The Manager: 10
Honest to God, when the news of the new contract dropped Friday morning, I could have cried. I could have and indeed did fucking cry. To suggest the city was in a low ebb is on a par in the old understatement ranks with saying Britain might now be in for a bit of a tough trot. I had nothing to give. Nothing. And then The Reds drop the Jürgen news.
I’m not having it that the timing was a coincidence. No fucking way whatsoever. It was the proverbial shot in the arm, a lift up off the deck, a big lovely arm around the shoulder followed by a massive big cuddle.
It was frankly one of the greatest acts of compassion I have ever seen by one of the greatest managers in the mighty Reds’ history and possibly the greatest fella alive today. A hero, a leader, the greatest there is and I reckon I will be forever grateful, you know.
That said, imagine The Blues there Friday morning. Double fucking whammy. Hard lines, boys.
Alisson: 9
As my good mate Scouse Charms says, probably there listening to his iPod all game, bit of George Benson on the go, freezing, then makes two one-on-one saves whereby he somehow inflates his body to the size of a Gorilla. Incredible.
Trent: 7
Got roasted a few times by that little blue nose ferret out of ice age, but does well at times also. Didn’t have much protection in front of him all game really until Sadio went out there at the end. Tried a few of them lovely pings but it wasn’t the day for it today, what with there being a fucking ice hurricane on the go.
Joe Gomez: 8
I thought he did well in trying circumstances. Defended front foot really well but struggled a few times on the ball. The one where Robbo floated one across the back onto his head in a wind tunnel was a nice touch. Great last-ditch block first half to save a goal.
Virgil: 8
Passed one past Alisson and out for a corner and fumbled on the ball a few times but other than that was flawless. Loved the one where their quick fella squared him up and tried to beat him for pace and he eased him onto the floor. Like getting hit by a piano.
James Milner: 7
Celebrated his new contract by looking like his legs had rusted first ten minutes. Looked like he’d forgotten how to play but then I realised it was probably down to the fucking Fremantle Doctor blowing a gale every time he tried to control it. Like trying to play footy with a balloon on the top of Snowdon. Better when he went in midfield.
Gini: 7
Mopped up well in the deeper role, but it was like a pinball in that midfield at times. I think it’s hard to appreciate how difficult it is to play footy in wind that strong. Everything about how you normally set yourself, read the ball, everything is threw off. Shame he is hurt as we will need him but not till Leicester.
Hendo: 7
See above with added shouting and casing the referee for pretty much everything he did, which in fairness gets him another point.
That referee mate, one bad Bluenose, him. Was proper fuming when the second VAR got given. Fucking lashed the ball away “What is it ref?” “Fuck’s sake, fucking spawny cunts” “Have another look George, twiddle the lines around a bit” Deffo a goal, yer? Fucking lashed the ball and flounced off – hahaha.
Shaq: 6
Couple of nice touches and an absolute whopper of a ball in for the disallowed Mane one aside, he struggled today. Offered not a great deal without the ball and was hardly on the ball at all.
Bobby: 8
Playing a deeper role he got involved in them snidey areas and picked it up well in between their midfield and attack. Lovely reverse overhead hook thing to set Sadio away in the buildup to the first. Looked sharper and closer to his best all game.
Sadio: 8
Both passes for the goals are tremendous. Easy to delay the first one a little minute and the danger is gone. Only one who didn’t really struggle with the wind. Unlucky with the one he dinks over the keeper where he just can’t get it. Hard lines for the VAR goal. Needs spewing that, doesn’t it?
Mo: 9
Gets less than fucking nothing off that referee, but then what do you expect? The finish for the first is sublime. Reckons he got lucky, you make your own luck Mo.
It really is amazing that he is the only centre forward in the league whose face, head, neck the opposition defenders are allowed to literally smother, grab and strangle with their bare hands. Quite the sneaky rule amendment that one.
Fucking lashing the million dollar dream on him. Trying to lash 20s in his grid but he’s too busy ignoring you and flicking it in the net. He probably should have at least 38 penalties per league season.
The backheel megs for the second one, la. The defender should have had his power supply unswitched for that one, Matrix style. Proper shady.
SUBS
Ox:
Great ball through to Sadio for the second.
Div:
Shite shot but great movement for the Mo goal.
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shaq worked his arse off. watch it back. at least 8/10 for attitude alone.
He ran a lot. And made that one sublime cross for Mane. Other than that, he wasn’t involved in the game, neither defensively or in attack.
Running around without purpose is just headless chicken stuff.
Another performance that vindicates Klopp in not trusting him in this team on most occasions.
Hes constantly on the wrong side. He gets drawn to the ball way too much. Its never been really what he can do with the ball its what he doesnt do without it.
I can guarantee klopp and his analysts must pull their hsir out on a Monday review session.
But was never at the races for anything, literally anything other than this disallowed goal. Don’t get me wrong, I really am hoping Shaqiri is going to have a blinder in every game, but today he was poor.
Let him have the ball on the left and cross it. Someone for sure will nod the ball into net every time. Gini did against Barca. Mane did yesterday (offiside my foot!).
Shaq is a more than adequate back-up. When needed, he can deliver
Apparently it was Mane’s armpit or hip, after a load of jiggery pokery with lines drawn at slight angles away from his body… So it wasn’t your foot that was offside but with bent bastards operating VAR (Jon cheating bastard Moss on this occasion, him of countless dodgy decisions against us) then who knows it may well have been.
Great one again. Have to disagree with the Firmino rating though. Easily the worst of our attacking players today. 6/10 performance at most and a slight worry with his form over the past couple months.
Still, 10 points clear of 2nd is a great place to be and whinging about Firmino is inconsequential. Up the mighty Reds!!
Spot on
spot on..bobby needs a rest, then he’ll be back stronger.
but jeez – this team, this manager, these stats. UNREAL
massively spot on. bobby needs a rest, big time.
Nothing ran for Bobby today, literally nothing. He should have squared that one 2nd half he was set up for. All he had to do was roll it to Ox who had an open goal. Not Bobby’s day today, for literally anything.
Firmino was absolutely crap for half an hour, but his ball for the first goal was unbelievable. Like I don’t think any of our other players – bar maybe Trent – would’ve even tried it.
After that he was up and down, and his form isn’t great this season, but I’m not worried about him – he’ll get better soon.
He will Si… form is temporary. Bobby will come good.
Spot on ratings. Thought Mo was superb today and great to see he’s found his eye for goal again (did he ever loose it though?).
Not really sure why some seem down on Bobbys performances lately. Guess it’s his goal return. Tbh I’ve given up worrying about individual performances since we win every game now. What’s to criticise? An off game or 2 then back too, they’re all the same. What a team.
As for klopp.. amazing timing. Looks like the rest of the league will be in for a bit of a tough trot for the foreseeable future.
Hi Ben, Glad you equally are spelling it out how anything goes when tackling Salah. Head locks, arm bars, knocking him down with a 4×4 Range Rover, piley-on, dropping a safe on him, ala Road Runner stylee. It’s now gone beyond a joke what they can do to Mo in the name of stopping him and the officials just wave play on.
“dropping a safe on him, ala Road Runner stylee”
Hahahahaha
Agree with ratings except for Bobby F. It seems every 5 or 6 games he has one where he stinks the place out. Today was that day. He should’ve been replaced 15 mins earlier. Otherwise upwards and onwards!
Bobby wasnt at it today. Poor by his standards 5.5 for me