Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Liverpool 0 in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium…
THE second went in and I just sat down.
Head in hands. Felt like my windpipe had been cut. Knew there was simply no way back.
I always cite Leicester away in 2016 for one that felt like that. Where the final whistle might as well go there and then.
There haven’t been many – COVID season aside – and that’s to this side and squad’s credit, I suppose. However, it is why it kills at the moment that they are re-emerging and that today’s is the worst yet.
It’s alright to get beat. It’s not alright to be that awful. It’s alright to be terrible for the first half. It’s not alright not to fix it.
Liverpool were dreadful first half and got away with it, but this season there is no gift horse they can’t look in the mouth. Getting to half time at 0-0 having played that poorly, invited that much pressure, created that little was actually a mini-achievement. I mean, they did their best from about 40 minutes to brainlessly play their way into trouble and not take the half-time respite they didn’t deserve, but somehow they got there.
And then nothing changed. Nothing from the bench, nothing in the approach and Joel Matip decided to give Brighton a gift they really, really didn’t need. One-nil.
Liverpool’s performances have been eroding for some time. Every bad showing knocking the collective confidence. Another player to add to the list of question marks every week. If we’re lucky today is the end of that because there is nothing left to erode.
The manager changed the shape if not the personnel, barring Darwin Nunez having his knock, and it was malfunctioning early and often. Thiago Alcantara couldn’t get near the ball. Fabinho couldn’t win the ball. Jordan Henderson did manage to get on the ball occasionally, but then that was counter-productive as he was rubbish.
But the erosion I’m speaking of wasn’t limited to midfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold could well have been Liverpool’s best outfield player across the 90, but he couldn’t work out a starting position. Joel Matip had possibly his worst ever hour for Liverpool. Ibou Konate fire fought but occasionally also lit fires.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t seem to know where he was playing; somehow not left mid, left wing or left forward. Which, considering he was on the left, was quite something.
Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo both suggested they may be dangerous if they got into the game, but were ultimately so deeply isolated.
But at least the selections of the non-midfielders seemed sensible. Seeing the teamsheet drop I was stunned. As said all week on shows, I’d have started Naby Keita at the expense of Jordan Henderson but could have taken any or all of the three against Wolverhampton Wanderers not starting.
Instead, Liverpool perservere without any of the virtues of perseverance. Instead they erode themselves into dust.
Brighton & Hove Albion were very good. But they had the run of the place. Every Liverpool player was between stools, in the half spaces in the worst way. Liverpool mistook being compact with being inert. They laid the red carpet out.
They look so clapped out and that’s concerning because there are 20 games to go. They aren’t in a moment of transition because there is no sign of what they are transitioning to.
We left on 83, not even the promise of Ben Doak or even the mini chaos the quadruple substitution brought lightened the load of it all. Keita was bright again. Harvey Elliott buzzed about. Thiago at six is mildly of interest, perhaps.
But leaving on 83. Leicester in 2016 could be the last time I’ve done that too. It is basically horrible watching them.
Eighteen down. It feels like double that.
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“I think it’s right up as the worst I’ve seen Liverpool play in the flesh. Just because of how meek it was, and the complete lack of belief that anything good would happen.”
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Been going sInce the 60s and never left a game early and never will. No matter the score or performance the Club deserves my support. Perhaps I am old fashioned but leaving early is shite. I thought that the travelling Kop were decent today, well done lads.
Neil, honest question : wtf do you see in Keita that would make any difference?
Looks lively? In that comatose display, my cat would have shone.
Keita is an underperforming fraud that wants out as its too tough going for him in the PL.
I’d have binned him years ago.
If we want to try something different, how about putting Trent in midfield? He sure as hell ridnt look like a defensive full back today.
Are FSG still saving us?
Or paying TAW too much!!!!
The Covid season when we were defending our league title nearly did me in. The waves of misfortune and everyone taking the piss, without any justification, wound me up. I was grouchy, taking the bait, a complete pain in the arse.
Faced with this profoundly sticky patch, this festival of poxy luck and worse performances, I’m weirdly philosophical. I don’t know why. I could be furious, maybe I should be. But I just can’t dispense with the memories of last season that easily. These lads played every single game. Every single one. They’re wrecked. They’ve overdone it, they can’t do it any more, not the same way. So in many ways, it’s not their fault. And I’m not going to blame JK. He’s taken us to the top of everything – remember when we had all the trophies, like, all the big ones? And then we were shite and then we came again? He’s the key, the glue holding it all together. So I could blame FSG, and we do seem to have flushed the golden goose down the jacks, we do seem to have flopped from a position of strength. But just because Chelsea spend billions every week, just cos PSG flout financial conventions, just because city have £100m baubles on the bench, it doesn’t mean FSG were ever going to do that. They saved the club, made a lot of money, tended to things – we still won everything. And now they see how things are going, FFP gone for a shit, if it was ever in the building in the first place, and they’re selling up or at least looking for more dough.
Am I meant to be furious at all this? I could be. Succession planning askew, key back room lads off, uncertainty in the boardroom. But JK and the lads did it their way and they did it the right way. If we’re signing some lad for £200m in a years time with despot money I’m sure we’ll love the thrill of it – but it doesn’t make it right.
These lads are legends. And they’re done in, a lot of them. They’ve given everything. Under Juergen we will rise again, and it may take a while. Maybe I’m doing this wrong, maybe it’s me – but I can’t stay angry at them for too long. Even today. Especially today. Sorry everyone.
I agree with Pierre: Trent in midfield would at least shake things up. The tactical changes that have been made/attempted this season are too subtle, and subtlety is not a word I’d ever have associated with Jurgen until this season. The more limited our options are in terms of available personnel, the more he actually has carte blanche to try new things. Trent as a false nine would be amazing to see. It could backfire spectacularly, but it could also set off all kinds of fireworks.
The Covid season when we were defending our league title nearly did me in. The waves of misfortune and everyone taking the piss, without any justification, wound me up. I was grouchy, taking the bait, a complete pain in the arse.
Faced with this profoundly sticky patch, this festival of poxy luck and worse performances, I’m weirdly philosophical. I don’t know why. I could be furious, maybe I should be. But I just can’t dispense with the memories of last season that easily. These lads played every single game. Every single one. They’re wrecked. They’ve overdone it, they can’t do it any more, not the same way. So in many ways, it’s not their fault. And I’m not going to blame JK. He’s taken us to the top of everything – remember when we had all the trophies, like, all the big ones? And then we were shite and then we came again? He’s the key, the glue holding it all together. So I could blame FSG, and we do seem to have flushed the golden goose down the jacks, we do seem to have flopped from a position of strength. But just because Chelsea spend billions every week, just cos PSG flout financial conventions, just because city have £100m baubles on the bench, it doesn’t mean FSG were ever going to do that. They saved the club, made a lot of money, tended to things – we still won everything. And now they see how things are going, FFP gone for a shit, if it was ever in the building in the first place, and they’re selling up or at least looking for more dough.
Am I meant to be furious at all this? I could be. Succession planning askew, key back room lads off, uncertainty in the boardroom. But JK and the lads did it their way and they did it the right way. If we’re signing some lad for £200m in a years time with despot money I’m sure we’ll love the thrill of it – but it doesn’t make it right.
These lads are legends. And they’re done in, a lot of them. They’ve given everything. Under Juergen we will rise again, and it may take a while. Maybe I’m doing this wrong, maybe it’s me – but I can’t stay angry at them for too long. Even today. Especially today. Sorry everyone.
Not a bad shout regarding Trent being in midfield.
Things are in need of a change so why not? Would have given us some legs at the very least.
Also, despite his performance today Joel Matip can play midfield.
Fabinho was a full-back. So we can make some (mad?) changes.
But the team at the moment look shot. Physically and mentally.
Not sure we could buy players and sort this out. Nor do I see the solution from within the squad or academy.
Tough to take.
‘
Glad jurgen finally called the owners out about preseason in Asia one week after end of season, in a World Cup year at that, saying it’s not what he wanted but out of his hands. Confirming what we already know: Selling shirts is more important than player welfare. You reap what you sow.
Bang on Pierre Head . Trent midfield bit of license to roam chaotically which he does anyway. need legs in midfield which we aint gonna get from Hendo anymore Fab anymore
and The Ox ( never had any ) Keita as Pierre said is a fraud
But would you trust Gomez who was done like a kid for the third goal?? Where has the real Gomez gone? Can’t he play unless VVD is there to mind him?
Great piece as always Neil. I’ve just about come to terms with writing this season off and hoping Klopp gets the time and resources to rebuild. That’s if he can be arsed!
Meanwhile just accepting Monday mornings will be worse than normal without the warm feeling of “at least we won”….