Not sure whether Matip is alot ahead of VVD and Gomez in terms of match fitness but if he is, he is definitely first choice ahead of Philips for me at least…
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It was only a friendly and I’m sure they said to VVD and Gomez, no tackles and if anyone goes past you let them. Don’t risk injury will a silly foul.
It was only a friendly so don’t jump on my back but to me, and it might only be me, konate worries me. He gets dragged out of position a lot. Doesn’t seem to see danger and has a touch of the Sakhos about him. But I’ve only seen him for the first half of a friendly so hopefully I’m wrong.
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As long as we scored as well i’m fine with it. Firest real outing so it’s the team spirit and interactions that I reckon are important. Seeing what on the training ground works and see how to improve those that didn’t quite work in a real situation.
It would surprise me, like Klopp said they are not injured anymore just not 100% fit jet. The sooner they are back to proper football in all his facility’s the better, don’t play with the fear of getting injured again in the back of your head.
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If my memory serves me right, Matip played in one of those 30-min friendlies, then 45 mins each in the two full friendlies. This is about the same amount of time the fit players have played so far. I would say he is ahead of VVD & Gomez and Klopp is probably planning to start with Matip & Konate for the inaugural game.
I’m actually a bit worried about the incoming NT games in September.
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i would like someone more vocal alongside Konaté. Konaté is working on his concentration and needs someone capable of keeping him alert imo.
Have you never seen the raging giraffe?
I think Matip should be more than fine, he’s just been paired more often than not with more vocal defenders, that’s all… When he’s played with Gomez I think he’s been the one doing the shouting.
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It was a good game to watch. Hertha are well ahead of us in their prep so it was always going to be tough but we were sharp, particularly in attack. Great movement in the final third just needed better finishing of all the chances. At the hour mark we were totally on top but all the subs at that point disrupted us. After that we weren’t so fluent.
Keita stood out first half, winning the ball high up consistently. First time I’ve seen Konate and his distribution looks good. Didn’t see enough of his defensive play to comment yet. Even if Virg had the indignity of being dumped on his arse by Jovetic it was great to see him playing again. Just his presence at set pieces is an immediate plus for us. Ox’s goal came from him winning a header at the back post. Clearly a long way for him and Joe to go yet to get back to anything like their usual level but just having them around again is reassuring. Just hope they can stay fit.
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Agreed but there is a constant whether it’s a preseason friendly against Hertha or a competitive game in the PL. And that’s that we can’t finish for shit.
If this team had a couple of natural goalscorers, it would break all kind of records.
… and after 60 minutes Gomez starts loosing his concentration (then again that’s with whoever by his side).
Matip shout? 
Definitely Matip has improved in many areas I’m just sending out warnings to dampen expectations, I suppose.Konaté is young and Matip, well, is a weird one (by no means in a negative sense). There will be cracks and I love pointing them out and don’t feel that painting over them when we’re all so excited helps.
So I guess getting Joel ready for the season is just a Matip of time?
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I must confess I haven’t actually seen us play a game in person, nor do I normally pay very close attention to our defensive organisation, but they did play serviceably well together, so I presumed it I think. In all the team videos though it does seem he’s not a particularly quiet person so that helped with the impression I guess.
At the ripe old age of 30 I’d hope he would be capable of holding Konaté’s hand for a few games either way…
I don’t think Konaté needs his hand held, he does need to stay concentrated. So it would help if his partner can notice when he is falling asleep and correct it.
On a tactical basis if Matip Konaté who plays cover and who plays stopper?
The worse we play in pre season the better season we have. Think Jürgen said it only last week, we only won 3 game and two were against tranmere and Bradford to which we lost like all the others (I could be completely wrong here just guessing) then we won the league……
So don’t worry about the goals conceded or lack of wins.
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Imagine when Alisson returns 
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Liverpool’s pressing problem and why this season will be different
(Latest articles by Samuel Cox on This Is Anfield)
Liverpool’s relentless red machine saw its key components dealt a cruel blow last season to disrupt a champions press but that is all to change in the coming season, writes Samuel Cox.
Last season’s compressed schedule and next to no pre-season ensured Liverpool suffered their worst run of injuries in recent memory, and noticeable holes in their pressing game opened, but they should not face the same issues in the season ahead.
Before Liverpool’s fantastic late-season run to claim third spot, there was a narrative that the reigning champions had lost their way. Certainly, they were no longer the metronomic winning machine of the season prior.
However, it was noticeable that Liverpool was still playing on the front foot and often still dominating territory, while often fading or conceding late.
A wider shift that occurred across the Premier League last year was a reduction in pressure acts, most notably with Manchester City who, under Pep Guardiola, are almost as religious in their high press as Jurgen Klopp.
The Guardian‘s Jonathan Wilson identified this shift midseason: by early January Manchester City had reduced their presses per game by 21.8% on season 2018/19 levels, noting how with a reduced pre-season and tightened schedule it had been a pragmatic change in game style by Guardiola which had greatly benefitted their defensive record.
By mid-February Liverpool led the way in attacking third pressure acts by a considerable margin:
By seasons end, all these teams had improved their averages, but Liverpool had pushed even harder and opened an even bigger lead, averaging a whopping eight more attacking third pressure acts per 90 minutes than the second-ranked team Leeds, and nearly 10 more than the fourth-ranked team in this metric and eventual champions Manchester City.
Indeed, while City showed a significant 20% reduction from the 2019/20 season in attacking third pressure acts per 90 minutes, Liverpool had an almost negligible 4% reduction.
Perhaps this is not surprising, as Klopp’s Reds show an almost religious adherence to the high press, their first article of faith is after all is that their ‘identity is intensity’, but amidst a compressed schedule, next to no pre-season and a raft of injuries, Liverpool were unable to adapt their game style.
The pressing problems faced were not problems in isolation, they were completely imbricated within the wider injury crisis pervading the squad – being both a cause and effect – and of course fan-less football.
For one, it is likely that had Liverpool still had Virgil van Dijk alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of their defence, the team would have remained defensively solid.
A key part of Liverpool’s worst form mid-season involved an ever-revolving cast of centre backs, which by seasons end would total 20 partnerships, and disruption to the all-important midfield in front of them.
With Fabinho cycling between defence, midfield and the treatment table, Henderson absent at key points and Thiago adapting to Liverpool’s game on the fly, the Reds’ worst performances coincided with a breakdown and exploitation of their high-pressure game style, in midfield and transition.
In some ways, Liverpool’s defence regressed to its pre-Van Dijk mean.
In July 2018 I wrote a piece on This Is Anfield following the Dutchman’s first season at the club, noting the incredible improvement in Liverpool’s defensive record.
In the 24 games of the 2017/18 season preceding Van Dijk’s arrival Liverpool statistically averaged 1.17 goals per game conceded, which reduced to a remarkably low 0.71 goals per game following the Dutch international’s inclusion in the team.
Ultimately, despite the fact that during their run of poor form the record dipped lower, by the end of the 2020/21 season, Liverpool had conceded 42 goals across 38 games, for an average of 1.1 goals per game.
This suggests ultimately, Liverpool had done remarkably well.
Having lost their three first-choice centre backs, dealt with injuries across the team which caused them to field a revolving door of centre backs for much of the season, before settling on a former Stuttgart loanee who played just 22 games in Germany, Nat Phillips, and a lanky kid who was playing non-league football the season prior, Rhys Williams, Liverpool ultimately finished with a superior defensive record compared to the end of the pre-Van Dijk era.
In hindsight, I think it is possible to say Liverpool did not adapt the best to the unique conditions presented to them last season.
However, when considering the 2020/21 season as a whole it is still possible, somewhat paradoxically and thanks to that remarkable end of season flourish which secured third place, to say Liverpool overachieved.
It is noticeable that Liverpool’s best run of form occurred when the fixture schedule relented and a settled team was fielded.
With a new centre back signed, key personnel returning and a solid pre-season underway and many of Liverpool’s international players avoiding significant playing time in the Copa America and Euros, there is every sign that the personnel issues will not return anew.
In addition, the new season will be the first in two years with a ‘normal’ fixture schedule, which should mean the strain on the squad from the Reds’ high-pressure game should be reduced to normal levels.
This should assist the Reds in implementing their high press, including their physical ability to execute it, their work on tactical tweaks on the training ground and having the right personnel on the field to execute on matchday.
Last season, one of Liverpool’s greatest weapons became their most pressing problem, which only led them to redouble and refine their efforts as the league’s most aggressive attacking pressure team, all of which should stand them in good stead for the season ahead.
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WOW!
Good post HIYH… but it must also be a contender for longest one ever…! :0)
Anyone out there know of a post to beat this 
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