Liverpool FC Season Review 2020/21 [Blu-ray]

Liverpool's previous 2019-20 season saw them finally land their first Premier League crown - arguably the sweetest and most difficult to win trophy - after a barren 30 years without a league title while they also became European Super Cup and World Cup winners to boot - essentially and gloriously, champions of everything. It was always going to be a difficult act to follow as this 2020-21 campaign demonstrated.Really Liverpool's virtually superlative title winning form started to wane as far back as after 19-20's winter break but in the first third of the 20-21 PL campaign the team still experienced reasonable success. However, while home form was exceptional still in this initial period, the away form was somewhat lacklustre with only 2 wins on the road. The opening match at home to Leeds sort of summarises this period as while they ultimately won the game, they still conceded 3 goals with even the usually perfect Virgil Van Dijk making a mistake. This sloppiness also continued into the Arsenal home fixture with Andy Robertson making a gaffe. Admittedly both these players also redeemed themselves in these 2 games by scoring but it was worrying to see this spate of defensive issues - that culminated in the calamitous 7-2 mauling away to Aston Villa (the high line kept uncharacteristically being picked off) - as it possibly showed a lack of hunger and determination after at last winning title 19 to grab another. However, two December games saw LFC become the top team at Christmas again. At home to Tottenham, Robertson provided a precise delivery from a corner to set up Roberto Firmino for an exhilarating headed goal to win the game 2-1 - a last minute finish that was a hallmark of 19-20's success. The club's problems on their travels appeared to be over when they flamboyantly romped to a 7-0 triumph against Crystal Palace. So overall while not as sensational as 19-20's opening months, the first 3rd was good enough for them to be the festive no.1 and if the team had next embarked on an improved, great run they could have beat arch-rivals Manchester City to the championship again.However, the middle 3rd of the season in the winter was an absolute disaster. While 68 games unbeaten in the league at home was phenomenal, that record club run awfully imploded with the next 6 games at home all lost with zero goals from open play and only 1 penalty scored. Although there had been a couple of form problems with nearly the whole squad fit at the start of the season the other side of the story has to be that the club experienced so many injuries it was extremely difficult to compete for silverware again in 20-21. With so many matches crammed in due to the late start to 20-21 other clubs had injuries too, but LFC's ones were not merely an excuse because the long absences of all 3 centre backs in particular - all the side's main players in that one position - simply crippled the spine of the team. Fabinho and even Jordan Henderson ended up playing in defence which removed them from midfield. With a makeshift holding midfielder in Gini Wijnaldum and a lack of pace in the backline, the usually dynamic playmaking full backs Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were now staying further back to avoid being counter attacked and instead crossing aimlessly from deep. This lack of service impeded the "Thrilling Three" of Sadio Mane, Firmino and even Salah in this period from being the renowned, potent attack that they usually are. There was a dearth of big, goal scoring opportunities due to a lack of confidence and a final ball in this blunt period and when they did get them the chances were spurned. Although the team still should have fared better in this period at home, the numerous injuries and lack of LFC's Twelfth Man - the club's awesomely passionate and inspiring supporters - played a sizeable role in this fall from grace. The only positive that could be taken was that now the away form was superior to the home results.However, in the final 10 league matches the team used its experience of landing the title the year before in winning 8 of them and drawing just two. After the dismal Fulham home defeat in early March, it looked highly likely LFC were not going to be in the top 4 at the end of the season and during that month's international break Klopp was stating that it would be impossible so to put this sequence together was absolutely spectacular despite the ongoing player absences. For a start, Fabinho was moved back into his natural defensive midfield role, and this helped to stop the counter attacks that had cost Liverpool massively and allowed the full backs to revert to their swashbuckling attacking. At the beginning of April, the dominant 3 nil win at Arsenal showed that LFC was back in business. However, the deflating Leeds away and Newcastle home draws in the middle of the run threatened to derail LFC's late surge into the top 4. But in the Aston Villa home (including a sensational long-range strike from Alexander-Arnold) and West Brom away matches LFC massively recovered their ability from 19-20 to gain 3 points from a game in which they had not played particularly well via scoring a late winner. In the latter, goalkeeper Alisson Becker unbelievably and spectacularly scored with the last kick of the game via a precise, towering header that any of the world's finest ever strikers would be proud of. There are so many great moments to witness in football such as title wins but despite the lack of a trophy in 20-21 this is one of the most uniquely brilliant things to ever see - a goalkeeper scoring at the very end of a match a perfect header that saved the club's season. Although a sublime passing move in Salah's 2nd goal away to West Ham runs it close - with honourable mentions also to Salah efforts at home to Leeds and away to Crystal Palace that recreated his swerving strikes from the edge of the box in his 1st LFC season - this was undoubtedly the goal and moment of the season. Level with this as match of the season was the prior Manchester United game in which Klopp finally got his first win at Old Trafford through a thrilling 4-2 score line. The equivalent of the club's "final" in 20-21 - the last match at home to Palace - was a success and never really looked in doubt that the team would seal their place in the 21-22 Champions League apart from one moment before Mane's opener in which Townsend missed when through on goal.In terms of Liverpool's 20-21 Champions League campaign, it was quite okay considering all the misfortune that was experienced. For once the team sealed their place in the knockout rounds with 1 match to play and the highlight of the group stage was a scintillating 5-0 win away to Atalanta which was the highest result ever of an English side in Italy. Although in the round of 16 RB Leipzig were not particularly impressive, LFC nullified them successfully and 2 Mane and 2 Salah goals were comforting during the bad run in the league. In the Quarter Final tie versus Real Madrid despite the Spaniard's advancing age it was obvious that due to injuries Liverpool were going to struggle to compete but despite defeat in the 1st leg they could possibly have won it if Salah and Wijnaldum had been more clinical in the 1st half of the return game.The domestic cups still did not really remain a priority for Klopp but due to a loss of form and missing personnel it would have been even more difficult to win them anyway. Although the 1st match of 20-21 - the Community Shield - would have been pleasing to win, it is not a major trophy so Arsenal winning in a penalty shootout although disappointing did not hurt too much.In terms of the player performances, the club's 3 new signings in the summer and 2 in the winter transfer window had varying degrees of success. Backup left back Kostas Tsimikas rarely made an appearance and although he was disappointing in one game it is probably not fair to judge him totally yet. European Champion Thiago Alcantara was absent initially with illness and was then injured in the crunching Merseyside Derby at Goodison so his performances when he did return at Christmas were ineffectual. As he was more of a pass master LFC lost some of their thrust in midfield at first with him merely stroking the ball side to side but as he became more accustomed to the English game, he finally became the playmaker that he truly is world famous for in the final 10 games. Diogo Jota was the most successful signing scoring numerous vital goals and Klopp certainly made one mistake in not resting him for the European dead rubber away to Midtjylland in which he became injured - he was one of the most important players in the squad finally providing competition for the Thrilling Three and if he had been available for the whole season, it might have been more successful. February signings at centre back Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies were intended to provide cover for the missing defenders. The former was quite good - despite his mistakes in his first 2 games - especially when paired the Nat Phillips, but he did not totally convince and so was not signed permanently. The latter simply never has played a game for the club so far so presumably he was not deemed adequate for the style of LFC.In terms of the goalkeepers, Alisson despite a loss of form during the dodgy middle 3rd of the campaign impressed again making up for those mistakes with important saves and even that goal that got the team valuable points. While Adrian will always be a LFC legend for his Super Cup heroics and deputising for Alisson in 19-20, he made a few blunders like the one that started the 7-2 collapse at Aston Villa so it is probable that Caoimhin Kelleher - who made some sprawling stops in the games he played - will take up the role of 2nd choice keeper for the new season.Van Dijk was unfortunately injured in the Goodison derby with impunity and sustained serious knee ligament damage so while it will be tough for him it is hopeful a player of his talent can return to top form as soon as possible. Joe Gomez was a bit inconsistent in his form up until his own knee injury on international duty in November but despite this being a second knee issue hopefully his young age is on his side in his recovery all being well. Joel Matip’s ongoing fitness issues affected his performances a bit - though he did score a nice header at home to Wolves - and his season ended in late January so although he is a massive LFC legend especially due to his performances in the CL winning 18-19 side, maybe new signing Ibrahima Konate is to eventually replace him. Deputy centre back Nat Phillips' performances exceeded his potential due to his driven determination to succeed and he was a real surprise colossus in LFC's backline later in 20-21 and the 2nd best performer of the entire season. Although he was slightly weak away to Madrid his achievements with the club were so massive and unprecedented - even scoring 1 goal - that he can possibly now be regarded as the replacement for Dejan Lovren as 4th choice centre back. While Rhys Williams did occasionally make mistakes, he was certainly good enough to be Phillips defensive partner in the vital final run-in of the season and hopefully has a bright future. Robertson was even better than Alexander-Arnold in the initial 3rd of the season (though not as effective for the most part of the rest) but perhaps the latter's omission from the England squad in March inspired him into magnificently returning to his very finest in the last 10 matches. Neco Williams impressed at home to Ajax but still looks suspect defensively.In midfield, Fabinho while impressing when moved to centre back initially, looked much more comfortable in his key transition back to holding midfield at the end of the season also helping the team attack with his vision for a pass from deep. James Milner was now no longer 1st choice, but he did contribute too at times. Naby Keita was injury jinxed yet again and this culminated in a pitiful performance away to Madrid but hopefully he will get fitter again. Jordan Henderson did have some good games including an awe-inspiring long-range strike away to Palace but unfortunately his season ended in February due to surgery. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain experienced yet another injury hit campaign and so failed to reproduce his goal scoring feats of 19-20 but he did score an important, dribbled last goal away to Burnley which showed what he is truly capable of. Curtis Jones continued to improve his game scoring a few, skilful goals and hopefully there is even more to come from him. Gini Wijnaldum - in his last year of contract - was perhaps not quite as intense as before perhaps with his mind being on his next move but there was always a place for him in the team and when LFC's form was strong he was heavily involved scoring 3 goals. He was a massive legendary engine of Klopp's champions team who will be massively missed but perhaps at 30 it was time to replace him anyway. Xherdan Shaqiri impressed somewhat as a playmaking type assisting a few goals, but he was more of a bit-part player and only scored 1 goal - albeit a brilliant free kick - in the Carabao Cup so he will have to improve if he is to stay at Liverpool and be more influential.Of the Thrilling Three only Mohamed Salah maintained his spellbinding standards of the previous campaigns. With his 31 goals - his 2nd highest tally in an entire season for LFC ever - he was obviously the player of the season having his own goal of the season competition. Sadio Mane - who was LFC's top attacker in 19-20 - only managed 11 league goals this time though so will have improve. Similarly, Firmino only scored 9 and although he is creative it is now time for him start to convert more chances. But at least he did score a flurry of 3 in the final 4 games of the season that were vitally important in gaining qualification for the CL. Of the other two, Takumi Minamino was possibly slightly unlucky to be loaned out midway through the season as he scored slightly more than Divock Origi, though he was not a regular starter really. Origi endured a largely fruitless campaign, disappointingly scoring only once away to Lincoln.Although Liverpool was back to being trophy less in 20-21, it was a massive, uplifting achievement to qualify for the CL again in 3rd place - Klopp's 3rd highest league finish - especially given all the trials and tribulations that were dealt to the side and the fact it appeared to be impossible in March and very difficult with just 5 games to go. It was a tough, gruelling campaign anyway due to the late start leading to the matches being so compacted into a shorter season length and so it was always going benefit the richest team Manchester City who had a deeper squad. In fact, it is to the credit of the domestic and European football authorities that they kept the season continuing despite the ongoing pandemic. As a Blu-ray the picture quality is possibly not totally as vivid as the previous Spirit one, but it is still genuinely beautiful. As a season review it is very all encompassing of everything that happened throughout 20-21 and while the match commentary is again from a mixture of sources pleasingly there is significantly less LFC TV material. Some pundits described LFC as poor title holders but the reasonably good platform of the first 3rd of the season and champions-like form of the final 10 games saved the team from catastrophically ending up out of the financially rewarding CL and there are far worse title defences - Chelsea in 15-16 and Leicester in 16-17 - where the team has slipped out of the European places altogether anyway. Still although it was really difficult to attain number 19 and proved even tougher to retain it, Klopp must make the right signings to make the squad depth deeper in quality to compete for the top prizes again though the new season starting in August, the return of fans and if Van Dijk/Gomez can return to top form may help too. 2018-20 was a brand-new golden era for Liverpool and absolutely marked some of the very most illustrious achievements ever in the club's history, but hopefully with CL qualification the Klopp era has not peaked last year, and that new heyday can instead continue for some years to come with a return to glory next year.

This official review DVD of the 2020/2021 season from Liverpool FC saw the Reds finish third after their hopes to defend their league title they won the previous season fell apart due to a crippling injury list and the absence of fans for most of the season due to the global pandemic but they still managed a strong finish to a difficult season.Some of their best highlights include an opening day hat trick from top scorer Mohamed Salah in a seven-goal thriller at home to Leeds United, a league double over Arsenal, a 2-0 win away at Chelsea, a hat trick from Diogo Jota in a 5-0 win away at Atalanta in a UEFA Champions League group game, a league double over a Tottenham Hotspur side managed by Jose Mourinho which includes a stoppage-time winner from Roberto Firmino in the home fixture, a 7-0 rout away at Crystal Palace and a 2-0 win over the same side at Anfield on the final day was played in front of 10,000 fans, a late winner from Trent Alexander-Arnold at home to Aston Villa, a 4-2 victory away at Manchester United to secure a first win at Old Trafford since 2014 and of course THAT late winning goal from goalkeeper Allison Becker with a header from a corner away at West Bromwich Albion.Despite a bad season by their very high standards from Jurgen Klopp's team set in recent years, it's a very good and well-produced review made by a team of producers at PDI Media of what is the first LFC review produced by the production company since the 2015/2016 season, this review has every goal from every game from the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield including interviews from Klopp and his players with footage and commentary from BT Sport, Sky Sports and The Football Association as well as LFC TV although thankfully its usage of their commentary is not nearly as frequently been used as before as well as the fact that you can also access any match individually rather than access the action from any individual calendar month as was the case in the Spirit/Pitch/LFC TV reviews of previous years, the review has a running time lasting 123 minutes and it is narrated by Peter McDowall.All in all many Liverpool FC fans will be delighted with the overall quality of the production alone in this review.

This is the first season review produced by PDI media since 2015/16, and the improvements are evident. Finally the LFCTV commentary is used far less which is the biggest benefit of swapping from the poor productions of Spirit Entertainment. There is commentary from Sky, BT and occasionally LFCTV. There are also post-match interviews after nearly every game which is a nice feature, and I feel better than previously interviews held after the season. There are no flaws in this dvd and is one of the best season reviews Liverpool has produced, with my collection dating back to the first in dvd format of 2000/01. Whilst some fans may be disappointed with the underwhelming season, no one will be disappointed with the quality of this dvd.

Brother was very pleased with his DVD

Excellent, really enjoyed it

Excellent Product

Seasons review which I purchase every year

When I opened this and read the back cover I noticed that pdi media was on the cover not spirit.I wondered then if less of the lfctv commentary would be on and I have to say it is a lot less.Nearly all the live games have the original broadcaster on. So it's a vast improvement on that score. There are no interviews specifically done for the dvd in a studio. Either down to covid or the players going away for the euros maybe.