It’s all about Mo Salah on The Anfield Wrap today. He has confirmed his brilliance yet again over the weekend and his four goal haul in destroying Watford showed almost every facet to his game. He gets the full Anfield Wrap treatment for twenty minutes.
Then on with the rest of the show including Jordan Henderson’s dreadful fifteen minutes, Saido Mane growing more and more into his role and Andy Robertson having a ball.
We chat about Danny Ings and how he may well be forging a Liverpool career as well as taking the state of play at this international break.
Neil Atkinson hosts Gareth Roberts, Ian Salmon and Paul Senior..
The Anfield Wrap’s free Monday show is supported by RedsBet.
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Good book, the power of now.
Regarding the midfield, in some games it’s ok to have what we have. In others we need more. Said it a thousand times but why hasn’t this team either won the league or at minimum been closer to the leaders. There’s a pattern to the points we’ve dropped. They’ve been against the top teams and the teams who sit deep.
From 7th place down we’ve taken 53 points from 22 games at a rate of 2.4. Over the season it’s 91.5 points. It’s title winning form and that’s why it’s on my mind so much. I can’t help but look where the points were dropped as I think Klopp will too. He has to reach the conclusion the midfield isn’t good enough to win the league. From 7th down – I’m not sure what happened at Swansea. You do lose games. It has to be expected. It’s the Burnley, West Brom and Everton home games that kill me still and Newcastle away. Watford can be improved upon and actually, wouldn’t happen if we played them now. But, it’s a good record against those teams. We just needed more in midfield to break them down.
Then there’s the top 6 excluding us, so top 5. We’ve dropped 17 in 9 or taken 10 from 9 at a rate of 1.11 or 42 over the season. Yes, there’s been circumstances and yes, our defence has undoubtedly improved since but if we want to win the league, and we do and are capable of, then midfield is the issue. As pointed out, Keita changes that drastically. Imo, his direct attacking style makes it almost a whitewash of the bottom half sides. He also brings us closer to the top 5. We need one more, minimum though. I’m convinced Klopp knows that and will do exactly that. As it stands though, we lament some of these players in our midfield but they have to become squad players rather than ‘first 11’ (which does still exist). When we had these debates in previous times the naysayers were wrong. Our midfield were good enough (just) because the aim was top 4.
I don’t want to come across as negative because actually, the reason I write this is because I feel so positive. I’m looking at what this team might, and can, achieve. We need to strengthen some squad positions too. Not Torres, but someone like Torres would be 1. A quality striker reaching the end of his days who’s happy to come on late and score loads. Like Ibra did. But, the front is one of the best in the world. I’m quite happy with the defence but at worst I’d like to see Klopp buy a right back. The length of Clyne’s injury worries me, plus Trent has made me think it would be nice to have a right back who can attack and defend, unlike Clyne. He’d be good cover. I’ve made it clear several times I’m still not sold on Trent or Gomez playing the games v the top sides and even less convinced Gomez can be our first choice centre half. So, if defence and attack are more than acceptable I put the midfield down to the reason we’re not quite there. We certainly have the squad players for midfield but not the game changers. At the heart of this thought is the need for a replacement for Henderson / Can / Gini. We’re still seeing the same arguments about their quality. The answer isn’t definitive. The truth is, our midfield is nowhere near City’s. I think Spurs have a far better balance . I think Chelsea do and controversially, I think Utd do. To conclude, Keita changes things in our favour hugely. He can be our De Bruyne, Hazard, Eriksen. But, the others have the edge. We need a Dembele, Fernandinho, Matic or Kante. I don’t think we have a player we can debate is at their level. My views have changed on ours. The consistency from game to game is missing. I don’t buy this ‘style of play’ either. First and foremost you need quality and worry about the rest later.
I’m as excited about the summer business as I am about the CL this season. It’s just the way I am. I’m convinced we’ll win the league in the next two years. Dons tin hat because after a brilliant win I’m thinking about having more.
You are making some good points there mate.
It’s actually quite ironic. When Klopp first came in, he said build the team from the back, but he did the opposite.
Our front three is spot on and the defence + keeper look much more solid. As a consequece we see the midfield being exposed a bit for not being on the required level. Last season, the midfield was not much of an issue because the back four and the keeper provided enough headlines.
If Keita produces, then he will make a major difference to our midfield. But we still need that Fernandinho-type player, that deepest-lying midfielder who does what does but consistently better and for the whole 90 minutes, not only for spells.
As for challenging for the League title, as you said it is imperative that we get as many points as possible from the 14 ‘lesser’ teams in the League.
14 teams –> 28 games (home, away) –> 84 points for grabs. We have to get as close as possible, maybe even hit the 80 pts mark from that tally.
And then we need to have a decent record against the top 6 rivals. Doesnt have to be tremendous if we get that flat-track bullying spot on. I suggest, try to win at least all the home games against the top teams with a buzzing Anfield crowd as it becomes harder and harder to get wins at their grounds.
That could be up to 15 pts from them fixtures and then you are looking at a total points tally of about 95 pts or a tad more which should surely be enough to get back on that perch.
Only worry is City setting the bar so high that a team actually needs to break the 100 points tally to be able to win it, almost have to play a perfect season because that is what City are doing with relentless pace.
Ta mate. City aren’t as good as everyone thinks. Yes, they’ve had an unbelievable season but then Chelsea went what? 13 games last season, winning them all and look at them this season. Look at Liverpool’s run in 13/14 and what happened the following season. I’m not expecting City to capitulate to the extent we did but it’s not as simple as they’ve been excellent and they will be again. To contradict myself, they will be but for example, I watched them over Christmas. They had about 4 games they won in the last minutes. Sign of a good team? For sure. But, they could draw 2 of those next season despite dominating. My point is, City aren’t that far ahead of us this season. We’re coming into our own now. City are level on points with us in 2018 (but have a game in hand). The biggest factor, though, is we’ve got obvious weaknesses. City haven’t. We can rectify ours. City can possibly improve too but I’d suggest our strengthening will be greater than theirs. It will bring us closer.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is, we’re too good teams. They’ve had the rub of the green more than us this season. We may have it more than them next season. I think Mane’s tackle was a red card but it knocked us a bit. I guarantee they won’t run away from us in the league next season as they have this.
But yeah, agree with everything you’ve put.
I hope you are right mate.
Mourinho did it back-to-back with a formidable Chelsea side back in the day, so could Guardiola with his team but I hope it will finally be our season next year. Couldnt help myself but to use that cliche there ;-)
Do you believe we can get past them in the quarters? It would be tremendous and would have similar signs to 2005 where we were pinned against the then runaway leaders Chelsea and got past them. And we know where that journey ended.
Honestly if we get past City, I’d fancy us to go all the way.
It’s not like we make a few more great signings and all of a sudden become favourites to win the CL in he next few seasons. We will still remain the wildcard for the time being, so why not win it this season.
Obviously we can mate but I think it’s 50/50. By that I mean, 1 might get the luck, one might not. One may turn up more on the nights than the other. It’s just one of them. One will go through and one won’t but I don’t think there’s a favourite. It’s like when Barca played Madrid up until 18 months ago. Too close to call. Certainly wouldn’t bet on either team. I certainly don’t fear them. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility we could enter the 2nd leg 3-1 and perhaps lose 2-1 there. I’ll be in the City end so knowing how I react I’m probably in for a kicking. Happened a few years ago when Michael Owen scored a hat trick at Maine Road. Talking of Madrid, I’d love to get them in the semi. I watched them last night. Utterly revolting defending. We’d put 6 past them over 2 legs. Probably concede 3 too.
I think the best squad wins this CL round especially given the derby games inbetween, and our squad is nowhere near Citeh’s.
This might be a very damaging week for us should we drop points to Everton too. Normally that isn’t even in consideration but the main men can’t just play 3 games in 7 days at the level required without some rotation.
hmmmm, I’m not sure teams like us, spuds , arse can get 90 something points that seems to be the minimum required to win the league. Chavs last season, Citeh this, the bar has been raised and I expect it to stay there.
But it takes the massive finances to have top players not just in the team but on the bench too. It’s only money that will facilitate that. While we have the likes of Ings & Solanke on the bench we will never beable to compete.
Even the run we have coming up with the CL games & Everton shortly is a massive ball ache for us. How to manage that given the effort that will be required for the 2 CL games yet ensure we beat Everton – or risk missing top 4.
Regarding the derby, how about we put out a team of
Karius, Gomez, Matip, Klavan, Moreno, Gini, Lallana, Milner, Ings, Solanke & Woodburn. Or more realistic, swap the front 3 for ours and play them 45 mins. Get 6-0 up and replace all 3 at HT come what may. I think they could beat those peasants. I’d certainly be happy to give it a try.
Regarding next season, we’ve got Keita. We’ll buy 1 defender, another midfielder and 1 winger. That could potentially give us a bench consisting of (Karius) Trent, Moreno, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Gini, Ox, Henderson, Milner, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn, Mane depending on where we buy. Then leave us with a first 11 at times of
Salah, Firmino, New, New, Lallana,Keita, Virgil, New, Robertson, Clyne, Karius (New). I think that’s a well good enough squad to challenge.
*…..that deepest-lying midfielder who does what Hendo does….
Robin – great comments and a nice build to what I thought was a very thoughtful TAW all round. I did also think that the section on our midfield however felt a little ‘convenient’ and Robin isolates the issue perfectly – against the top sides it is everything. If they are either bypassed (route one) or outworked suddenly you realise how vulnerable we are (and why therefore this is such a beautiful game) in the net outcome. If we think Seville second half / Man City second second half my overriding memory looking down in the pitch was how absolutely redundant our front three were. This has changed a little because Klopp has them back working (and God knows how they have the energy to do so – there is literally no the side in Europe that does this) and this may yet prove enough BUT in the same we we have this man mountain VVD I still would love to have Jordan develop into the player he nearly is to absolutely cement our assault on the league next year.
In short, loved the show lads and lives Robin’s builds – there is an intelligence emerging which is all based on the overriding certainty that we are mere margins from a genuine challenge in, let’s face it, the most impossible financial circumstances.
Lee, do you remember the Chelsea game at Anfield this season. They sat back but actually, the times they did come forward Hazard walked through our midfield like it wasn’t there. Last week too. It’s easy (lazy) to blame Lovren. Trent aside, I blame the midfield for both Utd goals. Lukaku is a unit. He’s gonna win those. Our midfield was naive. I’m sure we’d all agree the midfield is ok / good. It’s certainly the area we can improve though.
Emre is particular doesnt have the full intelligence to play holding mid. He mostly thinks forward and doesnt have the best defensive head on. Should have been there for the second balls.
He is just as much to blame as anyone in the defence but he gets away with it.
Even clueless TV pundits picked out Trent instead of highlighting the absence of Emre in that situation.
Yeah agree mate. I went from thinking he was rubbish to thinking this season he’s been one of our better midfielders. But, when I evaluate why I’ve changed my opinion on him it comes down to the fact I feel he’s got more physical fight than the others. It’s an attribute I like. That said, overall, I think he’s 65% of a player. We need closer to 80/85. By that I mean he’s on and off, up and down. Put it this way, if he goes, which he is, then I’m glad. I have faith in Klopp to get a player far better than him. Wouldn’t say good riddance, I’d say ‘sound, see ya later. Hope you fail at Juve’.
I’d like the boys to discuss the purpose of our midfield with this forward line pre and post Keita. I’m assuming we’re going to need two DMs post his arrival – I’m not sure I’m confident enough to predict whether Can and/or Hendo can step up this to this additional level
Well, Can is going so he needs replacing but Henderson is good enough for 25 league games a season. We just need 3 brilliant midfielders. Keita should be one.
What intrigues me is, we still have a problem breaking down teams who played like West Brom and Everton this season. Keita will help and I think both Oxlade and Lallana can. But, in those games I’d love to see Firmino play as a number 10 with Salah, Mane and a central forward in front of him. Now, depending on who we buy that may not be necessary but I’m intrigued. In a sense it’s a 4 man attack but you lose nothing in midfield defensively because of Firmino’s workrate. Plus, these teams don’t attack anyway. I may be talking nonsense but it’s something I’ve thought I’d like to see for a while. Keita brings the creativity I feel our midfield is missing anyway.
Another worry / intrigue I have is over Lallana. I don’t know what kind of player he is anymore it’s been so long. Since his return we’ve seen a few silky touches but no substance. Last season I thought he was one of our best players either side of his injury. We need him to step up again. Be great to have him, Oxlade, Henderson and Gini on our bench.
Guys, that wasn’t quite right about what the club / klopp’s staff thought about Salah. He’s said how although he played more of a winger role for Roma [and] in support of a dominant centre forward in Edin Dzeko, they thought he could be more central and be a goal scorer.
Klopp went on to say that you can never be sure until you work with someone but in pre-season they were convinced. Being a candidate for golden boot may not have been expected but Klopp has always been confident his front guys would score goals in the way he sets up.
They’ve tweaked his role from the early season games, and once again with Coutinho leaving, with the centre of gravity of play moving to the front line and away from the midfield (fortunately!).
Great podcast that – especially the discussion about Danny Ings – he’s so deserving of a goal – if that one has gone in on Sat it would have been a massive boost for everyone – I’ve been stressing about injury to our fab 3 and he’s settling my nerves.