THE perfect start to this mad run of fixtures that The Reds are about to embark on, and it never really seemed as though things wouldn’t go to plan.
Simon Mignolet: 6
Had so little to do, but could have been off his line quicker a few times. Did some mad drag back where it looked like he was going to fall over, that aside barely touched it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7
Dealt with Nathan Redmond well for the most part. Offered an outlet on the wing and even made some good runs into the box. And still only 19.
Dejan Lovren: 6
Dealt better with the boos than he has done in the past. Loved the Liverpool supporters responding to the away end, who seemed to get bored of booing by the end. Did Virgil van Dijk at one point as well…
Ragnar Klavan: 6
Fella behind me said: “Why are we passing to that donkey,” within the first five minutes. Did fairly well for the rest of the game.
Alberto Moreno: 7
Has really come along this season, and I would have been one of the first to criticise previously.
Jordan Henderson: 7
Everything seemed to go through him this game. Set the tempo and played some great long passes to show off his range. Could do with being in and around the box more, if I’m nit picking.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 6
Could probably be a five. Didn’t do loads but, by the same token, didn’t do much wrong.
Philippe Coutinho: 8
Thought he wasn’t at his best before the goal despite a few nice turns and touches, but took the chance well enough. Nice reception going off, just hope his comments in the week don’t look hollow come the summer — or worse, in January.
Mohamed Salah: 10
What can you say about this fella? First goal was a boss finish and feel like we’ve seen the second a million times before already. Don’t reckon he’ll ever stop scoring tbh.
Roberto Firmino: 8
Mad how there are fellas that seriously think we should sign a “more conventional” striker. What he contributes to this Liverpool side is irreplaceable, whether he scores enough or not.
Sadio Mane: 8
Love him, ya know. And that was on a “quiet” day.
SUBS
Emre Can: 6
Almost got booked straightaway. Would hate to see what Pep Guardiola could do with him at Manchester City.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: N/A
James Milner: N/A
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“Fella behind me said: “Why are we passing to that donkey,” within the first five minutes.”
Can’t stand those sort of fans. Boring bastards with nothing to say.
Who’s holding if Henderson gets into the box more?
Spot on, LTD. Henderson plays as a 6, fer cryin’ out loud, he doesn’t have a free role.. The fella can’t win in the eyes of some.
Exactly. Not a very smart comment by Josh there.
Henderson just can’t seem to win. There are those who constantly gripe that he plays sideways and backwards all the time (quite untrue). There are those who think he should be more in the ref’s ears (he very often is). There are those who want him protecting the back four at all times ( which he did very well vs Southampton) and then there are the likes of Josh who think he should be in and around the box more. Sheesh.
If he was that good, there would be so many comments. Its not a minority. Henderson is a weak link in the first eleven and should be replaced. Not one of the others in the top six would have him. He’s poor and scared to drive forwards and goes missing v top opposition who tend to press him into submission
Except none of that is true. Henderson has played well both as a 6 and an 8 in midfield threes that have dominated all of the top teams in a number of games.
He’s the best 6 we have in the squad and Klopp seems very happy with him. Are there better 6s out there for a Klopp team?- Probably. In which case we should get another one in (to replace Can) and let them compete for the place with Henderson.
I like Henderson so I’m definitely not one of those who is being quick to criticise. In games where teams like Southampton put 10 men behind the ball, I think he could do more in and around the box, but having said that I thought he had a good game anyway. As I said, I was nit picking. I don’t expect him to be constantly there on the penalty spot, nor do I think he needs to constantly hold position.
What was with Anfield mock jeering Henderson when he passed it backwards second half. Our supporters have become so toxic to many of our players. Shocking stuff.
Sad state of affairs. It’s not the tourists giving him a hard time.
It was ridiculous. And he actually did play many good forward passes .
There are times when you can just say the players were all sound, the performance was very good and we look forward to the next game, as you head off to the boozer. Today was one of those games.
No one less than 7 today. A good team performance demands no less.
Emre and pep? lmao
You always have great insight from the German side of things – would love to hear your thoughts why you think Emre and Pep won’t work (or did you mean it will be amazing?) I don’t know either way I’m just curious what your thoughts are.
I’d give Alberto a few extra if it’s true he missed the birth of his kid & for the way he tore into Mignolet when he failed to come out fast enough. Am really starting to like him.
I just don’t see what the hype about Firmino is. He does do some good things, but for me he seems half hearted and F’s to much stuff up.
He needs to improve his all round game for me to be the complete player
He IS a good player with good movement and link up play. And he does a lot of work off the ball. Some people just give him too much credit for that stuff while wrongly trying to downplay the fact that he should definitely be bagging more goals in this Liverpool team. Its not like he never gets enough chances per game.
“Don’t reckon he’ll ever stop scoring tbh.”
You just had to jinx it, didn’t you?
Jinx well and truly cancelled by your response
Mad how there are fellas that seriously think we should sign a “more conventional” striker.
This would imply that Fermino is a striker. He’s not. He’s a fantastic attacking midfielder being deployed as a striker. Why is a matter for debate on another day ?
“Whether he scores enough or not?”
The currency for strikers will always be goals. Always. Loads of them. That’s not a matter for debate. Fermino can make the very same assists from an attacking midfield role and that is in my humble opinion where Liverpool will get the best out of Fermino. Short term, his ability will see him through. Long term, Liverpool need to sign a striker who scores goals. Leave the bulk of the assists to the posse of no10s that dominate our midfield.
We’ve hit a purple patch so everybody is in credit. Once we enter the business end of the season it will be down to fine margins. That’s were questions will be asked and answers will be forthcoming. Not a big fan of squareish pegs in roundish holes. It has a habit of finding you out. Up the reds!
Lovren should have had an extra point. Came back into the starting 11 after being hammered by his own fans, against a team who’s fans would hammer him. And into a situation where everyone was looking to compare him with Van Dijk and point out how we’d got the short straw. He also had his first choice partner missing. He came through well. Don’t agree with the Henderson comment either. Had a very good game but when we were 2-0 up I was still worried a goal for them could change things. It didn’t come and we went on to win comfortably. I want Henderson making sure that 1st goal doesn’t come rather than trying to add to our tally. We have enough to sort that aspect out. I’m sure Klopp doesn’t want him too far forward at either 0-0 or 2-0.
Traditional striker debate. Why are we still having this ? It be more clear what style of game we have air involves several (everntially as many as 8) AMs who are able to collectively attack and press when out of possession. The sub-measures of performance are now entirely different. With Keita on the way and the majority of other targets (apart from obvious CBs) are similar high energy, flexible and dynamic AMs. Both profitable and tremendous to watch. Who would want to change it ?
The ‘problem’ of having a target man is just that, the focus of play is that man. Our fluid line up means that the opposition do not know from where the next attack will come, who will be making the move in the box or the dummy run. Nothing against a traditional centre forward but the current system when in full flight is just a joy to watch, and a nightmare to defend against. I suppose throwing on a big lad when the game against a 10 man defence is drawing to a close is an option, but when Huth emerged against Chelsea in 2005 I knew the game was up, even allowing for the ‘Gudjonson moment’ – honest!
As for Hendo, he had a good game and although the groan when he passed it back again was risible, he does himself no favours with the all too often safe ball, particularly when he’s gone back 20 yards to pass it to the guy who was standing there in the first place.
the only lad in our squad who would probably benefit from a traditional no9 is Andy Robertson.
Saw & heard grumbles about Klavan when the team was announced. Did a good job again yesterday apart from one pass straight out of play.
What did VVD get out of 10?