Ajax (h) post-match

[rurikbird]

Virge and Klopp with the same message - it was a step in right direction, but doesn’t mean all problems are instantly solved. Ajax gave us a proper test and we were unlucky in moments, but the brilliance of Thiago and Matip, welcome contributions of Tsimikas and Jota and improvement from Salah were just about enough to grind out the win.

Now Klopp will have some more time for analysis and training and hopefully they can start solving next set of problems, namely the balance in midfield - how do you keep the line compact for defense and pressing but also support the attack? Elliott struggled to adjust when his natural movement was restricted in favour of better team shape. How can Salah and Trent work more efficiently together (and Diaz and Tsimikas on the other side)? How to get the best out of Nunez? It will take several steps like that to rebuild the frayed confidence so that the players can once again express themselves freely within a system.

 

[RedStar]

Alot of the issues weve seen over the first 7 or 8 ganes of the season stem from having the wrong players, ir maybe the wrong combinations of players available. Theres deeper issues in the squad but better players make us player better, its really that simple to an extent.

I think Elliot is going to struggle in a 4-3-3 regardless of who lines up alongside him, probably true of Jones and Carvahlo too. He'd possibly be less exposed on the left where Robbo/Tsimikas are not as likely to leave a massive gap but he's not displacing Thiago anytime soon cos...

Thiago is our best midfielder by miles. How we keep him fit I've no idea but he's amazing. Can we salvage spare parts from Ox and Naby to keep him alive for the rest of the season.

Matip was arguably our best defender last season, he looks it again this season. Konate is a good player to have in the squad but big Joel is the man to partner Virg when fit.

Jota didn't score but generally looked excellent. He's such a crafty little player always looking to make an angle for himself. Should start as our CF going forward now he's fit.

We have more players to return from injury. Robbo, Jones, Hendo, Naby, Konate etc but I don't expect a massive upturn in fortunes when we get them back. They are all going to add depth, and the ability to rest/rotate some of today's XI but there's no huge gains to be made in terms of putting any if them straight into the team.

 

[localny]

good to win when you're in the doldrums!

 

[King Binny]

 

[Shadey]

Thiago.. Him

 

[bluebell]

Ever since last season, opposition has overloaded our right side trying to exploit Trent's weakness. I don't see how you keep him in defence.
How about we adopt 4-4-2 for a cup game, play Trent on the RW and Gomez at RB, Salah on the bench with jota and Nunez upfront?

 

[Hansern]

It was a step in the right direction for Trent as well. In general the team looked better. The pressing was back and we were more fluent in attack.
Jota has to start while Nunez is integrated.

Two more home games to find our form before Arsenal and City.

 

[Red rose]

Really hope he can stay fit. He’s soooo good when he is around

 

[RedStar]

Really hope he can stay fit. He’s soooo good when he is around

His press resistance combined with his range of passing make a huge difference in how we play. When he picks up the ball you see people making runs because a) they know he's capable of finding them with a pass and b) he's not going to just cough up possession and leave them stranded in no man's land. It's not an exaggeration to say we play more on the front foot with Thiago than any other player.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Thiago's a proper baller.

 

[Gary25]

Really hope he can stay fit. He’s soooo good when he is around

"Really hope he can stay fit", how many times have we said this since he joined? Let's not get our hopes up eh.

 

[Fabio]

Nunez, while nothing spectacular, did create a few chances and arguably should have scored.

He's slowly getting up to speed and I like it. Just hope he keeps improving.

 

[Brizzle]

What a difference some fresh faces make. We still had a couple of occasions where we got sliced open (I miss Hendo dearly!) but there was a lot more passion & intensity on the pitch.

Matip - his runs from the back make such a difference, it adds to the 'unpredictability' I have been harping on about. He also added to our aerial threat. If Konate was forward for all those set pieces he would have had a hat trick!

Tsimikas - he was excellent. Definitely my MOTM. Some excellent defensive work and he carried the left side on many occasions allowing Diaz to move more central. His set pieces were on the money too.

Trent - I'm not convinced he's hugely at fault for the goal as the passer wasn't pressured and a CM should have been tracking the runner too. He was between a rock & a hard place. A CB with pace (Gomez or Konate) probably would have covered but that isn't Matip's game. Consistency of line up will help this, along with having a CM who is sharper on the press (either Elliot improving this side of his game or by Hendo/Arthur moving into that role)

Thiago - we've missed him immensely. He has it all and what a huge loss it was for the first 6 games.

Jota - he made such a difference to our forward line. His composure with ball to feet is great, his two-footedness is refreshing when watching every attack down the right be a 'cut inside' job from Mo & Harvey. He makes great runs off the ball, finds space. For now this is my preferred front three whilst we find form again.

Nunez - made a good impression after coming on. His best work was in the channel and running on the ball. He should rotate for Diaz and not for Jota/Bobby IMO whilst he settles in. His first touch is still lacking but I suspect he's nervous after his red card hiccup so early on.

Going forwards the CM role is the only change I would consider. Elliot would be great against a parked bus but teams who like to hit us on a transition expose some of his weaknesses. Hendo should slot straight back in here. I also believe Robbo should have to earn his place back. The rest and the competition will do him good, just as Tsimikas' performance did us good yesterday.


If i have a girl i'm naming her Joelle

 

[Atlas]

 

[Modo]

Missed the game, but glad to hear that Matip is still proving how valuable he is.

 

[StevieM]

Virge and Klopp with the same message - it was a step in right direction, but doesn’t mean all problems are instantly solved. Ajax gave us a proper test and we were unlucky in moments, but the brilliance of Thiago and Matip, welcome contributions of Tsimikas and Jota and improvement from Salah were enough to grind out the win.

Now Klopp will have some more time for analysis and training and hopefully they can start solving next set of problems, namely the balance in midfield - how do you keep the line compact for defense and pressing but also support the attack? Elliott struggled to adjust when his natural movement was restricted in favour of better team shape. How can Salah and Trent work more efficiently together (and Diaz and Tsimikas on the other side)? How to get the best out of Nunez? It will take several steps like that to rebuild the frayed confidence so that the players can once again express themselves freely within a system.

I think Harvey gets a few more games to see if he can deal with being more compact and choosing the moment to be more attacking - I think that’s fair and wouldn’t expect at 19, without a huge run of games under his belt to be totally integrated.

Maybe Hendo gets a run when he’s fit - but I’d prefer him to back up Fabs.

Same with Tsimikas & Diaz - games together required - happy for Robbo to get a break for a few weeks - he’ll come back hungry.

Nunez can sit his ass down on the bench for a few weeks and be the guy coming on in the 65th - Jota for me up front.

Jo-Go is No-Go for me not Matip is back.

Milner can come on in the dying minutes and look forward to leading the team in the Carabao Cup.

Carvalho gets to come on in the 65th minute regularly - harsh by

The only other question for me is where Arthur fits in?

 

[i_rushie]

Whatever conebon inbtge is, I like the sound of someone dying at Miner's hands.

 

[StevieM]

Whatever conebon inbtge is, I like the sound of someone dying at Miner's hands.

*whistles*

me and my fat fingers don’t know what you’re talking about

 

[binomial]

How sexy is Joel's voice?

 

[Red rose]

His press resistance combined with his range of passing make a huge difference in how we play. When he picks up the ball you see people making runs because a) they know he's capable of finding them with a pass and b) he's not going to just cough up possession and leave them stranded in no man's land. It's not an exaggeration to say we play more on the front foot with Thiago than any other player.

Yeh I love watching him, his range of passing does make a difference for sure, 🙂

 

[Red rose]

How sexy is Joel's voice?

very haha

 

[Red rose]

"Really hope he can stay fit", how many times have we said this since he joined? Let's not get our hopes up eh.

Why not. I can get my hopes up if I want ;p
He makes a difference,so some of us fans are bound to hope. We also know he’s prone, so we not daft like.

 

[Red rose]

 

[Shay_K]

Thiago's a proper baller.

Someone should tell @Rosco

 

[Shay_K]

How sexy is Joel's voice?

I just guessing but I reckon most on this forum are hetro males, so by popular concensus, am declaring: Not very

 

[binomial]

I just guessing but I reckon most on this forum are hetro males, so by popular concensus, am declaring: Not very

Shay, we're not talking about sucking the guy off......just his voice.

I think Darwin's a sexy cunt, doesn't mean I wanna accidentally see him naked in the dressing room one day.

Let's call a spade a spade here like ya know wha'am sayin'.

 

[StevieM]

Shay, we're not talking about sucking the guy off......just his voice.

I think Darwin's a sexy cunt, doesn't mean I wanna accidentally see him naked in the dressing room one day.

Let's call a spade a spade here like ya know wha'am sayin'.

wacist homer-foob ?!!!!

 

[Red rose]

It was good that Badgertits got the opportunity to get on the pitch at the end. Even if it was fleeting. Good for him !




The appearance may have been fleeting, but Stefan Bajcetic‘s arrival on the pitch against Ajax has seen the teenager take a place in Liverpool’s record books.
The 17-year-old has caught the eye over the last few months after impressing throughout pre-season before then becoming a fixture in Jurgen Klopp‘s squad in light of the midfield injuries.

Bajcetic has been named on the bench eight times this season, which has led to two appearances, first in the Premier League against Bournemouth before his European bow in the win over Ajax.
And while the teenager may have only been on the pitch for a minute after replacing Thiago in stoppage time, he became Liverpool’s youngest-ever Champions Leagueplayer by doing so.
At the age of 17 years, 10 months and 22 days, Bajcetic took the record from Billy Koumetio, who was 18 years and 25 days old when he made his Champions Leaguedebut against Midtjylland in 2020.

In Liverpool’s European history, Bajcetic is the fourth-youngest to feature on the continent for the club behind Phil Charnock (17 years, seven months and two days), Raheem Sterling (17 years, seven months and 25 days) and Michael Owen (17 years, nine months and two days).
The youngster’s rise has been impressive to date and recent reports stating that those within the club see him as being “well ahead of his long-term schedule.”
There is a reluctance to expose him to too much too soon but the noises are positive when it comes to Bajcetic, who has made significant progress since joining the club in 2021.
In addition to his 20 minutes in the Premier League and cameo against Ajax, Bajcetic has featured twice for the under-21s so far this season.

 

[binomial]

Wouldn't even call it brief tbf.

 

[MomoWASright]

You got a like for the use of badger tits.