Good afternoon and welcome along to the second of our Premier League liveblogs today, as we bring you coverage from Anfield where Liverpool meet Huddersfield.
Without a league win in three games, Jurgen Klopp finds himself under mounting pressure with Liverpool languishing in ninth.
The Reds will see today as the perfect chance to get back to winning ways but Huddersfield, on the back of last week’s famous win over Manchester United, will have different ideas.
Kick off on Merseyside is at 3pm, and we’ll have all the build up between now and then.
Right, let’s get straight to the team news.
Philippe Coutinho has failed to shake off a hip problem and isn’t involved this afternoon, with Klopp making two changes from the heavy defeat at Wembley.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Daniel Sturridge come into the starting XI with Emre Can and Coutinho dropping out.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Sturridge.
Huddersfield: Lossl; Smith, Hogg, Mooy, Lowe, van La Parra, Williams, Depoitre, Ince, Zanka, Schindler.
A little over half an hour until kick off at Anfield, but the day’s early game has just finished with Anthony Martial’s late goal securing a 1-0 victory for Manchester United against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
Here’s a check on the rest of the day’s fixtures:
- Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (FT)
- Arsenal v Swansea City
- Crystal Palace v West Ham United
- Liverpool v Huddersfield
- Watford v Stoke City
- West Brom v Manchester City
- Bournemouth v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Jurgen Klopp has opted against altering his backline following their horrid showing against Tottenham with Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren retaining their places. Joel Matip continues alongside Lovren.
All three were woeful in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Spurs with right-back Joe Gomez not escaping error-free either. The Reds boss has handed them the opportunity to right those wrongs on Saturday, with just two changes to his XI.
“If training is the decisive sign then everything is absolutely in the right direction, the boys did really well in training, they were really focused and all that stuff but that’s normal,” Klopp said pre-match.
“To be honest they’re always like this, we never had problems in training so far, but of course we have to show a reaction, that’s how it is. We have to show Huddersfield this is Anfield, this is our home and nothing else.
“Of course I read after the Huddersfield v United game that United were surprised by the intensity, stuff like this, so we will not be surprised about the intensity, we need to be there from the first second, that’s clear.
“Of course you can imagine everyone spoke about our defending in the last week and we did the same, but in another way I would say.
“As I said before, we have to show a reaction, we have to defend better and we have to still play football because we need to create chances.”
Which way do you see this one going?
The teams are out at Anfield and we’re just about all set. There’s a late change on the Liverpool side to bring you up to speed with, as Dejan Lovren withdraws through injury.
Kick off! We’re underway at Anfield.
Liverpool have made a bright start to proceedings with Sturridge involved early on. His attempted flick for Salah doesn’t quite come off but encouraging signs from the hosts.
Suspect start from Moreno as his clearance invites pressure on Liverpool before Matip clears up the danger from the resulting corner. Huddersfield sitting very deep in the opening exchanges.
Tom Ince, who came up through the Liverpool youth ranks, is a real livewire and looks dangerous every time he gets on the ball. Overall, the visitors look very structured and well organised with Rajiv van La Parra offering a threat out right.
Fairly stop-start opening 10 minutes at Anfield with the visitors happy to sit deep in their rigid defensive organisation. They look like they’re going to target Liverpool at the set-piece with a couple of corners already causing the Reds a few issues.
Georginio Wijnaldum is down receiving treatment after suffering a bang to the head. He looks to be okay to continue, with Emre Can out warming up on this near touchline.
Huddersfield aren’t giving Liverpool any time or space on the ball, and they’ve struggled to get going so far. Anfield has been very quiet so far, with a very noticeable edge to proceedings.
That’s better from Liverpool, as they open up Huddersfield. Henderson sends Milner away down the right and his cross finds Sturridge at the back post, but the striker’s volley is hit into the ground and bounces over the bar.
Pretty uneventful so far. Liverpool have lacked any creativity or cutting edge in the opening 20 minutes with a lack of movement up top not helping the cause. Huddersfield will be happy with how things have started.
Liverpool are really struggling to get going and have yet to string three or four meaningful passes together. The crowd are trying their best to the lift the hosts but Huddersfield are doing a fine job in frustrating Klopp’s side.
Liverpool enjoying the majority of the possession — 68% — but have yet to do anything with it. There’s no tempo and the Reds have looked to go down the middle every time, with Huddersfield happy to let them run into a wall of blue and white shirts. 0-0 after 25 minutes.
A little better from Liverpool, as Salah has the first shot on target.
Another lengthy stoppage as Lowe comes over to the bench with blood pouring from his nose after an earlier collision. The Huddersfield defender is patched up and he’s back on.
Liverpool beginning to stretch Huddersfield’s back four now as Henderson and Milner again combine, with the latter forcing Jonas Loessl into a smart save.
Huddersfield forced into an early change with Rajiv van La Parra hobbling off injured and Elias Kachunga on in his place. A like-for-like switch on that right hand side for the visitors.
Huddersfield effectively deploying a back six and if Liverpool are to have any joy here, they need to play with width. It’s very congested in the middle of the park currently and the groans of frustration are growing around Anfield.
Penalty to Liverpool!
Kachunga fouls Moreno beside the corner flag on the near side and Liverpool have the chance to flood the box. When the ball comes in, the referee blows his whistle and points to the spot after adjudging Smith to have tugged Firmino to the floor. Salah to step up…
SAVED!
And the goalkeeper saves it! Lossl makes a fine save diving away to his right to deny Salah from the spot and the follow up from Henderson skims the post.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Huddersfield
We’re back underway at Anfield. No changes for either side at half-time.
Liverpool have come out of the blocks with an added purpose. Milner powers into the box but is eventually penalised.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Huddersfield (Sturridge)
Oh no, Tommy Smith. The Hudderfield defender heads it back towards his goalkeeper but it’s straight to Sturridge, who lifts it delicately over Lossl. A tidy finish from the striker, but that was gifted to Liverpool.
Liverpool playing with a lot more confidence now with Huddersfield having to change their approach, and they’ve responded well — instantly zipping the ball around and showing more attacking impetus.
The game has suddenly come alive with proceedings a lot more open since Sturridge’s breakthrough goal. Coming up to the hour mark at Anfield.
Liverpool turning the screw now. Firmino’s initial cross is cleared to Moreno before Milner’s scuffed effort trickles wide.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Huddersfield (Firmino)
And they’re motoring now! From the corner, Firmino’s flying header gives the ‘keeper no chance.
Save! A brilliant piece of goalkeeping from Lossl as he gets down quickly to push Salah’s powerful effort around the post after fine build-up play from Liverpool.
First change for Liverpool as Firmino, who receives a standing ovation, is replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Chance! Henderson swings in another corner and Matip rises highest but is unable to keep his downward header on target from close-range.
Huddersfield make their final changes of the day with Smith replaced by Hadergjonaj, and Mounie coming on for Williams.
Klopp makes his final change.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield (Wijnaldum)
Oh that’s delightful. Salah lays it off for Wijnaldum, who takes a couple of touches before firing it into the top corner.
It’s been easy for Liverpool once they found that breakthrough, and the Reds are coasting towards a big three points now.
With Mohamed Salah’s miss from the spot earlier in the game, Liverpool have now equalled the record for most penalties missed in the history of the Premier League.
The Egypt international saw his shot saved by Jonas Lossl just before half-time of a scoreless game, before Jordan Henderson’s rebound effort crashed off the post and wide.
Salah’s miss was Liverpool’s 34th in Premier League play, tying Arsenal for the most in the history of the competition.
Full-time! Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield
After three league games without a victory, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are back to winning ways thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon, and we’ll have all the reaction from Anfield on the site as the evening goes on.
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Think it’s worth mentioning that Spain are currently European champions U21, U19, U17 and now the senior champions.
Holyyyyyyyyyy shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………………..
Speaks of the state of other countries football…massive disaster and fail.
Glad they don’t play hurling
The beautiful game , played beautifully.
Well Done Spain.
Congrats Miguel, a well deserved win for Spain,.
Where are the detractors now? Feel privileged you have seen just one of the greatest teams of all time if not the greatest. .As for the Liverpool team of 88 a good side but not in Spain’s class.
Agree Tom the reds were far higher ☺
What a great game of football, and the refs were good too
The liverpool team of ’88 would have beaten them.
Jesus people really do love Liverpool.
only team i would put with them is Brazil 1970.
delighted the Italians were crazy/brave enough to play that way as it afforded us all the opportunity to see an all time great team with some all time greats do the absolute business. magnificent, all of it, 4 goals in the euro final. we may never see the likes of it again. these guys are why i love football, and it is a beautiful game once more. viva espana!!!
It’s actually worrying there is 1 team in Europe that is so much above anybody else.
I very much like in football spirit of competition and head to head rivalry. This final was just one team show and brutal execution on Italians. No matter how much I can admire Spanish football master class this game was IMHO boring, boring because of lack of real connection between teams, bit of spark, the competition, emotions..
Also 4:0 in the final where two equal teams should meet is a lot, that should make all of them think what they’re doing playing football, England, France, Germany, Italy… those teams look like last decade amateurs next to today’s Spain. Hopefully this can change as I have no problem watching one team winning spree, but really can’t enjoy watching one team outclassing everyone else.
But in the long run it is a good thing. It forces other F.A to look at the way they run themselves, their methods and ways in which they nuture their young players.Therefore in the end football wins.
We can only dream our FA will implement a proper player and management development system
It’s a Barcelona thing , they might be the best ever if they had Messi.
I really expected a closer match, switched off after Italy went to 10 men
Very disappointing final contest to an overall excellent tournament
Not a football fan obviously…
It’s not even midnight yet and this already happened last night? Did I lost a day? ;)
I’m going to guess that he was at the game and with the time difference, he made the mistake.
I was indeed at the game, aye! To really stretch my defence it is intended for people reading after 12am… I suppose, ha! It’s 3am here. Spanish team just all left stadium. Sergio Ramos came through with the trophy at the end.
Thanks for the updates Miguel, I’d say you will have a sore ceann in the morning
last night history was made, great team, hopefully they can continue from last night, have I stressed enough yet that it was last night.
Without doubt da best team ever, even without their captain and their first choice striker they still walked it, world class players on bench didn’t even get a game
Why can’t TV pundits not admit that sometimes, just sometimes, teams come alone that are better than the past greats. It’s as if they feel admitting it, results in driving Pele and company a kick in the rox. Personally, this is the best all round team I have had the pleasure of witnessing past/present. New things CAN be better……..well except hangovers and monster munch!
That headline is way off the mark if you’ve been watching it on bbc or ITV.
He’s a bad writer is Mr. Miguel.
Had the privilege of watching almost every tournament match this Spanish team have played since Euro 2008 in the actual stadiums, including tonight. As such, wasn’t watching BBC or ITV and they’re way off the mark for me!
You can only argue that they are the greatest European team of all time. They have after all only won one World Cup. Only beating the best that South America has to offer only the once is not nearly enough to justify your claim as best of all time.
Also, the European Championship only started in 1960, so previous European teams that won the World Cup never had the opportunity to win something else in between them.
In short, it’s a ridiculous claim.
By all measurable criteria, they’re the greatest. That’s certainly fair to say.
I wouldn’t call it a ridiculous claim Anthony,
take a look back at their results from 2008 to today, what’s ridiculous is their record in competitive games:
33 wins
3 draws
1 defeat
http://www.soccerway.com/teams/spain/spain
And if you still want to filter that down to the bigger occasion competitive games, well that’s 3 tournaments in a row (10 matches) where they’ve not even conceded a goal in the knock-out stages.
As for the Euro Championships only starting in 1960, well the only European team to win the World Cup in the previous two decades to that was West Germany in 1954, a shock result against the best team in Europe at the time, Puskas’ Hungary.
I think the only valid debate would be the Brazil team of 1970 but they didn’t do much in any of the years either side of that tournament. This Spanish team certainly have either side of their World Cup in 2010
If there was no such thing as time there would be ppl out there who’d say Ronnie Delaney was the greatest miler or Carl Lewis the greatest 100mtrs of all time. The greatest is the one who holds the present record. When it comes to football the Brazil of ’70 wouldn’t be in the same class as that Spanish team we’ve witnessed today. At that pace they’d be lucky to last 60 mins, and comparing the’88 Liverpool, they would be mid table Spanish premier, and I follow the Pool. How many times a country won the W/C is irrelevant as to who is the greatest team to walk on a football pitch. Barca are going to dominate Europe for at least the next 5years.
Great performance from Spain this afternoon now for a walk before dinner.
Undeniably accurate headline miguel. The greatest team of all time. This victory proves that reaching the top like Brazil In 1970 is one thing sustaining it like Spain have shows that they are the greatest VAMOS TOTAL FOOTBALL!!
Rodger your dead right Vamos Las Rojas
I actually agree that this makes football that bit more boring. Although its unbelievable to watch, one teams utter dominance takes away the attraction of football. The Scottish league next year will not be worth watching, they should give Celtic the trophy now. And F1 ratings a few years back struggled because schumacher was unbeatable. I’d prefer to see a tight, end to end game between two very good teams, than see one outstanding team dominate their opponents. Eg Man United 4:3 Man City, or Liverpool 4:3 Newcastle, unbelievable football games because they were so tight. 4:0 win against the second best team in Europe makes a bit of a mockery of the competition, even though it was good overall. The only sport were outright dominance is enjoyable is horse racing.
If Spain played hurling they would be Kilkenny in a class of their own if Irish team played hurling they would be ..think better leave that blank.
They have beaten Germany, holland and Italy in last 3 finals, do they not count as great footballing teams/countries. Who are these great south American teams? Brazil and Argentina are no world beaters these days.
The whole ‘of all time’ tag is bit sensationalist and simplistic. There’s no way to verify it, so why even put it on the table? Okay, for the sake of the debate maybe, but then sticking ‘undeniably’ in there is just dictatorial.
Football has evolved, like anything else, over time. Things improve. Undoubtedly, most international teams’ fitness, mentality, strategy, youth development, technical application etc, have improved since the 70s, because of the resources invested into improving these elements, so naturally, the reliance on natural talent and physicality has lessened.
To compare Spain 2012 and Brazil 1970 is to compare Messi and Richard Dunne. Different environments, different methods, different level of hype.
Niall, you can’t compare teams across different eras. But the key point I’ve always made in this debate is that you can compare the extent of dominance a team enjoyed across their cycle.
For example, Hungary had an 85% win record between 1951 and 1955. They didn’t however win every trophy they came across. They lost when it mattered. That is a mark against them.
Over four years, Spain have produced the longest winning run in international history, the longest unbeaten run in international history, have won 90% of all games, have produced the best defence in any tournament and, in two of three tournaments, been the most prolific scorers.
Most importantly of all, they’ve won all three major trophies they’ve entered.
No team has ever matched that level of utter domination.
I just think too much emphasis is placed on their domination of Europe. They’re kicking major European butt and it’s teams like ourselves that make up the vast majority of their stats. How many times have they played the other great nations of the world?
Honestly, how can a team be called the best after only beating the best of South America once? They’ve demolished everyone in Europe for 3 tournaments, so they’re arguably the best ever here. But, for me, they have to win the next World Cup to “undeniably” claim best ever.
Italy and Brazil have both won the World Cup twice in a row. Surely that’s a better achievement than one World Cup and two continental cups?
Probably because the (usual) best of South America wasn’t good enough to reach as far as Spain did in the last World Cup:
- Germany beat Argentina 4-0 in the quarters (who then got beaten by Spain in the semis)
- Holland beat Germany 2-1 in the quarters ( who then got beaten by Spain in the final)
Italy 34-38 isn’t even worth considering when only a small number of nations competed in the qualifiers to the finals
Huh? Please re-read my comment. You’ve obviously misunderstood it. All I’m saying is that you can’t say they’re undeniably the best, when they’ve only won one World Cup.
The South Americans have only had one crack at them (even if they didn’t meet) . Hardly enough to run around claiming to be the best ever.
No Ireland team 88-94 the Jackie chartlon years