Liverpool (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

I think we played ok to be honest. Much better than I was expecting when I saw the line-up. We dominated the game but just couldn't really create the chances.We dominated the game but just couldn't really create the chances. We got a bit unlucky with the deflection for the opening goal (but where was the marking?). 2nd goal the marking was lacking too.

I thought Khussanov played very well, as did the wingers. Ake and Lewis were fine too. Gvardiol is good on the ball but his defending leaves a lot to be desired and he is prone to making the odd willy pass that puts us under pressure. Foden tried but nothing came off for him and Gonzalez was steady but needs to perhaps get a bit more adventurous with his passing at times.

We know KDB can't really run these days but he can't seem to pass, cross or shoot either. Gundogan adds nothing on either side of the ball. Kovacic is at best a back-up option to give Gonzalez some rest.

Ultimately, we are now set up to play with a target man. We have wingers that want to take defenders on and put crosses in and that is fine when we have Haaland but without him, the wingers have nobody to aim at. Marmoush also seems to like running at players but we have nobody to put that killer pass in when Haaland doesn't play.

We can't play the false 9 anymore because we don't have the likes of Mahrez and Grealish to cut inside, the creativity of KDB, the runs of Gundogan and Rodri just behind them. Trying to play a false 9 with the attacking players we have, just won't work against a packed defence.

I'm disappointed to lose though not really surprised. I thought we might get a real pasting with the dippers midfield dominating. That didn't happen and I thought there were some positive signs.
Good summary.
 
We played okay to an extent but Liverpool had full control of that game for 90 minutes and the result was never in doubt. They haven't had a more comfortable game here in decades. That was a sad performance to see that they can just hold us at arms length like an adult holding a kids head as they're trying to swing punches towards them.

Pep didn't set us up properly yet again. We've got all that pace upfront and yet play too slowly to utilise any of it. our wingers had good games, they beat their markers regularly but then found a crowded box and closed down space where they might have looked to cut inside everytime because we played too slowly in the build up and allowed them to reset. Without haalands presence, the only chance we had was to hit them fast and we didnt do it hence the lack of any genuine goal threat.

look how they attacked, they did exactly that against us and it led to plenty of chances for them despite a minimal amount of the ball.

Most of the players today put in decent individual performances but pep has set the team up poorly again.
 
Blanked at home. Even to a side as good as Liverpool right now.

We have fallen.

Not too bothered really though as again, very fond very fresh memories of our successes there to fall back on.
Blanked at home wouldn't necessarily be a problem if we'd worked their keeper, but he had fuck all to do that couldn't have been done by a National League keeper.
As for their tactics: Nine or ten behind the ball then break at pace, they'd be daft to do anything else against a side with slow defenders and midfielders.
 
Decent enough on the ball. Atrocious off it.

Toothless up front without the big man.

Khusanov and the two wide men can hold their heads high. The rest can get in the bin.

This Rico experiment needs to just fuck off. Watching him move into the middle is the worst tactic Pep has ever come up with and subsequently stuck with. Every one of our attacks, seemingly has to go through him…why? He’s the least progressive and creative player in the PL and we get him involved in everything. Makes no fucking sense whatsoever,

This side needs major surgery. It’s fucking painful to watch this,
Lewis is only doing what he is asked, the fault lies with Pep and he won’t change he did it to Lahmer I think at Bayern

Guardiola is the issue
 
I wouldn't count Savinho as part of the "old guard". He just got here. Agree on Khusanov, Nico, Foden and Mooch.

Doku was our brightest player today. Him and Savinho. He got no help and at times when he was saucing Trent there was no more than 1-2 City players in the box.

It says alot when James McAtee comes onto the pitch before Jack does. He must be so far down the list that he is likely done. And he probably is. Question though as to which team is willing to eat the last two years of his contract.
Old guard not the best term i agree. Meant not new.

Doku was bright. But his inability to have an end product isnt a new thing
 
The frustrating thing is I think Liverpool are bang average. They didn’t play well, we just didn’t fucking remotely get into the game.

It really pisses me off.

That’s the worst Liverpool team we’ve played in 10 years and we made it piss easy for them.

We make it piss easy for most. I’m with you blue, utterly pissed off with it.
 
Contrast how we played against Real in the last 10 minutes to how Liverpool played today. They closed the game out and we had no chance of getting through that red wall. We did the opposite v Real.

I don't think we played badly but we just didn't have much idea other than get it wide and hope something happens. Defensively I thought Lewis and Khusanov did well. However it's the midfield again that offered nothing defensively or going forward. KdB was dreadful - I don't see much point in playing him as he can't keep up. Liverpool strode forward when they wanted. Foden was anonymous again and Nico was ok. It doesn't matter which players play in our midfield they are either not good enough, too slow or not physical enough.

As for Liverpool they have won the league and I'm ok with that. The best team always wins the league and it's their year this year but we will be back. It's got to be said that Salah is different class. I wish we had him if I'm honest. His all round game is superb.

All in all, the Real and Liverpool game have shown how far we've fallen. Pep looks lost and is struggling with the plain fact his gameplay has been figured out. He should be mindful of Mourunho who was unstoppable until he wasn't. He failed to adapt to Peps way of playing. I think Pep should look at videos of the games v Klopp and take a few lessons. He needs to blend in pace and power into this team like Real and Liverpool .
Its what is needed but the fact we just spent 50 million on a midfielder who again does not have any pace, despite his other qualities, has me thinking he still believes his way of playing is still oksy
Dippers hugely improved their team with the 2 midfielders they bought in, who offer goals, press and energy.
We are desperate for proper full backs with pace ( even proper full backs will do) and press in the middle
 
Ederson has never been a great “pure” goalkeeper.

His brilliance always lay in his incredible distribution and his ability to assist in playing out from the back with precision.

This season he very clearly doesn’t want to be here, is sulking and has downed tools.

Best “pure” goalkeeper in the league is the kid Flekken at Brentford.
Sels useful too.
 

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