Liverpool’s victory against Pep Guardiola’s somewhat passive Manchester City was based around a mobile front three that dropped back to help out in midfieldIt was somewhat surprising that Liverpool and Manchester City, two teams renowned for their attacking firepower and defensive shortcomings, produced only three shots on target combined in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory on New Year’s Eve. But that statistic should be considered evidence of Liverpool’s excellent game management – after going ahead in the eighth minute through Georginio Wijnaldum’s bullet header from Adam Lallana’s left-wing cross, they shut down the game impressively.In truth, Pep Guardiola’s side had started better and Wijnaldum’s goal was somewhat against the run of play. But thereafter, Liverpool’s first-half performance was outstanding, a brilliant demonstration...
Manchester City tried to attack Liverpool’s converted left-back but not only did James Milner contain Raheem Sterling, he set the tone for a controlled victoryLiverpool have so many attacking players of pace and quality they can make light of the absence of Philippe Coutinho and leave Daniel Sturridge on the bench for long periods. They would probably find it hard to be as effective without James Milner, though. The converted full-back is, as his spoof Twitter persona suggests, Mr Dependable. Now operating in a new position at the fifth Premier League club of his remarkable career, Milner will not have surprised anyone at the club he left to join Liverpool.The former Manchester City player is so much more than a...
Leicester City’s title win was every bit the fairy story, as was Wales’ run at Euro 2016, but England displayed their unerring ability to ruin the moodThe year 2016 was a terrific one for the Premier League and a terrible 12 months for English football. Leicester City’s title success was every bit the fairytale, the perfect antidote to long-held and justifiable fears that ordinary clubs could no longer dream of glory as the bigger institutions and the Champions League elite had effectively ringfenced all the prizes worth winning. Related: A 2016 football moment to remember: Dejan Lovren sets the Kop on fire | Paul Doyle Arsenal and Tottenham are particularly guilty of dithering instead of cashing in on managerial changes elsewhereI've...
Two of the Premier League’s highest scorers meet at Anfield on New Year’s Eve. It promises to be an explosive encounter in a tightly fought title contestOne can only imagine how many dustbins have been kicked and desks banged by Sky Sports’ department for hyperbole as they come to terms with not having the rights to show the New Year’s Eve game between Liverpool and Manchester City. After Red Monday and Mersey Monday this could have been Shit-hot Saturday. Instead BT Sport is broadcasting it and no doubt banking on a sizeable number of people tuning in before heading out to celebrate the arrival of 2017. Related: Daniel Sturridge happy with Liverpool support role as he nears full fitness Continue...
Leicester hope to party like it’s 1963, Liverpool must find a way to stop Joe Allen scoring and it is eight years since Phil Brown’s infamous Hull City team talkEvery year for more than half a century folks have been hoping for a repeat of the Boxing Day fun of 1963, when the 10 top-flight fixtures produced a record tally of 66 goals. We can’t get an exact repeat of that this year because half of the teams who were in the First Division back then are now in the lower leagues (although, as it happens, Ipswich and Fulham are meeting in the Championship this Boxing Day so Mick McCarthy could point to progress if his team do better than...