TO paraphrase Thomas Tuchel a bit: “Drawing a game having been two goals up against shite teams from the West Midlands is underrated, but only if you learn from it.”
As The Reds trudged off the pitch Jürgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure, agitated by what he perceived to be a couple of poor refereeing decisions, even poorer discipline from his own players and angry that Liverpool had thrown away a two-goal lead at The Hawthorns that would have all but confirmed Liverpool’s Champions League status going into next season.
His mood hadn’t lightened in the moments after the game as the unusually brusque Klopp unloaded in a fairly terse post-match interview with Sky.
But as all eyes turn to Tuesday night’s Champions League semi final first leg at Anfield, maybe today’s result is a timely reminder for The Reds as they gear up for the biggest 10 days over the last decade, that even the slightest hint of complacency can be costly.
Having tightened up immeasurably over the course of the season, and despite what your initial instincts may tell you, today’s result, or rather the manner of it, has become the rare exception rather than what was once the depressing norm.
Nor could you argue that Liverpool’s back four was anything like their first choice, with three changes in today’s team in the shape of Ragnar Klavan, Joe Gomez and the lesser-spotted Alberto Moreno start in front of Loris Karius, with Moreno in particular putting in a performance of reminiscent of someone searching for rhythm after a lengthy spell out.
Going into today’s game, Liverpool had registered eight clean sheets in their last 12 game, conceded only five goals in that run.
Nevertheless, the sting of tossing a result away should sharpen minds and refocus.
The fury that was clear on the manager’s face and in his voice needs to be channelled back into the squad on the trip back up from the Midlands and at Melwood ahead of the first leg against Roma.
“Stay angry” has been Klopp’s go to of late, and if ever he had a chance to make the point again in the strongest terms then now is that time.
Liverpool should take today’s result as an affront, an insult, a disgrace and something that needs addressing, putting right in the strongest, most emphatic manner.
To show just how good this Liverpool side is and exorcise the affront of what happened today at The Hawthorns.
And what an opportunity to do so on Tuesday.
SUBSCRIBE to TAW Player to listen to our post-match show…
“There aren’t many midfielders in world football who are going round people and then splitting the defence… Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one of them.” 👏
🗣 Listen to our immediate post-match reaction show, live from outside the Hawthorns, here 👉 https://t.co/Z8JVyOQDO5 pic.twitter.com/zVO6vBzT01
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) 21 April 2018
Recent Posts:
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
Thanks Andy.
Positives:
– Salah scoring his 31st and Ings scoring his 1st goal!!!
– The roasting Klopp will give this team after giving away a 2 goal lead, ahead of the Roma game (which I wish will lead them to stay focused).
– Painful reminder to Klopp, staff and the supporters of Liverpool that we haven’t shaken off defensive woes against teams like WBA who are physical and have aerial threat.
– We are 2-3 players away from being able to go the distance and win titles.
– This might have been a one-off, but no time to start this now. We are too close to the end.
Negatives:
– Roma are probably watching our every move. They must be licking their lips at seeing the set piece blunders. They are going to try this for sure to beat us as they are equally physical but more talented than WBA. They have the advantage with their away leg first.
– Instead of fancy fucking football, we didn’t close the kill the game. Still playing one touch passing, fancy footwork and selfishness on the pitch that wasn’t favoring the style.
– 10 out of the winnable draws (resulting from a winning position) now and counting; I think this ended our Premier League title challenge some time back – 20 points right there and we have ourselves to blame.
– Result puts us under serious pressure during the stoke game (granted it’s at home). If Chelsea win all their games, including against us, we might find ourselves down to 5th.
We can still do this with a draw against Chelsea and Brighton, but definitely a win against Stoke needs to happen, for the momentum going into the CL and Chelsea game.
– Spurs have more games left and no CL to worry about, Mickey mouse cup aside.
– Stoke has become a MUST WIN game now.
So yeah, it’s time to get angry and unleash hell on Roma and then some!!!
Imagine a draw against Stoke, loss at the bridge and then being level on (72) points with Chelsea after 37 games. Christ. Can’t see it happening but yea, Stoke is a must win. And I hate those.
Its a reminder how bad Moreno is.
both fulbacks were shite
The result was shite.
But it was the best wakeup call.
With all the hype surrounding our new found defensive steel, the glory of #6, the Title coming next season and playing magic football…….it’s always about the next match….that’s what the great Liverpool teams of old did……play the next f*@$ing game !!
Now Klopp has to channel all the anger into the next match vs Roma.
We have to be at our very best – nothing less will do.
Klopp’s possibly wishing he put Clyne at LB yesterday…. Virgil casual on the back post cross perhaps. Letting Rondon get free access to a dead ball is not great but he’s missed loads all season. Ruthy Reds
REFS,THAT IS WHY THERE NONE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP,SHITE,PUNDITS ON TV,NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT,OFF SIDE RULE,IS NOT THE SAME IN EUROPE,GLAD IT IS NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON.AND WERE CHAMPS OF EUROPE.
Yet to get a decision off any referees in the PL. Think they are being told to do all they can to fuck us over.
That said we were fucking dozy in conceding the 2 goals