WAKING up and it doesn’t feel much better.
Liverpool’s 2-2 draw was the most disappointing of likely outcomes, not least because of the substitution which saw Liverpool shift to a back three/five, saw Liverpool take a backwards step, saw Liverpool yield the initiative to Bournemouth when a third Liverpool goal seemed more likely than an equaliser.
LISTEN. We are not the Liverpool manager; not one of us reading this knows what it is like to be the Liverpool manager and while we live our seasons we don’t have his lived experience, his time working with the players and his football brain. It won’t be a change he has made for no reason. He and his team will have had their ideas and if Liverpool counter attack better it becomes a substitution which even if we don’t laud we can shrug our shoulders about. All of this stuff is easier when it isn’t your job. Most people’s jobs seem easier when it isn’t your job.
But the change did seem to confuse his players and it did knock Liverpool’s momentum. And it wasn’t his last change; well it was his last change. That’s the point. A manager can make a move on 65 and then make another one. He still had two more in his back pocket and while Liverpool were 2-1 in the game it never seemed quite right (though would I be writing this if Josh King steers his effort wide? Probably not. I’d be drinking Aperol Spritz and contemplating a European tour and talking about a scruffy win).
He’s a strange cat this great manager of ours. We’re used to managers who are exceptionally hands-on in one way or another and make the point publicly. I grew up with Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier. These were men who had a plan, wanted you to know they had a plan and would execute that in front of your eyes. This great manager of ours doesn’t operate the same way in the most public of spheres though he is clearly exceptionally diligent; last summer’s transfer business and this season’s approach should make that clear. In general his work around substitutes seems occasionally haphazard; haphazardly occasional.
Within this game he made a big, hold change when it wasn’t crying out for one — Philippe Coutinho’s illness not withstanding — and then didn’t make one when lads looked goosed and uncertain. And with a period of reflection…
…I’m alright with it. There are lots of things Jürgen Klopp will do as Liverpool manager that I won’t be behind or like. But I want Klopp to be Liverpool manager and to be himself as he does so. I have said a million times on these pages that we need our Liverpool managers to be themselves. If they start second guessing themselves then we have a problem. Maybe this is Jürgen second guessing himself. We’ll only see that if it becomes a pattern. For now, while losing the points is utterly frustrating I’m sure there is no examination on this page which will be more thorough than the self-examination of Klopp and his staff. They have all the info. They have the football brain. They have the lived experience. They have all that is seen and unseen. We don’t.
We need to find the language and the shrug. Let it be “one of them” — and by God, let it be “one of them”. We have things to do.
Elsewhere, Liverpool need to find ruthlessness and need to find it soon. Chances and chances to create chances were missed. Liverpool didn’t play well but still created more than enough to put Bournemouth to bed last night. Bournemouth wanted to lose that game 3-1 and when that didn’t happen they took the only option that was open to them — draw 2-2. Something which the two sides who lead the league have done well this season is give opposition sides what they want. For all the huff and puff about everyone able to take points off everyone else and for all the talk about Liverpudlian frailties, Bournemouth last night weren’t great in any way and they and their fans would have gone home at 3-1 and wondered about what you can do. They would have said Liverpool were just that bit too good. West Ham earlier this season wanted to do the same thing. Instead they both end up with 2-2 draws because they just aren’t put to bed.
The positives — Coutinho scored my favourite of his goals this season. He scored the goal not of a Brazilian genius, but of a left-sided forward. This is very good news indeed and we could do with more of this kind of thing. Divock Origi got onto the end of something with aplomb and for a while looked at his unplayable best rather than his unselectable worst. Emre Can again got in the thick of the game and personified nuisance in a good way. Nathaniel Clyne was very unlucky not to score a pearler; an excellent save from Artur Boruc.
Liverpool need to take these positives and their tired legs to the Britannia, get all three points and give it the big one. Seven from this nine would always have been good enough.
Up the hard way Reds. Because they are the only ones we have at our disposal.
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Tired legs…do me a favour!
On the subs thing: Klopp used all 3 *a lot* in Germany, but then he mostly had a squad he was completely comfortable with and well looked after by the men/women above and around him in terms of balance. I think we are getting there in terms of squad balance and depth, it’s clear that if Klopp doesn’t like a player he won’t touch him – so until the depth aspect is sorted I think his subs are going to continue to be a thing rather than something that’s glossed over as we win the league next season.
This had draw written all over it.
And now draws are positive things at LFC.
It could have been worse.
And as the injuries we love collecting reduce the squad further, it likely will get worse.
But the kids will get chances, which will hopefully increase the value of those assets.
If you look hard enough, you can find positives in anything.
Knowledge is power and this season you feel that Klopp has learned a lot. Next season he will know how important the December and January part of the season is.
The importance of a big squad full of quality players. Klavern you imagine would be ok in Germany, but not quite good enough over here where every team scraps for every point. I also expect goals, pace and a free kick specialist. We have got a good group of players but it needs to be bigger to cope with 3 games a week from August to May.
That FSG have briefed that this summer is going to be massive is no surprise, no point in giving Klopp a 6 year contract and not the players he needs.
Free kick specialist very high on the list for me.
It’s not often I agree with Neil and I certainly don’t here. As soon as the sub was made I was incredulous then abusive. Klopp made a balls up and it was stark staring obvious. He talked before the game about being defensive then he bottled it with putting 5 at the back saying come and attack. And we can’t defend. The man’s a charlatan. It was Bournemouth for goodness sake and Klopp showed fear. Shameful.
C’mon Peter – go the full hog and call him the poor man’s Brendan Rodgers.
He’s the poor man’s Brendan Rodgers, o-kay.
One thing disappoints me, particularly after your talk with the manager in pre-season: inflexibility.
We know were shite without Sadio so why persist with 4-3-3?
We know Bobby and Origi’s strengths and weaknesses (one’s ineffective out wide, the other’s good at hold up play but slows us down), so why persist with a 4-3-3?
He talked, refreshingly, of varying his shapes/formation in the summer but has appeared very reluctant to do so (last night’s aberration excepted).
I just don’t see how going to a back five against Bournemouth at home whilst leading the game is anything but madness. Sure, Klopp knows better than all of us, but you don’t lead a 100m sprint then suddenly decide to jog backwards for the last twenty, it’s f*cking crazy!
Thanks Neil.
On the tactical switch I see things a bit different to you (and, as it’s also different to other posters, it’s probably me that’s wrong!).
I think Phillipa on the Pink summed up my thinking. I thought Jurgen’s change worked absolutely fine right up until the moment that Ragner’s head fell off. From the point he made the change we created a number of situations on the break that a better decision or pass would have led to a great chance and Bournemouth created nothing until we gifted them the equaliser. I don’t see why the manager would have made another sub until that stage – we seemed much the more likely side to score.
Paul Cope wrote something on here a few days back saying how we all know better on team selections with the benefit of hindsight despite having no proof that our selection would have led to a better outcome. Same with in-game substitutions. It’s our best guess whether a different change or no change at all would have led to a victory, draw or defeat but we shouldn’t let a basic error by a centre-half make it “obviously” the wrong decision.
Good summary. People see what they want to use to beat up their target, even if it’s Klopp. Bournemouth had a shot, their third, on 34 minutes with their next shot on 84 minutes. So, the change gave Bournemouth the initiative how exactly? After Matip came on, Bournemouth didn’t take a shot for 20 minutes but they had the initiative?
People are crazy.
@Paddy. Exactly.
Phil wasn’t well. Klavan and co. were going to face a barraging in the last 15 minutes (long ball throw-ins etc.) given what happened in the reverse fixture. We had more than enough quality on the pitch to score a third and too little quality on the bench (Studge included because he has only just come back) to risk a change.
Shifting to three at the back should have countered the barrage while offering more width.
Then pinball happened (after Emre headed the ball central rather than back from where it came) and Klavan lost sight of the ball in the mix up. A manger has no call on that.
Honestly, I think Klopp should be applauded given the context.
Am I happy we lost two points. Of course not. I’m furious. And yes, it’s not the first time. But laying into the manager is just silly. He made a tactical decision that was appropriate given the circumstances. Bad decision making ON the pitch cost us the points.