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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 17/09/2026

Liverpool are through in the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield, but this was a much more interesting game than the scoreline suggests. 🔴 Liverpool made 10 changes 🔴 Spurs had 56% possession 🔴 Spurs won the xG battle 2.33 to 1.53

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 16/09/2026

Richard Hughes has left Liverpool for Al Hilal, but how should we really judge his time at Anfield? There were big positives, including Arne Slot arriving and winning the Premier League in his first season, plus some huge signings.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 15/09/2026

A frustrating afternoon at Anfield. Liverpool had 56% possession, 14 shots, 1.28 xG and created four big chances against Fulham, but somehow it still ended 0-0. The numbers tell an interesting story though. 🔴 239 passes in the Fulham half 🔴 14 shots to 10 🔴 4 big chances to 1

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 10/09/2026

Liverpool went behind against Atlético Madrid, but what followed was probably the most encouraging part of the night. They adjusted. Andoni Iraola’s original pressing plan was causing problems, Atlético were finding spaces, and Liverpool had to solve it while the game was happening.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 09/09/2026

Liverpool FC shirt sponsors certainly have a habit of sticking around! Crown Paints and Candy to Carlsberg and Standard Chartered, some of the most iconic shirts in football history and the famous names wearing them A look back at Liverpool’s shirt sponsorship history 👇 #lfc youtu.be/wqb5PRsNAtc

youtu.be

Liverpool FC: How Shirt Sponsors Defined Our Greatest Eras

YouTube video by Anfield Index Extra

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 07/09/2026

Liverpool won 2-0 at Ipswich, but the numbers tell a much more interesting story than the scoreline alone. Isak’s finishing, Iraola’s pressing structure, aerial dominance and second-half game management all stood out. My latest for It Was Always... Liverpool 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 26/07/2026

Liverpool need defensive reinforcements, and Andoni Iraola has already hinted at the type of player he wants. A versatile defender capable of covering both right back and centre back could be the next arrival at Anfield.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 26/07/2026

It's been a little while since I sat down and wrote something, but with Liverpool's first preseason match under Andoni Iraola, it felt like the right time to get back at it. Plenty of encouraging signs, some excellent goals, and one injury concern that will have Reds watching nervously.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 22/06/2026

Liverpool's academy recruitment has delivered some remarkable talents over the years. Could Xavier Parker be the next one? The 16-year-old Manchester City midfielder is attracting serious interest from the Reds, and after digging into the numbers and analysing his game, it's easy to see why.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 12/06/2026

Three red cards in the opening game had many wondering if FIFA officials were preparing for a World Cup crackdown. Then South Korea v Czech Republic came along and produced just one yellow card in the 96th minute.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 10/06/2026

No more strolling off the pitch. No more endless delays at goal kicks. More VAR intervention. Potential red cards for new offences. The 2026 World Cup won't just be bigger, it could fundamentally change how football is played and officiated.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 27/05/2026

Liverpool’s season ended exactly how it deserved to, flat, fragile and full of warning signs.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 25/05/2026

From European glory in Prague to Championship football in just three years. West Ham’s relegation feels less like a shock and more like the inevitable outcome of years of drift, poor recruitment and executive failure.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 18/05/2026

Liverpool had 55% possession, 443 passes, 32 touches in the Villa box and 9 corners. Aston Villa still looked the more dangerous side all afternoon. This wasn’t just another defeat. It felt like another warning sign. My latest for It Was Always...Liverpool 🔴 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 11/05/2026

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea, but the scoreline barely tells the story. Chelsea controlled too much of the game at Anfield, Liverpool looked tactically confused at times, and the reaction to Arne Slot’s substitutions said plenty about the mood inside the ground.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 28/04/2026

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1, but the scoreline only tells half the story. The result was strong, the performance less convincing. My latest for It Was Always...Liverpool looks at the numbers behind the win, the tactical issues that remain, and why Arne Slot still has questions to answer.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 27/04/2026

Hearts are four games from doing what Scottish football has not seen in over 40 years. Can Derek McInnes’ side really break the Old Firm stranglehold and make history? My latest on the remarkable Scottish Premiership title race. 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 21/04/2026

Liverpool got the win at Everton… but how convincing was it, really? The numbers tell one story, the performance tells another. Fortune, fragile structure and too many moments rather than control. My latest for It Was Always...Liverpool 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 15/04/2026

Iraola’s Bournemouth exit has set the Premier League managerial carousel spinning early this summer. Who replaces him, where he goes next, and which clubs follow suit could define the entire off-season. Full breakdown here 👇 #EPL #Bournemouth #Football www.itwasalwaysfootball.com/p/the-summe...

itwasalwaysfootball.com

The Summer Carousel Begins Early as Iraola Exit Signals Premier League Shake-Up

Bournemouth face a defining crossroads as Andoni Iraola’s departure sparks a chain reaction across the Premier League dugouts

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 13/04/2026

Liverpool get the result, but let’s not kid ourselves… one win doesn’t fix everything. Fulham beaten, yes. But with PSG looming at 2-0 down, the real questions are only getting louder.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 10/04/2026

Liverpool outplayed in Paris, but the tie is not done. Numbers don’t lie, 0 shots on target, 0 control, big questions for Slot’s structure and FSG’s next move. Can Anfield spark another Champions League comeback? Full analysis 👇 www.itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/liverpool... #LFC #UCL

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 08/04/2026

Harry Maguire stays at Manchester United, but this is about more than a contract. Pay cut. Redemption arc. A player who refused to fade away. From criticism to quiet importance, a look at one of football’s most debated careers. Read here 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 06/04/2026

The Masters has its winners… then it has its legends ⛳ Only a handful have conquered Augusta 3+ times - this is the most exclusive club in golf. Who’s the greatest of them all? youtube.com/shorts/HP7B...

youtube.com

Who Has Won The Masters the Most? You Might Be Surprised | Then and Now

Winning The Masters once is special… doing it three times or more is legendary.This video showcases every golfer who has conquered Augusta National at least ...

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 06/04/2026

Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers: Then vs Now 🥊 From prime dominance to lasting legacy… the names that defined boxing history all in one place. Some will spark debate 👀 Who’s your No.1? youtube.com/shorts/ICR1... via @YouTube

youtube.com

Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers: Then vs Now 🥊

The greatest heavyweight boxers of all time… then vs now.From their prime in the ring to how their legacy lives on today, this video showcases 10 iconic figh...

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 05/04/2026

Reading this and honestly wondering what state of mind you need to be in to post something like that? This isn’t strong leadership, it’s reckless rhetoric on a global stage. @realDonaldTrump can’t actually be serious with this??

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 04/04/2026

Liverpool didn’t just lose to Manchester City, they folded. Completely.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 04/04/2026

Eleven Arsenal players withdrew from international duty… coincidence or careful management? Arteta has his say as the title race heats up, and the timing feels anything but accidental. Full piece below 👇 www.itwasalwaysfootball.com/p/arsenals-...

itwasalwaysfootball.com

Arsenal’s International Withdrawals: Crisis or Calculated Control?

Eleven players pull out, questions grow louder, but Mikel Arteta insists every decision has been driven by honesty, communication, and a title race reality.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 24/03/2026

🚨 This isn’t a dip in form, this is a team and a manager that has lost its grip Brighton exposed everything 📉 2.17 xG to 1.03 ⚔️ Lost the duels 🧠 Lost control of the game Arne Slot delivered the title, but right now Liverpool look a so far off that standard

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 20/03/2026

Trey Nyoni might not have the hype, but the numbers and performances tell a different story. Composed, intelligent, relentless in his pressing, and already making an impact at 18. Liverpool don’t need to look far for answers in midfield. My latest piece 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 20/03/2026

From drifting against Tottenham to dismantling Galatasaray… Liverpool have just raised the bar. 32 shots. 4.88 xG. Total control, real identity, relentless intent. They’ve shown the level. Now there are no excuses. New piece on Substack 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 17/03/2026

Morocco are champions of Africa… but not in the way anyone expected. Senegal won the final on the pitch. CAF have taken it away in the boardroom after that walk off in Rabat. A title decided twice. A controversy that won’t fade. My full breakdown on a night that changed AFCON forever ⬇️

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 17/03/2026

Liverpool are drifting, and it’s no longer up for debate. 63% possession. 17 shots. Still couldn’t beat a depleted Tottenham side on a losing run. No identity. No cutting edge. No control when it matters. Slot has questions to answer, and they’re getting louder. New piece 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 16/03/2026

Liverpool are drifting, and the noise around it is getting louder by the week. A Tottenham side missing more than a dozen players arrived at Anfield on a six game losing run and still left with a deserved point. That alone tells you where Liverpool are right now.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 13/03/2026

Liverpool had the ball. Liverpool had the shots. Liverpool even had the numbers. 📊 And still lost 1-0 in Istanbul. Too open. Too chaotic. Not nearly serious enough in the first half. Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat. 🔁

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 13/03/2026

🚨 NEW on It was always...Football Chelsea captain Reece James has signed a new six year contract at Stamford Bridge. But the bigger story may be the club’s extraordinary long term contract strategy.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 05/03/2026

Liverpool dominated the numbers at Molineux, but Wolves walked away with the points. I’ve taken a deep dive into the stats, tactics and key moments behind Liverpool’s frustrating Premier League defeat. My latest for It was always...Liverpool on @Substack

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 02/03/2026

Liverpool 5-2 West Ham… but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. Clinical finishing ✔️ Set piece evolution ✔️ Midfield tracking issues ❗ I’ve broken down the numbers, the xG, the press, and the moments that still concern under Arne Slot. Full analysis here 👇

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 27/02/2026

Rio Ngumoha is 17, but the impact is anything but youthful. Liverpool score more when he’s on the pitch. His dribbling numbers are elite. The directness changes games. The evidence is there. So why is he still waiting for proper Premier League minutes?

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 24/02/2026

Liverpool leave the City Ground with three points… but the performance raises bigger questions. First half chaos. Pressing uncertainty. Midfield distances stretched. Yet higher xG, more big chances, and better box play ultimately decide it.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 23/02/2026

Raheem Sterling has taken the road less travelled.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 12/02/2026

Liverpool, 1-0 winners at Sunderland, and I was watching it unfold somewhere in the Persian Gulf on ship WiFi. Kick off just after midnight, final whistle past 2am, but worth every bleary eyed minute.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 10/02/2026

📊 Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City felt frustrating, but the numbers tell a clearer story. 2.75 xG to 1.21 85% pass accuracy to 78% Control early, fatigue late, and fine margins throughout.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 09/02/2026

Guehi not seeing red changed the entire direction of the game. Salah was through, shirt pulled, a clear denial of a goalscoring chance, yet only a yellow card followed.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 03/02/2026

‼️ Liverpool have now spent over £500m since last summer. Champions last season. Inconsistent this time. This isn’t reckless spending. It’s controlled upheaval. New piece on my Substack, out now ⬇️ www.itwasalwaysliverpool.com/p/liverpool...

itwasalwaysliverpool.com

Liverpool’s £500 Million Moment, Why The Next Phase Matters

Champions last season, inconsistent this time, Liverpool’s spending tells a story of transition rather than excess

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 28/01/2026

Is Jamie Carragher right about Liverpool? Mostly, yes. But the gaps in his argument matter. I’ve gone through his key points, used his own quotes, and asked what the real fix actually looks like. Full piece free on Substack here 👇 www.itwasalwaysfootball.com/p/jamie-car...

itwasalwaysfootball.com

Jamie Carragher Is Right About Liverpool’s Problems, But Not About the Fix

Saying what went wrong is easier than mapping the way back

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 25/01/2026

Same ball, same story, same pain. Why does Liverpool’s control keep leading to nothing? Why does conceding feel terminal now? Why are the numbers telling the same story every week?

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 24/01/2026

Another evening that sums up the pattern all too neatly. Plenty of the ball, chance after chance created, territory dominated, and still Liverpool find a way to leave empty handed. Control without conviction, pressure without punch, and once again punished at the very end.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 21/01/2026

Football’s laws are changing again ⚽ Daylight offside. Countdown clocks ⏱️ Expanded VAR checks 📺 Are these reforms restoring common sense, or just shifting football’s arguments to new places?

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 20/01/2026

73% possession. 32 shots. 3.18 xG. And Liverpool still walked away from Anfield with a draw against Burnley.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 18/01/2026

Local Business Sponsorship Opportunity – Grassroots Football As Jack’s football team prepares to move into 7-a-side football this March, we are inviting local businesses to partner with us as team sponsors for the next stage of their journey. We are seeking sponsorship support for:

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