‘Klopp is top of the Pops’

Not necessarily Sport: Marc Pozzo

A 30-year wait to win a top flight title has been too long for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s men are in a rush to end that drought as soon as possible with the best ever start to a season in Europe’s top five leagues.

Saturday’s 1-0 win at Spurs in a rematch of last season’s Champions League final was the Reds 20th win in 21 Premier League games this season with a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in October the only match Liverpool have failed to bag maximum points.

That stunning run is even more impressive when extended over the past year.

A 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on January 3, 2019—that ultimately cost them the title despite amassing 97 points—was the last time Liverpool lost in the league. Since then, they have collected 104 points with 33 wins and five draws, while also winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

At Liverpool’s current pace, spring will barely have sprung by the time the title is wrapped up. They enjoy a 14-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

However, it seems a matter of when, not if, Klopp adds the Premier League to two Bundesliga crowns won at Borussia Dortmund.

And the quality of opposition Klopp is wary of only strengthens his side’s claim to be among the best in the history of English football.

The Premier League provided all four finalists for the Champions and Europa League last season and all seven English sides in European competition have made it to the knockout stages once again.

City rewrote the record books with their 100-point season in 2017/18, but Liverpool are on track to better even many of those landmarks.

Even when Klopp fielded a youthful side with only one first-team regular for a Merseyside derby against Everton in the FA Cup last weekend, his team came good in a 1-0 win.

The German will back his reserves to take care of Bristol City or Shrewsbury in the next round and the closer they get to Wembley, another shot at history may tempt Klopp into fielding a stronger side.

What I am really wishing for, is that the title is done at the home game, on Easter Saturday against Aston Villa at Anfield where yours truly will be present that day .

Having been a Liverpool fan for over 42 years, it will be my first trip to Anfield and the city of Liverpool and to say I excited is an understatement. More on this trip to come!

Test cricket returns to Zimbabwe this weekend. Sunday the 19th January to be precise and my birthday as well .Zimbabwe will take to the field at Harare Sports Club to face Sri Lanka in two test matches.

Zimbabwe last played a Test match in November 2018 when they toured Bangladesh.

 Zimbabwe cricket is hopefully behaving, under the watchful eye of the ICC and SRC. We can only hope it’s a turn of fortune.

Sean Williams has his first outing as skipper, replacing the retired Hamilton Masakadza, who is now upstairs in his new role of director of Cricket.

What will be interesting is that the visitors, Sri Lanka, are now coached by former Proteas and Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur, with his side kick former Zimbabwe opener Grant Flower on his coaching staff as batting coach.

The country was barred from ICC events in July last year because of political interference but was readmitted by the International Cricket Council three months later. Political turmoil within the sport, and a string of humiliating performances led Zimbabwe to suspend their Test involvement in 2005, although they continued to play oneday internationals and Twenty20 internationals.

They returned to Test cricket in 2011 but are languishing in 11th place in the rankings, one ahead of Ireland.

Sixth-ranked Sri Lanka last month became the first nation to tour Pakistan since 2009. It all gets underway on Sunday morning.

This past weekend also saw the first Sunshine Tour event of 2020 the SA Open won by local Brandon Grace who shot a 62 on the final day to win by 3 strokes from the defending champion and overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen.

What was sad was that the “Zimbo” contingent did not perform well bar, Mark Williams who was the only one to make the cut and finish with a top 25 finish and win a few bob with it.

The rest, Ryan Cairns, Ben Follet -Smith, Marc Cayeux all struggled and did not make the cut.

As schools head back this week, the annual 2020 Husqavana Mud Run was held on Saturday.

All the funds raised are for Kidscan and what a great charity to support. They are so desperate for funding, and this is a real crowd puller.

The kids and the adults, I must say just love it! A day to come out and get muddy and just have fun and forget about everything!

The organisers told me they had 5000 registered on the day. Fantastic!

The highlight though was that the “Beast” Tendai Mtawarira was there on the day to support Kidscan.

What a humble guy he is. He posed for thousands of selfies, and did the course as well, playing along with all the kids and fans.

That’s what I call a real feel good weekend. Well, done Husqavana and the organisers for putting on such a great event .