The Official Liverpool Thread - Part 2

[Shabby]

Klopp lost at home to Leeds and Palace, once in each od the last two seasons, prior to that there was the bad run of defeats during Covid when there were no crowds and when VVD was missing. Today Bournemouth having 19 shots tells you something isnt right. I hope I am wrong.

Today was definitely far from a complete performance. We were actually under the cosh early on, they scored an offside goal and Diaz’s opener was against the run of play. Super take and finish. All 3 goals included some nice play.

But we did look a bit open at times, things were probably far too chaotic for Slot’s liking out there. The second half was a bit more settled alright. We must remember that Slot is still very new at the helm. Changing this team from an all action team to a more controlled team will take a while. It’s not a bad thing to win while playing average.

 

[The Duke]

What's been done to death is the media BS about Anfield being akin to the Colliseum week in week out.

Prior to the Liverpool City game last year a reporter teed up Pep to wax lyrical about the atmosphere when he inquired of Pep as to why City find it difficult to go there and get a result.

Pep replied "because they have great players". Well Mr Reporter was not happy about this and said "what about the atmosphere"

Pep, dismissively "yeah that too but mainly the players"

But the media lives Liverpool and love to eulogise Shankly and Anfield.

Anfield can be brilliant at times. But so can other grounds.

So not the Liverpool fans here talking it up?

 

[Bunk]

I was at the game today and thought the exact same. Imperious. Deserved MOTM again today even when there were plenty of strong performances elsewhere.

To see him performing at this level right off the bat under Slot is massive impressive and almost a little odd. So calm on the ball too. I had no idea he had this level of performance in him. And still only 22.

MacAllister was probably the quietest of the 3 midfielder today, but stood out to me for one important thing.

With Slot's preference for playing out from the back the full-backs (and occasionally Konate) find themselves relatively wide with very little progressive passes on. Lost count of the amount of times that MacAllister dropped, showed for the ball and executed perfectly-angled first time vertical passes into the feet of the forwards. Often when it didn't look like those passing angles were on at all.

It really makes the whole thing click together.

Contrast it with Dean Huijsen today. With Liverpool pressing as a 4 (Szob + the front 3) he had very few passes options and clearly doesn't have the technical ability to find creative workarounds. I heard him talked up during the summer but he looked bang average today.

Agreed with all of that.

Was in the Anfield Road end by the right corner flag. Great view of all 3 goals, especially Darwin's. The whole stand braced itself to catch it when he shaped up to shoot.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

So not the Liverpool fans here talking it up?

RoundY, Carmona and Shabby are always going on about it.

No, I don't have any links.

 

[The Duke]

RoundY, Carmona and Shabby are always going on about it.

No, I don't have any links.

Fair enough lad. I’ll take your word for it. I wouldn’t be asking someone to source links on a Saturday night.

 

[Shabby]

RoundY, Carmona and Shabby are always going on about it.

No, I don't have any links.

I dunno m8, I think you’re overly wound up about nothing really. On big occasions Anfield can be incredible but also has plenty of quiet days. Same as most clubs as such.

But there’s an awful lot of current and ex pros that say the atmosphere is up there with the best/hardest they’ve experienced. Must count for something in a bit of a nothing debate.

 

[Philby]

Today Bournemouth having 19 shots tells you something isnt right. I hope I am wrong.

That's a dangerous stat to look at in isolation and attempt to draw big conclusions on.

Liverpool's xG was double that of Bournemouth's today (...while LFC also fluffing some great positions without getting shots off).

Game state plays a big part. If you're 3 goals up you're naturally going to invite the opposition on to you a bit. Take Chelsea v West Ham. Hammers out-shot them but lost 3-0 and were well behind on xG.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

. Must count for something in a bit of a nothing debate.

No, no it does not.

That's the final word on this.

 

[don]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837539214067441934

 

[don]

The team is clearly good enough to challenge and Gravenberch stepping up could be the last piece in the jigsaw as he is clearly an upgrade on Endo who was a regular last season. The squad players also look good with strong cover in most areas. I think my main worry for the season is that Klopp is such a hard act to follow-good start to the season but losing the home record so early in the season is poor. I said when it was announced that it was a poisoned chalice for the next guy. If you look at Busby, Fergie, Wenger, Mourinho and others leaving after a successful reign you see how things can go pearshaped very quickly. In a sense the next manager is often a fallguy who is gone within a year.