LFC 22/23 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #1
A first game choke in the smoke. The new boy’s style raises a smile, but the team’s groove has to improve. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The first gameweek reviewed at Liverpool Football Club
The Good
Believe it or not, the 2-2 draw away at newly-promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Liverpool struggled in the London sun against their spirited hosts.
“The most positive thing about the game was the result…”
After a pulsating game that saw his men come from behind twice to rescue a point Jürgen Klopp was in philosophical mood post match. “The most positive thing about the game was the result, so I’m fine with a point” said the boss as he accepted his Liverpool side we’re fortunate to come away with anything this fixture.
After such a convincing win over Manchester City in the Community Shield the previous weekend, this weeks performance was in stark contrast. Bad luck mixed with sloppy passing and poor decision-making meant Liverpool we’re always chasing this game.
Having fallen behind in the first half when Trent Alexander-Arnold was out-muscled at the far post, a superb second half goal from new signing Darwin Núñez got the struggling Reds back into the game.
The Reds are forced to settle for a point on the opening day.#FULLIV pic.twitter.com/8Xi5pYutEY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2022
Mo Salah’s sixth opening day goal in as many years spared Liverpool’s blushes after falling behind again, to a dubious penalty. Jordan Henderson’s superb long-ranged effort almost sealed the win for Klopp’s side but, to be fair, this would have been hugely unfair to Fulham.
Not the best start but to be honest, it could be worse. Just ask Manchester United’s Eric ten Hag!
The (Not) Bad
The performance of Darwin Núñez against Fulham. It’s clear Klopp (despite the current injury situation), does not want to put too much pressure on the young Uruguayan’s shoulders.
Roberto Firmino was given the nod to start along side Luis Diaz and Salah, a move that didn’t really work out (see The Ugly below). Once Núñez and young Harvey Elliott were introduced, Liverpool looked like a different team.
GOAL Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (64 mins)
Darwin Nunez nets his first for Liverpool in the #PL, turning the ball in from Mohamed Salah's low cross#FULLIV
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 6, 2022
However, if he’s going to have the impact he had on Saturday, then the manager would be crazy to leave him out against Crystal Palace in the next fixture – especially given it’s the first home fixture of the campaign.
The Ugly
Saturday’s performance at Fulham. It was a performance which we as fans would normally criticise to the hilt. Players that we one week before adored are now total w&@kers and not worth a light.
But this time it’s different. The showing was bad. I think the only two decent bits of football they played resulted in goals, or hitting the bar/post. Could and should the team have played better? Absolutely. Was I mad? Absolutely not.
An #LFC performance that left Jurgen Klopp 😠!
Will his team find their mojo in their first 🏠 game in #GW2?
#PL #PassionUnlimited #FULLIV pic.twitter.com/VuIfVIyhxX— Star Sports Football (@StarFootball) August 8, 2022
After the game, when asked about Henderson’s near winner near the end, Klopp said something along the lines of: it’s better that we’d lost and realised there was something to fix rather than having won and papered over the cracks.
That is the brutal truth of the matter and well done Klopp for admitting to, and exposing it. That is this week’s Ugly. The fact that something negative is sometimes required to help us see what’s good. Better now than in April.
While You’re Here…
The fourth and latest edition of the, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: 2nd – And The Cup Double, is now available on Amazon as an eBook (€5), paperback (€11.99) and on Apple Books (eBook €5).
Secure your copy now!
