After a couple of months on the shelf, it’s time for the return of ‘Morning Mix’ – our weekly football column with a bit of music thrown in for good measure.
We look at two talking points from the past seven days and point you in the direction of some of the best football stories elsewhere on the internet.
We also offer a top tune recommendation to get you in the mood for the week ahead and what to watch out for over the coming days. Here we go!
Brighton expose Klopp myth
Liverpool fanboys will undoubtedly spit their dummies out at this, but can the rest of us finally agree that Jurgen Klopp’s supposed status as an elite manager has been exposed?
After his team’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Klopp said: “It was a very organised team against a not very organised team.”
Unfortunately, Klopp stopped short of taking any personal responsibility for the result, which suggests he thinks the players are to blame.
However, this is the squad he built. On that basis, the buck stops firmly at his door. With glaring issues in midfield, what did he do? Sign Cody Gakpo.
The last few years have supposedly been a golden era for Liverpool under Klopp. Given what the club achieved during the 1970s and 1980s, that’s a myth.
West Ham are in a pickle
Plenty of West Ham United fans want to see manager David Moyes sacked after what has been a dismal season for the club.
The Hammers’ defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday left them in the relegation zone – given how they’re playing, the Championship undoubtedly beckons.
While Moyes appears to be a busted flush, getting rid of him is fraught with danger if the leading candidates to replace him are anything to go by.
Nuno Espirito Santo and Rafa Benitez have been tipped as potential short-term options, but does anyone think they would be better than Moyes?
If West Ham want to gamble on making a change, putting Mark Noble in charge for the rest of the season may not be the worst idea anyone has had.
The week that was
Are you looking for the best football stories from the past seven days? Check these out:
- Questions mount over Alisher Usmanov’s links with Everton.
- Inside Dortmund’s training camp: Sebastien Haller’s return and Marco Reus’ future.
- Why top clubs are signing Brazilian prospects as soon as possible.
Today’s top tune
Rianne Downey has been making her mark over the past couple of years, playing gigs across the UK and supporting some of the biggest acts in music.
She played a stunning set at a charity concert in Manchester over the weekend, showcasing her talents as the main support to Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.
If you have the opportunity to watch the Scottish singer play live this year, don’t miss out – she’s a star as far as the Morning Mix column is concerned.
What to watch this week
Manchester United’s victory over Manchester City on Saturday sparked talk that they could force their way into the title battle this season.
Despite Erik ten Hag’s protestations, if United win at Arsenal next weekend they will have to be considered genuine challengers.
A final Morning Mix thought
Fulham, Brighton and Brentford are all in the running for European qualification. It would be hilarious if Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea missed out, wouldn’t it?
