ONE to us and nil to them. Not one to them. One to us and nil to them. Astonishing scenes, these.
The youngish Reds doing the business. The youngish Reds hugely buttressed by Lucas Leiva second half and constantly lit up by Roberto Firmino. Firmino had a ton of purpose and it electrified the game. The youngish Reds with their defence led by Dejan Lovren.
In truth this was a bigger game for a few individuals than the collective. The aforementioned Lovren. Joe Allen. Joao Teixeira. Jordon Ibe. All needed to do a bit. And then the debutants. The actual young Reds. Huge occasions for them. Personal battles all over the park, battles around the personal. Strange when football goes that way, our collective concerns slightly subsumed by their own battle and focus. It shouldn’t be that way but sometimes footballers are those difficult individuals.
No wonder Liverpool weren’t always as cohesive as you would like. These lads had a lot on their mind to go with their pursuit of their new gaffer’s first win. But the shape was again good. The threat was again absent. But the ball had hit the back of the net and so we reach the back heel. How many words should we do on the back heel? Improvisation and impudence, leave it there for the worry of getting carried away? Oh let’s get carried away. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I want to go out with it but it would knock me back. Lovely to see in every way.
The shape was interesting — the first time Jurgen Klopp has played 4231 – and the constant free role of Firmino fascinating. It was the performance of a constantly probing football intellect. Where is the weakness? How is the weakness? What do we try next? He dictated Liverpool’s attacking play like a man liberated from his own insecurities.
And yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlvybfeY1X4
This is not worth getting carried away over. A tough tie at Southampton awaits and Bournemouth looked strangely disinterested; a side who have their own issues having shipped 10 in their last two, happy to only concede one this time out. No performance touched the sky on either side. No-one, bar the already in contention Firmino, sent out a clarion call for selection on Saturday. No=one put any pressure on the manager. Is that a bad thing though?
Southampton may well go to tell us a lot about this manager’s ambition for the campaign. Does he want to notch a trophy? The game drops during our most intestine and core period of the season. What would you do? Me? I’d trust the lads. The youngish Reds.
Regardless, no-one let themselves down, no-one let their manager down and no-one let Liverpool down.
Sentences may come more inspiring than that this season, and I hope they do, but that will do for now. It was what they all needed. It was what we needed.
Onwards. Upwards. Up the Reds.
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
I thought Bogdan made a claim on Mignolet’s spot. Wouldn’t mind seeing him given the chance on Sunday. Would be a big call by Klopp, though.
I missed Moreno, Henderson, Sturridge, and Benteke today.
I didn’t miss Coutinho or Can. Did you? Maybe they could use a rest for another week or two.
maybe the quality of opponants, whatever, Bogdan and defenders seem to be calmer than usual (our usual standard, i mean). Bogdan seems to keep it simple…and yes he delivered cleansheet by making crucuial saves when called upon. Has he done enough to start at Chelsea?… maybe not yet, until some serious screw up from our first choice.
Those things you say about what it takes to score a goal. Well we needed all of them to happen to make the goal. Two people doing something really good AND one person to make a mistake. Still felt a lot better than Southampton though.
Lazarus Leiva…
Couldabeeana player in Turkey right now…
How many times does the boy have to show who the captain should be?
His season kick started at Bournemouth last year. Was in a fantastic partnership with Hendo in the middle of the 3-4-3 before yet another injury slowed him down.
Honestly, I’d written him off several times already. The lack of pace following each injury always seemed terminal, but he seems to have gotten to 11/12 level again.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the absence of Gerrard has done him wonders. Now, put Henderson back next to him in the 4-2-3-1 and who knows what the season could bring?
This is what I’m dreaming:
————–Benteke—————
-Coutinho-Firmino-Sturridge-
——-Henderson–Lucas——–
–Flanno-Sakho-Skrtel-Clyne–
More realistically, we’d probably rotate Sturridge and Benteke and put Milner on the wing, but I was spoiled by Rodgers in 13/14 when madness trumped balance.
If not main, vice captain saf…..
Loved his reaction to the goal and his actions at the end of the game. Particularly how he was with Joe Allen who I thought played well.
I am fascinated by Neil’s claim that Bournemouth looked “disinterested”?
How do you figure? Are you working backwards from the final product (or lack thereof)? In what way did they demonstrate that they were “strangely disinterested”?
Unless one is really sure about something like this, why even mention it and tarnish the good impression made by our players? Why must we always, it appears, caveat any laudatory commentary about positive performances and results with some, often far-fetched or exaggerated, comment about the opposition not being “that good”?
Agreed. As the old cliche goes, “you can only play what’s in front of you”. I’m sure Barcelona aren’t worrying about their possible inadequacy every time they beat Las Palmas 8-0.
From a fan’s perspective, I think “opposition weren’t up to much, though” line is partly a defensive statement: the fan might be worried that over-celebration now, followed by a defeat to Chelsea, would leave the fan with egg on his/her face. Whereas we all know that egg belongs on a plate next to its good friends Bacon and Sausage.
As for Kloppo, our Mighty Ruler, he will celebrate every victory like we’ve just won the Champions League. Because he cares (about people being happy) and simultaneously doesn’t care (about looking stupid at some point after being happy).
They also fielded a weak side, full with fringe players and have division survival as their singular priority. If you think that was a tough performance, you are utterly deluded. We were pretty shite against a poor side, but it’s a case of job done, don’t care, next round awaits.
Instead of doing your usual trolling for arguments, why not get back to masturbating on the excellent performance by Lucas?
Hey Paul, I’m not sure if your comment was in reply to me or the Russian guy above, but I don’t think anyone is suggesting that it was a “tough performance”. On the other hand, I would contest your statement that we were “pretty shite”. I thought it was an excellent performance all-round. (Of course the beauty of footie is that it’s all subjective, apart from the scoreline – and I like this scoreline!)
Just for the record, Bournemouth made 3 non-enforced changes from the team that lost 1-5 to Spurs in the league on the weekend. That’s hardly “full of fringe players”.
Go fuck yourself, Paul!
Agreed. I thought Bournemouth played quite well actually. Granted they didn’t create that many chances in the 2nd half but overall, it was a well-drilled performance. They were looking to play football and you could actually see the game plan they were looking to execute but they were let down by the lack of personnel’s quality, especially in the final third. Had they had a half decent striker who could finish, they would’ve been one or two nil up at first half.
On a side note, I thought Texeira offered different dimensions compared to the so-called senior players that we have at the moment. His set pieces alone should make him a contender for the squad inclusion. Since Gerrard and Suarez left we have no decent corner or free kick taker. Also, his running and off the ball movements were so refreshing – it was his run that created the chance for the goal. I hope he can build on from this and carry on being given more first team opportunities.
Other than the 1-0 win (at last!) the big benefit of this game is that Jurgen has seen both little used squad players and young players in competitive action. Got to be good.
Lots of plus points. However, we desperately need an effective striker. Origi not up to the job on current form.
Origi will never make it. He’s 20, not 16. He has no ball control, no positional sense and doesn’t know how to make runs to either create space for others, or to receive a through-ball. His singular asset is incredible speed. He’s one of those players you see low down that gets into a lot of space and then has all the time in the world to beat the keeper, just because those around him are significantly slower. When the competition is almost as fast, as it is at the top level, he has nothing left.
People claim he’s “raw!”, that’s bollocks. At his age and as a striker, he should know where the goal is. He doesn’t even anticipate crosses of far post deflections. I’m having a hard time thinking of a worse signing – regardless of price.
Did you ever see Paul Stewart play?
I thought i had banished him from my memory bank, just his name breaks me out in a cold sweat, and sweat and Paul Stewart were never said in the same sentance.
Can’t think of a worse signing? At 20yo? Thats unduly harsh on the lad.
He might not be ready. He might not come good. But, at 20 years old, its a bit fucking soon to write him off just yet.
I bet you’d have sent Ian Rush back to Chester by now….
Agreed with you here, regarding Origi. Give him time to settle, and play to his strength, and he may turn out to be an important member in near future.
in my opinion, he was to ease into the team this season as the 4th choice striker, or as a second striker in a front 2 to pick up 2nd ball and pull away defenders etc.
injuries to the other 3 forced him ti start every match since JK (watch out, the writer has same initials :) came in.
Instead of picking on the boy, let us give him time to learn and improve, just like we do with other U21s coming in.
i see some great assets, and also some areas he can improve on. and have full faith in JK to get a lot more out of the boy.
You would have said the same about Lewandoski after his first several games at Dortmund. He’s 20-not 30.
Harsh, I think his touch is one of his strengths and each player matures differently,
Wonder what Vardy was doing at 20?
Give the kid a chance will you. Origi is no world beater at the moment but he is only 20….yes 20!!!
How good were Drogba/Benzema/Ronaldo/Lewandowski (I can name so many more) when they were 20?
Belgium have a whole host of international calibre players and he regularly gets into the squad as well as plays.
He’s talented….lay off people!!
Liverpool were on the verge of cutting their losses with Rush then he hit pay dirt. These things take time as Morrisey said