WHEN I saw the selection I presumed we were in for something; in for a trick.
I presumed there was some grand unifying plan of Liverpool’s intention, something to thrill and surprise. I thought it may be similar to West Ham or perhaps an unlikely back three to match them up. What I didn’t expect was that it was just like for like. And that was what we got.
I don’t know if the rhythm of the rotation is wrong. Perhaps it is all contingent on beating Sevilla, yet even had we won midweek I would have been as surprised by both team and setup. As ever the manager has more data than us and the reality of it being his actual job, yet we’re within our rights to wonder about the decisions from the three games and the logic behind it.
There was, all game, something curiously passive about Liverpool. This was a game to get through, to endure. Not one to enjoy. From a manager whose raison d’etre has pretty consistently been to drink deep of every opportunity to play football, this is strange. Liverpool have been poor at times under Jürgen Klopp but they have rarely, if ever, seemed so bloodless at 0-0 on the big occasion. They weren’t actively poor at 0-0 though they were second best but they lacked the intensity we have become used to even if the game itself was involved.
There was no shirking from Liverpool, Phil Coutinho’s absolutely woeful defensive work aside, but there didn’t seem the snap we have been used to. This Liverpool side has been praised recently on these pages for its sanity and shift towards convention but all this today feels a step too far. Last season in games against the top six Liverpool were all snap, all crackle, for better or worse. Today, even more so than Manchester United, the opposite was true on the whole.
That is all talking about 0-0. At 1-0 it was worse.
I’d have loved it had Willian’s cross/effort drifted over and we’d have won the game. I would have been ecstatic but would have been hugely concerned at the lack of threat Liverpool carried, how deep they fell, how they became ever more passive and how they weren’t so much soaking up Chelsea pressure to explode as just hanging on for dear life.
In the end, they don’t hang on. But hanging on suits so few of these footballers. Jordan Henderson looked all at sea when Liverpool simply sat in, an awkward evening on the whole for him became something approaching torrid. If Liverpool want their deepest-lying midfielder to be someone like Nemanja Matic then buy someone like him. And in the meantime Henderson needs to not always try to nick the ball in order to counter when the team isn’t interested in countering. Were they then fine. But there is a time on occasion to burst it and tonight there were four or five of them.
Chelsea spent the game hitting big diagonals and massive switches. They wanted to stretch the pitch and The Reds before looking for runners. The Reds couldn’t cope at times and it got worse as the time Liverpool led wore on. Watching that space be open and exploited time and again was painful and Alberto Moreno did very well under the circumstances. This was exactly the sort of thing which could be addressed from the bench. Being fair to Henderson he conducted an inquiry on the pitch but the situation didn’t improve. The clock ticked and no help from the bench was forthcoming.
Strengths are so often also weaknesses. One of the best things about the Liverpool manager is the amount of faith he has in his footballers. It’s how he gets the performances he gets from them. He believes in them and demands everything. His players repay him in spades.
But that leads to him being reluctant to make drastic changes or indeed substitutions when required. There was no stage at 1-0 where he couldn’t have added fresh legs, greater threat or strengthened the shape. No point at all.
And so we get the point we probably would have taken before the game. And they get their point too. This thing of ours, there’s always a bigger picture. But on the day, at the game I want the smaller picture to be brilliant. I’d been looking forward to this one.
Jürgen’s Reds have been brilliant and been shit. Been a joy to watch and hellish to bear. They’ve very rarely been bland and disappointing. Less of that.
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Fair summary. As ever.
Are you always this balanced in life? I have visions of massive kick-offs in your Spar when they stack the Fingers of Fudge where the Curly Wurlys should be.
Fair comments about Hendo’s Hollywood (wannabe) balls forward when there is no one to counter attack.
Henderson vs Chelsea
Key passes: 0
Tackles won: 0
Interceptions: 0
Clearances: 0
Aerial duels won: 0
Fouls committed: 2
So that’s 180 minutes without him making a successful tackle. He should be on the bench for Stoke and that’s whether Can is fit or not. There will be plenty of football for him through till January and unfortunately probably till the end of the season. But when Keita arrives and Coutinho probably leaves the next alteration should be a replacement for Henderson.
We can use Hendo as squad player next season.
Tonight, Coutinho was awful too. We could have played any other player on behalf of Phil and it would have been more effective defensively at least. Without Bobby and Mane to run in front and stretch the defenders out of position, Phil can’t really find anyone else to pass to. (He did try a few when Salah ran behind the Chelski defensive line.
Would like to see the source of those stats. Not saying Henderson had a good game but they seem dodgy and I am yet to see anyone quote exactly where they are getting those numbers from.
Stats were pulled directly off WhoScored.
https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1190310/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2017-2018-Liverpool-Chelsea
Click on offensive/defensive and look at those lovely numbers next to Henderson’s name. Satisfied?
Have to disagree, Neil, and I rarely do that. Perhaps the bitterness of Sevilla has jaundiced your analysis.
This was a contest between two excellent sides, and for much of the game they were were pegged back. They are the champions and 2nd in the form table for a reason – they are very good. Hazard’s injury has made people forget that he is neck and neck with DeBruyne for the best player in the league – and that is very high praise.
There were always going to be periods where they took the upper hand, but – save for a fluke shot – there wasn’t a whole lot of clear-cut chances by them. I didn’t see a bland game at all. I saw loads of battles, and more of these battles were won by the Reds. That said, it was still a strong contest of two very good sides going at it. Conte didn’t come to grind out a draw, but that’s all he could muster and he will hardly be content with the manner of which that was earned.
I was disappointed by Klopp’s return to purposeless substitutions, but I didn’t walk away thinking we were woeful by any stretch. We’re just one point off 4th and 3 points off 3rd. We could stand even better when we play a Stoke that just lost to Hodgson’s Mighty Eagles.
Cheer up, mate. Up the In-The-Mix Reds.
This. Couldn’t agree more. Disappointed to drop the points but they were well worth a point.
Me too. I expected this to be a battle, a bunch of battles and it was. Unfortunately we didn’t get it over the line this time.
Me too. Thought we did alright against a very good side.
I’m far more in agreement with this than the match review I must say. And like you, it’s very rare for me to disagree with Neil, but I thought he was far too negative about Liverpool’s performance here.
It’s probably fair to say we were ragged, but both teams had a good go and it was a far faster, more intense contest than I expected. Two very decent sides (let’s not forget we were playing the champions with all their players available and their best player in irresistible form) trading blows, and no way either can complain about the draw on balance. We never hit the heights of our best home performances last season, but it was a better display for example than when we beat Man City on new years eve.
Great post. Hopefully Neil feels better after a good night’s sleep.
Absolutely agree. I’d have taken a draw before the game, and i’ll take a draw now.
It goes without saying that a win will always be preferred, but to be angry and upset over what was a commendable performance doesn’t sit right with me, sorry.
Different game to the one I watched.
Hendo isnt a sitter hes a runner…..not his game your spot on Neil.Hes left on his jack now because top sides know that theres loads of space either between (the now) cautious full backs & wide men or behind the full backs when were all out attack…….433 seems to have been sussed out.Back to the West Ham 4411 in big games now Jergen?
From a Chelsea perspective I think Neil’s being a bit tight. As most posters note, it was tight, technical and lots of small but important battles throughout. Coutinho was missing, but Bakayoko was a liability for Chelsea and his misadventure helped Ox set up Salam. Who was excellent throughout; always direct and got the goal he deserved. Regarding subs, I wished. Helsea had unleashed Fabregas etc earlier in the half. At the point Chelsea conceded it was just a matter of time as the Blues were too deep. To the posters who saw the game as something to endure, I agree, could easily have gone either way in the end. My brother was at the game ( for Liverpool) and said he’d take the point so I’ll have to agree. Nice to see Moreno have a good game, don’t like to see players failing and ought Hazard (first half) was from another planet. Cheers all!
Salah ( not Salam), bloody predictive texts!
Ps I thought he was entitled to celebrate, I liked him at Chelsea but Mourinho didn’t give him a chance..familiar story.
Think it was out of respect for the deceased in Egypt.
Henderson was poor but people are literally making up stats about him now to make him appear worse,and liverpool supporters like Road Warrior further up this page are spreading them like they’re stonewall facts.How can anybody who watched that game accept a set of stats that says he had zero tackles won,interceptions or clearances? Its absolute bollocks.
Yep. Seems like #fakwnews to me.
https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1190310/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2017-2018-Liverpool-Chelsea
It’s literally right there. Are you mad at me or the website?
Im not particulary mad at you,I do wonder how you didn’t notice him getting the ball back for us on plenty of occasions but i am mad at the official website for adding to the bullshit.One example here- “zero interceptions”
@ke8ta @Liverpool_FC_ Is this not an interception? https://t.co/uQmbNm4RwT
Here’s where the issue lies;
http://optasports.com/news-area/blog-optas-event-definitions/mbNewsContentTemplate
Interception :
This is where a player intentionally intercepts a pass by moving into the line of the intended ball.
Recovery:
This is where a player wins back the ball when it has gone loose or where the ball has been played directly to him.
Those are the definitions OPTA use . In that clip you linked me to, I honestly can’t say that Henderson has made a deliberate attempt to intercept the ball there. Seems to me like
Bakayoko has made a really bizarre and awful pass and its hit Henderson in the chest. Hence why the stats people don’t class it as an interception by their definition.
If you want to disagree with them then by all means go for it, but it’s not necessarily “fake news”. They’ve laid out their criteria pretty clear for all to see.
But stats are just stats at the end of the day and nothing can replace your own eyes actually watching the game. However a combination of the two usually paints a good picture of the events of the game and of player performances. Although our own confirmation bias probably goes ahead of everything else.
Yes, for once I think youve’mis-read this game Neil in the sense that I don’t think Klopp set up for a point from the off. I think he set up to snatch a tight game with the 1st goal maybe coming from the bench late on.
Where it went wrong was his failure to react to Conte’s subs which led to them snatching a point from the bench.
But, we have to take comfort from going head to head with a top team and coming through largely unscathed.
Having rested key players last night, Stoke now becomes a must win.
Spot on. We win our next two games and this point looks like an even better result. This result has a touch of Mourinho about it in that I think Klopp knew that first and foremost we needed to get a draw minimum from this game and then sets our sights on the so-called “dross” of the league.
Last season our “big six” form helped even out some of our dismal results against the bottom 13 but when you break it down 13> 6. I think we should all take two wins out of two next week and a point against the incumbent champions.
Neil, that felt a bit too harsh criticising the team like that. It was a hard game and we did well enough. The players could have sneaked it over the line if Klopp had been more proactive. We played a top side and a top manager without 2 of our best forward players and gave them a good battle.
Of course it would have been nicer to get the 3pts but that’s more on Klopp for not helping out when some of our players started looking leggy.
Simply paying the price for Sevilla- fear of winning or losing the game. Celebrating Moreno having a decent game sums it up for me- cant help but be worried that a new level of standard now appears to be creeping in… is Klopp seriously suggesting that Moreno showed the doubters by doing his job.! The term Neil used- passive, is a perfect summation.
Frank you’re spot on re Klopp taking a tight victory. Which sadly raises the issue of Jurgen possibly suffering from dilussion if he believes we can hold on to a solitary goal lead against Chelsea, who in the 2nd half, frankly gave us a lesson on controlled expansive football . And that really pains me to say so
A game with Unreal demands on players ( from both teams) .Like 5 a side with bigger margins of jeopardy. So stretched before Lallana substitution attempt. ‘Belief in players’ as a reason not to use all 3 subs for at least the time Chelsea used theirs? Didn’t work. Would some keepers get a hand to that cross? I feel the best would, but then again ,nothing in my life happens as quickly as this type of football demands!
Fair enough JC, but our defensive record at home this season probably gave him some degree of confidence. Overall I thought we did defend well and while I didn’t have the cigar out I didn’t feel they were about to score at any time after the goal.
One of the best things about the Liverpool manager is the amount of faith he has in his footballers. It’s how he gets the performances he gets from them. He believes in them and demands everything. His players repay him in spades.
I’m starting to become a little concerned with this trait though. I agree fully that he backs his lads. And have no problem with it. Except when it’s not working.
I trust you boys. You’re all boss. We’re boss. You can do it. You can picture him saying stuff like that in the dressing room.
But sometimes a player is just off. Sometimes the team doesn’t quite click. This isn’t the first or second time JK has been questioned maybe even criticised for tardiness in intervention. I really thought he was waiting to see would Conte stick or twist before bringing Lall and/or Mané on. Instead it seemed to be – that’ll do nicely. Wasn’t expecting that. Let’s shut it down. Conte sticks 3 attacking subs on and we don’t put pace on to give them something to think about.
I’m puzzled. There was no reaction on our behalf. I thought Milly was shagged for the whole match, no pace at all. And Hendo unable to do two men’s running. And also puzzled by the complete lack of tempo and intensity. There was rotation galore, if it’s to conserve legs, as we all suspect, to ensure there’s no repeat of last years wheels fall off the bus stunt, then why bother if there’s no intent to play “heavy metal “? I likewise thought there was a glorious master plan when I saw Studge starting. But it seemed to me after 20 that we were crying out for Bobby.
Just like after the Sevilla draw I’m more sanguine now and will concede the point that a draw is not a disaster against those two sides. I’m trying to articulate that I think this could be a fundamental flaw going forward.
Up the winning the next ten games Reds. !!
After the game Jason Macateer drew an interesting parallel from Roy Evans’s excellent entertaining, nearly Title winning star studded team of the nineties. Jason admitted the only thing which cost us the League was that team’s inability to defend. And ultimately that weighed like a lead balloon around Roy’s neck and ultimately cost him and every manager since their jobs. It’s such a shame cos the same fair awaits JK unless he sorts out his shit and the nonsensical decision making which will cost him the belief of the players, and the crowd. And I believe neither of those outcomes are too far away if this indecision continues. I mean 2 subs in the 90th minute, how is that supposed to change the result, and more to the point how does he explain that away to Mane and Lallana, or all the players come to think of it??
Now there’s a thought…Phil Babb or Dejan Lovren?!
“cost him the belief of the players, and the crowd”…….I am worried Klopp will jack and FSG will replace him with Sean Dyche….as they replaced Kenny with Rodgers. Precedent has been set. FSG will get it in the neck, not Klopp.
You’ve watched your side wilt against Sevilla. Hendo knackered, the team out played for most of the second half. You watch them concede late goals.
Just four days later your team leads Chelsea by a single goal but Hendo is once again struggling and yet your second substitution is on the 89th minute ?
Klopp has to anticipate and adapt better, particularly whilst we’re in transition from a pressing team to one more patient. Stay committed to the long term but adapt quicker and better during the 90 minutes
I enjoyed the game. Box to Box in places and tense holding on for 3 points only to have the non linear will of god intervene. We approach December within 3 points of 4th place. Klopp can’t adapt, rotate or do anything as he has no depth in quality and no defensive options. Attack is his only defence. This isn’t a game to be moaning about. Save the angst for later on in the season. Well need it.