Greig Hopcroft

What a night at Anfield. I was there with Charlene and the kids, and at 2-0 down it looked like one of those Champions League evenings that might get away from Liverpool completely. Instead, they dragged themselves back to 2-2 before half time, then went on to win 4-3. There was plenty to like in the comeback, especially Alexis Mac Allister’s influence, Rio Ngumoha’s fearless performance on the right and the way Liverpool completely changed the momentum of the game. The numbers back it up too, 22 shots, 2.37 xG, 44 touches in the Villarreal box and 21 successful dribbles. I’ve written about the atmosphere inside Anfield, the tactical issues, the midfield changes and why Rio looks like he is developing into something very special. My latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #ChampionsLeague #Villarreal #RioNgumoha

A proper Premier League away win for Liverpool. Brentford made it physical, Liverpool lost players to injury, went behind and still found a way to turn the game around and win 2-1. The numbers back up the performance too, 60% possession, 21 shots, 1.64 xG and 38 touches inside the Brentford box. For me, the biggest positive was the mentality. Andoni Iraola did not manage the second half like a man happy to take a point. Liverpool went after the game, Victor Muñoz delivered the equaliser and Alexander Isak produced the winner. There were also more encouraging signs from Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha, with those attacking relationships starting to look much more natural. My latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/b… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #PremierLeague #Brentford #Iraola

🔴 THE FUTURE OF LIVERPOOL'S ATTACK? ⚡ Bradley Barcola 🎩 Florian Wirtz 🔥 Rio Ngumoha Three exciting talents, bags of potential and the promise of something special at Anfield. Could this trio become the heartbeat of Liverpool's next great side? ✍️ My latest for It Was Always... Liverpool 👇 🔗 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC

🔴 Liverpool v Man City. A huge clash overshadowed by controversy. ⚖️ Chris Kavanagh's decisions under the spotlight. 🔥 Tempers flaring on the pitch. 👀 More questions about Premier League officiating. Did the referee change the course of the game? My latest for *It Was Always... Liverpool* 👇 🔗 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/pub… #LFC #MCFC #PremierLeague

Liverpool are through in the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield, but this was a much more interesting game than the scoreline suggests. 🔴 Liverpool made 10 changes 🔴 Spurs had 56% possession 🔴 Spurs won the xG battle 2.33 to 1.53 🔴 Liverpool still scored three excellent goals 🔴 23 tackles, 14 interceptions and 31 clearances from the Reds 🔴 Lewis Koumas impressed 🔴 Rio Ngumoha grew into the game 🔴 Mamardashvili made five saves 🔴 Szoboszlai finished it with an absolute rocket For me, this was less about complete control and more about energy, resilience, rotation working properly and Liverpool taking their moments. There are still things for Andoni Iraola to fix, especially the duel numbers and the chances conceded, but after the flat Fulham draw this felt like a much more encouraging night. My latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #Liverpool #CarabaoCup #Tottenham #Spurs #Iraola

Richard Hughes has left Liverpool for Al Hilal, but how should we really judge his time at Anfield? There were big positives, including Arne Slot arriving and winning the Premier League in his first season, plus some huge signings. But there were also too many public transfer sagas, too many deals that felt reactive, and a growing sense that Liverpool had lost some of the clarity that once made their recruitment so strong. For me, the next sporting director has to bring that identity back. Find the right players. Find value. Give Andoni Iraola players he can improve. Spend big when it makes sense, but also find the next Robertson before everyone else does. My latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/r… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #Liverpool #Transfers #RichardHughes #YNWA

A frustrating afternoon at Anfield. Liverpool had 56% possession, 14 shots, 1.28 xG and created four big chances against Fulham, but somehow it still ended 0-0. The numbers tell an interesting story though. 🔴 239 passes in the Fulham half 🔴 14 shots to 10 🔴 4 big chances to 1 🔴 1.28 xG to 0.70 🔴 124 sprints to 102 Yet Fulham had more touches inside the Liverpool box, and that probably sums up the problem better than anything else. Plenty of the ball, plenty of territory, nowhere near enough real threat. I’ve taken a deeper look at the tactical issues, the lack of sharpness after Atlético Madrid, Liverpool’s problems getting Alexander Isak involved, and why Andoni Iraola still has work to do with the attacking structure at Anfield. There’s also a look ahead to tonight’s Carabao Cup tie with Tottenham, where a major rotation feels inevitable. Read my latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #Liverpool #PremierLeague #Fulham #CarabaoCup #Tottenham #Iraola

How can any news organisation get something this important so spectacularly wrong?! Two completely contradictory breaking news alerts within minutes. Absolutely shambolic from @SkyNews #SkyNews #BreakingNews #AssistedDying

Liverpool went behind against Atlético Madrid, but what followed was probably the most encouraging part of the night. They adjusted. Andoni Iraola’s original pressing plan was causing problems, Atlético were finding spaces, and Liverpool had to solve it while the game was happening. They did exactly that. 🔴 14 shots to 9 🔴 1.62 xG to 0.91 🔴 4 big chances to 1 🔴 33 touches in the opposition box to 18 🔴 12 of Liverpool’s 14 shots came from inside the penalty area Atlético had 55% possession, but so much of it came in their own half. Liverpool completed 218 passes in Atlético territory compared with just 165 at the other end. That tells you far more about the game than the possession figure alone. I’ve taken a deeper look at the tactical changes, the chance creation, the pressing issues and how Liverpool managed the game after coming from behind to take all three Champions League points. 📊 Plenty of FotMob data included. Read my latest piece for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #Liverpool #ChampionsLeague #UCL #AtleticoMadrid #Iraola

Liverpool shirt sponsors certainly have a habit of sticking around! From Crown Paints and Candy to Carlsberg and Standard Chartered, some of the most iconic shirts in football history are instantly linked to the names across the front. A look back at Liverpool’s shirt sponsorship history 👇 youtu.be/wqb5PRsNAtc

Liverpool won 2-0 at Ipswich, but the numbers tell a much more interesting story than the scoreline alone. Isak’s finishing, Iraola’s pressing structure, aerial dominance and second-half game management all stood out. My latest for It Was Always... Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l…

Liverpool need defensive reinforcements, and Andoni Iraola has already hinted at the type of player he wants. A versatile defender capable of covering both right back and centre back could be the next arrival at Anfield. Josh Acheampong, Guela Doue and Ismaelo Ganiou all fit the profile, but who would be the smartest signing for the Reds? We take a closer look at three exciting options, plus several honourable mentions who could solve Liverpool’s defensive dilemma. Read the full article below 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/pub… 🔴 Josh Acheampong 🔴 Guela Doue 🔴 Ismaelo Ganiou Who would you choose? #LFC #LiverpoolFC #LiverpoolTransfers #TransferNews #YNWA #PremierLeague

It's been a little while since I sat down and wrote something, but with Liverpool's first preseason match under Andoni Iraola, it felt like the right time to get back at it. Plenty of encouraging signs, some excellent goals, and one injury concern that will have Reds watching nervously. Have a read 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/i… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #YNWA

Liverpool's academy recruitment has delivered some remarkable talents over the years. Could Xavier Parker be the next one? The 16-year-old Manchester City midfielder is attracting serious interest from the Reds, and after digging into the numbers and analysing his game, it's easy to see why. A goal contribution every 76.5 minutes, elite positional intelligence and a profile that already looks years ahead of his age. My latest for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #LiverpoolFC #YNWA #LiverpoolTransferNews #XavierParker

Three red cards in the opening game had many wondering if FIFA officials were preparing for a World Cup crackdown. Then South Korea v Czech Republic came along and produced just one yellow card in the 96th minute. So was Mexico v South Africa the start of a new refereeing era, or simply a one off? My latest for It Was Always...Football 👇 itwasalwaysfootball.com/p/th… #WorldCup2026 #FIFAWorldCup #Football

No more strolling off the pitch. No more endless delays at goal kicks. More VAR intervention. Potential red cards for new offences. The 2026 World Cup won't just be bigger, it could fundamentally change how football is played and officiated. I've taken a deep dive into every major law change and what it could mean for the future of the game. ⚽👇 itwasalwaysfootball.com/p/fo… #WorldCup2026 #Football #VAR #FIFA

Liverpool’s season ended exactly how it deserved to, flat, fragile and full of warning signs. My latest for It Was Always...Liverpool looks at the numbers behind the 1-1 draw with Brentford, why Arne Slot’s side mentally collapsed after scoring, and whether Champions League qualification says more about the poor standard of the Premier League than Liverpool themselves. This team IS broken 👇 itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/l… #LFC #Liverpool #PremierLeague #Brentford