Hmpph.
We seem to be in a bit of a slump, and while it's easy - and entirely accurate - to blame the goalkeeper, defence and attack, there are some more fundamental issues to address.
Namely, as discussed in a previous thread about our lack of ability to control the tempo, and close a game out, why our midfield are not providing a solid and dependable platform for the team.
I've brought this up in previous threads ("GenGen Depressing" and also "The Eye Of The Storm - Craving Serenity") but we aren't learning. We can't react to changes in tempo and manage games out. We can't score a goal and expect that will be enough to win the game.
Same happened here. We seemed slightly lacking in inspiration, and too much of our game was "pass to Mane". We also had no real goal threat, and the midfield never really took control and dominated. As usual, our well-known and obvious problems in defence came to the fore once more, with the comedy German keeper Klownius doing another Teutonic Big Top routine, as we shipped yet more goals.
After conceding a laughable four to the mediocre Bournemouth, we then gifted two more to the hopeless, relegation-threatened West Ham, to leave us with one of the worst defensive records of any club in the top half of the entire league. And as everyone knows, you can't win titles with a defence that is worse than Everton, Southampton and Middlesbrough.
Klopp also seems incapable of changing his team to effect any positive difference, although that might be because his bench is so weak. Still, he had the fucking money, why didn't we buy the players everyone knew we needed?
Klarius (4) Weak-wristed, jittery clown cost us yet again. He looks totally shit. I predicted we would be discussing dropping him by Xmas, half in jest. Nobody's laughing now. Apart from our opposition.
Clyne (6) Not at his usual level, he wasted some decent opportunities and seemed to take an age to settle down and attack a poor West Ham defence
Lovren (5) Dealt with one long ball very poorly, but didn't do much else wrong until he was forced off injured.
Matip (5) Poor mistake cost us one goal, which is very disappointing, but he was OK after that. Which still isn't good enough, so a point off
Milner (6) Indefatigable as ever, but so many set-pieces and crosses were simply not good enough - despite his usual energy that lack of quality in delivery was costly
Henderson (6) One wonderful shot, but he seems incapable of bending a game to his will - he simply goes with whatever the flow is. We need more, even if he is always "decent" or "OK"
Wijnaldum (6) Another "nice" footballer, looking neat and tidy and actually doing almost nothing of any note to help us win the game.
Lallana (7) Extra point for the goal, which is so vital from our midfield, but he did diminish in influence after that, which was disappointing
Mane (7) Saw a lot of the ball, as he was the only outket who had any desire to run and take people on, but again, the final product was often awry. Still a vital player for us, but we can't rely on him to rescue us every game, even if he is our top scorer and best player
Firmino (4) Another poor game, in which he never looked likely to add to his admittedly very modest total of goals, and lacked the pace and inventiveness to beat his man out wide, or influence the game in any way. Should be dropped rather than ever play wide for Liverpool, he's fucking hopeless there
Origi (6) Gets an extra point for the goal, which brings him to within two goals of getting into double figures in the Premiership in his career so far. All he can do is score, but apart from the goal he was largely invisible.
Klopp (5) Should have ensured he had a better squad to choose from in summer, as he has no options in attack and lacks a quality goalkeeper. And he still has lots of work to do with his defence, which is as laughably shit as ever.
We seem to be in a bit of a slump, and while it's easy - and entirely accurate - to blame the goalkeeper, defence and attack, there are some more fundamental issues to address.
Namely, as discussed in a previous thread about our lack of ability to control the tempo, and close a game out, why our midfield are not providing a solid and dependable platform for the team.
I've brought this up in previous threads ("GenGen Depressing" and also "The Eye Of The Storm - Craving Serenity") but we aren't learning. We can't react to changes in tempo and manage games out. We can't score a goal and expect that will be enough to win the game.
Same happened here. We seemed slightly lacking in inspiration, and too much of our game was "pass to Mane". We also had no real goal threat, and the midfield never really took control and dominated. As usual, our well-known and obvious problems in defence came to the fore once more, with the comedy German keeper Klownius doing another Teutonic Big Top routine, as we shipped yet more goals.
After conceding a laughable four to the mediocre Bournemouth, we then gifted two more to the hopeless, relegation-threatened West Ham, to leave us with one of the worst defensive records of any club in the top half of the entire league. And as everyone knows, you can't win titles with a defence that is worse than Everton, Southampton and Middlesbrough.
Klopp also seems incapable of changing his team to effect any positive difference, although that might be because his bench is so weak. Still, he had the fucking money, why didn't we buy the players everyone knew we needed?
Klarius (4) Weak-wristed, jittery clown cost us yet again. He looks totally shit. I predicted we would be discussing dropping him by Xmas, half in jest. Nobody's laughing now. Apart from our opposition.
Clyne (6) Not at his usual level, he wasted some decent opportunities and seemed to take an age to settle down and attack a poor West Ham defence
Lovren (5) Dealt with one long ball very poorly, but didn't do much else wrong until he was forced off injured.
Matip (5) Poor mistake cost us one goal, which is very disappointing, but he was OK after that. Which still isn't good enough, so a point off
Milner (6) Indefatigable as ever, but so many set-pieces and crosses were simply not good enough - despite his usual energy that lack of quality in delivery was costly
Henderson (6) One wonderful shot, but he seems incapable of bending a game to his will - he simply goes with whatever the flow is. We need more, even if he is always "decent" or "OK"
Wijnaldum (6) Another "nice" footballer, looking neat and tidy and actually doing almost nothing of any note to help us win the game.
Lallana (7) Extra point for the goal, which is so vital from our midfield, but he did diminish in influence after that, which was disappointing
Mane (7) Saw a lot of the ball, as he was the only outket who had any desire to run and take people on, but again, the final product was often awry. Still a vital player for us, but we can't rely on him to rescue us every game, even if he is our top scorer and best player
Firmino (4) Another poor game, in which he never looked likely to add to his admittedly very modest total of goals, and lacked the pace and inventiveness to beat his man out wide, or influence the game in any way. Should be dropped rather than ever play wide for Liverpool, he's fucking hopeless there
Origi (6) Gets an extra point for the goal, which brings him to within two goals of getting into double figures in the Premiership in his career so far. All he can do is score, but apart from the goal he was largely invisible.
Klopp (5) Should have ensured he had a better squad to choose from in summer, as he has no options in attack and lacks a quality goalkeeper. And he still has lots of work to do with his defence, which is as laughably shit as ever.
Last edited:
