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That was fun. Dom started like he was on a one man mission to win. Thought he was great, my motm. Seemed to pop up everywhere. JJ and Araujo my other choices. The two of them together on the right side look so solid and composed. JJ is going to be some signing, has the knack of always looking like he has all the time in the world.
Kerkez makes me nervous. With the ball, without the ball, attacking, defending, never know what your gonna get. At least the effort is always there. He settled in a bit as game went on but didn’t do my nerves any good any time he came charging onto the scene.
Isak slowly coming around, but still want more from him. Still doesn’t look sharp to me, i want him to be a bit more assertive in final third i think.
Rio grew in stature as game went on. A few blind alleys early on. We seemed to do most of our attacking down the left side, although I’m not sure by who’s design. Gakpo was missed.
Always great to beat Simeone. Go wave your imaginary cards elsewhere.
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Caption: “Give him the new contract”
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Great result and a very good all round performance.
Yes certain players and passages of play could have been better, but to make any issue of it at this stage in our development is a bit like saying that grand you just gifted me has a couple of crinkled notes.
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Our fellow (closet) Red
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only managed to see some highlights from the game, and delighted that the lads won after going behind. Also glad to read the many positive comments on the lads.
YNWA
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Obviously very pleased with the result and the overall performance. Two aspects that have gone somewhat under the radar is that we finally came back and won after falling behind, and that we managed the game really well after taking the lead. We didn’t give them anything.
We are starting to look like a proper Liverpool team again and we’re only going to get better.
P.S. Was the atmosphere as flat as it was coming through in my feed?
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Frimpong is frustrating but I think he’ll be a decent option from the bench. Hopefully mostly on the wing. Brings plenty of energy when he comes on
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It sounded great on mine. Best I’ve heard it for a long time. Was anyone at the game?
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I’ve just caught up with the highlights. Aside from the Madrid goal and a fingertips save from Ali, I get the impression that we kept them reasonably under control. Would that be a fair assessment?
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yep
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The most I’ve enjoyed a game for a while. Anfield went full European Roar for a bit there in the first half and it really felt like everyone was behind the team. In an odd way the ref and Atletico’s antics kind of helped in that sense.
Some good signs and obviously still some stuff to work on. Would love it if we could all just cut every player a bit of slack whilst they get up to speed with the new manager. Yeah, Kerkez wasn’t great and it took a while for Ngumoha to get into the game but it feels like the pain of last season still lingers and people are primed to jump on every bad performance.
All in all a good night if Barcola was indeed just cramp. Players looked up for it, crowd was up for it, some good performances and could easily have been out of sight with some better finishing. Even the tweaks Iraola made to give us some more solidity second half was good to see as it wasn’t just a case of dropping everyone in and holding on. We still made the better opportunities and at no point did they look like getting an equaliser.
Progress, one game at a time.
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Love to see old gaffers visiting us on match days!
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Also, why did the ref force Isak to leave the pitch after being injured even though he hadn’t received any treatment? Generally, the ref was either overwhelmed by the occasion or was simply incompetent. He was better in the second half, but was still too easily conned.
As for us, as good as the overall performance was, in the first half particularly they passed around us much too easily. We were a bit too reliant on long balls, but still that’s a lot better than the sideways and back passing of last season.
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I thought he was frustrating. Sure he was all over the place however his backwards passing was a real liability. His ground covering was ineffective due to pressing the wrong side of the opposition player, some really big gaffs there.
His goal was superb yet it didn’t seem to give him extra confidence.
However he still got a MOTM vote from me. That goal was that good imo.
I have to ask what makes him so negative, too slow to see the pass, lack of confidence in himself or just automatic ‘reactions’? When he progresses the ball it’s always a dribble that tends to peter out without product.
I’ll add first half we looked enthusiastic without direction and Athletico’s well laid out tactics and cohesion made it difficult for us. Second half was a bit different. We looked a lot better and they looked tired. Particularly noticeable was Rio getting joy down the left and at times ripping them a new one.
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FIFY
Really a knackered Macca is much better. What did he think he was doing out there?
Really poor imo.
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He’s just too timid ; passing , shooting , tackling , pressing … the lot. I’d much sooner he was moved on before we contemplate letting MacAllister go.
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… in the second half!
Didn’t get much change in the 1st which was a bit disappointing.
Yes 1st half we lacked tactics and cohesion which Athletico had in bucket loads. It hurt however we turned it around.