Match Day Thread Vs Newcastle (A)

The issue is that our system is compromised because we’ve lost VVD. We lack the pace and build up play from deep.

Not only that, Trent is badly out of form so we lack his contribution to build up play.

This then means we need the midfield to help with the build up play but that is not their strong suit. This is why we desperately need Naby / Thiago in the team

 

I know all that, but we're now supposed to have a squad with 'depth'. We're supposed to have players who can fill in at any time and for the most part the replacements have done an amazing job. The midfield wasn't great, but the ball got to the front three last night and they did nothing with it.

Also, I hate criticising Klopp, but he's making changes too little too late. Rafa was the same back in the day. It's a frustrating trait of Liverpool managers. I was glad to see Thiago back. These injuries have been annoying

 

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We do have depth but unfortunately everyone is injured. Also, we don’t have depth in defence and that’s a big part of why we’ve been so successful.

Not excusing the front 3 because they were wasteful but even if they did put away their chances, it would have masked yet another poor team performance.

Thiago and Naby returning are critical to take the burden of providing the creativity / build up.

 

I am trying to understand what counts as a poor performance as the build up play to create the chances we had yesterday were high quality. Teams will sit deeper and frustrate the heck put out of the team who are champions. We had the possession chances and should have burried Newcastle. It happens but to suggest our performances have been subpar is unfair.

I try as much not to comment in game as emotions can run high but when you look at the games objectively, we have played extremely well with all the handicaps we have. Very few teams have the quality of our CBs and to lose all three over majority of the season so far would materially affect any team. We should be playing Fabinho in Midfield which gets over looked as his quality gives us another extra edge. Remember City with their if we had Laporte charter lol.

The reality is on paper we have one of the deepest squads in the league but on field we have been unable to show it's full muscle due to the injuries and their timings. Ox Thiago and Jota will bring freshness to a midfield and that has been overplayed and we should find ourselves in a much better position for the run in.

The only concern is the quality of the CB which is why I beleive we will be signing a CB in Jan becuase many clubs are struggling financially and it is clear we need to refresh the CBs with Matip and Joe's record and the uncertainty of Big Virg recovery

 

We broke Newcastle down. Just didn't score. West Brom are the better reference

 

Naby will return for around 20 minutes. Thiago showed in 20 minutes yesterday what we’ve missed all season. Buy a decent CB with pace and we’ll be fine.

 

The biggest problem last night , and it is one that has been apparent for a while , was the total lack of precise interplay between the front 3 and those misplaced passes , poor control and wrong decisions cost us chance after chance .

 

We only looked threatening once Thiago came on. That’s when our build up looked good. Up until that point, we were just doing the usual ie crossing / long balls.

The funny thing is, Newcastle weren’t even playing a deep block and we still struggled

Yes - we had chances but that was not a good performance. It was a better performance than WBA but this is levels below what we need to retain the title

 

Thiago is class and he basically shows us what a real midfielder looks like. He did more in that 20 mins than the others did combined (including their mins vs Newcastle and WBA!!).

Trent’s form is a worry and Hendo is back to his usual self. They may need a rest

 

so is Naby

 

Hopefully we get him back because let’s be honest, he’s a better option than Milner / Jones. Naby’s impact is really understated but he gets the ball forward and on the deck.

 

Hendo’s job is to win the ball and give it to Thiago

Trent will be fine once there is other threats from the middle. Same goes for our front 3. We are winning the ball back 30 yards deeper because of the defensive issues....and our midfielders are not creative enough in that position and everything is happening too slowly.

 

Yep - get Thiago in the team and it will help transform us. It means the burden is off Hendo and he can focus playing in his best position which is as a number 8 on the right side

The centre backs will have less pressure to pass and probe because Thiago will always make himself available, and will assume the play making responsibilities.

Trent was far better once Thiago came on - because Thiago can pick him out easily (this is what VVD used to do all the time).

Thiago is the key. Keep him fit and we win the league

 

Also - what the hell were we trying to do in the last 1-2 minutes?? We were literally just passing sideways and backwards!

 

Oh and Darlow literally had his arms around Mane’s leg! And no one appealed

 

I mentioned that on here during the game. Thought it was weird. I don’t think he’d got the ball tbh but was definitely fouled

 

We’re too honest. The same happened when fab was fouled for the WBA goal.

 

no way was there enough of a pull for a pen which is fairly obvious as Mane isn't exactly shy about going down to get a Pen

 

You're flogging a dead horse here, Jimbo - he's never going to be fit long enough to be an integral part of the team. He's always going to be peripheral - unless a miracle happens.