Liverpool are represented in the latest Premier League team of the week that has been selected by BBC pundit Garth Crooks.
Actually Garth is now down as a ‘Football Analyst’ these days, a posh term for a pundit then!
The performances by Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool during their festive fixtures was enough to earn them a place in the side alongside the other, in the opinion of the former Spurs striker anyway, most impressive performers in the topflight over the last few matchdays.
I think we’ll already know ourselves, and not just based on the latest performance, why Crooks, we’ll also not argue with it, selected both as part of his team but explaining his choice he told the BBC.
Coutinho:
‘Coutinho sprinted 60 yards to get his head on the ball in order to finish off a move that tore Arsenal to shreds in the brilliant 3-3 draw at the Emirates on 22 December. Four days later, against Swansea, he scored the 250th goal of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool managerial reign. If anyone deserved to achieve the landmark it was Coutinho. The finish by the Brazilian was sublime. His pass for Roberto Firmino to finish was also top class. How Liverpool have retained the services of the Brazilian is a mystery to me when Barcelona keep knocking on the door. It is also a commendable that the Brazilian has given his all regardless of the speculation surrounding his future at Anfield. However, should Liverpool fail to win a trophy (again) this season you cannot blame Coutinho for moving on. Meanwhile, 250 goals for the team under Klopp’s leadership might be impressive but that statistic should be the last thing occupying the manager’s mind. It’s the goals he has conceded that should be consuming Klopp’s thoughts right now. Finally Klopp has bought a defender who can actually defend. Virgil van Dijk alone cannot stem the flow of traffic heading for Liverpool’s goalmouth and will need someone of note beside him to make them a credible defensive unit. But Klopp seems to be finally on the right track. And about time.’
Salah:
‘Mohamed Salah has been quite extraordinary over the festive period and warrants an inclusion in my team. He was pushed hard by Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, who was brilliant against Manchester United and impressed against Liverpool a few days later. His goal against Huddersfield on New Year’s Day was brilliant. I must admit I was torn. However, it was Salah’s performances against Arsenal, Swansea and Leicester that blew me away and the reason he eventually won my selection. Salah could have had six goals against the Foxes but settled for two. Meanwhile, for Claude Puel to substitute Vardy and Mahrez without seeing out the game first was a shocking decision and cost Leicester dearly. Again this was another decision made by a manger with a fixture two days later uppermost on his mind. Boy have the Premier League got this scheduling wrong and unless it is changed it is in danger of compromising the integrity of the league.’
It’s always good to see the club represented in this way, so well played to both for their recognition.
Full Team:
Mat Ryan (Brighton), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal).
