Apparently lots of rain fell on Liverpool during the night. Could do without anymore falling today otherwise the match might resemble an old 3rd round FA Cup tie that was played in mud.
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I’m assuming that the drainage has moved on since the 1970s.
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We’ve still been double-pivot, I think the only match when it resembled a little bit like a 1-2 shape (like I said we did in a few bigger games in the second half of last season) was the recent United game. You can go through average positions of all of our games this season, it’s basically a 2-1 shape.
Then in Frankfurt, we obviously tried a box shape midfield in possession with Wirtz coming inside off the right and two strikers up top (Ekitike logically dropping a bit more than Isak). I’d like us to try that again (Wirtz coming inside from either sides), though not necessarily with two clear strikers (Isak still looks like he needs to get up to speed and understanding).
We’ve also had different centre midfield partnerships due to issues to Mac and Gravenberch.
I have no idea, those were some of my main questions during the summer. The choice of full backs we went for and getting two important strikers in, while also keeping Salah and adding Wirtz (though I loved that move). The fees obviously don’t have to determine who is starting and mostly playing, but I felt there could be a problem having one striker behind the other (that problem is not there yet and hopefully there isn’t, because one is clearly out of shape) and I couldn’t think of a balanced way to have all these key or supposedly key players starting together. Without going a bit too far from what we were or like I said balanced overall.
I think the plan before Jota’s unfortunate passing was Isak first choice and Jota backup (I always thought we would keep him for at least one more season as backup). Slot’s general wish to add more creativity to this side, which I understand. Then I was thinking is there a cheapish solution alongside Isak, but maybe the club didn’t want to compromise on quality and thought, let’s go for two, especially since the Isak deal dragged on and had realistic danger of not even happening (plus, we still had the hunt for a CB, which we know how ended).
I thought we would perhaps add a hybrid CB/FB on one of the sides, to give us more flexibility whether we build up with a full back tucking in, allowing the other one to push. We’re in a situation now where when we want to do it, we can basically only do it on the left side with Kerkez (a phase in which he’s struggled to so far, doesn’t seem to suit him) and Robbo (who had certain issues with it last season). There’s a question if Bradley could do it on the right. I don’t think it’s best for him either.
Something will have to crystallize itself, because it’s obvious that all those moves won’t work. We will have to figure something out. For me, the team always comes first. I say drop forcing some individual cases (not that I think Slot is doing it too much, but he’s left me puzzled with some team selections) and just focus on what’s best for the team in that moment. The rest will take care of itself, players will push each other, etc.
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The issue with how we play the double pivot atm is that it needs both widemen to do their job as well.
The single pivot works with Szob as the rhs number 8 to cover Mo.
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was a master of it though…ironic.
they never REALLY got the better of him did they?, even though they had him bang to rights at times when hed stuffed up…he’d just pull the ’ meh, its a passionate game’ angle…
love everything about the man
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But will Slot know what Geometric shape to employ?
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If we’re behind with about ten minutes left , I predict the inverted pyramid of 1-2-8.
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Just realized it’s 1.30 AM kick off here, I was assuming it’s 12.30. Don’t ruin my weekend please. 
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If we win, I hope Cynnie’s ghost comes back and posts “Never in doubt”…
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It’s a 4am at my side…
Those were the days! 
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‘All I want for Christmas’ is 6 points and a win against Real Madrid.
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Any chance of a no drama 3-0 win?
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Obviously counter to what a side full of attacking talent should aim for, but I’d like to see us be hard to beat for a bit. Seeing City lose a ton of games in a row in the fall last year underlined the point that football teams are finely-tuned machines and the balance being off can have major impacts given the fine margins, even when one player is missing. But you can’t keep persisting with being easy to play against, so while I see us taking the initiative, I hope our set up is better than recently.
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Another one of my old programme collections (Liverpool vs Villa, May 1983). This was actually the reigning league champions vs the reigning European Cup winners. The previous season, this fixture had been the other way around:
I think it ended in a draw. Not a bad set of players.
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Look at that beautiful font, that alone sells it to me.
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When serif ruled the day.
Except: Congratulations Bob. Bob doesn’t get serif.
Better than the websites current font which also seems to match the period in which we’ve been shit.