Three weeks ago, Georginio Wijnaldum scored a delicate, delightful lob against Bournemouth.
If it was an early contender for Liverpool's Goal of 2019 award, it is the only candidate for one title: it is the only goal their midfielders have scored in this calendar year.
Over the season, the six - Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Wijnaldum - have only eight in all competitions, and three of those were Milner's penalties.
The Manchester City quartet of Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva and Bernardo Silva have 25 among them.
Manchester United midielder Paul Pogba, with 14, has almost twice as many goals as the whole Liverpool midfield.
All of which exacerbates the importance of the Reds' front three. When the forwards are firing, it matters not if their supporting cast are drawing blanks.
Yet when Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are subdued, as they were when none recorded a shot on target against United last week, no one else compensates.
Virgil van Dijk's brace against Watford on Wednesday were the defence's first goals of 2019.
Liverpool's midfielders have a combination of attributes, with one notable exception: goalscoring.
The indispensable Wijnaldum was more potent for Newcastle and PSV Eindhoven. Now he does everything except find the net regularly.
Fabinho has excelled after a slow start. Milner began the season well. Henderson, as his man-of-the-match display against Bayern Munich indicates, is under-rated.
Only the injury-hit Lallana and Keita feel like disappointments, but even then, the summer signing has shown more promise of late.
While Xherdan Shaqiri had an excellent autumn, he was really a forward - Liverpool have never really replaced Philippe Coutinho, who contributed 12 goals in his final half-season alone.
The Brazilian's capacity to produce something from nothing, often with long-range shots, added another dimension and would have been useful on the days when the forward three were blunted.
Coutinho was disproportionately prolific in bigger games, too, and it is no coincidence that he scored three times against Everton.
Last summer, Liverpool almost signed Nabil Fekir to be the most attacking of the three midfielders. The move broke down and the Frenchman instead has 11 goals for Lyon this season.
Liverpool may have hoped for a similar impact from Keita, whose explosiveness helped him register eight for RB Leipzig last season.
Instead, as they look for end-of-season impetus, it may come from a 2017 arrival.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in training. He will not feature yet but, if he can recapture the form he showed 12 months ago, including two fine goals against City, he might help render the midfield less barren.
Because, while Jurgen Klopp's workhorses form the supply line to Salah and company, they also leave them with too much of the responsibility for finishing.
EVERTON V LIVERPOOL
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, Monday, 12.15am
Real Madrid fans display a giant banner thanking Jose Mourinho during his last La Liga match in charge, in 2013. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images China. Mourinho still has a big reputation in China even if it is not as esteemed as it once was. However, Mourinho in China would make for thrilling viewing.
Football: United confirm huge Mourinho payoff; 'Class of 92
Ex-United star denies homophobia after spat with PSG
Should You Play Hard to Get? Given these results, it appears that some of the behaviors and tactics associated with playing hard to get succeed in making someone more desirable as a date or
How to Play Hard to Get and Why It Works | Psychologia
Home Sport Football Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns Manchester Mourinho on December 19 and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. complacent and take their foot off
Solskjaer Warns United Players Over Complacency - Channels
Billing, 22, received online racial abuse late on Tuesday from someone claiming to be one of the Yorkshire club's fans. "We're aware of the racist message sent to Philip Billing over social media
Huddersfield condemn racist abuse of Billing - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/13/huddersfield-condemn-racist-abuse-of-billing/
"We're aware of the racist message sent to Philip Billing over social media on Tuesday evening and have subsequently referred the case to West Yorkshire Police," said a Huddersfield statement issued Wednesday. "Huddersfield Town does not tolerate abuse of any kind and has a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of discrimination.
Huddersfield ace Philip Billing exposes sick racist abuse
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital. By AFP Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3.
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/08/neymar-visits-recovering-pele-in-hospital/
Paris (AFP) - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on Monday of himself alongside a smiling Pele in his hospital bed with the two holding hands.
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital - msn.com
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Kevin De Bruyne's timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive period.. Read more
Man City star Kevin De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put
Watford brought West Ham United's streak of Premier League success to an abrupt halt with a surprise 2-0 win at the London Stadium on Saturday thanks to a first-half Troy Deeney penalty and a late Gerard Deulofeu clincher.
West Ham United vs. Watford - Football Match Summary
Football: Saudi Arabia show title credentials with 4-0 win over 10-man North Korea in Asian Cup opener Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari scores their third goal against North Korea during the AFC
Saudi Arabia - Football - BBC Sport
Qatar will not take a decision on whether to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams from 32 until it has seen the details of a feasibility study from FIFA, an official from the country's World Cup organising committee said on Monday.
FIFA to make decision on expanding 2022 World Cup in June
Lions have nothing to lose against Oman, says Nazri Share KUALA LUMPUR, 22 MARCH 2019 - Singapore head coach Nazri Nasir has urged the Lions to believe that they are capable of springing a surprise against Oman in the final of the AIRMARINE Cup 2019 tomorrow night.
Football: Singapore put up good show to hold Oman before
The best quarterbacks in the USAs National Football League practice with their receivers over and over again in order to get a feel for their tendencies and competencies. Top QBs and receivers read the defensive scheme and body language of defenders to find the best place on the field to throw and catch the football.
NBA Finals 2019: Warriors may have just begun greatest
Klopp calm for the run-in LONDON • The Premier League title race is the most competitive it has been for years, but Jurgen Klopp is not having a "heart attack" whenever he hears nearest challengers Manchester City have won.
John Barnes urges calm from Liverpool fans in title run-in
Patrice Evra has hit back at accusations of homophobia after Paris Saint-Germain blasted the former France captain for calling the Ligue 1 club "a bunch of queers" in the aftermath of its Champions League exit to Manchester United.
Evra denies homophobia after social media spat with PSG
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen