I’m not quoting any specific posts as I’d be here all day. I’m not surprised by a lot of biased on a Man United forum about Liverpool as I’m sure you’d see a lot the other way round on a Liverpool forum but a lot of stuff said on here feels quite ignorant to very clear and obvious things.
Firstly teams parking the bus against Liverpool. One of the two major advantages City have over Liverpool against these sorts of teams are very good full backs who can stretch the oppositions back line to open up space for the attackers in the middle. The other major advantage they have is the quality of their midfielders and the passing range of those midfielders. One of the massive problems we had against Swansea was our full backs not pushing high enough up the pitch to stretch their back line meaning there was never any room through the middle for Salah/Firmino. City are extremely good at stretching the play on the wings, which is exactly why Sane plays so much on the left while Mendy is out as they need someone to stretch play on the left and Sane does that and then of course Walker does it on the right. They have the quality in that midfield to make pin point passes which is something Liverpool lack massively. None of our current midfielders have the passing ability to pick out a sharp run from Mane or Salah which is exactly why we’re desperate for a deep lying playmaker next year, like a Xabi Alonso or even Mousa Dembele type midfielder. I honestly think we have a better front 3 than City, it’s their midfield that is light years ahead of ours which allows their forwards to nearly a season prolific as ours. But yeah there’s nothing wrong with Klopp’s system, it can work against any team, it’s some of the personnel that are still the issue in my opinion. His pressing style obviously works better against teams who want to take the ball but it still works fine against parking the bus teams and if anything this season our results against those sorts of sides have actually been better than last season. We’ve only lost to one non top 6 team in the league this season and that was the Swansea game.
Next is this mentality of we’re making progress so we’re happy. I have this mentality as do a lot of Liverpool fans because what you have to remember is it’s been 6 years since we last won a trophy and excluding the two finals in Klopp’s “first” season we’ve not been anywhere near any since. We’d all love a trophy of course but honestly right now in mine and most Liverpool fans heads what we want is to become a top European team again. For United for the 5 seasons post SAF, 3 of them you’ve been in the UCL, 1 in Europa which you won so you’re still a top European team and attract quality players regardless of UCL, it’s not the same for us. We’ve been in the UCL twice in the last 8 seasons and not been in the knockout stage since 2009. Reality is we’ve not been a big club for a long time and what we want is to become one again. Most Liverpool fans seeing as this is Klopp’s second full season are content with top 4 again and a decent enough run in the UCL. However (assuming we get top 4) a lot of us are now expecting we push for a trophy next year and have a proper title challenge. We fell pretty far as a club and a lot of us realise that it takes time to get back to the top. That’s why we’re content as long as we can stay in the UCL and attract top players so that we are able to progress to a title challenging and trophy challenging team. Klopp is 100% the right man for the job, the question is in my mind whether FSG will give him the money he needs for the imo the 4 new starters he needs this summer. Also what you have to consider is, would a player rather win the FA Cup and come 6th or play UCL and come 3rd in the league. If it was me I’d rather play in the Champions League. Top top players want both and if we want to keep our top players we will need to start doing both but for now I’m content with consistently being in the UCL.
I really don’t understand the insults on spending £75m on Van Dijk. I get he was in the Swansea and West Brom games but goodness me they were his 2nd and 3rd games for the club and he’s obviously going to take time to adjust. It’s like me insulting Sanchez for his performance against Tottenham. Just seems ignorant and idiotic. There’s no denying Van Dijk’s quality just like there’s isn’t Sanchez’s. The last 2 games Van Dijk has played for us I can honestly say we’re probably 2 of the most assured defensive performances I’ve seen for quite a while from Liverpool. He reads the game like no other Liverpool defender I’ve seen in recent times, he wins like 80% of his aerial duels and his passing ability was astounding at Porto. He’s took control of that back 4 and everyone is looking more assured and in control around him as well including Lovren and Karius. I know it’s all banter and what not but I get a bit of bored of it. I actually respect Man United massively as a club even as a Liverpool fan, I often just find it’s the fans that are the issue. However then again that’s the same at every club, but because of the rivalry United fans are incredibly biased and often straight up lie in an attempt to make a point. It is quite infuriating however I do realise Liverpool fans also do the same.
I believe if Liverpool invest the Coutinho money + summer sales on a deep lying playmaker like Torreira or Rabiot, a CAM/Winger like Pulisic or Fekir, another CB like Upamecano or Koulibaly and then if Karius doesn’t come good a goalkeeper like Alisson they can challenge for trophies and the league next season. But I also believe that so can United with the right investments (CM, CB, LB) and the correct tactics to get the best out of Pogba. I’m just enjoying seeing the Premiership getting stronger as it just makes for better viewing football (in most cases!).
Firstly teams parking the bus against Liverpool. One of the two major advantages City have over Liverpool against these sorts of teams are very good full backs who can stretch the oppositions back line to open up space for the attackers in the middle. The other major advantage they have is the quality of their midfielders and the passing range of those midfielders. One of the massive problems we had against Swansea was our full backs not pushing high enough up the pitch to stretch their back line meaning there was never any room through the middle for Salah/Firmino. City are extremely good at stretching the play on the wings, which is exactly why Sane plays so much on the left while Mendy is out as they need someone to stretch play on the left and Sane does that and then of course Walker does it on the right. They have the quality in that midfield to make pin point passes which is something Liverpool lack massively. None of our current midfielders have the passing ability to pick out a sharp run from Mane or Salah which is exactly why we’re desperate for a deep lying playmaker next year, like a Xabi Alonso or even Mousa Dembele type midfielder. I honestly think we have a better front 3 than City, it’s their midfield that is light years ahead of ours which allows their forwards to nearly a season prolific as ours. But yeah there’s nothing wrong with Klopp’s system, it can work against any team, it’s some of the personnel that are still the issue in my opinion. His pressing style obviously works better against teams who want to take the ball but it still works fine against parking the bus teams and if anything this season our results against those sorts of sides have actually been better than last season. We’ve only lost to one non top 6 team in the league this season and that was the Swansea game.
Next is this mentality of we’re making progress so we’re happy. I have this mentality as do a lot of Liverpool fans because what you have to remember is it’s been 6 years since we last won a trophy and excluding the two finals in Klopp’s “first” season we’ve not been anywhere near any since. We’d all love a trophy of course but honestly right now in mine and most Liverpool fans heads what we want is to become a top European team again. For United for the 5 seasons post SAF, 3 of them you’ve been in the UCL, 1 in Europa which you won so you’re still a top European team and attract quality players regardless of UCL, it’s not the same for us. We’ve been in the UCL twice in the last 8 seasons and not been in the knockout stage since 2009. Reality is we’ve not been a big club for a long time and what we want is to become one again. Most Liverpool fans seeing as this is Klopp’s second full season are content with top 4 again and a decent enough run in the UCL. However (assuming we get top 4) a lot of us are now expecting we push for a trophy next year and have a proper title challenge. We fell pretty far as a club and a lot of us realise that it takes time to get back to the top. That’s why we’re content as long as we can stay in the UCL and attract top players so that we are able to progress to a title challenging and trophy challenging team. Klopp is 100% the right man for the job, the question is in my mind whether FSG will give him the money he needs for the imo the 4 new starters he needs this summer. Also what you have to consider is, would a player rather win the FA Cup and come 6th or play UCL and come 3rd in the league. If it was me I’d rather play in the Champions League. Top top players want both and if we want to keep our top players we will need to start doing both but for now I’m content with consistently being in the UCL.
I really don’t understand the insults on spending £75m on Van Dijk. I get he was in the Swansea and West Brom games but goodness me they were his 2nd and 3rd games for the club and he’s obviously going to take time to adjust. It’s like me insulting Sanchez for his performance against Tottenham. Just seems ignorant and idiotic. There’s no denying Van Dijk’s quality just like there’s isn’t Sanchez’s. The last 2 games Van Dijk has played for us I can honestly say we’re probably 2 of the most assured defensive performances I’ve seen for quite a while from Liverpool. He reads the game like no other Liverpool defender I’ve seen in recent times, he wins like 80% of his aerial duels and his passing ability was astounding at Porto. He’s took control of that back 4 and everyone is looking more assured and in control around him as well including Lovren and Karius. I know it’s all banter and what not but I get a bit of bored of it. I actually respect Man United massively as a club even as a Liverpool fan, I often just find it’s the fans that are the issue. However then again that’s the same at every club, but because of the rivalry United fans are incredibly biased and often straight up lie in an attempt to make a point. It is quite infuriating however I do realise Liverpool fans also do the same.
I believe if Liverpool invest the Coutinho money + summer sales on a deep lying playmaker like Torreira or Rabiot, a CAM/Winger like Pulisic or Fekir, another CB like Upamecano or Koulibaly and then if Karius doesn’t come good a goalkeeper like Alisson they can challenge for trophies and the league next season. But I also believe that so can United with the right investments (CM, CB, LB) and the correct tactics to get the best out of Pogba. I’m just enjoying seeing the Premiership getting stronger as it just makes for better viewing football (in most cases!).
