Based on what I saw, Liverpool are likely to be involved in a lot of games that end 3-2 or 4-3 and not always in their favour
Manchester United vs Liverpool (Sun 4th August, 00:30 UK time)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Normally I wouldnt be too fussed about us losing a pre-season friendly but I absolutely hate losing any game to Liverpool as their fans continously bang on about it for weeks after it.
I thought we played well at times and could have had 2 or 3 goals with better finishing but there was some really poor passing throughout and poor defensive play contributed to all 3 of Liverpools goals.
Hopefully we have at least one behind closed door friendly scheduled between now and Saturday to get the missing players some minutes in their legs so they can return against City.
I thought we played well at times and could have had 2 or 3 goals with better finishing but there was some really poor passing throughout and poor defensive play contributed to all 3 of Liverpools goals.
Hopefully we have at least one behind closed door friendly scheduled between now and Saturday to get the missing players some minutes in their legs so they can return against City.
I think it's more frustrating that we all assumed there would be this big drop off whereas I actually think they are in fact well equipped to go challenge City already this season
That's a disgraceful result, regardless of it being pre season.
I very much doubt they'll be challengeing City this season, they were pretty much gifted all 3 goals last night and wont be playing against a defence as bad as that every week in the Premier League.
The gulf between the two squads is bigger than ever.
No idea why we keep touring US. It's never good for us and losing like we do can't do much for our standing among US fans either.
We should have stayed at home this summer with it being a Euro and Copa summer, I we had have stayed at home the players who played in the Euro's or Copa could have seemlessly slotted in to the pre-season squad once they were ready.
Right. No other teams in the league had injuries. And its not like we had not spent money to build squad depth -- over 400 million quid.
Mount does add to it but the press was still pretty good for the most part when he wasn't on the pitch, especially in the Betis game
Correct. Not because of finishing though. Because we barely create any chances compared to the top teams.
Our finishing being bad last night in a friendly with all our best attackers missing is meaningless.
The 2 full seasons of competitive games are what I'd be worried about.
5 games and 4 injuries?
That's like a serious injury in almost every game, on average. Imagine it we continue to have similar average during the season, which is kindof how frequently we had injuries last season, too
If we don't figure out wtf is going on, no squad can survive so many injuries
That's like a serious injury in almost every game, on average. Imagine it we continue to have similar average during the season, which is kindof how frequently we had injuries last season, too
If we don't figure out wtf is going on, no squad can survive so many injuries
These posters are dying for another season of failure and excuses for this manager. No matter how bad it gets again.
Liverpool are not the benchmark. They finished 22 points ahead of us last season with a goal difference 46 goals better than our own. Yes, they've lost Klopp and that's a blow to them, but that deficit isn't likely to be overturned. Also, it's a preseason friendly! And we played OK!
I'm strangely unbothered by the scoreline. Being 2-0 down at half time was a travesty and if our players could hit a cow's arse with a banjo we'd have won the game comfortably. Second half was a scrappy affair but that's usually the case when teams make mass substitutions.
I've been really encouraged by some of the passing play we've shown in all three games. It's been a big improvement, we've looked much more fluid and I'm looking forward to seeing how it pans out with the full strength team.
Now, if our players could just stop getting bastard injured all the time....
I've been really encouraged by some of the passing play we've shown in all three games. It's been a big improvement, we've looked much more fluid and I'm looking forward to seeing how it pans out with the full strength team.
Now, if our players could just stop getting bastard injured all the time....
Honestly, in terms of preseasons, this may actually be the most positive i've seen us have in a while. We saw the defensive shape, pressing shape and even our style of play come through. These are big questions we had last season, that were actually answered. Amass, Collyer and Amad showed really good performances too. For me, Ugarte coming in will be the key signing. but with a stronger defence than yesterday I think we can do well.
I really hated that MUTV commentary, yeah, I know they are biased, yeah UTD played ok but they were so OTT.
That deficit doesnt need to be over-turned, what happened last season is now completely irrelavent now.
In 21/22 Liverpool finished 34 points ahead of us and the next season we finished 8 points ahead of them.
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I'd take that over the ESPN shite I had to ;lsten to
No goalposts moved. Im guessing your definition of wit is different to mine.
I was fuming when the "expert" said that it's rare to see Casemiro get dribbled past. He's so, so bad as an expert.
Thanks for the update buddy.
Was it last pre season we beat Liverpool pre season then a disaster followed?
The one before
Here are some of my conclusions from the match and the pre-season.
- There is little hint that this will be a good season for Rashford. He just looks so disconnected with his teammates and it's because he is just not a smart player.
- The press exposed Casemiro. I'll bet we have to pay even more for a DM now and if we don't get someone soon this is going to be a long season.
- Collyer also did not handle the press well and it means he is probably not ready for the PL. We need another possession midfielder and soon.
- I'm glad ETH did not play Rashford as CF, but I'm also not happy that he threw Sancho to the wolves by playing him there. ETH is not giving Sancho a real chance.
Please buy midfielder soon!
- There is little hint that this will be a good season for Rashford. He just looks so disconnected with his teammates and it's because he is just not a smart player.
- The press exposed Casemiro. I'll bet we have to pay even more for a DM now and if we don't get someone soon this is going to be a long season.
- Collyer also did not handle the press well and it means he is probably not ready for the PL. We need another possession midfielder and soon.
- I'm glad ETH did not play Rashford as CF, but I'm also not happy that he threw Sancho to the wolves by playing him there. ETH is not giving Sancho a real chance.
Please buy midfielder soon!
Very good point.
Thinking Mainoo will solve our midfield problems is a mistake. He is still learning, and will struggle in games if left too much on his own.
Bruno is essentially one of our 3 midfielders. But he is operating so offensively he is more like a false 9, meaning we are effectively left with just 2 midfielders whenever Bruno plays.
That alone makes Mainoo very isolated. Putting him in a double pivot with a better player than Casemiro won't solve that issue either. We really need 3 players who are operating closely together in that midfield.
Mount is a much better option for this than Bruno, imho. Maybe not ideal, but of all the players we have right now, I'd use Mount, Mainoo and Casemiro/Collyer in midfield.
Amrabat instead of Casemiro would be even better.
Mount, Mainoo and Amrabat I can easily see being a very balanced and good midfield trio, that gives us plenty of strength both in attack and defense.
Spot on.
Sounds depressingly familiar.
What a load of bollocks
it's preseason ffs. And if you'd bothered to watch the games properly you would see a difference in play and the way we're set up, and that without alot of our main eleven even playing.No problem at all!
No problem mate.
Mount have enough of composure on the ball, at least not less then Mainoo. When ETH bought Mount he couldnt much expect Mainoo to be such a star, but thats more of a luxury problem than anything else
Also, there is so many games next season that you cannot have a fixed perfect 11 or they will all run out of juice or get injured halfway.
And its been this way for a decade. I had assumed that this INEOS lot were good business orientated, but how can it be good business to keep paying the likes of Casemiro? It would be cheaper in the long run to let him go at a knock down price, say 20 million or less even just to get him off the books and off the wage bill.
No chance. Mount's main strengths lie in his off the ball attributes - pressing and harrying. Mainoo is the only midfielder we have who can regularly play under pressure without losing the ball. Mount doesn't come close.
Part of the problem was Ten Hag thinking Mount could play that role. His best position is the same one Bruno Fernandes occupies. It made no sense to spend £60m on a player in that position, especially when he had one year left on his contract. Huge waste of resources.
ETH Also used Sancho as striker last summer in all preseason games. So it's got nothing to do with that
Agree with all of this, just not on Sancho. We need someone to play up top if Zirkzee isn't ready. Sancho is more suited to the false 9 role plus is effectively 3rd choice on the wing so makes sense to put him up top in this circumstance.
Because the team need to get out of their surroundings and bond somewhere, and the US is cheaper than the UK, the market is huge, the weather is great, they don’t encounter the tribalism from home, and it reminds them how big the club’s global fanbase is. Losing friendly matches means nothing. Maybe a long time ago there were a lot of casual US fans but these days fans watch every match, so they know a friendly when they see it.
Also, we’re nicer and prettier.
The problem is that Mount doesn't typically like receiving the ball played to feet like most players in a double pivot or 8. He likes to run onto through balls. This style proved inadequate early last season.
Even Ugarte looks more press resistant than him in the build-up phase.
I mean, realistically we could have been 3 goals up at half time and it would have been a fairer reflection than being 2 down.
Rashford looked sharp and Casemiro looks a lot better with a functioning midfield around him. Amad is a definite positive. The lad we had in midfield was really bright. I thought there was quite a bit to not be downbeat about.
Overall we've looked better this pre season than last in terms of looking like we have a workable structure/plan.
I'm not as fussed about losing games where we do quite a bit well and have most of our squad missing, as I am about most of our squad being missing. We really need a new CB and a fullback because even with the others back those areas are stretched stupidly thin
Rashford looked sharp and Casemiro looks a lot better with a functioning midfield around him. Amad is a definite positive. The lad we had in midfield was really bright. I thought there was quite a bit to not be downbeat about.
Overall we've looked better this pre season than last in terms of looking like we have a workable structure/plan.
I'm not as fussed about losing games where we do quite a bit well and have most of our squad missing, as I am about most of our squad being missing. We really need a new CB and a fullback because even with the others back those areas are stretched stupidly thin