[Klopper76]

That's a little bit misleading as team Y had - by far - the best and only clear-cut chance of the entire game.

Wasn't Firmino's header in the first half basically exactly the same sort of chance?

 

[Rafateria]

I know but since the game there has generally been too much focus on us when really LFC fans should be looking at their own teams shortcomings.

The focus is obviously on United because they are the ones that changed tactically and gained a point where, in most quarters, it was unexpected. So of course there is going to be a dissection of those tactics.

 

[prath92]

Even that is debatable, he was leaning backwards and just beyond the far post - even if he was clear of the defence (WTF were they up to). It would have had to have been an incredible header over the keeper into his top left to score, or awful goalkeeping to let it in anywhere else. Far from an easy chance so I think the stick given to Ibra, in some quarters, for failing to convert that is a bit OTT.

Wouldn't put that past karius frankly. He gave a pass to Pogba, and completely fluffed a cross which thankfully had an unconnected foul on lovren to bail him out. He was extremely nervy and looked average at best.

 

[VeevaVee]

What this thread has shown is that United fans were highly dubious of how their team would perform at Anfield

This seems like a passive aggressive way of trying to have a dig at us as if it's something you've deduced, but it's exactly what most of us were saying before the game.

It seems this result has got under the skin of Liverpool fans big time, who were frothing to rub it in when they beat us.

 

[johnny boy]

It seems this result has got under the skin of Liverpool fans big time, who were frothing to rub it in when they beat us.

Had we beaten you most of us would have stayed away as it would have been meltdown mode in here.

You are also getting mixed up as others are in Liverpool fans just having their say on the post match thread. We have all said we didn't play well.

 

[VeevaVee]

Had we beaten you most of us would have stayed away as it would have been meltdown mode in here.

No doubt, but I meant more away from here.

It was a must-not-lose for Jose, because it would've invited a shed load of media pressure who can't wait to pile it on and some angry fans. I'm sure there would've been a bit of a meltdown on here too, like you say. The last thing Jose needs is media/fan hysteria creeping in and he did what he had to to get through it, which happened to be the most annoying way to do it, for Liverpool fans especially. Needs to carry on improving now.

 

[johnny boy]

No doubt, but I meant more away from here.

It was a must-not-lose for Jose, because it would've invited a shed load of media pressure who can't wait to pile it on and some angry fans. I'm sure there would've been a bit of a meltdown on here too, like you say. The last thing Jose needs is media/fan hysteria creeping in and he did what he had to to get through it. Needs to keep improving now.

Fair enough, it's not like any of us pay attention to what is said in the media.
SKY do it just because that's what they do, to attract attention.

Obviously we both need to move on and look forward to the next game now.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Wasn't Firmino's header in the first half basically exactly the same sort of chance?

I genuinely can't remember which chance you're refering too?

Even that is debatable, he was leaning backwards and just beyond the far post - even if he was clear of the defence (WTF were they up to). It would have had to have been an incredible header over the keeper into his top left to score, or awful goalkeeping to let it in anywhere else. Far from an easy chance so I think the stick given to Ibra, in some quarters, for failing to convert that is a bit OTT.

Ah but most of that is Zlatan's own fault. He needlessly got himself ahead of the ball through poor judgement. If he had timed his movements better (which you'd expect him to do so) he would have met the header front on and could basically have put it anywhere. It was a golden opportunity in a game of few.

 

[EmPeeKay]

Even two days after the game it is quite obvious that a sizeable minority of LFC fans are still butt-hurt. The general narrative of the LFC supporters is that the match was a stalemate because they had an "off" night and they will not even contemplate the idea that the way their play was limited was down to the tactics of Mourinho.

I really do think this is a classic case of "pride comes before the fall". They were so cocky going into this game thinking that they were going to steamroll over us, tear us a new one, etc.. and now that this hasn't happened it has completely rattled their cage. Their phoney concern and constant whingeing about the current United team being very "Un-United" at the moment and being the most expensive team in world football shows me that they are up to date and more obsessed with United than their own club.

 

[Dec9003]

That stat is a total fabrication (either by you or you picking up someone else's stat and perpetuating the falsehood). Simple check .. look at the Sky running commentary, we had more than that many excursions into your half in the first 45 mins (naturally since, even as Neville said, the match changed after 20 mins, with United becoming far more defensive as we pressed forward). Do you think each excursion was one touch ? Logic alone tells you 9 touches is simply impossible, but then logic isn't your strong point is it.

Yeah I got that one wrong, somebody else put it and I ran with it I like how you know enough about me from one post to know that logic isn't my strong point though. I wish I could be as perceptive as you

 

[VeevaVee]

Fair enough, it's not like any of us pay attention to what is said in the media.
SKY do it just because that's what they do, to attract attention.

Obviously we both need to move on and look forward to the next game now.

I dunno, I think they still influence people. The whole De Gea thing early on was heavily brought on by the media making a big deal about little things when it was clear how good he was.

Yeah, I reckon the game at OT will be a good 'un.

 

[Rafateria]

Had we beaten you most of us would have stayed away as it would have been meltdown mode in here.

You are also getting mixed up as others are in Liverpool fans just having their say on the post match thread. We have all said we didn't play well.

Exactly ! Whenever we beat United (admittedly it doesn't happen very often) I make a point of avoiding the forum for a few days since people are looking for a target to vent their frustrations at

 

[RobinLFC]

I genuinely can't remember which chance you're refering too?

Around the midway point of the first half when we started to look a little bit better. We put a cross in from the right and Firmino had a free header at the far post. The cross wasn't as good as Rashford's though so Firmino couldn't put any power behind his header and headed it straight at De Gea. I agree it's as good a chance as Zlatan's, but Zlatan had a bit more space and with the pace the cross was coming in, I was expecting him to score.

 

[Rafateria]

Yeah I got that one wrong, somebody else put it and I ran with it I like how you know enough about me from one post to know that logic isn't my strong point though. I wish I could be as perceptive as you

Well in your defence it would be a very attractive stat to throw at us .. if it were actually true Far more likely it was 9 touches in your penalty area in the 1st Half (since that stat for the total match was 23-6 in our favour).

 

[Rafateria]

I genuinely can't remember which chance you're refering too?



Ah but most of that is Zlatan's own fault. He needlessly got himself ahead of the ball through poor judgement. If he had timed his movements better (which you'd expect him to do so) he would have met the header front on and could basically have put it anywhere. It was a golden opportunity in a game of few.

From ESPN. It was indeed quite similar (positionally) to Ibra's (though Firmino was under more pressure from defenders) :
29' Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross.

Sorry but now saying Ibra should/could/would have been elsewhere is irrelevant, that's like saying if De Gea was standing one foot further to his right he would have missed Coutinho's shot, or half a second getting down to Can's shot would have resulted in a goal ... it simply isn't what happened.

 

[Klopper76]

I genuinely can't remember which chance you're refering too?



Ah but most of that is Zlatan's own fault. He needlessly got himself ahead of the ball through poor judgement. If he had timed his movements better (which you'd expect him to do so) he would have met the header front on and could basically have put it anywhere. It was a golden opportunity in a game of few.

See @RobinLFC and @Rafateria posts. It was straight at De Gea but personally I think Firmino should have headed it across for Sturridge who was running in unmarked.

I wonder if Ibrahimovic was expecting someone to come running in at the back post?

 

[Annihilate Now!]

From ESPN. It was indeed quite similar (positionally) to Ibra's (though Firmino was under more pressure from defenders) :
29' Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross.

Sorry but now saying Ibra should/could/would have been elsewhere is irrelevant, that's like saying if De Gea was standing one foot further to his right he would have missed Coutinho's shot, or half a second getting down to Can's shot would have resulted in a goal ... it simply isn't what happened.

No it isn't... it's equivalent of someone being free in the 8-10 yards away from goal but letting the pass run under their foot, or controlling the ball too far away from their body so they have to stretch for the shot. The initial part of the play is simple enough that you expect them to do it, but because they haven't, they've made the chance become unnecessarily difficult.

The ball was perfect for Ibra, it was his own poor work in the first place that made the chance far harder then it should have been.

EDIT: So we can see what we're talking about

See @RobinLFC and @Rafateria posts. It was straight at De Gea but personally I think Firmino should have headed it across for Sturridge who was running in unmarked.

I wonder if Ibrahimovic was expecting someone to come running in at the back post?

Yeah I know which one you're refering too now... but I agree with you in the sense that the bigger chance there was for him to head it back across, not necessarily score directly from it.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Even two days after the game it is quite obvious that a sizeable minority of LFC fans are still butt-hurt. The general narrative of the LFC supporters is that the match was a stalemate because they had an "off" night and they will not even contemplate the idea that the way their play was limited was down to the tactics of Mourinho.

I really do think this is a classic case of "pride comes before the fall". They were so cocky going into this game thinking that they were going to steamroll over us, tear us a new one, etc.. and now that this hasn't happened it has completely rattled their cage. Their phoney concern and constant whingeing about the current United team being very "Un-United" at the moment and being the most expensive team in world football shows me that they are up to date and more obsessed with United than their own club.

Great post!

 

[johnny boy]

Even two days after the game it is quite obvious that a sizeable minority of LFC fans are still butt-hurt. The general narrative of the LFC supporters is that the match was a stalemate because they had an "off" night and they will not even contemplate the idea that the way their play was limited was down to the tactics of Mourinho.

I really do think this is a classic case of "pride comes before the fall". They were so cocky going into this game thinking that they were going to steamroll over us, tear us a new one, etc.. and now that this hasn't happened it has completely rattled their cage. Their phoney concern and constant whingeing about the current United team being very "Un-United" at the moment and being the most expensive team in world football shows me that they are up to date and more obsessed with United than their own club.

Utter tripe - none of the Liverpool fans on here were over confident & we have also frequently admitted we under performed on the night.
We also know and respect how tough games against United are.

Bit ironic the old obsession story given the number of Klopp/Liverpool threads that often run on here. If there is an obsession as rivals that works both ways.

 

[Rafateria]

No it isn't... it's equivalent of someone being free in the 8-10 yards away from goal but letting the pass run under their foot, or controlling the ball too far away from their body so they have to stretch for the shot. The initial part of the play is simple enough that you expect them to do it, but because they haven't, they've made the chance become unnecessarily difficult.

The ball was perfect for Ibra, it was his own poor work in the first place that made the chance far harder then it should have been.

EDIT: So we can see what we're talking about





Yeah I know which one you're refering too now... but I agree with you in the sense that the bigger chance there was for him to head it back across, not necessarily score directly from it.

Actually I see now what you are trying to explain .. but I still think it was a relatively tough header (still needs to go across the keeper) to make as he stretches for a ball which otherwise is going at pace and he wouldn't have got to, though undoubtedly a good chance and easier than Firmino's (which should have been headed across to Sturridge to tap in - as Klopper 76 said).

 

[Shiva87]

No doubt, but I meant more away from here.

It was a must-not-lose for Jose, because it would've invited a shed load of media pressure who can't wait to pile it on and some angry fans. I'm sure there would've been a bit of a meltdown on here too, like you say. The last thing Jose needs is media/fan hysteria creeping in and he did what he had to to get through it, which happened to be the most annoying way to do it, for Liverpool fans especially. Needs to carry on improving now.

If that's the logic, does that mean that the Chelsea game is now a must win?

@Annihilate Now! Thanks for GIF, had forgotten how clear cut that chance looked! Ibra really should be scoring that. He is ZLATAN for god's sake.

 

[Jaxdan]

Actually I see now what you are trying to explain .. but I still think it was a relatively tough header (still needs to go across the keeper) to make as he stretches for a ball which otherwise is going at pace and he wouldn't have got to, though undoubtedly a good chance and easier than Firmino's (which should have been headed across to Sturridge to tap in - as Klopper 76 said).

In a game like that, when chances are few, he has to at least make the keeper work for a living. That's what was most disappointing about it, watching it dribble harmlessly wide of everything. He was brought in for moments like that, and there have been more than just that one. I expect and hope he will bury his share moving forward, but the recent trend is concerning. I can only imagine the meltdown of this place if that was Rooney's poor head dribbler.

 

[redman5]

Even two days after the game it is quite obvious that a sizeable minority of LFC fans are still butt-hurt. The general narrative of the LFC supporters is that the match was a stalemate because they had an "off" night and they will not even contemplate the idea that the way their play was limited was down to the tactics of Mourinho.

I really do think this is a classic case of "pride comes before the fall". They were so cocky going into this game thinking that they were going to steamroll over us, tear us a new one, etc.. and now that this hasn't happened it has completely rattled their cage. Their phoney concern and constant whingeing about the current United team being very "Un-United" at the moment and being the most expensive team in world football shows me that they are up to date and more obsessed with United than their own club.

Show me a few posts where the Liverpool fans on here have said we're going to hammer you. I can show you lots from United supporters who anticipated a thrashing. They're probably the ones who are now 'giving it large' on here because they got a point.

 

[Jacko21]

If that's the logic, does that mean that the Chelsea game is now a must win?

Mourinho has always approached games against title rivals with complete pragmatism. Be it at Porto, Chelsea, Inter or Real, what's foremost in his thoughts is not losing. And with this approach, comes a defensive-first mentality and setup. We'll attempt to do the same against Chelsea.

Every manager attempts to win every game, naturally. But Mourinho has always looked at it as, win your homes games and at the very least take a point in games against your title rivals. This along with solid away form, means Mourinho can, but for exceptional circumstances, always expect his team to be 'in the mix' for the title.

 

[sunama]

Jose Mourinho was right to say the pundits and the press love Liverpool.

The narrative in England going into this game was that Liverpool were going to blow Man Utd away. Jose spoiled the party, even without Zlatan scoring that header, and the Liverpool lovers don't like it.

The press would've loved it if LFC won that game.
They are desperate to turn against Jose and continue turning the screw on MUFC.
The fact that Jose nullified LFC has left LFC fans and the media, all frustrated. The press probably had the headlines ready, "Jose beaten by Pep and Klopp....is Jose past his best?"

Realistically, a draw was the best result I could've expected. I do however, expect us to win at OT, so the roles will be reversed for that game.

 

[Finn MacCool]

The press would've loved it if LFC won that game.
They are desperate to turn against Jose and continue turning the screw on MUFC.
The fact that Jose nullified LFC has left LFC fans and the media, all frustrated. The press probably had the headlines ready, "Jose beaten by Pep and Klopp....is Jose past his best?"

Realistically, a draw was the best result I could've expected. I do however, expect us to win at OT, so the roles will be reversed for that game.

The press love headlines - and the picture you paint would indeed have been a headline they have loved. Not because they have an LFC bias, but because Utd losing that game would have created more of a stir, after your not so great start, than us losing it.

Mourinho is box-office - the press need him in the league. Look at the game against us and the one against Chelsea - huge focus on Mourinho. The game on Sunday even has the tagline "The Return". The last thing the press would want would be things to go tits up for Mourinho and him to lose his job and an Avram Grant type to replace him.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

Oy vey. You clearly can't differentiate between pressing (which United could only manage for 20 mins) and closing down / blocking passing routes (which United did for the following 70 mins).

If you say so, you clearly have a greater understanding of football tactics, but I would say United did both, forcing Liverpool into kicking it long from the keeper at times and restricting them to very few clear-cut chances. I can only imagine ( with a chuckle at the thought of it ) the wailing and gnashing of teeth from all the football "purists" had United actually won the game. Defensively and tactically, United were spot on for the majority of the game and whichever way you cut it up, United stopped Liverpool from playing.

 

[Jaxdan]

Mourinho has always approached games against title rivals with complete pragmatism. Be it at Porto, Chelsea, Inter or Real, what's foremost in his thoughts is not losing. And with this approach, comes a defensive-first mentality and setup. We'll attempt to do the same against Chelsea.

Every manager attempts to win every game, naturally. But Mourinho has always looked at it as, win your homes games and at the very least take a point in games against your title rivals. This along with solid away form, means Mourinho can, but for exceptional circumstances, always expect his team to be 'in the mix' for the title.

Yep. 3 at home and 1 on the road is pretty much preached as the standard goal for almost every club level team in the world. Never always going to happen, but do that consistently and steal a victory away here and there as you can and chances are you'll be right in the mix for silverware. Simplistic, but that's the standard set for most it would appear.

 

[Klopper76]

Even two days after the game it is quite obvious that a sizeable minority of LFC fans are still butt-hurt. The general narrative of the LFC supporters is that the match was a stalemate because they had an "off" night and they will not even contemplate the idea that the way their play was limited was down to the tactics of Mourinho.

I really do think this is a classic case of "pride comes before the fall". They were so cocky going into this game thinking that they were going to steamroll over us, tear us a new one, etc.. and now that this hasn't happened it has completely rattled their cage. Their phoney concern and constant whingeing about the current United team being very "Un-United" at the moment and being the most expensive team in world football shows me that they are up to date and more obsessed with United than their own club.

You should've read my posts building up to the game. I was sure we'd lose.

 

[VeevaVee]

If that's the logic, does that mean that the Chelsea game is now a must win?

I wouldn't say it's quite as important as not losing to Liverpool. He needs to get a run of wins together soon though to ease things off for a while IMO.

 

[Klopper76]

No it isn't... it's equivalent of someone being free in the 8-10 yards away from goal but letting the pass run under their foot, or controlling the ball too far away from their body so they have to stretch for the shot. The initial part of the play is simple enough that you expect them to do it, but because they haven't, they've made the chance become unnecessarily difficult.

The ball was perfect for Ibra, it was his own poor work in the first place that made the chance far harder then it should have been.

EDIT: So we can see what we're talking about





Yeah I know which one you're refering too now... but I agree with you in the sense that the bigger chance there was for him to head it back across, not necessarily score directly from it.

I see what you mean about Ibrahimovic's chance. Given the space he's in you'd expect better. He seems to have lost his way a bit since his early season form.

 

[goin4glory]

There's no narrative more infuriating than "the United way" which is constantly spouted by journos looking to create drama or fans with short memories. It's almost as if people who believe this nonsense didn't watch a single United vs Liverpool game the last 10 years under Fergie. We didn't play out from the back to negate their press which worked fantastically well and Herrera/Fellaini bossed their CM winning every 2nd ball to build from. Liverpool don't have many natural wide players so Rashford/Young tracking the FB's with great discipline forced them central where again Herrera/Fellaini bossed. A few players did have poor games (Ibra/Pogba/Rashford) but with no Martial or Miki available we didn't have many options to change the game in an attacking sense.

I have zero issues with us setting up like that away from home and getting results and if the opposition wanna claim some footballing moral high ground then they're welcome to, I'd rather we deal in actual victories and not moral ones.

 

[EmPeeKay]

Utter tripe - none of the Liverpool fans on here were over confident & we have also frequently admitted we under performed on the night.
We also know and respect how tough games against United are.

Bit ironic the old obsession story given the number of Klopp/Liverpool threads that often run on here. If there is an obsession as rivals that works both ways.

I wasn't really talking about the LFC fans on this forum, I was talking about LFC fans I know from work, the social sports scene and other social media outlets. I live here in Dublin and there are plenty of them, just like United fans. I had a discussion on social media with a few of them (some of them I believe are members of the Dublin LFC fan club) in which I gave a relative objective view of the game: Liverpool are currently the better team, the point was important though, Mourinho got the tactics spot on and contained Liverpool well, etc.... etc... yada ..yada...yada...

I was shot down immediately and then the vitriol started coming my way: I told I was talking cack, that no one was going to read my post and that United fans in general were deluded. It was quite funny actually, but there was so much bitterness.

Apologies I should have been clearer in my post: I wasn't talking about the vast majority of all LFC fans, I was talking about a "sizeable minority" that I know of. Of course there are plenty of decent Liverpool supporters, but you cannot deny the fact that there were quite a lot of confident LFC fans before the game, and rightly so. The LFC fans on the Caf I have no issue with as you are probably more objective than the ones I know. (I suppose you have to be, especially when you're on a United forum)

 

[MartialsBeard]

No it isn't... it's equivalent of someone being free in the 8-10 yards away from goal but letting the pass run under their foot, or controlling the ball too far away from their body so they have to stretch for the shot. The initial part of the play is simple enough that you expect them to do it, but because they haven't, they've made the chance become unnecessarily difficult.

The ball was perfect for Ibra, it was his own poor work in the first place that made the chance far harder then it should have been.

EDIT: So we can see what we're talking about





Yeah I know which one you're refering too now... but I agree with you in the sense that the bigger chance there was for him to head it back across, not necessarily score directly from it.

When you see it in repeat like this its kind of obvious that even if Ibra went near post the keeper is in the wrong position and back peddling to get back for the save and his instinct is that he needs to cover the near post since his positioning is incorrect for the cross.

Ibra could have quite simply put his head through it, aimed down and its a goal, absolutely gutting to see.

Have to say the media really got on the back of Jose for this result and its really annoying, many saying the Chelsea game is a must-win, its not, it never was and I hope Jose has the sense to not go gung ho there also. Chelsea away is notoriously one of the most difficult away games in the league, Stamford Bridge is a closed in stadium with a tendancy for teams to fall apart.

Id take a draw right now also.

 

[EmPeeKay]

You should've read my posts building up to the game. I was sure we'd lose.

I know, Klopper, I have no issues with most LFC fans and I already alluded to in another post that I wasn't having a go at LFC fans on the caf. There was just so much bitterness from quite a few fans I know of which was quite irrational. No harm intended. Peace and out!

 

[johnny boy]

I wasn't really talking about the LFC fans on this forum, I was talking about LFC fans I know from work, the social sports scene and other social media outlets. I live here in Dublin and there are plenty of them, just like United fans. I had a discussion on social media with a few of them (some of them I believe are members of the Dublin LFC fan club) in which I gave a relative objective view of the game: Liverpool are currently the better team, the point was important though, Mourinho got the tactics spot on and contained Liverpool well, etc.... etc... yada ..yada...yada...

I was shot down immediately and then the vitriol started coming my way: I told I was talking cack, that no one was going to read my post and that United fans in general were deluded. It was quite funny actually, but there was so much bitterness.

Apologies I should have been clearer in my post: I wasn't talking about the vast majority of all LFC fans, I was talking about a "sizeable minority" that I know of. Of course there are plenty of decent Liverpool supporters, but you cannot deny the fact that there were quite a lot of confident LFC fans before the game, and rightly so. The LFC fans on the Caf I have no issue with as you are probably more objective than the ones I know. (I suppose you have to be, especially when you're on a United forum)

No problem at all mate - apologies for the tripe comment also. We are good

I understand what you mean, fair points.

The LFC posters on here are defensive about our team, sometimes too much but that's part of being on a rival forum.

 

[EmPeeKay]

No problem at all mate - apologies for the tripe comment also. We are good

I understand what you mean, fair points.

Absolutely, no problem, Johnno. Looking forward to the next post-mortem after the Man United - Liverpool game at OT when United throw the kitchen sink and Liverpool park the bus!

 

[Klopper76]

I know, Klopper, I have no issues with most LFC fans and I already alluded to in another post that I wasn't having a go at LFC fans on the caf. There was just so much bitterness from quite a few fans I know of which was quite irrational. No harm intended. Peace and out!

No worries mate. I was pathetic in the build up, no confidence whatsoever.

There's always a bit of that from some of our support before the games. They end up looking daft if we don't win though.

 

[Wooly Red]

You know, I get the feeling the arguing with us Liverpool supporters is more like a proxy between two sets of fans here, at least for some of them.

 

[Finn MacCool]

You just know if we both win our EFL games (tall order) we will be drawn together.