Sorry if already done! The 2017/2018 season that delivered a top 4 finish and a champions league final appearance. The first starting 11 of that season versus Watford was as follows: Mignolet Moreno Matip Lovren TAA Wijnaldum Henderson Can Mane Firmino Salah (PL debut) Couthino was busy throwing his toys out of the pram! We drew 3-3. Our fragility at the back was there for all to see. When you look at our starting11 this year, only one defender (TAA) made it. And only one midfielder (wijni) 2 survivors from 8. That’s incredible, even accounting for the fact that Hendo and Lovren are returning slowly after the World Cup. It’s a revolution funded by the sale of Couthino and an amazing CL cup run, coupled with real savvy buys that, to a man, have strengthened us. As a lifelong LFC fan, that’s all I can ask for - that’s all any of us can ask for isn’t it? I’m not getting carried away, this is happening after years of under/poor investment versus our rivals so we still have some catching up to do but nobody can argue that we have made giant strides under Klopp. I can’t wait to see who we buy in January
Jurgen Klopp seems to have fixed the defence this is the one he wans not willing to do before, and I think he is getting it right.
Really, we've improved in goal, we've improved in defence. We've improved in midfield. Forwards are the only place we might have a slightly less favourable stance. It can't be expected for Salah to have quite the same season again. Great if he does, understandable if he doesn't. Firmino is also perhaps not quite what he was. We will see. There are certainly reasons to be optimistic.
Salah and bobby do look a tad rusty but If last year is anything to go by, they can start a little slowly plus we have better cover than last year.
I think people sometimes underestimate Firmino's contribution when he isn't assisting or scoring. Granted he's in there to score and assist but 2 games in, he's looking alright especially as they've changed shape now with Salah in the middle.
I haven't seen yesterday's game so only basing on commentary from others. Our opener he created space on occasion but was fairly anonymous for most of the game. I think Firmino for the most part is a good player, but I think Salah and Mane make him look better by opening space for him. The quality of the front three help each other and when one or two have an off day it makes it harder on the others.
I think you can tell from how shattered he was when subbed that it's not like he is not trying. I just think hes not really up to it and like salah was presented with a tight compact opponent that wasn't easy to play
Ouch. I think he's as good as they are, but in a different way. He's more of a team player than either of them. I'd say he creates as many opportunities for those around him as anybody.
He pulls defenders out of position leaving space for the others to play. For me, he’s the first name on the team sheet - that said, he wasn’t as effective on Monday but that’s as much about how compact Palace were.
I think in general everyone is making fair and good points here. it's just specifically in both games thus far firmino has been well shy of his best. it's obvious he isn't at the level he can be at yet. same for salah.
I was listening to Melissa Reddy discussing this. She thinks teams may be starting to target Firmino as the 'man to stop' if you want to stop Liverpool. He's a massive part of what we do in an attacking sense, clever footballer.
We saw last year that missing 1 of that front three caused problems but Firm is the most important cog in that 3 imo. Salah and Mane are similar speed merchants and could be replaced with either each other or another quick wide forward in theory but the intelligence of movement on and off the ball eith form, plus being the catalyst of our initial press and tracking means he’s bloody hard to replace and we saw that when he was not playing last year. Salah and Mane get a lot of the plaudits because they beat men but as others have said, that’s only possible because firm has either created the space for them to move into, or played the pass to get them in. To to say the other make him look better it harsh. In theory it’s true, without those 2 firm may not be as effective as the front man, but only to the same aspect that without firm, mane and Salah wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective either.
Firmino IS the most important player. Unfortunately, Mane & Salah are playing far too narrow for Firmino to create the space for that pair to exploit. Both Mane & Salah need the space to run into. But how can they run into it when they're already there or thereabouts? Because they're so close, the defenders are already watching / marking them!
lads..... tactically... think about what you are saying. a player who runs away from goal is more important than one who runs towards goal. the fact is thry are all important and if everyone goes away from goals you end up plating in front of teams and not scoring. firmino works hard and has a creative spark. he leads the press. that's vital totally agree. but running in behind like salah is also absolutely vital and we had missed this ever since Suarez left. salah is absolutely crucial to us too. so is a player like Keita in midfield. so is a player like mane who will sacrifice himself as well and plays deep. so is vvd organising and being a man mountain at the back. so will becker be just being such a calming influence. you cannot beat quality but it's all one big jigsaw no piece is dispensible, no piece is more vital than the next. I love our team right now. it can improve over the season. gomez might grow into rb.... but benteke gave him an easy ride by not seeking him out. we need to see him when a forward who has a brain targets him not vvd
I was worried about Gomez at CB simply because I think he’s struggled almost every time since he has come back from injury. But the last two games have been very encouraging. He was exceptional against Palace. Matip and Lovren May have to fight for their place if Gomez keeps this up.
Agree that it’s all a big jigsaw...but everyone starts somewhere with a jigsaw. I would always start with Bobby. That’s absolutely not to discredit all others mentioned, it’s just a real appreciation for what he does. Without him, Mane and Salah have less space and are less effective. Very few players in the world play like he does and he is very difficult to replace imo. It’s just my opinion
