It was desperate, Page. We didn't grind out an efficient, if negative, win yesterday - we played atrociously and got lucky. My point is that if we keep playing like that we might fluke the odd win but in the long run it will cost us more points than we gain from it.
Now that, I don't disagree with. I'm happy we won, even if ugly. I don't think it was a very repeatable formula though. We're not defensively competent enough to play like that every week and always get 3 points.
Exactly. I've said I'm happy with the points, but we won't get too many playing like that. Relieved is probably a better description, tbh. There wasn't much quality to the goals, or the play at all.
Some games were going to dominate and lose (we've had several of those). Some games we're going to stink up and win (Burnley was one of those). I think we're due a few more winning stinkers before season is over to be even.
I'm at the pray and hope stage myself, I've no idea how we will do anymore. We're due a loss against the big teams and with City up next it's a worry.
I'm sure we'll have a better attitude for that game. It would be nice to go undefeated against the rest of the top six, but it's still no good if we chuck points away elsewhere.
I know you didn't. It's a question for you based on what you said. Maybe you didn't mean it that way but it read to me like - it's no good winning against the top sides if you can't win against the lesser sides. It sort of logically followed [in my mind anyway] that you'd rather spread the points around a bit hence my question.
What I meant was (and maybe I should have phrased it this way) is that it's not enough to beat the top sides if you then go and drop points all over the shop elsewhere. It's nice to be top of the top 6 mini-league, but there are no trophies for it.
I like that we can play better against better sides as it bodes well for CL, should that come along it means we are able to compete with the best which should be our aim. Our performances against the lesser sides need vast improvements, that's obvious, and as there are far more lesser sides, beating the top six isn't enough, as you rightly say.
We'll get nowhere unless we get more consistent. The current Jekyll and Hyde stuff is just not good enough.
It's not a case of adapting to the way teams play against atm, it's a case of finding a way of getting through them for the rest of the season. We severe lack players, particularly creative ones in midfield. Klopp's had three windows so he's had the opportunity but I praise him for giving lads a chance too. I expect signings this summer though.
He's had 3 windows but clearly doesn't like Jan window. In his one summer window he's spent cash and spent it well in Mane & Gini while picking up Matip for free and Karius & Klavan cheaply. I'm sure he'll spend in summer. Last year he targeted key areas that we knew needed addressing. Would be very surprised if didn't see 1 or 2 CM's, a LB and a striker come in plus any replacements