It’s funny how since I started writing about Liverpool I’ve watched far fewer matches, last year I saw nearly every game. The game vs Watford turned out comfortably, though plenty of us fans were sweating as the end was on the horizon the scores remained level. A 3-0 victory on paper will look comfortable when viewed by history, and in truth it was another game Liverpool controlled, but I was nervous for a while as I scrolled down the info on my phone for an update.
Mo Salah got another and is now gaining momentum, scoring more regularly and adapting to a change of role compared to last year. I backed him to be top scorer and I don’t fear for my money yet, I think he’ll continue to bag goals as long as he’s fit, and will be fighting for top scorer status again. Trent scored a cracking free kick which was his second goal in a week. I said earlier in the season that we’ll probably see him move to a more advanced role, because he has so much to offer. Gaining his experience in a full back position could see him do a Gareth Bale is what I said. If he continues getting a few and creating chances, don’t be surprised if that move upfield happens.
The attention now turns to a massive game versus Paris St Germain. A late winner at Anfield sealed a deserved victory that was nearly snatched away at the last minute. However, Liverpool’s away form has been poor in the Champions League, with a late loss at Napoli probably another deserved result, in the wrong direction. And the Red Star Belgrade debacle needs no further discussion. Arriving in the pub and seeing Liverpool already 2-0 down is not something I’m used to.
)As a Liverpool fan the news that Neymar and Mbappe might both miss out due to injury certainly got our tails up, but ultimately we are neither surprised nor bothered by their availability. They were largely contained at Anfield, and while they might pose more of a threat on their own turf, I also feel that the chance for some counter-attacking football could suit Liverpool, as PSG will undoubtedly have decent possession. Last season saw some scintillating counter-attacking football, which helped boost the goal difference in some games and decimate the confidence of the opposition. Playing a team who you know can destroy you with pace and speed on the counter means teams are caught between wanting to attack but fear of getting punished. This year that threat hasn’t been so prevalent, the Liverpool team instead beating teams through solidity and patience, wearing teams down at both ends of the pitch. But it’s still there, and with Salah finding his scoring touch, Firmino back on the score sheet, and Mane declared fit to train and no doubt play, our front three is just as much to be feared as theirs. If Liverpool were to sell Salah or Mane they’d both fetch values pushing the closer to Mbappe and Neymar than most others in the world would.
I’m not a watcher of football outside of Liverpool games, so I can only pick up knowledge about European teams from reading and hearing what people have to say. Based on that approach, I see that PSG still have a few demons to offload in the Champions League. In the second Guardian article in two days about PSG (rather than about their English opposition, strange that I think) I hear that interviewee Meunier says it would be catastrophic if they didn’t qualify from the group, and I understand why. With so much money spent, that is the real objective, just as it is for Man City. The oil sheiks want to secure ultimate glory in exchange for what they’ve spent. Reading the words from Meunier though, you can sense the inferiority complex when he talks about (I paraphrase) ‘going into the Europa League would give a better chance of winning a trophy, though there are some tough teams in there too, like Arsenal and Chelsea’.
It is this perception which tends to catch out the newcomers trying to buy a place in European footballing royalty. You can spend millions flaunting your wealth, but you’ll never be what you pertain to. In football it takes a long time for money invested to seep through to affect historical perceptions. Chelsea have won a European Cup and Europa league, for all that money spent over a decade. It took a long time and steady building of reputation before they achieved it. Barcelona themselves don’t fare as well as Real Madrid because their history is recent, despite having the best team consistently for over a decade. Even Man Utd managed just 2 European Cups in all of Fergie’s time, despite dominating English football for so long and being one of the richest clubs in the world.
So, back to the match between PSG and Liverpool – I think it’s going to be tough for Liverpool to take a win, but won’t be surprised if they do. A draw would be a decent result. But there’s a lot of pressure on PSG and I expect their manager Tuchel to get a response from them. However, he has a record of three late-in-the-match losses v Liverpool so far…