Liverpool have a beast in their midst
By Roy Skillen
What a game, what a performance. There are so many positives to take from Liverpool’s 2-0 win over RB Leipzig that I am finding it hard to wipe the smile off my face.
For a start, we actually scored some goals. I was beginning to forget what happened after one of our players put the ball in the back of the net, but watching Mo Salah cut in from the right and bury his chance in the bottom corner soon brought back some positive memories.
Secondly, there was the midfield performances of Fabinho and Thiago. The two of them totally dominated and overwhelmed Leipzig in the centre of the field.
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It looked like the type of partnership that Jurgen Klopp and fans around the world would have been dreaming of ever since Thiago arrived from Bayern Munich in the summer.
The team as a whole seemed to exude more confidence in everything they did having Fab back in the middle controlling things. The press looked sharper and more clinical while the attacking front three were allowed to take more risks knowing the big Brazilian was close behind to clean up any potential threats.
Lastly, there were our two center-backs. I have said it before that in these two we have a pair of no-nonsense defenders that take very little risk, are positionally pretty good and aggressive in the tackle.
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However, in Nat Phillips, we have a guy that would literally head butt his own grandmother if it meant stopping Liverpool from conceding a goal. The guy has not put a foot wrong every time he has been called upon this season and next to Ozan Kabak I think we have a solid enough defensive partnership to put in a good run to the end of the season.
But despite also praising Phillips for his performance boss Jurgen Klopp hinted that he might revert to playing Fabinho back in defence for the upcoming Premier League match away at Wolves.
"“It was my hope before the season [Fabinho playing in midfield] and during the season it didn’t happen,” said the gaffer in his post-match interview on LFC TV before hinting the midfielder could revert back to defence next week.“So we have to see what solutions we can find for the next games – for Wolves first and foremost.”"
It’s a move that Liverpool fans hope he won’t make as we all feel that some consistency and stability is what’s needed right now.
Let’s be blunt. Kabak and Phillips have earned the right to keep their spots, but whatever happens in the coming weeks we are in the final eight of the Champions League and a trip to the final in Instanbul is well and truly on the cards.