2020-21 UEFA Champions League

justshane wrote: »

Haaland Is just one of those players that is born to score goals, but he’s even better at it than most. His first tonight was a tight angle and he had the coposure to tuck it inside the near post, and the second was just pure goal scoring instinct. Reminds me of the original Ronaldo in certain ways. I think he could go on and hit numbers similar to Messi and Ronaldo if he stays Injury free, really is something special.

Going to sound a bit Like Fergie on Henderson here but one worry id have with Haaland is if he gets any bad injuries it could really derail him ,

I think is X Factor is the fact he is such a big unit but moves and runs with speed and acceleration of a much smaller men , A bad injury that slows him down could really hurt his style

Id love to see Liverpool go all out for him this summer , the lad is absolutely phenomenal

When Liverpool drew Salzburg in the CL last season, I was listening to a podcast in the build up to the first game. I can't remember who was talking about Haaland, but he was basically saying that he hit puberty late and so his body didn't develop as much as the other boys. He was undersized for most of his teens and so relied more on having a good touch, great technique etc rather than relying on height, speed or strength to gain an advantage. We've all the seen the massive 16 year old in minor football dominating a game but struggle later on! When Haaland eventually started to fill out his body, that's when the explosiveness came but he already had the technical skills to go with it.

Fitz* wrote: »

When Liverpool drew Salzburg in the CL last season, I was listening to a podcast in the build up to the first game. I can't remember who was talking about Haaland, but he was basically saying that he hit puberty late and so his body didn't develop as much as the other boys. He was undersized for most of his teens and so relied more on having a good touch, great technique etc rather than relying on height, speed or strength to gain an advantage. We've all the seen the massive 16 year old in minor football dominating a game but struggle later on! When Haaland eventually started to fill out his body, that's when the explosiveness came but he already had the technical skills to go with it.

Jes that’s very interesting and would make sense. Dortmund are a massive club but you would feel he will go one step higher to the like a of Bayern, Juve or Madrid. All three have arguably the best 3 strikers in the world however all 3 of those are 30+. Maybe Halland will slot in and take the mantle?

Gladbach winning 4-0 makes that Inter vs Madrid game up next even more important. Gladbach now on 8 pts, Madrid currently on 4, and Inter on 2.

Looking forward to how Lukaku fares tonight. Ramos is out, as is Benzema.

And it's an awful start for Inter as Hazard gives Madrid the lead from the spot. Barella clumsy challenge on Nacho.

Stupidity from Vidal

That is a fantastic assist from Papu Gomez.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Liverpool very weak at the back tonight

Weaker up front and in midfield in my view.

Atalanta were allowed to play very high in the first half.

Firmino, Henderson, Alexander Arnold are the 3 players that most make the team tick and none were there at the start.

I didn't actually think the defence was that bad tonight. Tsimikas for sure isn't at the races yet but both goals would be taking too much away from Atalanta's attack to blame on Liverpool's defence. Second one Rhys left his man and Robbo arguably wrong side but a team playing like Atalanta tonight were always going to have something like that come off and it was their attack more than Liverpool's defence for me and the first goal was pure quality. Great build up, cross and finish.

Midfield really showed up having 6 midfielders out of the starting lineup that would have started in other circumstances

Silver lining was the Ajax result. Some hit from Gravenberch and Neres follows up his cracker at the weekend with another from outside the box tonight. Could be set up for a huge GW6 matchup

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Klopp got it wrong by not subbing Fabinho on at HT and hooking Rhys Williams. Atalanta kept attacking both Williams boys knowing they would break sooner or later and they did. Bringing Fab on for Gini and not Rhys was also unusual. Origi starting the game was a mistake too, even with the injury crisis Minamino should have started ahead of him, Origi seemed alergic to sprinting. Milner should have defending on either wing, not in midfield.

Atalanta played very well but Klopp tried a half in half out approach. Should have killed the game off with the same lineout as Leicester and then subbed off whoever needed the rest once some chances were made. Needed all 4 attackers to start, Milner and Origi with both Williams boys on the pitch at the same time was not exactly a recipe for success.

Origi was abysmal. Mané also one of the worst I've seen him.

Massive game next week now

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You know you can just multi-quote right? You've been around 16 years you should know better

And to be fair we only had 5 first team players start. 3 were inexperienced young lads, one is a fresh arrival and the other a month away from being 35.

And as Virgin Media just pointed out, the Anfield crowd being missing is a significant impact also. It's different in the PL where the crowd is....pretty crap usually to be honest.

But in Europe it's different, Anfield is different and they surely felt that tonight. Would love to know the last time we failed to have a shot on target at home in this competition...?

Klopp calls it like it is: a deserved defeat. We play Brighton in 60hrs so move on already to thinking about that

Virgin missing the full story on Liverpool
They played late Sunday night, they played tonight and they then play early Saturday morning and have a whole host of injuries,

You have to manage a season not just a game, tonight was the one night Klopp was not going to risk anyone getting injured with the short turn arounds and could even risk picking up no points

They may now have fresh legs for Saturday and bodies back for Ajax, They also only need a draw next Wednesday to go through and if they fail a win against a very popr Danish side

All things considered tonight made perfect sense to be the night to rest as many as he could,

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Ah c'mon, you're better than that. The quickest glance at the teamsheet confirms that it was a half-strength team

One of Liverpool's centre halves has never played league football ever in his career, having been playing non league football with Kidderminster Harriers earlier this year.

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Ah c'mon, you're better than that. The quickest glance at the teamsheet confirms that it was a half-strength team - even of the players that are currently available - and was made because we're in a good position in the CL. The league doesn't allow for risky teamsheets like this, but the Champions League does when you've won your first 3. 2 teenagers and 2 backups just returning from injury to make up the back 4. If Liverpool played that sort of team in the league every week they'd be well down the table. Priorities!

Yet Klopp picked the team, and if it was half-strength that is on the manager. On the hour mark he sent on Firmino, Robertson, Jota and Fabinho, so they certainly didn't finish the game too weakened. If a team is going to be held up as on a level above others as was previously claimed, shouldn't it fare better?

Ultimately, there is an element of the LFC fanbase on this forum that can't accept any questioning of their team whatsoever - not putting you in that bracket btw - and they throw their toys out of the pram whenever one dares to question it in some capacity. I heard the same thing last season when I challenged the view that Liverpool were easily the best team in Europe, and when I said upon being asked that I thought it was PSG I was mocked. We saw which of the two teams fared better last season.

Shanotheslayer wrote:

The fact you have a link to keep for the next time Liverpool lost to bring it up. Says more about you than my opinion of thinking Villa winning 7-2 is a freak result.

Yes, it says I read the thread earlier and remembered the posts. Here's one that took me a little longer to find, touching on what I mentioned above.