Micky van de Ven sees no reason to fear high-flying Liverpool when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday

Micky van de Ven sees no reason to fear high-flying Liverpool when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso could be a prime candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, but the window of opportunity may close to soon

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso could be a prime candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, but the window of opportunity may close to soon

Dominik Szoboszlai is already being rewarded for his positive impact since arriving at Liverpool from RB Leipzig this summer

Dominik Szoboszlai is already being rewarded for his positive impact since arriving at Liverpool from RB Leipzig this summer

Liverpool have a proud history in the League Cup with seven different captains having lifted the trophy. Can you name them all?

Over the years, the competition has had several names and, from the Milk Cup to the Carabao, Liverpool have been more successful than any other club.

With nine overall victories, the Reds have won it more than any other club and, in that time, seven different players have captained the team to the trophy.

We thought, with Virgil van Dijk looking to become the eighth skipper to do so, we would test your knowledge on Liverpool’s League Cup-winning captains.

We’ve given a good clue as to who was the most recent with the choice of photo for this page!

3 minutes on the clock, off you go!

7 League Cup-winning captains in 3 minutes! Fancy another? Give these a try!

Can you recall Liverpool’s summer transfers since 2016… Ins & outs?

Name Liverpool’s 6 Premier League No. 8s before Szoboszlai

Name every club Ian Rush scored record 346 Liverpool goals against!

Name the 33 Liverpool players to feature in the last 5 World Cups

Name the 33 Liverpool players signed by Brendan Rodgers

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Has Liverpool’s failure to sign a defensive midfielder prompted a change in approach this season? Aaron Cutler asks the question.

Football is cyclical. Nobody can win forever, not even Manchester City.

And as every dynasty has an expiry date, every formation or style of play will be counteracted, eventually.

The evolution of the beautiful game is what keeps it, well… beautiful.

While Pep Guardiola is rightly lauded as an innovator, his Liverpool counterpart knows a thing or two about tactics and cycles.

Perhaps that’s why he remained so cool during a summer when the heat was very much on.

Defensive midfield targets

As the transfer window ‘slammed shut’ it signalled the typical rush to judgements.

While nobody would claim the Reds won the ‘Deadline Day Trophy’ (sponsored by Sky, presumably) the general consensus was we’d done okay.

Over the course of three eventful months, we revamped and refreshed an ageing midfield.

That is no mean feat in a climate skewed by the influx of Saudi cash.

Inevitable complaints centred on a failure to sign a new defender and a seeming refusal to move for a second outright defensive midfielder.

The start of the season however brings that second grievance into sharp focus.

The surprising and ultimately failed pursuit of Moises Caicedo proves the club were on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder.

The speed at which we signed Wataru Endo following that knock-back though tells a story. So too does the lack of movement thereafter.

It would seem to suggest that Liverpool’s scouting department take a dim view of defensive midfielders generally.

For five years they had one of the best in the business, but peak Fabinhos are hard to come by.

In Rodri, City surely boast the preeminent defensive midfielder, but who rivals him? More to the point, who could lay a claim in two-three years from now?

Declan Rice fits the mould but was always Arsenal-bound. Excluding the Englishman and Caicedo it’s slim pickings.

From a Liverpool perspective, links to Sofyan Amrabat and Youssouf Fofana always seemed tenuous.

Fulham’s Joao Palhinha may have been a viable option, but age (he’s 28) and an untimely shoulder injury probably scuppered any tentative interest.

Faced with a dearth of quality options it’s fair to assume Liverpool made a conscious decision to do things differently.

Gameplan

In snapping up Endo – a decent and relatively cheap option – they drafted in a specialist of sorts.

They, therefore, covered themselves for those situations demanding an out-and-out defensive midfielder.

The gamble is in the expectation those scenarios will be few and far between.

That’s because Klopp and his coaching team seem to have settled on what may be simplistically described as a footballing midfield.

When Alexis Mac Allister started the deepest of three midfielders at Chelsea, we presumed it was a temporary measure. Six weeks on, it’s clear that was by design.

To dismiss Fabinho as a destroyer and nothing else is patently wrong. The Brazilian had a decent passing range and was tactically brilliant.

What he rarely did however was progress and carry the ball.

Knowing Liverpool will dominate possession in the majority of games, Klopp seems to have prioritised that above all else.

Would he have liked a world-class No. 6, be that a Caicedo, Rice or even a Lavia? You bet.

Has he considered the options a tier down and decided he’s better served getting creative? It appears so.

Midfield skillsets

With the exception of Endo, none of Liverpool’s midfielders can now be considered your archetypal No. 6.

Yes, some of them have done ‘bits’ in that area but everyone should be considered more progressive.

This includes both Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic, who were wrongly categorised as 6s by some of the fanbase and more ignorant pundits this summer.

The makeup of our squad is a sign of how Liverpool want to play this term.

As a case in point, the majority of Mac Allister’s minutes have come in that deepest midfield berth when we presumed he’d be starting higher up the field.

His assist against West Ham proves that doesn’t have to come at the expense of ingenuity.

Significantly, when the going got tough at Wolves and we needed to win control of the midfield, the solution wasn’t Endo but rather a tactical shift.

Ironically for a team lacking them, Liverpool switched to what might be called a double six, with two ball-playing midfielders dictating proceedings from deep.

And indeed, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones combined brilliantly.

Has it worked perfectly up to now? That’s debatable.

The Reds have been overrun on occasions and continue to fall behind in games.

Yet they’ve also had the running power and creativity on the field to fight back and win matches. Therein lies the difference.

Amongst a litany of issues last season, tiring legs were perhaps the biggest failing. This undermined best-laid plans at both ends of the pitch.

Liverpool’s new-look midfield is not only more creative but more energetic. Szoboszlai in particular looks like he can run for days.

They’re also combative. Heading into the West Ham game only three sides had contested more duels in the centre of the park than Liverpool (Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brentford).

Success rates vary, with Mac Allister winning 50 percent of the challenges he makes, Jones 40 percent and Szoboszlai a surprisingly low 20 percent.

All three though are constant and putting up more of a fight than we saw in the darkest days of 2022/23.

A new approach

Such is football that if Liverpool’s decision to abandon the No. 6 – at least in the majority of games – pays dividends, Klopp will be lavished with praise.

While that will be merited, applauding his foresight might be more appropriate.

Back in the early to mid-2000s Claude Makelele made the No. 6 fashionable. While not the first midfielder of that kind he popularised the role and spawned a generation of players with a specific skillset.

Klopp and Liverpool – by accident more than design – may have realised this is now a dying breed, certainly at an elite level.

As such engine rooms need to evolve and feature players that might be considered complete midfielders.

Ryan Gravenberch fits that description. Expect him to do a little ‘six-ing’ but so much more besides.

And this could be the remit for all future signings in the middle of the park as both Liverpool and football enter a new cycle.

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When Alexis Mac Allister signed for Liverpool in June, he would probably not have been expecting to be fielded as the deepest-lying Reds midfielder. Jürgen Klopp would not have been anticipating that either.

A few games into the new season, though, Mac Allister has established himself as the first choice in that role. In between his arrival and today, Liverpool lost both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, missed out on Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, and signed an uncharacteristic addition in 30-year-old Wataru Endō.

In addition to Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai being perfect for Klopp's new-look midfield in the more advanced roles, Mac Allister has become the man playing as the number six, orchestrating what is going on ahead of him — at least when he has not been jetlagged.

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While the Argentine is better higher up the pitch, he certainly has the skill set to play deeper. In fact, against the teams that caused Liverpool the most issues that season, Mac Allister is an ideal fix.

Last year, Liverpool dropped 31 points against teams that finished below it in the table, and lost its unbeaten home record against Leeds United, a side that went on to finish second-bottom.

Previously, it was a given that the Reds would win almost all of the games they were expected to. Do that and Champions League football will be more than secured; more likely, a league title push is imminent.

Where Liverpool was unable to control matches last year and got caught on the counter-attack as a result, this year, Mac Allister, Jones and Szoboszlai have demonstrated the ability to exert a supreme level of control when everything is working as intended.

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Last season, Liverpool's midfield, including Henderson and Fabinho, was not secure enough in possession to ensure that it could cover up its lack of mobility. Only when Jones became a constant in the team toward the end of the campaign did that change.

This time around, even though Mac Allister is not the most physical or fast player out there, just as Fabinho and co were not last season, it is not mattering so much. The prime example of control was in the Anfield win over Aston Villa, a team that could, if allowed, be very dangerous on the counter, but it has been evident in other games (including West Ham) as well.

Liverpool won matches against Manchester City, Spurs and Manchester United, among others last season. The results that hurt its progress were draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace to begin the campaign, for instance, or defeats to Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Bournemouth and Brentford. The defeats at Wolves and Brighton were particularly dismal.

This year, while there is a long way still to go, Liverpool has shown that its midfield is capable of dominating. Mac Allister's role is not the one he came in expecting to play, but it has proven vital. In the absence of a player like Caicedo, the World Cup winner will be there to stay.

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Micky van de Ven sees no reason to fear high-flying Liverpool when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday

Micky van de Ven sees no reason to fear high-flying Liverpool when they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday

On Sunday, Liverpool got its first taste this season of a Thursday/Sunday turnaround as it took on West Ham in the Premier League.

The Reds had taken on LASK in Austria in their Europa League group stage opener in midweek, running out 3-1 victors, before flying back to Merseyside.

That would have given Jürgen Klopp just two training sessions ahead of the clash with the Hammers, one of which would likely have focused on recovery for those who had been involved in Linz.

READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister beating Rodri as disallowed Liverpool goal shows $117m Jürgen Klopp weapon

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The Reds can expect to be faced with this challenge plenty of times this season after qualifying for UEFA's secondary club competition rather than the Champions League.

The hope will be that, with Klopp likely to make plenty of changes in the Europa League, Liverpool's key players remain physically and mentally fresh for the domestic encounters.

But one concern in this regard might be that, during the Reds' best campaigns, they've often seemed to rely on the rhythm afforded by playing three high-intensity games per week. Time will tell, then, if it's a blessing or a curse.

Here are the latest Liverpool.com stories that you can't afford to miss.

Roberto Firmino 'fuming' at Sadio Mané

Roberto Firmino was left unimpressed by former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané as the pair went head-to-head in Saudi Arabia a few days ago. The pair came up against each other for the first time since leaving Liverpool as Mané’s Al-Nassr beat Firmino’s Al-Ahli 4-3. Cristiano Ronaldo netted a brace.

Firmino wasn’t too happy with his teammates after they fell 3-1 down just before half-time, with video footage from the game showing him furious with his side. And his mood wouldn’t have been improved by Mané celebrating the goal by jumping on Firmino’s back. In videos of the game, the Brazilian did not look too pleased.

James Findlater has the story in full if you click here.

David Moyes makes 'fed up' Liverpool admission

Former Everton manager David Moyes has admitted that he is 'fed up' of coming away from Anfield on the losing side having now taken on the Reds 19 times in the stadium without winning.

"We had done a pretty good job in the first half, but in the second half, I was disappointed with the second goal," Moyes said during his post-match press conference (via the ECHO).

"We created a few [chances] in the first half, and we were already under pressure as well, but lots of positives to take from the game. I think when you come here, and I have been here so many times... I actually think we played quite well today and did a lot of good things."

Read the full quotes from the West Ham boss by clicking here.

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In the second part of his weekly ECHO column, John Aldridge explores the League Cup, congratulates Tranmere Rovers and reveals his recent charity work

In the second part of his weekly ECHO column, John Aldridge explores the League Cup, congratulates Tranmere Rovers and reveals his recent charity work

Mac Allister's close, careful passing is the perfect cover for the moment he wants to cut a defence in two

Not for the first time, what is or is not handball turned into one of the dominant talking points of the Premier League weekend. 

It is difficult to keep track of a law which appears to constantly be tweaked and interpreted differently and, week after week, supporters are watching a handball be given in one game before seeing another, apparently very similar, incident in another match go unpunished.

This weekend, there were question marks about the decisions to award penalties to Arsenal and Luton Town due to handballs by Cristian Romero and Joao Gomes respectively. 

There have now been four penalties awarded for handball so far this season, which makes up 22.2 per cent of those awarded so far this season – in keeping with a growing trend in the top flight. 

Separately, a handball by Anthony Gordon – which led to Newcastle’s first goal at Sheffield United – also caused controversy. 

But what exactly are the laws and, just as importantly, how are they being interpreted this season by the Premier Game Match Officials (PGMOL)? 

The Athletic has looked at some of the most recent high-profile scenarios relating to deflected handballs, ones that strike the hand from close range and handball in the build-up to goals, to try to explain them. 

Handball in the box from close rangeNicolas Jackson, Chelsea v Liverpool

What happened?

From Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, Luis Diaz flicked the ball towards goal. Jackson jumped behind him and the ball struck his arm. 

What does the law say?

The key part of the handball law for this situation is this: “A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.”

Players have to use their arms to jump, so it can be argued that Jackson’s arm is in a “natural” position and the action is justifiable in the striker making his body unnaturally bigger. 

“Proximity” as a mitigating factor is also important to be considered – the speed and how close he is to his opponent.

Was it the right decision?

Considering the mitigating factors mentioned above and the position of Jackson’s arm appearing to be natural for a jumping motion and not outstretched away from his body, it looks like the right decision was made.  

John Egan, Sheffield United v Manchester City

What happened? 

Jack Grealish tried to cut the ball back to Erling Haaland at Bramall Lane, but the ball was blocked by Sheffield United’s John Egan.

What does the law say?

The same part of Law 12 is applicable: “It is an offence if a player touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger.” 

Was it the right decision?

Yes. This was underlined by PGMOL chief Howard Webb when he was discussing some of the season’s early talking points with Michael Owen recently.

“The arm of John Egan is pretty significantly away from his body,” Webb said. “He’s looking to block the ball with his legs, his body, his head. But to do that action, the arm has to come away from his body. And it comes away significantly.”

James Ward-Prowse, Luton Town v West Ham

What happened?

A late corner from Luton – 1-0 down at the time – was swung into the West Ham box. As Ward-Prowse jumped in the air, the ball struck his arm before being cleared to safety.

What does the law say? 

This again comes back to Law 12 and the body being in an unnatural position. Ward-Prowse is jumping, so his arms will need to be up to a reasonable degree, and the fact he does not appear to be looking at the ball when it hits his arm suggests there is no deliberate attempt to use it.

The fact he sees the ball late, as it comes over bodies ahead of him, makes it similar to the Nicolas Jackson incident.

Was it the right decision?

Former referee Mike Dean believed it was correct not to award a penalty, although he acknowledged that had the original decision been to award one, it would not have been overturned.

Cristian Romero, Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

What happened? 

From an Arsenal corner, the ball fell to Ben White, who directed a shot towards the Tottenham goal. Romero attempted to block the shot, but the ball struck his outstretched arm. 

No penalty was initially given but, after VAR Paul Tierney sent Rob Jones to the monitor, a penalty was awarded. 

What does the law say?

This comes back to Law 12, as highlighted above.

Was it the right decision?

It can be argued the proximity of the shot is very close and that Romero’s arm position is “natural” to provide balance as he attempted to block White’s shot. 

However, it is outstretched, which makes the centre-back’s body unnaturally bigger. White’s shot is also on target, so it is stopping a possible scoring situation. 

In that context, the awarding of the penalty was probably understandable – although there was a good reason why this decision provoked confusion…

Cristian Romero, Tottenham v Manchester United

What happened?

Romero was involved in a similar incident, this time against Manchester United, only with very different results. 

Rushing out to block Alejandro Garnacho’s shot, Romero’s right arm was outstretched and the ball smashed into it. 

This time, however, no penalty was given, prompting an angry outburst from United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who demanded an apology from the PGMOL.

What is the law? 

It follows the theme of the handball incident above. The decision is whether Romero made himself “unnaturally bigger” and it was not a consequence or justifiable of his actions. 

In this instance, referee Michael Oliver deemed Romero was close enough to the shot to warrant not giving a penalty. The arm was outstretched and while it could be argued it was “naturally positioned” due to the player needing to balance, it was actually in a similar position to Romero’s arm when he gave away the penalty against Arsenal. 

Was it the right decision? 

This is all about subjectivity. If Oliver gives a penalty on the pitch, then it is unlikely it would be overturned. 

Proximity is a key factor and unlike the penalty awarded against Arsenal, Romero was further away from the goal when the ball struck him. Even so, it highlights how frustrating it can be for supporters given the apparent inconsistency.

Handball via a deflectionJoao Gomes, Luton Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers

What happened?

With Wolves resolutely defending their one-goal advantage despite being down to 10 men, Gomes attempted to close down Issa Kabore’s cross from the left side of the area.

The ball initially hit Gomes’ leg before deflecting onto his outstretched arm.

 

Referee Josh Smith awarded the penalty because the ball struck Gomes’ arm, which was deemed to be in an unnatural position. 

What does the law say?

Law 12, relating to handball, states: “It is an offence if a player touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. 

“A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised.”

From that description, it can be argued that it was correct to award a penalty because Gomes’ arm is in an unnatural position. 

However, in the 2023-24 season’s Competition Guidance handbook from the Premier League and PGMOL, the section named ‘Mitigating factors’ mentions “a clear change of trajectory when played by the same player”.

PGMOL guidance said Smith and VAR John Brooks deemed Gomes had not “played” the ball with his leg but it “deflected” the cross, so the change of trajectory was irrelevant. 

Was it the right decision?

Given the mitigating factor of the change of trajectory when played by the same player, it is understandable why Wolves fans were frustrated. 

There is reason to argue his arm is extended “naturally” to stay balanced. Gomes made a conscious effort to block the cross, therefore it could be deemed he attempted to play the ball. 

However, deliberate play means a player has control over the action and outcome, and a block is different. The referee can take a deflection into account, but the position of the arm remains a determining factor.

Handball in the build-up to a goalSander Berge, Nottingham Forest v Burnley

What happened?

With the game finely poised entering the final stages, it appeared Berge had provided a potential game-winning assist. 

He raced onto a ball from Josh Cullen and controlled it to get away from Scott McKenna. On closer inspection, the ball appeared to brush his arm to help him control it and the goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention. 

What is the law? 

The law here is simple. It is an offence if a player “deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball”.

Following the game, Burnley assistant manager Craig Bellamy was seen speaking to referee Rob Jones, who appeared to signal an exaggerated movement of his left arm to mimic what Berge had done to control the ball. 

Was it the right decision?

Berge’s arm movement towards the ball is minimal, so the question is whether it is deliberate and if there was intention behind it. There also appears to be little contact with the ball.

McKenna’s lack of appeal is interesting given he is as close to the situation as possible, but Jones, after watching the incident on the monitor, deemed Berge deliberately used his arm to control and gain an advantage.

Anthony Gordon, Sheffield United v Newcastle United

What happened? 

The Newcastle attacker drove to the byline and tried to cut back inside. In doing so, the ball bounced up and brushed Gordon’s hand, which helped keep the ball in play. 

He then squared it to Sean Longstaff, who scored. 

What is the law?

The interpretation for goals scored that involve a handball has changed this season. The law now states that it is an offence if a player “scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper or immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental”.

As Gordon was not the goalscorer, this does not apply to him and therefore it is whether the handball is deemed deliberate by the officials. 

Was it the right decision? 

In line with the law and interpretation brought in this season, then even though Gordon appeared to gain an advantage, he didn’t do so deliberately and as he was not the goalscorer, it was not disallowed. 

(Top photos: Getty Images)

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A weekend dominated by controversial refereeing calls has just deepened the confusion surrounding handball laws

Billy Hogan says that the approach of the Liverpool owners remains one with sustainability at its core

Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including the latest on Xabi Alonso, Rafael Leao, Ivan Toney, Federico Chiesa, Bruno Guimaraes, Kylian Mbappe and more

Billy Hogan says that the approach of the Liverpool owners remains one with sustainability at its core