[ad_1]
Do not panic. Try to stay calm.
It seems like every day there is a new addition to Liverpool’s injury crisis, another note or element that brings with it a sense of pessimism.
Latest update: Jordan Henderson will miss the Leicester game with a groin injury. Oh, and Neco Williams was left out of the Wales international game after he “took a hit” on the foot this week in training, according to interim Wales manager Rob Page.
Both are hard shots, although, obviously, Henderson’s injury is of much greater importance.
It’s easy to think that with Henderson added to the injuries of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago Alcantara and the uncertain physical fitness records of Joel Matip and Naby Keita, not to mention COVID-positive from Mohamed Salah. proof, that Liverpool’s season is on the brink.
And in a way it is. But in another, the club remains brilliantly prepared.
Going beyond Leicester on Sunday and Atalanta the following Wednesday is the key. That is the pivot point. After that, the list of matches opens favorably. 20 points out of the next 24 available should be the goal; adding more is within reach. That would leave the club with 37 points heading into the New Year, just in traditional title form.
That injuries and fitness problems have clumped together is what hurts. That this was always going to happen given the demands of the season hurts more. But there is a way for Liverpool to get through this crisis, and it is worth remembering that other clubs are going through similar problems. And those who have yet to receive a series of seven or eight injuries in a short span will likely have to deal with one before the season is out, such are the demands of this fractured, clustered and frenzied year.
Leicester is huge. Comes in a Really A difficult moment for Klopp, but I have the feeling, at least for me, that it is a cup final. Just win, baby. After that, things will start to look better.
Leicester is dealing with its own injury problems, all in the top departments; four of them in areas, for players, that change Leicester from a playful, possible title contender to the boring side, we should shoot these.
Injuries are increasing at Manchester United too. Now there are up to nine members of the first team with physical fitness problems. Arsenal have seven. Brighton is at nine. Crystal Palace is at eight.
Both Man City and Chelsea have just four injuries on the agenda, but it is unlikely to stay that way for the rest of the season.
And then there are the Spurs, who haven’t had to deal with a ton of injuries, but have a problem of their own on the horizon: tough games. With the help of Joel on the recent Liverpool.com podcast, here are the Spurs’ next eight Premier League games ahead of the New Year:
-
City of man (H)
-
Chelsea (A)
-
Arsenal (H)
-
Crystal Palace (A)
-
Liverpool (A)
-
Leicester (H)
-
Wolves (A)
-
Fulham (H)
Oh! That’s a rough streak of games. And there are a lot of grueling Europa League matches in the mix. Given that streak, it’s not out of the question that the Spurs could lose four or five games over the next month and a bit. Could they lose points in five games? That is not unreasonable.
Your content written from Liverpool, but done differently and straight to your inbox.
You know what it is about, that it offers you the best in-depth, alternative and current content, but it also takes Liverpool, the Football Club and the city to wherever you are in the world.
If you’re too busy to scroll or search, simply sign up for our newsletter to receive your daily selection of written content, from transfers to tactics, delivered right to your inbox. You will also receive a weekly summary personally written by the editor, as well as the opportunity to stay up-to-date with any of the latest offers and exclusives we have.
All angles of the champions covered.
For all Liverpool fans on the planet.
How do you register?
It’s easy and only takes a few seconds.
Just type your email address in the box at the top of this article and click “Subscribe.”
And that’s it, you are ready.
Man City and Chelsea will float; they are the two most likely to hold a title challenge in 2021. Next month or so will tell us how serious the Spurs title challenge really is, and will tell us if Leicester is capable of overcoming a plague of injuries . too. Will either of them remain on the list in January, when Liverpool can add reinforcements? They could – they should – but there is a clear path for both of them to fall.
That leaves Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in a good position heading into the New Year, even though things feel tough with all the injuries.
It reaches January. Regroup. Examine the landscape. And then it’s time to go. Then we will know the true picture of the race for the title.
The important point is that this moment is not as bad as it seems. If Liverpool collapsed on this side against a beaten Leicester, would they feel comfortable?
Alisson
James Milner / Joel Matip / Nat Phillips or Rhys Williams / Andy Robertson
Naby Keita / Gini Wijnaldum
xherdan Shaqiri
Diogo Jota / Roberto Firmino / Sadio Mané
There are flaws, but it’s still an excellent side, a sign of the depth that Klopp and Michael Edwards have built. Against a team with its own injury concerns, that team should be good enough to score three points. And given that the rest of the run-up to Christmas is set up for the top Premier League contenders, it’s a result that would be worth far more than those three points alone.
What I’m reading …
This week we’re making our own personal time capsules tied to Kirby’s new training ground. Dan Morgan’s capsule was on the verge of perfection (which makes writing mine today difficult).
An interesting look at how Klopp will have to alternate his use of central defense, who plays and how he plays, depending on the opposition.
Joel Rabinowitz’s column on David Alaba was excellent. I’m with Joel on this: Alaba is an outstanding defender at the peak of his power. Any concerns about age (he’s only 28), wages, etc. it must be set aside. Its versatility Y his ability would make him the perfect signing.
What I’m hearing …
This was a fascinating and informed insight into what the future of baseball could look like (if it can get beyond the David Samon kind of sleaze).
[ad_2]
