I actually do agree. But he did, and given how soft the first one was he was really walking a fine line over the next few minutes imho.
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So glad we didn’t sell Gakpo, double glad we didn’t sell him to the cheaters of all clubs. Fantastic today.
Isak 3 in 3 now, he faded off in the second half, but whole team dropped a bit deaper and tried to control the game, so he didn’t have much to work with. I just hope he has an injury free season and we see why we were willing to pay a record transfer for him.
Araujo made us more solid defensively and was very decent, if only he was a bit better with the ball to contribute a little in attack… or if only we we had a player that does that and doesn’t get injured every time he spends more than 10 minutes on the pitch.
Thought that Maca had a great game today, especially after getting booked so early, won so many balls.
All in all, very good win and some very positive signs for the future.
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Nah, there’s a narrative on Sky where every bit of contact is a foul or a fucking yellow card.
I thought it might be a FK to Ipswich where he caught their lad after being booked, never another yellow though.
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Alternative universe perhaps. People are going to go overboard on progress and people are going to expect too much change but genuinely I think it was really encouraging from a realistic standpoint
We know our midfield weakness, we know some of our defensive challenges. They won´t magically go away. But we saw that Araujo can be solid and depended on, that Isak still has that top quality, that Gakpo is really in form, that Muñoz will add something and that Mac can do a solid job.
These things wont make us title winners and won´t change some of our limitations, but they are good signs that can make up for those limitation to quite a degree. Very encouraging after last season and for our progress.
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Great 30 minutes and a really solid first half overall. The second half had a few nearly moments, but never hit the hieghts of the first half. Still we saw it out pretty comfortably.
This is one of those matches that xG skeptics can point to as proof that the stat doesn’t tell you much. Ipswich ended up with the higher xG, but we were a couple of inches away (the Isak offside goal and the Szoboszlai penalty shout) and one competent refereeing decision (Gakpo being fouled for a penalty in the first half) from winning that game 5-0.
Gakpo was absolutely outstanding in the first half and looked like he could create something every time he got on the ball. Like a few others, he faded a bit after the break as our overall level dropped.
Also shout out to Mac Allister who picked up an early yellow card but still was out there fighting, but doing it in a smart way. For a player who gives up size to a lot of opponents, he wins tackles, competes for second balls, and somehow comes away with more than his fair share of headers. A few of our bigger players could probably learn a thing or two from him about aggression, timing, and actually attacking a duel.
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2-0 away to a newly promoted sides. As regulation a result as it gets.
Isak with two clinical moments, Gakpo with two lovely assists. Could have had more. The stats will show Ipswich had shots on target, but they were mostly pot shots from distance.
I wanted the comfort of a third goal as wasn’t confident we’d keep a clean sheet, but we were pretty solid. As mentioned already, Arajauo brought some defensive solidity which was pleasing to see.
On to Athletico in the CL. A proper test that one.
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Pleased for Isak. There’s work still to be done but when he gets fed the lad will score goals.
Also pleased for Gakpo. Both him and Isak got far too much personal stick based on last seasons shit show.
Nice little run of three home games next up so hopefully a chance to build some momentum and see Anfield get behind this new team.
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Issue with XG is that it doesn’t include the quality of the person striking the ball, I reckon both our goals would have been low on the XG scale.
However, they had loads of shots but none threatening and all from outside the area.
Just watching redmentv and their player ratings, One that as been overlooked in the motm stats is Virg. Won every duel and was excellent in all aspects.
However, he wasn’t tested as much as most of the attacking 2nd half came down our right so more action for Araujo and Jacquet.
Yep, he got my vote, beyond individual performance I thought he also marshalled the defence well.
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I think sometimes you get drawn to the players that are most active and that is why I went for other 2 defenders, but Virg was top notch and I have been vocal in my criticism in his last 2 performances.
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Yep he was very good
Has his work cut out tbh. Kerkez on one side and a young CB to guide on his right, with an occasionally porous midfield in front.
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Acceptable.
NEXT
22:27 BST
FT: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo on his first Premier League start, with his match ranking:
- Most duels won (9/10)
- Most aerial duels won (6/6)
- Joint-most clearances (7)
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Good for an hour but it all went flat after. Did enough for the three points though.
FT: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak speaking to Sky Sports: “We were waiting for the first win. We talked about starting the game good, which we haven’t done recently, so it was perfect for us to get two good quick goals.”
On the result today: “With a normal pre-season, I think we are starting to get to the way we want to play. To be offensive and attack the defence. I think we did that today. We scored two, and we could of scored more.”
Reflecting on last year: “It was not easy. It was obviously a long injury and a difficult season in general. I was thinking to have a good World Cup, and then to start off the season well, which I think I have done now. It’s kind of behind me, but it wasn’t easy.”
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