Liverpool thread 2020/21

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I do think Liverpool losing 3 CBs at once is a legitimate issue. But more a psychological one than anything else.

When we had problems with our defence last season we were still scoring, but conceding too. But for Liverpool weirdly with the exception of their games against us and United, they've actually been good at the back, at least what I've seen from them. Most of their faults have come further up the field.

It's very reasonable to say that losing Van Dijk and Gomez, as well as having to stick Henderson and Fabinho in defence has had a knock on effect in their play. But the results have been so drab lately that there's clearly more systemic issues.

If I had to wager I'd put Liverpool's issues down to 3 things:

1) Lack of fitness. Injuries exasperate the issue but in this tight schedule and the way the players have been minimally spared over the last 2-3 years would contribute. This explains some recent late conceded goals as well as their weaker pressing game as of late.

2) Weak mentality. They aren't alone here (eg happened to City last season to a lesser extent) but now that they've won what they've won you can see the motivation isn't there. The 4-0 at the Etihad should have been a warning but they all just laughed it off. Now we're seeing close games where the forwards just aren't as ruthless and the defence are less watertight. Games that they won 1-0 or 2-1 are starting to become draws or as we're starting to see recently, losses.

3) Momentum. On top of the last point, there's no momentum. Winning game after game makes you better and gives you unfound confidence (eg City now). When things go the other way, heads drop and confidence goes. Losing to Burnley has set the bad ball rolling. When it rains it pours, and they'll need a good few wins to get back on track. Also bad momentum allows other teams to smell blood, and can cause them to play better in response against Liverpool.


Point 1 is both down to Klopp's management style and the injuries.
Point 2 is both something that happens to many successful sides, and also down to Klopp again.
Point 3 is mostly on Klopp and the players.


I don't believe opposition teams are playing significantly differently against Liverpool. I just believe Liverpool's battering ram has become worn down. I won't try and predict the future with Liverpool but in order for them to return to greater heights Klopp is going to have to somehow reinvigorate spirits to their previously ridiculous levels, AND do it in a way that can build momentum and be retained long term.
 
TonyColemansbagofapples said:
I played and managed but not at too high a level. For your information , in the 7-2 game Harwood-Bellis, Bernabe Gomes, Palmer, Tommy Doyle, Delap, and Felix Nmecha all played. All have played in the first team and all teenagers. Your keeper was the Kelleher who was older than every single member of the City squad. Next question
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If you’ve played and managed before then I can’t understand your take on this unless it was solely to cause a row. And I’m aware that some of the kids have represented the firsts. My point is that a club with such supposed academy potential rarely if ever promotes them to first team regulars. That’s up to them and it looks to be serving them well but I think even the most diehard City fan would want to know why there isn’t more coming through? Of course not everyone can be Foden but I would have expected to have seen a couple more.
 
TonyColemansbagofapples said:
Harwood-Bellis, Doyle, Palmer and Nmecha have all played in the champions league. You know the biggest bestest competiton in the galaxy
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I largely agree with the second sentence. But how many of them have played against top tier CL opposition where the gaffer’s picked them on merit rather than because of injuries? I know they’re only teenagers who’ve got their whole careers ahead of them but they’re nowhere near the first team set up properly.
 
Not many kids are capable of getting regular first team places at City with the players we have now, but who have you got in your academy, or do you want me to tell you that as well?
 
Greggery Peccary said:
I largely agree with the second sentence. But how many of them have played against top tier CL opposition where the gaffer’s picked them on merit rather than because of injuries? I know they’re only teenagers who’ve got their whole careers ahead of them but they’re nowhere near the first team set up properly.
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Neither are the ones currently playing your first team.
They’re shite.
Now fuck off scouse twat.
 
TonyColemansbagofapples said:
Not many kids are capable of getting regular first team places at City with the players we have now, but who have you got in your academy, or do you want me to tell you that as well?
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This is my point - whilst the kids have to get into one of the most expensively assembled squads in the game which is a major burden, why haven’t the club drawn more on them? Before the City Bingo firm muscle in, I couldn’t give two fucks how much money you have or haven’t spent and it’s not my point. But for the young lads looking in on the first team set up, they must wonder what they have to do. They’ll probably go on and have good careers elsewhere but that’s not the issue here. It must be harder given how good Foden is but not everyone will be as good as that at that age.
 
Guardiola has been at City seven months less than Klopp. In that time he has given debuts to many academy players. Admittedly only Foden and Garcia have made many appearances but they are all still teenagers and they are competing against genuine world class players.
 
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