Match Day Thread PL: Arsenal vs Liverpool

Henderson and Lallana injured.

We had a specialist DM in Lucas, and a specialist CM in Can. We need more specialists in the team instead of jack of all trades. Pick either Hendo or Milner. Not both.

 

Sorry but it's been far more than a "slight" improvement from Lovren. Let's be honest, he looks a different player. Lacks a lot on the ball but positionally he looks a different player now. Attacking everything in the air and actually going with runners.

 

Right to give Ibe a time out too though no?

 

He has improved and he's no longer the worst defender in the partnership. But he still makes some basic errors - goes for some balls which he will never win and leaves space in behind. Could easily of given a goal away against Bournemouth and could have been sent. His overall game is improving but still capable of making big mistakes - but he's cutting them out so credit to him.

But he's benefiting by having a left back next to him who doesn't advance, and being better protected by the mid.

 

For the record Skrtel was fantastic today - one basic error aside, rare you'll play 90 minutes of perfection. He saved our arse time and again

 

I'd like to see Moreno play wide left more often. Think he's far better in that position at the moment, than he is at LB. Can offer protection but also has pace to get down the line.

 

Think he could do a job there but who do you drop for him?

 

Playing in a deep line suits him. Problem is, he drags the rest of the defence with him. He can't hold a line and plays a lot of players onside.

But he did make some very good interceptions and last ditch tackles.

 

That's no different from Sakho. Both are front foot defenders, similar to Agger. They both like to try and win the ball early. I think it was Luv that made the point about partnerships and having 1 that goes and attacks the ball and the other that holds and sweeps.

Lovren is happy to go win the ball on the front foot, does leave gap but if you're CB and FB tuck in to cover that then it works out gine.

 

Benteke was very good today when he was against Chambers. But Gabriel dealt with him easily.

Should have kept targeting Chambers.

 

No one yet, same 11 please (Hendo for Lucas maybe) but Moreno as first sub rather than Ibe.

 

Arsenal fans in #meltdown

 

Of course at the start of the day we would have taken a point no doubt.

But with arsenal having 2 makeshift central defenders, playing really poorly in their passing game, we should have won that game. This is not being negative. This is being realistic as we won't be given the match often like we were given it on a plate in the first half.

 

Yes but we also played them offside a lot in the second half really well.

As I said before was inevitable that Arsenal we're going to have a large spell of attacking us and Skrtel was a big reason we didn't concede

 

No problem with going for the ball and being aggressive but you HAVE to win it. Sakho wins it - Lovren is very hit and miss. That;s the issue I have.

But enough of the criticism.

Today was a good performance - from everyone (bar Ibe). Really encouraging. And this is what I've been banging on about - we have the players. Just set up them correctly. The 4-3-2-1 worked.

Firmino wasn't great but he showed a lot of glimpses of quality - the movement and intelligence of his runs, and the ball he played to Benteke was beautiful.

 

Yeah Firmino should have an assist to his name in fairness

 

I would put Henderson in for Can, you get a lot more out of him than jogging around the middle of the park.

 

So have you been Dave on the Spuds and yoonited rivals threads.

youve been banging on about how "lucky" we were, yoonited have used nearly all their luck under Fergie's reign, but please don't pretend Spurs scoring the winner for you wasn't lucky.

 

Don't get what your missing mate, Can was boss tonight

 

Credit to Rodgers for setting the team up right.