Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2016/2017

Harry Palmr · 11-09-2016 10:13AM

About 80% on the sexyfootball-o-meter

Pyjamarama · 11-09-2016 10:18AM

SuperTortoise wrote: »

Couldn't see the game yesterday. How did we play lads?

Like champions elect.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 11-09-2016 10:30AM

Positions and passing networks for yesterday up to the 72nd minute

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsA2RsoWgAAbMej.jpg:large

Looks very strong up the left. And was Sturridge that isolated from play yesterday? Just about to watch the highlights now.

BullBlackNova · 11-09-2016 11:21AM

Very impressed with the game yesterday.

Firmino and Mané (deservedly) dominating the conversation but a special word for Adam Lallana too who was, IMO, absolutely fantastic. So impressed with him this season and the goal was excellent.

Sturridge played very, very well too - I wouldn't be making a single change for the game against Chelsea with the exception of Lucas out for Lovren.

And, on Lucas, he didn't actually play badly. It was just one dreadful mistake for the goal which is always annoying to see. Causing ourselves unnecessary pressure. On another day, something like that could be costly.

Agent Coulson · 11-09-2016 12:21PM

For a lad who couldn't last more than 60 minutes when he was first signed he doing ok under Klopp.

He set the record in the last game and broke it yesterday.

Adam Lallana broke his own record and ran 13.1km v Leicester - the most a player has covered in a Premier League game so far in 2016-17!

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/774911177667207168

Harry Palmr · 11-09-2016 12:31PM

Flash git.

11-09-2016 12:59PM

Lallana was brilliant yesterday.

Kop were chanting his name a good few times too.

Pyjamarama · 11-09-2016 01:09PM

Lallana will be huge for us this season. He's so good at finding space. Its ludicrous to say it as he's our best player but right now Coutinho looks the odd man out. He needs to be less selfish. I blame the media who every year trot out "to hit the next level he needs to add more goals to his game", he doesn't, he just needs to play better in all phases.

5starpool · 11-09-2016 01:27PM

Talisman wrote: »

The same issue plagued us in 2008/9, we finished second in the league with 86 points having drawn 7 home games (Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Man City, Everton & Arsenal). Man Utd won the title with 90 points and drew 2 home games (Newcastle & Arsenal) - their first and last home games that season. Their draw with Arsenal secured them the title. The four draws against Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull City before Christmas of that season cost us the chance of winning the league.

That's kind of a 'lazy truth' that has come to be accepted. Much like in the Rodgers nearly season, it was an amazing run in the last 12-14 games that nearly won us the league, but the others ahead of us before that run started didn't drop enough points. If we had finished that 08-09 season with 10 wins, 2 draws and a loss (instead of 12 wins and a draw) and finished 9 points behind there would have been a hell of a lot less teeth gnashing. We did draw too many games, but some of those are games we would have otherwise lost as well normally. It was also down to Utd getting 90 points and puling out stupid wins vs Villa and Sunderland in particular which really galvanised them in the run in.

There are many things to say about that season, but to distil it down to us not winning the league because we drew too many is far too simplistic.

klose · 11-09-2016 01:58PM

Fair play to lallana, not a player ive ever had a whole lot of time for but he has strted this season well and seems undroppable. Long may it last!

mosstin · 11-09-2016 02:17PM

SuperTortoise wrote: »

Couldn't see the game yesterday. How did we play lads?

View from the stands....
That was wonderful to watch. Or football in tight situations - with Firmino at the hub of everything - was wonderful. Some of Firmino's touches were filthy.
Henderson was excellent yesterday, rarely gave the ball away and, finally, commanded things. Wijnaldum was neat and tidy, linked well with defence and attack.
Back 4 was solid, largely untroubled and Mig made a vital save at a key moment. Milner was impressive and Matip looks very assured.
Our attacking play was sensational at times - this was a team that only lost a couple of games last year and we blew them away.
Firmino is amazing to watch in the flesh - a constant blur of motion, superb touches and top notch game intelligence.
Sturridge missed two very presentable chances but worked hard and made some great unselfish runs - something he doesn't always get credit for.
Lallana - who, admittedly, gets on my nerves at times - was excellent, particularly in the second half.
Schmeichel saved them from a pummeling yesterday. We were a pleasure to watch.

Gbear · 11-09-2016 02:30PM

5starpool wrote: »

That's kind of a 'lazy truth' that has come to be accepted. Much like in the Rodgers nearly season, it was an amazing run in the last 12-14 games that nearly won us the league, but the others ahead of us before that run started didn't drop enough points. If we had finished that 08-09 season with 10 wins, 2 draws and a loss (instead of 12 wins and a draw) and finished 9 points behind there would have been a hell of a lot less teeth gnashing. We did draw too many games, but some of those are games we would have otherwise lost as well normally. It was also down to Utd getting 90 points and puling out stupid wins vs Villa and Sunderland in particular which really galvanised them in the run in.

There are many things to say about that season, but to distil it down to us not winning the league because we drew too many is far too simplistic.

You can't control what others do.

Our issue was a lack of options up front.

The guys brought in to bolster our attack did a decent enough job - Benayoun, Babel, Riera and so on. They weren't anywhere near the same calibre as the likes of Utd.
Keane was of the right standard but he wasn't hugely direct and we sold him anyway (that still pisses me right off - how many players get sold after 3 months and fewer than 30 games? Even ****ing Balotelli got more time than that - that was the peak of the Rafa cutting his nose off to spite his face era).

Only Torres and Gerrard were both direct and much good and both missed a fair bit of the season.

Utd had Nani, Ronaldo, Tevez and then the likes of Rooney and Berbatov as more indirect threats.

We even outscored them but it wasn't about numbers of goals - it was about different kinds of threats. We were getting more 3's and 4's but that's only gilding the lily. They were getting more out of those tight games and winning by 1 or 2.

That's not a criticism (other than the Keane bollocks). We were where we were as a club at the time and Benitez had us playing at an immense level. To really get to that consistent level of being top class he just needed more firepower and he didn't quite manage it.
That doesn't mean we would've won the league either - that Utd team was ridiculous and 90pts is a tough ask. But that's what that team was missing.

K-9 · 11-09-2016 03:15PM

Talisman wrote: »

We won 8 league games at home in the 2015/16 season.

Bournemouth 1-0
Aston Villa 3-2
Swansea 1-0
Leicester 1-0
Man City 3-0
Stoke City 4-1
Everton 4-0
Watford 2-0

We only lost 3 home games: West Ham, Man Utd & Crystal Palace.

There were also 8 home draws (Norwich, Southampton, West Brom, Arsenal, Sunderland, Tottenham, Newcastle & Chelsea).

Teams that finish in the top 4, win at least 13/14 of their home games, we need to play for wins rather than settling for draws against lesser teams. If we had won 4 of the home games drawn (e.g. Norwich, West Brom, Sunderland & Newcastle) we would have finished in the top 4.

The same issue plagued us in 2008/9, we finished second in the league with 86 points having drawn 7 home games (Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Man City, Everton & Arsenal). Man Utd won the title with 90 points and drew 2 home games (Newcastle & Arsenal) - their first and last home games that season. Their draw with Arsenal secured them the title. The four draws against Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull City before Christmas of that season cost us the chance of winning the league.

Sorry, Kenny was 6 wins, last season was our second worst in PL history.

13/14 was 16 wins I believe, we'd need to be getting 13 or 14 for a top 4 finish. The target at home in the alternative table is about 44/45 points and about 30 away.

shamrock55 · 11-09-2016 03:28PM

Yesterday's performance was great but my heart was in my mouth way too many times with our playing out from the back,we were terrible at it and it's not down to the keeper either,if that's the way klopp wants to go then we need massive improvements

mav79 · 11-09-2016 03:35PM

shamrock55 wrote: »

Yesterday's performance was great but my heart was in my mouth way too many times with our playing out from the back,we were terrible at it and it's not down to the keeper either,if that's the way klopp wants to go then we need massive improvements

Playing out from the back is vital for retaining possession, the problem is players putting each other under pressure. Even for the mistake by Lucas, Mignolet put the ball down fast and played it straight away to Lucas without assessing his options and looking where the opposition were. Lucas was not calling for the ball and while he had time to clear the ball upfield before his bad touch his options were more limited than Mignolets.

Harry Palmr · 11-09-2016 03:54PM

Youth Football round up

Yesterday - U18 v Stoke

Game ended 3-1, Stoke were down to 10 men on 30 mins

G. McAuley 16'
G. McAuley 26'
R. Brewster 90

Today U23 v Leicester City FT 4-0

D. Ings 3'
(assist by B. Woodburn) 1 - 0
B. Woodburn 17'
(assist by T. Arnold) 2 - 0
H. Wilson 20' 3 - 0
O. Ejaria 34'
(assist by H. Wilson) 4 - 0

Strong line up it must be said

Kelleher, Randall, Ilori, Whelan, Stewart, Chirivella, Wilson, Ejaria, Arnold, Ings, Woodburn

Brannagan (for Chirivella 71') Juanma García (for Whelan 71) Lennon (for Woodburn 84')
Brewitt and Firth

Klopp was watching at Prenton Park

11-09-2016 04:52PM

I think the one of the huge advantages of having Mane is that it should allow us to play with Firmino and another (out and out) forward in the front 3.

Firmino all going well should be better this season than last with the debut PL season under his belt. There's a Suarezesqueness about him I reckon

I doubt there are any/many Man City fans lurking so I'm sure I'll offend/upset no one by saying that Mane is better than Sterling ever was for us.

Sturridge is Sturridge and Origi might/should crack on and become very close to or get to be a goal every 2 games PL striker. Ings in the reckoning too over the course of a season.

I'd like (most of us would) to see Sheyi Ojo get some gametime if Mane isn't available, even 30 mins if not starting. Probably not realistic to expect him to come in for 100% ACON cover but Mane is showing what real width brings to the party. To be fair to the transfer committee that's why they fancied Markovic no doubt.

Agent Coulson · 11-09-2016 04:53PM

Stewart pulling double duty.

Harry Palmr · 11-09-2016 04:57PM

Goody Two Shoes Stewart they call him.

Kerrigooney · 11-09-2016 05:10PM

Augeo wrote: »

I think the one of the huge advantages of having Mane is that it should allow us to play with Firmino and another (out and out) forward in the front 3.

Firmino all going well should be better this season than last with the debut PL season under his belt. There's a Suarezesqueness about him I reckon

I doubt there are any/many Man City fans lurking so I'm sure I'll offend/upset no one by saying that Mane is better than Sterling ever was for us.

Sturridge is Sturridge and Origi might/should crack on and become very close to or get to be a goal every 2 games PL striker. Ibe in the reckoning too over the course of a season.

I'd like (most of us would) to see Sheyi Ojo get some gametime if Mane isn't available, even 30 mins if not starting. Probably not realistic to expect him to come in for 100% ACON cover but Mane is showing what real width brings to the party. To be fair to the transfer committee that's why they fancied Markovic no doubt.

Ibe was sold.

11-09-2016 05:11PM

Kerrigooney wrote: »

Ibe was sold.

Apologies, meant Ings.

Grayditch · 11-09-2016 05:14PM

Augeo wrote: »

I doubt there are any/many Man City fans lurking so I'm sure I'll offend/upset no one by saying that Mane is better than Sterling ever was for us.

I mean, there's an argument that we'd need a better sample size, but to me, I think at this moment you'd be hard pressed to find many Liverpool supporters who would swap. A lot of our praise for Sterling always concluded with points about his potential and waiting to see him when he was the finished article etc.

I'm so happy to see Mane being such an unpredictable pain in the arse for opposition. What a signing. It's turning from 'expensive punt' into absolute bargain.

NukaCola · 11-09-2016 05:17PM

Sterling at his best for us was excellent also it needs to be said, he left on pretty poor terms and I think his contributions are downplayed as a result, he didn't have the consistency and as a young player its not exactly the worst flaw ever.

NukaCola · 11-09-2016 05:22PM

Mané is the type of player we missed, pace power and directness is hard to deal with and he also seems to have high energy.....I wasn't sure what to expect, I seen a bit of him at Southampton but he was never this good or at least didn't seem as good? He was always busy but he really looks like he's gone up a level, maybe its just me......

niallo27 · 11-09-2016 05:27PM

NukaCola wrote: »

Sterling at his best for us was excellent also it needs to be said, he left on pretty poor terms and I think his contributions are downplayed as a result, he didn't have the consistency and as a young player its not exactly the worst flaw ever.

Thing the move to city was too big for him. He looked really poor yesterday against utd constantly giving the ball away

NukaCola · 11-09-2016 05:32PM

niallo27 wrote: »

Thing the move to city was too big for him. He looked really poor yesterday against utd constantly giving the ball away

I think it may be a consistency thing......he played well in the other opening games by all accounts, at least from what I heard and highlights I seen maybe someone else can comment on that but he's still young and is decent, it remains to be seen if he can up his game on a more consistent basis.....

eyerer · 11-09-2016 05:34PM

Really impressed with Mane, starting to think he was a v good signing. still early days though.

Maybe our best Southampton signing?

Kerrigooney · 11-09-2016 05:39PM

Apparently Mane was like this at the start of last season as well and then he disappeared for 3 months so we'll see. But so far so good.

mormank · 11-09-2016 06:08PM

Turtyturd wrote: »

Remember when Firmino was a hairdresser who was going to be loaned out last Christmas?

Good times.

Personally I always expected big things from Firminho and from Mane for the record. Was very excited by Mane's signing in paticular from the moment we were linked with him.
As for the defence, they just keep letting me down. I predcited 4-2 or 4-3 in the Arsenal game but stupidly didn't put any money either at 125/1 and 175/1 so felt ill at full time. To avoid this I put money on the same score lines for Leicester at 125/1 and 175/1 respectively. That's the day the defence doesn't let in a second or third!!? Oh lovely.

Grayditch · 11-09-2016 06:16PM

Kerrigooney wrote: »

Apparently Mane was like this at the start of last season as well and then he disappeared for 3 months so we'll see.

Jaysus, The African Cup Of Nations is a long aul slog.

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2016/2017

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