19 | Julian Alvarez - 2023/24

[bluethai]

He's a striker, it's him or Haaland, as simple as that. Today's game was more suited for him who can link up play and move around dangerously in the box to escape Van Dijk easily, unlike Haaland.

 

[nellyonthewing]

His strength is being in and around the box not stuck out wide or charging around in midfield. Its not his fault Pep played to his obvious weaknesses.

 

[SebastianBlue]

The Alvarez situation is strange. Pep is all about control of the midfield. We don’t have when he plays Alvarez there. But he has done this pretty much all season now.

I think it makes sense in some cases, even today, to be honest.

The problem is he needs to be on it for the midfield role to work. And if he isn’t, unlike players like Rodri or Haaland who still contribute to our play in there specific roles, even when they aren’t playing well, Alvarez not only doesn’t contribute, he actually handicaps the side. Our play is based on control, as you said, and if you are constantly giving away control to the opposition, that is going to seriously disrupt our system.

And that is what happened today. I am not trying to pile on, but I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those meme stats kicking about later that Alvarez had the most touches prior to a Liverpool possession of any player on the pitch.

He has show he can excel in this role, today was just not an example of that and I actually put this mostly on Pep for leaving him on as long as he did. He wasn’t doing Alvarez any favours there.

 

[freshie]

Touch of an elephant. Shouldn’t be anywhere near the midfield

 

[Chak19]

Reminds me of Aguero, players are not up to his speed.

Did Aguero have Lukaku's first touch ?

 

[The Nature Boy]

Not seen a performance as bad as that for a long time. Simply cannot be played out wide.

 

[RayCTID]

Nothing has changed he does need a spell out of the side.

 

[KennyG]

Cash in on Alvarez and Haaland.
Oshimen is a Pep player

 

[hilts]

Shouldn't have started really but not his fault he is being played out of position.

 

[schfc6]

Very odd choice to start him, especially in this particular fixture.
A fit Grealish or Kovacic in there with Bernardo wide and we run that game.