Entertaining football isn't about scoring loads of goals or even winning every game, it's about playing attractive football. So far this season, we've not seen the high energy, pressing and free flowing football. It's all been very structured.
I agree. winning every game is not the requirement. trying to play with some style and technical flow is. winning is the aim but unpredictability of results and having two teams or people meeting is what it's all about. examples Federer v Nadal at thier peak. Barca v real with messi and Ronaldo at their peaks. even mourinho and Pele on onside and iniesta and xavi on the other it was fascinating. senna v prost schumacher v haikkonen/alonso/hill. etc etc etc.. if the result.is entirely predictable it doesn't matter what stlye is applied it loses excitement.
Our defensive record this season is crazy good. I can't remember a single player having a bigger impact on our team than VVD. The difference is incredible really.. Since Virgil van Dijk made his debut for Liverpool nearly a year ago, they played 27 league games and conceded 15. In the 27 league games before Van Dijk signed, Liverpool had conceded 30 goals.
and alisson making a few saves. basically that trio compared to 12.months ago..... mingolet Matip lovren it's really such a huge improvement in all 3 slots
I'll repeat; not just VVD... - Coutinho left meaning we had a more robust midfield - Moreno dropped, Robbo came in - Migs was dropped (Karius did well until the CL final) Plus, one I've not said before, we no longer had Lovren AND Matip at the back, it was one or the other. Lastly, Gomez & Alisson coming in as improved the defence another level
If we had to lose one of Gomez or VVD, who would it be? Potentially controversial but I'd keep Gomez.
Would like to see the team with Coutinho in it still, or another creative player. His leaving is a minor impact on our defense
van dijk is the organiser but it's an entire team effort. it's a pity we can't ****ing pass the ball any more in.midfield though.. . if hope we can get that element sorted. when we have the ball the midfield isnt making itself available for a pass to retain possession for me that's where our only issue lies. the defence is good enough to win the league. the attack is good enough too but has no cover par se. it's the midfield inability to supply good ball to feet for the front 3 that is going to be where we come up short.
I'd love Coutinho to still be with us (same with Suarez) but would we have bought the players we did had he not been sold?
We've actually changed our approach to improve the defence and it's had a knock on effect to the attack. The system change from 433 to 4231 hadn't helped either. Four attackers usually means less room, less room means they spread out. Spreading out means there is less room for our FBs to exploit. However, our attackers are starting narrow and allowing the FBs to get forward. This means the attackers are short of space. Imo, this as been our biggest issue this season; MF&S need space to exploit!
imo the 4231 is not necessary. It is klopp trying to fix the issue at hand and accommodate shaqiri. I agree that basically he is then too far up pitch and then yesterday we see windy and Henderson basically statues easily.marked without moving. the cbs end up going long. imo we need to have 3 things. a) full backs up pitch. b) one cm dropping in between cbs c) other 2 cms moving for short passes opening space behind their move for forwards. we are just not seeing space and not moving to take it. we are seeing cms receive and send It straight back. we just need Keita to step up big time
I don't think that is needed really. Usually, that is done because the CBs aren't good on the ball but both VVD and Gomez are superb with the ball at their feet. As long as one CM hols position it would be fine, they don't need to drop inbetween (like Hendo does constantly and then passes to Gomez or VVD anyway) I think Shaqiri as been playing well enough to deserve to start but Klopp refuses to drop one of the trio.
I was thinking transfer but whatever you like. Basically, if you could only have one or the other, who do you pick?