Feels a bit like we get through most games in second gear at the moment and whilst it’s obviously working we do seem to find it tough to take it up a gear if we need. Maybe we’re trying to preserve energy but when other teams take it to us like they did after their goal yesterday or like Inter did in that first leg then we seem to try and absorb their attack instead of stepping up our intensity.
I guess we’re rarely behind so don’t need to move it up the gears that often but I hope we can dial it up a bit come Sunday.
In general I thought the ref was good. He could easily have booked Fab early on for a cynical trip, and he saw through their vehement penalty claims despite the hostile crowd. I’m sure some will find fault, but he seemed pretty fair to me.
I found myself thinking this too during the second half.
But on the other hand, a Sunday league side would probably have conceded two or three more goals against Benfica than we did. A bad team would have lost their collective head when under pressure, our lads didn’t. At some point in the second half, they stabilized their game again, and then managed to score the third.
That’s the hallmark of great teams: you have a bad patch in a game? Resist at the back, turn the screws, and then go again. Winning 3-1 at Benfica in a CL quarter final away game is no mean feat at all times, but even better considering what happened on the pitch!
His recovery pace is phenomenal, and allied with his height and strength, he looks even more impressive than VVD at times. His goal also shows that he has improved his heading, not one of his strongest points when he came in, as he himself admitted. It’s just that at 22, he’s still a junior in his trade, compared to VVD’s experience at this point. Center backs tend to reach their point of maturity later than forwards for instance.
In my opinion, his mistake can be forgiven btw. He was running towards goal, and taking a touch in such a position is a delicate thing anyway. It could easily land in his own goal if taken too heavily. So, it had to be perfect, and that’s what what we’ve come to expect from everyone in the team: perfection and consistency at all times. But we are spoiled to be honest, aren’t we?
I thought that was one of Keita’s best games for us.
He has frustrated me a lot since he arrived, as I expected more, given what he was doing in Germany, but his fitness has been the main hindrance. He now looks to be putting it together a bit more regularly.
All things considered, I think we will extend his deal and Ox will be vulnerable. Millie can’t keep going forever either.
We will have a young crop - Elliot, Jones, arguably Morton might make his way into the young group.
And an older crop - Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho.
Keita sits in the middle in his prime years, and hopefully we see more like last night.
I think Ox and Millie will be off and we need to boost the ranks of the younger crop as the older ones won’t go on forever.
We will sign at least one very good midfielder this summer, I reckon.
Incredible stuff from the lad… He’s becoming better and better at this sort of things this season, isn’t he… Add in his ever-increasing and devastating precision on crosses and set pieces, added to an increasing ability to do the right things off the ball and defensively as well, and we are near to witnessing the emergence of a complete football player. Not world-class, but something above that.
Watching him play, I’m remembered of the times when Gerrard had to carry teams almost on his own throughout entire seasons. Trent is luckier than him to say the least!
Honestly thought he stood out vs Benfica.
On past performance and consistency I would never have thought Klopp would have a dilemma of Naby/Hendo for the City game. But Hendo’s current form vs the fluidity of Fabinho/Thiago/Naby raises a few questions. Good dilemma btw!
I’ve watched this goal at least 100 times since the match ended. Very special passage of play for the goal, I was stunned mostly by Trent’s pass.
I realize these are professional footballers, all capable of doing something special, but Trent’s ball is simply outrageous. Vision, IQ, confidence and ability to make the pass. It hasn’t been talked about enough. Surgical. Not sure what other superlative I can apply to properly do it justice.
Then, Luis having the vision and presence of mind to be completely unselfish in the moment to head the ball to Mane for a tap-in. He knew what he wanted to do before the ball even arrived.
