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GB men’s team pursuit quartet of Clancy, Burke, Doull and Wiggins ride to gold. From top: trailing Australia early on; then leading; world record; yeah.

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Some shortcuts

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Sale Sharks 29 Bath 17: Ford rues misses as Sale rely on late tries

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/rugbyunion/article4734430.ece Sale Sharks’ home form is threatening to deliver a place among Europe’s elite, while Bath are likely to miss out by losing close encounters. Last year’s runners-up are ninth in the Aviva Premiership, yet might have been in Sale’s position — into the top six and a European Champions Cup spot with this win — had they edged more contests like yesterday’s at the AJ Bell Stadium. Late tries by David Seymour and Mark Easter mean Steve Diamond’s Sharks are unbeaten at home in the league for a week shy of a year. Bath’s set piece, though, had clawed them back before George Ford missed a close-range kick at goal and a lopsided penalty count told against them. At 17-17, Dominic Day, the Bath lock, was shown a yellow card, Sale went for the lineout and Seymour was shoved over. With Bath down to 13 because of a head injury to Kyle Eastmond, Easter’s try gave the scoreline a harsher look. ”We should’ve gone for the corner earlier,” Diamond said, referring to two kicked penalties that Danny Cipriani missed. In the event, it was Ford left with what-ifs. With Bath adrift to tries by Vadim Cobilas and Will Addison, he had held court in a lengthy huddle on the pitch at half-time before laying on Semesa Rokoduguni’s try and kicking Bath level. ”It’s pretty hard to take,” said Neal Hatley, the Bath first-team coach. “[Ford’s] been unbelievably reliable. There were some you’d expect him to kick with his eyes closed, but Cipriani missed too.” Bath have lost four league games by five points or fewer; this, effectively, was another. ”Last season we were winning those,” Hatley said. “It’s become a theme.” Scorers: Sale Sharks: Tries: Cobilas (10min), Addison (20), Seymour (74), Easter (79). Conversions: Cipriani 3. Penalty goal: Cipriani (38). Bath: Try: Rokoduguni (51). Penalty goals: Ford 4 (15, 35, 40, 57). Scoring sequence (Sale first): 7-0, 7-3, 14-3, 14-6, 17-6, 17-9 (half-time); 17-14, 17-17, 22-17, 29-17. Sale Sharks: M Haley; W Addison, S James, S Tuitupou (rep: T Brady, 53), N Edwards; D Cipriani, P Stringer; E Lewis-Roberts (rep: J Flynn, 53), T Taylor, V Cobilas (rep: B Mujati, 57), B Evans, A Ostrikov (rep: J Mills, 60), C Neild (rep: D Seymour, 60), TJ Ioane, M Easter. Bath: R Priestland (rep: K Eastmond, 54); S Rokoduguni, J Joseph, O Devoto, M Banahan; G Ford, C Cook (rep: W Homer, 71); N Catt ( rep: N Auterac, 55), R Webber (rep: T Dunn, 71), H Thomas (rep: D Wilson, 55), D Day (sin-bin, 73), D Attwood (rep: C Ewels, 63), M Garvey (rep: A Mafi, 54), G Mercer, L Houston (rep: D Denton, 63). Referee: L Pearce. Attendance: 6,278.

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Saracens take one for the (England) team; Leicester do it for the late, great Rabeni

(from The Times, print edition) Alex Goode did his best to return Saracens to the top of the Aviva Premiership but his try and three goals were in vain as Leicester Tigers jumped back into the top four. Having travelled to Paris with England but been left out of the squad to face France, Goode caught a 6am flight to help his club, who had supplied five of the grand slam-winners. He ended this contest with Welford Road’s mocking roars ringing in his ears after hooking a last-minute penalty; that might have salvaged a losing bonus point after Exeter Chiefs deposed Saracens as leaders earlier in the day. Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, spoke afterwards of his pride in his England quintet, led by Maro Itoje, the lock. Itoje made his Premiership debut at Welford Road two years ago and is testament to Saracens’ ability to plug gaps when leading lights are absent. ”We’re proud, but it’s stretched us,” he said. “Maro’s been great, but I want to credit George Kruis, who I think was England’s most influential player. It says a lot about Alex that he wanted to come back, and like them he’s a product of our academy.” Pressure had brought Leicester only a 6-3 half-time lead before Freddie Burns completed a full house of try, conversion, penalty goals and dropped goal. Vereniki Goneva strolled in for a second try; Goode crossed from close range but Leicester had given what Richard Cockerill, their director of rugby, called “a proper Tigers performance”. He felt inspiration had been drawn from the day’s tributes for Seru Rabeni, the former Leicester back who died in Fiji last week aged 37. “Life’s precious, isn’t it,” he said. “It galvanised us in reminding us of the opportunity we have.” Scorers: Leicester Tigers: Tries: Burns (46min), Goneva (52). Conversion: Burns. Penalty goals: Burns (16, 33). Dropped goal: Burns (76).Saracens: Try: Goode (65). Conversion: Goode. Penalty goals: Goode (13, 70). Scoring sequence (Leicester first): 0-3, 3-3, 6-3 (half-time); 13-3, 18-3, 18-10, 18-13, 21-13. Leicester Tigers: T Bell; A Thompstone (rep: T Veainu, 54min), P Betham, O Williams, V Goneva (rep: F Balmain 11-20); F Burns, J Kitto (rep: S Harrison, 49); M Ayerza, H Thacker (rep: G Bateman, 34), L Mulipola (sin-bin 10-20), D Barrow, G Kitchener, M Fitzgerald (rep: T Croft, 27-30, 46), L McCaffrey, J Crane (rep: O Fonua, 70). Saracens: A Goode; M Ellery (sin-bin, 77), M Bosch, B Barritt (rep: N Tompkins, 49), C Wyles; N Mordt (sin-bin 43-53; rep: B Ransom, 62), N de Kock (rep: R Wigglesworth, 50); R Barrington (rep: T Lamositele, 50), S Brits, J Figallo (rep: P Du Plessis, 41), J Hamilton, A Hargreaves (rep: H Smith, 59), M Rhodes (rep: W Fraser, 53), K Brown, J Wray. Referee: JP Doyle. Attendance: 22,282

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Leicester Tigers 21 Saracens 13

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/rugbyunion/article4717501.ece Leicester Tigers returned to the Aviva Premiership’s top four with a convincing victory that denied Saracens the chance to jump back to the head of the table.

Richard Cockerill’s side rose to fourth with a scoreline at Welford Road that did not quite reflect their superiority, albeit that Saracens were the more depleted, having provided five of England’s grand slam-winning team the previous evening in Paris, to Leicester’s three.

Saracens had been deposed from the leadership earlier in the day by Exeter Chiefs and never looked like restoring themselves there. When Alex Goode missed a last-minute penalty goal, they also passed up the chance to at least salvage a losing bonus point and close the gap to one point.

Instead, a full complement of try, conversion, penalty goal (two of them) and dropped goal by Freddie Burns kept Leicester on top for most of the contest, with Vereniki Goneva adding a second try for the home team.

Having lost Logovi’i Mulipola, their tight-head prop, for a late, high charge on Nils Mordt, the Saracens fly half, Leicester sacrificed Goneva, the left wing, to bring on Fraser Balmain at prop for the next scrum, but it did them little good, as they conceded a very kickable penalty.

Marcelo Bosch had already had a go from close to halfway for the visiting side without success, but this one was within comfortable range for Goode, who put Saracens in front.

There had been a minute’s applause before the match for Seru Rabeni, the former Leicester centre and wing who died in Fiji last week aged 37, and the Welford Road crowd resumed clapping in the 14th minute in honour of the club’s ex-No 14. Fittingly, Leicester made that minute count: Peter Betham, the centre, pounced on a loose ball, hared through the Saracens backline and his team-mates eventually provoked a penalty from which Burns drew them level.

Emerging from a crowd of players shortly afterwards, Goneva bumped off Richard Barrington and Jim Hamilton to chip ahead, whereupon he was shepherded out of play without the ball by Mike Ellery, his opposing wing. No sanction was imposed but Leicester remained in the Saracens 22 and should have capitalised when, following breaks by Goneva and Betham, the ball went through the hands towards the right touchline only for Adam Thompstone, the wing, to spill the offload from Goneva a stride from the tryline.

Another opening went begging when, upon stepping past Goode to home in on the whitewash, Jono Kitto, the scrum half, was held up. Camped on the line, Leicester forced a penalty from which Burns made it 6-3 at half-time - not the advantage their pressure might have earned them.

They soon atoned. A chance for Betham to break was snuffed out by a tug off the ball by Mordt, at the cost of a yellow card for the latter, and Leicester were to profit in his absence. They went right, where Betham was wrapped up, then left, where Goneva was surrounded, then Burns ran straight, dummying Goode, to touch down at the posts.

There was further damage before Mordt could return; Harry Thacker, the Leicester hooker, was closed down by Ellery on a long-range burst from his own half, before Owen Williams and Sam Harrison combined along their left touchline to send in Goneva for the second try and an 18-3 lead.

Once they were finally able to enjoy a sustained spell of possession, Saracens had the patience to batter away until Goode could break the line for a try to which he added the conversion and a 40-metre penalty goal. Although a more difficult kick, his aim was less true with his final effort.

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Should Jurgen Klopp push Liverpool to cut losses and sell Christian Benteke?

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2830914/should-jurgen-klopp-push-liverpool-to-sell-christian-benteke Christian Benteke's underwhelming first season at Liverpool continues, with West Ham United reported to be ready to offer the striker a fresh start. We ask whether the Reds should admit defeat over their £32.5 million signing.

YES - They should cut their losses

Since inheriting this team from Brendan Rodgers two months into this season, Jurgen Klopp has been at pains to state that he will happily work with what he has. Benteke has been the closest to being an exception.

There have been several veiled references by Klopp to the 25-year-old needing to adapt, while his selections have made his vision clear. Increasingly, when available, Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi has started. Klopp has even preferred Roberto Firmino -- not, strictly speaking, a striker -- to Benteke, who until March was nonetheless the Reds' top scorer this season. Liverpool are not obtaining the value from Benteke that they paid for. For his part, the Belgian deserves better than to rot on the sidelines at a club whose decision to buy him quickly looked misguided. How perceptions have changed since a year ago, when, for Aston Villa, he tormented Liverpool at Wembley in the FA Cup semifinal.

The Merseysiders have been here before with a lumbering No. 9. The board allowed Rodgers to offload Andy Carroll, who had been bought before he took charge: Carroll arrived from Newcastle United in 2011 for £35m, lacked a clear purpose and had to move to West Ham to find himself again. His sale in 2013, even for some £20m less, suited all parties and offers a precedent for Klopp.

NO - They can better utilise Benteke

It often suits the narrative to say that Benteke lacks the quality or attitude to succeed at Anfield. This overlooks the chicken-and-egg nature of the Belgian's predicament. To focus on him during matches has been to observe a man drained of confidence, due in part to being left on the bench then asked to prove the world wrong in, typically, about 15 minutes.

To the striker's credit, he has quietly, cheerfully stuck at it. Caught between being himself and fitting in, Benteke has tried to please people by deserting his core strengths as a target man. The more hesitant he became, the more those strengths melted into the past. When he started the FA Cup ties at home to Exeter and twice against West Ham, he was sharp and energetic, linking play and even pressing opponents. He was ticking those other boxes Klopp asked him to, but at the expense of single-mindedness near goal.

What of the service? Philippe Coutinho's has been decent, but he was injured in January, when Benteke became entrenched on the bench. None of Alberto Moreno, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner has crossed consistently accurately. Wingers? Liverpool have rarely used one. The emerging Cameron Brannagan offers a quality of set-piece delivery absent since Steven Gerrard left, but cannot break into Klopp's midfield.

Benteke has still started only six Premier League matches under Klopp, all around the turn of the year, when the entire team was misfiring. In their congested, mixed season, occasional highs like Benteke's winners at home to Leicester and away to Sunderland betrayed his pedigree. So did his classy penalty to clinch victory at Crystal Palace and another in the League Cup semifinal shootout against Stoke.

Perhaps more trust and better service could offer him a future on Merseyside. If, that is, he still wants one.

Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

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Liverpool got the better of Man United in a battle of fallen football giants

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-match/60/post/2824681/liverpool-got-the-better-of-man-united-battle-fallen-giants LIVERPOOL, England -- This, said Jurgen Klopp afterwards, was the Liverpool he used to know. The manager was far from the only one. A convincing victory represented something of a throwback to a bygone era in his adopted city, and to the better days both it and the red half of Manchester used to enjoy. Amid the sound and fury of a deafening Anfield, a round-of-16 tie in Europe's second-tier club competition felt like something bigger. There had been a sense before these rivals' first meeting in Europe of it belonging on a grander stage, by being worthy of a Champions League tie. Klopp had rejected such talk, yet in rolling up their sleeves in lesser surrounds, Liverpool actually went some way to justifying that pre-match idea. On the day of Klopp's unveiling at Anfield in October, he said that history provided a backdrop "but you can't take it everywhere in your backpack." Additions to the annals of European Cups and top-flight championships, he said, would come about by matching the hard work that wrote the previous entries. Klopp saw some of the fruits of his charges' labours during his first five months in charge in this 2-0 defeat of United. "The atmosphere was un-be-lievable," Klopp spelt out in his post-match news conference. "Thank you." He had thanked Reds fans previously, but that was when they were scraping draws and scrappy wins against lesser teams and it came across as wishful thinking. "That was Liverpool how I knew it before I came here," he said -- meaning the days of conquering the continent, never mind Manchester United. Those days could be deemed still in existence seven years earlier to the day, when Anfield had been the scene of a 4-0 rout of Real Madrid. It could have been 4-0 again here, were it not for David De Gea in the United goal. Keeping his side in it single-handedly, De Gea stood firm against a wave of first-half pressure and again when Liverpool were rampant toward the end. Faced by the energy of Reds captain Jordan Henderson and the sure touch and confidence of Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and the rest, De Gea's colleagues -- other than for the first 15 minutes of the second half -- retreated into themselves. And yet hitting the benchmarks of the past has not been the reality for either club in a period of paralysis in Manchester and halting regeneration in Liverpool. This two-legged tie was partly a matter of who could adjust quickest to their status, reveal a new identity and set about returning to the continent's top table on merit. Liverpool won that contest and the identity was one in the image of Klopp as they pressed, pressed and pressed again, combining it with more precision than usual in possession. This was still relative, since the intensity of the encounter did not lend itself to control. "Control" was what Klopp had in mind in that United flourish after half-time, when he replaced Daniel Sturridge with Joe Allen, a defensive move on the face of it but one that reshaped his attacking capability, yielding a second goal, this time by Firmino. Klopp greeted the two-goal margin at full time with a satisfaction tempered, for him at least, with uncharacteristic restraint. "I don't think we are through," Klopp explained later. They will be through if Louis van Gaal's United team offer more of the same next week. They were ghosts at the Anfield feast, with the honorable exception of De Gea. Yes, there was aggression and endeavour, but also a feeble demeanour and a lack of presence. United were void of personality -- as United great Paul Scholes put it afterwards, lacking identity. Scholes' former United teammate Rio Ferdinand agreed, so dismayed were they with the facsimile of United, the betrayal of their own past, that they had witnessed gracing -- or disgracing? -- European football's lesser stage. Even in what everyone at Old Trafford must consider a backwater, United had managed to look out of their depth. Perhaps this downgrade is the crux of it for United. The disconnect between the club's aspirations and assets -- even in the injury-ravaged present -- and where they find themselves. They performed down to the adjusted expectations of them at Anfield, and beyond. There have been times this season -- and Thursday night was one of them -- when the impression has been given that they are following Liverpool's downward spiral during United's Alex Ferguson years. There are too many reasons why United need not fall into a relative wilderness of the sort experienced on Merseyside. But the feeling of being kicked on the way down by their fiercest rivals will be familiar to the same home fans who were suddenly providing Anfield's sonic boom once more. Van Gaal denied that the cacophony was itself a factor in cowing his players; rather, he felt, Liverpool's readiness to seize the occasion "created the atmosphere," and the visitors could not cope. It was not, he went on to clarify to reporters, the crowd noise so much as the home team who fuelled it. This will have been music to Klopp's ears. It was the marriage of players and supporters into one force that he has sought since he took over as Liverpool manager. The fusion of performance and fervour, the unity of the components that make up a football club that Bill Shankly used to espouse and that Klopp hinted were not entirely in sync upon his arrival after years of drift. What Van Gaal was alluding to was what Klopp's team had succeeded in generating. It was what the German could not detect when he said in November he felt "alone" as supporters left the ground early. And it was what he was explicitly asking for when he took his players to bow, hands linked, before the Kop after the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in December. That, it was argued in some quarters, was more of a stunt than a real sign of progress, but the effect Van Gaal observed -- and said impaired his players -- was real. Not that any of this washed with Ferdinand, whose views irritated Van Gaal when they were put to him afterwards. The manager refused to engage with the former United captain's verdict, suggesting that reporters were using Ferdinand as the frontman for their own agenda. Whether true or not, nobody is fooled by that sideshow. Van Gaal will not have relished fielding the questions that followed about his implied failings, however, and will need to see a response in the second leg. That response can go one of two ways, confirming or refuting United's new reality. That the pressed wallflowers of Anfield could bloom at Old Trafford takes a leap of the imagination. Do they have it in them to -- as, say, Arsenal's players did when meeting without their coaches last week -- regain control of their own destiny? At the first time of asking, they justified and reflected the grim faces in the United dugout: if there was an identity, that was it. The second leg next Thursday will call for something more, plus a measure of self-sabotage from their opponents, of which, admittedly, they are capable. Matching the atmosphere that so impressed Van Gaal back at their Theatre of Dreams could yet carry the day. And yet Liverpool have shown that creating that illusion is possible -- if you embrace the present. A first-leg victory will feel hollow for Klopp & Co. should they now stumble in Manchester. Their task there is to show that it is they, of these two disorientated giants, who are the further along the road. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

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Liverpool vs. Manchester United: Six memorable clashes at Anfield

http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-europa-league/2310/blog/post/2826102/liverpool-manchester-united-six-memorable-clashes-at-anfield Emotions will run high when Liverpool host Manchester United in Thursday's Europa League last-16 tie. ESPN FC takes a look at six notable Anfield showdowns from a home perspective... 1. The old-fashioned beating: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United (Sept. 16, 1990, Division One) Liverpool's most emphatic defeat of United since 1925 came in the middle of a purple patch that brought them eight wins from eight at the start of the 1990-91 season. Kenny Dalglish's men were looking intent on retaining their league crown but the title was to elude them, as it has done ever since.This, though, was all about the dancing feet of Peter Beardsley, who scored a hat trick, and John Barnes, who scored the other goal as Alex Ferguson's United team were steamrolled by the Reds' "pass and move" game. 2. The bitter farewell: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United (March 22, 2015, Premier League) United completed a league double over Liverpool in Louis van Gaal's first year in charge with this victory -- a feat they were to repeat at Anfield in his second season. Juan Mata scored once in each half for United before Daniel Sturridge pulled one back; Wayne Rooney had an injury-time penalty saved by Liverpool's Simon Mignolet.The day will be remembered, however, for the brief, disastrous entrance of Steven Gerrard. Sent on as a substitute in place of Adam Lallana at the start of the second half, Gerrard clattered Mata, stamped on Ander Herrera and was sent off -- his final appearance against United having lasted 38 seconds. 3. The humdinger: Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United (Jan. 4, 1994, Premier League) Champions for the first time in 26 years, United had displaced Liverpool as the English game's dominant force, arriving at Anfield 17 matches unbeaten in the league and 21 points better off than Graeme Souness' ninth-placed Reds.They had the hosts on the ropes at 3-0 down after 25 minutes. Steve Bruce headed in Eric Cantona's cross, Ryan Giggs chipped in the second, then a Denis Irwin free kick made it 3-0.Nigel Clough drove in from 25 yards and made it 3-2 after Mark Wright's pass ricocheted off Roy Keane. The thriller concluded with Neil Ruddock heading in Stig Inge Bjornebye's cross to level. 4. The morale boost: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United (March 6, 2011, Premier League) En route to their 19th league title -- the tally that took them past Liverpool's 18 -- United's progress was nonetheless checked on Merseyside. Dalglish was freshly back at the helm at a torrid time for the home team that was alleviated by this success two days after his 60th birthday.Rafael Da Silva of United and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher were among those to overheat in a fiery affair in which Dirk Kuyt claimed Liverpool's first hat trick against United since Beardsley in 1990.Luis Suarez, bought for £23 million from Ajax five weeks earlier, contributed to all three goals before Javier Hernandez got one back and another January arrival, the £35m Andy Carroll, made his Liverpool debut from the bench. 5. The misfortune of others: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (April 26, 1992, Division One) For all his feats as a goalscorer, Ian Rush had never netted against United in his 11 years at Liverpool. He managed it here, to the visitors' cost and home supporters' glee.At this point it was United, rather than Liverpool, who were haunted by a league title drought lasting a quarter of a century -- and, just as would be the case when the roles were reversed, that void had coincided with the other club's most decorated years.With two rounds of matches to go, United needed to avoid defeat to push their tussle with table-toppers Leeds United into the season's final week. Goals by Rush and Mark Walters ensured they conceded the title at Anfield, prolonging the agony for another season. 6. The good omen: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United (Feb. 18, 2006, FA Cup) Each time these sides met in the FA Cup in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the victor went on to lift the trophy. That had always been United, but Liverpool were finally able to get in on the act as a fifth-round win helped Rafael Benitez's side on their way to beating West Ham on penalties in that year's final.United captain Gary Neville received a hot reception, having goaded Liverpool fans at Old Trafford in the recent league meeting, but this time it was Peter Crouch celebrating after claiming the game's only goal.It was the first time Liverpool had overcome United in the FA Cup for 85 years. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

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Liverpool's best last-minute winners in the Premier League era

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2824602/liverpool-last-minute-winners-in-the-premier-league   Liverpool's 96th-minute goal to clinch a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday was their 28th winner in the 90th minute or later of the Premier League era -- more than any other club.

Here are some of their most memorable.

April 3, 1996 -- 4-3 at home to Newcastle United

Newcastle's implosion in that season's title race owed a little to this classic, which ignited as early as the second minute when Fowler struck. Les Ferdinand and David Ginola made it 2-1 after 10 and 14 minutes respectively, and the tone was set. Each side scored again through Fowler and Asprilla, then up to the plate stepped Stan Collymore. The forward -- then the top flight's record signing at £8.5 million -- hauled Liverpool level in the 68th minute, and his 92nd-minute winner ensured this would feature in discussions debating the best ever Premier League match for years to come.

March 10, 1997 -- 4-3 at home to Newcastle United

The second of two successive, dramatic league clashes with Newcastle at Anfield. Roy Evans' hosts led 3-0 at half-time thanks to Steve McManaman, Patrik Berger and Robbie Fowler, but back came a Newcastle side then managed by Kenny Dalglish. Keith Gillespie's shot squirmed under David James in the Liverpool goal, then came chaos in the 87th and 88th minutes as Faustino Asprilla lobbed James and Warren Barton nutmegged him -- only for Fowler to convert Stig Inge Bjornebye's cross in stoppage time.

Nov. 28, 2004 -- 2-1 at home to Arsenal

Reigning league champions Arsenal -- with Kolo Toure, a future Red, in their lineup -- netted via Patrick Vieira to cancel out Xabi Alonso's opener. This was the Liverpool of Sami Hyypia, Didi Hamann, John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell -- and Neil Mellor, who claimed the late winner here. The following week, Mellor's 80th-minute goal at home to Olympiakos preceded the iconic 86th-minute strike by Steven Gerrard that ensured a passage to the Champions League knockout rounds and ultimately success in Istanbul six months later.

April 10, 2012 -- 3-2 away to Blackburn Rovers

Jordan Henderson, Martin Skrtel and Jon Flanagan featured in this game, during Liverpool's worst run of league results since 1953. Two early Maxi Rodriguez strikes buoyed Dalglish's team but when Flanagan underhit a backpass to keeper Doni -- Pepe Reina was already suspended -- the Brazilian fouled Junior Hoilett and was sent off. The stand-in's stand-in Brad Jones, on his Premier League debut, saved the resulting penalty from Yakubu Aiyegbeni before himself flirting with dismissal, barging Yakubu for another spot kick. Having already pulled a goal back, Yakubu converted, only for Andy Carroll to pounce at the death.

Oct. 19, 2014 - 3-2 away to Queens Park Rangers

The watching England manager Roy Hodgson left this West London encounter a few minutes early, arriving at his nearby home to find he had missed four goals. On two occasions Eduardo Vargas looked to have eked out a point for struggling QPR, netting first in the 87th minute and then, after Philippe Coutinho made it 2-1, in the 92nd. Earlier, Leroy Fer twice hit the bar for QPR, while Mario Balotelli missed an open goal for the Reds. Richard Dunne's own goal had begun the scoring and there were 95 minutes on the clock when his centre-back partner Steven Caulker, later of Liverpool, suffered the same fate to sink the relegation-bound Vargas and Co.

Jan. 23, 2016 - 5-4 away to Norwich City

The day when Jurgen Klopp had his glasses knocked from his face celebrating -- but the smile had earlier been wiped off it by his side's defending as Dieumerci Mbokani, Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan had Norwich 3-1 up. Henderson, Roberto Firmino (with his second) and James Milner seemed to have won it for Klopp after all, only for Sebastien Bassong to exploit some set-piece frailty to make it 4-4 after the 90-minute mark. Adam Lallana then produced a winner that saw off both the Canaries and his boss' specs.

Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

[thedirttracker]

Everton 2 West Ham 3: Copy-paste ‘an often brilliant Everton contrive to lose’

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sport/football/Premiership/article1675567.ece WEST HAM UNITED completed a remarkable turnaround from 2-0 down to go fifth in the Barclays Premier League on a day Romelu Lukaku dominated for good and for ill. The striker’s 18th league goal of the season — his 23rd in all competitions — and an assist for Aaron Lennon to score Everton’s second had his team in command even after a very premature bath for Kevin Mirallas, but they capitulated to leak three goals in 12 closing minutes. Headers by Michail Antonio — his fourth in his past five games in the league — and Diafra Sakho in a three-minute spell left Everton reeling before Sakho and his fellow substitute Andy Carroll combined at close range for Dimitri Payet to dink a 90th-minute shot past Joel Robles. Slaven Bilic, the West Ham manager, later claimed to have seen it coming but few others had. Lukaku’s 13th-minute opener had been as forceful as his touch for Lennon’s 56th-minute second was sympathetic. It was his second-half penalty miss and a chance shortly afterwards, however, that Roberto Martinez, his manager, felt triggered West Ham’s revival. “He’s so reliable that it was a shock,” said Martinez. “We gave them hope when we didn’t score the third goal and we didn’t have the energy to keep doing the things we had done. It cost us more than every single action after that. It was outstanding for 78 minutes. “The key moment was the penalty. That would have been game over and it is a feeling of missed opportunity.” Martinez laid into referee Anthony Taylor for Mirallas’s first booking, after just 16 minutes, for diving. “It was picky,” he said. “I don’t feel he’s a ref who understands the game the way we want to see it played.” All this was barely thinkable when Bryan Oviedo threaded a pass to the left corner of the area for Lukaku to turn Reece Oxford, making only his third start of the season, and beat Adrian with a left-to-right shot. Lukaku had scored for an eighth successive match against the Hammers — a feat only Dixie Dean, against Bury, had managed before for the Toffees. There was no hint of danger, either, when Mirallas scythed down Aaron Cresswell in the 34th minute to earn a second yellow. Robles saved with his legs from Emmanuel Emenike before the interval, but Lennon’s tendency to drag West Ham out of shape continued. He got his reward when he angled in from the left for a one-two with Lukaku and finished calmly. Fortunes began to turn with a 69th-minute penalty when Muhamed Besic’s trickery was curtailed by Alex Song. Lukaku bamboozled himself, placing his kick at Adrian, who he later could not beat when haring clear. Then the payback, as Antonio’s 78th-minute reply from a cross by Mark Noble was followed by Sakho’s from Payet’s centre. A third curveball arrived when Payet himself finished the job. The result was never in doubt, if you ask Bilic. “If they scored the penalty they probably would’ve won,” he said. “When we had the ball I always had the feeling we could do it. We said at half-time, ‘OK we’re one down, but we’re going to do it.’ “We had to be less sexy but more lethal. Nobody can deny we deserved it and were the best team from the first minute.” Star man: Dimitri Payet (West Ham) Everton: Robles 5, Stones 5 (Besic h-t, 6), Jagielka 6, Funes Mori 5, Coleman 6, McCarthy 7, Barkley 7, Oviedo 7, Lennon 8 (Niasse 76min, 6), Mirallas 4, Lukaku 8 (Barry 89min, 6) West Ham: Adrian 6, Oxford 5 (Carroll h-t, 7), Kouyate 5, Ogbonna 5, Antonio 5, Noble 7, Obiang 5 (Song 59min, 6), Cresswell 6, Lanzini 6, Payet 8, Emenike 5 (Sakho 59min, 6)

[thedirttracker]

Liverpool's five most memorable League Cups ahead of Sunday's final

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2816000/liverpool-five-most-memorable-league-cup-victories With the stage set for Liverpool's 12th League Cup final (they won eight of their previous 11), we look at five of their sweetest triumphs: 1982: 3-1 vs. Tottenham Hotspur In recovering from 1-0 down to a Steve Archibald goal, Liverpool become the second team after Nottingham Forest to retain the League Cup. It was the first of three successive league and League Cup doubles for the Reds: Having languished in 12th place in the league on Boxing Day (Jurgen Klopp take note?), they surged to win the title on the last day of the season -- again beating Tottenham 3-1. Heroes of the hour? Ronnie Whelan, then 20, made a name for himself at Wembley by scoring twice (Ian Rush claimed the other goal), while manager Bob Paisley telling his team to remain standing before extra time to try to intimidate Spurs would surely also appeal to Klopp. 1995: 2-1 vs. Bolton Wanderers Bruce Rioch's swashbuckling Bolton side, playing in the second tier, had won admirers en route to the Wembley final, led by the likes of Jason McAteer, Alan Stubbs, Alan Thompson and John McGinlay. They were outgunned by a Liverpool team containing John Barnes, Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and captain Rush. Hero of the hour? This was the Steve McManaman final, confirming his rise from junior partner to big-stage match winner. A teasing run and finish earned the lead; he then he cut in from the left to curl past Keith Branagan before Thompson pulled a goal back. 2001: 5-4 on penalties vs. Birmingham City (1-1 after extra time) Captain Fowler's goal put the Reds on course for a first trophy in six years, but the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium went the distance after Darren Purse equalised with a penalty given for Stephane Henchoz's injury-time foul on Martin O'Connor. Heroes of the hour? Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld was pivotal in the shootout, denying Birmingham's Martin Grainger and Andy Johnson. On target for the victors were Gary McAllister, Nick Barmby, Christian Ziege, Fowler and Jamie Carragher. 2003: 2-0 vs. Manchester United A 39th-minute Steven Gerrard shot that deflected off David Beckham put the Reds in front in Cardiff, and Michael Owen broke clear four minutes from time to add a second. It had been a mixed season, and Owen and manager Gerard Houllier would depart the following summer. Hero of the hour? Again it was the goalkeeper: Jerzy Dudek had been culpable for both of Diego Forlan's goals when United won 2-1 at Anfield that season, yet he was back on song against United here. 2012: 3-2 on penalties vs. Cardiff City (2-2 after extra time) Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez were in tandem up front at Wembley as Dalglish, in his second spell as boss, collected Liverpool's first trophy after another six-year itch, again via a shootout. Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Steven, missed the decisive spot-kick for Cardiff. Heroes of the hour? Take your pick from keeper Pepe Reina or goalscorers Martin Skrtel (the first Liverpool player to score at Wembley since McManaman in 1995) and Dirk Kuyt. The Dutchman also scored in the shootout, along with Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson, after misses by Gerrard and Charlie Adam. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

[thedirttracker]

Liverpool keep European hopes alive with 1-0 win over Augsburg

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-match/60/post/2813776/liverpool-keep-european-hopes-alive-with-win-over-augsburg LIVERPOOL, England -- Three thoughts on Liverpool's 1-0 second-leg victory at home to Augsburg (1-0 on aggregate) in the Europa League's round-of-32 on Thursday. 1. Liverpool keep their European dream alive Victory by a single goal at Anfield sent Jurgen Klopp's team through to the last 16 of the Europa League after the 0-0 draw at Augsburg seven days previously, but it was not without its stresses. James Milner separated the sides with a fifth-minute penalty after a handball by Dominik Kohr, but a familiar Liverpool tale -- chances going astray, then late nerves -- unfolded thereafter. Augsburg forward Caiuby had already served warning of that before Milner's goal, when he was freed in the inside-left channel and fizzed a shot over goal into the Kop. And he did so again in the 87th minute when he turned Lucas Leiva, his fellow Brazilian, in the Liverpool defence and squared for the approaching Alexander Esswein, who was closed down by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Lucas himself. Visiting left-back Kostas Stafylidis then fired a free kick past Mignolet's left post in the 89th minute after Caiuby had been fouled, before the Belgian saved from Tobias Werner, and, in injury time, Raul Bobadilla blasted over the goal from 20 yards. Required to be more of a focal point with usual centre-forward Bobadilla on the bench, Caiuby also played an unwitting part in his side's downfall when he got in the way of Kohr, who was off-balance and handled. Milner sent his spot kick low to the right. The Bundesliga club did not shrink, though. Werner and Koo Ja-cheol were central to slick build-up work that would surely have allowed Halil Altintop a shot at Mignolet from point-blank range but for Milner's sliding interception. The absence of a second goal left Liverpool open to the away-goal sucker-punch that could ruin their evening. It never came, and the Merseysiders survived by their slight advantage. Klopp's stated "big ambitions" in the Europa League are still alive, but Liverpool sweated on that until the end. 2. Sturridge's movement can transform his side This was a performance by the home side that, in terms of energy and fluency, was markedly better than they had produced a week earlier in Bavaria. The biggest single reason for this was the speed and movement of Daniel Sturridge at the head of the attack in his fourth match back after his long injury absence. Plenty of what worked for him was his own doing, but Philippe Coutinho in particular felt able to play balls that he could be confident Sturridge would read in a way that Christian Benteke, for instance, has not. An advantage of Lucas' use as an emergency (but increasingly frequent) centre-back is his distribution, and a dribble out from defence and lofted pass to Sturridge on the left wing allowed the striker to bring onrushing midfielders into play -- something he did adeptly throughout. The 26-year-old has the mobility to contribute in the wide areas and the variety of positions he could be found in was noticeable. One moment he was bothering Stafylidis on the left of the visiting defence; the next he was pestering right-back Paul Verhaegh. Sturridge was also not averse to dropping as deep as Jordan Henderson in attack. This created the effect of appearing unexpectedly when he took up positions in the box, where he often required two markers, such was the uncertainty caused. One run to the near post, which was later flagged for offside, provoked a shove in the back by Augsburg centre-half Christoph Janker. In the second half, until his 65th-minute replacement by Divock Origi, it was Sturridge who had his side's best chance, which he made for himself when pressing Verhaegh -- even if he should have finished it. He then pulled Augsburg out of shape again to open a passage into the penalty area for Henderson and Roberto Firmino, who had a shot blocked. Sturridge played only 65 minutes but he exited to a standing ovation, having shown a greater range of ability and sustained application in that time than any other Liverpool forward had in any match in his absence. 3. Klopp's plans for Wembley solidify The manager had signalled in the build-up to this match that nobody would be rested and kept in reserve for the League Cup final on Sunday, with each match in turn treated as the most important of a potentially pivotal week. Whether it was in pursuit of their European aims or the carrot of a place in the lineup at Wembley, Liverpool's players looked focused, if still a work in progress. Whether they possess enough quality to see off Manchester City is, on this evidence, debatable. Of those available who had a realistic chance of starting at Wembley three days after this tie, only Kolo Toure was left out of the starting XI here. His presence on the bench represented the sole apparent concession made by Klopp to the cup final three days later, but Lucas' composure befitted his midfield experience and Mamadou Sakho -- maybe out of necessity -- alongside him in defence was especially focused and assertive. Full-backs Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne, and Milner, who popped up on both wings, were as enterprising as they were solid, and Firmino and Coutinho were relishing being back in tandem. If anything was lacking, besides a more clinical edge, it was a certain impetus from Henderson and Emre Can from midfield, but both are assured of featuring against City. Dejan Lovren, who was absent ill on Thursday, will contest Lucas' centre-back spot with Toure, but otherwise this was Klopp's likely Wembley selection and nothing he saw at Anfield will have changed his thinking. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

[thedirttracker]

Today is 25 years since Kenny Dalglish resigned, ending an era of dominance; what could the Liverpool of now take from then?

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2812752/what-can-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-learn-from-kenny-dalglish It was 25 years ago, on Feb. 22, 1991, that Kenny Dalglish stunned football by stepping down as Liverpool manager. He left his side -- then defending champions -- top of the table, but they have not won the league title since. Dalglish's successors in the Anfield hotseat (plus the Scot himself on his return in 2011-12) have had to settle for cup success or, in Brendan Rodgers's case, nothing at all. Jurgen Klopp is the seventh new boss to try to return the Reds to their former glories, so after a quarter of a century of ups and downs we ask what he can learn from Dalglish's tenure. 1. A goalscorer (or even two) changes everything Dalglish's go-to man was Ian Rush, both as a teammate -- with whom he had a near-telepathic understanding -- and as manager. After joining Liverpool in 1980, the Welsh striker netted 346 times in 660 games, including 47 goals in 1983-84 to win the European golden boot. More startling is that for Rush's first seven years at Liverpool, they did not lose a match in which he scored. The sequence lasted 145 games until defeat by Arsenal in the 1987 League Cup final, a month before Rush left for Juventus. His replacement, John Aldridge, had already arrived and was equally reliable, scoring 63 goals in 104 games before leaving once Rush had returned and reclaimed his place. In an era when the word "rotation" was not yet in use, there was not room for both -- a luxury the current Liverpool (who netted only 10 more goals than bottom club QPR in 2014-15) would love after two lean seasons in this department. 2. A strong spine gives you a platform to build on In Dalglish's first season in charge in 1985-86 he won a league and FA Cup double -- at that time only the third in England in the 20th century (there have been six more in 19 years since). In his third and fourth seasons he was denied further doubles only by a shock 1-0 loss to Wimbledon in the 1988 Cup final and the injury-time Michael Thomas goal in a 2-0 win for Arsenal that snatched away the 1989 league title on goal difference. This consistency -- a quality Klopp is seeking -- was built around Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson (later Gary Gillespie) at centre-back, Jan Molby and Steve McMahon in the centre of midfield, and Ronnie Whelan and Craig Johnston (later John Barnes and Ray Houghton) on the left and right. All understood "The Liverpool Way" and all became serial winners. 3. Certainty between the sticks builds confidence Dalglish's teams had an often spectacular shot-stopper who was prone to clangers -- sound familiar? Klopp's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, though, is a different character to the more abrasive Bruce Grobbelaar, who was erratic but survived numerous crises to play 626 matches and star in the 1984 European Cup final penalty shootout victory over Roma. Taking over the gloves from the legendary Ray Clemence, the then little-known Zimbabwe international was a constant presence for Liverpool in the 1980s and early 90s, collecting 13 winner's medals. After his 1981 debut he did not miss a game for five years -- 310 consecutive fixtures later.  4. Liverpool's No. 7 shirt is special With due respect to James Milner, who currently wears it, he does not resemble the No. 7s who have inspired the Reds' greatest triumphs. The most famed of all is Dalglish, but when its previous incumbent Kevin Keegan left for Hamburg in 1977, it was feared he was irreplaceable. Dalglish proved that not to be the case: winning 22 trophies as a player and a further six as manager. Peter Beardsley then showed that he was an ideal fit for four seasons, before the likes of Nigel Clough and Robbie Keane tried it for size and could not fill it. Not until Luis Suarez arrived at Anfield in 2011 -- during Dalglish's second spell as boss -- was there a successor of comparable quality, with 82 goals in 133 appearances and almost a first championship since the Scot's 1991 exit. A gaping void has followed. 5. Much has changed, but identity is still vital Learning the lessons of history is all very well, but the football landscape has shifted considerably since 1991. The game is quicker; there is far more money in England (attracting global stars who in Dalglish's day went to Italy); and a nucleus of Scottish, Irish and Welsh players is unlikely to dominate Europe nowadays. A characteristic of which Klopp would approve, however, is that, for all their star individuals, the teams Dalglish played in and managed were greater than the sum of their parts. They had a style, an identity, and no one was irreplaceable -- besides, perhaps, King Kenny. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

[thedirttracker]

What Liverpool can expect from Augsburg? A goalscoring keeper, hex over Guardiola (kind of) and pioneering work in social housing

http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-europa-league/2310/blog/post/2810048/what-liverpool-can-expect-from-fc-augsburg As Liverpool travel to FC Augsburg in the Europa League Round of 32 on Thursday, ESPN FC's Tom Bell takes a look at their relatively unheralded opponents... Who are Augsburg? This is the question Liverpool's German midfielder Emre Can has found himself fielding from teammates ahead of Thursday's first leg at the WWK Arena. Located in the southern German state of Bavaria, Augsburg is 30km from Munich but its football history is far removed from that of its neighbour. FC Augsburg's former players include Helmut Haller -- the first goalscorer in the 1966 World Cup final against England -- Bernd Schuster and former Liverpool striker Karl-Heinz Riedle, who began his career there. But all three found fame elsewhere and the team have hovered mainly in the second and third divisions. They are nicknamed Die Fuggerstädter (the Fugger-towners) in reference to the local Fugger family -- a wealthy 15th and 16th century business dynasty who funded the Fuggerei, a social housing complex in the city that is claimed to be the world's oldest still in use. And in the 21st century it was another local businessman, Walter Seinsch, who led a takeover with the club in financial strife and playing in the fourth tier in front of crowds of under a thousand. Still in the third-tier Regionalliga Sud when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, they rose to reach the Bundesliga for the first time in 2011 before a fifth-place finish in 2015 earned their first taste of European football. How do Augsburg line up -- where are the likely threats? Favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation, head coach Markus Weinzierl can be expected to field a back four of captain and right-back Paul Verhaegh, centre-backs Hong Jeong-ho and Ragnar Klavan, and left-back Philipp Max. In front of them would be Dominik Kohr and the influential Daniel Baier, but the latter's ankle injury means Jeffrey Gouweleeuw -- a centre-half -- could help screen the defence. Raul Bobadilla spearheads the attack. The Paraguay striker goes into the Round of 32 as the Europa League's joint leading scorer with six goals; he also scored against Liverpool at Anfield for Young Boys in the same competition in 2012. The combination behind Bobadilla has chopped and changed but will feature the Brazilian Caiuby on the left flank. Koo Ja-cheol and Alexander Esswein could complete the trio in an otherwise settled and compact side in which the full-backs provide width. In goal is Marwin Hitz, who a year ago this week became only the third goalkeeper to score a Bundesliga goal from open play, after Jens Lehmann and Frank Rost. Goals, however, have not been free-flowing. Augsburg scored 43 (conceding the same number) in 34 league matches last season, against Liverpool's relatively barren tally of 52 (four more than they conceded) in 38 league outings. This season Augsburg have 23 for and 31 against in 21 league matches, compared with Liverpool's 38 for and 36 against in 26. How does boss Weinzierl match up to Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp? Weinzierl is the only coach to have won twice in the Bundesliga against Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, a feat that eluded Klopp. One of those victories, by a 1-0 margin in April 2014, ended Bayern's 52-game unbeaten Bundesliga run, even if Guardiola did rest players for the Champions League clash with Manchester United. A more reserved character than Klopp, former Bayern reserve-team midfielder Weinzierl became the Bundesliga's youngest manager when he was appointed aged 37 in 2012 with no top-flight experience. He inherited the second smallest budget in the division but, like Klopp, has promoted younger players and improved average ones. Last February he took his side to Borussia Dortmund -- then managed by Klopp -- and won. But Klopp's record overall against Augsburg is played 10, won five and drawn three. What form are Augsburg in and how did they reach the Round of 32? Weinzierl's men head into the first knockout round sitting 14th in the 18-team Bundesliga. They rounded off a torrid opening two months of 2015-16 with a 5-1 hammering at Dortmund on Oct. 25, then improved with four wins and two draws in their next seven league games before the winter break. Since the season resumed on Jan. 23, Augsburg have had two goalless draws followed by two defeats -- the most recent being Sunday's 3-1 loss at home to Bayern, in which Bobadilla scored his 11th goal of the season. Drawn in group L of the Europa League alongside Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade, Die Fuggerstädter lost two of their home matches before qualifying as runners-up to Bilbao in dramatic circumstances. Needing to win by at least two goals in Belgrade -- and take head-to-head records out of the equation by matching Partizan's 3-1 win in Germany -- Augsburg led 2-1 going into the 89th minute. They poured forward and Caiuby set up Bobadilla to score, sending them through at Partizan's expense. How do the German side's priorities compare with Liverpool's? The return of European action is not the most conveniently timed for Augsburg while the possibility of relegation still looms (although Dortmund have knocked them out of the domestic DFB-Pokal). Goalkeeper Hitz has said the tie is "four days off from league stress" before they travel to the Bundesliga's bottom team Hannover on Sunday, whereas Liverpool are neither relegation candidates nor title contenders in the Premier League and have a rare weekend off. They do, however, face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final three days after the return leg against Augsburg, so could do without a taxing evening at Anfield when star players are being eased back after injury or have already played when fatigued. Leaving Bavaria with a first-leg deficit to recover from is not on the agenda. What should Liverpool expect at the WWK Arena on Thursday? Built in 2009, Augsburg's 30,660-capacity ground should be full for what is their first meeting with an English side. The club have described the tie as "the biggest game in Augsburg's history," which Klopp has noted could inspire something special. Liverpool, too, are playing up the importance, acknowledging that lifting this trophy represents their most likely route into the Champions League. And with the Reds having fallen at this stage in their past two Europa League runs -- to Besiktas on penalties last season and to Zenit in 2012-13 -- Klopp will want his players to be on their mettle. As for Can, he will have some fond memories of Augsburg to relay to his curious Liverpool colleagues. Of his four league goals for his last club Bayer Leverkusen, two were scored in victories over the Bavarians. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.

[thedirttracker]

Joel Matip is the first glimpse of Jurgen Klopp's vision for Liverpool

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2808527/joel-matip-is-first-glimpse-of-jurgen-klopps-liverpool Liverpool's agreement to sign centre-back Joel Matip on a free transfer represents the first significant step in manager Jurgen Klopp's transformation of his squad. It is a reminder that despite Klopp's staunch defence of the players he inherited -- and talk of his players having an "agreement for one year" rather than feeling constantly under threat -- things are going to change at Anfield in the summer if Klopp is to put his stamp on the club. Matip, who joins from Schalke at the end of this season, is the second addition for 2016-17 after Marko Grujic joined from Red Star Belgrade, but the first definite challenge to the status quo. While Grujic, 19, is one for the future, Matip brings considerable World Cup, Champions League, Europa League and Bundesliga experience, and is destined to slot in at centre-back alongside Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho or Martin Skrtel. Strong in the air, two-footed, comfortable in possession and with decent pace, Matip can also play as a defensive midfielder and fill in at right-back. And at 6-foot-4, he will become the tallest member of Liverpool's relatively diminutive squad. Having attended the same school that produced Germany's 2014 World Cup winners Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Howedes and Julian Draxler, Matip made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke in November 2009, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich (then managed by Louis van Gaal) and being named man of the match. Matip played 20 times that season, mostly in midfield, before shifting between midfield, full-back and centre-back the following season. Since 2011-12, he has established himself at centre-back and is closing in on 200 Bundesliga appearances. The son of Jean Matip and brother of Marvin Matip, both Cameroon internationals, Joel opted to follow suit rather than represent Germany, the country of his birth. He has 27 caps to date and has already appeared in two World Cups. As far as Liverpool are concerned, what is not to like? And so Klopp's rebuilding begins. Whatever the uplift in mood around Anfield and Melwood, however much energy has been injected into Liverpool's performances as they have played in the image of their new master, plenty is unchanged. With a 43 percent win record in all competitions, compared with the 50 percent of predecessor Brendan Rodgers, results under Klopp have taken a slight downturn -- albeit with injuries and a willingness to take a step back to take two forward. The Reds are still vulnerable playing at home, they don't score enough goals, defend too sloppily, lack consistency and struggle to perform for a full 90 minutes. Those defensive shortcomings stretch back to as long ago as 2013-14, when they went close to winning the Premier League title. That vulnerability at the back was also an area in which the transfer market offered Klopp's only effective remedy, because his acknowledgment of weaknesses there had not led to a significant improvement. In attack, by contrast, he has set great store by using Roberto Firmino as a false No. 9. And Klopp has awaited the likely improvement were Daniel Sturridge to return from injury and have regular involvement for the first time since the German took over -- as he will hope is now the case. After also losing Danny Ings to a knee injury in his first training session in charge, and subsequently Divock Origi and Philippe Coutinho, Klopp had no great wish to block his star forwards' returns by recruiting short-term replacements. It was in this context that he saw no value in Shakhtar Donetsk's asking price for the prolific Alex Teixeira. In defence, the issues ran deeper than a short-term lack of personnel as the ailments mounted over Christmas. Drafting in Steven Caulker on loan pointed also to the manager's broader intentions after despairing of his defenders' fallibility under the aerial ball. "We want to play good pressing, we want to press the opponent and so they have to play long balls," Klopp said. "If they play long balls, you need people in the last line who can help you with headers." The 6-foot-3 Caulker can do that and has done so in his fleeting appearances thus far. If his January loan could bolster the side without undermining Klopp's year-long "contract" with his players, so, too, can a pre-agreed arrival for the end of that year. Kolo Toure, who turns 35 in March, is out of contract by then, and the popular Ivorian -- so useful to Klopp as a stand-in this winter -- is nearing the end of his shelf life as a regular starting option. The arrival of Matip, a man 10 years his junior, ensures first and foremost that four internationals will be available at centre-back. Lovren, Sakho and Skrtel -- perhaps also Caulker -- have the remainder of that gentleman's agreement with the boss to avoid being displaced. This season, the Cameroonian has Schalke's best statistics in interceptions, blocks, clearances and headed clearances, ranking in the Bundesliga's top 10 across those categories combined. Matip also dribbles more than any of Liverpool's centre-backs and boasts 17 goals for the Gelsenkirchen club, 16 of which have come from set pieces. He has missed only three of Schalke's 29 matches this season, all in the Europa League group stage, chipping in with four goals and an assist -- so Matip is not moving to England to kick his heels. And it is not only Liverpool's centre-backs who ought to take note. Klopp's instinct has been to limit his academy graduates' exposure to first-team action, putting their development before short-term needs. As laudable as that is, it has taken some of the heat off his regular first-team picks. Their places have been reasonably safe, no matter how underwhelming the Reds' form and results. There has been little sense that places are up for grabs to play at Wembley in the Capital One Cup final on Feb. 28, despite an ordinary 2016 so far for most of those likely to be involved. Liverpool will need to sustain heights they have hit only fleetingly this season if they are to see off Manchester City and earn Klopp an early piece of silverware, or pursue their other attainable target, the Europa League. The first sign that the man in charge is handpicking players to guarantee those levels are hit next season can only focus minds before the staging posts to come and the likely summer rebuild beyond. Tom is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. Follow him @writertombell.