The players are mentally tired as well as physically. Especially after 2 tough wins away at Spurs and West Ham where they gave their all. You could see that after the first half they run out of ideas how to penetrate Brighton’s compact defence. The aggression and dynamism that’s the hallmarks of our game are no longer there. We used to be all over the opposition like a rash, not giving them time to breathe or to think or plan their attacks. And the full backs although still willing to run up and down are now significantly less effective. Gutted about the title but we are still in with a good shout of the CL as long as we get the old team working back again and get the new CBs integrated. We tend to do better with the better higher ranked teams. Fingers crossed.
Yep - we have so many injuries but we also have to remember that the guys who aren't injured are being run into the ground. As you say, mental and physical fatigue are probably at an all time high.
Never said otherwise. They were very well organised and were the better side. Teams know we're a small side that is looking to either use fast counter attacking or build up before penetrating through the middle so every team we face drop all eleven behind the ball, stay narrow and defend the penalty area. As I said, not moaning (about them), they're entitled to do it and it's working (I'd do the same as a manager against Liverpool), its just boring / frustrating to watch from our perspective. We need to change it up. We've become too cautious, every player takes several touches with safety first in mind, we get nowhere fast. We wasn't allowing teams to get back in numbers last season. Doesn't help that key players (Bobby) aren't performing at a consistent level or having to play in a different position (Hendo & Fabinho).
The 433 vs low block teams simply does not work for us with certain personnel out of the team. I just cant believe Klopp hasn't figured it out yet.
it’s fair to say that overall the experiment of moving the midfielders like Henderson and Fabinho to the centre back positions hasn’t worked. Not because they were bad at it in the contrary they were naturals and you could imagine them forging a career later in those positions . But the overall consequence of this was more disruption than was needed and we’ve had poor results. The defence was reinforced at the expense of the midfield and creativity. Suddenly the supply that our attack was used to got seriously disrupted and our goals dried up. The recruitment of the new CBs is encouraging and we should get our normal midfield back. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can get to our performances against Spurs and West Ham. All is not lost yet but it needs sorting out sooner rather than later. BTW I said before that Mane is the key member of the attacking trio as he gets defences into making mistakes which can then be capitalised upon. He is a huge miss.
We’ll probably do ok against them perversely. I still expect them to win - we have half a team out or out of position - key players.
Having given myself time to reflect, I think I'm more pissed off with that performance than any so far. We've had a terrible run of injuries and that's upset the balance of the team, so I can accept the January dip in form, but having seemingly got back on track we then lob in a performance last night which is reminiscent of how we were 4 or 5 years ago when faced with a well organised and resolute defence. I thought we'd learnt how to break these down but seemingly not. It reminds me of when Coutinho used to run up and down the 20 yard line looking for an opening and ended up having a speculative shot because there was no real pass on. When all the intricate passing isn't working one answer is to run at them and try to plough your way through - either the ball pings about and a chance arises or you get fouled and win a pen. I admire the patience to keep plugging away and not to panic - but we have to try alternative ways of getting through. Brighton got everything right, and we just had no answer to it. For the first time, I'm thinking of joining those who have given up on the league - I don't doubt we're still able to compete against Utd, Leicester et al, but City look to be on a real roll and I can't see them slipping up much. Sunday's game seems like our last chance now. Win it and I'll continue to hope, lose it and we might as well forget it - they'll be too far ahead.
Even if we beat City, I can’t see MU catching up or staying with them. City are simply on a different level. Giving away the 3 points however puts our own aim of at least finishing in top 4 at risk.
I agree with a lot that has been said but it is easier to become mentally tired if there is naff all competition for places. I mean Origi especially. Shaw to a certain extent and Minamino before he was shipped out. These players are not good enough when you come up against a bus parking team or a well organised side. We have a great first 11, when they are fit and in the last two seasons , they have been superb. But city are strolling now because they have quality in the squad, we have quality in the first 11. Aguero and DeBruyne are out for city but they have talent in the squad players, we don’t. Injuries have been cruel to us this season but there is a big overhaul needed if we want to win again next year. Totally gutted by last night’s performance but there are reasons
That’s where Suarez was brilliant. He just picked the ball up and ran at players and would get tripped or bundle his way through. People would say he was lucky that balls would rebound off players but it happened so much that can’t just be luck, plus if you don’t try it you won’t get the lucky rebound. We don’t have anyone in the team willing to run at players. said before we don’t have anyone with some skill. Someone that will face a player up and do some step overs to get past them. Mane is a bit better but both him and Salah are more direct running into space than at players with the ball. Need to start taking some risks when we’re 25 yards out. Rather than just knock it wide for someone to chip the ball in to be headed away.
Suarez could run into a group of 3 or 4 opponents and come out of the other side with the ball without anyone knowing quite how he did it - including him. There aren't many who can do that, but at least someone could give it a go.
totally agree. you don't even need talent at it. martial fernandes have proved all you need do is fall over after letting the ball away. I look at what i saw yesterday as this: Trent is stood then in bascially a cm poistion. Why? He's got phillips inside him, no pace. He's got at best thiago ahead of him. can't run, can't tackle, won't close down and cover. He's got milner who thinks he's a winger and could be off anywhere Or he's got wijnaldum who won't cover over and has already let trent down several times before. So trent is playing it safe standing in a slot where he can get back from. in other words zero trust in the system or players to enable him go find a dangerous spot to run into as he knows nobody will cover his position and he'll have to sprint the length of the pitch every time we lose it. So whos wide right now? salah. our one man who has scored goals is stood as far from the danger zone as he could possibly be. Instead you want a CM like fabinho who will sit in a three with our CBs and even if trent is up the park he knows they will cope until he get back. then you can have the two full backs pinned to the touchlines playing as wingers or at least willing to press up on the brighton wide men when thier keeper tosss the ball out that way. If the two full backs are stretching things then salah and firmino can drift and find spaces to link up a bit and get our full back in wide and be able to cut back. not one single solitary player really ran at anyone or tried go down the outside. not really. We managed one chance where salah missed and that was it. The only dribbles were salah form a standing position and thats just never working. However all this stuff about trust and faith in the the other players is all well and good but the trend is there. Fulham, southampton and now brighton completely out worked and out fought us. Brighton were finishing even stronger as the half wore on last night. They were hard running and pressing and celebrated those 3 points like they won the league. Well done to them. Last 3 years NOBODY but NOBODY outworked us.
Suarez was the best player that I have ever watched at Liverpool and I was watching throughout the late 70’s and 80’s. He’s showing how good he is now at Atletico and I wouldn’t put it past them to win the league and CL double. If he does, Suarez will have to be in contention for the big individual player awards.
not as good as barnes imo. not as good as kenny either. suarez was good but he's never been that quick so he follows a philosophy of shoot early which i think is great. You are right though, atletico will walk la liga and they always have a shout in the CL. I reckon this year we are headed for 1 legged neutral venues and frankly a **** show like that suits simeone down to the ground.
Yeah, I said best, not the greatest. Greatness leaves a real legacy....like KD. Kenny was amazing to watch but he was surrounded by quality. Barnes too. Suarez nearly won the league, he had a couple of decent players around him but not like the old days. When I was lucky enough to have tickets, I used to watch his movement from the stands and he was unlike any other player that I’d watched at Liverpool, ever! Had Suarez stayed, he’d have been our greatest ever player imo. He didn’t so it really doesn’t matter and it’s just footballing opinions....but we certainly could have done with a Suarez last night.
