Early doors, but this team is quite obviously missing Trent.
I couldn’t quite believe some of the discourse I was reading in the summer around Trent. The idea that Frimpong or Bradley were ever anywhere close to him was an astoundinly bad take. We’re in the same, or worse, place defensively on the right but we’ve lost the quality on the ball.
We took his passing for granted, nobody in the 11 can pass like he does. We don’t have a player of Wharton’s quality in the midfield to negate that loss. We can’t get the ball forward as quickly as we used to.
Not the only problem we’re seeing, but a major one. Salah’s feeling the loss more than anyone.
Missing the Trent at the top of his game, not the Trent of last season.
Be at some point someone will bemoan not having Nunez here due to his “chaos”. A couple of games ago I can’t remember the one but Robbo came on for Kerkez and we instantly looked more fluid. I think Kerkez needs time but the reliance by Slot on him straight off is a mistake I feel.
There are signs though, that second half wasn’t as bad as people suggest and its individual performances for some of them.
I dismissed @Hope.in.your.heart comments about too much change but he is probably right. I don’t expect it will get much better than 40/50 mins until this international period passes.
Frimpong was really good before his injury, McAllister is carrying an injury, Isak is still in pre season.
Also I’m yet to see any side play well this season, it’s about building on the periods of good play to extend that to 50-60, let’s face it we had half’s of good football under Klopp and for a large period of time.
We have the quality to be outplayed and yet get wins and points. Slot needs to trust certain players more and I do have my doubts still about him but the next two games needs a response. Shame was this result comes on the back of signs it was starting to improve at Ath Madrid and Everton.
There was always too much of a spotlight on his weaker areas, and his strengths taken for granted (the same could be said for Diaz, albeit he isn’t as good a player as Trent)
Even on his off days he had significantly more quality than the players he’s been replaced with.
The Trent of last season is still light years ahead of Frimpong and Bradley. Anyone who is truthful saw how terrible Bradley was in those last 6 games and its careied on into this season.
It’s one game. I’m not going to overanalyze. This is a completely different team from last year with the personnel we have so I’m not going to compare them. I think the chemistry and “jelling” element of the game is very important when we have so many new players. When we get to a point when guys can anticipate each other that’s when things will be more fluid. What was lacking this game was “focus”. Pure and simple. Guys weren’t in the game and it cost us.
When the team is playing in such a disjointed manner for a lot of the game, besides the upheaval in squad personnel, and the sad loss of Jota, there can be many many other reasons for this happening. Some of the problems that have us scratching our head, don’t seem to have a solution that can be nailed down.
Having said that… how many times have we seen in the past that one player alone, can inspire the whole team to up their performance levels during the 90mins… IMO, AS could do worse than place that responsibility onto the shoulders of Dom.
All season the guy has been playing out of his skin. It was an inspired move asking him to play RB a couple of games back, and I feel we need to play him there each game until the form of certain individuals begins to improve…
Alisson - Exemplary - No worries
Bradley - His time will come later on (maybe)
Frimpong - Knuckle the fuck down and prioritise your game
Ibou - Has become more of a liability each game
Virgil - Exemplary - No worries
Kirkez - Needs to work harder at learning his role
(Robbo) - As a part-time warhorse - No worries
Grav - Exemplary - No worries
Mac - Hope it’s not Fabinho mk2 - needs to sort his off-field stuff out re his ex-fiance and clear his head out
Dom - Exemplary - No worries
Curtis - Needs consistency and better luck with injuries
MO - I believe this guy has been impacted more than most re Jota. Patience needed for his form to return
Gakpo - Undulating form pattern. Needs to grasp each game
Wirtz - Welcome to playing for LFC in the PL - Will come good
Isak - Forget past history, the hard work of scoring starts now
Etikite - Has done what is expected from him. Needs to remain a footballer first, fashion icon second
My take (and I’m quite consistent on that): too much change in the summer. Five or even six new regularly starting players… This is basically a new team we are talking about, not the champions of last season.
So, I’ve come to terms since long with the idea that I don’t expect anything from us this season. The lads can only surprise me positively, and they’ve done that quite a few times already.
I think most of us were pretty excited about the new signings, even just a few weeks ago, but because one or two are taking a little time to settle in there’s suddenly a lot of criticism, not only of them but the manager and even the club for effectively attempting to strengthen the squad.
Slot hasn’t solved the selection issues. Coupled with Connor and Konate being horrible. That chance that Wirtz missed was just unbelievable for that level of player. As it stands, he’s not even worth half of what we paid for him. Chiesa not starting is also puzzling as he’s one of a few in-form players. Alli saved us from a thrashing. Going to miss him when he leaves. Ffs I just remembered we get them again in the league cup.
Anyways, CP deserved all 3 points. Well played to them and hope they take points from our rivals as well.
