Match Day Thread Vs Southampton (A)

People blaming the squad here are way off the mark, it really wasn't some threadbare team we put out yesterday. Facts are that Southampton were excellent and have been all season, we haven't been and we don't seem to want to work hard and win battles.

 

We're only missing Jota really in our forwards and midfield. We have our goalkeeper and first choice full-backs. We are only missing our three CB's (big only, I know). Why we only have three, **** knows, but no point having Williams and Phillip in the squad in this situation if we're going to use two of our best midfielders instead. And as you say, the press is non-existent away from home.

 

We have the players back but that doesn't mean that they're sharp and match fit, and it also doesn't factor in the players who weren't injured but have been overplayed. The front 3 and Robbo look knackered.

Not saying that they shouldn't be doing better but our squad has been stretched and players have been overworked.

 

Front 3 just look ****, not knackered.
Firmino looks useless for sometime, Salah looks like he doesn't give a **** recently and Mané is actually trying and getting involved but he has looked an awful player of late

 

While i don't think that Minamino will ever be a regular for us he must wonder how he didn't get a run out last night considering his last performance . Another thing can we please play CB's at CB and Midfielders in midfield .

PS i see the old saying Misery loves company still holds true .

 

I think you're finding out just how hard it is to win back to back titles. Mentality, maybe even some complacency - the expectation of turning up and winning because you have in the past, is probably the biggest cause for all league winners. Got to get back the eye of the tiger. Fwiw with 20+ games to go I still think Livpl will win it.

 

Thought that last night. Was actually decent against Palace and then doesn't feature for the following games.

 

Still think it's City's title now. Once they get ahead that will be it. Whilst both our first teams are good, neither can compete with their squad

 

I still don't think so. The spine of their team has gone and don't think the squad is all that. I rate Bernardo Silva highly and his absence alone highlights a marked difference in their performances this season.

They have a few in the first team but lack depth imo. This will tell when they come to prioritise the CL over the league and the games they've missed come thick and fast with both competitions being played.

If United are ever in this title race then I'd still rather be up against City than Livpl tbh.

 

Yeah, that was the frustrating thing about dropping so many points against the likes of Fulham, WBA, Newcastle and Brighton (not Soton - they were always going to be a tough nut). We needed a 6-8 point cushion going into our normally **** January; instead we're sitting like a lame gazelle with a quickening cheetah just a few yards behind.

 

One thing being overlooked is how we progress the ball. On the left side we use Robertson and Mane athleticism to get up the field with combinations supported by Wij. On the right however, we use the switch more which is where Trent comes to the fore as Salah has already made a run into the half space freeing Trent to deliver lethal crosses. No VVD no switch though I thìnk Thiago will help with this

Trent is suffering more than most as he is trying to force the issue. Yesterday though was Klopp thinking a half fit Ox and Thiago could outrun a well drilled Southampton side. By playing Hendo at CB he lost the press and made it easy for Southampton.

In hindsight it is better to have this blip now when we are at the top than when we are trying to play catch up. Get over it and we still have a good chance to win it. Cannot wait for Jota to come back to give the front 3 a kick up the backside

 

A lot of players are passengers at the moment, TAA being one of them. Salah's head's gone, the front three aren't playing together at all, and the rest of them aren't with it. Do you think there's been some sort of falling out behind the scenes? I can't account for such a drop in form.

Or the pressure's getting to them, the pressure of being expected to retain the title

 

'Pipped'? 'Pipped'? 18 ****ing points? (And that would have been even more had Liverpool not won it with so many games to spare). Seriously Diego, you talk utter ****e at the best of times, but this is total dogshittery even by your standards.

 

^^^ This

 

He also said Klopp should have played Thiago

 

Well that wasn't very good and it was a ****ing important game. Combined with Boris the Animal's pronouncement, what a **** start to the New Year.

 

I'd guess those two may be linked.

 

I've heard it's very popular atm and while I disagree with it I will make an exception in regards to referees: unconscious bias training. It's no longer subtle, it's blatant.

I am in no way blaming referees for our awful performances of late, we just don't look on it at all, but the officiating of our games is very, very suspect. Throwing players to the ground is a cautionable offence, keepers rushing out and taking out players is a cautionable offence ....... not free kicks in the offending players favour. Those two things in particular are happening in every game now. How Salah and Mané keep their cool is amazing. Mané's one little protest last night got a free kick given against him! Nuno had his say, it's time someone spoke up about the officiating of our games.

 

I agree that's the reason, we are not working as hard as last season you can see that.

 

Just like every squad in the PL.