Striker moves with thoroughbred assurance to lift Manchester City in the face of ferocious Liverpool’s muscular approachGame on. At a frantic, slightly wild Etihad Stadium Manchester City defibrillated their own hopes of retaining the title with a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool that was by turns fearful, fretful and often funny.That they did so owed much to their fighting spirit, a little more to good fortune and even more to Sergio Agüero, the blue-grey rinse at the front of this team who played for 45 minutes like the only City player not afraid of the moment, still cold and cool in the middle of all that fury – of which there was quite a lot. Related: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: Premier...
Signing for Juventus was among the personal highlights but racism against Kalidou Koulibaly was a sad way to end the yearThe turn of the year left behind 12 months to remember personally on and off the field but also from a wider perspective in football.On the pitch if I could summarise 2018 in one word it would be progress. Progress for the England men’s team who, perhaps unexpectedly, reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. They continued that momentum by qualifying for the Nations League finals beating top nations such as Spain with the exciting, fearless brand of football we have all been craving to see from England. I was fortunate to be at many of England’s games in Russia...
Jürgen Klopp’s men face Manchester City as unbeaten league leaders and no one has played more of a part in that than their Dutch midfielderIn every title-winning team there is a player whose crucial contribution is largely overlooked by the wider public. A subtle operator among the standout performers who generates few headlines and even fewer accolades. But the fans love him, as does the manager, because they know without him there would be no success, no glory, no shiny silver trophy in the middle of May.It is too early to decide who that figure is in Liverpool’s current side, mainly because it is too early to say for sure that Liverpool are going to win the title. But ahead...
Pursuit of league title has been based on a formidable defence but Jürgen Klopp’s forward line is hitting collective stride tooIt was fitting the Roberto Firmino no-look finish returned to Anfield on the day Liverpool threatened to disappear from view in the title race. Arsenal were annihilated with a swagger and a smile and the Brazilian forward was their tormentor once again. He could not have timed a return to centre stage any better.When Jürgen Klopp claimed Liverpool had room for improvement before Arsenal’s latest ravaging at Anfield it was his forward line, and arguably Firmino in particular, he had in mind. Liverpool’s pursuit of that elusive 19th league championship has been based so far on a formidable defence –...
In an extract from his new autobiography, John Arne Riise gives his account of the extraordinary bust-up that overshadowed Liverpool’s Champions League visit to Barcelona in 2007The team travelled to the Algarve to recharge for our Champions League match against Barcelona. For five days we were going to do some light training, play golf, relax in the sun and socialise. That was the plan.We stayed at Barringtons Golf and Spa hotel, which was located in an exclusive resort called Vale do Lobo. I shared a room with Daniel Agger. On Thursday it was decided we should have a team dinner without the trainers and managers. At these dinners the players were allowed to have a beer or two, something I...