Key events
Klopp speaks!
Righto, our report is in, which means I’m out. Thank you all for your company and comments – sorry I can’t use them all. Peace.
On BT they go after Alexander-Arnold for letting Alvarez run away from him, but Rio Ferdinand points out that when he was playing he would tell his full-back to go for the ball and he would cover space behind saying “If I’m not here you can yell at me.” He’s not sure if Matip volunteered to do it, so he’s also guilty.
Tell you what, I really enjoyed both of these games. Given that I too am getting older and more and more jaded, I feel like I can believe myself when I say I’ve seen a lot of good games this season already – in the Premier League, but also around and in Europe. .
“Re: When Liverpool were at their best,” Kevin Smallman tweets, “their victory against Man City when they were far from winning the League. With Loris Karius in goal! Klopp has managed them brilliantly since then, but they haven’t really played better than that.
They also played brilliantly, but not – in mine – as often.
Looking at the tables, Napoli will go clear on six at the top of Group A if they can win in Glasgow tomorrow night. This will put them in a very strong position; Liverpool and Ajax have three each, but as below, if any of those drop points against Rangers it will cost them qualification. Otherwise, I have no idea who qualifies.
Brugge, meanwhile, are clear top of Group B, with Leverkusen and Atlético at three and Porto at none; Bayern have beaten Inter and Barca so they’re almost over already – they almost certainly will be by the time they beat Plzen twice in their next two games, which means the double header between the two more will likely decide which team joins them.
Otherwise, Sporting lead Group d with six; Spurs and Eintracht have three, Marseille none.
Tonight’s ranked football results (read by your in-house voice James Alexander Gordon)
Champions League Group A
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax Amsterdam
Champions League Group B
Porto 0-4 Club Brugge
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Group C
Bayern Munich 2-1 Barcelona
Viktoria Plzen 0-2 Internazionale
Champions League Group D
Sporting Clube de Portugal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Marseille 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
“Yes, the best period for this Liverrpol team was this period from the break-in of the 2018-19 season until the defeat against Watford,” said Patrick Crumlish. “Haven’t they lost just two points at Old Trafford in over 30 league games? Won the Champions League and Club World Cup in that run and won the league a few months later. I won’t take that again.
Those are pretty much my thoughts, although I’d say they weren’t as good in 19-20 as they were in 18-19 – they won loads of games by a weird goal, which says a lot about the monstrosity of the mentality, but I don’t think they were that dominant in the 90s.
If Liverpool can beat Rangers twice – their double header is approaching – they will be almost done. Unless everyone beats Rangers twice, in which case the mini-league with Ajax and Napoli will also be tight.
Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atlético Madrid
Good return from Leverkusen after their defeat against Brugge.
Full-time: Marseille 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
With two defeats in two matches, Marseille is almost gone.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Jurgen Klopp hits the air – he and his team needed it.
Full-time: Porto 0-4 Club Brugge
Now.
How important this could be for Liverpool. They played pretty well tonight, but had they drawn they would have been under pressure to escape the group. They are almost there…
Full-time: Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona
It was a brilliant victory for Bayern, who were lucky enough to be in the game at half-time but improved it afterwards. However, Barça is growing.
GOALS! Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Andrich 84, Diaby 87)
This group is going to be an all-powerful scum.
OBJECTIVE! Porto 0-4 Club Brugge (Nusa 89)
My God.
OBJECTIVE! Liverpool 2-1 Ajax (Matip 89)
They did it again! Matip missed some serious chances tonight but was so dominant in the air that it’s no surprise to see him earn another, slamming a corner past Pasveer. A defender goes out before he reaches the net, but the decision review system confirms that he has crossed the line.
Nunez makes a terrific run behind, bottom left of the box, and amuses his man by checking inside. He has options in the middle but opts to find Diaz at the far post… but Pasveer gets a little hit, taking out what is otherwise an easy tap-in!
“While Liverpool are clearly far from their best level”, David Reynolds emails, “I don’t think you can say they’ve gotten progressively worse over the last three years (if nothing else based on league standings at that time). Despite that, they need investment in the middle of the park and I think Kloppo is building his third Liverpool team.
As I said, they remained excellentbut the best this team has played was three years ago – in my opinion, obviously – which means they’ve gotten worse since then.
Here’s Liverpool’s chance! Matip finds Firmino who finds Salah, and he makes a square pass to Nunez, who only has to use his pass to sweep inside the far post… but his connection isn’t true, and the ball bounces wide !
Ajax send in Grillitsch for Taylor, looking to see their draw and they look good for it. But with Liverpool’s firepower on the pitch and the belief in their hearts, that could change at any time.
“Except Van Dijk crossed over and came back and did pretty well,” returns NS, “although understandably not to the absolute heights he was. Just because a team isn’t at the top three years ago doesn’t mean their obituary should be read – there have been bad patches before the way the team is put together the risk specifically, so don’t mention Nas in the same paragraph as Bob Marley.
Well that’s the point isn’t it? Van Dijk and Liverpool are always good, and I haven’t heard anyone say otherwise. But while I’m not sure what you mean by writing obituaries, I don’t think it’s controversial to say that they’re no longer as good as the best or their best, and that it will probably take money to find them. Plus, Nas and Bob Marley wrote brilliantly about time, and more.
Eeeeeesh! Ajax do well to find Tadic, wandering down the right, and he spots Blind at the far post, who has time to watch the ball’s path and aim. But looking for the far corner, he heads by far the best chance of the half – so far – wide.
Goretzka made a big difference for Bayern – he’s a much better player than Sabitzer, even in Sabitzer’s position.
Nunez chases Timber as he tries to see the ball out, then turns good pressure into stupid behavior, unable to resist the foul that allows Ajax to clear. He might not screw anyone up anymore, but he still needs to be educated on how to be reasonable. Meanwhile, Liverpool win a corner which Matip meets well, but goes over the bar.
Berghaus sticks Kudus in the back but Alisson beats his shot away… then the flag rises.
Ajax are quite comfortable and will, I’m sure, be happy with a draw. Liverpool against Man United for a place in the Europa League, anyone?
Ajax send Sanchez for Rensch while, in Munich, Gbary replaces Mané. Decent option.
In the repechage following a corner, Matip first dodges a shot when set well, then stops Van Dijk who does the same. Eventually the ball goes wide and Matip heads for a decent opportunity.
Jota misses half a chance then is replaced by Nunez, while Firmino replaces Elliott.
“…writing obituaries on a great team going through a rough patch early in the season should be…” emails NS. “Actually no, it’s part of the modern cover of all types of newspapers these days, isn’t it?” To chase.”
Uh no, it’s not actually. I’ve seen Liverpool gradually get worse, yet still very good, over three seasons, and if you don’t think their best defender crossing over at 29 has a lasting impact, so does a physical style is hard to maintain, then you have to tell Bob Marley that when he said none of them could stop time, he was wrong, like you do Nas, that time is not, in fact, ilmatic.
Goretzka replaced Sabitzer and Torres replaced Raphinha – De Jong took Gavi’s place.
Pedri, jumping inside and playing a one-two against Lewandowski, raises Neuer and against the post at eight meters. Barca had some good chances tonight.
“The line from a pop song that came to mind about defending Virgil van Dijk these days”, says Kári Tulinius, |was ‘but it’s like he’s in another world, he doesn’t see the danger on display’.
In Munich, De Jong replaced Raphinha. Led 2-0, Bayern absent, 29 remaining, it’s his big chance.
Back at Anfield, Liverpool huffed and puffed, that is to say, Ajax look quite comfortable. Edson Alvarez looks like a gamer…and as I type this, he’s booked for going through Jota’s back.
The way Mazraoui plays, Pavard will find it difficult to return to the Bayern side.
OBJECTIVE! Porto 0-3 Club Brugge (Olsen 52)
Brugge take the lead in Group B!