It is our long look at a fabulous night for the Mighty Boys In Red. Liverpool progressing to the Champions League final by defeating AS Roma across the two legs. But in his post match comments the Liverpool manager wasn’t at all pleased with the second half performance from his side. What would he like to see them do differently? Who didn’t perform to his standards?
We’re looking at the game in detail, Liverpool’s inability to counter as well as could be expected and the high wire the Roma manager walked across the 90 minutes.
We also look ahead to the final, the players Liverpool could do with getting fit and the side Klopp can hope to put out in the final. What happens between now and May 26th? What is achievable off the pitch?
Working through all of this are Sean Rogers and Neil Atkinson while Rob Gutmann is in the hosting chair. It is our more intense look at an intense night. Liverpool can become by far the greatest team the world has ever seen. It is up for grabs. Let them grab it.
Who should play in midfield for the final?
Hendo – Gini – Milly. Who else?
Maybe focus on the next match. We still need to win to qualify for next season’s CL and there’s no guarantee we will win this year’s final.
So who would you play against Chelsea?
No. We dont need to win on Sunday. A draw is enough. If we lose, we still got one more shot the following week by having to win against Brighton at home. A decider on the last day just like last season. Those are good stakes.
And I dont feel comfortable putting Trent in midfield again or starting Woodburn. Best option is to start all the boss lads again. That’s what the business end of the season is all about.
And Chelsea will have the “knives in their teeth” like Klopp said. A rotated side hasnt helped us in recent weeks in the PL Start the same lads again, look to score a few goals and go from there.
Players need to deliver at this stage.
Whoever’s not on the physio’s table. ie. see above.
Sean Rogers’ analysis is brilliant to listen to and learn from.
absolutely.
For as long as I’ve been a Liverpool fan, you never want to see liverpool sitting back trying to hold onto a lead. No lead is safe in my mind when we have to sit back and defend it. Doesnt matter who we have out there. Liverpool are at there best when they’re being aggressive going at you, with the ball in front of them. We have always been so vulnerable to balls over the top or crosses. No clue how to fix it but no manager that ive seen has been able to figure it out. Its a shame its Real Madrid and not Barcelona in the final because we are set up to beat possession teams. Teams that want the ball and try to hold it against us are who we do best against. But Madrid have the ability to play the long ball and with the pace of Bale, Ronaldo, Asensio, etc. I worry that theyll be able to be direct and get behind our center backs. If I was Madrid i would play long balls at Lovren all day. I have no belief in Lovren, hes the biggest weakness in my mind.
Excellent that, men.
Lads, loved all the content you put out in Rome, thanks so much
Top top work by you all, win lose or draw this is always my first port of call to see what other fans make of this mad side of ours.
Cheers lads
Great show. Sean’s probably wrong on this instance regarding the 3 distinct banks of attack/midfield/defence though. As the heatmaps show, Wijnaldum was by far the furtherest forward of the three and even spending significant time in and around the opposition penalty area – and just like the first leg, this was to the team’s detriment give we needed him bolstering our centre to keep a grip on the game. He didn’t make a single interception or block last night and made only 2 tackles.
Our midfield, barring Gini’s goal, was weak. I’m a staunch Capt Hendo fan but a pass completion of 74% from your 6 is pretty shocking. Nevertheless, it was great to see him try to take the sting out of the game in the last 15 mins by pulling the reins and passing sideways while everyone else wanted to gallop off as soon as we were in possession.
We are what we are, which is an incredibly exciting team, however it would be nice to see us being a little more canny in high pressure situations when we have the advantage. But then, ha, I guess we wouldn’t be Liverpool.
Up the Reds.