One thing to remember is that we were responsible for our own downfall against an average team who, credit to them, played a tactical blinder. A fully functioning Liverpool, in the right head space, smashes that team in the next game.
I really don't think they played such a blinder. if we had played any way ahalf decently we would have carved that up. I have said the same about certain teams in the lower reached of the prem who have set up with a 442 against us to put two forwards as a press and we can't figure it out. if you have no out ball as a CB then you have to go back to the keeper. Its that simple. we are obsessed with inverted full backs and it simply doens't really work. Its all well and good standing trent in the middle like a cb to pass it as konate ends up as the refacto rb and is also an outball. Its not fine to have a gomez or trent standing with back to play unbale to turn and easily cut off by simply standing two forwards in fonrt of our cbs. we've just been found out. The rush to pat atlanta on the back is imo just excusing the team for being absolutely awful and klopp from picking a team that screamed easy game to rest players take it easy boys. I'm not dissing them. I'm just saying it wasnt that good tactically from them really. they did thier job and were absolutely gifted the wide zones to walk in and score. that third goal was the equivilant of nunez running in othe middle of the park v utd and losing it. was that a man utd masterclass? not even a manc could claim that debacle as any onther than a gift
I believe in giving credit where its due; Atalanta came with a game plan, pulled it off and they deserved the win.
I kind of agree with both POVs. Atalanta were tactically spot on, but our inability to deal with it bordered on ridiculous at times. Our possession before their 3rd goal explains what I mean by that. It's not the first time we've faced such tactics. We face it pretty much every time we play Arsenal. The one where arteta went mental and we ended up winning 4-0 is an example of when we've dealt well with in the past - obviously with different players though.
it was so so poor. I don't mind give Atlanta a bit of credit for having a tactic but I am not going to make put they were genius. the first goal was madness from tsimikas who was asleep standing behind a guy he just then left to press a ball he didn't need to. the second was madness again by Robertson and nobody making any real effort at midfield. the third was just a joke where szobo played like a child and vvd ball watched rather than just step up and play the scorer off. it was an absolute **** show thst you could take any bang average side at the bottom of the prem and they'd not concede those.
You could see Klopp's puzzled expressions during the game as well as his fury at times like the Gomez shot that came down with snow on it. He said in post match interview that he didn't recognise the midfield all while acknowledging returns from injury. He mentioned the effectiveness of their man marking, adding that it shouldn't have happened because it's a risky tactic that falls down with the correct counter tactics which the players couldn't seem to pull off.
midfield was jaded. absolutely. its his job to get messages on the park to change things... it's his job to pick players in form or at least fit. he picked jones ahead of Elliott at cm (I didn't mind dropping szobo after the weekend game) but he then rested salah and diaz as well. massive massive error.
Elliott started. Anyway, it's done now. We need a positive reaction at the weekend. Hopefully the ticket protest is also done and we can get back to full throttle support.
started at rw, not midfield as a fit body to play thst advanced cm role. I think he was extremely unlucky to be withdrawn for other people's problems.
We have at least one of these results and performances per season. Not much more to say about it really. Unlikely we'll get through, Atalanta will be difficult in Italy. Probably should have won the cup, but if we don't we don't. If this result translates into league games, then it's time to worry. This and all of the ManU games this season really should be a wake up call to the team.
My (meltdown) ratings: Kelleher: 6 At fault for their first, but saved at least 5 other one-on-ones that Ally would have been proud of. Truly could have been like the 0-5 win at OT proportions - but for them. Joe: 4 Play him as 6, or play him 2. But this peripatetic thing of doing both is not for him. Dire. Konate: 6 Pick of the defence, but that doesn't say a lot. Virgil: 5 Thought he'd put this mediocrity behind him this season. Dispossed at least twice, but that was because he was looking for Hollywood passes every time he was passed the ball. The Greek: 3 **** me, I've always supported him because of his sweet left foot, but he was ****e going forward and back last night. Endo: 4 Completely overrun and outmuscled. Not a good game at all. Macca: 6 Man-marked but still created spaces for others - who didn't use them. Jones; 4 Only that splendid ball for Darwin stops it from being a 3 or lower. Just back from injury, but Klopp was right to play him and rest others until Sunday, IMO. He just wasn't up for it. Gakpo: 7 The best forward by a mile. Still no end product though. Darwin: 3 Loads of effort, but - ffs, how long can this go on? We already have 3 of our 5 main strikers (including Mo) needing 5 chances to convert 1 - let's be honest, Darwin drags down that average even further by needing 7 or 8. Elliott; 6 Far from the worst forward. and really unlucky to see a shot crash off the bar and post. Subs: Szobbo - 5 initially brought energy, but seemed to run out of gas after only 25 minutes. Worrying me now. Diaz: 5 : Buzzed about but never looked like scoring. Another who needs far too many chances to score. Mo: 4.5: Sigh. Jota: 6 Even he managed to head a good opportunity sideways, tbh. Too much to expect a guy who's been out for months to hit the ground running and turn it around next week. Nor should we have to. Robbo: 5 more accurate crosses, but wasn't that much better defensively than Tsimi, tbh. Klopp: 6 Should have been able to put that team out with Palace on Sunday in mind, and a run of 6 games in 16 days too. Not fair to blame him for the team being ****e, but perhaps should have rested players in the 2nd half having put his best 11 out first? Dunno though - the 2nd half was worse than the 1st defensively, especially when Endo was withdrawn.
Because we were odds on favourites because of form/pedigree/ability/league position. Leverkusen only side that could make an argument for given their season
No mate. That was an awful result and performance by Liverpool. Very Spursy.I expect Spurs to surrender at Newcastle.Spursy!
Sounds like you’re odds off reality! Liverpool aren’t the defending champion! They didn’t win their own league last year! How the hell can you be “odds on” favourite to win a competition that you didn’t even qualify for the year before? Many posts here have a smell of elevated grandeur of the team. With City winning today, the optics are no longer in Liverpool’s favour to get anything else from this season.
