Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RED ARMY TO RED FACES
As Liverpool’s season turns from disappointing to nightmarish, can Jurgen Klopp turn it all around?
LIVERPOOL were 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League after 23 games last season.
Little more than 12 months later they sit fourth, 10 points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more.
What has caused that 26-point swing? Why have the champions fallen off the pace so badly this season? Is it merely a blip or a sign of serious struggles ahead?
INJURIES
Every team has injuries, but some deal with them better than others. Manchester City are somehow flying without their best player in Kevin De Bruyne and prolific hitman Sergio Aguero. But for Liverpool to lose Virgil van Dijk for most of the campaign was a hammer blow.
To also lose fellow centre-back Joe Gomez a few weeks later was another huge setback.
It was a gamble allowing Dejan Lovren to leave last summer and not bring in a fourth senior centre-back until desperation forced them into a January swoop for Ben Davies and Turkish international Ozan Kabak.
Diogo Jota was not part of the title-winning team last term but he had started the season in flying form. When he was crocked, it depleted the Kop attack too. And the unreliable fitness of Joel Matip, coupled with injuries for the likes of Thiago and Naby Keita, means it has been a busy few months for the medical team.
INTENSITY
Liverpool’s style of football has been ferocious under Jurgen Klopp. The pace at which they play is incredible, but with that comes fatigue. And, after three campaigns at full throttle, the Reds are running on empty.
Klopp continues to question if player welfare is being taken into account by those who run the game, and by broadcasters. But he may also have to look at how to rotate his players more to help keep them in tip-top condition.
MIDFIELD
Both Fabinho and Kop skipper Jordan Henderson have been moved back into central-defensive roles to cover for the injuries Liverpool have suffered.
But while they’ve been doing an admirable job there, their presence in the Liverpool engine room has been sorely missed.
Since losing to Tottenham in 2017, the Reds have lost just two Premier League games when Henderson has started in midfield – and both were against Manchester City.
Summer signing Thiago has yet to find his best role in the midfield three.
PHIL FODEN can be the shining light in England’s next Golden Generation.
And his class of 2017 have the all-important experience of winning which can set them apart as world-class stars of the future.
That is the message of Swansea boss Steve Cooper, who managed Foden and England’s Under-17s to World Cup glory in India four years ago.
Manchester City starlet Foden, 20, was then the jewel in the crown (right) – scoring twice in the final and getting accolades as man of the match and player of the tournament.
Now he is coming of age in the Premier League.
It has taken patience for Foden to get his chance with City, but his starring role in the demolition of Liverpool on Sunday has reminded the nation that England are blessed with a generational talent and potential global superstar.
Foden’s eye for goal, speed and ability to dribble and glide across the pitch sets him above from the rest and has made him
City’s natural successor for David
Silva.
England, of course, were supposedly on course to win major trophies with the class of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, only to fall short in 2004 and 2006.
But now the likes of Foden, Emile Smith Rowe, Callum Hudson-odoi and Jadon Sancho have the world at their feet as well as the know-how when it comes to winning tournaments.
Cooper’s
Swans, who come face-toface with Foden and City at home in the FA Cup tomorrow night, said: “It was all about getting the right individuals into the programme to go through the system and play in the Under-21s, then the seniors with Gareth Southgate.
“That’s what you want at the end of the day, to be competitive here and now but also to have the right boys to go all the way.
“They were a good group. Don’t get me wrong, so too were the year before with the likes of Mason Mount, Reiss Nelson, Reece James, Eddie Nketiah. And later Bukayo Saka came through,
“But the class of 2017 will always be a talking point because we did win the World Cup.
“They now have a manager in Gareth who is committed to giving them opportunities.
“It’s good to see that we had a good team there and individuals are now shining on the Premier League, Bundesliga and big stages.
“That is what, in the end, international football is. It’s about being specialists at tournament football.
“That’s why we completely revamped the game programme and didn’t play friendlies any more, just tournaments. Hopefully, long term, Gareth and the players will benefit from those experiences.”
Cooper keeps in touch with players from that England squad, Foden included, and knows only too well of his talent and the threat he will pose Swansea when they meet now.
But he stressed Foden had both the natural footballing talent and character needed to reach the very top.
Cooper added: “It’s brilliant to see Phil doing so well. He is full of confidence now and a fantastic talent.
“He’s a brilliant lad and it’s great to see him succeeding at a high level. He’s a very likeable lad and team player. I remember when we were in India, he had the ball at his feet in his room and on the corridors all the time.
“That group was like that anyway, they had a lot of love and understanding for the game and Phil epitomised that.
“You saw a fantastic player every single day. He was a pleasure to work with. But he’s always been like that.
“Just a natural on the training pitch and in games.
“He’s growing up always being himself.
“Phil’s just a nice lad. If you haven’t got humility you cannot go on to become a top player. It’s as much about having the right character as it is the talent and he’s a great example of a player having the right attitude.”
PAUL POGBA could be out of action for up to a month after damaging his thigh in Manchester United’s draw with Everton.
The French international limped off during the first half of Saturday’s disappointing 3-3 draw with the Toffees at Old Trafford.
Scans have revealed muscle damage and the news is a huge blow to United’s title chances.
Pogba (above) has been in impressive form in recent weeks to help United climb to second in the Premier League table.
The midfielder will now miss tonight’s FA Cup clash with West Ham, along with crucial league fixtures against Newcastle, West Brom and Chelsea, as well as the two Europa League matches with Real Sociedad.
And he faces a race against time to be fit for United’s trip to league leaders Manchester City on March 6.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:
“It’s an injury that will take a few weeks to heal. He’s just started his recovery and we’ll get him back as soon and as safely as we can.
“Paul has been very important for us and we are not going to take any risks. So it is a few weeks definitely.
“We have been very healthy and strong for a long period, so we can’t moan too much.”