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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 19/10/2026

A proper Premier League away win for Liverpool. Brentford made it physical, Liverpool lost players to injury, went behind and still found a way to turn the game around and win 2-1.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 16/10/2026

🔴 THE FUTURE OF LIVERPOOL'S ATTACK? ⚡ Bradley Barcola 🎩 Florian Wirtz 🔥 Rio Ngumoha Three exciting talents, bags of potential and the promise of something special at Anfield. Could this trio become the heartbeat of Liverpool's next great side?

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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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 17/01/2026

Unwanted history, unwanted familiarity. Liverpool draw 1-1 at home with Burnley and complete a grim set, failing to beat every promoted side at Anfield this season. Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 13/01/2026

🔴 Liverpool 4 Barnsley 1 🏆 FA Cup Third Round 📊 But what did the stats really say? 75% possession 21 shots 1.98 xG A scoreline that suggests comfort, numbers that suggest caution. I break down the data, the tactical patterns and the warning signs beneath the win at Anfield.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 09/01/2026

A Thursday night under the lights at the Emirates, and a 0-0 that said far more than the scoreline. Liverpool frustrate Arsenal, extend the unbeaten run, and show control without cutting edge. Outstanding defensive work, smart midfield play, and a night that once again begged for a fit striker.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 06/01/2026

Liverpool’s 2–2 draw away at Fulham was one of those Premier League games that leaves you uneasy rather than encouraged.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 05/01/2026

Power without patience. Maresca gone at Chelsea. Amorim out at United. Yet Arsenal stood by Arteta, City ride out blips with Guardiola, and Liverpool trusted Slot to the title. Modern football talks about projects, but panics at the first wobble.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 02/01/2026

Three weeks ago, large sections of the media praised Florian Wirtz for being street smart. For going to ground when he was fouled, even though the contact alone might not have sent him down. That moment sparked debate, but what happened with Ekitike today proved the point perfectly.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 25/12/2025

Christmas Day once meant football boots at the door, frozen terraces, and a kick off before dinner. This morning I have written a nostalgic piece looking back at when football was played on Christmas Day, why it quietly disappeared, and how television now shapes the festive game we know.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 22/12/2025

Liverpool took three points at Tottenham, but this was a game that revealed far more than the scoreline suggests. Control in possession, dominance through midfield, and long spells where Spurs were suffocated, yet once again the final stages brought unnecessary tension.

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 18/12/2025

Chelsea need a bigger home, but where does the future really lie? Earl’s Court was meant to be the solution, now planning approvals, politics and time itself are closing in. Stamford Bridge still stands, proud but limited. This decision that could shape Chelsea for generations?

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Greig Hopcroft @thehopcrofts.co.uk · 18/12/2025

Two weeks from pre contracts opening and Liverpool’s January window is already taking shape. Salah’s truce feels fragile, centre back numbers are down to the bare bones, and names like Guehi, Jacquet and Semenyo refuse to go away.

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