I’M all for perseverance.
I’d have given Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish more time, I’d probably still give Fab Aurelio another contract and I’m still convinced Alberto Aquilani might have made it had he not been sent on loan.
Alright, maybe scrub the last one.
But as stubborn as I am, sometimes you’ve got to accept that changes need to be made before it’s too late.
After an imperious run of form where Liverpool, bar a fluke against Chelsea, have vanquished all before them of late, Liverpool have dropped four points in four days in two absolutely winnable fixtures, and both times Liverpool’s changes from the bench have been too little, too late.
Earlier in the week, bringing on Roberto Firmino for Mo Salah cost The Reds vital impetus, not to disparage the Brazilian, but the nature of the change effected Liverpool’s threat on the counter and encouraged Everton to push on.
That Jürgen Klopp was readying Phil Coutinho when Craig Pawson awarded Everton a penalty is by the bye, Everton felt emboldened enough to push where earlier they’d cowed.
And when Coutinho was finally introduced he wasn’t allowed enough time to impact proceedings.
Klopp and his attitude to substitutions, or rather the late use of them, is nothing new. The ever excellent Andrew Beasley wrote in detail about the manager’s attitude towards substitutions over his entire time at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool up until last November when said article was published.
And as history has dictated, tonight, yet again, in a game crying out for an injection of exuberance or a change of angle, it was left until the last 14 minutes of the match.
But, in contrast to the changes against Everton, the introduction of Dom Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reinvigorated The Reds who suddenly carried a semblance of threat against West Brom but fell short with The Baggies on the ropes — given just enough time to survive.
The manager talks and talks about rhythm, but this also matters on the pitch, especially when making a slew of changes at the same time.
That Liverpool haven’t scored in the last 10 minutes of a game at Anfield all season and in that period have dropped eight points which, having drawn half their home games this season, should set alarm bells ringing — especially given the high-octane approach that Klopp is famous for.
Hindsight is always 20-20, but it is not the responsibility of the opposition to allow Liverpool to play the way they want too. It is upon Liverpool to force their will, but when trying and trying again isn’t working we need quicker, better and more effective solutions off the bench.
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“…very frustrating. It’s probably our worst performance of the season.” 😩
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Glad we’ve got an away game next. Anti-football is killing our home games.
I absolutely agree it’s not the responsibility of the opposition to allow us to play, but this league cannot claim to be the best in the world when about fourteen teams in it just cannot, do not and will not play football. That’s true whether we beat them or not. That New Balance mantra “We Come Not To Play” could be fucking emblazoned across the entrance to the away dressing room at Anfield.
As I said, it’s on us to beat these teams and our failure to do so is categorically our responsibility, but the fact is that about 14 teams in this league is excruciatingly boring. I am bored of Allardyce, of Hodgson, of Pardew.
The exception to this is Dyche. The aforementioned tosspot managers would love to think Dyche is like them, but he’s not. His team actually competes and has ambition.
Hard lines tonight although we were largely shite. No drive from the midfield and Mane was shit again.
When klopp isnt getting grief for playing the shite lads hes getting grief for not bringing the shite lads on early enough.
Salah should be scoring that header.
Thought the Salah for Firmino sub in the derby was already cleared up by Klopp telling the media that Salah had to be withdrawn early due to a hamstring complaint. Don’t think Andy should still be going on about that, tbh.
This game vs West Brom was one of those nights. I doubt the Reds would have scored even if those 2 subs had been made 5-10 mins earlier. The ball wasn’t falling for us all game. And even when it eventually ended up in the back of the net, we didn’t get the luck we needed for the goal to stand.
Spurs are almost certainly dropping pts at the Etihad. Win our game at the weekend and we are back in 4th.
I just told my nephew Santa was real. Does that make it true? Not particularly bothered about that point though. No offence intended here mate but ‘not our night’ ‘didn’t get the luck’ ‘ball wasn’t falling for us’. That’s a bit harsh mate. All we lacked was god appearing on the edge of the box and putting it in the top corner for us.
But actually there are things you can do to help win football games. We actually looked a lot better after the subs. It’s just a shame they didn’t come earlier. The other thing we can do is stop pretending Can and Gini have the ceiling to get us higher than 4th. Add Milner to that. Possibly Henderson too. If Coutinho is off form in a game then we’re pretty much fukced in games like tonight with any of the former mentioned in there with him.
Subs .
That’s all there is? When there’s nothing else left to blame but you still need something this is where you end up.
I just told my nephew Santa was real. Does that make it true? Not particularly bothered about that point though. No offence intended here mate but ‘not our night’ ‘didn’t get the luck’ ‘ball wasn’t falling for us’. That’s a bit harsh mate. All we lacked was god appearing on the edge of the box and putting it in the top corner for us.
But actually there are things you can do to help win football games. We actually looked a lot better after the subs. It’s just a shame they didn’t come earlier. The other thing we can do is stop pretending Can and Gini have the ceiling to get us higher than 4th. Add Milner to that. Possibly Henderson too. If Coutinho is off form in a game then we’re pretty much fucked in games like tonight with any of the former mentioned in there with him.