I think this will be a marker of where we really are in terms of progress. We usually turn up for this type of game, I think drawing against them last season on two occasions, when a decent finisher would have grabbed us a cup and three points could easily been the outcome. A point would be good, three would be lovely, but a one goal difference in a loss is where I think my prediction is at. COME ON CHELSEA! Prove me wrong.
It will be a bigger task with Fofana and Cuckoo out, those Liverpool front players are pretty lethal.My hope is that we play Fernandes in his right position, or play Lavia beside Casiedo. Fernandes is the player who can't find his best form in the starting 11. If we use our heads and play as we can, we are a good shot for a draw. On the other hand we can do dumb stuff and get into trouble. Hoping for a return to our best form and that we give ourselves every chance, then take them !!!!
We did and they ran the 1st half really well. Once Lavia went off, like Reece James, due to lack of match fitness, we opened up more in the middle, which was my point. When Lavia plays, Caisedo can play his own game because he doesn't have to do Fernandez' defending as well as his own. He can play passes like the one to Jackson to level the score. That's why we bought him but we misused him for too long while sorting out our back row defenders. Liverpool were fractionally better this game, with their long time established Team and pattern of play. Chelsea, a basket case 3 months ago, still worried the bejeezus out of them at their place. I'd call that a win for both teams, one of which still has heaps more improvement to come.
you may have had a lot of ball but apart from your goal i can't remember you having a shot on target .
We did have the ball in the net as well ,though offside, and a couple of well blocked shots too. But Liverpool showed better team defence and tighter marking while we were slacker from the GK to the midfield. Nevertheless if Liverpool were as good as they think they should be putting 4 past us, but never looked like it. So I'll stick with thinking we are closing the gap, and quickly.
Same difference surely, we did have a few more than 1 on target, but not enough in the goal !! Most opinions thought Liverpool "passed their biggest test", and Chelsea were better than expected. I'm on the side of those who thought Chelsea ran the game for long periods but lost because Liverpool are more settled are better organised due to playing together longer. Plus they had the not inconsiderable benefit of playing at Anfield. So a 2-1 loss is not such a bad result all things considered. Still early days for us. Top 4 would be quite an achievement, but Liverpool look odds on for top 4.
no your "offside" goal was overturned and given as a goal we had one given as offside correctly i.e. you did not score an offside goal . I agree you had the ball for long periods but you were pretty toothless imo . However as you say both sides will be reasonably happy and Maresca is getting you to play in the way he wants which weirdly is pretty similar to us under Slot
Decent performance against a very strong team. Dont think we got too much wrong, just Liverpool are a better side, more experienced, better players and better drilled. We are getting there. Hopefully a bit more experience for this squad and one or two signings (A goalkeeper wouldnt hurt) and we can think seriously about competing again.
Fair enough, good luck to Liverpool, they always play to win and never sit back. If we could get our fruit cake owners to bring in some football savvy Directors of Football and actually strengthen our weak spots, GK, CD and striker, we'd be going much better.
They're all **** though Quality over quantity! Unless they change the rules and allow us to stick all 8 of them in goal, and even then I dont think all 8 would equal 1 Allisson
