THE goalkeeper battered and bloodied. Our hearts racing. Finally, Liverpool cruising to a 4-1 win. They deserve it after 90-odd minutes of, what felt like, total chaos.
When this Liverpool side get it right, at pace and speed, they look irresistible. But so much of looking to play at that pace and speed looks as if it reduces control. Liverpool play so much of their football in the red, car hitting the curbs. It’s football at the ragged edge.
At times it appears chaotic, but look closely and you can see the patterns, kaleidoscopic movement, bright colours, all loops and curves. It’s unconventional, even beautiful but simultaneously it is vulnerable. It’s exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. Even when they are on top, even when they are turning the screw they can still find themselves open, being countered against, dealing with the dark side of their chaos, ordered or otherwise.
This Leicester side aren’t against a bit of chaos either. And it made the contest pulsating. They embrace it when they can. Claudio Ranieri’s half time change was all about going more direct, making the game even more one of tennis.
Liverpool responded by effectively killing the game through Adam Lallana’s drive. Easy to say that after the fact — “killing the game” — because these games will so rarely feel actually dead. There will always be life in these games, there will always be something in the game of football for somebody because tornadoes don’t just stop. Even when they leave there is an aftermath. There is wreckage.
The calm in the storm was Roberto Firmino. It was a man of the match performance from him. Two goals, constantly available and always bright. His movement was special but his composure is what marks him out as a footballer.
He is both a player more able to find time than others, and more able to appreciate it. He knows exactly how long he has to make his mind up in almost every situation. He’s the player most likely to benefit from the Mane signing. Not only because they link up well, but because Mane is creating the space he is able to exploit. Firmino finds and loves that yard. Mane and Firmino should currently be first names on the Liverpool teamsheet, everyone else — Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi — competing to play with them, not replace them. Those two start at Chelsea.
I’d venture that Sturridge has done enough to start there too. The manager may think otherwise and Sturridge himself may well think he should be walking away with a goal. But he left Morgan and Huth with so much to think about and he showed the value of occupying space, and then not occupying it, allowing it to be filled. He looks the player who will get the most out of Mane and Firmino.
The goal that Liverpool concede, the goal which stems their dominance frankly, just falls into the category of bloody stupid. It is worth emphasising that a side is more likely to give a soft goal away if they are looking to play out from the back, but Klopp clearly wanted to bring Leicester out, to give them reason to push up. It’s a perfectly valid tactic. Indeed the first thing I noticed on television was Joel Matip clapping at Lucas Leiva. Telling him he did the right thing, something which most others in the ground would disagree with I’m sure. This is what the manager wants; not for it to result in doing the bloody stupid thing, but it was also his decision to retain Lucas’s services and not add another centre back in the window.
My somewhat clumsy main point here is this: Lucas isn’t going anywhere. Liverpool playing it out from the back isn’t going anywhere.
My secondary point here is this: I mostly agree with the manager on both of these things.
Liverpool played very well today. They played the football the manager wants them to play. Because loads of what they are doing feels so chaotic and so intense, it is tough in the immediate aftermath of the game to take a step back and pay heed to those simple facts. Heart racing, head pounding.
Liverpool were three goals better than Leicester City and Liverpool did what they wanted to do in the football match, far more successfully than Leicester City. One manager got much more of what he wanted than the other. It’s easy to say that after a win, but it was the case at Spurs as well. It was the case at Arsenal and Burton. It probably wasn’t the case at Burnley.
Today, though, Liverpool’s unconventional midfield functioned. Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Lallana (second half, especially, for him) all played well. They will all play on the edge; there is no getting away from that edge. One will presumably sit out on occasion when Emre Can is back — both Henderson and Wijnaldum could do with a goal and both should have one by now this season, but should Liverpool continue to pick three from that four they will rarely find themselves out-battled or out-played in the centre of the park, however much we may crave more calm and control.
I missed Anfield today, missed it deeply — I am away, on holiday, recharging. Supposedly recharging. Being a big kid, if I am honest with you. I spent the afternoon on waterslides, hurtling around drenched corners, being flung into pools, thrilled, joy unconfined. Saccharine colours abound. Silly but so much fun. Shake it up and make it fizz. Good preparation.
I am pleased more people can watch Liverpool. But the building that matters at Anfield is the building of a bastion of invincibility. I think that might be happening. I hope it is. But if it is, it won’t be your conventional bastion of invincibility, it’ll be something else entirely. It may not look that invincible for one, but that is part of the point of the old bastions. It’ll be a blancmange of invincibility. Catch them all off guard. Regardless, though, there is a long way to go for the season and this side.
I can’t wait for it. Can’t wait for Chelsea, can’t wait for Derby, can’t wait for Hull.
Up the ragged edge Reds.
READ: Liverpool 4 Leicester City 1: How It Happened
READ: Liverpool 4 Leicester City 1: Player Ratings
https://audioboom.com/boos/5033432-tomorrow?t=0
Superb at times today, fragile at others. Henderson’s best game in a long time; just a shame he can’t shoot for toffee!
I was happy to see Coutinho on the bench today as I think we’ve been better without him this season. His cameo today summed him up: he’s got all the skill in the world but he’s too damned impatient, always looking to shoot when there are often better options available. I don’t think he should be a guaranteed starter, at the moment, and I’d like to see him rotated with Lallana (who was superb today) in that attacking midfielder role where there’s less pressure to shoot and more going on in front of him.
Lots of exciting performances today, we just need to stop giving the ball away cheaply and make a few quicker decisions.
Agree with all that Paul,
Hendo was the big plus today for me,
After the midweek interviews I was genuinely worried for him,
Good to see him finding some form and halt the pelters coming his way recently from people who wont accept that injuries are real & do affect performance, baffles me how much vitriol he gets,
Another who was getting it from both barrels early (mainly) last season is Firmino, a class act imo.
Hi POF, I really like that idea of rotating Couts’ and Adam, in the deeper, central role. I think a lot of supporters believe that The little magician has played best for us in CM (just ahead). I, like many, have always thought he’d develop better concentrating on the Modric position. Anyway, Cheers.
Just reminded me about Charlie then. Charlie Adam. What a player.
Couts doesn’t have the consistency, skill or vision to play deeper like Modric, who absolutely dominates. And I just can’t see him developing that side in him. He’s too pretty. I mean, look at Luka and then look at Phil. There’s just no way.
As in what a shite player ?
Matip bossing Vardy was worth the entrance fee alone… marvellous!!!
Matip: my hero, my mate
Heavy Metal Football
Some really promising signs today and I like that lineup. Some of our attacking play is scintillating, some a bit too slow and sometimes careless. Understanding will develop over time, but I noticed a couple of times players were caught on their heels and at others they didn’t release the ball quickly enough. Lallana and Henderson had great games today but they were both guilty of holding on to the ball too long at times; they just don’t seem to see the quick pass, but both are getting better. Mane is fantastic and Sturridge looked like he’s coming to terms with how Klopp wants him to play. He was very good today despite missing a couple of good chances. Firmino may have been the pick of the bunch today (everyone played well), his best game in the red shirt for my money: composed, clever and selfless. I’d be minded to let Coutinho cool his heels on the bench for a few weeks, but suspect the manager will think otherwise.
Henderson passes 59 of 62 today. Missed 3 all in the final third. Pretty good game.
Most balanced lineup in terms of front three, and Phil and Origi as our impact subs.
Our attacking movement will probably make Chelsea defenders vomit by 75th minute.
Just back from town. So it’s emotional ( & tired) reaction time. Soz.
We’re fucking boss.!! It’s gonna be a Rollercoaster big time.! 3 of last year’s top 4 played and out played. Still not convincing at the back – even without Albie. But devastating on the front foot. Goals goals goals galore. Midfield not quite there yet for me. Is it a Can shaped hole? We’ll see shortly. Lucas unlucky.Lucas brave as a lion before & afterwards. Lall getting rewarded for endless endeavour. Milly adapting at a ferocious rate. Studge being a team player. ( who knew?) Matip being robust despite being short a few pounds. Mane – greased fucking lightning. Bobby industry and composure = Boss. Big Si the Mig battered and upping his game – Karius is ready next week. Clyne being Mr reliable again. Hendo still learning his six role and perhaps thinking too much. Gini is the ?? For me. But I believe in Klopp. He is NOT winging it. He is a thinker. He has to have a reason to purchase and then play him. I just don’t see it yet. Granted we don’t know where the foxes are this year but I don’t think too many sides are going to make them look as pedestrian as we did. Main stand looks good. We look good.
Up the Reds!
Great match report. I agree on Sturridge. He’s been unfairly doubted after answering a direct question honestly. Do we not bemoan the normal cliched answers from footballers.
Can he play for the team? Will he play for his teammates. He created the first two goals and answered those questions emphatically. His run off the ball to create space for Firmino for the first. Followed by a touch of genius with the assist for Mane’s second.
Can we credit Mignolet with taking up the gauntlet?
I hope he stays in goal the whole season, because that only happens if he forces the blue-eyed handsome man to stay on the bench champing at the bit.
Resident miserable prick here:
I’m fuming glorified pub players like Vardy and Big Wesley who run channels and hit it out for throws respectively are premier league champions when the greatest of all time Scouse footballers Gerrard and Carragher who legendary Milan lads during the champions league final days swear by could never win a league (they are SHITE and it should never be forgotten when the EPL gets called the greatest league in the world. Frigging Leicester).
Whatever. They’re shite at footy. That was a 6-0 game but my fav Sturridge was over thinking on his finishes and we decided we felt sorry for them how out of their depth they were playing against a team of real footballers so give them let’s just give them hope even though they’re (FUCKiNG CRAP) reigning champions. Hull at home will be 10x as hard IMO. Not as many spaces.
I am surprised at how tempered some reactions have been to this match. This was as good as it gets in football, and the Lucas gaffe just supports how the team, despite several individual performances, is more than the sum of its parts on their day. I get the chaos factor, that’s verry metal. I get the nerves and the mental swings in this match, but really it’s tantamount to some of the matches against Arse or others under Rodgers and now Klopp. Just complete dominance and assured play all through the team. If ya can’t be an optimist after this one, the glass is always half empty. This is it lads! In Klopp we trust!
Ps I choose to apply this new found optimism to Wijnaldum. I think he’s been far better than people give him credit. He’s made two impact plays leading to goals thus far, and is very adept at keeping it ticking over and advancing play, albeit he hasn’t been as explosive as he was for Newcastle. But his steady eddy quality is much needed in this squad. I think he creates a bit of a vortex that helps hold the midfield together.
Can’t say I am or ever have been a fan of Leiva, he played well today and showed adaptability and the value of experience. Read the game well in my opinion. We win more when he is played.
Klopp you wily bastard, keeping Lucas from the Turks. It’s brilliant really, the madness. It’s poetry again, but this isn’t the same style that was the gift of Rodgers’ Reds. No, that was all fluid and there was a different pattern and flow. It’s funny that word flow. It’s heavy metal poetry, it’s bloody blasphemy, it’s hip-hop. It’s not even the Beats because this attack goes from the purely and deliciously existential to swarms of attacking sparks arriving everywhere from seemingly nowhere. It’s got a visceral sensual side effect of poetry that deserves to be enjoyed a few shots deep at a poetry slam. But he’s right, Lucas. He’s the right choice I mean. If our previous stanzas were brilliantly filled with inconsistencies, beset by indecision and ultimately undone than there was no better player to have out there to provide that spicy inconsistent mistake than the one player who can make it and not break?
2-1 up and we should have collapsed because chins would have dropped but Lucas is the only one left to have actually met Hicks and Gillette and it appears to have left him made of some sterner stuff. He carried on. He just went again like it hadn’t happened and we got back to the business of spitting venom in the direction of an unfortunate man actually named Casper. It’s a good thing the movie Kids wasn’t big over in the land of the freakishly beautiful snow people because that’s not a name most people here would be able to live with. But it was the speed Casper and cohorts couldn’t live with, a blitz by any other name. Our attack is something like a nebulous galaxy all circuitous and then like a short circuit ed crackle the rhymes turn razor sharp and the ball knifes through the grass and the place bloody explodes.
Klopp has that masterful ability so prevalent amongst the most effective and charismatic dictators: you know he’s smarter than you, you know he has a plan and yet you happily underestimate him and play your hand blindly. To put a more positive spin on things, this was the main quality that made Abraham Lincoln so great so let’s stay away from the jokes that make themselves.
What we watched was too bright and beautiful to get hung up in the ugly morass of the political, that’s why our game reminds me art.
Against Arsenal, we gifted a goal and never shook the voodoo. It’s why a game we utterly dominated ended a nervously confusing 4-3. It’s Lucas who made the proverbial slip this time and if there’s one thing we can say about him is that there’s just nothing left to scare him into letting his head dip. It’s because he throws abuse (and refuse) at the ref of a preseason game in which he’s not technically playing. Nor supposed to be involved.
It’s our season in a nutshell. Swarms are like mazes, there are always narrow gaps that can be found. Our defense is going to be exposed periodically and to hope otherwise is somewhere along the lines of arguing against entropy. It’s why while Firmino is man of the match Lucas showed what’s going to determine whether we see the Champions League next season. If we do Stevie proud and just go again after a goal as seemingly freakish as the mathematical laws behind probability allow: we are going to win a good few games that year.
It’s going to be a blast I fear.
Thank god it’s back
From time to time in pursuit of creating a masterpiece we’ll fuck it up, royally. But otherwise sit back and watch the reds attack this season.
Sorry. Totally bought into the cult of Klopp. I’m a brainwashed believer. I can hardly think for myself these days. Magic stuff.
Such an exciting time to support Liverpool! The feeling that we’re good, then really good then amazing then shite and repeat. A season, if not the last decade or longer in microcosm albeit not in such a positive ratio, 3 parts yes please…1part wtf!
Learning on the job as we are with Mane we still haven’t fully released this guy against teams. When we start to read his spinning in behind defenders and develop that telepathy there’s at least 15 penalty spot to 6 yard box goals for the pacy striker who can catch his slipstream…Mr. Sturridge that’d be you!
Less please of the 7 step overs, slowing down play and turning fellow attackers and midfield runners into back to goal forwards after futile runs beyond you into the box…more of the sharpness to get across the front post for tap ins, albeit saved in this game.
Loads more to come from this team, bring on Chelsea!
The thing with all sports is you can’t have total dominance. There’s always a stage in proceedings where any opponent will rally. It’s to be accepted. In the case of this current Liverpool side the opposition will always get those stages due to the intensity of our game. But, if we play like this then 90% of the time we’ll come out on top because we’re becoming a really good team. I’ve seen all the plaudits for certain players and that’s fair because in the traditional sense that’s how we talk post match. What struck me though was how good we played as a team. I’m not sure this player replacing that player will be of huge significance overall. I think it’ll just be a different cog in the machine. Whereas Mourinho is looking for all the best parts, Klopp is like an old fashioned watch maker carefully assembling the parts in his quest for perfect synchronicity. It was a great team performance in parts.
I started the season with mixed emotions. I posted a comment on Adam’s piece about why we will win the league and largely agreed with him because of the second half of last season. I feel it was overlooked how good our results were and our home form because we clearly had spells where we prioritised the Europa. I did worry though too because I feel every team needs a ‘best’ player. Without Ronaldo Utd don’t win 3 leagues on the bounce at his peak. Take out Hazard / Aguero and they don’t win. I remember the Derby when Mirallas tortured Wisdom for the first half and Suarez ran over to the right back position and smashed him and he didn’t come out for the second half. I fear we needed that leader. It’s just my naivety about football though. Klopp is different. His management of players is testament to that. Sturridge looked good yesterday. He looked more of a team player than I can remember. Our collective naivety in the pursuit of what we thought have become traditional methods for success has got us all flustered over Sturridge, Sakho, the left back etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Klopp’s a horologist, we’re not. I’m really excited. Look at the results in the calendar year of 2016 and add some context to them. Context that won’t apply this season. Had we beaten Burnley there wouldn’t be a Liverpool fan in the world who wasn’t wondering if this is going to be that mythical ‘our year’. It’s starts at home first and foremost and that’s currently WWWDWWWDWWDW.
We’re not the finished article. We’re 12 months in. Mignolet has punched better recently but regressed with his 2 poor attempts yesterday. I was made up for Henderson but I’ve said it for time, just put your laces through those, nothing else. It’s not hard. One thing is for sure though, this team will improve and that’s reason to be optimistic. Twitter exploded yesterday with ‘the defence is still crap’ but really there was no need. There’s nothing to moan about. Slight concerns to be had but that’s about it.
P.s Play it out from the back for sure. I’m not convinced Lucas wants that ball played to him there in that manner.
Paul Tomkins basically made the same point you are about contextualizing games based on the players available and fit before analyzing the performances. If you look at games where we were breathtaking at times (City x2 and say Villareal Home) Klopp had a first choice player in basically every position.
Subtract absolute quality and you get significantly more inconsistent results. Now like Lucas said, in almost every position (almost!) we go two deep in terms of quality players and up front your spoilt for choice.
Obvious caveats exist but if our goal is getting back into the top 4 this year I think we have a really good chance of getting it.
He’s always copying my views mate, haha.
Yep. That’s the metaphor alright Robin. A watchmaker seeking synchronicity. Kudos.
And I agree about that ball to Lucas. Look at Matip’s instant reaction of encouragement. There was no collective FFS ! and heads falling off as has happened with previous individual mistakes.
Hi Neil, Thanks for the article. This sums up the match and approach so far for me:
“At times it appears chaotic, but look closely and you can see the patterns, kaleidoscopic movement, bright colours, all loops and curves. It’s unconventional, even beautiful but simultaneously it is vulnerable.”
Yesterday I was impressed by all of the players, especially Lucas, Henderson and Lallana whom I have been critical of late. If Henderson can just put them away like Gerrard used to do so at that range, he would gain the confidence and respect needed to lead the team even more effectively.
I hope Sturridge can find the net and that those two chances were something to forget before the next match.
I wish Coutinho would stop trying to shoot as soon as he gets on the pitch. Someone on here compared him to Modric. Two very different players – Modric is someone who is willing to learn. Maybe Modric spends more time listening and learning. Coutinho somehow gives me the impression that he can be stubborn. Anyways I trust that Klopp will sort it out soon enough.
For me, Klopp hushing the crowd when they started with songs for him and pointing to his watch during the second half is something not to be taken lightly. He is right – the match ends on the final whistle, and any time left before that, the opposition can ruin the party.
Robin Crimes’ analogy of the old fashioned watchmaker is well deserved as it seems as if it is what Klopp may be trying to do to get the Red Machine in full effect.
The defense is not crap, but it and the goalkeeper needs work. A Hazard, Costa or Willian are craftier than the pub players we faced yesterday, nevermind Messi, Suarez, Griezmann, etc on their best days.
It was a good match yesterday, one that for the first time I wasn’t biting nails or worried about even after Lucas made a mistake. Something about the setup and atmosphere on the pitch helped me stay focused.
I read on TAW in an article before about one of the reasons why Liverpool have failed to win the league — the ability to forget about the next match and concentrate on the match at hand. I hope the team, Klopp and all of us Red fans can try to focus on the match at hand.
With that, it’s Chelsea up next, so I was wondering then what you lot think would be the best approach to dealing with the plastics?
Up the Reds!!!
That was a very good performance and the great thing is – we are better than that.
Great players can paper over inferior manager’s cracks (JM 1st 3 games) but real managers create a Collective Machine that relies on attitude and belief and a few decent players to buy into it. We have that plus we have some hidden diamonds that the PG/JM obsessed media heads are just beginning to turn to now. 6 or 7-0 wouldn’t have flattered that performance but it didn’t happen because we are about 70% of Klopp’s potential, at best. He knows that and he’d been given the time wisely by the owners to work with confidence, not trepidation.
Of the players- I agree with everyone on the usual suspects brilliance but here’s what I am noticing:
Gini Wyn?: boy was he everywhere- at times I was sure there was 2 players with his number- honestly- I never saw his box to box and midfield smart touches so much before, in fact Zi was hoping he’d be dropped for yesterday but now I’m seeing he’s gonna be boss.
Dan S grew up in this match- he lost some of his (natural striker) selfishness and applied himself to the collective cause unselfishly and that deserves great credit as we benefitted with his constant threat and sublime skills.
Hendo silenced a lot of barstool critics with a return to fitness and form and presence that he showed 2 years back. FF to him.
Mignolet- an enigma. Sometimes a great shot stopper- sometimes a fool. And always too bloody quiet- great teams generally have a mouthy keeper that eats the defence any time a goal is conceded. He doesn’t- but some like De Gea don’t too. So what is it? I’ve noticed he tends to protect himself- flaps at crosses rather that crucify big forwards. Makes himself big and leans back when there’s a scuffle in front of himself- rather than bursting in head and hands first.
Then he gets a wallop on the snout.
Watch him getting treated- he’s eyeing the bench, terrified that Karius might get the nod. He knows he’s out if that lad comes in- he trains with him and that Karius is a cocky young so-and-so like Courtois. I like that, but anyway, Mig stays on and gets bossy- gets smarter- gets braver- gets another clout and blood and dives back into it again. No excuses- a job to do and (a job to keep). Ok- he nearly gets caught once later but he’s blooded- he needed a knock on the head to give him a kick up the arse. The Karius threat seems to be working and if he recovers his Sunderland form and better- we’re all winners with 2 top keepers, including the Bundesliga Players’ Poll 2nd choice as best keeper last year.
Lucas- hated him under Rafa. Then saw under RH, Kenny, Brendan and now JK- he’s a beaut. To me- he was 10 out of 10 yesterday. His game reading is the best in the squad- bar none. Defence was fully confident as he batted and covered and encouraged and fought like a warrior. And boy can he see a movement happening- cut it out quietly then he makes attacks himself. Remember- he can pass and that one to a running JM set things for the opener. Everything else good aside yesterday- he then did the best any defender and leader can do. He makes a howler, takes the blame, internalises the team and amazing crowd support and gets right up off the canvas and carries on, contributing incredibly to the confidence of the team to get back into it and win comprehensively.
That was True leadership a la Stevie, Jamie et al when they’ve made howlers and own-goals- say F**k It! and get right back into it.
One thing missing in recent departures is the void of new leaders. Lucas and Henderson are filling that void and there’s more coming through that are already there. It takes games and Istanbul for example, gave us 3 or 4 extra along with the scouseboys.
It’s easy to be afraid to hope and a lot of recent despondency with the manager and owners because we bought early and cleared out late the players JK wants but look at his Prototype. It reared against Ars for 20 mins, spluttered against Burnley, zoomed against Burton, purred and misfired betimes against Spurs then more emphatically against Leicester- blew them away at times then let then regain foothold at other times. But don’t forget- though others are disgusted with Leicester- they’re not shite. Ask Arsenal, ask Swansea- it’s Liverpool that made them look shite because we’re at another level than they are and even were last year.
And we are rising.
We’re advancing through Klopp’s techniques. Versprung Klopp Technik folks!!!
Bring on Chelski and a fair non-homer ref!!
YNWA, P
I used to go on about the clockwork of the Rodgers’ side, the brilliant parts less than the brilliant whole, and I think Robin’s nailed it – we’re once again becoming Clockwork Red. When Klopp first visited Anfield, Suarez was already gone, but we still played with a fluid aggression and a telepathic understanding that saw or players able to anticipate moves before they began. First touch, no look passes into the space beyond the defenders were almost commonplace.
The anticipation and ruthlessness have a more ragged edge under Klopp – that’s the way he likes it, like Neil Young in his pomp – but they are again becoming part of our identity. For those of us who backed Lallana to come good all this time, we’ve been suggesting that the improvement in the attackers around him would see his ceiling return to the time when he was shortlisted for Player of the Year. Blunted by the Balotelli era, expect Lallana to flourish with the pace and space provided by Mane, Sturridge, Firmino, and Origi.
It’s taken some time for the match to settle into my psyche – Burnley still clouds matters – but I’m feeling quite bullish on this group of gents. The Lucas goal no longer counts in my mind. We’ve kept a clean sheet. Up the Clockwork Reds!
So impressed by how we reacted to conceding at 2-0 up. I was extremely anxious when they pulled that goal back due to memories of recent collapses from positions of authority, but it didn’t happen. We are simply a better football team than Leicester and brilliantly demonstrated why that is. The fluidity of our attack made a usually stingy defence look pedestrian.
Sunday League Champs were beaten with plenty left in the tank.Tougher tasks await