Absolutely the gegenpress returned, it was wonderful to see again, really encouraging considering that midfield is brand new. Slobby got his reward for all his hard work this season already, and what a clean hit that was, really composed himself before taking that long shot on his weaker foot no less. Ive not seen a Liverpool number 8 able to do that since, i wont say it. Really happy klopp started Darwin too after his heroics last week, this guy is gonna make a oot of people's eat humble pie when he starts hitting the net regularly which im absolutely confident he will. Could've had a hattrick today but he keeps smiling when he gets unlucky like today, tells me he knows when it clicks for him its over for everyone. Villas tactics were suicidal but they shiwed something on motd regarding trent dropping inside and swapping to cb with matip giving him more time on the ball and us more protection in general by trent not going into midfield as much. Worth the license fee alone for those who pay that ****
Thoroughly enjoyed that performance. We looked really controlled in possession, the balance was on point, and pretty much everyone stepped up. Captain Trent was immense today, along with our new star boy, Dom. Mac is a class addition who will facilitate the rest of the team but Dom is that transformative signing for the midfield. He’s everything that we thought Naby would be and he’s everything that the media would have you believe Hendo was. Also happy with Darwin - we’re finally playing to his strengths again, and he causes havoc for the defences. His pressing was really good as well, something that he has struggled with since joining.
Villas tactics from the highlights I saw were just a repeat of Newcastle game. They played a stupidly high line with zero pressure on the ball allowing the best passer in the league (and won of best in the world) all the time to just ping balls over the top for the fast lads to run onto. Diego must have loved watching it! It was like watching us defend last year. Teams knocking it over us to run onto with no pressure being applied. that said, some of the passes from TAA were absolute class. It’s easy to same just chip it over the defence but weight if pass, especially that one in second half that he arrived over digne for Salah to cross into Nunez which he just put wide.
looking at the Warnock "tweek" highlighted on MOTD2, it might be a stretch to call it so but it does a t least get Trent facing the right way and not stumbling over the ball.
i said day 1 of seeing him in preseason everyone would be very happy. I don't mind what lads say, imo you can tell very very quick who's a lfc player and not. and i have spoken. endo is not at that level.
What a player we've got in Szoboszlai, you could tell immediately that he would fit right in and the good news is that he's got a lot of room to improve, goodness knows where his ceiling is. Same with Macca. He's not as visually dynamic as Szoboszlai but he's so intelligent and his work rate is phenomenal. Shouts out to Trent, Gomez and Matip and again young Quansah who looks like he knows what he's doing, has great positional sense and an eye for a pass. He may have just saved us £50m.
you did indeed bit harsh on Endo particularly as dob't think anyone thought he was going to be great . we just need him to get to "steady" to justify the purchase .
It's a bit early to judge endo, he looks solid if not spectacular. The main thing for me is, if I see him trot onto the pitch my heart doesn't sink. Or if he was called on for a few games I'd be OK with it. That's a vast improvement on how I've felt about some of our back up midfielders in recent years.
One very big plus with Endo is that he's not afraid of putting in tackles, something we've lacked for a long time and he's another one of those players that the ball loves because he invariably comes away with it.
Remember the opening game of the season last year against Fulham? The midfield looked utterly moribund. Livened up a bit when Elliott and Nunes came on, but the legs had gone from that team, particularly Fab, after the exertions of the season before. We never got any better either - Carvalho was energetic but lightweight, Elliott is a no10, not an 8, Thiago was slower than Fab.... Now that midfield is buzzing. I said in pre-season that the biggest thing Szobo was bringing was energy, and when Macca is freed to truly be a no10, then things look sound. It'll bring the best out of Elliott as well.
I agree. In Thiago's defence, he doesn't have to be the quickest while he's picking out passes that most don't see. I would have loved the 5 years ago version of him in this midfield. I know he divides opinion but I'm a big fan.
