Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough: Match Preview
Beating West Ham was good, wasn’t it? We got ourselves right amongst it and, when we needed to win, we stormed out of the Olympic Stadium with all three points.
The next team we need to beat are Middlesbrough. Over the years, they’ve been somewhat of a bogey team for Liverpool. I distinctly remember losing at the Riverside in 2009 when Liverpool were chasing that elusive 19th domestic title.
That really hurt and I feel that beating Boro in our own back yard to cement our place in next season’s Champions League would really make it feel better.
Last weekend, when Liverpool beat West Ham 4-0 , Arsene Wenger was not very happy with the effort the Londoners put in against Klopp’s Reds.
You know, blaming everyone else but himself for Arsenal’s predicament.
The season is pretty much over now and West Ham are going to be sitting mid-table when the last ball is kicked this season – that was also clear last week.
However, Boro’s season is a bit different. They’re already relegated and no matter what happens, they’ll finish this season in 19th place. They’ve got nothing to play for, they may as well already be on the beach.
If they play at 50%, they’ll be mauled by Liverpool. It’ll be a cricket score. So I don’t think they’re going to do that. For many of their players, it’ll be the last Premier League game they’ll play in for a long time – or ever again.
Players are going to want to impress against Liverpool. Maybe stop the Reds getting Champions League football… Surely that would get them a move to Newcastle or Brighton? I wouldn’t blame them.
Liverpool have struggled against the weaker sides this season but, with the sheer importance of three points at Anfield this Sunday, I think the Reds will be looking to steamroll Boro straight into the Championship.
Team News
Daniel Sturridge is not injured. He’s still been training regularly and, given his performance against West Ham, I could definitely see him playing a part in this season’s final fixture at Anfield.
It seems Liverpool may also have the added boost of being able to select Bobby Firmino against Boro too; the Brazilian has yet to take part in first team training since becoming injured but Klopp will make a last-minute decision.
Jordan Henderson is expected to sit out the final game of the season, the Reds’ skipper will be looking to have a strong pre-season to ensure his place in the starting eleven for the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Boro have three injuries and they’re all expected to have a last-minute check to see if they can get involved – the trio are Daniel Ayala, Victor Valdes and Gaston Ramirez – I’m sure they’d like to bid farewell to the fans as well as they’re likely to attract some attention this summer.
Ste’s Unwarranted Potential Transfer Thoughts
Headline needs work.
For what it’s worth, I can see Valdes going back to Spain. He’d easily be able to join an average Spanish side (Real Betis?), Gaston might find himself at Leicester next season, the Foxes were interested over the winter break, and I think Ayala will find himself piggy-backing Newcastle back into the Premier League.
Current Form
Liverpool (last six results in all competitions) –
West Ham 0-4 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
Watford 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool 1-2 Palace
West Brom 0-1 Liverpool
Stoke 1-2 Liverpool
Middlesbrough (last six results in all competitions) –
Boro 1-2 Southampton
Chelsea 3-0 Boro
Boro 2-2 Man City
Boro 1-0 Sunderland
Bournemouth 4-0 Boro
Boro 1-2 Arsenal
Two results stand out for me there and that’s the 2-2 draw with City and the 4-0 loss against Bournemouth; we just don’t know what Boro are going to turn up but, fortunately, it looks as if the visitors to Anfield are useless away from home.
Prediction
This should be an easy game for Liverpool. Boro have been awful all season with their 2-2 draw against City probably being their highlight of the year.
Boro, after their visit to Anfield, will once again be a Championship side and we need to show them that they don’t belong in the Premier League with the best teams in England (and Swansea).
We do like to make it difficult for ourselves and, before we kicked off against West Ham, I was convinced we’d just scrape on through and scurry away with the three points but we blew them away.
With that being said, I’m going to back Liverpool to comfortably dispatch Boro on Sunday – I think that, come the full-time whistle, the final score line at Anfield this season will read Liverpool 3-1 Middlesbrough.
Well, that’s it. This is the last match preview I’ll be writing for you in a little while. You will still be able to read some of my stuff as I’ll be helping out with the news stuff over the summer.
It’s been emotional. I bid thee adieu.
If you’d like to strongly disagree with me or remind me of what I’ve written, when Boro sink Liverpool 5-0 and the Reds announce the signing of Ayala at the end of the game, you can find me on Twitter – @sigsgomento
