29 Sep 2025 14:13:31
KingKenny1809 has written an article entitled, Thoughts On The Liverpool v Crystal Palace Match
29 Sep 2025 14:58:37
I only actually saw the first half and I actually went in thinking how are we not level.
I despise this narrative of ‘could’ve been 4-0 down’ that I keep hearing. It’s always swayed towards the underdogs who have had chances but completely ignores any chances the other team has had.
I agree we were poor in the first half but Konate missed an absolute sitter and Isak went round the keeper and hit the side netting. So on another day we could’ve actually been 2-1 up at half time (not that we deserved to be but you get my point) .
I too think Wirtz from the left was a poor decision. Mainly because he spent no time on the left he was always central which gave us no width. Given that our main issue (especially with Wirtz) is that we are clogging the middle of the pitch and not stretching teams it was a bit weird to take away a winger and add someone else in the middle. Perhaps worth a try but it just didn’t work.
If we insist on clogging the middle then the passing has to be so much better. Our passing has been way off and it’s leaving us exposed. We are trying to go through the middle with short passes breaking the lines but teams are just crowding the middle on the edge of their box, nicking the ball as we try to pass it through and hitting the channels early in behind the full backs.
We need the wingers to hold their width to stretch teams out and instead of the little passes we need to commit defenders by going past them. That then pulls other defenders across and opens up space in the middle for Wirtz, Isak or Ekitike and Salah to do some damage. At the moment Wirtz is taking the ball on the half turn and is hit with a tackle immediately because it’s too crowded. I don’t care how good you are you can’t take on 4 players every time you get the ball.
I understand the slow passing because the opposition have everyone behind the ball and we are looking for gaps to thread it through them instead of just going wide. Switch it quicker, isolate the full back and go past them. Pull defenders out of position and then our attackers will find space.
We have an embarrassment of riches in the final third and the opposition teams know it so they won’t open up and give us space. It’s up to Slot to figure out a way of creating it. A the moment the little short passes and flicks around the corner are only putting us under more pressure because we are not setting up the opposition correctly and are trying impossible balls through crowded areas which results in us losing the ball in dangerous areas when we are wide open.
Saying all of that I have total confidence we will win the league. It’s not a player problem it’s a system problem and I am 100% sure we will get it right and will be unstoppable. These players and manager are too good not to. Once everyone is fit and the new guys are settled it will click and we’ll go to a whole new level.
29 Sep 2025 15:03:22
Hard to argue with a lot of that.
The slightly concerning thing is the right back slot. Bradley (As Ed mentioned I believe recently) seems to be too keen to go forward and occupy the wrong spaces and get in other players way - probably one of the reasons Salah has an impact when he's on the pitch.
In terms of trying to resolve it, I think maybe the sensible thing would be to play Gomez at right back who at least understands the defensive duties of a right back and it would also give Konate a bit more protection. I know Sabozslai can play there and play well but I think he has to play in the middle with Grav. Failing that, play Gomez instead of Konate and keep Frimpong at Right Back, I'd prefer either of those options until Bradley realises that he needs to play as a right back, not a right winger or right midfielder!
I know it seems strange to say it when we have Bradley and Frimpong who are both right backs but I'm not convinced with either as things stand.
29 Sep 2025 15:45:33
To be fair, Robbo, and I agree with 90% of what you wrote, but the chances Palace had were excellent chances, they weren't half chances or even decent chances, even xG wise it's almost unheard of for us to allow that many clear cut chances to the opposition. Worse still they were exactly the sort of chances that we could call textbook Palace chances, how many times have we seen Eze put Mateta through to do exactly that, they completely nullified our build up while we opened the door for them to do what everybody knows they can do.
Yes Alisson is there to save our hides when that happens, but you can't have him reliably keeping four or five point blank shots out of the net in a half of football every week, nor obviously do you want to. And yes, konate's free header really really should have been the equaliser, but if we went in level I think close to everybody on here would agree that we got away with it considering that our tactical setup was completely wrong. Credit to Slot for fixing the problems in an almost flawless fashion for the second half, but by that point we had thrown 45 minutes away.
I do think that we created enough in the second half to win the game, and we probably should have, but the first half was an experiment gone terribly wrong, and I truly hope Slot does not revisit it against a team as lethal in transition and disciplined in their mid block as Palace. If we did win it, I'm sure we'd have a more balanced view of the game, because we were really the better team by far in the second half. The way the press and some fans go on about it it's like we were ripped to shreds by Palace throughout. I wonder whether they even bothered to watch the last 45 minutes.
29 Sep 2025 17:11:58
The first few sensible comments since the match. Well done gentlemen.
I personally think we just have to find the right balance against these low block counter attacking teams. When the RB overlaps the LB has to drop into a back 3 or at least into the holding midfield position and vica versa, as we saw in the Bournemouth game when both push on we are very exposed on the counter. That used to be Hendersons job and it seems Grav has been given a bit more freedom this season so far. I have faith that it will click sooner rather than later, hopefully in time for Chelsea away.
{Ed025's Note - low block Ernie?, thats very derogatory to a palace team that absolutely mullered you in the first half and could have been 6-0 up in the first half only for Alisson, the only thing low was the attitude and application of the Liverpool players mate who strolled around thinking that palace should not be on the same park as them, you need to get a grip my friend..
29 Sep 2025 17:53:23
Too slow too predictable. Sloppy passes. Our best players are struggling for form.
And I don’t care what anyone says, for the last 10 years a “week rest” kills our momentum every single time and we come back playing worse.
I think we’ll be fine, but Arsenal are strong too. Got to go on another winning run.
29 Sep 2025 18:36:11
People can put whatever spin they want on it as it’s an opinions game and it’s the freedom of speech.
Personally I thought we were crap first half v Palace, second half v Everton, second half v athletico, most of the game v Burnley, most of the second half v Bournemouth and second half v palace in the Charity shield.
We’ve looked good at times and also pretty average at others.
29 Sep 2025 18:40:25
If I were you Ed I’d check the stats. Liverpool had 72% of the possession because Palace sat in a low block. Palace had 175 completed passes at a success rate of 65%, Liverpool had 609 completed passes at a success rate of 89% because Palace sat in a low block.
I wouldn’t call that a mullering would you? This narrative that Palace mullered us and could’ve been 6-0 up is an absolute joke. Palace were underdogs so everyone makes so much of every chance they had and completely ignore any chances we had.
I agree with Patrick they had a couple of really good chances in the first half but we had a really good chance too albeit from a corner.
Overall they had 7 big chances to our 6 so they deserved their win but to say they mullered us is a huge, huge overstatement.
You lot got mullered by us in the Derby, could’ve been 5-0 by half time but that doesn’t tel the whole story of the game does it?
{Ed025's Note - you dont get points for possession Robbo so thats a moot point, they were the better side first half and if you cant see that then you are not very bright im afraid mate, my point was that it was not a low block they played some very nice football actually, i dont know why you cant just give them the respect they deserve...or is that beneath you?..
29 Sep 2025 18:53:31
Alisson was an absolute hero IMO and saved our skins. We had chances though but didn't take them well. That's footy! 6.0 Ed025 go steady on the home brew ?.
{Ed025's Note - 6-0 was a slight exaggeration i suppose SM, but i had been vaping with Evo-Stick mate.. :)
29 Sep 2025 19:14:22
Okay so Im not going to get into the stats and all that cos stats sometimes never tell the whole story. Robbo makes very good points indeed however regardless of whatever stats you want to bring up in the game, the individual mistakes (Slot's included) and collective mistakes cannot not be white-washed by stats. Too many poor performances to have any chance of winning a game vs a team as well drilled and very competent as Palace is (Ed25 is right here, btw) . Simply won't happen. The way we set up nullified our strengths and brought theirs to the fore so that's on Slot.
As a whole, we were poor in that first half. Were we better in the second half? Absolutely BUT that is not a high bar at all when compared to the first half where we had no bite, not panash, no sense of urgency, nothing at all to the point of being nearly out of the game within the first 25 mins.
IMO, The issues we have been having in actual games stem from an incosistent midfield. Macca is NOT fit so why Slot keeps playing him over a Jones (who is fit and has been playing well) is beyond me. Secondly, we have issues progressing the ball from the first phase to the final phase which can be attributed to Wirtz still finding his feet in addition to (again), Macca being nowhere near fit and able to replicate last season's play. Worse if Szobo has to go play RB cos neither Bradley nor Frimpong can get their heads screwed on right and kick a ball correctly then, you get the point.
Now with all the above being said, our ability to still create chances despite the chaos was there to see again and we could have won it indeed BUT sometimes, you can't cheat football. Sometimes you'll get away with it and other times, football will get you. That's what happened to us v Palace, IMO.
29 Sep 2025 19:30:11
I’d already said Palace were better in the first half Ed I was just replying to you saying they didn’t set up in a low block when quite clearly they did. And it worked for them too.
I wasn’t disrespecting Palace at all they had a game plan and they executed it very well and won the game. If you see my other posts since Saturday that’s exactly what I’ve been saying all along. There are a multitude of ways to play football but all that ultimately matters is the end result.
I just don’t understand why us as Liverpool fans can’t just accept a defeat and not try to blame players or the manager. No team is perfect and every team will lose games it’s all part of it.
{Ed025's Note - you have had a great run of results Robbo and the criticism is over the top imo, im just saying give Palace credit for the way they played..
29 Sep 2025 20:37:23
How did I know before I got to the poster that that would either be a robbo or Oli post. Completely unable to critique the team without lfc tinted glasses on. Living in totally different football universe to me. First half should have been level - laughable clueless opinion.
29 Sep 2025 20:06:21
Pretty spot on 25. Hard to argue with any of that.
29 Sep 2025 21:18:33
Remember when Jota died and everyone said they wouldn't expect too much of the players this season. One defeat and that all goes out the window.
29 Sep 2025 21:42:36
It is almost as rare as hen’s teeth that we acknowledge that our opposition have played better than us. Palace were the better side on the day and part of them being better was that they stopped us from playing well. We were poor and didn’t play to the level we can play. It’s not a bad thing to be beaten by the better team so long as we learn our lessons.
It looks like Palace are going to be this season’s Forest - fair play to them, they are on a terrific tun and perhaps the ‘chamber’ Glassner isn’t quite the pantomime villain he has been made out to be for trying to ensure that the club kept Guehi. Perhaps he just sees Guehi as a key player for the team and wanted to keep him for as long as he could.
29 Sep 2025 22:26:37
Warmachine I have never once said we should’ve been level in that first half. I actually said we could’ve been level or even 2-1 up.
It was in response to all of these numbskulls saying it could’ve been 4-0, 5-0 and now we’ve even had a 6-0. You can’t just count every chance one team has and ignore the chances the other team has.
I’ve also said numerous times that Palace were better than us in the first half and ultimately deserved their win. I’m fine with that we can’t win every game.
If all you ever want to do is criticise the team then what good are you? Seriously mate, what is the point of having Warmachine as a fan when all you can do is moan and whinge that we don’t win 3-0 every week?
I’ll criticise if I think it’s warranted but 5 wins out of 6 and top of the league by 2 points doesn’t warrant the level of criticism you seem so keen to give. People like you just pray for a defeat so you can fill your boots with how crap everyone is. You remind me of every Spurs fan I know and as we all know their emblem is a cock.
30 Sep 2025 04:41:36
To be fair Robbo, I think most of the frustration is coming from the nature in which we conceded the chances in the first half. Some players simply need to wake up, as they have shown they are more than capable winners so the issue here isn’t the quality of the players.
Going only by the first half, most of Palaces chances came in the first 25 minutes and had it not been for Alisson the game would have been out of sight before Isak even had a shot. Konate alone conceded 3 chances, Bradley and Van Dijk also sloppy and a simple long ball over the top caught out the entire defence.
Liverpool grew into the game but they were abysmal at the start with sloppy play, lose touches and passes, crosses being smashed into the crowd and losing out on so many second balls. We almost handed the game to Palace without them even having to try.
I too believe they will come good, I want the players to do well and it’s clear that a few are playing below their usual standards so why not utilise the squad and start the likes of Chiesa, Endo, and Rio to keep them sharp.
30 Sep 2025 07:07:26
5 wins out of 6 and 2 points clear, this is true but it doesn’t really tell the whole story with very late winners in a lot of games and some really poor patches of play in most games. Nothing wrong with a little bit of objectivity, doesn’t make you a worse fan Robbo, just means you don’t see everything with red tinted glasses.
30 Sep 2025 09:46:20
Regardless of tactics and what not Palace deserved the win.
We can talk about a corner that should not have been and the extra time but to be honest we should have defended them better. These things happen and when they do you need to take ownership.
30 Sep 2025 11:17:52
Ed025 I think we can all acknowledge how well Palace played and how badly Liverpool were set up without having to agree with you that we should have been down 6-0, that's just ridiculous. Yes Alisson and Virgil keep us in games when we are playing poorly, that's what they are paid to do and that's the difference the world's best in their respective positions can make. I also totally disagree that our players were swanning around the pitch thinking they were better than Palace, Slot got it wrong and they couldn't cope. In the second half we produced just as many chances as they did in the first half, though, does that mean that it would have been 6-6?
I don't see what's the harm of having a more nuanced view of how the game went, it seems like anybody who says that Liverpool did enough to at least come out with a draw, if not a win (because that's what they've been doing all season despite people saying 'they aren't playing well') has 'red tinted glasses on', and the only unbiased way of talking about the game was 'Palace superb and utterly dominant, Liverpool absolute rubbish for 100 minutes (PS wirtz is a joke) '.
{Ed025's Note - all im asking for PB is a bit o fairness and humility and maybe a bit of respect for the opposition, they played well for me mate and all this they played a low block and teams park the bus against us malarkey is disrespectful, there are more than one way to skin a cat and playing on the counter is just a reflection of where the team is and the players they have, Liverpool supporters seem to have a persecution complex at times and it does not endear you to other supporters who to a man seem to dislike you intensely, not that i suppose it bothers you..
30 Sep 2025 11:55:58
Personally I don't think they set up in a low block either, it was more of a mid block that they usually deploy and orchestrate so efficiently. I think they are a very good team and have no problems saying it, I also think there's no shame in losing to them because they always give us a game and can be difficult for any top opposition because they have strong and fast forwards, two excellent in form full backs, good balance of skills between the three center halves, a brilliant passer of the ball in Wharton, and what looks to be a capable replacement for Eze in Pino, plus Kamada looking even better than anyone could have expected him to be after moving to England.
I do at the same time think that we could have won that game if things went our way and the finishing was sharper. Small margins, really. Surely me saying all this has very little to do with 'red tinted glasses'? I have a bigger problem with folks on here.
30 Sep 2025 13:25:14
If Palace had scored all their shots on target the could have won 7-1 . If if if.
30 Sep 2025 13:42:44
Robboslostlegs, don't sweat it. WarMachine73 clearly has issues reading and comprehending other people comments. I just said on THIS thread that Slot was to blame for the tactics and how poor many of our players were overall BUT clearly, I doubt he even read them. Let alone understood them.