Liverpool vs Southampton
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By the way - I love Allen. He came on and in his first few touches, kept getting bowled over by Wanyama. Didn't get shaken by that, and played much better as the game wore on. Also, as poor as Sturridge was today, the bit he did in the final minute of added-on time, keeping possession and not giving Southampton a chance for a final flurry, was just what we needed. Cool heads and skills there.
Maybe playing him the same as Southampton did? I don't recall them playing long balls or hit and hope crosses.
Wanyama was an absolute brute out there today, Clyne as well, brilliant from him today.
I thought Allen was brilliant when he came on.
I also don't get the criticism that Skrtel got in one of the posts (or maybe there were more). The bit about him being out of position seemed unreasonable to me - he was having to cover a fair bit for Manquillo throughout the game.
The youngster made some timely and important interventions, but he got caught out or outplayed quite a few times and Skrtel had to leg it to help cover. That he then gets criticized for being out of position seems odd. If anything, he (and Lovren) was receiving no help from the middle (looking at Gerrard) in defence.
The youngster made some timely and important interventions, but he got caught out or outplayed quite a few times and Skrtel had to leg it to help cover. That he then gets criticized for being out of position seems odd. If anything, he (and Lovren) was receiving no help from the middle (looking at Gerrard) in defence.
We won a game we could well have lost. All champions need to do that sometime. Obv.we need to step it up, but that'll do me to start the season.
That was really uncomfortable viewing. Ok Luis has left us but it does not explain how we were so poor in the possession stats in both half's of the game and each time after we had scored. The intensity was missing quite a bit in that game and we have a lot of improving to do before next Monday's City game. Coutinho was to easily marked out of the game for long periods which does not bode well for our team's 'BRAIN'.
Moron
Moron
I thought Manquillo was excellent considering how much of Southampton's play came down that side. We're lucky Koeman didn't try to target Johnson.
Said it a million times, we can't play a midfield three with both Lucas and Gerrard, and expect to have any sort of midfield presence. They just don't have enough energy.
I thought Sturridge was very very good to start the match, and just didn't get to see much of the ball until his goal. More due to us not having a midfield than anything else though.
Mignolet had a great game, and his distribution was excellent too. I have no idea how the argument for keeping and starting Reina ever had any merit, and I think this match justifies that.
Manquillo started poorly, but was really good in the second half I thought.
Glenjo not bad, not great. He had a few moments where he was excellent, and other where he sucked. Might've earned himself another start, but I'm not sure if he should usurp Manquillo.
I thought Sturridge was very very good to start the match, and just didn't get to see much of the ball until his goal. More due to us not having a midfield than anything else though.
Mignolet had a great game, and his distribution was excellent too. I have no idea how the argument for keeping and starting Reina ever had any merit, and I think this match justifies that.
Manquillo started poorly, but was really good in the second half I thought.
Glenjo not bad, not great. He had a few moments where he was excellent, and other where he sucked. Might've earned himself another start, but I'm not sure if he should usurp Manquillo.
Surprisingly Skrtel had a couple of those long passes too .. see, Lovren's influence paying off already.
Ably assisted by Manquillo might I add.
True but i honestly think that beats anything from last season, still can't believe we won that, we created next to nothing and rode our luck big time at the back.
They say it bodes well and is a good sign if you play bad and win, lets hope so.
A youngster making his debut in the first game of the season ... he was always going to be targeted but stood up really well and had a good game. Someone criticised his positioning, however I was actually impressed by that aspect in a new team, he cut out a couple of dangerous looking balls and was always (as far as I can remember) in a position to get back and cover.
That was brilliant play, left footed pass as well.
Lovren and Sterling were excellent, Mig produced some vital saves but apart from that we had some decent performances Manquillo Skrtel Sturridge Henderson and some howlers Lucas Gerrard Johnson. The balance in midfield looks wrong and if we are dependent on the fullbacks for width then Johnson might as well pack it in now.
Lambert was more nuisance value than actual value, concerned he wont suit our style of play at all. Either that or hes just really unfit. Allen coming on was a gamble but it paid off, we left more space for Ward Prowse to play in and Gerrard never got near controlling their midfield threat but Allen was vital in gaining us a foothold in their half when we appeared ready to collapse. Sharp forward passing always looking to find a player in space and always showing for the ball, basically the opposite of Lucas. Away to City next week I expect us to be much tighter in midfield, possibly Can in for Lucas who is increasingly looking a mistake waiting to happen.
Vital 3 points given the way our early fixtures have worked out
Lambert was more nuisance value than actual value, concerned he wont suit our style of play at all. Either that or hes just really unfit. Allen coming on was a gamble but it paid off, we left more space for Ward Prowse to play in and Gerrard never got near controlling their midfield threat but Allen was vital in gaining us a foothold in their half when we appeared ready to collapse. Sharp forward passing always looking to find a player in space and always showing for the ball, basically the opposite of Lucas. Away to City next week I expect us to be much tighter in midfield, possibly Can in for Lucas who is increasingly looking a mistake waiting to happen.
Vital 3 points given the way our early fixtures have worked out
Linda Pizzuti Henry @Linda_Pizzuti 31m
Opening Day with a win at Anfield! Three points for a solid start to the season. We go again...
PB @patrikberger73 25m
Great start to the new season #welldone #lfc
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker 51m
Natural born goalscorer is @D_Sturridge . Can't be taught. He just gets it!
OptaJoe @OptaJoe 56m
28 - Rickie Lambert scored 28 PL goals over the last two seasons for Southampton; seven more than any other Saints player. Target.
Ryan Babel @Ryanbabel 54m
Get innnnnnnnnnnn #LFC
Rob Jones @RobjonesLFC2 54m
Get innnnnnn!!!!!!!!!
Neil Mellor @NeilMellor33 54m
There you go!! Sturridge with slightest of touches to divert ball home from close range 2-1!!
Opening Day with a win at Anfield! Three points for a solid start to the season. We go again...
PB @patrikberger73 25m
Great start to the new season #welldone #lfc
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker 51m
Natural born goalscorer is @D_Sturridge . Can't be taught. He just gets it!
OptaJoe @OptaJoe 56m
28 - Rickie Lambert scored 28 PL goals over the last two seasons for Southampton; seven more than any other Saints player. Target.
Ryan Babel @Ryanbabel 54m
Get innnnnnnnnnnn #LFC
Rob Jones @RobjonesLFC2 54m
Get innnnnnn!!!!!!!!!
Neil Mellor @NeilMellor33 54m
There you go!! Sturridge with slightest of touches to divert ball home from close range 2-1!!
The one that really stuck out to me from last season was the first match against Everton, where it seemed every time they'd pick up possession, they would create a great chance. I think Mignolet must've had at least 10 great saves in that game. We were amazingly lucky to get a draw out of that.
They deserved to win that match. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.
But I do think these opening matches are freakish. I'm just glad it's over with for another season.
Henderson was great for the goal but otherwise well below his normal standard.
Still one of better players though
Another 30 odd of them & I'll be a happy, happy man at the end of the season.
It's not lovrens impact at all. He was doing them last season too.
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.
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.
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