Tony Evans’ column today marks the 10,000th article here at Anfield Index. There have been many iterations during this time and we are halfway through the most recent rebuild. Thank you to all the writers and editors who have contributed over the years and most of all to all the readers for their continued support. To the next 10,000!
“Goals pay the rent. . . and Keegan is doing his part. “
David Coleman’s iconic commentary from the 1974 FA Cup final still gets quoted but it’s no longer true. Unfortunately, television pays the rent these days. That makes Jurgen Klopp’s run-in with Marcus Buckland after the 2-0 victory over Sheffield United even more cringeworthy.
Klopp has been sharp. His smile and charm rarely hide this side of his personality, but Jurgen is willing to fight. However, you will have to decide your battles better.
The Amazon Prime presenter made a sarcastic joke around 12:30, the start time of Klopp’s match. Then the director came after one o’clock.
Now, English is Klopp’s second language and it’s conceivable that he has missed the nuance. Still, the exchange was awkward. And useless.
12:30 p. m. The number booms again and again. If Klopp needs to complain about it, he deserves to knock on John W Henry’s door and rage there. The owners agreed to the television agreement that allows broadcasters to choose groups for individual slots.
The most a club can play is at 12:30 p. m. On Saturdays it is six times depending on the season. Liverpool will take advantage of this kick-off if there is an opportunity.
This weekend is a clever example of why. Sky Sports has the most sensible choice for its Sunday 4:30pm time slot. They opted for Tottenham instead of Newcastle, similar to the Week 16 match when the possible selections were made (since then, Aston Villa vs Arsenal has emerged as arguably the best option). . TNT Sports has the pick of the moment and stayed with Liverpool because, well, the Reds are at the box office.
So there we have it. Klopp is expected to play Saturday at 12:30 p. m. six times a season. There’s no point in complaining or making a fool of yourself live on TV when a presenter makes a joke about it.
Yes, it is hard on the players to have such a quick turnaround but it’s the price you pay for being popular. How popular? A study by the Centre for Sports Business at the University of Liverpool Management School published three years ago looked at televised Premier League matches from 2013 to 2019. Armchair Fans: Modelling Audience Size For Televised Football Matches is a complex document, and I won’t blind you with science but, essentially, the presence of Liverpool and Manchester United in a live match boosts viewing figures by 75 per cent. The nearest rivals were Arsenal at 43 per cent. Manchester City are way down in the mid 20s. This will have changed since the study was released but not massively.
The effect of this is shown in the facilities fees paid when clubs have a game screened. In 2021-22, Liverpool had the highest facilities fee (along with Arsenal), raking in £25.27 million.
Playing at 12:30 p. m. It is a highly attractive byproduct. Stop complaining or replace it. As long as the water comes pouring in, FSG will be happy. But to be honest, this whole topic bores me now.
If it’s the impact on players that worries you, then there are bigger battles coming. The Champions League starts its new format next year. There’ll be two extra games in the group stage. But there’ll be more money. Yay!
In the war between player welfare and revenue, the 12:30 p. m. The beginning is a war. Klopp would do more to save his anger for the men who can replace things.
Joel Matip knew his injury was serious from the moment it happened. He gestured to leave as soon as he played. You hate to see this happen to any player.
Hopefully the praise for his Liverpool career is premature, but it is difficult to see him return. At his age (32 years old), this type of injury could be the end.
Sometimes you realise how smart you have to be to play at Liverpool’s level. It’s also natural for you to take a look at the guy who plays alongside Matip, Virgil van Dijk, and make comparisons. Few defenders in the club’s history come close to the Dutchman in terms of stature, skill and dominance.
But Matip did a wonderful job. Superstars are wonderful, but you can’t have 11 of them on a team. The German-born Cameroonian foreigner has drawn all his talents and has never let anyone down. His partnership with Big Virg has been the most productive he’s ever had. been this season.
We wish him the best of luck. It would be great to see him again.
Wouldn’t it be a shame if Liverpool were the team that put the final nail in his coffin at Crystal Palace?
Reading that back, it looks bad saying this about a 76-year-old. No, we wish you a long life, Roy. But in retirement. Hopefully you’ll get the sort of send-off you deserve from the Reds.
We owe it to you.
Another Conservative Prime Minister, some other excuse in Parliament, no change. The government’s reaction to Archbishop James Jones’ report is pathetic.
Keir Starmer said he would put a Hillsborough Act into effect after the election. Let’s see if we can get something out of this conservative. I can’t hold my breath after praising Margaret Thatcher.
I wrote about the atmosphere at Anfield a few weeks ago. On Sunday I was in the main stand. Things were steady for most of the game.
Then came the crazy, late return. The old position growled, stood up, and became a bear hole. The two Fulham fans I was with were shocked by the ferocity of this situation.
Again, I tell you not to worry about the environment. Don’t look too closely. It will be there when we want it. Fulham showed it.
What drives me in this team is that there’s still a lot to come. You may see them stumble from time to time, but, thank goodness, when they click correctly, they’ll be fearsome. I’m ahead of this moment.
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