In his last league pre-match conference Klopp was asked whether after 42 games in charge and not playing the same line-up twice, could we expect to see the same team as last time for game 43? He laughed and said something like 'really, I didn't know that'. So you get the feeling he's not just tinkering for the sake of it, he genuinely plays a team for each game plan. He's still got some way to go to match Rafa's 99 game run of a different line-up each time mind
Good result but far from a good performance.. The youngsters did well, it was the "senior" players that let performance slip at times.. Too many flicks and tricks from the likes of Mane and Origi.. Can taking far too many touches, needs to get it and give it a lot quicker. Movement up front wasn't that great, far too static, games like this just show you how good Firmino is, he's always on the move.. Gini had a decent game, in a position that he's not played that often for us. Lucas did well but Klavan had the odd moment.. Thought this was Stewart's worst game for us, gave away a few sloppy balls, but for a bit of bad luck and poor finishing, Leeds could have scored a goal or two! Can was better in the deeper lying role, helped shore it up in the second half. Ejaria was very neat on the ball, don't think he's suited out on the wing, did his better work in the #10 role.. TAA, was good against Spurs, but even better against Leeds, liking what I see of the lad. Woodburn, what a start for the lad, like Klopp's comments about, him we know he's good but we want to protect him, give him the odd minute here and there.. Would like to have seen Grujic for more than 3minutes.. In the end, good result, not so great performance. Good thing is the majority of the first team had a nice rest.. We should get Lallana back for Bournemouth too so hopefully we'd be more solid at the back and more fluid up front.
Am i alone in thinking lucas let every ball he should have cleared bounce and was very lucky at times not to get absolutely done... i mean he really did let an awful lot bounce round.
I don't think he should have played last night, given that he said in interview after the game that it was very hard for him to play following the sad news of the day - he'd played with several of those players. RIP
Indeed, given those circumstances, he played very well, and it was only an issue, once, maybe twice, other than that, thought he didn't put a foot wrong!
I think he picks more or less who's most fit. but I can't think back now but surely a few matches this year we've maintained the same line up no? At least 10 players of it like... i think jury might be the only reason but Karius clyne matrip lovren milner wijnaldum henderson lallana mane firmino coutinho is celarly our first 11. So whats stopped that? suspension = only henderson thus far. internationals = injured players and once firmino and coutinho were back very late Injuries. can and matip injured at outset. wijnaludm, lallana now coutinho. player change. mingolet out karius in. Like... out back 5 and front 3 picked themselves. 2 of the 3 CMs have also picked themselves. I think far more is made of this than anyhting and its rooted in him playing a different fa cup team last year that was seriously weak.
That is very true and good on him but that doesn't change what i saw which is him letting balls bounce which no cb should ever allow.
I don't mind a bit of tinkering to match the game plan - but that's very different to sending out a team of young prospects and bench-warmers and expecting them to be anything more than a shadow of the first team. Rafa had no interest in domestic cups at first, but we have no Europe and we need to have a good go at them..
I agree. putting THIS cup on the sideboard can a) get europe sorted early, allowing us to really chase games later. b) put confidence in players and take the monkey off their back. If i had a choice to change anything last year it would have been to tell those LFC players stepping up to take pens to actually take them bloody properly. coutinho missed none for us before be he stepped up like he'd already scored and we were bound to win that day. If we'd won that cup i think we'd have done things differently. I think we'd have gone harder for FA cup and maybe taken the experience into that europa final. Look back at the cup final and wonder.. if sturridge ha not played woudl we have beaten them in 90.. (yes in my mind) and if we'd taken better pens we coudl have had a cup and much more confidence.
You mean like when we played a full strength team against burton round one? Klopp a picking a team he thinks can win. Away from home early doors a strong team, 2 home games against weaker opponents mix it up a bit. With no eirope the young players have to play at some point in case they are needed further down the line, better to get 2/3 of them involved in LC so I'd Clyne got injured we know TAA can step up
I think sometimes the youngsters are more gung ho [for want of a better phrase] and that fearlessness can lead to unrestrained play .... and a 2-0 win in a cup QF. I do know exactly what you mean though. Team selections can show which competition the manager is prioritising.
I'd say reaching the Semi final is 'having a good go'. We can't moan about young players not getting a game, then moan when they do. These kids are potentially our future, Klopp knows that and trusts them to put in a shift. I get the point about winning the cups etc. But it's a moot point really as we're still in the cups I think we'd all be happy to see our usual back 3 (Matip, Lovren, Milner) with TAA and the other youngsters playing in the early rounds. They simply need the experience, let's not become a Chelsea. Semi Final. Play a solid team (including some youngsters) imo.
