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 Simon Mignolet and Phillipe Coutinho in the three two victory over Leicester City at the weekend at the King Power Stadium 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 latest weekend.
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 the duo as part of his team but explaining his choice he told the BBC.
Mignolet:
‘It’s been some time since Simon Mignolet got into my team of the week and that’s probably because of Liverpool’s wretched defending. If you are going to have to score three goals away from home to win a football match, it’s going to take its toll on every member of the team, including your goalkeeper. Such was the case against Leicester, who counter-attacked with devastating effect and constantly ripped holes in Liverpool’s defence, especially on set-pieces. It seems to me that Jurgen Klopp is getting away with results because of moments of magic by certain individuals, but risks losing it all by abject defending. That seemed to be the story behind this victory by Liverpool over Leicester. Mignolet, having already conceded two goals, was left totally exposed again after a through ball by Leicester’s Andy King which found another gaping hole in Liverpool’s defence. Having clattered Vardy, Mignolet was not only lucky to stay on the pitch but produced that moment all strikers dread and saved the penalty to give his team the three points. Did the Reds deserve the victory? Probably not but when did justice ever dominate a football match.’
Coutinho:
‘Philippe Coutinho is back, if you were in any doubt (and I was). The ball for Mohamed Salah to open the scoring for Liverpool was sensational, the cross was so perfect it destroyed Leicester’s Ben Chilwell. The full-back was perfectly entitled to think there was no danger of Salah getting his head on the ball but the defender didn’t take into consideration that Coutinho is a genius and when you have people like him on the ball you take no chances. Of course, Chilwell and Leicester paid the price for thinking Coutinho is a mere mortal, but just when you thought Leicester might get back into the game the Brazilian struck again with the most sublime free-kick. To see a goalkeeper of Kasper Schmeichel’s quality still flying through the air with the ball having passed him told you everything you needed to know about the quality of Coutinho’s free kick. I must be honest, I thought Liverpool had lost Coutinho to Barcelona and the club must have done something very special to convince him to stay. I love to watch the Brazilian play every week so thank you, Liverpool. This player is what football is all about.’
It’s always good to see the club represented in this way, and well played to both for their recognition, but the most important thing about the weekend was of course the win.
Full Team:
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Adrian Mariappa (Watford), Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Phillipe Coutinho (Liverpool), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Oumar Niasse (Everton), Alvaro Morata (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham).
