Charity Match

Liverpool Article 16 Apr 2024
Liverpool v Crystal Palace







Liverpool have reverted back to the slow, measured play of the early part of the season after the return of the injured players. The kids brought energy and enthusiasm, plus the bonus of a return to the high intensity 'heavy metal' football, that made watching Liverpool under Klopp such a pleasure, as that is the way they have been brought through playing. Unfortunately, as soon as the first teamers were fit, the kids were dropped straight back down to the U21s and replaced with the first teamers and the return of Pep Lijnders patented 'I can out-Pep Pep' methodology. It failed miserably last season when tried, but this season Klopp has doubled down on it and gone all in on the passing for passing's sake, no width and slow, boring football that Lijnders advocates. That this team is in contention at this stage of the season is a minor miracle, one which Klopp has contrived to almost throw away completely in the last few weeks. It amazes me that someone with Klopp's knowledge and experience in the game has listened to Lijnders, who showed in a spell as a head coach that he has absolutely no tactical clue whatsoever. Excellent coach that he is, Lijnders is not a tactical expert, he has no original ideas, even when taking the credit for all sorts of 'new' things introduced at Liverpool since his return, he admitted that all of them were simply copied from other clubs. You do not beat the richest club in the world by simply copying them, but that seems to be the current plan. It makes no sense when they can simply buy better players for that system.



The problem is that all the momentum has gone out of the season now too, which is going to make it extra difficult for the coaching staff to turn around with them all leaving in the summer. This is where the problem comes with Klopp announcing he was leaving so early in the season. Initially it creates a determination to win for him, but once that has gone there is little Klopp can really have to work with when it comes to pushing the players to do more in training and in matches. Now he is reliant completely on the good feeling that has undoubtedly built up between him and the playing staff - but that can only do so much. It can make the players run all day for him, but it can't make them suddenly turn poor tactics into brilliance. It is not going to magically move all the defenders out of the way so that all those shots in a crowded penalty area can be calmly aimed into the corners away from the keeper. It is such a shame to see the Klopp-era ending with a damp squib, after all the years of brilliance he brought, it is now on the players to change that for him and give him the send off he deserves. It might be too late to turn it around and win either trophy, but they can go out like a Klopp team, with heavy metal, exciting, attacking football using width and quick ball movement.





I have seen a lot of talk about how Palace played well and they have been given a huge amount of credit for the win, but I personally was not very impressed with them. Their two wide men, Eze and Olise, are lazy tracking back and are reminscent of Diaz - lots of flair and showy touches but little actual real effect. Their defence was all over the place and relied on getting bodies in the way of shots to keep Liverpool out, something which is not effective in the long term, but can pay off at times. They are a team that, based on that performance, Liverpool could, and should, have beaten. That is the most frustrating thing from a Liverpool point of view, this was not being well beaten by a good performance, but being well beaten by a poor team that did not even play to their own capabilities. Well, to be fair, Hughes played to his capability, but that capability is lower league journeyman level. It is players like Wharton who did not play at anything like the level they are capable of. Not even close. If Liverpool lose to teams like this, playing so poorly, then they do not deserve to win the league. As for Palace, they are where they are for a reason. Glasner has got his hands full turning them into anything other than a team that avoids the drop each season, but they do have a gem in Wharton to build around.





Quick notes on the players:





Alisson - almost the only player to come out of the game with any credit, making a save when it was needed, but did not really have a lot to do and so ended up getting further and further forward as the game wore on.



Bradley - was having a decent game before his injury, though he was not getting forward with his usual drive and energy. The ball was getting out to him too slowly (or inaccurately a lot of the time) to allow him to really maraud down the flank.



Konate - like all the rest of the team, he was too far off the opposition and got caught out at times not knowing whether to be out on the right or in the centre. The understanding at the back was just not there for this game, making it very easy for Palace to get at Liverpool if they wanted to.



van Dijk - needs to do more talking than he did in this game. His performances this season have mostly been back to his best, but he was poor in this one. Not just defensively, where he was standing off rather than making the challenge, but even his passing was off. Added to that, when the team was looking to him for leadership, there was little sign of it.



Robertson - he once again gave his all and was marauding down the left, as much as possible. However, just charging down the flank mindlessly was not enough, the link up and his delivery was not quite there. Defensively he was poor and caught out of position far too easily.



Endo - the wrong game for him, there was no need for a player who could mix it up as Palace were just sat in. He was the only player trying to close down though for long periods, but almost every pass into him was just playing him into trouble and putting him under pressure. For a less creative midfielder like Endo, that is just a recipe for disaster and he struggled to have a positive impact.



Mac Allister - for a while after Liverpool's form dipped, he was the one shining light in the team, but for some reason the last couple of games has seen his form desert him completely. This was a worse performance than the ones he was putting in during the early weeks of the season. He rarely played the ball forward, when he did he gave it away, but the most annoying thing was watching him stroll around for 90 minutes taking extra touches and passing it back and sideways casually like Liverpool were 5-0 up in a meaningless testimonial game. If anyone could be said to embody the Red's lacklustre, listless, limp performance, with its complete lack of urgency, it was Mac Allister.



Jones - struggled to get into the game, though he did show urgency at least, he was not able to impose himself at all. Missed the best chance Liverpool had, but even that was rushed as he lacked the pace to get away from the defenders when he broke through.



Diaz - he is great to watch but, for all his running around he accomplishes very little. He does not make runs in behind, nor does he attack the box. But, to be fair to him, the build up is so slow at the moment that there is little opportunity to do either.



Nunez - he is working hard and giving his all but it is just not happening for him. The team is not playing to his strengths and has failed to do so since buying him for most of the games. He needs the high press, the quick ball movement to get the best from him. He is getting caught offside because the ball is too slow in being released. Nunez is a player that is running around trying to apply the press but on his own, as everyone else is just dropping off and watching attacks develop. If the team returns to a high press, high intensity, fast-flowing attacking style, then he will be ideal. If it sticks to this slow, ponderous sideways ball movement, then he is wasted and will never prosper.



Salah - it was astonishing that he was not taken off. His performance was astonishingly bad, the worst I have seen from him. He was almost like an extra player for Palace, he was that poor. It is like he has forgotten how to play, his first touch has gone missing, his passing was wasteful and his finishing was utterly abysmal. Everyone is entitled to an off day, but Salah's season has gone from bad to worse as it has gone on. Age seems to have caught up with him.



Szoboszlai - brought on at half-time for Endo. Brought some drive and energy but nothing else. Even when he got the chance to take a shot, the entire defence was able to be in place to make it more difficult.



Alexander-Arnold - replaced the injured Bradley in the 48th minute. Immediately he came on he took up station in central midfield, removing all width on the right and making it easier for Palace to stay compact defensively. It showed as his passing became more and more desperate as the half went on, with him trying to force passes and make something happen.



Gakpo - took the place of Diaz on the left wing in the 66th minute. A bright spot in the game, he showed pace and ability, driving at their defence and causing them to actually adjust, bringing out players to double up on him.



Jota - came on for Nunez also in the 66th minute. Never got into the game at all. Flitted round the edges of the game but the team was not getting the ball into him enough.



Elliott - Jones went off so Elliott could come on in the 82nd minute. I do not understand why he is not getting a chance to start, his performances have deserved that, while few others in the Liverpool side can say the same. Maybe the problem is that he constantly plays with high intensity, the old Klopp-style, and seems to struggle to slow down and play the new, boring, measured approach.

Liverpool Article 10 Apr 2024
Manchester United v Liverpool





Deja vu. That is the prevailing feeling after watching that match so soon after losing an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in almost exactly the same circumstances. Completely dominating the game, creating numerous chances that are wasted, only to end up failing to win the game after letting Man Utd back in to the game in the second half. It also must be pointed out that mistakes at the back actually cost the game, but if Liverpool had taken their chances in the first half, the game would have been well out of sight by half-time and the mistakes would not have mattered. However, Liverpool did not put their chances away, so you have to look closely at those errors as match-defining moments. For me though, the biggest error was made by Jurgen Klopp, by starting the game with Quansah over Konate. Quansah is a good, young player, but Konate is simply a better player and defender at this moment in time and for a game like this you go with your best players.



There have been so many times that an inability to finish their chances have been a problem for Klopp's Liverpool. Whether the front line was Mane, Salah and Firmino or the current three of Diaz, Nunez and Salah, missing chances has always been a problem. There are so many varying reasons for each failure to score, but the truth is that this has gone on so long and through so many players that the issue is clearly something more than an individual player. Whoever replaces Klopp in the summer has to figure out how to get a more clinical edge in the team, it is hindering the club badly, it has now cost the team a place in the FA Cup semi-finals and dropped it off the top of the table in games against a team that are markedly inferior right now. Game after game it has seen the matches much closer than they should have been as well, leaving Liverpool a long way off Arsenal in terms of goal difference as well.





Man Utd are a bit of a mess at the moment, but they still have individual talent at their disposal. That talent can get them results sometimes, especially if they are up against a team that decides to take up almost none of the ridiculous number of chances they give up every game. They really need to figure out how to stop giving up those chances though. They have brought in a goalkeeper to play a high line but have not got the centre-backs to do so. Ten Hag is clearly intending to play a high defensive line and has set up the team to play that way, but the centre-backs are just too scared of pace to hold a line and allow space in behind them. So they drop off, but the midfield and the forwards are not dropping with them, leaving a huge hole between midfield and defence. Until they sort out that issue, they are not going to be able to move the club forward and become a consistent team that can regularly challenge at the top of the league.



The big question left is whether or not Ten Hag is the man to fix their problems. That is still uncertain, and it is difficult to judge him considering the mess above him that he has had to deal with. Certainly the recruitment needed to be taken out of his hands and that is now done, which should make a significant difference, especially as the negotiations will not be handled by the incompetents that were dealing with them before. Will he get the time? We will just have to wait and see.





One thing on the game overall, it did lack a lot of the blood and thunder that you expect from a match between rivals. I know neither team really plays that way, but there was little real fire in the performance from either team. There was only one real moment of controversy, the Casemiro foul right at the end, which really should have been a red card. Hard to understand how that was not given, but I am not sure United would have suffered if he was out banned with his tendency to just pass the ball straight to an opponent anyway! I have always considered Casemiro to be an extremely overrated player, who lacks mobility and fitness, but I never realised just how bad his passing is until he moved to the Premier League. He is fine if it is a simple 5 yard pass, of the kind that was all he was required to make while in the Real Madrid team, but anything else and it almost always goes astray. It is little wonder Man Utd struggle to control games with him in the engine room.





Quick notes on the players:





Kelleher - I have seen people apportion blame to him on the first goal, but I disagree, he was where he should have been in order to receive a pass. The first one was not his fault. The second he could do nothing about either. Overall he had a decent game, though I still feel he lacks the required vision and range of passing to really make the Liverpool system work. The team miss that ability to launch a quick counter.



Bradley - struggled to start with, picking up an early booking, but grew into the game and became a very potent attacking force during the first half.



Quansah - this game showed why, in the past at Liverpool, most young players were usually dropped back down to the reserves after a run of games. He has been playing well and getting lots of plaudits but there has always been a bit of arrogance about his game which needs to be removed until he has earnt the right to it. More importantly, when he makes a mistake, he needs to learn from it the first time he makes it rather than continually making the same error. His giveaway of the ball by a slack sideways pass early in the second half was not the first time he had done it. In fact it was his third or fourth time he had played it blind across the backline, but he had got away with it in the first half. For me he should have been taken off at half time because of them, and that is not hindsight as I was having a rather heated conversation with the screen after the second time he made the same mistake. You don't want to stop young players from making mistakes, it is how they learn, but they have to actually learn. They should not need to be responsible for giving away a goal for them to learn. Especially an intelligent lad like Quansah. Taking him off at half-time would have given him the wake up call without needing to make another mistake and cost his team the win to do so. But that was not done, so now Klopp has to find a way to deal with the aftermath and that means he has to give Quansah his backing and hope the lad will not let it affect him. Quansah seems capable of shrugging it off and getting on with it, but he has to start learning from his mistakes the first time he makes them.



van Dijk - the whole defence and midfield were at fault on United's second goal, including van Dijk, but other than that he was not really troubled at all.



Robertson - marauded down the left in usual fashion but for some reason his delivery was completely off. His corners were not at his usual high level either.



Szoboszlai - worked hard, got up and down well but the final pass or shot just failed to come off for him. In a game of such small margins, those little moments made all the difference. Unfortunately the one really good chance that came to Szoboszlai got caught under his feet. He had to dig it out, so the shot lacked power and was at a nice saveable height and close to the keeper. If that ball had just been in front of him to hit properly, things might have been totally different.



Endo - another solid game, but it was probably not the game for him as more creativity would have been useful at the base of midfield.



Mac Allister - once again the best player on the pitch, though maybe not a performance of the same level as his previous game. He is running games now and producing some masterful performances. He is still able to help protect the defence but the addition of Endo has allowed him to shine further forward.



Diaz - a good goal, but other than that he was not at his best and did not attack his full-back in the way he has been in most games recently. At his best he ties a full-back up in knots, twisting and turning them inside out, but he never really tried to do that. As usual his finishing was very hit and miss.



Nunez - another not at his best. Wasted a few chances to score or play someone in. It was one of those off days for him.



Salah - his finishing was absolutely abysmal, he looked sluggish (which maybe due to returning from injury and fasting for ramadan) but his passing was good. It makes me wonder if he would not be better playing deeper, off a forward like Nunez to play through balls to him. He certainly seems to have become a better creator than goalscorer at the moment, though he did score the penalty that gave Liverpool a draw.



Gomez - replaced Bradley in the 66th minute. He was not able to provide the same attacking intent and never really got into the game.



Jones - came on for Szoboszlai in the 66th minute. It felt like he brought a bit more control back into the game and helped settle Liverpool down.



Elliott - took Endo's place in the 69th minute. Buzzed around like an angry bee, getting on the ball as much as possible and trying to create something. It was while he was looking to produce something that he was fouled for the penalty, though it was on the soft side.



Gakpo - also came on in the 69th minute but to replace Nunez. He tried but it never happened for him. He struggled to really imapct the game.

Liverpool Article 06 Apr 2024
Liverpool v Sheffield United





Once again Liverpool do what is needed to pull a win out of the bag after nearly throwing it away. It is becoming a habit making things difficult for themselves. The first half started off with the Blades attacking from kick off, but as soon as they failed to score and lost the ball, they were completely outmatched for the rest of the half. It was almost too easy. Liverpool were able to play it around at will and immediately recover it as Sheff Utd, according to the stats shown at half-time, completed just 38 passes. That was not just because they lack quality, but because they were being forced into mistakes, like the one that ended up in the back of their own net after hitting Nunez. The problem was that Liverpool were not making the most of the easy possession they had, seemingly content to hold a lead.



At half-time there was a change in tack from Sheff Utd, which almost succeeded. In fact for a long period of time it did manage to knock Liverpool off their game and they snatched a fluke equaliser via an own goal off a very unlucky Bradley. The defending did leave a bit to be desired, but the danger should have been seen off easily, even though the exploited the space left by Gomez inverting he had the chance to deal with it but was not physical enough and allowed the player to escape with the ball. For a while the game was a struggle, Liverpool completely dominated the ball but were unable to really make headway into dangerous areas.



The substitutions changed the game. Robertson's driving runs down the flank were a particular danger and Elliott was putting dangerous balls into the box. The second pair of subs completed the process and made Liverpool even more dangerous going forward. It may have taken a worldie from Mac Allister to put the Reds back in front, but it was well deserved and the third was always coming. In fact, if anything the score flattered the Yorkshire club. The worrying thing is how little penetration the team had before the substitutions. They were not getting at the Blades like they should have, far too content with a simple stroll to a 1-0 victory, when they really should have shown a bit more drive to put the game out of sight against a team that were completely outmatched. But what matters is that they did enough when it mattered to win the game.





As for Sheffield United, they came out to have a go, but were just pegged in their own half for most of the first half and struggled just to get a touch on the ball, let alone threaten a goal. Their limitations were badly shown up, despite the clear improvements in their play that have come in recent weeks under Wilder. In the second half there was a very obvious change to tactics, with probably the only thing left to them to do was to try and kick their way out of the hole they were in. There were early deliberate rakes of the back on the ankle with studs, then the bizarre jump onto the back of Konate's knee, which was a blatant attempt to nobble the defender. It is incredible that the officials did not spot what was certainly deliberate, as the ball had gone and there was no need to jump in like that other than to attempt to injure an opponent. It just left Osula free to continue to foul with impunity, which was blatantly all he was on the pitch to do.



I can fully understand why the Blades resorted to that to try and level the field and it nearly worked. It certainly knocked Liverpool out of their stride as foul after foul were ignored by the officials. It made it very difficult to play quick pass-and-move football, as a one-two was impossible, with the player making the first pass immediately being fouled and unable to receive a return. It was reminiscent of watching a lower league team against a Premier League team in the FA Cup, with the lower league side trying to use physicality to even the field. Like a cup match, quality usually tells and it did in this match as the chasing around the Sheff Utd players were doing gradually caught up with them and gaps opened up at the back. It did take a special strike to open the scoring, but it was coming as they were undone by the Liverpool substitutions and tired legs. Earlier in the game someone would have been in Mac Allister's face, but no one could get there quick enough to stop him after the hard work they had put in.





That for me is the big takeaway from this game. This season Liverpool have become more like the Liverpool of the early 1980s, who were not always demolishing teams, but they were the masters of wearing their opponents out and then scoring late to win it. They looked fitter than everyone else because they were letting the ball doing the work and dominating possession, while the opposition chased and chased and chased until their legs were gone. Then gaps appear and a goal is scored. Usually that then leads to the opposition throwing men forward to try and rescue the game and leaving even more gaps to be exploited, as happened with Liverpool's third (and it could easily have been four or five in the end). It is not an accident that Liverpool score so many after 75 minutes, it is due to the way they are playing. The way they dominate the ball and force opponents, even Manchester City, to chase is creating spaces at the back as the games go on. It is not as exciting to watch as the early days under Klopp, but it could go on to be even more successful than the time under him, for whoever takes over. He is leaving something special here for the next man.





Quick notes on the players:





Kelleher - another good game from the Irish keeper, he was unlucky with the goal, but he pulled off some good saves when needed. However, it is clear that when the ball is at his feet he is not capable of launching a quick attack in the same way that Alisson can. That is a very potent weapon missing from the Liverpool armoury, though in most other aspects on the ball he is very good. He keeps it moving well and is comfortable receiving it, he just lacks that vision and range of passing that the Brazilian brings to the team.



Bradley - if he continues to perform like this, it is difficult to see how he can lose his place when Alexander-Arnold returns. He offers far too much attacking thrust down the flanks, the ability to invert when needed and is extremely good defensively. In this form, he deserves to be first choice right-back.



Konate - if only he could stay fit, then Liverpool would have a very solid defensive base, as he is very good for the style of football Liverpool are using. He is big, quick and strong, technically competent and able to drive foward on the ball too. In a physical battle like this game became, he is about as good as it gets without cloning van Dijk. His fitness is an issue that really needs sorting out though.



van Dijk - he has been immense this season, in my opinion the best I have seen him play in a Liverpool shirt. I was not convinced about making him captain with his form being off, but it has brought out the very best in him. He has risen to the task of being the leader of the group as well as a key player in it. He has become a truly special player, with his mentality now matching his exceptional physicality and technique.



Gomez - overall a good game but playing him does mean there is a lack of width on the left, not helped by Gravenberch mostly gravitating to the right and Diaz wanting to cut inside. If he plays there, then there needs to be more width from the forward and midfield areas. Also I do feel he was a little weak on the goal and should have seen out the danger before the ball was delivered into the box. Moving him into midfield did not work this time, as there was little to defend in that area and he lacks the competence on the ball of a natural midfielder.



Szoboszlai - while he is being overshadowed by Mac Allister's excellent current form, he is playing well. Not at the level he was at the start of the season individually, but he is performing better for the team than he was then. Having only just returned to fitness, you would also expect his form to improve as he gets back to full sharpness.



Gravenberch - started off well, even getting stuck in, but struggled to find his passing range and kept drifting over to the right when he was needed on the left. After taking a nasty stud rake on the back of his calf early in the second half, he seemed to lose his desire to get stuck in and reverted to half-hearted challenges. Needs to do more, but he is just coming back from injury, so it was a good chance to feel his way back in. Personally I would have preferred to see Elliott get the minutes though.



Mac Allister - a fantastic performance from a player who is growing into something special. He just seems to keep getting better and better, pulling something out of the bag when it is needed. Up there with van Dijk as Liverpool's player of the season.



Diaz - had Bogle on toast, but never got enough of the ball, nor drove at him enough when he did have it. Played so well but just needed to do a bit more as he had Bogle tied up in knots but failed to make enough of it.



Nunez - Captain Chaos is a very good example of the saying, if at first you don't succeed. He got his reward for closing down the goalkeeper quickly on the second try, with a goal that he has very much deserved for all the work he has done for the team.



Salah - not at his best, but it was still a surprise when he was taken off as he was still looking dangerous, and we have seen so many times how he can be having an off game and then pop up with a goal. It worked out well though as the team looked much better after the subs came on.



Robertson - brought on in place of Gravenberch in the 60th minute. Was excellent after coming on and put himself back ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the assists count. His driving runs down the left flank were exactly what the team had been missing.



Elliott - surprisingly replaced Salah in the 60th minute. Played well, putting some good deliveries into the box after cutting in from the right.



Gakpo - took Gomez's place in the 73rd minute. Looked something near his best and much more comfortable coming in from the left, his natural position. Got a good goal as well.



Jones - came on instead of Szoboszlai, also in the 73rd minute. The midfield has looked so much more composed this season when he has played. Another one that just needs to stay fit, as he could be a key player without the injury problems.

02 Apr 2024 12:31:39
Looks like its Amorim! Attacking football, conceding min goals. Bedding young players.

Cons: stubborn in player transfer, may not work well with SD, transfer comittee and scouts or even in face of statistics.

17 Mar 2024 17:46:10
Spotted Nagelsmann and moustachio'd cronies at Frankfurt airport baggage collect 11. Politely enquired see you next season at Anfield? He gave a coy smile and said no not next season. Had nice trabs on him.

11 Mar 2024 15:23:02
Dear eds, if FSG, and potentially michael edwards dilly dally on appointing Klopp successor and if all our leading targets like Alonso, Nagelsmann, Amori, de zerbi, postecoglu, or even pep Ljinders decide to say No or move on.

What is our scrap the bottom of barrel last choice? Is it Steven Gerard?

15 Mar 2024 00:05:05
Big Sam?

Liverpool Article 23 Feb 2024
Liverpool v Luton Town





In some respects that game lived up to the classic 'game of two halves' saying. The first half saw Liverpool create plenty of opportunities but just unable to convert them. The team were by far the better team overall, but the finishing was woeful. Added to that, the crowd were just not at it either and were a bit quiet, even though the team was providing intensity and some really good play, right up until the shot at the end of it. The second half felt different. The team came out and you could feel the determination to turn it around and get the three points. Along with that, the crowd seemed to be ready to help out (and not need Klopp to call for more from them as he did towards the end of the first half) and you could feel the atmosphere building along with the pressure on Luton. Eventually it all got too much for a Luton team who gave their all but were simply outclassed.



What was most pleasing from a Liverpool perspective is the way that everyone was in it together, a team from top to bottom, with John Achteberg setting an example by being the one to step in to talk to the officials when there was an issue, taking the yellow card so that Klopp would not get a touchline ban. The fans played their part too, building the atmosphere up like a pressure cooker at the start of the second half when the team needed their backing, letting them know they were with them. At this point of the season, especially with the number of injuries Liverpool have, it is not really about the performance, just the result, but that was also an excellent performance to go with it.





Luton gave everything, but they were just not good enough. They are highly reliant on the goalscorer Ogbene's pace, but his lack of end product is an issue for them and they lack quality throughout the team. That was their biggest issue, the lack of quality, they constantly tried to play out from the back but gave the ball away repeatedly as the press overwhelmed them. What I did see from them is enough heart, desire and willingness to give them a chance of staying up despite the lack of quality in the team. I do though wonder why all the fuss surrounding Barkley, who is an extremely average player and offers little bar poor decisions on the ball most of the time. Talk of him returning to the England squad must be a joke as he is nowhere near that level.





Quick notes on the players:





Kelleher - he had a mixed game, should have done better on their goal and his kicking was a bit erratic, sometimes good, sometimes just giving it away. He did come and deal with some setpieces well.



Bradley - another excellent game for the youngster, who was once again one of the better players on the pitch. I think it is telling he was taken off early to keep him fresh for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.



Quansah - had a good game, defended really well, though he was not put under huge pressure. Strode out of defence a couple of times very well.



van Dijk - was much more aggressive and attacked the ball well from the start. A real captain's performance, driving the team on and then popping up with the equaliser.



Gomez - again he has played really well, both on the left and then when switched over to the right after Bradley was taken off. He was up against their only real threat and he kept him mostly quiet.



Endo - another good performance from Japan's captain who seems to relish a physical battle like the one Luton tried to turn the game into. He also played some very good forward passes, showing himself to be more than just there to break up the play.



Gravenberch - it seems like the Dutchman has figured out what is needed to make it in the English game and has added the mixing elements - workrate and physicality. His pace and skill was never in doubt, but now it is also added to by being a useful help off the ball. Early in the first half his pressing was enough to force Luton into giving away a corner, though he did show signs of frustration later in the half as chance after chance went begging. He was a bit less prominent in the second half.



Mac Allister - had an excellent game and got assists on the first two goals. Him and Endo alternate as the deepest lying midfielder, or sometimes both will hold deep, and they are working together well. It has really freed up Mac Allister to play his game.



Diaz - had a good game, causing no end of problems but was let down repeatedly by his finishing until he finally got one right. That also provided a great moment seeing his dad celebrate.



Gakpo - another who had a good game showing good pace and strength and got the goal his performance deserved. He is looking back to being the player who impressed so much in the second half of last season.



Elliott - worked hard, but in the first half his decision making and passing was off, as well as joining in the general malaise with regard to weak shooting. In the second half he stepped up, his driving runs made a huge difference to the game and helped put real pressure on Luton's backline. Good finish for his goal as well.



Robertson - brought on in place of Bradley in the 67th minute. Drive forward well and won the ball back for Diaz's goal as well.



Clark - came on to replace Gravenberch in the 77th minute. Struggled to really make an impression in the game, but tried hard.



McConnell - replaced Mac Allister in the 88th minute. Never really had time to affect the game as the game was in the bag by that point.



Danns - made his debut coming on to take Diaz's place in the 88th minute. So close to marking that debut with a goal and did show some nice touches.

Liverpool Article 19 Feb 2024
Brentford v Liverpool





That game could probably be called a Phyrrhic victory as a great result was slightly overshadowed by the team suffering three injuries to get it. The injuries to Nunez, Jota and Jones have come at a difficult time and to three players in good form, just as the season enters its final stretch. Whether it does cost the team in the next few weeks or not, right now the performance was very impressive. The intensity, the willingness to battle and chase, it was only bested by the noise from the away fans, who were excellent. It was a game where Liverpool gradually tightened their grip more and more as it wore on. It was just a gradual turning of the screw, more and more control of the ball and even the enforced substitutions failed to knock the team out of its rhythm. In fact the players who came on all played well and helped the team to the win.



The big issue for me is the openness at the back, there were a lot of risks taken and the two centre-backs were often left one-on-one at the back up against two attackers. When added to van Dijk's liking for backing away and refusing to engage, opened up opportunities for Brentford to get a run at the defence and cause a lot more problems than they should have. It then allowed them to get into dangerous areas where they could look to 'win' a free kick. One thing they do very well is set-pieces around the box, it should have been part of the gameplan to keep those to a minimum, but it matters little when you get the result anyway. And that is the thing, even when this team is not playing well, it is picking up the results, when it does play well, like in this game, it overwhelms the opposition, even if there are still weaknesses in the plan.





I personally find Brentford really tedious to watch now. When they initially came up they were a breath of fresh air, they went at teams and took the game to them and it was refreshing to see. As time has gone on, they have become more pragmatic and less about winning by taking the game to the opposition and more like watching the worst of an Allardyce team. They have become focused on physicality when they do not have the ball, with the intention always to leave a little on players. That would not bother me so much if they were not so intent on throwing themselves to the ground if anyone breaths on them. If they were just physical, I would enjoy that. Instead it is just one-sided, they give it out and then whine and cry if they get anything back. It is clear that their tactics have become solely based on set-pieces and getting them in dangerous areas. Like when Diaz went down claiming a penalty after a slight touch, which for me was never a penalty, it should be called out for what it is - cheating. That is what the Bees have based their game on, cheating to get set-pieces.



It has made them go from a plucky underdog that I wanted to do well, to being a team I would be glad to see the back of. The treatment of the returning Toney has compounded that for me. He has been lauded like a conquering hero coming back from an unjust lay off, rather than someone who let his team and teammates down by knowingly breaching the rules. He should be looking to make amends for his misdeeds, but he is clearly just looking to get a big money move away from the Bees. Hopefully the sale will give them the funds to put together a team that can do more than merely look to get set-pieces. When they did look to actually attack, they were managing to achieve overloads in wide areas and drag the centre-backs out of position to deal with it. With a bit more of that, they could have made the game much more difficult. They did play into Liverpool's hands with the back three set-up. It meant they either needed to keep the wing-backs back or take a risk one-on-one with Liverpool's front three. They ended up getting caught between both and caught out with the wing-backs trying to get forward.





Quick notes on the players:





Kelleher - a fairly easy ride for him, surprisingly, as they failed to really put him under pressure. It seems an odd thing to do, to not heavily press a back up keeper when he was on the ball, but Brentford did that. He was a little unlucky on their goal, having made a decent save initially.



Bradley - once again Bradley showed class and composure to match his ability. He is not playing like a youngster who has just broken into the team, he is playing like a seasoned, regular first-teamer.



Konate - the kind of game the big Frenchman loves, he likes the rough-and-tumble of a physical battle and it showed. He had a very good game and gave Toney little change.



van Dijk - a mixed game, he probably should have scored, he was caught by a simple ball in behind and was not aggressive enough dealing with their forwards. Instead he was back to dropping off and waiting for them to make a mistake. While that usually works, it is dangerous against a team that are looking to just get around the box and go down to get set-pieces. He really should have been looking to engage them higher up the pitch and kept them at arm's length.



Robertson - it is impressive how quickly he has slotted back in. He played well, particularly in the second half when he had more freedom to attack. I do wonder if it might well have worked in the club's favour having him come back fresh at this point of the season.



Endo - another good, solid game from Endo. He does lack the range of passing that Mac Allister has in that position, but he brings much more defensive solidity and gets stuck in. That physicality was very important against Brentford.



Jones - as the game went on and Liverpool took control, Jones was running the game. Unfortunately he had to go off injured.



Mac Allister - was playing a bit within Jones' shadow early on, often finding himself in a similar area of the pitch and with neither having the physicality to do anything different, it felt like it was one too many of the same type of midfielder. With Jones playing so well, he was struggling a bit to impose himself on the game. After Jones went off, he stepped up and became the player controlling the play instead. Having Gravenberch alongside him made him the senior player and the two had much clearer delineation of responsibilities, it seemed a much more natural partnership and Mac Allister played very well, even adding a goal.



Diaz - had a really good game, causing their defence and midfield so many problems as he moved around all over the place.



Nunez - scored a good goal and was always a handful to the defence. Losing him for any length of time could be a real problem for Liverpool as he is just starting to raise his game, so Klopp will have his fingers crossed that taking him off at half-time will have saved him from long-term damage.



Jota - was playing really well, setting up Nunez for his goal and generally harrying the Brentford players into mistakes. Such a shame that an accident like that caused an injury that forced him to come off and looks to be a pretty bad injury. It was among the best performances he had put in while playing for Liverpool.



Gravenberch - replaced the injured Jones in the 34th minute. Normally the worry with Gravenberch is his tendency to bottle the physical aspects of the game, that did make me nervous when he came on, but he showed a totally different side to himself in this match. He was being much more physical and getting stuck in, which contributed to a very good performance. It allowed him to not just contribute with a few nice runs, but to also break up play and win the ball back.



Salah - came on in the 44th minute to take the place of Jota who picked up a knee injury. His return could not have come at a better time and he was back like he had never been away. A nice ball for Mac Allister to score and later scored himself after some good play.



Gakpo - was brought on at half-time in the place of Nunez, who was also injured. A much better performance from Gakpo. Not just scoring, but also being much more prominent in the play, working hard and getting involved.



Elliott - took the place of Mac Allister in the 83rd minute. Always provides a burst of energy when he arrives and it lifted the team just as tiredness could have begun to set it.



Gomez - was also brought on in the 83rd minute, in order to replace Bradley. Did not really have a lot to do.

16 Feb 2024 10:45:02
Klopp to Madrid 25/ 26. Taa and vvd.

They've basically signed every player he wanted for us. By that I'm talk about thcoumeni. Which is not very deep but hear me out.

Bellingham. Vinicus. Rodrigo. Valverde. Camavinga.

Mbappe? Just imagine him with them

Also next season is TAA first ever season without Klopp. It's like the gift he's leaving us. It still hasn't sunk in for me. But all things come to an end and at least it's "good" tears, this is on the level though. I think personally it had gone to far and he8 had gotten legendary status. I don't think day could have ever sacked.

Liverpool Article 13 Feb 2024
Liverpool v Burnley





Putting aside the result, though that is the important thing after all, there is a lot to be disappointed about in this match from a Liverpool point of view. For starters, the Anfield crowd was incredibly subdued, despite this being the Klopp farewell tour. Klopp deserves a better send off than that! This is a team fighting on all fronts still, with four trophies still up for grabs and yet the fans did nothing to roar them on. This is a big piece of history taking place in front of their eyes, they can be the difference when the team is struggling.



And, make no bones about it, at points in this game Liverpool really were struggling. It seems to be a common theme this season, start slowly with a lack of intensity and it becomes a real struggle to get the right result. How much of that was down to the flu bug that had swept through the camp and forced Klopp to make a lot more changes to the team than I am sure he would have liked to make, is difficult to judge. It certainly seemed like a lot of the players seemed a bit listless and struggling for energy at times, though that could have just been down to the lack of intensity in the team play. For me, that was not helped by the centre-back pairing, who are very similar, very laidback, almost lackadaisical at times. They set the tone for the slow, laboured play by rolling the ball about at the back at times, allowing Burnley to apply the press. This is when Henderson is missed, to give them a rollicking and wake them up. It is good, most of the time, having that calmness at the back, and both defenders are certainly good enough, singly and as a pairing, but when the opposition is pressing them, they need to look to move the ball more quickly.



That was the biggest problem, Liverpool created all their own problems, again, by allowing the opposition to press them, playing the ball around far too slowly and inviting more pressure on. The performance did improve in the second half and the team did enough to win the game without having to play well, which is hopefully a good sign. They will need to be better if the season is to be the success Klopp deserves to enjoy in his final season with the Reds. As Arsenal showed, a lack of intensity will be punished by the better teams in the Premier League. Burnley are not one of those though, so this performance was more than enough to beat them.





Burnley look a much better team going forward than they were earlier in the season, the addition of Fofana, in particular, has given them some threat up top at last. That is a relative term as they are still not that good. However, they are still causing their own problems at the back and, in Trafford, have a very poor goalkeeper who folds under pressure of any sort. Any time there is the slightest pressure on him when the ball is at his feet Trafford shanks the ball into touch and concedes possession. For a team that wants to play possession football and build from the back, having a goalkeeper that is unable to handle being pressed is unforgivable. He is a massively weak link, despite his ridiculously arrogant proclamations about himself and what a big, important player he is.



Burnley, and Kompany, are just out of their depth right now in the Premier League. It is not just the way they play, nor just a lack of quality, they also lack experience and there is no tactical knowhow on the bench to change things mid-game. I was going to say when needed, but they always need to make changes, so it seemed superflous! Their hopes of staying up are fading fast, and they were almost non-existent to begin with.





Quick notes on the players:





Kelleher - a good game for the Irish keeper, quick to come out when needed, but he was aided by Burnley's inability to hit the target regularly to really test him. His calmness on the ball was important to the performance though.



Alexander-Arnold - once again he looked to be playing before he was ready. Looked so far off full fitness, but he still managed to provide an assist to set a new all-time Premier League assist record for defenders. Even half-fit he can be a real problem for the opposition to deal with, though it did mean he struggled on the defensive end himself. He was taken off at half-time as an injury precaution after feeling an issue with his previously injured knee.



Quansah - needed to be a bit more lively on the ball early on, but overall he had a good game. Showed good reading of the game at times to mop up before danger could truly threaten.



van Dijk - like Quansah he was a bit slow at moving the ball in the early stages and invited pressure on the team. Needs to start the game at a higher tempo to draw the sting out of the opposition press.



Robertson - did alright in the first half, but was a bit subdued holding himself back from making his usual charges forward so that Alexander-Arnold could invert. His game picked up massively in the second half as he had more freedom to bomb down the wings. He was a constant threat in the second half and gave the Burnley team no end of problems.



Endo - improved as the game went on, initially seemed to struggle to get to grips with the pace of the game after his time away with his national team. In the second half he was one of the key players for Liverpool.



Jones - he was probably the best of the trio in midfield in the first half, though that is not a particularly high bar to compare against. Moving to right-back for the second half and it is telling that Burnley barely troubled him.



Mac Allister - struggled, despite playing in the position that is probably his best. Though he did improve as the second half went on. I might be wrong, but I cannot recall him playing this role during the season itself, so it is little surprise he was unable to be as effective as he had been playing in the deeper role. I am sure that, just like he did in the deeper role, he will come onto a game as he keeps playing there.



Diaz - was Liverpool's standout in the first half but faded a little in the second. Though it is probably more that the rest raised their games up to a similar level to him, rather than him fading. He was very much a threat throughout and fully deserved a goal.



Nunez - good finish for his goal and once again he was causing the opposition so many headaches throughout the game, but particularly in the second half. It is not so much about him getting or taking chances, it is his workrate, his movement, his constant pressure on the defence not allowing them a moment to rest. It is little wonder Liverpool score so many late goals when opposing defences are worn out by the chasing he gives them. Like Firmino before him, Nunez is more than just a focal point for the attack, and it is no coincidence that the team looks much more threatening when he plays.



Jota - he could have done with more service, plus he does need to stop going down too easily, but overall he had a good game. He worked hard and caused a lot of issues for Burnley, even when they had the ball he was not allowing them time and space.



Elliott - replaced Alexander-Arnold at half-time. He was given MOTM by the Liverpool official site and it is difficult to argue with that. Once again he stepped up and was the catalyst for a much improved second half performance. Gave Jones at right-back a lot of protection as well.



Gakpo - came on for Diaz in the 82nd minute. Arrived too late to really make a mark.



McConnell - took the place of Endo in the 90+6th minute.



Clark - also brought on in the 90+6th minute to replace Mac Allister.



Tsimikas - the third member of the triple substitution in the 90+6th minute, taking the place of Robertson.