Oh, Liverpool. It began with Ashley Barnes, through Steven Alzate, Phil Foden and Richarlison. Mason Mount added his name to that list, and Mario Lemina is just the latest central character to Liverpool’s downfall. Whatever shall we do with the deposed champions? Right from the arrival of Klopp, Liverpool have been one of the most talked about teams in the Premier League. The disastrous 2017/18 Champions league final where the fans were left incensed as …
No one, not even the Reds’ biggest detractors, would’ve expected Liverpool’s title defence to go down this way. Fewer would have thought injuries would blight and cripple a squad that had won the Premier League and Champions League in two previous seasons. But it’s the uncertainty of football that keeps us on our toes. In some ways, Liverpool’s title defence ended in the moment Jordan Pickford’s rash challenge put Virgil van Dijk out of commission. …
When 16-year old Jamal Musiala left the Chelsea academy for Bayern, neither could have predicted how suddenly he would rise to stardom. It took him only about a year to make his professional debut, playing against Freiburg on the final day of the 2019/20 season. Fast forward three months, and there he was, celebrating his first Bundesliga goal. Quite the rise, isn’t it? Born in Germany, Musiala moved to England at the age of 7 …
For years now, the once famous Milan Derby has lost its sheen. Once upon a time, it used to be the standout fixture of the season, much like the El Clasico in Spain. After all, the Derby della Madonnina is a game that has featured stars such as Cafu, Maldini, Nesta, Adriano, Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Baresi, Eto’o, Milito, Zanetti, Julio Cesar and so on. But hardly any of the past decade’s derby held any significance …
Juventus were once the unassailable side, almost nailed-on champions. Occasionally, there would be a challenger, such as Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli in 2017/18, but eventually things would settle down to the usual hierarchy. This time, however, things have been quite different. We’re more than halfway through the season, and Juve sit third in Serie A, behind the two Milan clubs. Stefano Pioli’s rejuvenated AC Milan sit atop the pile with 49 points, while Inter lag a …