06 Dec 2016 13:12:50
Matip back in first team training in Barcelona. That is good news but at the same time it's crazy we only have one centre back we can depend/ rely on.

1.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 13:49:33
That may be true, Danray. However, the system we play is described by Klopp as, "If you`re not an option, you are protection". That is the Klopp style of counter-pressing. It means that if you are a defender, midfielder, or striker, you can`t just stand around just because the ball may or may not come to you. You have to affect the game offensively and defensively. Therefore, because we are always on the front foot, dominate possession, create and convert chances almost at will, the opposition is too busy defending. This is why our CB`s and GK have very little to do and what ever they have to do, they do well. Before getting in a Matip-type CB to play with him next season, we must never waiver from this system (laced speed, intensity, passion and determination) as it has gotten us this far. We have seen what waivering from this system can do (Bournmouth) .

2.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 14:59:27
Absolutely, Hamilton. I'd just like to add that just as much as the system, it's the execution of the system that really matters. There are so many ways of playing football around, but if you get the team buying into a sound style/ system completely, then the results can be amazing. Nothing pathbreaking about what Leceister was doing last year, but they had the players and executed Ranieri's vision consistently without letup, and to perfection - they simply took off with the title, against all expectations. And what we saw in the last 15 minutes against Bournemouth was LFC collectively playing neither an "option nor protection".

3.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 15:38:23
We didn't waiver from the system, we just weren't very good for 15 minutes. We cannot dominate games 100% of the time, therefore we need a defence which can withstand the pressure when we take our foot off the gas. With Matip in the team we have that, without him we don't.

4.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 16:17:04
Spot on Muscat.

5.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 16:21:47
My point exactly, Ra1969. Execution at ALL times leads to championships as our system WORKS. Muscat, we did waiver as in, stopped doing the things that put us in the commanding position we were in. Listen to Klopp`s pot match comments and the Ed`s responses and you will see. Also, we were more than good enough to see out the game as we had seen out tougher games than the Bournmouth game vs Chelsea, Swansea, Arsenal, Palace and even dare I say Sunderland and Leeds already this year. It was also the same defence and system that had pummeled Bournmouth for 75 minutes where they had prolly one shot on target the whole time, so the defence is not the issue. The issue was that we stopped pressing, dropped our intensity levels and invited pressure, knowing full well we had a makeshift back line. Inviting pressure will only cause chaos regardless of who you have in your backline which is why teams very rarely do it. We are not built to invite pressure hence, the system we play. Klopp already alluded to this. And had we seen the game out and won 3 or 4-1, No one would be talking about our defence.

6.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 15:44:36
Thanks for the match of the day analysis. We are a better team with Matip in it and we can't depend on what's in reserve. It's pretty simple.

7.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 17:28:19
Fair enough, Danray.

8.) 06 Dec 2016
06 Dec 2016 19:32:36
Hamilton, sometimes you make Harry look coherent, what's your point? That if we play really well we'll win games? That if we don't concede goals no one will say our defence is bad? If we were 'more than good enough to see out the game' then we would have seen out the game, instead we conceded three goals and lost, that's a pretty strong argument that we, in fact, weren't good enough. There are many factors that contributed to that happening and one of those is a defence that folded like a cheap suit. This is a problem that will bring Klopp much concern and he will absolutely be looking for a solution.

9.) 07 Dec 2016
07 Dec 2016 03:26:20
I agree with muscatred, whilst we did drop of the intensity and we lost focus, it is impossible to expect 100% from the players the whole 90mins, we play the hardest system in the league with very intensive training sessions week in and week out. You can't reasonably expect the players to constantly carry out the system for the whole 90mins for 38 games. I know you understand that we will lose some games but what you are trying to do, and have been ever since the Bournemouth game is deflect the attention of the actual problems with the team, which is the defensive side to our game, is was a problem before Klopp and it's still a problem with Klopp. If our system enables our defence to not have very much to do, yet when they are called upon we either concede or look very shaky, that is bloody concerning to me. The defence (midfield, defence and goalkeeper) must be able to deal with attacks much better than they are at the moment, it's quite simple. We have conceded the most goals out of the top 8 teams yet you say our system enables our defenders to not have much to do, so does something not seem right there? I'm not saying it's the personnel per se, especially in defence as I think we would be very good at the back if we where properly drilled there but I don't think we are. I cannot say the same for midfield and goalkeeper as I'm yet to be convinced by Karius and the midfields defensive contribution but I will support them and will give them time. We are the best in the league going forward but defensively we are the worst out of the top teams on par with maybe city. These are facts mate.

10.) 07 Dec 2016
07 Dec 2016 07:46:59
Here's my twopenneth:

The way we play at the moment is brilliant. Great entertainment, in your face full on attacking. The object of the game is to outscore your opponent and that is how we play - I wouldn't change it.
But! Due to the style of play, we have to accept we are going to have periods in the game - usually at the very beginning or the very end - where we will be under pressure. How the team deals with that is crucial. With Matip in the side, we seem calm. Without Matip we go back to 'panic mode'. Everyone out of position, crosses flying into the box, last ditch rash tackles etc etc.
This is the area of the game we need to work on and we may even need to tweak personnel in January.

11.) 07 Dec 2016
07 Dec 2016 10:03:49
Agreed, absolutely ron. If we want to win the league we have to improve it, one way or another.

12.) 07 Dec 2016
07 Dec 2016 15:51:04
Kman, improvement is always needed regardless of performance but that was not the point I was making. My point was thatwe should stop fixating on the defence too much as that is a red herring. I`m taking a wholistic view of the situation. The defence is not the great wall of China and that is normal due to the system we play, one that had us possessing the joint third best defence in the PL before the Bournmouth meltdown. Our system works and the defence improved as a result. Now regarding Sunday, we had Bournmouth completed smothered and the defence was doing its job until the last 15 mins. For our system, every body has to press and defend and when we stopped doing that not because we were tired as we weren`t, but because we thought the game was won and we got caught cold. That is where the issue is and Klopp already alluded to it and I agree with him. singling out defence, midfield or GK is to me, a false argument to describe a much bigger problem. Could we have defended better or managed the game better? Of course and we can always improve even if we had won. But the system got us to being the third best defence in the PL before that game so to your point, we have been well drilled provided we don`t relax and if we do get tired, Klopp should make the changes to protect the lead, something he`s done with success all season as this is the only game we`ve lost from a winning position. all in all, yours, Muscat and Ron`s posts are valid arguments to make.