Difficult situation with City’s new rhythm of 13 wins in a row in all competitions. They’ve found their mojo again, they were never a million miles away in my books when they dropped a little bit last season. Was always a high possibility that they come back strong. They have a game less + a game with us. They could make an important step in the next few games. We’re not completely out of it, but it’s getting more and more difficult for us. We have to avoid that something more serious happens to us this season, regardless of injuries. We should be good enough to earn a comfortable top 4 finish. We have also 2 competitions left. We’ll see how it pans out.
Had this same conversation the other day
As a player, mentally, physically, this would be the harder to win in many respects
No preseason, deadly disease affecting loved ones, season could get pulled or adapted any given morning, next game could be cancelled at any tick of the clock even
2 Likes
I feel similar, but fuck me it’s the glimmer of hope we keep getting… 2 wins on the bounce, some lovely football, everyone smiling… Then bang down the earth… When you fall from higher it hurts so much more.
1 Like
I wouldn’t put everything down to mental/physical fatigue like Klopp last night, I’m disappointed by the quality of questions by journalists (or why should I be disappointed). I just don’t think it works in a way that: we were so crap before our two wins, we were great after our two wins so this defeat is again like a shock. We weren’t so crap when we were not winning and we were not great just because we beat Spurs and West Ham. Fact is, yeah we have injuries and many games in short spaces. It will be difficult for us to get a long winning run going with so many problems. Though last night I didn’t think we made the most of what we had on disposal. I think we did turn the corner a little bit in last weeks, but in the mean time a difficult game/performance or tight defeat will still happen. I’m not surprised.
This is a good read;
"The contrast in Liverpool’s results against teams currently in the top eight of the Premier League compared to the bottom eight this season is stark to the point of ridiculous. Klopp’s men have won six and drawn three of their nine matches against the teams close to them in the table – completing doubles over Spurs and West Ham, as well as beating Leicester and Chelsea.
However, points have been repeatedly frittered away against the kind of limited but well-drilled opponents they ruthlessly swept aside last season. When it comes to the bottom eight, Liverpool have played nine, won three, drawn four and now lost two."
Injuries/Fatigue will play their part, but last season when we had a fully fit squad this was becoming the normal for teams defending as they are. Klopp still doesn’t appear to have the answer…
1 Like
Forwarded Message:
One of the biggest knock-on effects of Liverpool’s centre-back issues has been on the full-backs. Klopp said explicitly in pre-season he had to rotate them, but now not wanting to further unsettle defence, he hasn’t. And now they both look absolutely exhausted
Another knock-on effect is, for example, in the decision to play 35 y/o Milner four times in 10 days (absolutely ridiculous decision typically, but needed because of fragility of the defence behind the midfield). And, of course, losing Fabinho and Henderson for so long from midfield options not only removes what they provide in midfield, but knock-on effect is Wijnaldum (even Thiago latterly) being overplayed also.
It’s a huge domino effect.
Then there’s the lack of goal threat we have from attacking set pieces, which removes what was a quite impressive weapon for us previously. It all makes it easier for opposition and harder for us. Klopp so often mentions ‘rhythm’ and that’s been almost impossible to have this season for so many reasons, going into every game with 4,5,more first-XI players missing. You then have to play the remaining 4,5 players and they become depleted. Then those players on the periphery (Ox, Origi, etc) come into a disjointed side, lacking rhythm. It all goes on and on.
If you had Virgil and Gomez, Fabinho in midfield, you can then rotate players further ahead as the whole side is more stable. You’ve got half the XI out injured, and the other half fatigued and overly-relied upon. Perfect storm.
Eg, you’d be a lot more comfortable starting Neco or Kostas if you had Gomez/Matip, Virgil, Fabinho, Hendo in their correct positions. But now, you can’t or you end up having an even more disjointed lineup. It’s a nightmare.
3 Likes
Err I can’t remember our form being bad against these teams last season? We had the draw against Burnley after lockdown but the side that played that day is far better than the performance we saw in the games recently. These teams do it, even at 2-0 down Burnley didn’t bother having a go. I remember Huddersfield defending deep when 2-0 down.
Once Kabak and Fabinho settles into a partnership we will make top 4 I believe.
Am I the only one who believes that Davies will get more playing time in the the next few weeks at least?
1 Like
I think even Klopp has no idea, but he should get more info with more training time, more proper training time (11v11 intense sessions that probably last around 20 minutes, but it’s full on, like a proper game), a first game or two. Then we’ll take it from there and pick our CB combinations from game to game. CB is the last position you want to chop and change all the time, but unfortunately that’s our situation this season. If we can get a bit of immediate quality, a bit of calm, anything, that would be nice of course.
1 Like
-
Think the communication factor is very important at CB
-
Fabinho is probably better suited to be RCB
-
Davies is a LCB ‘specialist’
-
left footed is also a plus
-
he is used to English football.
1 Like
It’s how he got out of the slump in Dortmund. Altho he had the BL winter break to sort things out. Ironically enough, it was almost identical challenge plaguing him when Dortmund went on the slide. The attack was stale and predictable. Forwards weren’t making their expected runs and being in different spots than they were supposed to be. They were able to identify all of it through video analysis and additional time on the training pitch.
Jota was really the only significant investment in a forward to provide depth up front. Both Taki and Shaqs were bargain buys. Taki was approx £7M and Shaqs release clause of £13 was only triggered Bc of Stoke’s relegation. My guess is they were also likely counting on Brewster to be a legitimate option for depth. Possibly young Elliott as well. Origi is getting minutes as a result of attrition, not on merit.
Point being, in the Summer I don’t think a massive overhaul is needed like is being bandied about by some, I’d say one CB and a proper 9 or attacking option.
And regarding the Brewster’s and Solanke’s of the world, it’s why I don’t get overly excited or unrealistic when kids like Kaide Gordon are brought in. Lots of hype and fascination at an early age with anyone’s guess at how they’ll develop. Brewster is yet to score a league goal in 17 appearances this season.
1 Like
And they had a lot of injuries as well.
Expectations (things I think we “must” do to be successful leading into next season):
- Top 4 finish, duh.
- Successful rehabilitation for Virgil, Gomez, and Matip. This season is gone, and really has been since Pickford scythed down Virgil and then Gomez did his knee during the international break. I don’t want to see anyone rushed back too soon. Get Virg and Joe ready for next season, and then figure out whether Matip is to be kept as a 3rd or 4th choice CB.
- Also on the injury front, get Jota fit again and see if he can replicate the form he had earlier in the season. Need to clarify our needs for the front line going into next season. (Along same lines, hoping Minamino gets a solid run of games during his loan spell).
- For Keita, this is the last chance saloon. Klopp mentioned in one of his conferences wanting to get him 100% fit before reintroducing him. With the presumed loss of Gini over the summer, and Thiago still bedding in under these very odd circumstances, we need to know if Keita can be part of the solution going forward.
- Audition time for the newly signed CBs. Do either or both stake claims to be in our top 4 CB, or do we need to go back into the market come summer for Konate or Caleta-Car or whomever.
Really, I’m looking at the remainder of this season as a prolonged pre-season for the next. Just hope for top 4, and to clarify who’s going to be part of the squad going forward.
That, and some entertainment, and hopefully a deep run in the CL. If we get the CB situation sorted out quickly, and can get Hendo (and maybe Fab) back into midfield, it’s not beyond us to make another run for Big Ears.
9 Likes
Excellent post. Gave it a like but felt it deserved the extra acknowledgement. 
4 Likes
Hope, pray, repeat…
As we seem to be waneing in the winning stakes, can we just go out and play as if we have no pressure on our shoulders…we know we need to win…but just keep playing…
1 Like
this suggestion might be scoffed at by alot of people but theres actually alot in this.
once we no longer have the weight of expectation, the pressure is reduced a notch…i hope we can relax a bit as you say, we dont have this ridiculous home winning run to ‘protect’ anymore, we arent favorites for the league anymore…
might as well enjoy ourselves…
3 Likes
I just want us to be in CL places and a good run in the CL this season.
Not that I would be happy with that, neither would the club or Klopp and team would. But its managing expectations in a very strange world and ensuring our long term survival. We will be stronger in seasons to come
That said, I certainly wouldn’t mind winning the league or CL this season. Or both.
1 Like