I didn’t see anything majorly wrong with the performance. We were undone by a sucker punch but other than that dominated the game, even with 10 men. We created plenty of good chances, unfortunately the biggest ones fell to Nunez who had a terrible game and whose finishing was hopeless. He also got himself needlessly sent off. Even then we probably played our best football when we had one less player.
I can’t see the point of piling in on the players after that game, apart from Nunez whose sending off almost certainly cost us a win. I didn’t see any problem with the attitude or approach more generally. Of the players who played regularly last season half of them are now injured and the other half look, frankly, fucked. I think that’s where the problem lies.
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This is the only bit I disagree with. Certainly in the second half we looked a different side once he departed.
When will Jota be back? When did he pick up the injury?
I was actually speaking specifically to his speed…
I think it’s in large part due to the high load we put on the players, so if the recovery isn’t right, we would be more susceptible.
Feel like the whole Strasbourg friendly is just dumbass
I think 11 v 11 we win that game, whether or not Nunez remained on the pitch. He could well have been subbed given how poorly he was playing. I don’t think we were doing a lot wrong before the sending off other than not put the ball in the net. We looked better with 10 mainly because of the introduction of Hendo and Gomez but I think we’d have looked even better with 11.
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Everyone saying Nunez made us shit, but then flip the first game and we were fucking awful until Nunez and Elliott came on.
So which is it? Is Elliott the factor or is it Nunez? Was he not ready to start? Would Jota or Firmino have started if fit.
Jota was horrific according to some last season ignoring that he had given us some vital winners, because he was being judged on the last game (and oddly one chance he fucked up against Wolves) not the sublime finishes against say Arsenal.
We seem to ignore what happened in the previous two to three games a lot and go on what we saw in the latest 90. If the crosses hadn’t hit the first man Nunez may have got several headers in but we’ve had games in the past when Jota or Firmino have played that role when we’ve sent them in that’s why the full backs have so many assists.
As for Nunez he mostly puts them on target and the chance in the first half was slightly fortunate for them.
Hope does make a good point and it’s happened twice now, Thiago’s injury seemed to spur us on against Fulham after 60 mins of mostly crap and last night even with 10 men we suddenly came to live (though our first half wasn’t as bad as some have suggested).
Overall I thought we played quite well. The same problem that has caught us out for seasons costing us. The high line caused the goal and poor finishing at the other end. Jurgen sets out his team to play with a high line and it has given us plenty of success but it occasionally costs a goal. Our finishing last night was dreadful and on another night the game would have been over by half time. Nunez was silly getting sent off like that in this day and age where every move on the pitch is covered by camera’s. Huge game against Utd up next hopefully some of the sick parade have improved.
Klopp doesn’t compromise with his tactics which is what makes him so good at player development but if you’re playing your 5th choice CB who has had just 45 minutes football in pre-season and who has zero pace then ask him to stand on the halfway line when he’s up against Wilfred Zaha then you’re probably running the risk of giving away a chance or two. Both Nat and Rhys did a great job playing in that system in 20/21 even though they don’t really have the skill sets for it but coming in on a one-off basis like that last night was always going to be difficult for Phillips and the outcome was predictable.
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Yeah it was a bit silly, not sure what the tactics were when Gomez came on Trent didn’t seem to be right back. In fact we didn’t seem to have one. Was it 3 at the back? TAA was behind the front man at times (which was Salah, Elliott and even Diaz).
Many of you are still whining about our midfield depth due to injuries etc. But FFS the midfield is the only department in the current injury crisis where we at least have an option or two on the bench (or even 3 if we count Carvalho as a midfielder). Otherwise we are down to bare bones in the CB position and in the forward line. Besides, both alternative fullbacks (Tsimikas and Ramsay) just returned after their respective injuries. So should we buy two forwards and two CBs as well if you are so concerned about our midfield that we should buy one or two more?
The main problem is that the constantly standout performers of the last few years are really out of form and playing bang average or even below average. Fab had a stinker for last two games, Robbo cannot beat a first defender with his cross (not the Tsimikas was any better afterwards), Mo was pretty much invisible, even VVD is far from his colossus form. The only starters that deserve a positive asessment yesterday are Elliott and Diaz, and Gomez and Hendo were decent when they came on. Other than that? Not really.
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I think the way we play we should play 3 at the back, we keep getting exposed on the right side of defence Gomez would be ideal for that role, i know Klopp likes to play a certain way but if we keep conceding silly goals and missing chances galore at the other end top 4 will be difficult.
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Probably need to have enough to play three at the back though it would be an avenue to get SVB playing first team if only for an interim
He was pinging some beautiful passes about last night though. In defence he was trying to look after Nat and manage rest of defence while Trent was playing striker and Fab was non-existent
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Doesn’t that apply to all clubs?
Yes it was three at the back. Sky focused on Jurgen as he made the changes and he was signaling with three fingers for the change.
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Very disappointing start to the season, after an intense pre-season that I thought was designed to get us off to a flying start! We have faced two very organised teams in our first two games, but this is the high standard of the prem.
I’m sure Klopp will get it right. Hendo, Bobby, Gomez and Keita should be a big boost next week. Although I thought both Elliot and Milner had a good game last night. Philips is a decent defender but not ideal for a team playing a high line and building from the back, thought that showed again last night.
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And then, there’s a moron interrupted our attacking in the last few minutes by running on the pitch. The Boss was P.I.S.S.E.D.
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And where were you van Dijk, why where you not in Andersen’s face together with Milner as our senior players on the pitch to make sure he stopped fucking with our new CF …
Time to take a good look in the mirror van Dijk.
At the other end of pitch defending, while Darwin was being a twat
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