Match Day Thread PL: Arsenal vs Liverpool

You've overblown his contribution there imo. He looks a good player but he's still learning his craft imo and I don't think his positional play is as good as you've made out there. If he continues to develop then he'll be a quality midfielder in a year or 2's time

 

Yesterday Jimmy, now today I'm agreeing with you too mate..
What the ****s wrong with me

Lucas is a quality, loyal servant to LFC, I hope he doesn't go, but if he does (I'll be gutted) but good luck to the lad!

 

Firmino offered little quality on the ball last night imo. The game largely passed him by and he was continually behind the play as opposed to offering himself in a forward position. His most notable contributions were defensive.

 

Wasn't great and looked rusty - but some of his runs and movement was good, and he should have had an assist to his name.

Defensively he was very good but he's even better.

But give me a half fit Firmino over a fully fit Lallana every day.

 

There was glimpses of what he can do but agree, he was a passenger for most of the time he was on..
Gave the ball away too, but for his first start in the Prem, away to Arsenal, he wasn't all that bad..
The lad will get better and more up to speed with the Prem, Coutinho was similar in his first season, games were at times too quick for him and he gave the ball away often, see no reason why Firmino can't be as good as the little magician over time!

 

you're absolutely kidding yourself if you think Can playing rather than Hendo made the difference. It was Lucas' introduction that changed the way we set up and played. Can was as knackered as Lucas when the latter went off too.

 

Can was blowing quite hard at the end, surprised he stayed... but he's got 90mins under his belt now and that can only help improve the match fitness..

 

He put the cross in for Benteke that should have been a goal but for some superb goalkeeping (shouldn't have had a chance to save it though)

 

I wasn't judging him on 1 game mate, merely passing comment on his contribution last night.

First time I've watched him tbh and didn't know what to expect, I was underwhelmed, but as you say full debut and at the Emirates, so hardly an easy start like.

 

I agree, he looks a good player but at this moment in time he's nothing special. I can see why he is hyped up though, he has a bit of everything to his game and if he can get it all together there's a great player in there.

 

I know mate..
His first few games do remind me of an early Coutinho, can see the potential is there, the speed of the game is just passing him by right now, he'll get better once he's adapted to pace of play..
But a front three/four of him, Coutinho and Benteke/Sturridge is an exciting prospect!

 

If we play that throughout the majority of the season we'll do well.

 

I'd forgotten that was him in fairness.

 

I think the original point was 'did we miss Henderson?'.

No we didn't because we had a player who is equal if not better than him starting in his place.

Playing a 3 man midfield was the key. It's been painfully obvious 4-2-3-1 is not working.

 

We have a knack of drawing out performance of the season from opposition goalkeepers!

Really pleased to see Lucas back last night and promising start from Firmino.

 

But you're using that and last nights performance to somehow justify your own opinion that Can is a better player than Hendo

 

hmmmmm....

can did so well too.... really contributed to the attack being the CM most forward.... not.

 

He is a better player. Far more rounded player.

Not really having a go at Hendo - I like him but he's nothing more than a good squad player in a top 4 team.

 

I hate 4 2 3 1. Martinez is also obsessed with it. The only width in that system comes from the full backs.

 

As with any system, it's good if you have the right personnel for it.

Rodgers is hell bent on making it work over the past 3 years and it's never worked. Hopefully he now grasps that we need a 3 man midfield with one holding, be it Lucas or Can.