leeds started at mile a minute forcing Liverpool’s midfield, into making mistakes by pressing and ensuring very little time could be spent on the ball.  Without the elaborate talents of the injured trio Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino we struggled to impose our quality even with a front line led by Sadio Mane and Divock Origi with Georgino Wijnaldum in support.

Make no mistake until Divock Origi and young Ben Woodburn crashed home his opening goal of what we hope will be a stellar Liverpool career this was an old school cup-tie in which we struggled to cope with the a Leeds side looking to get behind Klavan and Lucas at every opportunity. With the increasingly wobbly Moreno returning to the Liverpool fold, we struggled to cope with the well thought out game plan of Gary Monk’s charges.

Hadi Sacko produced an excellent shot well saved by Mignolet after fastening on to a deft through ball by Stuart Dallas.  Liverpool looked lightweight, unable to compete in the white hot heat of battle being generated by the Leeds travelling support given the bottom tier of the Anfield Road end.  Kenmar

Roofe also came close testing Mignolet.

Liverpool finally began to get an assemblance of a foothold in the game.  Ovie Ejaria excellent pass found Wijnaldum in space allowing the former Newcastle man to curl his shot toward the top corner before keeper Marco Silvestri produced a top class save.  As the interval approach Kelvin Phillips ill advised back pass was almost punished with Emre Can nipping in to poke the ball just wide of the far post.

There was greater urgency in the second-half from the home side almost certainly on the end of stern talking to, but try as they might Leeds looked the most likely to break the deadlock.  The lax approach which had been Liverpool’s trademark all night was there for all to see as Kevin Stewart unware of Phillips in close proximity, lost out to Phillips.  Roofe picking up the breaking ball, exquisitely curled the ball over a stranded Mignolet only to see the ball bounce out after hitting the inside of the post. A lucky break to say the least.

It was a depressing sight and on a bitterly cold night sitting in the Kop there was little to lift the spirits.  Mignolet was being kept on his toes by Leeds who were now well on top as Bartley headed wide from Charlie’s Taylor’s corner and the Liverpool keeper saving well from Roofe’s effort.

But the difference between the Premier League and the Championship is often the quality of the finishing and this was no exception.

Mane suddenly sprung to life releasing Wijnaldum charging into the area before seeing his shot rebound out of the inside of the post.

Liverpool were now looking a different proposition.  The impressive Alexander-Arnold whipped an inviting pacey cross to the near post which Origi beating off the challenge of Ayling slid in.  The sense of relief round the ground was unmistakeable.  Francoise sitting next roared her approval on her ever visit to Anfield.

Leeds, both fans and players alike were stunned having dominated the majority of the match and they were to dealt an ever harsher blow just five minutes later.

Ben Woodburn took his place in Liverpool folklore and history.  Having replaced Kevin Stewart after 67 minutes, the teenage prodigy found himself loitering with intent on the edge of the 6 yard box when Wijnaldum presented him with an early Christmas presented with a golden chance which the Wales youth international (still qualified to play for England) emphatically slammed home quietening the Leeds faithful and taking Liverpool into the semi-final of the EFL Cup of the third time in three seasons.

On nights like this we look to the positives and there were a few.

He has a long way to go, but with the continual injury woes of Daniel Sturridge and the long-term injury to Danny Ings, Woodburn’s goal at least gives us something to latch on to.  The young man usurped Michael Owen, in attendance, by 99 days as the club’s youngest ever scorer at 17 years and 45 days.

And we should not forget Trent-Alexander who looked accomplished in deputising for Nathaniel Clyne.  Just a few short years ago, the 19 year old appeared as a game day mascot.

It is not a fait accompli that the robust Jon Flanagan will return from Burnley as the back-up right-back with his lack of athleticism. His saving grace my well be his aptitude to switch over to left-back and with Moreno seemingly heading for the exit door, Klopp may see the youngster more of a fit to cover for the ever dependable James Milner.

Man of the Match: Trent-Alexander – for a midfielder he plays right-back with the ease of seasoned veteran. Composed on the ball and very rarely flustered, there was times when under pressure he sauntered away from challenges with the ease of a very cultured player.

Liverpool struggled for most of the match, but credit to the players on the scene (8 changes from the home win over Sunderland) that without the silky touches of Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana and Sturridge they found their way out of what could have been an embarrassing exit.

Liverpool 2 Sunderland 0: Liverpool grind out win against stubborn Sunderland resistance

Year in year out Steven Gerrard picked Liverpool teams up by the scruff of the deck.  The great man was in attendance today in a week in which he announced his retirement to universal praise. Up until the 75^th minute Liverpool needed a pick me up.

The pick me up when it came was instigated by Liverpool’s joint man of the match Jürgen Klopp and the Anfield faithful.  Boyed by Klopp, those inside the cauldron who had fallen silent, suddenly reacted as if branded by red hot poker.  The super charged atmosphere was all Liverpool needed to expedite a vital win.

The fluency of the brilliant front three had stalled recently with teams using the Jose Mourinho template of denying them space to operate in.  Liverpool were still without Adam Lallana and the long-term injured Danny Ings and just when it seemed a possible return may have been in the offing for Daniel Sturridge his injury jinx struck again (a thigh strain).

Liverpool enjoyed huge dollops of possession without creating a clear opening early on.  Wijnaldum, turning on a dime struck a shot just inside the area which the impressive Pickford gobbled up without any undue concern.  In a half where possession failed to relate to chances, Mane cut in from the right before his tame shot was easily saved and Lovren headed wide of the far post from a Henderson free-kick was as good as it got.  The desperate nature of Liverpool’s football was summed up by Lovren’s speculative drive from distance which flew well wide of the post.

As bad as the half was the injury picked up by Coutinho on the half hour could be disastrous to Liverpool’s season.  On one of his trademark slalom runs the Brazilian cut back inside the challenge of Jason Denayer only to be caught by Ndong on his follow through as he cleared his lines.  The instant wave to the bench suggested it was serious.  In the wake of Coutinho’s scan and the injuries to Ings and Sturridge, Origi’s importance is now vital to Liverpool’s season.

Now into the second-half, Origi was providing Liverpool with a focal point to work off.  Running the channels and getting in behind the defence allowed us to stretch the game and occupy the backline with his power and pace.

The change was effective.  Sadio Mane, subdued in the first-half began to roam firing in two early shoots in the first few minutes.

Then it was Klopp time.  Sensing his players needed help, he beckoned to the crowd to increase the decibel level.  The change was instant.

Wijnaldum in tandem with Emre Can moved further forward enabling more of attacking threat in support of the front three.  The former on the end a looped pass from the later volleyed wide of the left of the far post.

Liverpool were as dominant as they in the first-half with difference being there was now a goal threat.  Milner, Henderson and Firmino all had goal attempts.  Emre Can came close to breaking the deadlock sliding in to volley just wide.

Sunderland’s best opportunity came against the run of play.  Watmore mis-controlled at the key moment allowing Karius to bravely dive at his feet before managing to hook the ball back cross for Victor Anichebe’s shot to be charged down.

One sensed if Liverpool were to score it would take a high level of skill.  It almost came from a corner as the ball fell to Lovren, he brilliantly back heeled to Mane at the back post only for his shot to be blocked by Denayer at the last.

And then the breakthrough. The ball found its way out to Origi after Milner’s shot was blocked off by Ndong.  The Belgian fainted to go outside before cutting inside and delivered an inch perfect shot curled into the far corner.  The anxiety inside the stadium lifted as if the Anfield faithful tilted their heads back and exhaled as one.

So many times, over the past few seasons we have been on tenterhooks after dominated games at Anfield only to throw away a win.  This time we would not be denied.  Mane picked up the ball on the right-wing just inside his own half after a flick from Origi, proceeded to out run Denayer all the way into the area, before being upended by Ndong attempting to cover.

James Milner for the fifth time in the Premier League this season did the necessary from the penalty spot.

Liverpool showed they could be patient with the opposition defending stoically, but required the intervention from Klopp and those in attendance for it all to fall into place.

Man of the match: Jürgen Klopp – recognised the atmosphere had fallen flat stoked the crowed to fever pitch to drive his side over the line.  They say it’s up to the players once they get over the white line, but the manager proved he can have an influence.

The injury to Coutinho may well be a problem for the foreseeable future, but here hastened a change in formation allowing Liverpool to become more direct against a defence squeezing the front three and man marking Coutinho.  It showed the counter-pressing game is not the only way to win a match and get around stingy defences.

Teams:

Liverpool: 1 Karius, 2 Clyne, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum (Woodburn – 90+2 Mins), 14 Henderson, 23 Can, 19 Mane, 11 Firmino (Lucas – 87 mins), 10 Coutinho (Origi – 34 mins)

Subs: 17 Klavan, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 22 Mignolet, 27 Origi, 53 Ejaria, 58 Woodburn

Sunderland: 13 Pickford, 2 Jones, 23 Kone, 16 O’Shea, 3 van Aanholt, 4 Denayer, 17 Ndong, 20 Pienaar (Gooch – 79 mins), 14 Watmore (Januzaj – 79 mins), 18 Defoe, 28 Anichebe

Subsitutes: 1 Mannone, 7 Larsson, 10 Khazri, 21 Manquillo, 22 Love, 44 Januzaj, 46 Gooch

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 53, 114