What a win, what a weekend. Gareth Roberts is joined for this week’s free podcast by John Gibbons, Daniel Austin, Melissa Reddy and James Sutton to talk about a massive weekend for Liverpool as they shrugged off the disappointment of Manchester United to dispatch a troublesome West Brom side with relative aplomb.
Only just missing out on top spot on goal difference, could Liverpool have done more against a manager they’ve historically struggled against or did they produce enough against an inspired Ben Foster in the West Brom goal, and from one goalie to another, the microscopic analysis of Loris Karius continues, but is he really in as poorer form as is being made out?
What now for Liverpool with Spurs on the horizon and Crystal Palace at the weekend?
Can a few on the fringes force their way into the picture this weekend?
Battered sausage… have it.
Nice blend of voices today. I’d have liked to have heard Melissa’s conclusions re: Karius (let’s be honest fellas she is the most gifted, analytical and articulate of the crew from a journalistic perspective) and also clearly getting access from the players (looking forward to hearing more Lallana obv’s – that passivity comment was a real ‘oh wow yeh’ moment but overall you’re right it WAS time that the overall sentiment was positive and enjoyed it thoroughly
On the Sturridge chat guys KLOPPs system clearly wants his attacking players to win the ball high up the pitch , close down pressure defenders and make tackles to win
I really can’t remember seeing daniel make a tackle on the pitch or even close down a defender as if his life or place depends on it. Strangely daniel does not do this at all
Great player great goal scorer but he doesn’t fit the current system
Origi plus Danny ings can do what’s asked of them they can win the ball tackle and work hard for the team
For me these two should come into the team before daniel
Mushy peas are fuckin rancid…ban them. Curry I quite like, and a battered sausage too. But if you can drop on to one of them cheap lunchtime specials where you get a mini portion of chips, sausage, fish and curry all in one hit then yer in chip shop Heaven…
Anyway, good pod this. I’m also not fussed by the set piece and goalkeeper bedwetting, in fact it’s fucking boring in the grand scheme of things when you consider what is happening right now. We’ve got a boss defence so unless results start going tits up then I’m happy to let them keep working on it and let Karius just settle in and find his feet in the team. If we expect him to be perfect from day 1 then that’s just stupid.
Onto the Daniel Sturridge conundrum. There is a place for Studge in the team but not one that he’s likely to accept (i.e backup striker/impact sub), or one that Klopp is likely to accommodate much further than the end of the season. I think he’ll be used carefully and sparingly to maintain his fitness but also to slowly take the focus away from how injury prone he has been, and IF we sell him, we should get a handsome fee for what he genuinely is…a world class striker, albeit one that just doesn’t suit our style of play. We’ve got 2 other strikers (Origi/Ings) who maybe aren’t of the same finishing standard as Studge but are more suited to how we play as a team when we’re at our best level in most situations. I think Klopp would prefer to keep Studge and use him as and when he sees fit, but if say for example you’ve got Studge and Ings on the bench and the game needs an attacking substitution that requires the graft and intensity levels to be maintained (or even increased) then standby for the ‘Studge death-stare’ as Ings gets ready to be brought on. But if he’s happy in Liverpool and trusts Klopp to look after him, who knows? Hate to use the comparison but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the perfect sub at Utd when they were annoyingly successful. He got to start the odd match but mostly came on and did his damage later in the game and was/still is worshiped for his selfless role he played in that team. Could Studge be that selfless? He just doesn’t seem the type but it’s his only hope of longevity with us I suspect.
Spuds tonight and I hope we get to see some of the bright young things get game time. Really really really like the look of Ejaria, what the fuck were Arsenal thinking letting that lad go?! Thought they were decent at spotting young talent.
Up the talent spotting selfless reds!
Excellent and fair podcast again guys- I see what you mean about Melissa and her ‘new friend (“what do you mean “new?”!’ :-) with Herr Klopp on her Twitter avatar- as well as the background Interview image…: We wouldn’t want you to become too subjective there Mel- your insightful objectivity is clearly voiced and much appreciated.
Just a couple of observations. As Lee above and many others voice, I’m not pushed about Sturridge atm- he has the talent to do jobs JK knows others can’t in certain types of games and situations to use in or bring on- but he doesn’t fit the Template. Benteke didn’t either. Both excellent but he’s unsuited to our game plan (except Leicester game where I thought he got it perfect for the whole game- not just that dummy run).
I think Origi has similar issues but needs more Beale u23 time to grasp the ‘team’ concept. So I’ll be disappointed if Danny Ings doesn’t start v Spurs tonight. It’s 1 year since that accident and he’s recovered, has recently shown he’s on form scoring for fun and is a total interchangeable team player. Like Firmino et al- he gets Klopp’s Uber Plan of ‘total swarm football’ (just made that up- might catch on:-)!
The other point is Mignolet. Look at it this way- he’s had 3 years of more downs than ups- and trying harder recently I know. But remember this- he’s had 12 months of almost exclusivity to learn under JK.
12 nonths- not 12 weeks or games but probably 55+ games! Now add in the intensive coaching sessions. That’s a hell of a lot of time to become what Jurgen wants and still he’s not there yet. The instincts and playmaking and reacting Klopp and the lads want mustn’t be showing in training as well as it isn’t in the games. So I think of the Karius choice not just like the slow burner De Gea comparison but closer to home too: The Joel Marie comparison (Who’s he and why is he free instead of £35 million like the Ars and Manure defender purchases?!) The Milner comparison. Mane comparison (‘if he’s in then x or y will have to be benched’.. yep!!)
We all raised eyebrows at least quizically with those buys and decisions. Now we raise our hands and applaud them.
I say give Karius 12 months of 55+ games too, good and bad, because the lads knew what they were doing when they got him. They see him every day and he’ll be getting gametime bedding-in with his defenders. It’s not like we are really benching a Ray Clemence- but we could be making one on the pitch.
And besides,…he hasn’t really cost us a goal yet either….
Verspung Klopp Technik!!! guys,
P
Sorry to sound like a moaning old bastard, but can we really stop all this chat about goalkeepers. I’ve listened to 2 pods on my drive into the arid wilderness that is Qatar’s northern deserts this week, and both went on too long about and keeper situation… its been discussed to death and detracts from the rest of the performance and results….. and its fucking dull.
Anyway, other observations:
1) I’m glad the Pulis nonsense chat about our front line costing 200mil was mentioned – what a load of bolloxios
2) Chipshop curry sauce on chips is an abberation that that should be damned to the lowest level of hell. Its disgusting. That said, I have had a lamb bhuna with chips and that was boss. But that’s not your typical chipshop curry sauce… that was an authentic curry.
3) Totally agree, seeing Sturridge sulking on the bench is a good sign. It means one of the best players in the league can’t get into the 11 so the lads who are playing must be shit-hot, AND he’s not happy about it, so there’s still fire in the belly.
Apologies for being a moany bastard. TAW is absolutely boss. And well worth the fiver (though thanks to the exchange rate its costing me 15% less!)
Up the Reds.