1.) 16 May 2018
15 May 2018 23:55:35
The biggest issue is the drop in class between our first XI and bench. Taking off any of the front 3 makes us immediately seem less of a threat regardless of who comes on, I feel that always gives the opposition the mental boost they need to attempt a comeback. The change to 3 at the back is big too, we just need like for like swaps to keep the pressure up it’s fresh legs. Unfortunately due to injuries we haven’t been able to do that most of this season.


2.) 16 May 2018
15 May 2018 23:59:09
Completely agree mate. I posted the stats on this subject only a couple of weeks ago. We have conceded 30% of our league goals this season after the 79th minute.

It is the one thing that will hold us back from winning the title. We have to finish games as strong as the first 75 minutes.

Great piece.


3.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 00:21:38
We had Mignolet in goal and Lovren and Matip as our first team centre half partnership for half the season, additionally injuries and the distraction of the champions league (especially towards the end of the season) hampered our league form. We might be the second best team at the end of the season, but we certainly weren't at the start. When's the last time we finished in the top four in two consecutive seasons? its been a hell of a season. Its one game away from being an incredible one.


4.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 01:33:10
haha its my klopp hulk design i made years ago.


5.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 05:08:46
It’s not all about Liverpool, other teams do try to score goals too, particularly when they are behind, it’s called football! How many times have we seen teams sit back when they are ahead and concede goals, it’s one of the main reasons for Chelsea’s problems this season.
The way we are going to improve is not to change how we play it is to get better at what we are currently doing. How many games have City needed to ‘game manage’ this season? Not many because they are usually 3-4 goals ahead.
As for Klopp making the worst subs of the top 6 this season has it occurred to you that perhaps it’s because we have less options off the bench than the other teams, certainly less than City, United and Chelsea. A better quality squad will help us next season.

{Ed025's Note - some good points there smeg..


6.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 07:12:13
Nail and head smeg!


7.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 07:27:25
Smeg, it's not just about sitting back, it's about controlling games and there's a body of evidence that it's a problem specific to Klopp. It's not just about our squad either, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Utd don't have significantly better benches than us but none of them share our negative record with substitutions nor do they drop as many points from winning positions as we do.

My opinion is that we can't maintain Klopp football for 90 minutes and we really struggle when we take our foot off the gas. Klopp needs to find an effective way of playing at only 70% effort.


8.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 07:29:13
P. s. thanks to the Eds who edit my posts into articles. I really like the new format.

{Ed001's Note - that would be Ed033 mate.}


9.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 07:55:04
It’s an interesting read putney but I agree with smeg. Man city hardly managed a thing in Europe and few teams bothered to show up against them in pl. klopp could do well to stop putting three at the back in the last few mins but that’s it for me until we have a slightly better bench to call upon. The team of the latter half of this season beats man city. I fully expect us, Chelsea and city to be fighting it out for the title next season.


10.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 08:02:47
Well said smeg you raise a very good point. At times utd city chelsea have several £30-60m players coming off the bench. At times especially at end of the season we had mostly youth or players only just retuning from long term injuries to come on. Let's hope we have more luck next season with injuries and add 3,4 quality bodies to help out and add that extra quality in depth.


11.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 08:25:39
I was close to not liking that article due to the negativity but what you say Putney is correct. I know your not bashing the team or Klopp, just stating he needs to change a few things which is right.

No manager is perfect that's for sure but if we want to be the best, we need to iron a few things out and it starts with Klopp. I love Klopp and he's took us far but I want that league, so does he and I think he'll get it right in the next couple of seasons. It all goes on who we sign this summer and we're on the right track with Keita incoming so I'm really optimistic about the direction we're going in.

If you'd of asked me 6 weeks ago I'd of said we'd get 2nd in the league this season, so it was disappointing somewhat having said that I'm just happy we got top 4 but I wanted more. You make great points mate but I'm confident Klopp will sort things out.

Overall I'm delighted with the club in every aspect, things will only improve. Klopp will bring us that title!


12.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 08:51:35
MK, this was partly inspired by your post, partly by what Klopp said about not knowing how to play for a draw.

Salah, thanks for understanding my motivation. I'll admit I find it more interesting looking at the things we need to improve on rather than pointing out how great we are. I just think there's a big disparity between how well we've played this season and our league final league position. We're a long way from being the finished article and we need to keep getting better.


13.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 09:55:26
I'm just glad your not one of those 'Klopp out' kind of fellas mate. Right there we got constructive critisism and what your saying is not wrong. As you probably know I'm quite the opposite to you, I'm positive about most things with the club but I don't mind stuff like this. I think some people may be against the article because everybodys on a high right now and some just can't accept the truth.

I'm very positive of the direction we're going but I'm not blind. Klopp does need to learn from his mistakes for us to progress further next season. Personally I believe he will but time will tell mate.

Thanks for the article, keep them coming Putney!


14.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 10:11:15
I like the way you constructively analyse things Putney. It is not negative to point out the truth. Fact is, we throw away a lot of points late in games or from leading positions. Why we do it is up for debate. Maybe it is the switch to 3 centre backs, maybe it is tired legs from counter pressing, maybe it is no quality on the bench to change things, or maybe it is a mentality thing when players start dropping off subconsciously. Maybe it is a combination of all of those reasons!

I'd accept any of those reasons if they are well thought out arguments. It is simply denial to ignore that we struggle to protect a lead though. If we can rectify it somehow, we will challenge.

Again mate, great post.


15.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 10:40:08
Aguero was also flagged offside so it would not have counted anyways.

The main reason is squad depth. If we had better players to bring on from the bench then things would be different.

Also a much shakier defence and gk. This seams to have been addressed but we need another cb in there inplace of matip.

So basically somethings wrong with tactics if next season after the expected recruitment and the defensive make up we still fail to mount a decent challenge.


16.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 13:41:19
I'm with Putney here. And it's not as if Klopp is not aware of the problem because he has alluded to it in post-match press conferences where he has said he was not happy with our "controlling the ball and controlling the game". He has to either find the right players or tweak the tactical strategy to close out games, or both. Going to a back 3 is not the way to do it, as even he must have realized by now. We seem to be far better as a back 4, and he has to re-coach the full backs and instruct the midfield to change from the full thrust offensive football he loves, after a certain winning position is achieved in a game.


17.) 16 May 2018
16 May 2018 15:14:07
You are all forgetting the scandalous decisions we’ve had go against us this season in the last minute of games too. Not much you can do when the a ref (or Lino) gives a penalty for their player jumping into yours and going down like a dying swan.