"There’s no room for Scrooges at Anfield this Christmas – the feeling is good and so it should be. Besides, Ebenezer Mourinho is doing his bit to absorb all the negative press while Jurgen Klopp’s men continue to shine. Feeling festive and all that, here are 12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be jolly…"
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12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be positive over the festive period (and all season)
There’s
no room for Scrooges at Anfield this Christmas – the feeling is good and so it
should be. Besides, Ebenezer Mourinho is doing his bit to absorb all the
negative press while Jurgen Klopp’s men continue to shine. Feeling festive and
all that, here are 12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be jolly…
1. Semi-finals
A
comfortable 2-0 over Leeds United at Anfield ensured Liverpool reached the
semi-finals of the EFL Cup for a record 17th time. Drawn against
Southampton, the first leg of the tie will be played at St. Mary’s Stadium on
the week commencing January 9th, with the return leg at Anfield a
fortnight later. In previous EFL Cup meetings between the two clubs, Liverpool
won 6-1 in the quarter-finals last season and clinched a 3-0 aggregate victory
when they met in the semi-finals in 1987. The luck of the draw means the Reds
will have the 12th man to their advantage in the deciding leg in a
bid to reach the final for the second year running. Either Man United or Hull
City await for a clash at Wembley, or as it’s more commonly known, Anfield
South.
2. Fear factor
Nobody
wants to play Liverpool. A collective sigh must be heard in training grounds
around England when teams look at their fixture lists and it’s Anfield on the
calendar. Klopp, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz enjoyed great success working
together at Borussia Dortmund, and there’s no doubt that the trio have
implemented their ‘heavy metal’ style of football at Anfield. Relentless
attacking and heavy pressing has brought plenty of goals and excitement already
this term. Add to the mix goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and first-team development
coach Pep Lijnders, and Liverpool are in very good hands to develop into a
force in Europe once again.
3. Kloppelganger
Since
I’m on the subject of staff, let’s not forget one man who’s brought amusement
to us all for the sheer fact he looks exactly like Herr Klopp. Andreas
Kornmayer, head of fitness and conditioning, could literally have been hired on
the basis that he is Klopp’s doppelganger. As if one Klopp isn’t good enough,
suddenly his mirror image gets up from the bench to offer his expertise during
a game – fantastic. He’s worked his magic on getting the squad up to speed with
Klopp’s high-pressing game since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer, and
he’s got the look down to a tee.
4. Squad harmony
Isn't
it nice to see a smiley, happy team turning out good performances? Klopp’s
definitely got the dressing room on his side and a cuddle after each game must
be doing wonders for the players’ confidence. It must be hard not to smile when
you’re playing such good football. That, or some players just want to show off
their dentists’ good work (Bobby Firmino, keep flashing those gnashers). But
it’s evident throughout the team, from Gini Wijnaldum’s beaming smile, to Ben
Woodburn’s boyish delight at scoring his first senior goal for Liverpool. The
only player not showing his pearly whites enough is injury prone Daniel Sturridge.
Perhaps he just needs more hugs, and a new pair of legs for Christmas?
5. Coutinho’s injury
This
is no reason to be jolly. What are you, a Man U fan? No, the fact Coutinho is
injured is devastating to say the least, but the news that the Little Magician
could be back by New Year’s Eve is indeed, reason to be cheerful. When the
Brazilian went down clutching his ankle in the first half against Sunderland, later
sporting a protective boot and crutches, alarm bells were ringing. The eagerly
awaited scans proved there was no break and ligament damage was the diagnosis,
meaning he’ll miss up to five weeks of action. Liverpool play Man City on NYE,
so we hope to see the no.10 back for what will be a vital game.
6. Divock Origi
Just
when the Reds started to look short on options in attack – with Danny Ings out
for the season, Sturridge (again) sidelined, Adam Lallana with a groin strain, Coutinho
nursing his ankle and even Firmino taking a knock to the calf – Divock Origi
steps up and scores in two consecutive games. The 21-year-old Belgian came off
the bench to score the opening goal of a 2-0 win against a (very) defensive
Sunderland team and followed up with the opener against Leeds in the EFL Cup
three days later. Origi has only started four matches this season – all in the League
Cup – but with injuries plaguing the ranks his services will be called upon
more often.
7. The Main Stand
Liverpool’s
superb new Main Stand not only looks the part, but it offers extra noise adding
to the already intimidating atmosphere at Anfield. It took 614 days to build,
but the mega 20,500-seater stand adds a further 8,500 seats, which means there
are now 54,167 pairs of lungs belting out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ every game.
£115million well spent.
8. Gerrard
Club
legend Steven Gerrard announcing his retirement from football was perhaps a
rather sad moment for Liverpool fans, but the imminent news that he’ll take a
job at the Academy is something to look forward to. Gerrard is continuing his
UEFA ‘A’ license with the help of the Liverpool staff and is all set to become
a coach for the youth ranks. Future Liverpool manager? He’ll certainly learn a fair
few things from Klopp.
9. Tasty transfer rumours
It’s
that time of season, a month to go until the transfer market opens its doors
and rumours are flying around linking every player under the sun with a move to
Liverpool. Given the recent injury problems, Klopp’s need to go to market is of
no great surprise and reinforcements in attack would be welcome at Anfield. Celtic’s
Moussa Dembele, Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic and Sassuolo’s Gregoire Defrel are
just three names linked with the club, just wait for the Marco Reus rumours to get
going.
10. The Academy
But
let’s not go too crazy in the transfer market, because the Academy production
line is producing some top home-grown talent. Thanks to Academy director Alex
Inglethorpe and his staff, talented youngsters are coming through to make an
impact for the first team and none more so than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben
Woodburn, who started in the 2-0 League Cup win against Leeds along with fellow
graduate Ovie Ejaria. A pinpoint Alexander-Arnold assist set up Origi for the
first goal and Woodburn almost burst the net in front of the Kop to wrap up the
win and send Liverpool into the semi-final draw.
11. “…Woodburn, Woodburn 58.”
This
lad deserves a special mention and is one to watch for the future. He made his
Premier League debut coming off the bench against Sunderland, albeit for a few
minutes, but what was to follow in the game against Leeds was even more
special. At 17 years and 45 days, the Academy star latched on to Wijnaldum’s
assist and became Liverpool’s all-time youngest goalscorer, breaking a record
previously held by Michael Owen. Must be something in the water in Chester.
12. The title race
A look at Adam Lallana’s incredible renaissance under Jurgen Klopp
"It’s evident for club and country; Jurgen Klopp is getting the best out of Adam Lallana."
Read my article about Adam Lallana on Empire of the Kop:
Read my article about Adam Lallana on Empire of the Kop:
Why Liverpool need to give Coutinho a new contract
"It’s time the Reds put an end to feeding star players to the ‘super clubs’. The Little Magician needs a big contract that’ll keep him at the club."
Read my article about Philippe Coutinho on Empire of the Kop:
Read my article about Philippe Coutinho on Empire of the Kop:
Communicating: a fine art worth practising
Communication is the most
important skill for any leader. Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is
case in point.
History would argue that it
is unfeasible to become a great leader without possessing great communication
skills. A more detailed look at some of the world’s most influential figures
would point to their ability to communicate powerfully and effectively to their
audience.
From Bill Gates, to Winston
Churchill and Nelson Mandela, great leaders in the past have demonstrated an
inspiring ability to deliver powerful and moving speeches to communicate their
visions effectively. In more recent times – and perhaps not without controversy
– Donald Trump’s journey to become President-elect of the United States has
been touted as one of the strongest PR campaigns in history. David Fraser, former
publicist to Lord Sugar and now MD of PR and SEO agency Ready10, said that when
it came to communications, Trump’s campaign was “poetry in motion”.
Critics will argue that we
can use science to study the most effective forms of communication, however, it
is more of an art, and like all forms of art, excellence is not achieved
without practice. Like Trump, English magnate Richard Branson is one of the
world’s most successful businessmen and the Virgin founder swears by the power
of communication.
Richard Branson proves great leaders require excellent communication skills, in business and life. |
Branson’s success speaks for
itself and he’s relied on the art of communication to drive the success of the
Virgin story. In his blog that he updates frequently, he writes about the
importance of communication in leadership and refers to this quote from business
author Brian Tracy: “Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like
riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly
improve the quality of every part of your life.”
When Branson begun writing
his book on leadership, The Virgin Way,
he openly admitted to never reading any literature on leadership advice.
However, he picked up some useful leadership tips from some brilliant minds
along the way, and has said that some of his favourite quotes on the subject come
from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and American author, salesman, and
motivational speaker Zig Ziglar.
Carmine Gallo, a contributor
to Forbes Magazine, wrote, “Communication
levels the playing field. If you can speak well, you can outshine the
competition in so many ways. Every week I receive emails and comments from our
readers who have found uncommon success almost immediately upon improving their
communication skills.”
On talking about his
experience with senior leaders, Gallo has found that at first, very few people
like delivering presentations or speaking in front of groups. But after enough practice,
they get better at it and in many cases they learn to enjoy it.
Five little things that can make a big difference to employee engagement
Nobody wants to feel like an
outcast in the workplace and it’s no secret that plenty of employee engagement
results in increased productivity, employee retention, profitability – the list
goes on. Here are five keywords that help to improve employee engagement:
#1 – Trust
Employees need to trust each
other as well as whoever’s in charge. Nobody gets to choose who they work with
– just like we can’t choose our neighbours – but steps can be made to ensure a
harmonious atmosphere is maintained. Team spirit is vital in a successful
office environment and employee engagement often depends on how well staff get
along and trust each other.
#2 – Goals
It’s refreshing for
employees to know exactly what will be expected of them from the minute they
are hired and it’s always good to have something to work towards. Communicate
clear expectations and goals to your staff. Most employees want to be a part of
an exciting future, so outline what they can achieve and how they can go about
reaching their targets.
#3 – Praise
Constructive criticism is
fine, but most people thrive from receiving positive feedback. It doesn't take
much for a leader to acknowledge when something is done well, but a little show
of appreciation goes a long way in boosting confidence and morale in staff. When
somebody knows they’re doing something well, they’ll do more of it.
#4 – Share
To avoid anyone feeling left
out of the big picture, let people in on what is going on within the company as
well as how their jobs contribute to the grand scheme of things.
#5 – Incentives
Analysing Adam Lallana’s incredible renaissance under Jurgen Klopp
It’s evident for club and country; Jurgen Klopp is getting
the best out of Adam Lallana
Absent from training ahead of the Premier League clash at
home to Sunderland on Saturday, Lallana’s injury picked up on international
duty in a friendly against Spain looks to inflict more frustration on Liverpool
fans. He endured a mixed spell in his first two seasons at the club, but with a
touch of Jurgen Klopp’s magic he’s now considered a key player, which is
testament to how far he’s developed under the German’s coaching.
“He plays on the left, he plays on the right, Adam Lallana, makes Messi look sh*te.”
That was the chant on loop belted out by thousands of Southampton supporters at St. Mary’s – one I didn't mind getting involved with when I was watching the Saints frequently while I was studying at the nearby university. Seeing Lallana play in League One, helping his team climb the ranks and becoming their most important asset, I knew this was a player I’d love to see wearing red at Anfield.
A product of Saints Academy, which has produced a host of household names (Bale, Walcott, Shearer, to name a few), Lallana signed from Bournemouth Centre of Excellence in 2000, made his first team debut in 2006 and became captain in 2012 when Southampton returned to the Premier League.
It was in the 2008-09 season when Lallana developed into a regular for Southampton, tearing up League One and becoming the first Saints midfielder to score 20 goals in a season, surpassing a record held previously by a certain Matthew Le Tissier. These were the first signs of Lallana’s incredible flair on the ball and his seemingly endless supply of energy off it.
Southampton’s back-to-back promotions and return to the top flight were particularly helped by the ability of Lallana. His technique is remarkable – he’s scored some sublime goals. A quick Google search to double check that he is in fact English was needed when he cut through Hull City’s defence to score a Messi-esque goal in 2013.
Lallana thrived in his first two seasons in the Premier League scoring 12 goals and racking up 10 assists, and was named in the 2013-14 PFA Team of the Year. He was also one of six players to be nominated for the 2013-14 PFA Player of the Year Award, but that season it belonged to an untouchable Luis Suarez.
And then, as if my Football Manager signings were becoming a reality, Lallana signed for Liverpool after returning from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, along with Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren from Southampton. Could he come in and be the influential figure for the Reds that he was for the Saints? Not quite.
A knee injury sustained in pre-season training forced him to miss the start of the 2014-15 season and he didn't exactly hit the ground running. After producing some forgettable performances, the England international struggled to win over the Kop in his first season, scoring only five goals and producing three assists.
Critics were quick to label his £25million move to Anfield as a flop when Lallana’s mixed form continued into his second season with Liverpool, but too much time spent on the bench with Brendan Rodgers as manager proved difficult for him to find any consistency.
Two goals in two consecutive Europa League games showed glimpses of the player that flourished at Southampton, but Liverpool’s form was declining under Rodgers and it wasn't until Klopp’s arrival on Merseyside that a noticeable change in Lallana’s form could be seen.
Now finding himself as a regular in Klopp’s starting line-up, Lallana began to play with the sort of creativity and confidence that got him noticed at Southampton, and he played an important part in helping Liverpool to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and a 4-1 away win against Man City.
A new boss and a new year brought a new wave of confidence to the former Saints midfielder when he came on as a second-half substitute to score an injury-time goal in the emphatic 5-4 away win at Norwich City in January this year.
Klopp had seemingly worked out how to use Lallana effectively in his high pressing game, with the midfielder’s impressive work rate and movement promptly turning critics into worshippers. Injury forced him to miss most of February’s fixtures, but an impressive run of form saw him finish the 2015-16 season with seven goals and assists, and more importantly as a candidate for the most improved player under Klopp.
Previously criticised for not scoring enough goals, Lallana has scored three in the league this season – vs. Arsenal, Leicester and Hull – and another three whilst on England duty. He is now a regular starter for England and scored the winning goal against Slovakia in a World Cup Qualifier, and added to his international tally in a 3-0 win against Scotland and a 2-2 draw against Spain.
But much to the frustration of Liverpool fans and Klopp, a groin injury picked up in that friendly against Spain now keeps the revitalized midfielder out of a potential three games, and the very fact this is such a worry is evidence of how much Lallana has improved under his new manager.
In the two other games Lallana has missed this season due to injury, Liverpool have failed to score a goal. A bore draw against Man United in October and another goalless draw in the game at St. Mary’s proved his creativity and energy will be missed, but in Lallana’s absence Gini Wijnaldum has another chance to form a partnership with Emre Can – both have been in fine form this season – in midfield in the “two or three games” Lallana could be out for.
Adam Lallana is in fine form for club and country. |
“He plays on the left, he plays on the right, Adam Lallana, makes Messi look sh*te.”
That was the chant on loop belted out by thousands of Southampton supporters at St. Mary’s – one I didn't mind getting involved with when I was watching the Saints frequently while I was studying at the nearby university. Seeing Lallana play in League One, helping his team climb the ranks and becoming their most important asset, I knew this was a player I’d love to see wearing red at Anfield.
A product of Saints Academy, which has produced a host of household names (Bale, Walcott, Shearer, to name a few), Lallana signed from Bournemouth Centre of Excellence in 2000, made his first team debut in 2006 and became captain in 2012 when Southampton returned to the Premier League.
It was in the 2008-09 season when Lallana developed into a regular for Southampton, tearing up League One and becoming the first Saints midfielder to score 20 goals in a season, surpassing a record held previously by a certain Matthew Le Tissier. These were the first signs of Lallana’s incredible flair on the ball and his seemingly endless supply of energy off it.
Southampton’s back-to-back promotions and return to the top flight were particularly helped by the ability of Lallana. His technique is remarkable – he’s scored some sublime goals. A quick Google search to double check that he is in fact English was needed when he cut through Hull City’s defence to score a Messi-esque goal in 2013.
Lallana thrived in his first two seasons in the Premier League scoring 12 goals and racking up 10 assists, and was named in the 2013-14 PFA Team of the Year. He was also one of six players to be nominated for the 2013-14 PFA Player of the Year Award, but that season it belonged to an untouchable Luis Suarez.
Lallana was a key player at Southampton and is now beginning to be just as vital at Liverpool. |
And then, as if my Football Manager signings were becoming a reality, Lallana signed for Liverpool after returning from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, along with Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren from Southampton. Could he come in and be the influential figure for the Reds that he was for the Saints? Not quite.
A knee injury sustained in pre-season training forced him to miss the start of the 2014-15 season and he didn't exactly hit the ground running. After producing some forgettable performances, the England international struggled to win over the Kop in his first season, scoring only five goals and producing three assists.
Critics were quick to label his £25million move to Anfield as a flop when Lallana’s mixed form continued into his second season with Liverpool, but too much time spent on the bench with Brendan Rodgers as manager proved difficult for him to find any consistency.
Two goals in two consecutive Europa League games showed glimpses of the player that flourished at Southampton, but Liverpool’s form was declining under Rodgers and it wasn't until Klopp’s arrival on Merseyside that a noticeable change in Lallana’s form could be seen.
Now finding himself as a regular in Klopp’s starting line-up, Lallana began to play with the sort of creativity and confidence that got him noticed at Southampton, and he played an important part in helping Liverpool to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and a 4-1 away win against Man City.
A new boss and a new year brought a new wave of confidence to the former Saints midfielder when he came on as a second-half substitute to score an injury-time goal in the emphatic 5-4 away win at Norwich City in January this year.
Klopp had seemingly worked out how to use Lallana effectively in his high pressing game, with the midfielder’s impressive work rate and movement promptly turning critics into worshippers. Injury forced him to miss most of February’s fixtures, but an impressive run of form saw him finish the 2015-16 season with seven goals and assists, and more importantly as a candidate for the most improved player under Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp has added extra substance to Lallana's game. |
Previously criticised for not scoring enough goals, Lallana has scored three in the league this season – vs. Arsenal, Leicester and Hull – and another three whilst on England duty. He is now a regular starter for England and scored the winning goal against Slovakia in a World Cup Qualifier, and added to his international tally in a 3-0 win against Scotland and a 2-2 draw against Spain.
But much to the frustration of Liverpool fans and Klopp, a groin injury picked up in that friendly against Spain now keeps the revitalized midfielder out of a potential three games, and the very fact this is such a worry is evidence of how much Lallana has improved under his new manager.
In the two other games Lallana has missed this season due to injury, Liverpool have failed to score a goal. A bore draw against Man United in October and another goalless draw in the game at St. Mary’s proved his creativity and energy will be missed, but in Lallana’s absence Gini Wijnaldum has another chance to form a partnership with Emre Can – both have been in fine form this season – in midfield in the “two or three games” Lallana could be out for.
Why Liverpool need to give Coutinho a new contract
It’s time the Reds put an
end to feeding star players to the ‘super clubs’. The Little Magician needs a big contract that’ll keep him at the club.
Phil Coutinho is hot property with rumours linking the Brazilian to Barcelona. |
Such
brilliant form has propelled Philippe Coutinho back into Brazil’s starting XI and
triggered the kind of speculation that could easily unsettle a young star.
Barcelona, quite frankly, have had one too many of our key men already, and
they need a clear hands-off sign. Javier Mascherano and Luis Saurez were
tempted away by the lure of the Catalans (and their millions of Euros), but
whatever Neymar has to say, Coutinho is here to stay – or so he should.
It’s
not just Barca, the Reds let Xabi Alonso go to Madrid, and a disgruntled Torres
trotted off to West London (which went swimmingly for El Nino). But Liverpool
will struggle to reach the heights of the Champions League and stay permanently
locked into the top four and title race if the club can’t maintain its top
talent.
As
it happens – and a fact that was well-documented once the media caught a sniff of
Barca’s interest – Coutinho isn’t one of Liverpool’s top earners. Obviously
time will tell whether the club issue the Brazilian with a lucrative new offer
to stay and help the team achieve beautiful things, but Jurgen Klopp’s not
going to want to lose his key players.
Compatriots Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have formed an intimidating partnership at Liverpool. |
The partnership between Coutinho and Roberto Firmino is blossoming into one of the most exciting spectacles in present day football. The chemistry between the two countrymen is enviable to all opposition and almost unplayable at times – just ask Watford’s defence. Throw Sadio Mane into the mix and Liverpool's 'MCF' is a threatening alternative to Barca's 'MSN'.
It’s players such as Coutinho and Firmino who play with such understanding and creativity, who are at the top of their game on a club and international level, that will be vital in achieving the team's desired goals. Failure to cross the line in a title race means key players might depart to teams that guarantee trophies and Champions League football each season. Failure to finish in the top four means they almost certainly will.
Once
a player hits top form it’s inevitable rumours will start flying around, but
when it’s Barcelona that want to sign you and your mates Neymar and Suarez are
already at the club, how could you possibly not be tempted and start to think, ‘what
if’? That’s the last thing Liverpool need at this stage of the season. Klopp’s
regime is in full swing and the team’s style of play is becoming the most
feared in the league. Killing the rumours off quickly by issuing a new contract
would be a real statement of intent.
Something special is happening at Liverpool under Klopp and for transfer rumours to potentially disrupt the symphony would be a great shame. The answer: give Coutinho an offer he can’t refuse, and whilst you’re at it, give Bobby one too. 'Objetivo Coutinho' - not a chance.
Something special is happening at Liverpool under Klopp and for transfer rumours to potentially disrupt the symphony would be a great shame. The answer: give Coutinho an offer he can’t refuse, and whilst you’re at it, give Bobby one too. 'Objetivo Coutinho' - not a chance.
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