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LFC 22/23 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #22

A win on the Tyne, dismantled by the sublime. And still the team is having a torrid time. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool Football Club.

The Good

Eking out a 0-2 away victory against Newcastle United on Saturday. The Reds notched up their second league win in a row in recent weeks that had seen them get only seven points from their last six games. Or, seven points from the last 18 available, depending on which way around you want to look at it. Either way it sucks.

Two goals from new boys Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo were enough to give Liverpool a hard-fought win. One would have thought that Nick Pope’s red card – apart from costing me -4 points in the Fantasy Football League, would have made things easier for the visiting side. That proved not to be the case.

Newcastle to their credit, took the game to their visitors in the hope of salvaging something positive from their plight. However, contrary to recent form, Liverpool stupid firm and returned to Merseyside victorious.

The Reds now occupy eighth spot in the Premier League as their season of mediocrity looks as if it may have reached a pivotal point. Hopefully this won’t turn out to be the (train) light at the end of the tunnel type scenario as we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Jürgen Klopp’s side this season.

The Bad

The dismantling of the team by Real Madrid in the last 16 first leg tie at Anfield on Tuesday. The Reds were left humiliated after suffering a 2-5 reversal at the hands of their Spanish rivals.

Liverpool were looking in good shape as goals from Núñez and Mo Salah put the hosts in the driving seat. But, as the old saying goes: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is…

Then, over the course of the next 70 minutes, came arguably the most abject performance from any Liverpool team I think I’ve ever seen. A world class finish from Vinicius Junior signalled trouble ahead for Klopp and the boys.

A calamitous pass from Alisson gifted Real the equaliser, as it cannoned off Vinicius and into the Liverpool goal. The third goal must rank among the worst I’ve ever witnessed from them. Four or five static Liverpool defenders in front of the goal, watching as Eder Militao waltzed in front of them to head home.

Two further goals from Karim Benzima sealed the crushing defeat. Real jubilant. Liverpool humiliated and embarrassed.

Defeat doesn’t come any worse than this. I’d say this even ranked above the 7-2 drubbing from Aston Villa a couple of years back. This brings us sadly on to…

The Ugly

Ugly. Defined in the Oxford Dictionary as: unpleasant to look at. This defeat to Real Madrid was more than that.

It was a humiliation of the first order. Embarrassing. Humbling. Shocking. Demeaning. Painful. Not light words but fitting for such a poor display. If this doesn’t shock this shower of a football team into a meaningful response, nothing will.

In truth as I’ve maintained, this Liverpool teams demise goes back to the selling of Gini Wijnaldum and replacing him with Thiago. Probably one of the worst pieces of business since David Moores sold the club to two blokes called Gillett and Hicks.

A 50+ game-a-season player, replaced with an ageing fancy-Dan has-been who can’t play more than five games without retreating to the sanctuary of the injury room.

In addition to that, the sale of Sadio Mané who, many would agree, was a more useful player than Salah. The latter now spending most of his time by bumping into defenders and appealing for non-existent penalties.

The team is exhausted. The exploits of last season, coupled with a lack of investment in fresh and immediately useable talent had taken its toll. For me, this season is finished. Over. The girl has left the apartment leaving an empty void.

Let’s see how this lot react. Their on the ropes now. Body shots a plenty have sapped their energy, along with a few good bops on the nose. Is there a haymaker left in this team?

YNWA

Ben Green

Avid LFC supporter for 50 of his 53 years. Seen it all, ups and the downs. Now praying for a return to winning ways. Whichever way it comes!

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