The Liverpool View

In this week’s view from the opposition, TEB caught up with a very familiar face. Liverpool fan Nick Truss gave us the lowdown on the Anfield club ahead of the live televised game on BT Sport between our two sides.

Q. What were your hopes and dreams for the new season before a ball was kicked?

Obviously, top four is the aim but with us finishing eighth last time out, I’d take an eighth to fifth jump and a decent cup run. A key part of this season for me is to build on the momentum that Jurgen Klopp has had since he took over just over a year ago, the feel around the club and the supporters in the closest it’s been in years. Yes, there are still some issues in the fan base but for the first time in ages we all seem to be behind our manager.

Q. Was it a successful transfer window for the club or are there areas that still need improving?

Now this is a touchy subject. Some will argue that yes it was solid whereas others will disagree. I think most people are aware of the situation at left back for Liverpool as it has been widely talked about in the media. Some people will stick up for ‘Albie’ Moreno forever and a day, I’m not convinced by him at all and think he should be sold because people call him ‘Albie’! Also the fact that James Milner is playing in that position ahead of him speaks volumes. Karius has worried me since breaking into the team, I’m not sure whether he is any better than Mignolet at this point in the season, not that I dislike the lad and don’t think he can be a top keeper, it will just take time, time which unfortunately isn’t given to many players breaking through these days, especially in a position where every error is scrutinised with a fine tooth comb.

Big money signing Sadio Mane has really impressed me, I wasn’t too happy about his arrival for the price paid but as long as he keeps doing what he is doing I am happy to be proven wrong. There is a tweet of mine that may get picked up on if his form continues! Elsewhere, Joel Matip on a free looks extremely good business considering the money spent on the likes of Bailly, Luiz and Stones this summer and Wijnaldum provides us with an extra option in midfield and has performed pretty well although he does go under the radar because his role in the team doesn’t directly lead to goals. It will definitely be interesting to see our new players develop.

Q. Jurgen Klopp is making plenty of friends since arriving in the Premier League but has he continued to impress in and around the club?

Yes of course, as mentioned above it is the first time in ages the whole fan base has been fully behind a manager, I mean come on who doesn’t like the guy?

Q. Instead of heading to a new stadium like many clubs, a lot of building work has taken place at Anfield recently culminating in the recent opening of the renovated main stand. How have fans taken to it and is there more to come?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get to any games so far this season for various reasons – price/time/no European football which is easier to get tickets to and I chose not go in any of the auto-cup schemes. As a result, I have not seen the finished product in the flesh but watching the structure progress last season was incredible. The majority of the fan base is made up after everything from Hicks and Gillett putting the shovel in the ground on Stanley Park to us nearly going into administration (if you believe the reports). To finally have a bigger stadium is fantastic especially because we are still at Anfield.

It hasn’t been showered in glory with the ticket protest last season and that it is still almost impossible to get tickets to Premier League games although the latter is part of a wider issue about how the club sells its tickets. Not sure how it works at Palace but Liverpool seem to think its a good idea to sell them in two big blocks in July and December which is a joke. The latest on the stadium development isn’t great either as it is rumoured that FSG are not sure if they want to expand the Anfield Road end as originally planned because there isn’t an option to have this as a corporate area and due to them failing to increase ticket prices that no longer see the worth of the expansion to this stand. I’ll get off my soap box now though before I start!

Q. Dare we ask your views on the rule changes going into this new Premier League season?

I’m not going to lie, I’ve had to Google these as most of them haven’t made a difference to my viewing experience. Obviously, the new directive on contact in the box during corners and free kicks has been talked about loads in the media, there’s been so many penalties awarded this season for barely anything to be honest. Liverpool no longer employ Martin Skrtel so it hasn’t really effected us and I suppose something needed to be done but I’m not sure whether the new directive for referees on these incidents has actually improved the game.

As for actual rule changes I do like the new player behavior rules and it was great to see Ashley Young getting a yellow card in the Liverpool/United game the other Monday for constantly having a go at the referee. The other rule which I believe has been a long time coming is the rules for treatment of injuries on the pitch, previously we would have seen a team go down to ten men after a player was treated, now they are able to get treated quickly and stay on the pitch following treatment so a team aren’t potentially getting punished for one of their players being hacked down.

Q. It is looking difficult for an un-fancied team breaking into the top six this season but if you were to pick one, who would it be?

Everton had a decent start and Southampton are on a decent run at the moment but the league seems a lot stronger this season, even Liverpool could easily finish outside the top six again. I’d say one of the two mentioned there could be the ones if anyone was to do it, although are Leicester un-fancied for the top six this season? A lot of people are writing them off so it will be interesting to see if they can do it, but they will probably just go and win the Champions League instead! If you’re looking for a team that finished below twelfth last season? I’ve liked the look of Watford so far.

Q. Perhaps you could share your views on Palace as a club, how we did last season and our start to this season?

This has become a fixture I look out for with dread when the fixture list comes out. Ever since that 3-3 that cost us the title in 2013/14 you have come back time and time again and done us in. Gerrard’s last game at Anfield is a prime example. I was sat in the Anfield Road end about four or five seats away from your fans that game and it was not fun, although I have great respect for the ovation you gave to our club hero at the end of the game. Not just for that, but I believe Palace have one of the strongest if not the strongest support in the league and you always seem to be having a good time which is what it is all about.

Last season wasn’t too bad for yourselves, your league form from January was atrocious but I think that’s a trend with Alan Pardew. His Newcastle sides flew out the gate at the start of a few seasons only to fall off near the end, but you did get to an FA Cup Final and were unfortunately beaten by Manchester United, a loss that didn’t even save Louis Van Gaal. So far this season I’m not sure, I’m a little scared to say too much as it could all backfire on me but you have had some decent results but not against any great opposition, Beating Stoke City when there were out of form, although a 4-1 win over anyone in the Premier League is good going while the other two wins coming against Sunderland and Middlesbrough, they are the teams you need to beat regardless of your objectives for the season.

Q. Name one player from each team that the opposition should be concerned about?

Christian Benteke for us. Obvious reasons really, he has a point to prove and we can’t defend from situations that he is very good at attacking. Want to give a shout out to Wilfried Zaha who seems to have got his career back on track after the mistake of signing for Manchester United and he’s picking me up loads of Play Togga fantasy league points!

For you guys it is any one of Mane, Coutinho, or Firmino, but I’ll go for Mane for his pace and power as it has added a new dimension to our team which we haven’t had for a long, long time.

Q. Prediction?

It’s going to be close, if we score first I think we will get two and win 2-1 but if you score first that changes everything, depends how compact you can be from there.

Q. Please tell us a little more about your fan group and any projects you are working on.

I do my stuff for Anfield Index but not really involved with the actual football side of things, I spend my time on fantasy football. You can find our show on the Anfield Index app or listen online. We don’t talk about Liverpool news, just focus on the fantasy football side of things so if you are into that we have recorded a review of Southampton this week so check that out for our tips on which of their players you should take a gamble on and which you should avoid. We plan to cover all twenty Premier League clubs so if you want an alternative view on the Palace squad from a third party fantasy football perspective then definitely keep an eye out for that in the future.