Liverpool 2018/19

[breakout67]

Their investment is showing, they'll break the 80 point barrier this season. Allison is a much better keeper than Karius and Keita has added some much needed quality to their midfield. But they still seem a level below City as the only thing that seems to stop City is bad luck (they hit the woodwork 3 times against wolves). Teams are just more competitive against Liverpool and this will generally lead to dropped points due to variance.

That being said, I can see City having an off season and Liverpool challenging. De Bruyne's injury could be the first of many bad breaks for City that give another team an opportunity.

 

[HNK55]

Can you imagine the scenes if Liverpool win the league. Its not jus their fans but the whole media will go off on one.
This is the reason I was so happy when they lost against Real.

 

[Liver_bird]

Hopefully Milner doesn’t start vs Spurs. We have no midfield control when he starts in big games

 

[haram]

Guess you didn't really watch the game then.

I literally did watch the game but ok.

 

[Klopper76]

Hopefully Milner doesn’t start vs Spurs. We have no midfield control when he starts in big games

I can't help but think he looks horrendously slow. He's got more to his game technically than someone like Henderson but lacks the energy that the latter has.

 

[RobinLFC]

I literally did watch the game but ok.

So Salah's fluffed shot on the edge of the area wasn't a chance? Alexander-Arnold's shot inside the area that went just wide wasn't a chance? Okay then.

 

[haram]

So Salah's fluffed shot on the edge of the area wasn't a chance? Alexander-Arnold's shot inside the area that went just wide wasn't a chance? Okay then.

Forgive me, you created two chances in the whole second half against one of the poorest away sides in the league. Didn’t think you would take my statement that literally. That’s still poor, I remember the TAA shot which he pulled wide and that’s about it.

 

[RobinLFC]

Hopefully Milner doesn’t start vs Spurs. We have no midfield control when he starts in big games

Henderson and Keita are locks in midfield as far as I'm concerned, and I'm happy to continue with Wijnaldum he he keeps playing like he has been. Milner does some things very well but he's obviously a bit limited in other aspects. Ideally, Oxlade-Chamberlain fills up the third slot. Hopefully Fabinho finds his way rather sooner than later although I'm not sure him and Henderson can both play in midfield at the same time.

Henderson, Keita, Wijnaldum should be our midfield against Spurs. Milner is great to have as an impact sub.

 

[Perseus]

So Salah's fluffed shot on the edge of the area wasn't a chance? Alexander-Arnold's shot inside the area that went just wide wasn't a chance? Okay then.

Half chances. Brighton had two big chances in the second half, the Knockaert mess up from 10 yards, and the tame header from Groß, both from open play. United got punished for mistakes and there is still work to do for Liverpool in midfield.

14* clubs are going to play the same way as Brighton, so Liverpool, United and all the top 6 playing the high line, trying to play in the opponent's half, are going to be vulnerable to a ball into the space when the full back pushes forward. (* not so sure West Ham can do this?)

 

[RobinLFC]

Half chances. Brighton had two big chances in the second half, the Knockaert mess up from 10 yards, and the tame header from Groß, both from open play. United got punished for mistakes and there is still work to do for Liverpool in midfield.

Those were exactly the same chances as Brighton's imo but agree to disagree. Point is, we still would've won comfortable if both teams converted all of their chances, yet people (understandable on here) only seem to think of scenarios in which Brighton scored all their chances and we still miss ours. Fair enough though, I'm the first to admit we were not good enough last weekend but can't complain if you're top of the league without a goal conceded so far.

 

[Liver_bird]

next month is huge. need to get our rotation spot on

 

[Perseus]

Forgive me, you created two chances in the whole second half against one of the poorest away sides in the league. Didn’t think you would take my statement that literally. That’s still poor, I remember the TAA shot which he pulled wide and that’s about it.

The media made a lot of Brighton's poor away record. It does not mean they are easy to score against from open play. The soundest bus from open play away from home except United last season. Useless at defending set pieces though. TAA shepherded onto his weaker foot, half chance only. The same happened to Lukaku the week before.

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

Those were exactly the same chances as Brighton's imo but agree to disagree. Point is, we still would've won comfortable if both teams converted all of their chances, yet people (understandable on here) only seem to think of scenarios in which Brighton scored all their chances and we still miss ours. Fair enough though, I'm the first to admit we were not good enough last weekend but can't complain if you're top of the league without a goal conceded so far.

I don't think it's a case of people thinking you didn't deserve to win (you obviously did) but more a question of did you give them a realistic chance take points? Which I think you did. You didn't create quite enough to put them away comfortably, and you allowed them a decent sniff of getting a point. If you're going to win the title this season with this consistency teams have these days, you'll need to be winning games like Brighton at home so comfortably that 99.9% of the time they never even had a chance. It needs to look easy, like City made it last season, every week just putting them away without ever giving them hope.

Was there a realistic scenario in which Brighton draw that game? Very much so, IMO. It's not the end of the world, every team has poor games, I just don't think you played like title winners. Doesn't necessarily mean you won't win it, but to me against Palace and Brighton you were not great at all, both games you could have quite easily dropped points on another day. Of course you were the better team in both games (you're the far stronger side) but not to the extent where results were a foregone conclusion.

Again, every team has games like that, no side is 100% consistent all of the time. Since we're only 3 games in and I think you've already had two where you weren't great, I don't think we can be talking you up for a title challenge. People are doing so because you made signings, not because you've actually played like a team who can realistically win the league, at the moment you're all hype. 3 games, 3 wins, zero goals conceded sounds great but I do think it's slightly misleading if you look past just the scorelines and see the teams you've played, what happened in game etc.

As I've said before, the next couple of games are crucial for you, tough away ties (especially vs us) in which you can really lay a marker down.

 

[Perseus]

Those were exactly the same chances as Brighton's imo but agree to disagree. Point is, we still would've won comfortable if both teams converted all of their chances, yet people (understandable on here) only seem to think of scenarios in which Brighton scored all their chances and we still miss ours. Fair enough though, I'm the first to admit we were not good enough last weekend but can't complain if you're top of the league without a goal conceded so far.

The point is Brighton converted two more difficult chances against United, far above their normal profligacy and the difference wasn't as great (bar the 3 points) as the media were making out. Such is football.

It is getting the balance right in midfield. Both teams lost the ball more than normal. Salah was the biggest culprit. Milner did not lose the ball at all.

Brighton kicking themselves at not getting a draw at Liverpool, an elementary blunder punished and two gilt edged chances squandered.

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

The media made a lot of Brighton's poor away record. It does not mean they are easy to score against from open play. The soundest bus from open play away from home except United last season. Useless at defending set pieces though. TAA shepherded onto his weaker foot, half chance only. The same happened to Lukaku the week before.

Their bus parking tactics aren't really that effective. They lost away from home to every team in the top six last season, conceding 15 goals in the process.

 

[Perseus]

The point is Brighton converted two more difficult chances against United, far above their normal profligacy and the difference wasn't as great (bar the 3 points) as the media were making out. Such is football.

It is getting the balance right in midfield. Both teams lost the ball more than normal. Salah was the biggest culprit. Milner did not lose the ball at all.

Their bus parking tactics aren't really that effective. They lost away from home to every team in the top six last season, conceding 15 goals in the process.

i could have added that. Of the 11 goals conceded from open play away (United has the best record at 10, Man City 11 and Spurs had 12) about 8 or 9 were conceded to the top 6 clubs and 3 of them in meaningless fixtures away at Man City and Liverpool when Brighton were already safe.

The bus (6 man defence) does not really work against the top 6 clubs who usually have skill to create chances. Or put enough pressure on so the deep defence team make the inevitable mistake or unlucky break that gets punished. It often works against the other 14 though as their precious few players of sufficient creativity to break open a deep defence.

NB: United hardly conceded a goal from open play at Old Trafford against any team last season! Just two, I think, plus 1 one from a counter attack in the Premier League. i wonder if they will concede one tonight? Spurs only conceded 12 from open play away.

Of course, the top 6 clubs were miles ahead of the other 14 at scoring goals of all types.

Man City are the hardest to play against cause they keep up the pressing for the whole game. Liverpool, Spurs and Leicester were the best counter attacking teams, 9, 8, 7. But Spurs 2/8 away from home.

 

[Obi-Red-Kenobi]

Yet you won more points in 16/17 than in 17/18.

Not ‘points’ ...1 point. The rest still stands and the progress is there.

 

[Obi-Red-Kenobi]

That's why Keita was taken off. Pogba caused more problems for Brighton than Keita. 1-0 was a fair enough result from a horrid elementary mistake, two big chances for each side and a handful of half chances for Liverpool, almost all when pressing in the first half. Van Dijk had a touch of Pogba about him, ambling about a bit. Klopp saved the day by bringing Henderson instead of Keita to protect the lead. After Keita was outrun by Knockaert who is slow.

To me Keita seemed a poor replacement for Coutinho. If the Brighton shooting has been up to the standard against United*, and had not blundered, and had the rub of the green (second goal against United) Liverpool would have egg on their face. The big difference was Liverpool got three defenders back when it mattered (the only time Murray got into the box).

* Brighton missed two easier chances than the first two they scored against United.

As Klopp said there is work to do. Liverpool lost the plot in the last 15 minutes. Anyone of five teams for second place.

Keita has played 3 games, and Pogba, has played many more.

Keita is also not a replacement for Coutinho, he would have joined whether Coutinho stayed or not.

You have stated plenty of ‘if’s’ there, and if either Sarah, Mane or Firminho played as they normally do, we would have run away with it..

The game was won, that’s all that counts.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

That's why Keita was taken off. Pogba caused more problems for Brighton than Keita. 1-0 was a fair enough result from a horrid elementary mistake, two big chances for each side and a handful of half chances for Liverpool, almost all when pressing in the first half. Van Dijk had a touch of Pogba about him, ambling about a bit. Klopp saved the day by bringing Henderson instead of Keita to protect the lead. After Keita was outrun by Knockaert who is slow.

To me Keita seemed a poor replacement for Coutinho. If the Brighton shooting has been up to the standard against United*, and had not blundered, and had the rub of the green (second goal against United) Liverpool would have egg on their face. The big difference was Liverpool got three defenders back when it mattered (the only time Murray got into the box).

* Brighton missed two easier chances than the first two they scored against United.

As Klopp said there is work to do. Liverpool lost the plot in the last 15 minutes. Anyone of five teams for second place.

Trent hits the woodwork from a free kick, Mane puts a sitter wide and Firmino's header is saved brilliantly by the Brighton keeper. Another day and we'd have been 3-0 up by HT. The front line was well below par.

I agree that Keita has some work to do. He's shown some huge glimpses of quality, but is yet to impact games to the extent talked about.

 

[Cold Fusion]

Brighton kicking themselves at not getting a draw at Liverpool, an elementary blunder punished and two gilt edged chances squandered.

I think the same could be said for Liverpool though. The result at the end was fair. If our front three had been on top form it would've been over by half time. Credit to Brighton though. Wasn't an easy match. Chris Hughton is doing well there.

 

[Perseus]

I think the same could be said for Liverpool though. The result at the end was fair. If our front three had been on top form it would've been over by half time. Credit to Brighton though. Wasn't an easy match. Chris Hughton is doing well there.

It wasn't pressing that caused the error (as it is often the case) but just inexperience by the Brighton player. An then Lukaku misses an equally daft mistake for United vs Spurs.

There was not all that much difference between United v Brighton and Liverpool v Brighton. Brighton were clinical against United and missed two easier chances vs Liverpool.

 

[Alexit]

Three wins in three is a fantastic start but they got lucky vs Brighton. I wouldn't mind if they smash Spurs then for the wheels to come completely off the wagon after that.

I don't think Salah will repeat his goal tally from last year (although it might not matter of Mane keeps this up).

They will eventually run out of steam given the way they play.

 

[Noo Noo]

I think the same could be said for Liverpool though. The result at the end was fair. If our front three had been on top form it would've been over by half time. Credit to Brighton though. Wasn't an easy match. Chris Hughton is doing well there.

Agree. Brighton made it a frustrating afternoon at times and the front 3 were certainly no where near their best. Some credit must go to Brighton for that too.

It wasn't pressing that caused the error (as it is often the case) but just inexperience by the Brighton player. An then Lukaku misses an equally daft mistake for United vs Spurs.

There was not all that much difference between United v Brighton and Liverpool v Brighton. Brighton were clinical against United and missed two easier chances vs Liverpool.

Keh?? It was a classic Klopp goal. Milner presses the player in possession, wins it and then it's a super quick transition and goal, all done within the opponents half.

What I would say is that both Klopp and Mourinho would agree that football games are generally won by the team that makes the least amount of errors. The big difference between the two is that Klopp will try and force an error (as against Brigton) while Mourinho prefers to wait for one and pounce on it.

 

[Treble]

Three wins in three is a fantastic start but they got lucky vs Brighton. I wouldn't mind if they smash Spurs then for the wheels to come completely off the wagon after that.

I don't think Salah will repeat his goal tally from last year (although it might not matter of Mane keeps this up).

They will eventually run out of steam given the way they play.

Many on here were saying the same about City last season. Liverpool have now a solid squad and can afford to rotate a bit more. I hope that they run out of gas but that's far from given.

Still, I'm not convinced that they will finish above Spurs and Chelsea. The fact that Liverpool are favourites to challenge City takes the pressure off Spurs and Chelsea.

 

[Thisistheone]

Many on here were saying the same about City last season. Liverpool have now a solid squad and can afford to rotate a bit more. I hope that they run out of gas but that's far from given.

Still, I'm not convinced that they will finish above Spurs and Chelsea. The fact that Liverpool are favourites to challenge City takes the pressure off Spurs and Chelsea.

I'd be amazed if they finished below Spurs. Only 2 points in it last season, after Liverpool put their eggs into the CL basket for the last few weeks.

Since then they've spent a small fortune, broken a transfer world record, while Spurs didn't spend a penny.

 

[Noo Noo]

Many on here were saying the same about City last season. Liverpool have now a solid squad and can afford to rotate a bit more. I hope that they run out of gas but that's far from given.

Still, I'm not convinced that they will finish above Spurs and Chelsea. The fact that Liverpool are favourites to challenge City takes the pressure off Spurs and Chelsea.

I dont think running out of gas is as likely as it has been. The team is playing a little more "reserved" when compared to Klopp's first few games. The players better know when to press and when to simply defend and of course what the triggers are.

Chelsea are a bit of an unknown (and a surprise) considering a big change in play style and manager and how well they've adapted to it. They leak a few goals but also score a few.

Still I don't expect Liverpool or anyone to really run away with it. City might again as they are so strong but you never know.

 

[Briman63]

Three wins in three is a fantastic start but they got lucky vs Brighton. I wouldn't mind if they smash Spurs then for the wheels to come completely off the wagon after that.

I don't think Salah will repeat his goal tally from last year (although it might not matter of Mane keeps this up).

They will eventually run out of steam given the way they play.

We didn't run out of steam last season, we got to the CL final and would have finished higher in the league only for us taking our foot off the gas because of the CL.

 

[GNRfan]

We didn't run out of steam last season, we got to the CL final and would have finished higher in the league only for us taking our foot off the gas because of the CL.

And we were hit by injuries: Can, Chamberlain. And no decent back-up for anyone in the front three.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Salah will be PL top scorer again, with ease.

The group doesn't bother me. That's what you're in the CL for.

Hopefully Chelsea knock us out of the league cup.

 

[Davs]

They've been given a pretty difficult group to be fair, will do well to qualify.

After pot 1&2 were called I was just determined that they were going to get pulled into group D.

 

[ash_86]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - UCL game 1
Sep 22 - Southampton
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - UCL game 2
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

 

[Snash93]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - UCL game 1
Sep 22 - Southampton
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - UCL game 2
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

A lot of tough matches for sure but I'd hope those teams will also look to attack as we tend to do well on the counter against the attacking sides. We could still of course lose a few but if we can come through unscathed, then the confidence will definitely be soaring.

 

[TheReligion]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - UCL game 1
Sep 22 - Southampton
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - UCL game 2
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

That is brutal!

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - UCL game 1
Sep 22 - Southampton
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - UCL game 2
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

That is the exam that will make them either graduate to serious contenders or keep more of the same

 

[Right Arm Over]

They'll choke - don't worry, just look at their fixture list over the next six weeks.

As a club, they're peaking just at the wrong time as well - Manchester will have control of the prem for the next five years no matter well the Scousers do. If I was a Liverpool fan I would be thinking my best chance to win or dominate was five or 10 years ago.

 

[Fowler'sLeftPeg]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - PSG (h)
Sep 22 - Southampton (H)
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - Napoli (a)
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

This should be our toughest test yet. We have the depth to rotate for League Cup and should be fine in attack and midfield, but one injury to either VvD or Robertson and we are screwed.

Still think we'll qualify for the group stages without much bloodshed in the league games.

 

[Klopper76]

Really tough month up for them

LIVERPOOL after the Int'l Break:

Sep 15 - Tottenham (A)
Sep 18/19 - UCL game 1
Sep 22 - Southampton
Sep 25/26 - Chelsea (H)
Sep 29 - Chelsea (A)
Oct 2/3 - UCL game 2
Oct 7 - Man City (H)

Great sides handle gauntlets like that and come through with positive results.

Big test for our squad. Napoli away in between a trip to Chelsea and City at Anfield.

 

[RobinLFC]

I’d prefer a complete B-side in the what’s it called these days Cup. Napoli away is timed a bit unlucky but that’s why you’re in the CL, no complaints.

I think we’ll be fine. Only the game against City we might be a little tired.

 

[Treble]

Within 3 weeks:

Spurs away
PSG home
Chelsea home
Chelsea away
Napoly away
City home

Wow.

 

[Klopper76]

That is brutal!

You’ve got some nasty looking games around CL ties as well, but it’s what we love right?!

Plenty of games to look forward to over the next few weeks!