DAMN these Reds. Damn them to hell.
They love looking a gifthorse in the mouth. They’ve not been short of gifthorses. Gifthorses coming out of their ears. They can’t look at a gifthorse without looking at it in the mouth.
Today the most direct. 12 yards. One kick. Truth be told James Milner had a shocking 90 full stop — he’s earned penalty grace. But the rest. Wowzer. He gets himself out of jail at least twice, gets bailed out on at least two other occasions and should set up the winner after missing a penalty. He spent a disproportionate amount of the game on all fours. That he did some of his best work on all fours is not a good thing. I’m no expert but I expect my outfield players’ best moments to come when vertical.
There is a problem, a real problem, a get it sorted in the summer problem, for Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool on what they do when a side comes and just isn’t interested. Let’s be clear — there is a difference between what Burnley do and what Crystal Palace and Southampton did. Burnley came to have a battle. The other two wanted to take all the sting out of the game. The onus on changing the tempo falls on Liverpool’s centre midfield and none of today’s three have, over a period of games, shown themselves able to do that for Liverpool in 2017.
Emre Can and Lucas Leiva played well broadly speaking. Today it was Gini Wijnaldum’s turn to be aggressively invisible. He was the essence of a midfield nothing. Not helping the set, not augmenting the attack. Neither proton nor electron. Just present, a neutron of a performance. Matter; shifting around the pitch.
This needs sorting both in terms of the generic and in terms of the specific. Can and Wijnaldum should be able to influence the pace of a game more. Lucas should perhaps find this a reason why he isn’t here next season. But in general Liverpool need to work on this pacing. They need to make the pitch bigger in an effective sense. They need to pass vertically more often. They would have been better served today by any of the starting three with Phil Coutinho and Adam Lallana in front to start; Marko Grujic even perhaps. This is a classic “not my job” shout. But Southampton’s approach should have come as no surprise; it’s our fourth meeting, our fourth goalless game against them.
Coutinho looked to be carrying a knock. Exhausting that sentence. It has been forever thus. It is my jam of 2017. Roberto Firmino willing. Daniel Sturridge is so good at football and so comparatively mediocre at running, it honestly, honestly, honestly makes me want to weep. He’s tragic and magic. More of this kind of thing.
We find ourselves in a bad place with Divock Origi, the poor love. He’s no fun to watch at Anfield. He’s little fun to watch away from home but at least he feels of some use in opposition grounds. In the current climate at Anfield he’s short of belief, quality and goals. He’s always had at least one of the three in the past.
But this is a Liverpool side set up to play away from home. The tempo is that of the away side. The line-up is an away line-up. The manager has kept it for four consecutive games. His side has had success on the road. His side has looked gifthorses in the mouth at home.
Gifthorses everywhere. Arsenal now doing Liverpool a favour while keeping themselves in touch. You would rather be in our position than that of either of the sides below us. But that is both very much the point and not at all the point. Very much because mission can be accomplished. Not at all the point because this needs sorting. It just needs sorting. It had looked sorted prior to Christmas. It might just get sorted by signing more very good, quick players. Most things get fixed by that. Ask Alex Ferguson. Today’s point might prove crucial, should this continue next season those singular home points will prove costly.
Up the gifthorse Reds. May they be getting all this out the way and still be managing to do the decent thing.
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Another depressingly predictable game and performance from us.
A truly terrible game, but a day with two significant consolations: Arsenal ended the lamest unbeaten run in history; and they now have to contend with the South Coast shitsacks next game, lest they start thinking of catching us. Staggering towards the line.
I spent the second half in fight or flight mode, my heart rate too high and my blood pressure too. Subs on too late, Southampton setting out to disrupt and delay. It’s not healthy. I might listen to the next game on the radio while doing some gardening.
Spent the first half telling myself not to be one of those supporters who starts grumbling early. By 60, I was a muttering pile of sweat. Truth be told, I had been hoping to watch Sturridge and Lallana come out of the tunnel at halftime in full regalia. Klopp obviously has more faith in his players working out a solution than I have. Trying hard to be a believer, but I still have my doubts.
There is one thing that i really don’t understand. Why when we play teams who set up to defend like this and pack the middle of the field do Liverpool insist on trying to play through the middle on the ground. If you have a Mane in the team with pace who can go past players then maybe this approach is possible but without him it just doesn’t work. You could see that they could play all day like this and wouldn’t find a way through the middle yet that’s all they kept doing. Why do the fullbacks not get forward more and provide more width and we just put loads of crosses in. There’s more chance of scoring like that then just passing it sideways in backwards in the middle. In this type of game Moreno should play on the left as his defensive duties wouldn’t be needed seeing as Southampton had no interest in attacking. Why Clyne barely went down the wing to provide width i just don’t understand. Also another baffling thing is why does Klopp wait so long to put Sturridge and Lallana on. They should have been put on in the first few minutes of second half when it was clear that we weren’t going to break Southampton down. Although Klopp is a good manager, this is one area what lets him down, his insistence to play through the middle with no width when its obvious it’s not working and also his reluctance to make substitutions earlier when needed. Well we are lucky in that Man Utd are so poor and have just lost so they may just gift us fourth place. Lets hope some new additions for next season will solve some of these problems but i think full backs are a priority plus another couple of players similar to Mane.
Dont know which game you were watching, but our fullbacks went up on attack quite a lot. The problem is both Milner and Clyne are short on genuine attacking threat when they do get in the final third.
Clyne rarely beats his man and often can’t get any decent cross in. While Milner more often than not cuts in onto his right foot and delivers nothing.
So the problem isnt because of the fullbacks not providing width, the problem is they produce almost nothing consistently from those positions.
Exactly. Clyne isn’t good enough and Milner is just slow
Gini the latest to be just burning doin’ the neutron dance. Origi too tall and central to our goal threat to be afforded the anonymity he puts on display. Far too soon to give up on him, but it looks virtually impossible to see any joy coming from him this season.
A midfield with Henderson and Lallana in it would have made a massive difference. Wouldn’t mind dropping Coutinho back there next season to accommodate another attacking threat in the front three. If the links to Lacazette and Brandt or Costa prove to be legitimate, it would make for a mouth-watering front six. And a satisfyingly deep bench.
Two weeks in a row, our rivals have gifted us control of our destiny. Forget the length of its tooth – just take the damn horse.
This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen again next season. The Width, Pace and Tempo deficiencies could still see us falter at the final hurdle.
And simply have to be addressed in the transfer window.
As has been said Shitsack football is a legitimate tactic but as JK said after his first taste of Pulisball : teams can’t turn up at Anfield and expect to get away with any of our points.
Klopp’s timing of substitutions is annoying at times – I think he wants to instill self belief in the players, not contradicting himself when he tells them to stick to the system and be patient.
I really wish to fuck that we would come roaring out of the blocks for once.
Two draws from the last matches is not unbelievable on today’s and the Crystal Palace showing.
73 points has been good enough for CL the last 20 seasons.
It can’t surely be any better for us than an already relegated team at home on the last day of the campaign.
Hope springs eternal.
Up the frustrating, stumbling, never the easy way Reds. !!
Thank Christ for my supply of beta blockers… I tell ya… this lot will be the death of me. I’m not sure I can take much more of this season. And next West Ham away. Defibrillator on order…
Torture – supporting the Reds. Whole season down to two games. Unbelievable. Other than that…never have thought I’d see ‘wowzer’ written on these pages. Other than that, spot on.
the reason for that is the last 36 games…
Sharpman i was watching the Liverpool Southampton game but i think you need to watch it again as they did not provide much width. They occasionally went up the pitch but nowhere near enough and not high enough up the pitch. Providing good width is to go near the byline to put crosses in or cut the ball back to somebody and i’m sorry but this just wasn’t happening much. Milner attempted a total of 8 crosses in the whole game and only one of those was successful. Only twice did he cross from near the byline. If you think that is a fullback attacking a lot then i’m speechless. As for Clyne well he even made Milner look good. Clyne only managed to attempt to put 3 crosses into the penalty box in the whole match and not one of them was successful. Those were near the byline but 3 in the whole match? come on that’s not a fullback going up attacking a lot and providing width.
Can someone explain to me why the fuck Lucas is still on the pitch at 60? Milner? For Christ’s sake, they didn’t have a shot on our goal the entire fucking game. Why, then, would we need two 6’s on the field in Lucas & Can and a left back whose only redeeming value there is defensively? It’s the same broken record against these sides time after blessed time. Milner provides no attacking width on the left whatsoever. Why not try something different there? At least Moreno has pace and a Goddamned left foot. Why Origi was still on at 60 also baffles me. How do you need an extra ten more minutes and change to figure out that he’s a useless passenger who’s not going to sniff goal. It’s like fucking Groundhog’s Day with these defensive sides. Same tired tactics, same team sheet, same result. Try something new. Be proactive for once.
Can someone explain to me why the fuck Lucas is still on the pitch at 60? Milner?
There’s no one else.
Not quite true. With Soton just sitting back we didn’t have enough threat either on the flanks or through the middle.
I put the buck at Klopp. Too little too late.
Against teams that play 10 behind the ball we need a Lucas or a Gini, not both. Or even swap Milner back into the centre and put on Moreno as an attacking threat then leave Clyne to defend and as cover in a virtual back 3.
lallana on earlier, as well at sturridge.
Klopp must learn lessons from this and change to improve on the fly.
2 pts from 9 at home is pitiful. Especially with Palace getting hit for 5 by City.
“He spent a disproportionate amount of the game on all fours.” I laughed.
Other than the deficiencies I think this is a team still trying to find a balance between attack and defence. I’m happy we didn’t concede, which is a good thing in this kind of match. Everyone keeps going on about Sturridge but it’s clear the ‘sports science people’ are telling Klopp that 20-25 minutes is all he can do right now. Tragic indeed.
What a bore Southampton are though, to come to Anfield and not play football, when they’re safe in the table with nothing to lose. Why bother being a football team at all. Ten moving pillars could have done their job today.
i was really surprised by how Southampton played. They took the game to Chelsea last week albeit losing 4-2, but being safe in the table, I expected a similar approach.
I wonder whether the speculation around Puel forced him into a must not lose approach?
Maybe. And it could be that their players and manager are incentivized by monetary bonuses if they finish above a certain position in the table and they’re not there yet, and they figured this method worked for them already this season against us… Or it could just be that they want to restore some pride because we keep taking their players… I guess we’ll find out when they play Arsenal.
…tragic, magic.
…great commentary. Literature, if you like.
Nice/ Thanks again Neil.
Baz
gini,does a vanishing act,again,C/F who can not trap a bag of cement,manger who should have made changes at half time,a crowd that was dead,worrying times.right now for west ham,just do not get beat,and we crawl over the line,roll on next season and a bit of luck with injuries
Southampton, “They came not to play”
“You would rather be in our position than that of either of the sides below us”
Few would argue Utd have had a shit season,but they are close to us and have won something. We have performed shit in the cups and are cannot find any consistency apart from collecting injuries.
Utd will likely “sort it” in summer.We likely won’t, because are owners are shit.
or you know…maybe united won’t sort it out and we likely will. Not plausible but not improbable either. However, why are we caring about whether united sort themselves out or not right now. Lets freak out about it after it actually happens. Also i’d limp to the champions league and hope we sort ourselves out in the summer rather than be the best team we can be and not play in the CL. Cause if you think united and CL is a sure thing next the I disagree. The tie with celta is far from settled. Ajax won’t just appear in a final to roll over and give united the cup (lord, i hope not) So while i agree on criticising them lets do it after when we’re back in the CL and our team is still shit.
You’re a shit ‘supporter’
So sorry I can’t be the superfan supporter like you. Really sorry. Only your opinion has value. So Sorry. Prick.
Hello everyone in this thread – just a friendly shout, if you routinely abuse other people in our comments section rather than just having a conversation, we’ll ban you. Can’t be arsed with it. Nice one, Robbo.
But it’s ok to call people “shit supporters” Nice one. All is Crystal clear. I can’t be arsed with it either.
Sound – so we can all stop then, yeah?
Sound.
But your mate James is a prick. A Beaut.
Ok mate, you’re banned.
I really hate the way Liverpool sometimes really hate me
Would take 1 premier league in next 5 years, maybe next 10 as we are 26 since last title.At least 6 strong teams with big spending power suggests no one team will dominate anymore. That leaves CL qualifification as being a decent season. Mane absences have killed us at times but we are still in their fighting. 2 games for 76 points and dreaming of Las Ramblas, let’s help these lads get what this season’s performances deserve.
Well penned Neil.
I’m not seeing much love for Lucas here but I thought he was our best player until being strangely withdrawn. Yes he was our holder, and there’s fellas who still make a case for him NEVER even starting a game we’re expected to dominate, but he was doing well, and attuned to the pace of the game. Besides he is on a roll with these assists lately, so as the game wore on he may have taken more attacking risk than say Emre Can. Regardless of tactics I think you bring off your passengers (and re-jig formation accordingly). Yeah I’m in the Wijnaldum fan club too, but he definitely just hid from 50,000 people yesterday. I couldn’t find him.
Agree on a few people’s full back frustrations. Let’s be clear it’s a tough fucking gig for these lads with no width ahead of them, but when the going gets clueless Clyne needs to find the byline, get his head up and try not to have a nosebleed when delivering a cross. Milner is half dead and I’m letting him off. He’s probably behind the Give Moreno a Chance campaign himself at this point.
One of the most infuriating things for me is that this Southampton will be nowhere to be seen against Arsenal. They’ll roll over and have their bellies tickled.
Klopp needs to shoulder a large part of the blame for that . team set up and selection not to lose and to play on the counter , Lucas in games like this has less than zero purpose .
How Origi starts ahead of Sturridge another head scratcher ..
Ever thought that Sturridge can only play 30 mins before being unable to run?
Heads all over the place at the mo. Cant get this season in perspective. Starting off so well and then the January slump and now crawling over the line. Injuries a big part but lots of other questions to be answered on formation, substitutions etc and I’m worried we are not taking any momentum into next season and also worried about JK’s ability to learn how to beat the bottom half, especially at home.
In this system wingbacks get so much time and space,
Step forward clyne the ball is passed to him, you think go on son, but 90% of his first touches are inside to play safe, he waits 2-3 long seconds where 80% of the time he passes safely back to lucas after weighing up all his options, 10% of the time he decides to run inside and then loses it in a crowded area might get a shot off, the other 5% he will try and take on the full back and get outpaced by some journeyman from holland who will smash him out possibly get a corner from this, the other 5% (and im being generous) he will play a one two and get space to cross which will hit the first man.
Also chance each game to lose his man on the back post once a game
I have heard numerous people mention he is not priority how can that be possible? A player in a system who needs to provide width and is essential to attack and defence, i would safely say is a huge priority, i think neil covered our other wing back pretty well.
Two new ones would be great in the summer
i messed up the % fuck it you get the my picture damn
A decent point i feel in the end. The Reds made sure they didn’t lose the game given what happened against Palace. Up the developing Reds. Up against a very negative, spoiling team. Why are Southampton so low in the table. Dreadful tactics. Soton’s behaviour around the penalty not good and the time wasting by Forster (diving on the ball when he could just have picked it up) don’t rate that. They’ve a lot of talent in their team, why they played like that. Beyond me.
Up the Reds! Lovren was strong. Sturridge looked bright and lively. Credit for Milner for doing the interview after.
Up the Redmen.
If TAW gets the chance to chat with Klopp again, can you ask him about his use of subs, and bring up specific games, like yesterday. I genuinely want to know because he is doing my head in. I know he knows more about footy and his team than I ever will, but sometimes the need to make a change is so obvious that it stands out like a pair of dog’s balls, yet he refuses. Why Juergen?