11 Nov 2019 08:37:04
Hi Ed001 Great result yesterday I'm still over the moon. Really enjoying your podcasts also thanks for all the hard work. I'm just wanted your opinion on the high line Liverpool seem to have taken from free kicks into the box. I don't remember giving up as many chances from this last year. Is it something you agree with? I know they can be extremely difficult to defend from but we seem to be giving away some great chances trying to hold a high line. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - I don't feel that's an issue, most of those chances have been offside. The issue is that we are not adjusting according to the opponent we face. The times we were caught out were because the opposition overloaded us deep and we did not move anyone across to cover. The team itself needs to be alert to that and move people to deeper areas to counter it.}

1.) 11 Nov 2019
11 Nov 2019 11:25:18
It’s only become an issue since Lovren came in to the team. I’ve noticed he is the one that steps back a little too early playing people onside. Not criticising him he will get it but he just needs to hold his nerve.
One of them yesterday was Firmino who was shoved back by a city player and played them onside.
It has flaws but it has served us well so far.

2.) 11 Nov 2019
11 Nov 2019 15:23:01
Teams are now putting in runners from deep in the middle of the defensive line or an overload at the back post. The Villa goal came from there. There was an overload on the back post where Hendo had two players to deal with. One of them was Trezeguet who made a run from one yard deep and the goal obv. stood as Hendo could not deal with him nor Mings.

The same thing happened last night. Aguero and Stones made runs from deep and instead of defending the situation as it was, we kept playing the high line trying to catch them off whereas they weren't. We seem to not be adapting to this well, as you say. IMO, this is a recognition issue as in, our inability to recognize evolving situations an adapting to it. I say, if you see the runner (s) coming from deep, adapt to the situation and actually defend the set play man for man. Don't rely on the high line or VAR to help you cos clearly like at Villa, it did not.

3.) 11 Nov 2019
11 Nov 2019 15:32:23
Beckers, slating Lovs for a problem the whole defence is having is unfair, IMO. It is the whole defence that is not adapting to runners from deep, not just one person. Watch the free kicks again and you will see. In the Villa game, it was Hendo who had two guys to mark and could not cos they were both running in from deep. Is that Lovs fault? It seems you are trying to find a reason to slate Lovs BUT IMO, it smacks of desperation to slate a player who has been solid (and was brilliant vs City) since he came in. Pity.

4.) 11 Nov 2019
11 Nov 2019 15:59:11
Thanks a million for the replies. I agree with everything said. Sometimes we are a bit slow to react to the runners coming from deep but wasn't sure if they were told to hold the high line and not go with them. Anyway brilliant result yesterday and couldn't and wouldn't criticize anyone they were fantastic yesterday.

{Ed001's Note - it is a deliberate policy to hold a high line and try and catch them offside.}