Curtis Davies bamboozled by rampant Liverpool as optimism continues to grow at Anfield
CURTIS Davies looked up and saw Adam Lallana trying to bamboozle him, the blistering pace of Sadio Mane threatening chaos, Roberto Firmino ghosting into space and Philippe Coutinho offering brush strokes of genius.
By PAUL JOYCE
PUBLISHED: 22:30, Sun, Sep 25, 2016The Hull captain peered to Liverpool’s left where James Milner was marauding up and down the wing. Over to the right to find Nathaniel Clyne charging forward relentlessly and then he spotted Georginio Wijnaldum linking everything together.
Only a few minutes had elapsed, but the template for another rampant Liverpool success was set.
Jurgen Klopp’s golden rule for his players is “be an option or be protection” and when the team comes together like this, swarming relentlessly over hapless opponents, the football is scintillating.
In the circumstances, Davies could have been forgiven for beating a hasty retreat from Anfield. Instead, he provided an illuminating insight into just what it is like to be at the eye of the storm when Klopp’s side find their rhythm.
“When you play against a Liverpool team that is vibrant, exciting and enjoying itself it is tough,” said the centre-half. “They are a side which literally plays with (Jordan) Henderson and the two centre-halves at the back and the rest can go where-ever they want.
“That is not ill-discipline, it’s organised. The inter-changing, the good football, the passing - they are a very, very tough team to deal with when they are on their game.
“It is hard to lay a glove on anyone, put it that way. When there is so much inter-changing you cannot put your mark on one person.
“It is tough to try and get in and try and make a tackle which makes them think again because literally one second Mane will be in that hole, then Lallana and then Coutinho.
“With the full backs playing like wingers it becomes very difficult because you end up with backs against the wall.”
Those not present will promote two caveats in trying to puncture the bubble of optimism building at Anfield. Yet the first – ‘it was only Hull’ – can be dismissed because this was exactly the sort of fixture Liverpool have previously struggled in.
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Curtis Davies (L) couldn't deal with Liverpool at their best
The second – Hull had 10-men for an hour – can also be picked apart. The excellent Lallana had conjured the breakthrough when Ahmed Elmohamady handled Coutinho’s goal-bound shot and was dismissed. James Milner converted the first of two penalties to maintain one-way traffic.
Still not convinced? Over once again to Davies, who came up with his own barometer with which to measure Liverpool’s dominance.
“Last week against Arsenal, we had 10 men but it was a different performance,” he said. “We were good. We kept hold of the ball but Liverpool, with their pressing game, they weren’t going to be satisfied with 3-0.
“They weren’t satisfied with 4-0 or scoring five. They wanted six, seven, eight and that is the difference. Arsenal were like, ‘We will sit, we will let them have the ball and then we will have it for another five minutes’.
“But Liverpool didn’t give you a chance to breathe to be honest.
“Arsenal are a very good passing team, but a lot of their stuff is on front of you. Nice little passes.
“Liverpool have that mix of nice little passes and then people who will run and run at you and beat you as well. Like Mane. Like Coutinho.
“They will open the game up just on their own by making runs and beating people. It is very difficult to take.
“When we went down to 10 men then, if I am being honest, as a Liverpool I would be thinking, ‘We can give them a hiding. Let’s be ruthless.’
“And they were ruthless.”
GETTY
Liverpool’s goal tally of 24 after eight competitive games this season is their highest in 121 years
Mane had stretched the lead by the interval and, seconds after David Myler claimed a consolation, Coutinho delivered the coup de grace from 25-yards before Milner obliged from 12-yards again.
There are questions which remain. For example, how reliable is Loris Karius? He was chosen ahead of Simon Mignolet but, as against Derby in the EFL Cup in midweek, was hardly tested.
Karius will start again at Swansea next Saturday with Klopp suggesting he will then reassess the goalkeeping situation to see who will be No1 against Manchester United immediately after the international break.
There are conundrums over the squad as a whole.
Liverpool are good. How good remains to be seen, but it promises to be fun finding out.
CURTIS Davies looked up and saw Adam Lallana trying to bamboozle him, the blistering pace of Sadio Mane threatening chaos, Roberto Firmino ghosting into space and Philippe Coutinho offering brush strokes of genius.
By PAUL JOYCE
PUBLISHED: 22:30, Sun, Sep 25, 2016The Hull captain peered to Liverpool’s left where James Milner was marauding up and down the wing. Over to the right to find Nathaniel Clyne charging forward relentlessly and then he spotted Georginio Wijnaldum linking everything together.
Only a few minutes had elapsed, but the template for another rampant Liverpool success was set.
Jurgen Klopp’s golden rule for his players is “be an option or be protection” and when the team comes together like this, swarming relentlessly over hapless opponents, the football is scintillating.
In the circumstances, Davies could have been forgiven for beating a hasty retreat from Anfield. Instead, he provided an illuminating insight into just what it is like to be at the eye of the storm when Klopp’s side find their rhythm.
“When you play against a Liverpool team that is vibrant, exciting and enjoying itself it is tough,” said the centre-half. “They are a side which literally plays with (Jordan) Henderson and the two centre-halves at the back and the rest can go where-ever they want.
“That is not ill-discipline, it’s organised. The inter-changing, the good football, the passing - they are a very, very tough team to deal with when they are on their game.
“It is hard to lay a glove on anyone, put it that way. When there is so much inter-changing you cannot put your mark on one person.
“It is tough to try and get in and try and make a tackle which makes them think again because literally one second Mane will be in that hole, then Lallana and then Coutinho.
“With the full backs playing like wingers it becomes very difficult because you end up with backs against the wall.”
Those not present will promote two caveats in trying to puncture the bubble of optimism building at Anfield. Yet the first – ‘it was only Hull’ – can be dismissed because this was exactly the sort of fixture Liverpool have previously struggled in.
Curtis Davies (L) couldn't deal with Liverpool at their best
The second – Hull had 10-men for an hour – can also be picked apart. The excellent Lallana had conjured the breakthrough when Ahmed Elmohamady handled Coutinho’s goal-bound shot and was dismissed. James Milner converted the first of two penalties to maintain one-way traffic.
Still not convinced? Over once again to Davies, who came up with his own barometer with which to measure Liverpool’s dominance.
“Last week against Arsenal, we had 10 men but it was a different performance,” he said. “We were good. We kept hold of the ball but Liverpool, with their pressing game, they weren’t going to be satisfied with 3-0.
“They weren’t satisfied with 4-0 or scoring five. They wanted six, seven, eight and that is the difference. Arsenal were like, ‘We will sit, we will let them have the ball and then we will have it for another five minutes’.
“But Liverpool didn’t give you a chance to breathe to be honest.
“Arsenal are a very good passing team, but a lot of their stuff is on front of you. Nice little passes.
“Liverpool have that mix of nice little passes and then people who will run and run at you and beat you as well. Like Mane. Like Coutinho.
“They will open the game up just on their own by making runs and beating people. It is very difficult to take.
“When we went down to 10 men then, if I am being honest, as a Liverpool I would be thinking, ‘We can give them a hiding. Let’s be ruthless.’
“And they were ruthless.”
Liverpool’s goal tally of 24 after eight competitive games this season is their highest in 121 years
Mane had stretched the lead by the interval and, seconds after David Myler claimed a consolation, Coutinho delivered the coup de grace from 25-yards before Milner obliged from 12-yards again.
There are questions which remain. For example, how reliable is Loris Karius? He was chosen ahead of Simon Mignolet but, as against Derby in the EFL Cup in midweek, was hardly tested.
Karius will start again at Swansea next Saturday with Klopp suggesting he will then reassess the goalkeeping situation to see who will be No1 against Manchester United immediately after the international break.
There are conundrums over the squad as a whole.
Liverpool are good. How good remains to be seen, but it promises to be fun finding out.
