Liverpool Post Match Thread

[Phil1]

On the LoveCity podcast one of the contributors mentioned Khaldoon was at the Etihad watching the Liverpool game. I would be very interested to know his reaction to the game.

He thought we were shite and Pellegrini had lost the plot... At least that's what I hope he thought.

 

[penalty spot]

The difference in hunger between the two sides was staggering. It's been said for ages we don't press with any meaning, we must be up there with the worst teams in the world in that department.

Totally agree with your view Armaan, opposing teams seem to have too much time on the ball , and we either foul them or give them an easy pass when they have possession.

 

[Salford_Blue]

So have we all calmed down now?
Us older ones probably so, the younger element may take a while longer I suppose.

We were taught a lesson by a tactically astute manager.
I know its only one game, but if you have a proven methodology and the players listen, buy into the plan and stick to it, then do you really need to have a team of stars?

Heigh ho...it hurt, it's gone

Lets move on.

Glass half full and all that

 

[Lancet Fluke]

They took advantage of breakaways and our errors in periods when we were on top of them imo -I don't see how anyone can dispute that -they played in flashes - re Milner sorry mate but nonsense! He may be laughing now, but you know how the saying goes.

They could and possibly should have beaten us about 7-1, I don't really see the relevance of whether they did it on the break or took advantage of our errors. They defended reasonably well, when they had the opportunity to counter attack they did it quickly and incisively and some of their passing and movement was excellent. To say Liverpool didn't play well is the only nonsense here. You may think it's nonsense but I'm pretty sure Milner will survive under Klopp, as long as he retains his stamina levels and ability to press for 90 minutes.

 

[BillyShears]

So have we all calmed down now?
Us older ones probably so, the younger element may take a while longer I suppose.

We were taught a lesson by a tactically astute manager.
I know its only one game, but if you have a proven methodology and the players listen, buy into the plan and stick to it, then do you really need to have a team of stars?

Heigh ho...it hurt, it's gone

Lets move on.

Glass half full and all that

I like this post. 24 hours from Turin which is another big game. Really looking forward to it now. Got Liverpool out of my system and nothing better than a game quickly to banish a poor result and performance.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

So have we all calmed down now?
Us older ones probably so, the younger element may take a while longer I suppose.

We were taught a lesson by a tactically astute manager.
I know its only one game, but if you have a proven methodology and the players listen, buy into the plan and stick to it, then do you really need to have a team of stars?

Heigh ho...it hurt, it's gone

Lets move on.

Glass half full and all that

I definitely consider myself an older one but I am still reeling from Saturday night to be honest. Mainly because I suspect if we played Liverpool again next week there's at least a 50% chance the game would unfold in a similar way. Us ambling around with little urgency and them playing like their lives depend on it.

 

[Steve68]

I know its only one game, but if you have a proven methodology and the players listen, buy into the plan and stick to it, then do you really need to have a team of stars?

All we have of that list is a team of stars. Throw into that mix a tactically inflexible manager unable or unwilling to either plan effectively before a game or respond in game when things are clearly going horribly wrong then you can see why even some of us oldies have had enough.

This was a shocking performance but this season has been one of poor performances, a couple of shockers, dropped points and chance last minute victories.

It was as clear as day the players were not buying into the formation and tactics on Saturday and quite rightly as well. I've no doubt we will continue to win games despite the manager. I've no doubt we'd win even more under a better one,

 

[GaudinoMotors]

"Only one game" - right
I suppose if that makes you feel better

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

Saturday was certainly a reminder of days past when our first eleven were often a collection of clueless observers as the ball moved inevitably towards our untenanted box. We were never in it, we were three down after half an hour and even by then our task for at keast 20 minutes had been to try and keep the score down! Our younger supporters are certainly right when they say they have seen nothing like it. The debate is whether our manager picked the half of the best squad in English football which isn't good enough to play in the PL or whether we were so horribly bad on Saturday that a more tactically astute manager ate us for tea. Either way we never looked like getting a point, didn't earn one and certainly didn't deserve one.

I don't want to seem petty minded but my view on Liverpool is that they and Klopp did nothing unexpected and his team played very much the same as they had in the defeat to Palace, in the 1-0 win over Bournmouth and in the 3-1 win at Chelsea. What was unexpected was the way we decided to stand back and admire them. If we give any side in the PL (or the championship) the time and space we gave Liverpool on Saturday we will be beaten comfortably.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

I definitely consider myself an older one but I am still reeling from Saturday night to be honest. Mainly because I suspect if we played Liverpool again next week there's at least a 50% chance the game would unfold in a similar way. Us ambling around with little urgency and them playing like their lives depend on it.

Its like we didn't learn anything from the mauling at old Trafford in April. He picked a side thought we could do it in cruise control and Liverpool would not come and make a fight of it, hence two in midfield. How wrong we were. If I was Pellegrini and I saw the team sheet Liverpool put in an hour before the game Id be realising Id made a mistake. Mancini would be a lot more pro active at changing things, I remember us being given the run around by Villarreal so he hooked Adam Johnson and put Gaz Barry on after 25 minutes. It worked.

He should have made the change earlier or at least used the players on the pitch to stifle all the extra space Liverpool had in front of our back four, so we could at least be going in avoiding goal number 3 going in and giving us a chance in the second half.

Will he learn? Time will tell, but a few more roughings up like that between now and May will probably end up with us being trophyless. That will be a disaster considering all the money that has been spent.