The Liver Bird  

1) This is going to be a long old season

A 1-1 draw away at West Ham in seasons gone by would actually be considered a good result for most teams but this season is just different for Liverpool. I find myself fuming at the fact we're three points clear at the top, it makes no sense to the neutrals but as a Kopite, I know what Liverpool are like and I want so desperately for us to win the title, therefore I want as much padding and protection as possible.

While being three points clear is nothing to frown at, it's the knowing that it could have been five. However, positively for Liverpool we did not entirely crumble against the Hammers, it would have been a nightmare if we'd failed to pick up any points in that game.

City have Everton next followed quite swiftly by Chelsea while Klopp's side have Bournemouth. It's gonna be a long old season...

2) Lallana hasn't lost it?

Now those who read the blog or follow me on Twitter will know that I've never really been a ma…

Liverpool travel to London on Monday evening as they prepare to face West Ham. At the time of writing, Manchester City and Arsenal have not yet kicked off but the result of that fixture could have a massive impact on the Reds. No matter what happens at the Etihad though, Liverpool need to keep their momentum and after a draw with Leicester, Klopp will be looking for three points on this occasion.
Injuries for Liverpool have taken a bit of a set back as it was announced this week that Joe Gomez will be out longer than originally expected. Also unavailable is Dejan Lovren who has a hamstring injury. James Milner returns to the squad after serving a suspension and is likely to play at right-back covering Trent Alexander-Arnold who is also out.
For West Ham, Samir Nasri is unavailable due to a calf issue but Fabianksi and Cresswell may be available for selection. Arnautovic who went off against Wolves also looks to be an option for manager Pellegrini.
The last time the two sides met was in A…

Top of the league and still four points clear, despite losing to the champions... so why am I so frustrated? It's surely a sign of how well Liverpool are playing that I find myself annoyed at last night's result even after a night's sleep. 
Don't get me wrong, it was the correct result, City deserved to win, I just worry how that will affect our momentum and I just know what we're like. It's bizarre cause I'm usually the rose-tinted optimistic fan that gets on people's nerves on Twitter for being too positive but I think I've been scorned by that Brendan Rodgers title race and I just desperately want everything to go right, even though I know there will be blips along the way and that it will not be straightforward. 

There is no shame at all in losing to Guardiola's City at the Etihad, I am just hoping we can pick up where we left off. 
For me, Jurgen Klopp took a decision to select Milner, Henderson and Wijnaldum in his midfield and I can see the …

Liverpool make the short trip along the M62 on Thursday evening as they prepare to face title race rivals Manchester City. The Reds are currently sitting top of the table, six points ahead of Spurs and seven points ahead of City. The match at the Etihad could prove pivotal for Jurgen Klopp's side who are searching for their first ever Premier League title.

Injury wise Liverpool have received a boost as James Milner returns to fitness. For City, 
Gundogan becomes available while Delph and Mendy remain out injured. 

It's such a strange time being a Liverpool fan at the moment because the Reds are playing absolutely brilliantly, we're top of the table with an immense squad yet we can't quite bring ourselves to get excited.The chance to take the Premier League title is a prize too great for many a Liverpool fan who has been burnt recently by the agonisingly close campaign steered by Brendan Rodgers. The heartache is real and I for one am not quite ready to allow myself to get…

Liverpool came back from a goal down to stun Unai Emery's Arsenal side in an emphatic 5-1 victory at Anfield. A hat-trick from Roberto Firmino was joined by goals from Sadio Mane and Mo Salah meaning the Reds remain unbeaten at the top of the table.

Arsenal's opening goal after just 11 minutes came as a bit of a surprise to onlooking Kopites who perhaps assumed it would be the Reds finding the back of the net first on their home turf. A good cross from Iwobi found the Gunners' youngster Maitland-Niles who ensured he converted to put his side ahead.

Some Arsenal fans in the pub went absolutely crazy for the goal, a risky tactic I thought as surely they didn't think that alone would stop Klopp's XI?

Firmino punished just three minutes later with his now signature "no look goal", it was Bobby himself who also started the attack, linking up with Mo Salah.

The Brazilian clearly wasn't content with just the one goal on Saturday evening though as he found the ne…

Liverpool travel to Wolverhampton on Friday evening, my hometown and a place I love dearly. As a kid growing up, my brother was mad on the Reds so my football allegiance was aligned early to the lads from L4 but with a fella, family and friends supporting the boys in gold I always want them to do well, apart from tomorrow that is. 
After all we've been through this season, still top of the league and still unbeaten, I don't think I could take it if them Wolves lot managed to beat us. The scary thing is, they are fully capable. Wolves have had a brilliant start to the season and while they've struggled against sides like Huddersfield, they have absolutely thrived against the likes of Man City and Chelsea. 
I think a lot of neutrals weren't sure what to expect from the Midlands side when they got promoted. I remember having a debate with several fans on Twitter first day of the season as some were calling Nuno's side a one-man team after a 2-2 draw with Everton. I was …

Liverpool put themselves back on their perch on Sunday afternoon as three goals from the Reds brushed United aside at Anfield. Jose Mourinho's team was quite frankly horrendous, it was easily one of the worst United sides I've seen at Anfield in a very long time. 
Liverpool opened up the scoring with a beautiful goal from Mane, set up by an even more beautiful assist from the impressive Fabinho. 
It was the Reds piling on all the pressure and Anfield was bouncing but a somewhat lucky equaliser for United took the sting out of it for the Reds for the remainder of the second half. Lingard managed to convert from close range after a rare error from Alisson. 
The start of the second half saw immediate desperation from Mourinho as he brought on Fellaini straight away and soon began the hoof it and hope tactic. I mean, it's embarrassing, they're supposed to be the mighty Manchester United but they're set up like Stoke...
It was Klopp who would make the most inspired substitu…

This must be the least concerned I've been about Liverpool facing United in a very, very long time. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm always up for the United match and I always think the Reds will be able to get the win but equally, I also fear what the devils have to offer... not this time out though.
United, at the time of writing, are sitting 6th in the table on just 26 points. A full sixteen points behind Liverpool at present, and potentially nineteen points behind tomorrow. The United side used to be one filled with talent you would begrudgingly own up to saying you would like in your own team but as fans, including neutrals, up and down the country have been filling out their Liverpool/United combined XIs this week, it's the boys from L4 making up the majority of the lineup.
The last time the two sides met was in March this year, I'd moved our dream holiday to Australia back a week in order to make sure I could watch this fixture but we lost the game 2-1. A brace…

I've seen some Merseyside derbies in my time but that could quite possibly be my favourite ending ever, you just couldn't make it up! After a battle between the two sides over 90 minutes it was the forgotten Divock Origi who found himself in the right place at the right time to take all three points for Liverpool. 
I have to hand it to the Toffees they look a far stronger side under Marco Silva and they held their own at Anfield for the majority of the match. Liverpool have improved vastly in defence compared to last season and that showed when Alisson was forced into a close-range reaction save, stopping Andre Gomes' header. The danger wasn't quite clear but Joe Gomez's quick thinking ensured the Reds cleared it off the line. 
Annoyingly for Liverpool, while their defence is ten times better their attack seems to have gone a bit quiet over recent weeks and for me, this isn't necessarily to do with the forward players. I'm not sure what other people's opi…

Liverpool welcome Everton to Anfield on Sunday afternoon for the 232nd Merseyside derby. A loss at the hands of PSG in the Champions League during the week will have dented the Reds' confidence levels slightly but the chance of another victory over Everton will surely spur on Klopp's side.

Liverpool will be without captain Jordan Henderson who is serving a suspension. Klopp has also hinted that some players may be rested after a difficult game in Paris where several members of the team picked up knocks. For Everton, they are in a very strong situation as manager Marco Silva has no real injury worries to contend with. 

At the time of writing, Everton are 6th having lost just one of their last five games in the league. The Reds are in 2nd place, still unbeaten and chasing Manchester City who will remain two points ahead at the top if Klopp's side seals all three points. Liverpool have won four out of their last five league games, drawing the remaining match with Arsenal in Nov…

Long time, no blog... I must apologise for the lack of content on The Liver Bird lately. I've struggled quite a bit balancing blogging since starting work a couple of years back now and it always seems to be even more difficult towards the Christmas period with fixture pile ups and festivities. However, I am here and I will certainly still be writing about my beloved Reds just perhaps a tad infrequently.

Anway... I am glad you have all survived the international break. I genuinely feel like part of me is missing during these parts of the season, don't know where to put myself, but we're back and it's Watford up next for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool have pretty much a full squad for this game with just the one doubt hanging over Jordan Henderson. For Watford, they are also looking strong as Capoue returns from a suspension and Will Hughes regains fitness.

The last time the two sides met was in March this year, the game ended 5-0 for Liverpool with four goals from the…

Liverpool had the better chances at the Emirates on Saturday evening but could not find a way to collect all three points against Arsenal. 
The Reds started in a lively fashion and despite Arsenal's increasing possession stats, Klopp's side were still able to make the most of it on the break. 
A goal in the first half from Sadio Mane was incorrectly ruled offside, Mane being involved in the second phase of play after Firmino, who was onside, played the pass. It was a harsh decision and had it been given it could have provided Liverpool with a real boost early on in a difficult game. 
You don't necessarily expect a defender to have the best chances for your side but Virgil van Dijk went close on three occasions for Liverpool. It was extra frustrating for me watching on as I had a quid on van Dijk to score anytime arghhhhh haha. I particularly enjoyed his effort when he remained up from a corner and took it down like a world class striker if only he'd sent it to the left or…

Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Saturday evening in what is set to be an exciting game for the neutral but a nervous time for any Kopites or Gunners. 
The Reds come into this fixture on the back of a 4-1 win over Cardiff. Arsenal, on the other hand, drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in their most recent fixture which was a surprise for many.  The Londoners started the season with some tough fixtures but had quietly (we'll not so quietly actually, their performances have caught everyone's eye) gone about their business until that hiccup against Palace. 
Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league at the moment alongside City and Chelsea but Arsenal have lost twice so far this season. 
Injuries for the Reds mean doubts are banging over Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson. 
Arsenal have taken a bit of a hit and also have a league cup game to contend with prior to our clash. Koscielny remains out, Bellerin is a doubt while both Kolasinac and Monreal will undergo late fitness tests. 
The last time the…

Liverpool make the short trip to Huddersfield this weekend as the Reds look to pick up where they left off prior to the international break. A draw with City for many at the time felt like quite a frustrating result for the Reds but having had time to ponder, in the grand scheme of things, if Klopp's side can get back in the saddle this weekend, things are looking rather rosy.

Huddersfield are struggling to say the least and so far this season they have yet to find the back of the net at home. The Terriers currently sit 18th in the table on just three points. By contrast, the Reds are in third only due to goal difference, joint on points with both Chelsea and Manchester City.

Injuries for Liverpool took a bad turn during the international break as news of knocks and even broken bones began to filter through. A suspected broken thumb for Sadio Mane has seen him undergo hand surgery, Naby Keita left the field with an injury in the Guinea v Rwanda match and Mo Salah also went off injur…

In just a few hours Liverpool will walk out at Anfield against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. The Sky Blues are currently sitting top of the Premier League table thanks to a better goal difference than Jurgen Klopp's side. Liverpool will be desperate to make the most of this chance against City and to put distance between themselves and every other team in the league for the time being.

Onlookers Chelsea will be begging that this game ends in a draw and to be honest it's definitely a possibility. If it is a draw, it'll be a 2-2 or a 3-3 because I'm convinced this game will have goals. For me, the way in which City play will massively assist Liverpool and players such as Mane, Salah and Firmino should be able to capitalise on the gaps left by the visitors.

Injuries for Liverpool are pretty much the same, thankfully though, for the Reds, Naby Keita who went off against Napoli with a back problem may still be able to feature having been checked over thoroughly by medi…