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51 min: Gil – another Barclaysman showing just why he got signed for The Greatest League In The World – weaves to the line. Whoever put this team together – Pere Guardiola – has an eye for talent? Or willowy, perhaps not always reliable talent. But talent nonetheless.
50 min: OOOF! Danjuama turns Szoboszlai and Gomez inside out. And then hoofs the ball into the crowd. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Liverpool continue to be shaky.
49 min: Danjuma – down the Liverpool right – has been very dangerous. This time he can’t keep his shot down.
47 min: Salah gets an early touch and Jones is again a little slow compared to his performances for most of the season so far. He and Szoboszlai have really struggled here. Again, Spanish teams keep the ball better than many of the English teams. It’s a different discipline.
Back away we go in Girona
46 min: No changes made. But Girona go back at it, and Alisson is asked to make anothr save as Danjuma smashes at goal.
Perhaps the hairiest team of this enjoyable series.
Peter Oh gets in touch again: “The incongruously multinational shirt sponsor of the plucky small-town hosts made me pause mid-Xuixo and Turron fantasy. I looked up who owns the club and was horrified to see that the major shareholder is none other than City Football Group. Forget that romantic crap I wrote earlier. ‘Underdog’ my cold, saccharine sausage! Come on you Reds! Bring these guys to their Pyrenees!”
Evan in Ottawa gets in touch: “Good evening John – watching from Ottawa, Canada and have noticed that all upper sections of Girona’s stadium appear to be closed off. Not to sound a tedious EPL-centric snob, but if they’re not used for hosting Liverpool in the CL, just wondering when *are* they used?”
Suspect safety might be an issue.
AA BB gets in touch: “Some acquisitions I think are about snapping up great value when there’s a window. The fella was available and a good goalkeeper is one of the priority positions oc. They don’t know how the Kelleher situation will play out so they’re being smart.”
Half-time: Girona 0-0 Liverpool
This has not been easy for Liverpool. Girona have often been the best team out there though perhaps a finisher more confident than Darwin Nunez might have done the job. Alisson’s back and being kept busy.
45 min: Robertson zings to the byline but the ball is cleared away. Next, Salah – remember him – gets what must be his first touch. Salah is involved soon again when Nunez – again – fails to get enough on the cross. And that’s the end of the action for the half.
44 min: Big smile and some self-critical laughter from Danjuma as he wastes a chance that Romeu’s pass had set up. Romeu never seems like one to annoy.
43 min: Bryan Gil, a bit of a comedy player at Tottenham, has looked pretty useful for Girona. He operates as a ball-carrier and holder rather than a dribbling winger.
41 min: Michel, Girona’s firebrand coach, wants more from his team. They’ve been pretty good so far so he must have high standards.
39 min: Liverpool’s undoubted best player has been their supposedly rusty goalie. They are struggling for penetration. Nunez has had chances but might be having one of *those* nights.
37 min: Curtis Jones has a chance now but again, looks off his game. Girona decide not to speed up on the counter. Still, though, Asprilla, with his left, lashes the ball and Alisson makes a fine save, the ball scrabbled behind.
35 min: A Nunez chance…and, no, it just won’t go in. Gazzaniga’s had a good game in goal, too.
34 min: Frances gets away from Diaz and more defending to do for Liverpool. Asprilla’s cross is stopped by Alisson, who’s having a busy reintroduction.
33 min: Danjuma attempts more soloist stuff and forces a corner when he cuts in and shoots. Alisson shows he can still punch a ball a considerable distance.
32 min: Girona defending well. Szoboszlai has had his problems getting into this game, and Curtis Jones has been quiet, too.
30 min: Nice solo run from Danjuma, but his pass to Frances asks his teammate to play a pass he is perhaps not fully capable of making.
28 min: Neat skill from Gazzaniga sees him round Nunez. Risky business, though fun to watch.
27 min: Diaz and Alejandro Francés are having a ding-dong battle. Lumps being taken out of each other. Down the Liverpool left is where the action is. Trent tries to find Robertson down the flank but the ball bounces behind.
24 min: Chances at both ends: a good game, this. Far harder than it might have appeared for Liverpool.
23 min: After a first corner is cleared, the ball drops to Szoboszlai who then loses the flight of the ball. A quick Girona counter puts Liverpool under pressure but this time it’s cleared.
21 min: Liverpool go close. Nunez nods a Trent ball wide. That’s the best chance so far.
20 min: Stephen Carr: “Hi John. To answer Mike Mackenze’s question, I’d suspect that at £30m, Marmadashvilli will cost less than Liverpool get for Kelleher who has made it very clear he wants to leave at the end of the season. I’d argue he’s better than Kelleher too.”
Alisson has been put through his paces here, that’s for sure.
19 min: Danjuama’s offside and that’s a bit of temporary relief for Liverpool. They are under the cosh. Their fans are making some noise, too. Turns out this wasn’t just a visit to a culinary capital.
17 min: Liverpool really struggling with Girona’s capability in keeping the ball. Few teams in the Premier League do this. Miguel has a shot, and Alisson makes another save. Gil has another shot. Girona by far the better team here.
15 min: Liverpool try to build up some sustained pressure but fail to keep the ball. It’s Girona who are doing the better job in forcing out possession.