Good afternoon and welcome along to the second of our Premier League liveblogs today, as we bring you coverage from Anfield where Liverpool meet Huddersfield.
Without a league win in three games, Jurgen Klopp finds himself under mounting pressure with Liverpool languishing in ninth.
The Reds will see today as the perfect chance to get back to winning ways but Huddersfield, on the back of last week’s famous win over Manchester United, will have different ideas.
Kick off on Merseyside is at 3pm, and we’ll have all the build up between now and then.
Right, let’s get straight to the team news.
Philippe Coutinho has failed to shake off a hip problem and isn’t involved this afternoon, with Klopp making two changes from the heavy defeat at Wembley.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Daniel Sturridge come into the starting XI with Emre Can and Coutinho dropping out.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Sturridge.
Huddersfield: Lossl; Smith, Hogg, Mooy, Lowe, van La Parra, Williams, Depoitre, Ince, Zanka, Schindler.
A little over half an hour until kick off at Anfield, but the day’s early game has just finished with Anthony Martial’s late goal securing a 1-0 victory for Manchester United against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
Here’s a check on the rest of the day’s fixtures:
- Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (FT)
- Arsenal v Swansea City
- Crystal Palace v West Ham United
- Liverpool v Huddersfield
- Watford v Stoke City
- West Brom v Manchester City
- Bournemouth v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Jurgen Klopp has opted against altering his backline following their horrid showing against Tottenham with Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren retaining their places. Joel Matip continues alongside Lovren.
All three were woeful in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Spurs with right-back Joe Gomez not escaping error-free either. The Reds boss has handed them the opportunity to right those wrongs on Saturday, with just two changes to his XI.
“If training is the decisive sign then everything is absolutely in the right direction, the boys did really well in training, they were really focused and all that stuff but that’s normal,” Klopp said pre-match.
“To be honest they’re always like this, we never had problems in training so far, but of course we have to show a reaction, that’s how it is. We have to show Huddersfield this is Anfield, this is our home and nothing else.
“Of course I read after the Huddersfield v United game that United were surprised by the intensity, stuff like this, so we will not be surprised about the intensity, we need to be there from the first second, that’s clear.
“Of course you can imagine everyone spoke about our defending in the last week and we did the same, but in another way I would say.
“As I said before, we have to show a reaction, we have to defend better and we have to still play football because we need to create chances.”
Which way do you see this one going?
The teams are out at Anfield and we’re just about all set. There’s a late change on the Liverpool side to bring you up to speed with, as Dejan Lovren withdraws through injury.
Kick off! We’re underway at Anfield.
Liverpool have made a bright start to proceedings with Sturridge involved early on. His attempted flick for Salah doesn’t quite come off but encouraging signs from the hosts.
Suspect start from Moreno as his clearance invites pressure on Liverpool before Matip clears up the danger from the resulting corner. Huddersfield sitting very deep in the opening exchanges.
Tom Ince, who came up through the Liverpool youth ranks, is a real livewire and looks dangerous every time he gets on the ball. Overall, the visitors look very structured and well organised with Rajiv van La Parra offering a threat out right.
Fairly stop-start opening 10 minutes at Anfield with the visitors happy to sit deep in their rigid defensive organisation. They look like they’re going to target Liverpool at the set-piece with a couple of corners already causing the Reds a few issues.
Georginio Wijnaldum is down receiving treatment after suffering a bang to the head. He looks to be okay to continue, with Emre Can out warming up on this near touchline.
Huddersfield aren’t giving Liverpool any time or space on the ball, and they’ve struggled to get going so far. Anfield has been very quiet so far, with a very noticeable edge to proceedings.
That’s better from Liverpool, as they open up Huddersfield. Henderson sends Milner away down the right and his cross finds Sturridge at the back post, but the striker’s volley is hit into the ground and bounces over the bar.
Pretty uneventful so far. Liverpool have lacked any creativity or cutting edge in the opening 20 minutes with a lack of movement up top not helping the cause. Huddersfield will be happy with how things have started.
Liverpool are really struggling to get going and have yet to string three or four meaningful passes together. The crowd are trying their best to the lift the hosts but Huddersfield are doing a fine job in frustrating Klopp’s side.
Liverpool enjoying the majority of the possession — 68% — but have yet to do anything with it. There’s no tempo and the Reds have looked to go down the middle every time, with Huddersfield happy to let them run into a wall of blue and white shirts. 0-0 after 25 minutes.
A little better from Liverpool, as Salah has the first shot on target.
Another lengthy stoppage as Lowe comes over to the bench with blood pouring from his nose after an earlier collision. The Huddersfield defender is patched up and he’s back on.
Liverpool beginning to stretch Huddersfield’s back four now as Henderson and Milner again combine, with the latter forcing Jonas Loessl into a smart save.
Huddersfield forced into an early change with Rajiv van La Parra hobbling off injured and Elias Kachunga on in his place. A like-for-like switch on that right hand side for the visitors.
Huddersfield effectively deploying a back six and if Liverpool are to have any joy here, they need to play with width. It’s very congested in the middle of the park currently and the groans of frustration are growing around Anfield.
Penalty to Liverpool!
Kachunga fouls Moreno beside the corner flag on the near side and Liverpool have the chance to flood the box. When the ball comes in, the referee blows his whistle and points to the spot after adjudging Smith to have tugged Firmino to the floor. Salah to step up…
SAVED!
And the goalkeeper saves it! Lossl makes a fine save diving away to his right to deny Salah from the spot and the follow up from Henderson skims the post.
Two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Huddersfield
We’re back underway at Anfield. No changes for either side at half-time.
Liverpool have come out of the blocks with an added purpose. Milner powers into the box but is eventually penalised.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Huddersfield (Sturridge)
Oh no, Tommy Smith. The Hudderfield defender heads it back towards his goalkeeper but it’s straight to Sturridge, who lifts it delicately over Lossl. A tidy finish from the striker, but that was gifted to Liverpool.
Liverpool playing with a lot more confidence now with Huddersfield having to change their approach, and they’ve responded well — instantly zipping the ball around and showing more attacking impetus.
The game has suddenly come alive with proceedings a lot more open since Sturridge’s breakthrough goal. Coming up to the hour mark at Anfield.
Liverpool turning the screw now. Firmino’s initial cross is cleared to Moreno before Milner’s scuffed effort trickles wide.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Huddersfield (Firmino)
And they’re motoring now! From the corner, Firmino’s flying header gives the ‘keeper no chance.
Save! A brilliant piece of goalkeeping from Lossl as he gets down quickly to push Salah’s powerful effort around the post after fine build-up play from Liverpool.
First change for Liverpool as Firmino, who receives a standing ovation, is replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Chance! Henderson swings in another corner and Matip rises highest but is unable to keep his downward header on target from close-range.
Huddersfield make their final changes of the day with Smith replaced by Hadergjonaj, and Mounie coming on for Williams.
Klopp makes his final change.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield (Wijnaldum)
Oh that’s delightful. Salah lays it off for Wijnaldum, who takes a couple of touches before firing it into the top corner.
It’s been easy for Liverpool once they found that breakthrough, and the Reds are coasting towards a big three points now.
With Mohamed Salah’s miss from the spot earlier in the game, Liverpool have now equalled the record for most penalties missed in the history of the Premier League.
The Egypt international saw his shot saved by Jonas Lossl just before half-time of a scoreless game, before Jordan Henderson’s rebound effort crashed off the post and wide.
Salah’s miss was Liverpool’s 34th in Premier League play, tying Arsenal for the most in the history of the competition.
Solanke, who has just come on for Salah, sees his shot saved by the goalkeeper.
Three minutes added on.
Full-time! Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield
After three league games without a victory, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are back to winning ways thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon, and we’ll have all the reaction from Anfield on the site as the evening goes on.
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
