Jurgen Klopp handed a debut to exciting new signing Cody Gakpo in last Saturday’s FA Cup encounter against Wolves, but it was frailties at the other end of the pitch that once again cost Liverpool dearly.
The festive period is a time for giving, and Liverpool’s defence were in particularly charitable mood against Brentford on Monday. They gifted the Bees a catalogue of goalscoring chances, and in the end the Londoners settled for three presents as they wrapped up a 3-1 victory that seriously dents Liverpool’s hopes of a top four finish.
Any notion that the World Cup break might have somehow changed the way Liverpool go about their game was quickly dispelled in their 3-1 return win against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. This was heavy metal football of the highest order, and while many were experiencing their traditional Christmas bloating on the sofa, the Reds were in fine shape as they cut through the Villains.
Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, ‘proper’ football is back! Whether you loved the World Cup or loathed it, most would agree that it’s fantastic to have the domestic club campaign back up and running.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man! In his fleeting appearances in goal for Liverpool, Caoimhin Kelleher has proven himself to be something of a master at saving penalty kicks, and the young Irishman was at it again as the Reds launched their defence of the Carabao Cup with victory over Derby County.
There was an element of good fortune about it, but Liverpool finally claimed their first away win in the Premier League this season with victory over Tottenham on Sunday. Spurs twice hit the woodwork and missed a couple of other glorious chances, but Jurgen Klopp won’t mind as his side head into the World Cup break in better heart.
This very column had written off Liverpool’s chances against Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday, and so it was only natural that the Reds would turn up and deliver one of their finest performances in some time to cap a much-needed victory.
And so it goes on. Liverpool’s lengthy wait to string quality, winning performances together goes on after they were downed 1-2 by Leeds United on Saturday evening.
Any hopes Liverpool fans had that their side had turned a corner following the enthralling victory over Manchester City were dashed in emphatic fashion by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Tricky Trees were roared on by a vociferous home ground, and the old vulnerabilities that have plagued the Reds this term resurfaced once more against an opponent that was bang up for the fight.
Liverpool shrugged off their mediocre season to date with a thrilling 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday. Anfield was the scene for an epic battle, and this was English football at its best as skill, heart and aggression were combined in front of a raucous capacity crowd.