I would say the gap maybe wide enough at the moment, but there has been occasion when teams open up a lead in PL title race over Xmas/Ne w Year period that they suddenly lose a bit of form and the gap closes again, plus usually this period is the worst bit for a team to lose any key player to injury, even though the transfer window is open.
I wouldn't panic about last night, it was going to happen sooner or later, you rarely get a team like the Invincibles of Arsenal in the 90's these days as was proved by the fact that Manc City lost their last few games. Liverpool are still top, and a bit of respite from the League with the FA Cup on Monday night coming up. I suspect many of the top players will be rested for that or at least consigned to the bench. Wolves are a good side and will be well up for this game. It is the lower league clubs we need to keep beating and put the pressure back on Man City.
(04-01-2019 03:34 )Jack the Nipper Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2019 00:02 )Carl_HoneyLover Wrote: [ -> ]For me, Klopp fucked up by starting Milner who looked well off the pace in the midfield. Should have started Fabinho there.
Henderson did nothing of note against a top side yet again. Time to take the armband off him and give it to Van Dijk.
That flat midfield is just not progressive enough to give support to the front three, and with Liverpool not having a front player who could hold the ball up effectively, this just accentuated the problem.
Klopp's a fantastic Manager & his man-management/motivation skills are second to none (you can see it when he's on the pitch hugging each individual player at the end of each match) but sometimes his team selections just leave me baffled.For when you see a team-sheet that has Milner,Henderson & Wjinaldum in the centre of midfield any means of creativity from midfield is limited.All 3 are effectively defensive midielders who just don't have an ounce of creativity like past Liverpool midfielders like Coutinho,Gerrard,Didi Hamann or Xavi Alonso had with that instinctive vision to pick 30,40,50 etc yard passes.They are hard working without question & run themselves into the ground but the 3 never fill me with confidence when they receive the ball on the edge box that they would even hit the target when shooting like the previous names I mentioned or even grab a game by the scruff of the neck when need be.I maybe alone but I just don't see what Henderson brings to the midfield at all,he was initially brought in as the understudy to Gerrard & spent the first 6 months literally standing in Gerrard's shadow on the pitch (like he was a siamese twin) but he just seems content by pondering around in front of the two centrebacks effectively like a fifth defender.The truth is for the large amount they received for Coutinho they never replaced his creativity in midfield that needs addressing either in this January's transfer window or the Summer for they dicked about last Summer with Lyon's Nabil Fekir then baulked over some old injury & tried to haggle the price down to no avail.I heard on the grapevine that Christian Pulisic was a serious transfer target but bottled it when Chelsea bid £50+million & for the great young player Pulisic is he is more a winger than a creative midfielder Liverpool need.
Looking back at the Man City game though Liverpool looked like they was playing like a team content to play for the draw or like a Champion's League game 2nd leg game protecting a 1-0 from the 1st game which would have been fine until Man City scored.
It wasn't until Fabinho came on in the 2nd (for Milner) that Liverpool had a bit more creative spark (he should have started) that only Alexander-Arnold was providing any glimpses of beforehand.Liverpool still have that infuriating pass continuously along the back line mentality as if to slow games down but panic & lose the ball when teams press them with a high attacking line.
You're not alone Henderson is a dud and they should get shot as soon as
It never ceases to amazes me when fans, pundits and the media only slate players when a team loses, where was the criticism for Milner and Henderson when Liverpool were winning?
It's like there are no fans of my own team Luton Town who give a flying toss that 3 of our best players can't get in the team because we are on a good run of form, no doubt as soon as we lose a game there will be people crying out for them to get back in the team
(04-01-2019 20:46 )Joey 27 Wrote: [ -> ]It never ceases to amazes me when fans, pundits and the media only slate players when a team loses, where was the criticism for Milner and Henderson when Liverpool were winning?
It's like there are no fans of my own team Luton Town who give a flying toss that 3 of our best players can't get in the team because we are on a good run of form, no doubt as soon as we lose a game there will be people crying out for them to get back in the team
I believe in the bulk of Liverpool's wins this season Henderson has either being warming the bench or been injured.But the truth is when certain players are playing badly but the team stills wins it's all forgotten that's the nature of the beast like if those same players are playing badly & the the team loses then there will no doubt be players, tactics etc scrutinized like the old saying about a chain only being as strong as it's weakest link.My critique is more about playing 3 pretty much identical defensive-midfielders together in Milner,Henderson,Wjinaldum & was less towards Milner per se who despite the tender age of 33 has run himself into the ground for the team for the past few seasons where should be relied on as more of a bit-part player.Milner throughout his career has never been blessed with pace or skill & trickery but instead will play in any position without complaining & will knock his pipe out in every game (as well as having only of the best penalty conversion records in world football).Jordan Henderson for me is an enigma wrapped up in an enigma & if like me you have ever watched him on the LFC.TV channel/website he is a very skillful player (that has beaten the likes of Suarez,Firmino,Coutinho etc on skill challenges) & yet you very rarely see it on the pitch where he seems like a tourist in a strange foreign land when he gets into the oppositions half.Maybe it was wrong for people to have seen him like me as Steven Gerrard's understudy when he was signed & played alongside him as they were impossible shoes to fill but for me he has been to much of a passenger in the team & has never been good enough for Liverpool or England.
Your analogy of your local team Luton Town on a winning run despite benching their best players is like the old saying 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' as those players getting those opportunities they wouldn't normally would are looking over their shoulders for when the winning run comes to an end.
Two under the radar (& out of the blue) transfers today with Dominic Solanke & Nathienial Clyne both moving to Bournemouth with Solanke being sold for £19 million rising to £25 million (based on appearances etc) & Clyne moving on loan until the end of the season.With Liverpool selling Jordan Ibe to Bournemouth a few seasons ago (who doesn't play a hell of a lot for them from what I've seen) & now Solanke & Clyne moving to them as well Liverpool Reserves seem to be a feeder club for Bournemouth. I've watched a fair bit of Solanke on the LFCTV website this season where he has shown signs of potential but looks a better player whenever he has played for the England U21/23's.The £19-25 million for a player who never got much game time at Liverpool or Chelsea may have proved too irresistable for Klopp & the club should they have transfer targets (I keep hearing the rumour about the Leipzig striker Timo Werner who is refusing to sign a new contract).I just hope this transfer window doesn't mean offloading players without bringing alternatives in although Liverpool could strengthen their squad by finding a buyer for Dejan Lovren.
How much for Solanke ?!! He has one PL goal to his name That is the deal of the year for Liverpool
A buyer for Lovren? A minute ago I would of said no chance but apparently we live in some sort of Twilight Upside Down Zone so might as well give it a try
That was a surprise but I think Neil Warnock should stop showing sour grapes because he lost out to Clyne moving away from Liverpool. Just because he was the one player that made a debut for your club doesn't give you a god-given right to sign him. He made a decision, Liverpool made a decision and that's that. It doesn't need Warnock, who let's face it could well be out of Cardiff City sooner or later(he has a lot of form for being sacked from clubs) mouthing off about Liverpool-that is disrespectful and not becoming of a manager. Solanke moving is also a surprise. However, I cannot fathom why we didn't start blooding Rhian Brewster - he is a great young player and could be perfect for Liverpool and who knows maybe the main England squad one day. We need him especially if Origi moves away as a back up for Salah, Firminho and Mané.
My ONE fear is that Liverpool don't field a strong side tomorrow. Obviously he will rest Mané and Salah or put them on the bench just in case needed, but we need to put out a good team because we know that Wolves are a dangerous side. I hope Klopp respects the game and the FA Cup in general.
Hell's teeth I told you I was worried about what side Klopp would field. Lovren went off very early and I must admit the new lads Hoever, Jones and Camacho are doing well BUT when you play a 4-4-2 side instead of 4-3-3 you are going to get caught each time which is why no-one tends to play that line up these days. I think we need to risk putting on Firmino, Salah, Mané etc OR someone else to take the place of Milner(who is better as a winger) Something has to change second half or Liverpool will be out AGAIN! and losing to Wolves will leave a bitter taste in the mouth's of fans.
