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Post Match Reflections

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I don't think we were anywhere near as good as the team that won those first 3 games. That team actually exerted a fair amount of control and created chances.


Where did I mention 'those three matches'? I said THIS time last year. And last year, in the first match, we were no better. But you know that, and you know what I meant.
 
Coutinho and Lucas stank the place out, with Johnson not too far behind. Good debuts from Lovren and Manquillo though.

We didn't play with any tempo or put them under any concerted pressure. Chasing down from the front was something Suarez was great at and no one we have has that tenacity. We're too quick to slow the game down and build again which isn't helped by the space between our front 3 and the midfield.

I don't think Gerrard and Lucas can play in the same midfield, it just ends up too deep and ponderous.


I agree with everything you have said.
 
I think people forget that last season, when we weren't snotting some of the top teams, we were just sneaking by the mid and lower table sides. Numerous times we would completely cede control of the game to lesser opposition, even in the second half of last season, and barely come out ahead.

It'll just be tougher for us to score goals this year.
 
Where did I mention 'those three matches'? I said THIS time last year. And last year, in the first match, we were no better. But you know that, and you know what I meant.

No I didn't you stroppy tart. I genuinely thought you meant in that early period before Suarez came back.

But anyway, we were much much worse today than against Stoke last season IMO.
 
Tough, but successful start. But that seems to be the same for the other contenders too.
Arsenal 2-1 Palace. Lucky goal in the 91st minute. United losing. Eveton get a draw. Spurs grab a lucky win. City look sloppy.
I'm not worried - we looked no worse than anyone else.
 
It was always going to be like that against Soton at home in the first game of the season.

They were up for it and are a good passing and pressing team. That wont change with Koeman and 4 new players.
A win and 3 points were all that mattered today.

Lovren, Ming, Sterling, Skrtel, Allen and Hendo were good. The rest were in pre season mode.
Onwards and upwards.
Ciry will be a veeeery tough game.
 
A decent start but losing control of the midfield to Sneiderlin and especially Wanyama, after half-time, due to the pedestrianism of Gerrard & Lucas, meant a nervy 2nd half. Allen coming on improved us as did reverting to 4-1-2-1-2 when Lambert came on (even though he didn't add much).

We were slow to transition from midfield into attack after the first 20 mins and this needs to be addressed as a priority. Very poor games for Coutinho, Gerrard, Lucas and Johnson. An excellent debut for Manquillo at 19 yrs old and he was targeted by Koeman all match (they should have put Prowse-Ward and Clyne onto Johnson instead), just a single poor back pass all game was the only obvious error.

Good games for Skrtel, Lovren (v.good), Sterling (goal and an assist), Sturridge (1 goal, though not much service), Henderson (assist). Allen did fine when he came on and helped turn defence into attack. Ming made two excellent saves but his distribution still sucks.

Southampton are not going to struggle this season (though they must not let Sneiderlin go to Spurs). Tadic and Pelle did well up front and Fonte, Clyne and Bertrand in defence, but Wanyama was damn excellent.

How can Liverpool improve for City next week ?
Pressure will be off, we are expected to lose anyway. So Moreno for Johnson, maybe Flanno for Manquillo if BR goes more defensive otherwise Manquillo can retain his place. Emre Can must come into midfield for Lucas who can move to Napoli tomorrow S.v.P.
Coutinho needs to step up a lot, however he has never been great when teams have 10 men behind the ball so should be much better against City, pity Lallana won't be ready but Markovic will be on the bench to add some sparkle.

For the season : another striker and defence minded MF please.
 
We weren't great, but part of that was because they were good. They were solid and organised and moved well up front when needed.
Defensively they were compact and solid and we had little answer to that.
Countinho was shepherded throughout and had no space, but when he had it he wasn't great.
Lucas is shit. As is Tragic Johnson.
Sell sell sell please.
Ming fucked up but then redeemed himself and more.
Lovren manq and skittles did well but looked nervy at times which will settle in time.

More than anything, we weren't great but got the win. Which is a good thing. It'll get easier as we start to click and flow with the new boys.
 
Might be me but I felt Soton deserve even less praise than they were initially receiving, at least in terms of the distribution o blame for Liverpool's struggles. We had no excuse for our total inability to move the ball into the final third. They controlled the midfield but we let them do it.
 
I fully expected us to end up losing that game so quite pleased to have come away with the three points.

I was surprised at how good Southampton were. They looked really up for it, cohesive and on a number of times cut through us like a knife through butter (it really should've gone to 2-1 to them when that guy hit it at Ming).

I asked before the game why Lucas was starting ahead of Allen and I'm still none the wiser. Unless there were some fitness / injury concerns it was a completely baffling decision. Rodgers generally learns from his mistakes so hopefully we don't see a repeat of that.

The midfield broke down and as a consequence it felt like everything else got fucked too. Last season we had Suarez to pull us through and make things better. We've got no comparable individual this season so hopefully we see a bunch of the others step up as a group.
 
Every game has been tight, City were unimpressive and lucky Newcastle didn't have a decent striker upfront. Aside from their 2-0 win (which flattered them), every other game has either been a draw or decided by a single goal, with no team able to put a game beyond their opponents.​
It's what happens on opening days, teams are still getting back into the swing of things, building up fitness to play a full 90 and most teams lack cohesion at this stage.​
It was a difficult game but we came through it and Lambert and Allen's contributions served to compound the point about how important it is to us, to have a good "squad", last season we'd have been relying on what we had out there, pretty much.​
Lucas and Johnson have both had their day though, and if we learned anything about Gerrard today, it's that he should be a candidate as much as anyone for being withdrawn during a bad game.​
 
[quote="mark1975, post: 1170286, member: 48
Lucas and Johnson have both had their day though, and if we learned anything about Gerrard today, it's that he should be a candidate as much as anyone for being withdrawn during a bad game.​
[/quote]

Rafa did it in the derby once ... and it was the right move then ... I think if it calls for it, I hope Rodgers can do what's needed
 
Why isn't Gerrard being mentioned as much as Lucas?
One of them had a decent first half. The other was poor throughout.
I don't agree that Lucas was at fault for the goal, I personally think Gerrard didn't follow the runner (Clyne). Edit after closer examination, I think they share the responsibility.
Lucas turns his back to him, Gerrard sees him but doesn't bother.

What is starting to bother me with Lucas is his lack of mobility. Which causes him to make these "stupid" fouls.
 
I asked before the game why Lucas was starting ahead of Allen and I'm still none the wiser. Unless there were some fitness / injury concerns it was a completely baffling decision. Rodgers generally learns from his mistakes so hopefully we don't see a repeat of that.
.

I asked that question before the game too, and Rodgers hasn't got back to me either. Not good enough!
 
No one was outstanding today.
Southampton just walked through our midfield, Lucas was decent first half, off the boil second half and Gerrard was average throughout.
All of the back four with the exception of Johnson had good games. Fair to play to our right back, he had quite a composed game.
The front three just didn't click today but nothing to worry about. We really missed Suarez harrying defenders.
 
Why isn't Gerrard being mentioned as much as Lucas?
One of them had a decent first half. The other was poor throughout.
I don't agree that Lucas was at fault for the goal, I personally think Gerrard didn't follow the runner (Clyne).

What is starting to bother me with Lucas is his lack of mobility. Which causes him to make these "stupid" fouls.

It was Lucas. They ran through all the goals in the studio and highlighted him.
Lucas was shite. No mobility, giving the ball away and stupid fouls. He's finished.

Gerrard looked nervous. Like he believed he'd slip at anytime or something.
But at least he's pinging passes around.

Allen was good when he came on and should start against City.
For all the money we've spent this summer we still lack a top midfielder. Hope Can could be that player.
 
What is starting to bother me with Lucas is his lack of mobility. Which causes him to make these "stupid" fouls.

He was committing stupid fouls long before these mobility issues started ... and glad you're now picking up things people were saying since the injury issues began ... He clearly IS missing something physically. He's a good back up, but he'll never be more than that.

As for the goal - it was Lucas' man. He fucked up. It happens (won't be the first or last player to do this this year).

If I remember correctly, plenty of people complained about Gerrard today too ... I think he'll start less games % wise this year (not only because of Europe but because it will do him the world of good).
 
Fouls in dangerous areas of the pitch has been Lucas' forte, it's been picked up on for years and years and years, it's got fuck all to do with a lack of mobility.

And people HAVE mentioned how poor Gerrard was, I just have, I said he should have been hooked.
 
Gerrard and Lucas were both shit.
Id like to see Henderson and one of Allen/Can in the middle with Coutinho in the hole and Sterling Lallana/Markovic wide (once all are fit)
I really genuinely wouldnt have Gerrard or Lucas in my first 11 anymore.
Too slow, too ponderous.
Its time for a change in there.

Can the man.
 
Once Lallana is fit I'd like to see Hendo next to Gerrard and then Lallana - Coutinho - Sterling behind Sturridge.
With Moreno bombing down the left.
 
Oh and I thought Southampton deserve a lot of credit for their hard work. We didnt match the work rate which is a shame for us, and Johnson was found lacking as per.

It was probably a draw by rights.
Hey ho.

We better step up for next monday or we'll get murdered.
 
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As bad as Gerrard and Lucas played I almost think Rodgers picked Lucas with one eye on shutting out Man City next week. Lucas hasn't played much in preseason and most people wouldn't have had him in the team today.

Just a theory on a bit of a mad team selection.
 
Another reflection is roll on Lallana being in our team, apart from that pass by Hendo and a few long passes from Lovren and Gerrard there was no real link or fluidity between our midfield and attack.
 
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