Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Thursday, January 6.
Liverpool critics cannot hide their true agenda
Ian Doyle gives his take after Liverpool's request to postpone Arsenal clash due to Covid cases among players and staff caused a strong reaction from rival fans
“Football, like so many aspects of life, is rife with hypocrisy. What applies to one group may not necessarily be what they then want considered elsewhere.
“The tribalism that will forever be the foundation of the sport serves only to intensify the fact, particularly when the all-encompassing behemoth of social media is thrown into the mix.
“We're all guilty of it. Even when sometimes we don't even mean to be.
“Which brings us on to the issue of Liverpool being granted their request for Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal to be postponed due to a major coronavirus outbreak in the playing and coaching staff.
“There can be no doubt over the veracity of the claim, given the decision on Wednesday to temporarily close the training ground was taken after consultation with relevant Public Health authorities.
“Nor can there be any doubt over the postponement being the very last cause of action the Reds wanted to take.
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“Three players tested positive ahead of the trip to Tottenham Hotspur last month.
“Liverpool got on with it.
“A further three were missing for the clash at Chelsea on Sunday, with boss Jurgen Klopp and several coaching staff also absent after returning suspected positive coronavirus tests.
“Liverpool got on with it.
“But such is the extent of the ongoing outbreak, there was no chance of the Reds being able to not only field a team at the Emirates, but also prepare for the fixture and, indeed, have sufficient senior coaching staff on which to call.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE .
Liverpool’s instant boost from £75m deal
“It is four years since Virgil van Dijk fully announced himself as a Liverpool player,” writes Tom Cavilla.
“And what better way to repay your £75million transfer fee than by scoring a winning goal against your local rivals.
“Much of the talk heading into this FA Cup third-round tie had centred around the Dutch defender, who arrived at Anfield with a huge sense of expectation attached to his hefty price tag.
“Of course, the 30-year-old has proved to everyone in recent years that Liverpool made one of their greatest transfer decisions by bringing him to the club, but not everyone from the outside looking in was sold from the off.
“A Merseyside derby is by no means the easiest first game for any new signing, though this action-packed affair offered an early taste of this historic fixture.
“ Jurgen Klopp's side drew first blood in the contest in the 35th minute of the match after Mason Holgate brought Adam Lallana down inside the area, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded.
“It was James Milner who stepped up from the spot and he made no mistake from 12-yards, sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way with his effort.
“Having been involved in the penalty incident, Holgate was again at the heart of things when pushing Roberto Firmino into the stands.
“This provoked a strong reaction from the Reds' forward, with the pair needing to be separated before the game got back underway.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE .
