A GOOD one not to go to, I said. A good one to miss, I said. Half twelve, Saturday. Tickets scarce. A good one to miss.
I can’t calm down, here. I can’t stop my heart from pounding. I think I could run 10 miles. I am absolutely up the wall because I am not there, and haven’t used all this nervous energy jumping up and down and screaming and shouting and singing. I am absolutely up the wall and these people, you people, our people expect some words about that.
All my words about that are broadly in opposition with each other. That is a good point. That is two points dropped. I’m very proud of the Reds. The Reds have let us down. It’s a terrific performance. It’s a poor outcome.
There’s nothing but these mixed emotions off the back of that and making sense of them is probably going to take some time, and not as much dancing as I’d like.
We were so nearly dancing. So nearly dancing at 0-2. So nearly dancing when Liverpool could make it 1-2 late on. Just so nearly dancing. So nearly having one of those afternoons on a Bank Holiday Saturday where everything feels possible, and it is that most rampant of joys to be alive. So nearly there, in that afternoon and early evening of promised land. Tops off, full throated.
Still more. More twitching. More nerves. Eyes here there and everywhere. Reds on four points. Reds could be on six. Reds should be on six.
Tons to be positive about. Tons and tons. Jordan Henderson was very good, excellent for 60. Roberto Firmino the absolute business. James Milner settled left back. Joel Matip’s debut was strong. From front to back the Reds had a dodgy 10, and then a great subsequent 50. The game became tighter after Spurs equalised, encouraged by that goal they grew into the game. They were never quite the better side, as Liverpool had been, but they looked dangerous.
The key moment in the game is Mane’s disallowed goal. It looked a smidgen off to me, but whether it is or not it hurt. Liverpool were two better by that point but, by the time the game finishes, Tottenham were able to say that a point was fair, and not feel daft in doing so.
There are no happy endings in games like that, other than that games like that are occurring. What I mean is that Liverpool were playing top of the table, blood and bone football. Not the idea they were getting a win today to disappoint tomorrow. Instead it felt as though both sides knew how much the game mattered. It reminded me of some Liverpool/Chelsea encounters of the last decade. The cynics may say that is because both Manchester clubs will be over the hill and far away. To which the response is — who have they played?
Because Liverpool have gone to North London twice and should be returning with six. Points. And goals. It contextualises the Burnley failure further — the reason why beating Burnleys is important is that you can never relax against sides like Spurs. They are too good for that, they bounce back.
All football teams are a work in progress these days. Perhaps they always were, yet the Reds feel more work in progress-y than most. More work in progress-y than ever. Is that because we know the path for progress, or because there is still a great deal to do?
I’m left pounding these keys, absolutely pounding them. Regulating my breathing. An afternoon where I don’t know whether to stick or twist. Disco or decline. And all I want is 38 discos. Have the chance for 35 more. I want them, and I know I could just have them and yet. And yet.
I want the Reds to walk away more certain than me. They should be buoyed, they should be. Form being regained where it needs to be in Henderson. Quality demonstrated where it needs to be from Milner. Firmino running the show, bossing the gaff. But we need wins and a run of them soon. I want to be carried away, Reds. You can do it, you can carry me away. You are good. You looked better than Tottenham in their own yard for more than long enough. I’m greedy, Reds. I want the lot from you. I feel you have it in you, but please bring it to me.
I could run 10 miles.
I can’t stop my heart from pounding.
Up the Reds, yes, but let’s go. Let’s just go. You’ve got it in you to make this some nine months. I want it all. I want it now. A good one to miss? I want none of them to be worth missing, not for a second and you can do this Liverpool. I promise you, I know you can do this.
Up the greedy Reds. None greedier than me. None greedier than you. I want them to be greedy. I want them to be sure.
Make me sure Reds. Let’s go Liverpool.
LISTEN: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Liverpool 1: The Pink.
READ: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Liverpool 1: How It Happened.
READ: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Liverpool 1: Match Ratings.
Should have won. That alone is enough to be encouraged. We have the basis of a pretty good side, which will be further improved when Grujic starts getting some time on the pitch and Can regains fitness, not to forget more from Origi and Sturridge. Oh, forgot Karius also to come in.
Why are people acting like we been relegated? 4 points away to Arsenal and Spurs is superb.Burnley was a downer but thats footy.First eight games are about setting out your stall and gearing up.4 from nine isnt bad all considering.we wont be far off this season guys beleive me
Nice outlook, well said.
I have to agree with most people’s view that it was a good performance and we shoulda had all 3 points but how many times have we said this over the last coupla seasons. At the end of the day it’s only 1 point and not 3.
I’d say Spurs are happier with the 1 point than us.
I wanna see us being clinical, ruthless when we are on top. Put teams away when we have our opportunities instead of saying at the end of the match “good performance, shoulda had 3 points”.
It’s the difference between title challenging teams and those who finish 6/7/8th.
We suit teams who wanna come out and try to play football against us. Our problems start when teams sit back and ask us to break them down. This will happen ALOT at Anfield.
Out of our first 3 games I’d have wanted 6 points, we have 4.
Echo that sentiment Michael.
We seem to need to create 5/6 opportunities to convert and then leak a goal from every 1/2 opportunities against. More ruthlessness in both boxes required to move up from 6th/7th/8th. We also need to figure out a way of putting teams who sit deep to bed.
That said, the performance was encouraging and we still have players to come into the side – reasons to be cheerful.
When you’re on top in those games you have to put the game to bed and kill the opposition. We played well but with a sprinkling of more quality in the team, particularly midfield, we would be title contenders.
Without our current squad, we aren’t. 4th spot will be an achievement the way Utd, City and Chelsea look.
We pretty much did put it to bed with the disallowed goal, was a well worked counter attack and very unlucky not to have stood. When it went in I thought we were home.
Neil, good read, and probably about right, although I disagree with you on Mane’s goal; but, such is football, and such are tight decisions. Really can’t understand how Spurs fans get excited by their team (good or bad), every player is so plain Jane. Except Kyle Walker, I can’t stand that guy, its mainly he stupid big hair. Oh, and his face, his smug annoying face, fine footballer though.
Spurs can be excited about their goalie also, he was excellent.
Also, thought Vorm was lucky not to be sent off for his first Mane tackle, looked like Mane man have just about got a final touch. Again, another close one, that I am viewing through red specs.
Lallana was just as much offside for Mane’s goal as was Dyer for theirs, i.e. NOT…
And I completely agree with the pen call against Vorm mawing off Mane.
Hi Neil, thanks for the review.
Yes agree with you and with some on here. It was really frustrating to watch at times. Some questions for you or anyone who cares to ponder and respond:
1. Do you think Klopp takes too long with his substitutions? Should he have made them when we were still 1-0 up?
2. How could the soft goal that Rose scored be prevented (in hindsight of course)?
3. What is going with Sturridge that Klopp puts him on late like he was Benteke?
4. Can coutinho’s poor decisions, like missing sitters and not passing when he should, be coached to keep him from being consistently inconsistent?
Arsenal, Leicester and the plastics against Burnley, all won their games. I think the Mancs will win too against Hull today.
I don’t know about title challenging and all that, but from what I saw today, Klopp seems hesitant about something as Spurs were there for the taking. Top 4 would be a great achievement if this can be worked on.
Next match is at home. New stadium expansion and all that. Hope it’s not going to distract too much from the game against the Foxes. They may just be cunning and pull a fast one, no pun intended here.
thanks again
The Sturridge situation is a head scratcher.
He scored 2 goals midweek so id assume his tails up.
Origi was injured midweek with doubts he’d even be on the bench yet he starts over the more clinical Sturridge.
Did very little when he came on, looked like a guy carrying a knock.
Not quite sure what’s going on there.
Origi and sturridge are different players. Klopp felt origi’s abilities were more required at that point; I trust him.
If sturridge wants to start, he needs to be more of a team player, and play to our strategy, not think of himself (solely) as our match winner…
I always think managers take too long with subs! I’ve accepted I must be wrong on this…
I’m not sure we coulda really stopped spurs’ goal. Maybe Clyne came too far in? But really, it was a good move and a good cross by dier. The best way to stop it is by being 2-0 up!! And/or not allowing spurs so much back into the game. Then the whole pattern of the game will be different…
Sturridge looked awful against Burnley (of course, he had plenty of company in that department). But it was curious why he was so far off the pace. Given his reluctance to sprint, I think it makes sense to bring on Origi when the opposition’s holding a high line.
On another note, I was pleased to see at 1-0, just after Spurs had five or so good minutes, the lads (especially “Milly”) were trying to take some of the sting out of the game. Obviously, it wasn’t enough in the end but we need to improve our game management and there were signs of it today.
very pleased with the performance and echo most of the comments above, …Klopp has a conundrum to solve! we need to be more clinical so should we play one of the most talented and instinctive goal scorers in europe from the start??! do we take the risk as that will take something away from the team?! if studge had the Countinho chance at the start of that game we undoubtedly would have been a goal up very early on. Sturridge i love him, is he an enigma?! tough decisions Klopp, whatever decision he makes i back him to get it right!
I think Klopp is more unhappy with Sturridge’s attitude than he’s letting on. I think he’s laying down a marker here: you’ll play where I tell you to play or you won’t play at all.
I think it is mainly a case that at least 50% of what Klop is looking for in a striker in these big games is the ability to press, at which there are few better than Firmino (I would like to see a stat of how many times he got a foot on a pass). I really like sturridge but he only ever does a token press without much sophistication
On its own a good start to a season. In context, as a reds fan – same old. At some point – can we just boss the games we should, win the games we deserve to and finally have a reason to really believe. Currently stuck in a pub surrounded by man united twats who are acting like they won the league so my opinion is slightly jaded!
We were excellent for long passages today, but not ruthless enough. We need that second goal.
Thoughts.
Defence: Matip looks great and the defence looks much, much better with him and without Albie. Loved his (legitimate) block on Janssen: great body strength. Mignolet played well too.
Midfield: functioned well as a unit today but Lallana was caught in posession in dangerous areas again today. He needs to know when to release. Gini had his best game so far: neat and tidy but doesn’t look a goal threat, which is odd, because I thought that’s what we bought him for.
Front three: Mane excelled once again: What.A.Player. Not sure why so many are praising Firmino and Coutinho though: the latter missed a sitter and gave the ball away, the former was ok but, as Danny Murphy noted, Sturridge is a far better player. As is Origi. If you’re a defender, or an opposing manager, who would you rather be facing?
Still think we’re missing a trick playing Phil up front. He’d be better in Lallana’s position, releasing quick transitional passes to runners. Can’t wait to see more of Grujic.
Firmino was great today, and gives us a lot more balance and midfield presence than sturridge does. Today we played “without” a striker, and still had tons of players forward and created loads of chances. that means playing firmino worked.
Origi offers more physical presence and holding up the ball, as well as being a more willing runner, than sturridge.
Ideally I want sturridge playing up front for us, but it has to be on klopp’s terms…
Agreed. Firmino offers so much in that position. Made Coutinho’s chance, earned the penalty. Obviously needs to score more often (1 in 4 so far) to properly make it his. I love Studge but can see what Klopp wants to do with our front three.
If we’re going to play a 4-3-3 I’d like to see one of Coutinho or Firmino and one of Origi and Sturridge in the front three for now. Phil can always drop back into the three.
Matip did well and made our defence look stronger. Not convinced he merits all the praise he’s getting just yet though. He was beaten a few times from corners and really Alderweireld could of scored with a header when unchallenged. I get the relief that we might have a decent defender but I prefer caution. We always do this when we’re desperate for someone to be good. In saying all that I defo agree he did well.
Not sure how you say Wijnaldum had his best game so far. Actually, that may well be a correct assessment but I don’t think he did much again. Still a bit baffled as to why we bought him. It all seems a bit Brendan Rodgers as in buy a player who doesn’t specialise in one position but can play in a few if required.
Firmino did well yesterday. Just a shame he’s nowhere near Sturridge’s level as a striker. He definitely adds to our game but takes something away too when leading the line. Seems to suit Klopp’s tactics though.
No one has made more progress under Klopp than Lallana and he’s become a vital part of the team for his winning possession back. It still frustrates me though how slow he is on the ball or in his decision making.
We should be saying how well Mignolet did but I can’t get past the goal. Harsh perhaps, but he was easily beaten at his near post. Don’t think Clyne covered himself in glory either. We say he’s an average 7 out of 10 every game and I’d agree. Need a few 8’s and 9’s though.
It’s a funny thing. None of us know anything close to what Klopp does in management but we all think we know how it works. He should do this, why isn’t he doing that. Deep down I appreciate he’ll improve us. I like his outlook and I think he’s working through our weaknesses. Doing the obvious has got us nowhere in the league for 25 years. It doesn’t stop me being a bit baffled by some of his decisions though.
Overall though, we could and should have won yesterday. Ifs and buts admittedly but had we beaten Burnley we’d be talking about a title challenge now. Whether that game was a one off bad day at the office or the sign of things to come remains to be seen. Truth is, I thought we’d challenge this year. Just hoping it doesn’t turn into the usual ‘do ok against the top teams then lose against the mid table ones’. Still confident but we really need to put a run of a few wins together. If we win the next two we’re in a very good place with all to play for. Apologies, the season is young and there’s all to play for whatever the next two. Be nice though.
I don’t think you can directly compare the post injuries Sturridge, Origi and Firmino as they each bring something different. I was wanting to see sturridge come on earlier than he did, but you are always optimistic about subs and only think of the good things they could do. However, it could have easily made it worse. When Origi came on we kept looking to lump it up to him and Spurs started to really get on the ball. Sturridge may have been the better option in hindsight as rob said but I think we probably would have lost our grip on our press and they could have begun to dominate the game even more.
Haven’t been that impressed by what I have seen of Grujic so far. He looks like he has all the attributes to become a very good player but he looks considerably more raw than Can was (understandebly given which league he is coming from) and Can has taken quite a while to settle into the league.
I just want to understand why our coach is complaining about missed chances, when he has the 2nd best scorer in liverpools history sitting on the bench. Firmino is called a false 9 for a reason.
We should not be playing false 9 when we have a true 9(2 true 9s) sitting on the doggone bench. So what if they don’t pressure. That’s what the false 9 is there for. It’s irritating to go a game with all kinda possession and shots and no goals and you have a true goalscorer sitting on the bench .
Klopp is a great coach. But he must understand this is not Germany. Money and superstars rule the roost here
Yeah agreed, solid performance today back 4 looked really comfortable, Rose arriving late in the box should have been picked up by Lallana. I still can`t help feeling we have 2 or 3 players who need to be contributing more when we`re in the ascendancy, we have too many piano carriers, we need braver players who are hungry to score goals. I can`t wait to see Grujic as a natural goal scorer from midfield, he`s perfect for this team. Also, currently our game lacks an additional pivotal forward bringing scoring midfielders into play centrally around the edge of the box, this in turn may create more space for the strikers. Just a thought
The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the birds and bees
Just give Mane!!!!
Neil dont miss any more games. Awesome article though!
Wish the Reds wouldve played how they played against Arsenal…minus the poor defendin’. Lol at Milner giving it biffters. Love that guy. One thing about our players: theyve got soul. Shoulda been 3-1. Oh well.
Saw the epl standings earlier…the blues are #3….we are 11….which can only mean we gonna win the league.
Just give Maaaane
Thats what i want!!
Took the cancelled out effort for 2-0 really, really badly. Those 2 extra points will follow me around taunting me till next season when they finally stop mattering.
Liverpool and Tottenham looked like really good ‘race for 4th’ teams. The lack of killer ball frustrated the shit out of me. Liverpool are vaguely talented dickheads basically (was Mane actively trying to get a second yellow the silly bastard). It’s the ruthless Aguero or Ibrahimavich (or Suarez) characters who have sides who are decent at the togger up to a certain point aiming for 1st. ‘When we have 10 minutes of good footy and concerted pressure I *know* he’ll find a goal’; that kind of thing.
I can see this being a frustrating season and I’m just gutted that we’re a decent outfit but just not quite good enough to make that step to the big title race this season. It’s killing me to watch tbh. So close yet so far.
Too many losers – almost no one on the pitch knows how to win trophies or titles, almost no one knows how to win week in, week out.
As you suggest, there’ll be plenty more games like yesterday.
We looked 100%
Spurs looked 52%
We got a pen that was a gift.
They scored.
And it was a fair result.
Let’s not delude ourselves, This squad needs to concentrate on beating the teams we are competing against. The mid table and bottom half.
Funny that, cause it’s the top half teams we’ve looked good against,
Over the top misery post.
Hence the need to concentrate on beating the teams in the middle of the table and below us. The teams we are competing against. Like Burnley.
Fucking obviously.
But you go ahead Derek , and delude yourself we are going to overhaul the top 4 .
I’m sorry H&K, I hate having a go at anyone in here but your posts are constantly OTT negative and bitter,
I am deluded because I see us overhauling top four, maybe i am,
Concentrate on beating teams we are competing against, like Burnley?
Really ? You truly believe that’s the level for this Liverpool team after watching the first few games of the season,
I find that staggering,
Chin up.
I hate having a go at anyone myself, but your posts are overly emotional and based on whimsical belief, not unlike a religious cult preacher.
Firstly, so far, my observations are based on the performances of this squad to date, which at its core is largely unchanged.
This season alone, a weak Arsenal ate a 3 goal cushion and were on top at the whistle.
Burnley beat us with a basic 442 and long ball , with known weaknesses being exposed.
An indifferent Spurs drew by scoring, when we needed a gift.
If I sound bitter, it’s because my beloved club that represents my even more beloved home has a under invested squad. Our net investment is mid table.
So, this is the basis of my bitter negativity.
If Klopp says “Abracadabra” , does some yogic flying and transforms a team of squad players into contenders, then I will become optimistic.
Meanwhile, I value all opinions, but I find yours utterly baseless.
Blind belief doesn’t equate to support.
I am 100% behind Klopp, I just wish he was financially backed and wasn’t supplied players by the fucking Mike Gordon and his clueless committee.
My belief is based on Klopps track record and football is all about being over emotional for some and I’ve no shame in admitting to that charge,
Religious cult leader ? Chill out will ya,
You say you value all opinions but find mine utterly baseless and then go on to say that you wish Klopp was backed and wasn’t supplied players by the Mike Gordon transfer committee,
Klopp signed all those players in this Window and to say they are Mike Gordon signings is a baseless argument,
Anyhow, chin up it ain’t all that bad mate.
You would take 4 points away to the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd if on offer at the start of the season, that we should have had 6 shows how good we are in these type of games. We proved last year that we can go toe to toe with anybody and we have already seen more of the same. What we have not learned how to do is what Spurs did today, be outplayed, only let in one and then take the chance when it comes. Grinding out results and getting points when been outplayed. The other big question marks are how we manage against teams that park the bus away and then at home? This is what killed me after Burnley and that is what niggles today. You worry that we need a bit more magic, if we had another player like Mane then we could have all 9 points, every year we seem to be one player short
We have struggled with this for years to the point where it’s becoming part of the DNA of the club, but its what seperates good teams from great ones, and Klopp has to sort it once and for all if his tenure is to be a success. I have faith though :-)
Firminho ‘the business’ – is that the same business that runs a surplus one week and a deficit the next?? The lad is NOT a centre forward! Klopp needs to realise this and play him in a more creative role beside Coutinho with Sturridge or Divvy in front of them!!
He played well. He won the penalty, set up Coutinho for one he should have buried and never stopped putting the pressure on their defence. He’s been in double figures for goals the last three seasons (including 11 for us last season) and in 13/14 he scored 22 in the Bundesliga. Sturridge doesn’t offer the same workrate for tough aways, that’s why he’s picking Firmino over him for games like this.
I am genuinely baffled by some of the criticism.. We have a manager that pretty much any club team in the world would swap theirs for.. Including the dirty reds up the road. This man is a manager, a leader and everything we have longed for since ‘the Kenny’of 85/86.. This is our chance but it will take time, it will take patience, it will take disappointments, it will take losses, it will take belief!
I grew up with us winning every week… I used to stand on the Kop hoping the opposition scored first to make a game of it.. Bill, Bob, Kenny.. We were lucky to have what we had; unbelievably lucky!. We now have Jurgen.. We now have a class act, a motivator, a brave leader, the envy of many. We must believe, we must question and challenge less.. We don’t know more than him, as much as we think we do. We will be great again, under his guidance. If not, then I am fairly sure we will never be great again. We have the best there is, let’s enjoy him!
We’ve been “believing” since FSG bought us cheap.
This is modern footy mate. It’s not belief you need, it’s hard cash.
Pure and simple.