YET again we are frustrated by the supposed best manager in world football, who turns up at Anfield and uses the same game plan as Derek Adams of Plymouth Argyle did last January. Actually if Adams had spent £400million on his squad maybe even he’d have been more adventurous.
Liverpool deserved to win that game but were thwarted by an expensively assembled Trojan horse. Better finishing wins it, so I’ll be damned if Jose is getting credit for that.
Sadio Mane plays and Liverpool win.
Anyway, ratings and stuff:
Simon Mignolet: 7
Not much to do but makes a vital save at a vital time. Also did well with his feet when needed.
Joe Gomez: 8
Nervous when he’s named as the one to look after Anthony Martial all game but he dealt with it well. Then dominated media darling Marcus Rashford. Excellent from young Joe.
Joel Matip: 7
Bit of a 50-50 game for him. Seemed to shank a few clearances but overall seemed calm and assured on the ball. Won some crucial challenges.
Dejan Lovren: 7
Only remembered at the start of the game how he dominated Romelu Lukaku in the derby last year and did it again today. One chance aside he had him in toast, but wish he was better at the other end.
Alberto Moreno: 7
Loved that from Albie. Caught out of position a few times but made vital blocks, in particular after that Lukaku chance. Also provided a useful option in attack.
Jordan Henderson: 6
Not his finest game but always tricky to be that influential in such a hectic match. Put in some good tackles but his final ball was poor too often.
Emre Can: 7
Seemed to drift in and out of the game but was the one who wanted to carry the ball forward most. Putting his head where it hurt with that Nemanja Matic challenge as well.
Gini Wijnaldum: 6
All over the place one minute, then nowhere to be found the next. Did get the ball from A to B a fair bit but in a game like that you just want a bit more.
Philippe Coutinho: 7
First half I was quite frustrated with him but as the game went on he became more influential. Just that last ball wasn’t quite there. Second half started well but faded. Should have had a penalty though.
Mohamed Salah: 7
Very up and down game for him. As ever his movement and pace put him in great positions but finishing arguably cost us the win. If he could finish as well as he dribbles we’d win every week.
Roberto Firmino: 6
All the usual brilliance that comes with playing that role but what we needed was someone in the box who would just be concerned with putting the ball in the net. Still want him to be a number 10 more than a nine.
SUBS
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7
Thought he did really well. Tried to force it, won corners and provided a fire we hadn’t really had in the second half.
Daniel Sturridge: 6
Hardly touched the ball after I’d been calling for his introduction all game.
Dominic Solanke: N/A
Hardly saw any of it.
Frustrating of course but when everyone has been telling you all season that this is the best United side since 2013 it had to come as somewhat of a surprise that they, like New Balance, come not to play.
Jose and United were shit scared of Liverpool today, which tells you everything you need to know about how good we truly are.
If you liked those ratings, or even if you didn’t, I’ve written a book on Jürgen Klopp and his first two seasons at Liverpool. Buy it or you don’t get to disagree with my ratings!
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Chamberlain can’t cross. He’s 24 and won’t improve.
He can and he did.
Exactly.
Really surpised by some of these. Agreen on Moreno, but Can was never our best midfielder today. That baffles me but I suppose opinions an all that. Should have brought Solanke on instead of Sturridge. Studge has not done enough when given game time
Accurate ratings. Book ordered :)
I said to our kid that I believe we need a genuine number 9 and not Bobby. Bobby is not going to terrorize a back 4 like Torres in his pomp or Luis, it’s what we miss. Expected nothing more from the master tactician but it’s down to us to work it out and beet them
Well, if you said it our kid it must be true.
Yawn
It was Warrior who came not to play.
Is it early days until match day 37? We played ok. But well off the pace again – closer to the relegation zone than the top and only mid October! Seasons a washout… now let’s get fourth so we can earn FSG some more money they won’t spend on LFC
Sad little man. On the same points as arsenal and Chelsea. No one is catching City – far too good.
You OK?
https://www.speedyhen.com/Product/David-Segar/Kloppite–One-Mans-Quest-Turn-Doubters-into-Believers/21332310
Save some money on the book and feel good for not using amazon!
Shit scared my arse.
I like Salah, but if you are going to play forward you need to finish… and he didn’t today. He was 7 yards out with half the goal to shoot at and he misses wide, come on!
Completely agree about Firmino.
He needs to drop back a place and play as an
attacking midfielder or second striker.
We need a “proper” striker up top.
Aubameyang anyone?
I really like Firmino but he’s just doesn’t have that goal scoring instinct.
Could he take up Coutinhos central attacking midfielder position if/when he leaves?
Agree Michael.
We need a striker to help with the attack. The defense as much as we can say we need that one or two players who can help, isn’t the solution long term as it needs a complete overhaul IMO.
A striker like Auba is someone of Klopp’s ilk. He helped him turn into a striker. I don’t think the current lot can be improved on individually any more. This is as far as Klopp can take them. I think he knows that.
I’m hoping for a striker in Jan more than any other position.
Thought Henderson, Wijnaldum both played well. Can not so much.
Henderson kept the ball moving, tackled and recovered well.
Wijnaldum look interested and committed again so – and I am a fan.
Can’s head is in Turin.
Thought Henderson, Wijnaldum both played well. Can not so much.
Henderson kept the ball moving, tackled and recovered well.
Wijnaldum looked interested and committed again so – and I am a fan.
Can’s head is in Turin.
“Actually if Adams had spent £400 million on his squad even he ‘d have been more adventurous”: priceless!
Anyway, agree on most of the ratings. But I still have the feeling we should have beaten the hell out of them! United were as shite as they ever will be and they should hang their heads in shame after a game like that! I never saw a United side lacking that much ambition as the last two ones visiting Anfield in my entire life. Manchester United should always start a game to win it and defenitely at Anfield. If we would go to Old Trafford with a game plan like that, I would be furious about our lack of ambition! But honestly: we only have ourselves to blame for not winning. Jurgen Klopp should have been more adventurous as well, in my opinion. This was an ideal match to start Daniel Sturridge in and I still don’t understand why he kept him on the bench for 65 minutes. Bobby worked hard, but he just didn’t seem to get into the game and looked a bit tired after his trip back from Brazil. And call me naive, but I think the experience and fighting spirit of James Milner could have made a difference as well. I don’t want to blame Klopp for not winning on Saturday, but he didn’t seem to have learned his lesson after the 0-0 draw of last season and once again wasn’t smart enough to crack José’s code. As much as I hate Mourinho and his bloody mind games, he was spot on in his post-match interview.