This will give solace to the likes of Stoke and Roma themselves. Who will play right to the last second knowing that the last 10-15 minutes are our most vulnerable. Against Stoke I hope we are well ahead by then and he can give Salah a few minutes off. Otherwise he has to stay on the pitch. Same in Roma. Just cannot afford to sub him.
Look at team shape. Half team attacking. No reshaping and we expose the backline. We don't say ok no more kicking it, retain and pass. We lack midfield general
Our eyes prove it. Without Salah we are just a good team not a top frightening one. You could argue: with Salah 5-0. Without: 0-2
Granted but that doesn't mean top 8. That's Everton territory. If we never signed salah and sold coutinho we would be 6th with arsenal.
Begs the question: where would Everton be if they had Salah firing for them? We would probably be swapping places ?
The Liverpool fan who was hit with a hammer is in a bad way. 2 Roma fans arrested for attempted murder. What I can't fathom is the papers are full of photographs of the group of 50 or so Roma fans, not wearing team colours, but marching down Venmore Street with with belts wrapped around their hands and carrying hammers and people take photographs but don't mention it to any passing Plod. Sums up the world "Oh look something awful is about to kick off. Should we raise the alarm, no let's take some pictures to get likes on our Facebook page".
We need to have someone to say we are 5-0 ahead (or 2-0 when at WBA) let’s calm it now. Keep the ball and control the game. If we have the opportunity on the counter, good otherwise just not lose the ball cheaply. Defending at some point when 5-0 ahead is sensible not parking the bus or defensive. Should we be 1 or 2 goals ahead this weekend against Stoke we have to say let’s keep that as it means CL for next season. Mind you at this rate we may not need to be in top 4
James Milner has broken the record for most assists in the CL. I’ve been very surprised with this season - he has really improved and delivered. I still wouldn’t renew his contract but he’s has contributed welll.
it's control a) did defensive line just go deep and great the space b) did midfield stop running? c) did ings not win a ball when he came on? d) did half the team think thry were attacking and just go forward and did half sit off and make massive gaps. Roma founds gaps to play in cos the team was not all together doing the same thing imo. all 11 have to keep doing the same thing.
To do that it helps to have Salah on the pitch. Without him the players seem to be unsure what to do. Do they pass it sideways or to the front men or keep the ball? With him, there is no doubt and everyone seems to be lifted. That sub was in hindsight not the right thing. But may be Klopp had no choice as he was tired.
This is where losing Coutinho is showing. The midfield players had run themselves dry and we did not have an outlet. Roma were able to push up 10 meters as Ings was not running their LB LCB hard. We didn't have options but no one could legislate for Lovern failing to step up. The issue I pick out is as soon as we are under any kind of pressure Hendo and Lovern go back to defending deep. All Lovren should have done is step up. So we are missing Couts, Lallana, Can and Ox as of now. Any side would struggle if deprived of all that talent when their star man is rested.
klopp is over protecting now. at 5-0 up he is entitled to do it with a view to securing 4th and being in a good place for one weeks time. our ideal next week is a fully fit 11.. we don't have ANY subs left now. and 3 points in bag. fully fit means not tired. no can. no lallana. now no ox. no coutinho since jan. no Matip. our subs are klavan, moreno, clyne, solanke and ings. we will have to draft in someone for midfield from youths this weekend. this is why we need 2 players in every position.
Who is available? Can we recall Grujic and Harry Wilson? Is Woodburn ready for the step up? We need bodies. The best case scenario is beat stoke, draw Roma and Chelsea. Then rest the 1st team for the final game.
We had a player like that called Lucas but we haven't adequately replaced him since he passed his peak.
If we score two goals in Rome, they need to score six.They have not conceded goals in the champion league at home this season. That not withstanding, we are going to score in Rome. please log in to view this image
