In simple terms, it was the classic Plan B: a back-up striker coming off the bench to get on the end of a teammate’s cross and nod home in the closing stages.
Except for the fact that Liverpool had already wrapped up their 6-1 aggregate win in the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Porto by the time Roberto Firmino headed goalwards in the 77th minute. And that their substitute centre-forward isn’t the classic Plan B at all, but a slender, mobile centre-forward once considered a false No….

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ESPN FC’s Craig Burley breaks down what Sunday’s Premier League results mean for Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored in Liverpool’s dominant victory over Chelsea, moving the Reds back ahead of Manchester City.

A brilliant second-half display took Liverpool back to the Premier League summit. A Sadio Mane header and a stunner from Mohamed Salah had Anfield bouncing and provided the perfect response to Manchester City’s win at Crystal Palace earlier in the day.
Positives
Jurgen Klopp claimed beforehand that what happened in 2014 would have no bearing on this game, and he was right. The fans might be scarred by the memory of that loss to Chelsea, but the players clearly paid it no heed. This was a performance…

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Steve Nicol believes Jurgen Klopp has no choice but to start Mohamed Salah despite his continued struggles in Liverpool’s win over Porto.

First-half goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino put Liverpool in a strong position at 2-0 to reach the semifinals of the Champions League again. Porto played their part in an entertaining game Tuesday and had numerous chances to grab a vital away goal, but having kept a clean sheet, the Merseysiders will now be strong favourites to go through to the last four.

Positives
Not conceding at home is always significant in European competition. Liverpool will expect to score over in Portugal,…

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Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title produced more drama against Spurs, with a 90th-minute own goal moving them back ahead of Man City.

Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title produced more drama against Spurs, with a 90th-minute own goal moving them back ahead of Man City.

Craig Burley focuses on Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold as he breaks down how Liverpool beat Tottenham to reclaim first place.

Craig Burley focuses on Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold as he breaks down how Liverpool beat Tottenham to reclaim first place.
Liverpool returned to the top of the table in the most dramatic of circumstances, as a stoppage-time freak own goal from Toby Alderweireld gave Jurgen Klopp’s men a huge win after a hard-fought encounter with an impressive Tottenham side.

Positives
The fight and resilience of this team is something every Liverpool fan should be proud of. At 1-1 they looked in trouble and Spurs had chances to win it, but Klopp’s men dug deep and found a way to get the three points. A draw wouldn’t have ended their…

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After another disappointing performance for Liverpool’s front three, ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol tries to make sense of their goalscoring struggles.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reflects on his side’s missed chance to defeat an injury-ravaged Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Manchester United used all of their substitutions in the first half due to injury but were still able to fend off a toothless Liverpool side.
LIVERPOOL, England — Jurgen Klopp has said Roberto Firmino avoided a serious injury against Manchester United and has a “big chance” of featuring in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.
Firmino left Old Trafford on crutches after injuring his ankle in the first half of last Sunday’s goalless draw.
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Fear, paranoia, difficult behaviour and constant battling with club officials and players led to the inevitable, writes Rob Dawson.

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When Boca Juniors and River Plate were set to meet in Argentina’s most important match, Buenos Aires lost its mind, writes Wright Thompson.

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While the Brazilian faces a race against time to be fit for Wednesday’s encounter with Watford, he is more likely play against Everton.
“He looks good, we were obviously lucky,” Klopp said a news conference on…

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After another disappointing performance for Liverpool’s front three, ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol tries to make sense of their goalscoring struggles.

While reflecting on Liverpool’s seven-year trophy drought, Steve Nicol says Jurgen Klopp’s side have a great chance at a double in 2019.

During Manchester United and Liverpool’s dull goalless draw on Sunday afternoon, it was unquestionably Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side who were affected more damagingly by injuries, with three players limping off before half-time. In comparison, Liverpool lost only Roberto Firmino, who was seen departing Old Trafford on crutches.

In a wider context, though, it’s the Firmino injury that carries more weight. The 0-0 draw might have been a disappointing result for Liverpool, but it also took them to…

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ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop delves into Bayern Munich’s continued struggles in the Bundesliga and feels it’ll be more of the same against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Manuel Neuer speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about the occasion of playing at Anfield against Liverpool and how he expects Jurgen Klopp’s side to play.

Relive the top goals from Week 26 of the 2018-19 Premier League season, as Liverpool and Man City’s dominant performances take center stage.
LIVERPOOL, England — Roberto Firmino and Dejan Lovren were both absent from training on Monday afternoon ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League round-of-16 tie with Bayern Munich.
A source has told ESPN FC that Firmino was absent from the session at Melwood due to a virus. The Brazil international has played in every single one of Liverpool’s matches this season, scoring 11 times in 34 appearances.
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Lovren, meanwhile, has not featured for Jurgen Klopp’s side since injuring his hamstring in January.
Before…

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ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop delves into Bayern Munich’s continued struggles in the Bundesliga and feels it’ll be more of the same against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Manuel Neuer speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about the occasion of playing at Anfield against Liverpool and how he expects Jurgen Klopp’s side to play.

Relive the top goals from Week 26 of the 2018-19 Premier League season, as Liverpool and Man City’s dominant performances take center stage. With a massive Champions League tie against Bayern Munich at Anfield on the cards this week, Liverpool could probably have done without any slapstick mishaps in the build-up.
However, as shared by Dejan Lovren on Instagram, it would appear that several of the Reds’ first-team players had the misfortune of getting trapped in a broken lift together on Sunday afternoon.
Lovren posted a video of himself, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Alberto Moreno and Roberto Firmino after…

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ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop delves into Bayern Munich’s continued struggles in the Bundesliga and feels it’ll be more of the same against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Manuel Neuer speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about the occasion of playing at Anfield against Liverpool and how he expects Jurgen Klopp’s side to play.

Relive the top goals from Week 26 of the 2018-19 Premier League season, as Liverpool and Man City’s dominant performances take center stage.
With a massive Champions League tie against Bayern Munich at Anfield on the cards this week, Liverpool could probably have done without any slapstick mishaps in the build-up.
However, as shared by Dejan Lovren on Instagram, it would appear that several of the Reds’ first-team players had the misfortune of getting trapped in a broken elevator together on Sunday afternoon.
Lovren posted a video of himself, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Alberto Moreno and Roberto Firmino…

Continue reading


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