Liverpool Brought Down To Earth
Just the previous week, Liverpool were being hailed for the manner in which they outclassed Arsenal for certain periods in the second half of that premier league fixture as they romped to a 4-1 lead. This past weekend however was a different story. Burnley showed Liverpool how to be clinical in front of goal while just having barely 20% of ball possession. With all the possession Liverpool could muster, they still lost 2-0 although it was partly due to some careless defending.
James Milner started at left back for Liverpool in place of Alberto Moreno who was responsible for some calamitous errors in the game against Arsenal. Apparently, his presence didn't make much difference as Liverpool were breached twice by the resilient Burnley team.
Would Jurgen Klopp have rued the fact that this game should have been played at Anfield? Liverpool opted to play this fixture at Turf Moor instead of at home which was the original venue because of redevelopments going on at Anfield currently. They would probably have fancied their chances of defeating Burnley at home and build on their impressive victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.
The inconsistency of Liverpool during the Brendan Rodgers era appears to still be their undoing at the moment as Klopp attempts to build the team in his own image. They need to stop defeating the big boys one week and then coming unstuck against weaker opposition the next.
The question of Alberto Moreno rremaining at left back is a headache Klopp may silently be wishing he had fixed earlier. Perhaps Moreno will eventually come good or maybe Joe Gomez who is currently out with a serious injury could be the cover or messiah that could save Klopp's blushes if Moreno continues with his erratic performances. Time though will tell how it will all pan out for Liverpool.
Hull City Keep Fighting Like Tigers
Hull City are currently a model in inspiration for anyone in a crisis at the moment. A team with only 13 fit senior players, a caretaker manager who doesn't know what the future holds for him and a boardroom in turmoil is enough to put any club in disarray and of course, have telling results on team spirit and performance.
But it appears Hull City have leaders amongst them who have used the unsavoury situation at the club to motivate the team to win their first 2 games with Premier League champions, Leicester City, the first to suffer a shock defeat at the claws of Hull's battling tigers.
Swansea, Hull City's last weekend opponents, were on the front foot for most of the game but Hull stuck to their game plan and hit Swansea at key moments of the latter stages of the game. Hull City eventually ran away 2-0 winners. Swansea who were 1-0 winners at Burnley the previous weekend got a bitter taste of their own medicine.
For Hull City, time will tell how long this positive run will continue. If it does continue, then it might be the catalyst that could trigger positive changes in the club. For now, Hull City can draw strength from the positive results. The club's fortunes can change if caretaker manager, Mike Phelan, can get the job on a permanent basis and some new players are brought in to make up for the shortfall in squad players before the close of the transfer window.
Arsenal Battle Leicester To 0-0 Draw
Arsenal and Leicester both remain without a victory after 2 rounds of matches played and look set to play catch up to Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd if they both falter in their next games and their rivals grab maximum points.
Arsenal as usual remain good on the eye with their free flowing football but they could not break down a stubborn Leicester defence. Leicester returned to basics after their disappointing loss to Hull City and threatened Arsenal on the break. There were controversial moments as well as Leicester were denied 2 penalty appeals. Leicester City became more dangerous with the introduction of Ahmed Musa at the latter stages of the game but on the balance of play, the result was fair for both sides.
For Arsenal, the need to sign another defender has become as urgent as ever. With their prime target Shkrodan Mustafi proving more difficult to acquire by the day. With this failure so far to land Mustafi, Arsenal has now been linked to other players such as former Man United defender, Johnny Evans, a signing which might yet bring more scorn on under fire manager, Arsene Wenger.
Wenger was quick to defend his position on transfers during the post match press conference with his observation of Rob Holding's performance against Leicester which has to be said was excellent. He may yet end up an astute signing by Wenger. Then there is also the striker situation which Alexis Sanchez has filled with little success as 'top dog' Olivier Giroud builds up his fitness. Would Wenger be able to sign a 'world class' striker before transfer deadline day?
Claudio Bravo In, Joe Hart out?
When new managers come into a club, there is the occasional casualty amongst the tried and trusted players who don't fit into a manager's plan or philosophy for the team. A good case in point is the Andy Carrol or Christian Benteke scenario at Liverpool in which both were forced out by Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp respectively.
It has happened at Manchester United already this season with Jose Mourinho axing Bastian Schweinsteiger from the first team squad and now across the city, Pep Guardiola may be about to make a real statement about the way he likes his goalkeepers to play as Bravo arrives for a medical from Barcelona.
Joe Hart who is number one at City has been dropped by Guardiola for Willy Caballero in City's first 3 competitive games this season because of Hart's deficiency in bringing the ball out of defence. As things look, Hart may be set to go from number 1 to number 3 if Bravo passes his medical.
A big fall from grace this will be for England's number one if this move materialises.
Meanwhile In Brazil...
The Dream Team VI won Nigeria's only medal at the Olympics by winning the Losers' final by defeating Honduras 3-2 and thus claiming the bronze medal. They have thus become the fourth team to win an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympics.
Despite the flaws in the team, we have to congratulate the team for earning a medal. This is hoping some of these players step up into the Super Eagles seamlessly and thus provide the much needed strength in depth the Super Eagles desperately needs.
A special mention goes for John Mikel Obi for the exemplary attitude and leadership he exhibited during the games. I dare say he was handsomely rewarded for his efforts by that Japanese philanthropist.
Sadly In Niamey, Nigeria's Golden Eaglets Crash Out of U-17 AFCON
Nigeria has taken the proverbial 2 step backwards after taking one step forward after failing to qualify for the African U-17 Championship and as a result, will not defend the World Cup title it won just last year.
What is it with us and defending our titles? The signs that the story wasn't going to end well was when the during the screening, dozens of players were shown the way out of the camp when MRI scans showed many of the players were over the age bracket. Another show of shame.
Poor football administration appears to remain the bane of sustained development and success of Nigerian football at all levels.
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