08 May 2017 04:28:00
Dear Ed's

There is nothing to complain about the results yesterday. Being a Liverpool fan we already had experienced this before, not our first time that we couldn't break the defence.

I am not an expert but why don't Managers tackle this issue or try to tweak the formation to overcome a defensive side?

In my view playing 2 strikers upfront would be an option in these types of games.

{Ed001's Note - we already have tweaked it, but out of fear because it was clear that Klopp was too worried about being caught on the break yesterday. That is why we played with two at the base, rather than just Lucas, it was Lucas and Can, to protect the centre backs. Obviously we were looking for control of the ball and then try and draw them out by passing it around to create spaces. However there was no movement to draw them out and our passing was too slow and poor to create gaps. If you are going to pass it across, it has to be along the ground for a quick control, rather than bobbling up around waist height where it is hard to control when being closed down. You have to be thinking about whether you can get your foot up that high and take control of the ball before the opponent can get to you. Rather than just moving it on. Also the passing is just far too slow, it is being rolled, rather than passed with pace. We are playing it so slow they had time to all shift across and hold a nice safe formation intact. If you have no pace in the team, you have to put pace on the ball, use that to do the quick movement. A crossfield pass drifted across may look nice and can be pinpoint, but all it does is give them time to all shuffle across to face up the ball again. Fire it across and you have, or should have, a gap to attack.}


1.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 05:27:10
I thought the subs were the right ones to come on, just could have been made earlier. Sturridge did more in twenty five minutes than Origi had done all game, and the last one for that matter.
Remember, two really good saves stopped it being a "comfortable" 2 nil, the penalty and Grujic's header. Did they have a shot on target?
Sometimes I wonder whether we'd be better off letting them have a bit more of the ball to try and draw them out and create some space. We press and win the ball back well high up the field, but they've normally got at least half a dozen behind the ball at that stage.

{Ed001's Note - we didn't press though, we are too scared of being caught on the break and the press has vanished. If we had pressed we might have scored.}


2.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 06:24:32
I say we go all out against West Ham. A draw is no good for us, so its either make or break. Sturridge and Firmino up top with Couts behind them. Lallana, Can and Gini in midfield and TAA and Milner as the fullbacks. Might as well experiment high risk than settle for another drab draw.


3.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 06:30:59
So basically the midfield and forward line has no faith in our defenders to tackle any counter attack situations? Great news that we go into next season with the same CBs that do not have even the trust of their own team mates. So im thinking at least 6 new players in the summer if Klopp is to even come close to fulfilling his promise to FSG of winning the BPL and doing well in the UCL. And these players should improve not only the squad but also the first team, though I highly doubt that's going to happen considering the key word in LFC's transfer approach is 'potential. '

{Ed001's Note - oh for....... I give up. You really are not reading a bloody thing I type so why should I bother reading or replying to you?

I hate this site after anything other than a win, it just shows up what a bunch of pathetic spoilt brats Liverpool fans are. All the ridiculous FM fantasies of buying hundreds of players each season, with no thought of how it disrupts the team when you change half of it. But its ok so long as you have those new players to masturbate over!}


4.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 08:11:24
Ed, that's one of the best and most accurate posts I've ever seen on here. Maybe a bit harsh on IB as I find him to be one of the more positive posters, but I can fully appreciate why you're left grinding your teeth when we don't win.
Welcome to Sky Generation football supporters!
How many do you think actually played the game at all?
Judging by the posts I see, very few. but there's plenty of "experts".

{Ed001's Note - I am not sure that having been a player makes you an expert. Robbie Savage and Michael Owen are examples of former pros with nothing in the way of insight.}


5.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 09:41:57
At least we look good at the back but that's been most of the time with lovren and Matip

I love Lucas and I think he's help out this last month but he can pass the ball like hendo or shoot like him so teams let Lucas have the ball.

We also miss Lallana when he plays it makes as play faster and coutinho does not feel he needs to drop deep.

We do miss a class st in my eyes and a wide player but that's just my opinion.


6.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 10:56:53
Hi. I'm definitely no expert on tactics etc But If you think about it the only way you increase the pace of the game is to press the ball quickly, forcing the opposition to play the ball quicker than they would like and hopefully causing an error which turns the play rapidly in your favour
I think that is our style of play under Klopp.
It seems to me that Southampton were set up take advantage of this pressing tactic by defending deep and to hopefully catch us on a break as other teams had done this season.
As Ed correctly said above that Klopp countered this threat by having 2 holding midfielderso.

So really both teams tactics cancelled each otber out.

Disappointing though it was at least wevery drew and not caught with the suckered punch.

To sum up. Liverpool tried attaching for most of the game but ended up playing games across the pitch with the passers-by standing still after playing the ball is stead of moving forward to recieved a return pass and create pro less for the defence. which could lead to a set piece or a goal

I wonder if in the last 10 if we had put lovren or matip up front and went route 1 to force the issue
But that's why Klopp there.


Sorry for the monologue.


7.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 12:23:11
Have to agree passing was way too slow. The only hope was when Sturridge, Lallana and even Grujic were brought on.

I really feel we need Vardy type of player who can run alone with ball.
We did had few counter attacks but were too slow to pass and run.
Have watched Chelsea's counter attack and we are no where near them.

All those NEWS about Nutrition specialist from Germany and all was a joke I guess. Hope these people do their job to get Liverpool players up and running.


8.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 12:56:46
I agee with ed01 that we miss mane as the only player who runs in behind being an issue. I also think that because we are so narrow up top we are really reliant on our fullback offering real quality in the final third as they get plenty of the ball. Clyne again yesterday whilst solid enough defensively (albeit against zero attacking from Saints) he really struggled to deliver a single quality final pass.

All too often Clyne plays the ball square or backwards which to be fair might be partly due to having no third man runners. Also Milner has become really predictable and gets two thirds of the way up the pitch cuts inside and crosses from too deep to trouble the opponent.

With the cover we are playing with in centre midfield we really need our fullbacks pushing on but they also require the quality once in possession. The first substitution I would have made yesterday was TAA on for Clyne. I'd be tempted in the final game to play both TAA and Moreno.


9.) 08 May 2017
08 May 2017 21:19:00
Dermot. Klopp was being pragmatic cos he understood that at this stage, not losing was more important and he kept a solid shape to negate a fatal counter attack that could have devastated us and that is fine. Now if you are going to do that, you need to move the ball quickly to break them down esp, with no pace in behind and no quality balls from the FB's. That did not happen yesterday and that was disappointing.

But we did get a penalty (which was the only way we were going to score, really) and Milner did not place it accurately enough to beat a 6ft 7inch NBA power forward in Forster. All in all, it was a good point as CL is still ours to lose and at this point, that's all you can hope for going into the weekend.