THE most 0-0 game ever. Both teams seemed fine with the draw, and a draw is what we got. Sion’s reaction after showed the limit of their ambitions.
If we had have known, maybe we would rested even more. But six changes, a week after six against Southampton, suggests a bigger rotation policy than is being made out by some. Two youngsters off the bench, too.
The pitch was awful, and makes it hard to rate. But that’s what I’m here for. So I’ll bravely battle on. Liverpool top the group, unbeaten. Forza, Reds.
Simon Mignolet 6
Is alive early on to block with his legs. Quiet after that as Sion hung on for a famous, manager-tossing draw. Imagine the pint.
Nathaniel Clyne 5
Couldn’t be arsed in the slightest. Fair play. He was asked to play on Deeside ice rink first half.
Brad Smith 7.5
MOM from the Aussie. Wand of a left foot. Mad how we had him painting the sweat box at Melwood a month ago.
Kolo Toure 5
Gets caught with one over his head early. After that was determined to calm everyone down with his mad ‘calm down squat’. Get the ball. Squat over it. Do calm down hands. Dance move of the summer.
Dejan Lovren 6
Solid enough from the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month nominee. Especially as he had a kid making his debut on his left and a fella trying to create a dance craze on the right.
Emre Can 7
Did a few mad things, but generally impressive. Coped with the pitch better than most. Mainly because he plays a lot of the game with his upper body.
James Milner & Jordan Henderson 7
Wanted to do them together because they dovetailed in these exact positions so well pre season and it was lovely to see them both together with one behind again. Great at getting us up the pitch quickly. Fantastic at knowing where to be. Final ball not perfect but will come.
Roberto Firmino 5
Another striker he apparently can’t play with. Maybe it’s not them, mate.
Adam Lallana 5
Dunno. Remember him kicking one in the air. That’s about it.
Divock Origi 6
Actually led the line pretty well. Nearly got on the end of a couple.
SUBS
Philippe Coutinho 5
Thirty in the legs.
Jordan Rossiter 5
Did a boss tackle.
Cameron Brannagan n/a
Had pretty much stopped watching by then, tbh.
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo/PA Images
You did well to make it as far as Brannagan before giving up. Meaningless game escaped injury free (I think). Time to put a run together in the League and worry about Europe later.
A clean sheet, ensuring top of group finish, another point gained for building our shitty euro coefficient, good workouts for returning players, additional european game experience for those lacking it.
A bit unfair all that isn’t it John? This was nothing more than a training exercise.
If you want a team to hit some highs you allow them time off when nothing depends on it. You just let them play as they wish without any pressure and just go about it as they want to without needing to win.Because it didn’t really matter.
Klopp won’t be too bothered about this.They were professional and did their job.
Klopp will tell them in no uncertain terms when push comes to shove.
All so very pointless (not literally obvs; point apiece for a draw innit). Just why was the near side of the pitch icy btw? Did they run out of dough before finishing all the under pitch heating? Bizarre.
I’m guessing it was afternoon sunshine, and the irritating way that architecture interacts with the movement of the sun. Or rather, the way we interact with it. It IS a guess tho. They could be on a 70% pay deal or something. Or they have a sense of humour. Bad fuse? Political leanings perhaps?
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But were you there, John, mate?
Can’t believe you gave Smith a decimal point.
It’s gonna be like Pitchfork before you know it. He’s on a slippery (probably Swiss) slope.
Nine months of early mornings/middle of the nights are bad enough without watching something that makes you realise you would have had more excitement being asleep, BUT … Smith’s performance made it a worthwhile exercise.
Didn’t look out of place, good defensively – especially against Carlitos, who looked and acted like he had escaped from Scarface’s mansion just before the shit went down – physically imposing (ish), pacy enough and demonstrated again that he has a wicked cross on him.
Highlights of this one would be akin to one hand clapping.
A tad generous with the midfield, but who’ll remember these performances by Friday?
Speaking of calm hands, ever notice that Emre Can loves to tell everyone else to calm down while doing mad things all over the pitch?
Was giggling when I read this post and Yes I have noticed.
Is it just me or does Brad Smith look a better player than Albie? Better balance, better delivery, better game sense, two actual feet……need to see him against better opposition, mind.
It is not just you, but like you, I am not exactly ready to go out on a limb and ‘call it’.
Smith looked (to me) better in his full debut than Robinson, Flanagan, Wisdom and Kelly.
Smith perhaps only. +ve. Firminho simply doesn’t fancy it
Good ratings them.