Good answer, thanks. I think Hendo is a decent player, and I don't have the issue that some do with the sideways passing. I think Klopp puts him in because he's solid and harasses the opposition and helps to regain possession. He's a decent player, but we're improving all the time, and he probably will get left behind eventually. However, I don't think we can afford to drop him for a more creative player - we have plenty of them already - if the role he plays is then missing. We need someone who can add a bit of creativity without sacrificing the donkey-work. I don't know enough about Fabinho to know if he'll come good in that respect. Keita isn't really the type , from what I can see. Gini blows hot and cold and Milner is knocking on. I think Klopp plays him because he values what he does - for now.
I still feel the Keita Milner Gini midfield has been the best combination this season. To be fair to be Gini, he’s really stepped us this season. I was very critical of him last year because he shirked responsibility. But he’s not found his feet. I think klopp respects him but there must be a reason why we forked out £90m plus on two new midfielders and was willing to spend another £50m on Fekir. He certainly wasn’t / isn’t happy with the midfield and i believe that is now the final piece of the jigsaw (That’s a criticism of all the midfielders and not just Hendo). Once Keita / Fabinho get up to speed, then we will be a serious proposition (we already are to be fair but it’s the next level).
Similarly why we miss Chamberlain. Someone to drive forward with the ball, whereas atm we have 3 work horses who are good at moving the ball on to one another.
Chris Pajak from Redmen tv made an interesting point a while back re. passing sideways or backwards. He said he was watching us play Spurs (last season) and we were in possession and knocking it about at the back, then going into midfield and back again etc. He said he spent some time not watching us in possession but watching what that side to side did to the Spurs backline. The point being I suppose, that when we do have the ball in these positions its not always non-creative or meaningless. We will be trying to work opposition players into certain areas and/or exploit weaknesses in their shape
I agree to some extent but that has to be quick. If you want to move your opposition around by passing it sidewards then you have to move the ball at speed. If you take 3/4 touches then go sidewards the opposition can walk into position. Move it quick with 1/2 touches and the team are constantly running into position and it’s easier to then switch off which will open a gap.
yes thats it exactly. retain it fine but if every pass is slow.and safe your own forwards get run out making runs that passes don't go to. yesterday I say 3 static forwards aka 3 guys who stopped moving cos the ball wasn't coming... Milner offering himself.constantly and moving in front of two.guys and those two guys turning infield.and back all the time. imo it's one of Henderson and windy and fabinho not two of them. there's a time in games where keeping possession is crucial.. and windy is excellent at it... but 0-1 isn't it... we.need players on the ball and forwards looking for a pass by moving. we need both. but we also need to remember that for 20mins we held them in and pressed well first half and tjey were excellent we didn't get beat away to a direct title rival.imo
Alisson justifies Jurgen Klopp's transfer decision as Liverpool man wins £137million goalkeeper battle at Chelsea https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spo...son-justifies-jurgen-klopps-transfer-15219247
I'm reckoning not getting fekir has had a big effect on the midfield. I think klopp had players in mind for each position Henderson/fabino dm Keita/milner/wini box to box Fekir/ox attacking mid A very simple way of looking at it, but losing out on fekir for what ever reason and ox being crocked has left the forward positions in the midfield empty, he's having to play combination of players that he would prefer not to.
I think you are probably right there. If klopp wanted fabinho (did he hmm), keita and fekir he clearly had something in mind. I think though in days like yesterday klopp would be wanting to go Kieta/Fekir with milner and henderson. (as in one creative and two more physical.) What we did yesterday was Hednerson windy milner. Which was actually henderson windy milner. which in turnn was sideways, back, 5 touches, sideways back. My view is keita physically has not adapted. The first day of preseason we were told something interesting. Milner beat everyone with lallana second in lactate tests but fabinho and keita both dropped out very early on. It looks to me like there will be a long lead in for us to see the best out of keita as a result. you are right on ox. He is a big loss.
Keita looks good, but he runs out of steam quite quickly. I'm surprised as he looked a proper midfield dynomo in Germany. I miss ox, he is the only one we have who will receive the ball turn and really drive forward. It creates chaos. Midfield having to chase back, at least one defender having to come out of the line to close him down. If we are missing something this season it's this, driving from the middle at the heart of the oppo.
Van Dijk hails 'world-class' Sturridge Daniel Sturridge’s breath-taking equaliser against Chelsea came as no surprise to Virgil van Dijk. The striker scored for the 50th time in the Premier League for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday - and he could hardly have chosen a better way to do so, either in terms of timing or style. With the Reds a goal down in the 89th minute and on the brink of surrendering their unbeaten start to the top-flight campaign, Sturridge sent a precise, curling shot dipping into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top corner from 25 yards. Speaking post-match, Jürgen Klopp praised the England international’s impact this season, with that late intervention at Chelsea representing his fourth goal in seven appearances so far in 2018-19. Play video content please log in to view this image LFCTV GO: Watch all 50 of Sturridge's PL goals for the Reds And the manager’s comments were echoed by Van Dijk, who labelled Sturridge a ‘world-class’ talent. “Before I arrived at Liverpool, I said he was one of the best strikers in the league and he shows it when he’s fit,” the centre-back said. “Of course he is good enough for England. There shouldn’t be any doubt. I know what he’s capable of, how good he can be and when he’s at his best, by playing against him and seeing him in training with the hard work that he puts in and the positivity he brings. “We have a great squad, world-class players, and he’s one of them.” https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/319133-sturridge-van-dijk-liverpool-chelsea
With regard to Henderson, he is good at holding up play but sometimes and increasingly more, he holds play up when it's not the right thing to do. Gerrard in that position was forward looking and intent on creating chances not only for others but for himself. Imagine Henderson chipping in with 7,8 or more goals a season - it would make the back passing a lot more palatable.
but henderson is playing no 6. plus he is dire at pens. If i were looking for someone to put him up against I'd pick kante personally not gerrard mate.... maybe matic or fernandinho. in 4 seasons in prem kante has 1 goal a season. of the 3 full season he's played he's had a huge hand in 3 big trophies Matic in 6 seasons in the prem has never got more than 2 goals in a season fernandinho has actually the best record. he's shipped in 5 goals a season twice for city. (in 6 years again) Henderson in 8 years for us hasn't scored many no matter where he's played. last year we was deffo no 6, he got one goal. and same prior year. he's got one goal and one assist last year.... shoudl he do better form no 6? i dunno.... could he play it fast and be just as safe... quite probably.
Maybe I worded it badly - quite possible I was looking more at Henderson in the captain's position/role? He needs to be a positive force, driving the team forward, willing them on like Gerrard did. Whatever tactical position he has in the team he should be leading the team and part of that from his midfield position is to chip in with goals. Scoring goals isn't part of a captain's job, obviously. If VVD was captain, for example, his tactical position dictates that he won't score many goals but he is leading the defence and hence the team and making the team function better as a whole. Henderson should be doing that too. He is in a tactical position to look to play forward more and get in amongst the goals himself, he's certainly got it in him, we've seen it, albeit not for a long time. When Henderson missed the end of the season we finished 2nd in, he was a big loss because he was a threat himself. He still does a steady job for us but I feel he could do a lot more.
Comparing Hendo with one of the best midfielders of his era is harsh, imo. It's that comparison which has dogged the guy since he took over. He's never going to be that player, he is what he is.
