17 Aug 2019 08:13:52
Ed001 have you noticed almost every team now focuses there attack down our right hand side towards Trent? He is amazing going forward but sometimes is fought out defensively and often only sees danger once the ball has been played over him into his channel resulting in him having to try and recover sprinting 40-50yards to try an get to the attacker with the ball.

I get it's the way we are and the fact we are very attack minded but it doesn't happen as much down Robbos side who is just as attacking at Trent.

Do you think Klopp would of noticed this and been working on it with him in training? He often puts Gomez there to try and see the game out or starts him there depending on our opponents.

I love Trent to bits but just feel he needs to sharpen up ok his defensive duties, or have I got it totally wrong?

{Ed001's Note - what do you mean now? They have been doing that since he got his first start and will continue to do so until it stops being a weakness. The team will either have to adjust as a unit or he will have to learn.}

17 Aug 2019 10:12:26
Ed001 I read an article yesterday that was actually praising Klopp and his forward thinking saying his new high line is the new step ahead and we are first to do it. What it was saying was to play a high line you run the risk of a linesman having to call the decision correctly so teams would not risk it. Now with the introduction of Var, Klopp is happy to play it as the correct decision will always be made. The high line squeezes the oppositions midfield and forces them to play the ball over the top where more often than not the forward would be just offside unless the run is times perfectly. It went on to show how far forward our defensive line was forward even after we lost possession against Chelsea. I was going to copy the link and add it to the group but I was so busy I totally forgot.

{Ed001's Note - I am not so sure they are right about that. The higher the line, the easier it is to get in without being offside because you can only be offside in the opposition half. It also makes it easier for midfielders to run in behind because they are closer and so give the midfield less time to spot the run. Also if anyone truly believes VAR is infallible or even close to it, they haven't seen any football lately. They don't even know how to use it.}

17 Aug 2019 10:28:36
Ed001 yeah get what you’re saying and that was also my initial thoughts about runners from deep. In the 2 opening games we have appeared to have quite a few of the opposition get in behind. I just thought it was an interesting article as I’d not seen that argument put forward before. Hopefully back to the good old days (last season) of a nice clean sheet today against the Saints and 3 points. However I’ll take 3 points regardless of the score.

{Ed001's Note - fingers crossed. We really need to get the defence sorted quickly. You don't win titles by being wide open at the back.}

17 Aug 2019 10:38:49
In the Paisley era and beyond to Kenny’s mk.1, the half way line was the default position of the Liverpool back four at Anfield.
It’s difficult now to use City as an example of beating the press, as they’re an atypical side, but of more concern that Norwich and Chelsea could.
Hopefully it’s down to rustiness of the season just starting. Jorginho played well on Wednesday, especially the first half, and that’s a definite sign that the press was a bit uncoordinated at times.
Personally I love the high Liverpool line, and the pace of our back line.
If pace be the food of football, play on!
Quickest back four we’ve ever had. Enjoy.

17 Aug 2019 11:04:20
JK23, I see what you are saying and have seen some of our fans online saying the same thing the article is claiming BUT I am a) Not sure if this was a deliberate tactic from Klopp and b) VAR as Ed01 said, has it's flaws and we saw that on show in the Super Cup game> Our success last season was playing a high line, knowing Allison would be back there to sweep up as he is boss at that. Also, we were very compact as a team that teams could not even get through our midfield.

Now, we are playing an even higher line and as Ed said, when the opposing mids. break the offside trap from deep, we are sitting ducks esp. we we don't press well or get thru the press, like it happened several times vs Chelsea or some of the time vs Norwich. IMO, our midfield is too spread out to cover the FB's which leaves the CM position open for the oppo. to operate.

I don't have an issue with the high line esp. if we have the quickest back 4 in the PL, IMO. Now we have the higher line with a midfield too open, we are looking at disaster if that is not tweaked. Also, chopping and changing CB pairs don't help at all.

17 Aug 2019 11:33:00
In the chelsea game, first half, it was our left that was attacked more.

I think teams are going to attack our fbs more this season. But fab falls back and it makes a solid 3.also i've noticed salah playing well defensively. And mane always does. It doesn't worry me when we have alisson. I hope adrian is fit.

17 Aug 2019 11:36:24
Redwolf again mate I’m only sharing what the article was
Saying and am not trying to pass it across as my own opinion. Great comment from yourself though 👍.

17 Aug 2019 12:41:14
city showed that midfield runnera from deep and on the wings can spring our high line very easily.

17 Aug 2019 12:23:40
As im pretty clueless about tactics, do you think the higher press is anything to do with players being able to recieve the ball from their own keeper without having to stay outside the box.

Ok if yoy have ball playing defenders but invites pressure if you pass to hoofers who don't really want it. Ed 25 sorry but im thinking of zouna.

Cheers all.

{Ed025's Note - zouma is not a bad player to be fair wiltshire, he hoofs it when need be mate but he can also play the ball out when needed..

18 Aug 2019 03:13:48
I don't think that article holds substance as I can't see that being the reason for klopps defensive structure.

I'd actually argue the opposite in that by playing higher you give the attacker a much better success rate of beating the offside trap, the more space that's in behind gives the forward the option of a clear run, he doesn't need to risk making his run off the shoulder as he would need to in a deep back line. I can't see how VAR would give any advantage to the defence over attack in that scenario.

{Ed001's Note - exactly.}