The Official Liverpool FC Thread [Vol 13]

[m3sye]

type-r said:

Agree, our defence looks a bit more solid however I would argue that we haven't really been truly tested over the last few games. City exposed our frailties a few weeks back so I will reserve judgement until it gets really tested for creaks by another top side. However good to see we are getting clean sheets and Karius getting a much needed confidence boost and VvD starting to emerge as a leader.

I mentioned a few days ago about how successful United have been defensively with extremely average central defenders. I really think employing defensive midfielder like Matic would provide that extra shield of cover and mop up some of the initial attacking threat. Just my opinion though - Klopp's decision at the end of the day.

[m3sye]

type-r said:

Agree, our defence looks a bit more solid however I would argue that we haven't really been truly tested over the last few games. City exposed our frailties a few weeks back so I will reserve judgement until it gets really tested for creaks by another top side. However good to see we are getting clean sheets and Karius getting a much needed confidence boost and VvD starting to emerge as a leader.

I mentioned a few days ago about how successful United have been defensively with extremely average central defenders. I really think employing defensive midfielder like Matic would provide that extra shield of cover and mop up some of the initial attacking threat. Just my opinion though - Klopp's decision at the end of the day.

It's not just they play a proper DM they don't attack with half the numbers we do
There is bound to be gaps with us, the problem more for us is individual errors, they have cost us 10+points this year...
Best DM in the world is not going to stop them

Firmino has made more tackles and interceptions than Matic

[type-r]

m3sye said:

It's not just they play a proper DM they don't attack with half the numbers we do
There is bound to be gaps with us, the problem more for us is individual errors, they have cost us 10+points this year...
Best DM in the world is not going to stop them

Firmino has made more tackles and interceptions than Matic

I agree with you that a lot of goals are down to individual errors - but precisely for the reason for the way we play attacking football that leads to gaps, a DM would take a lot of pressure off the defence when we we face a counter attack - should lead to a reduction in those individual errors.

[DSLiverpool]

Flip Martian said:

The defence since VVD and Karius came in has looked a bit more solid. I'm not saying our problems are sorted but there has been an improvement. We've looked like there's more of an all round improvement over the last few games, since we've started winning games again.

Assuming Keita comes in for Can and maybe we get in some attacking back up then next season with minimal but key changes we have a formidable team.
I am really impressed how Coutinhos leaving has been absorbed and the team have carried on perfectly.

[jammy-git]

I think that's Arsenal out of the title race.

[General Price]

jammy-git said:

I think that's Arsenal out of the title race.

30 points behind and only 27 on the table,they need snookers.

[type-r]

The way Chelsea are playing, it looks like the Top 4 will be decided in 20 minutes time.

Conte looks like he has been reading Maureen's guide on how to park a bus.

[jammy-git]

27 points still to play for. Any team in the top four (bar City) has a run of a couple of bad results and Chelsea are right back in there!

[Flip Martian]

Everyone, bar City, has had rough periods during this season. Arsenal may well be out of it now (barring 2 teams collapsing and Arsenal finding some form) but there are still 5 teams playing for 4 places for a while yet.

[type-r]

Yes of course. But the way Chelsea having been "playing" today and more recently, they look mentally shot as a team.

[NRS]

[redacted]

[Flip Martian]

[redacted]

[Sparkyhd]

[redacted]

[jammy-git]

Man Utd were top and 2 points clear of City in September as well as on a winning streak stretching back all the way to the beginning of the season. Now they're 19 points behind City, languishing in third and have been beaten 5 times already. Definitely bottled the league this season.

For comparison, we were second then and we're still second. That's consistency.

[NRS]

[redacted]

[uk66fastback]

jammy-git said:

Man Utd were top and 2 points clear of City in September

It was 'in their hands then' - superb!

[type-r]

For the Porto game, I would like to see about 5 changes to the 1st team. Give the fringe players a game, certainly the forwards should be rested / protected from injury. Mings and Klavan should get a game too. Though I think Klopp has already said he won't be making any wholesale changes.

[Ascayman]

jammy-git said:

Man Utd were top and 2 points clear of City in September as well as on a winning streak stretching back all the way to the beginning of the season. Now they're 19 points behind City, languishing in third and have been beaten 5 times already. Definitely bottled the league this season.

For comparison, we were second then and we're still second. That's consistency.

Where they actually bottled it was their home game v city, the chance to get within two points if they won and they set up not to lose at home its the very definition of bottling it.

[anniesdad]

Ascayman said:

jammy-git said:

Man Utd were top and 2 points clear of City in September as well as on a winning streak stretching back all the way to the beginning of the season. Now they're 19 points behind City, languishing in third and have been beaten 5 times already. Definitely bottled the league this season.

For comparison, we were second then and we're still second. That's consistency.

Where they actually bottled it was their home game v city, the chance to get within two points if they won and they set up not to lose at home its the very definition of bottling it.

What a load of bks. It's hardly bottling it, losing one game. City enjoyed the lions share of possession but that's what they are extremely good at. Keeping the ball. We created chances in that game, even scored a goal but we gave away 2 sloppy goals. On balance they deserved to win, no issues with that but bottling it? Not nearly. We all have to find a way of taking points off City otherwise they'll just run away with every season. You might settle for second best but I sure as hell won't, certainly not when it's City that are at the top.

Your comment stems from the "Spurs bottling it" comments in the league last season. FWIW I agreed with the Spurs fans that you were never really in it last season and the season before. You gave it a go but but it wasn't enough.

Don't let the anti-Spurs comments cloud your judgment on this one match. We've all lost games so we've all bottled it, does that help?

[Ascayman]

anniesdad said:

What a load of bks. It's hardly bottling it, losing one game. City enjoyed the lions share of possession but that's what they are extremely good at. Keeping the ball. We created chances in that game, even scored a goal but we gave away 2 sloppy goals. On balance they deserved to win, no issues with that but bottling it? Not nearly. We all have to find a way of taking points off City otherwise they'll just run away with every season. You might settle for second best but I sure as hell won't, certainly not when it's City that are at the top.

Your comment stems from the "Spurs bottling it" comments in the league last season. FWIW I agreed with the Spurs fans that you were never really in it last season and the season before. You gave it a go but but it wasn't enough.

Don't let the anti-Spurs comments cloud your judgment on this one match. We've all lost games so we've all bottled it, does that help?

There's so many anti spurs comments on here i cant keep up!

I stand by my comments though, its one thing trying to win a game and end up losing it god knows thats happened to us enough but Utd set up not to lose that game at home, a win would have put you within two points of City.