LFC Season 2018/2019

BusterLfc wrote:Klopp: „I once talked to Christian Heidel (Schalke) after their game against Leipzig. He told me: Leipzig had 12 players today. I asked: Was the referee that bad? And he replied: No, but Keita counts as two.“

We finally have a midfield which can control games and we have different options now.
Btw I dont like Hendo as number 6. His positioning to receive passes from CBs or FBs is not always right imo. I feel like sometimes he asks them to pass there , pass here but doesnt make himself always available in a way that you can control the game without too much running.

Virgil van Dijk's game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace:
100% tackles won
92.4% pass accuracy
91 touches
10 successful long balls
9 aerial duels won
8 clearances
2 tackles
1 clean sheet

BusterLfc wrote:Virgil van Dijk's game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace:
100% tackles won
92.4% pass accuracy
91 touches
10 successful long balls
9 aerial duels won
8 clearances
2 tackles
1 clean sheet

you know this guy is a monster when frenzy stops talking about him

He is literally a monster. We always got bullied by Benteke in the air, Van Dijk made Benteke look like a little kid when he was against him in the air. 10 successful long balls in a game is insane. The best midfielders in the world only get 6/7 a game. Kroos had 6 per game last year. He has an excellent pass, not to even mention his communication and leadership on the field, I literally can't think of any weaknesses Van Dijk has.

Gomez was excellent, a couple more performances like this and I can see Lovren struggling to get back in the starting 11.

BusterLfc wrote:Gomez was excellent, a couple more performances like this and I can see Lovren struggling to get back in the starting 11.

i would keep gomez in the team tbh.

TAA hasn't been up to his standard in the first 2 games which is understandable considering he's still 19, it's normal to be inconsistent at that age. I would finally give a chance to Clyne in the starting 11. Damn I love this depth and all these options we finally have in the squad. Next game we play Brighton, I think this is the perfect game to introduce Fabinho in the team.

BusterLfc wrote:TAA hasn't been up to his standard in the first 2 games which is understandable considering he's still 19, it's normal to be inconsistent at that age. I would finally give a chance to Clyne in the starting 11. Damn I love this depth and all these options we finally have in the squad. Next game we play Brighton, I think this is the perfect game to introduce Fabinho in the team.

clyne is not great going forward and brighton will park the bus so i would stick with taa tbh.

Dat distribution is world class, Alisson is a perfect GK for Klopp's style, he's so calm with the ball even under pressure, I love him already ffs.

VanDjik
Alisson
early days, but we finally have players in defence that fans enjoy them playing and we feel proud of apart from our attack.

Can't believe we are letting Klavan go. Dude was the best 3rd choice CB I've ever seen in my 14 years of watching football.

Back to Anfield on 5 days. I wouldn't mind Klopp rotating and giving Fabinho, Shaq and Studge a chance. I don't want Hendo anywhere near the first 11, but that's just me.

What would be your line-ups for Brighton?
This would be mine:

BusterLfc wrote:What would be your line-ups for Brighton?
This would be mine:

Xabi Alisson
Clyne - Gomez - Van Dijk - Robbo
Gini - Fabinho - Keita
Salah - Studge - Mane

swap hendo for fabinho and taa for clyne. brighton will park the bus so no need for clyne and fabinho.

I think TAA needs a break. I would not mind Clyne coming for this game. We will not get a chance later to experiment in one or two positions.

Sturridge should be played instead of Firmino. Klopp has developed these immense tactics as Firmino False9/playing at the tip of the diamond so I doubt that this will happen. But what is the use of having proven talent in the squad if you cant use it to rest a tired Firmino.

Knowing Klopp, he would start the same XI as against Palace  

Btw I like Xabi Alisson

Helmer wrote:I think TAA needs a break. I would not mind Clyne coming for this game. We will not get a chance later to experiment in one or two positions.

Sturridge should be played instead of Firmino. Klopp has developed these immense tactics as Firmino False9/playing at the tip of the diamond so I doubt that this will happen. But what is the use of having proven talent in the squad if you cant use it to rest a tired Firmino.

Knowing Klopp, he would start the same XI as against Palace  

Btw I like Xabi Alisson

Yeah I agree and I think Sturridge can also work in a slightly deeper position than a pure 9, he showed it in preseason, he could pick out a nice pass from the deep and he has a good enough technique to play that position.

But yeah knowing Klopp, he sometimes tends to stick with the same starting 11 after a win even if some players should be changed, he tends to be stubborn with some decisions. Only when the team loses or draws he starts changing, it happened in the past too.

To be honest, about Fabinho I think he just might need some time to adapt to Klopp's style. I mean, look at last season, Robertson wasn't even on the bench in the first months but once he settled he blossomed, Ox also took time to adapt to Klopp's play style. So Fabinho might just need some time like those guys.

I think Clyne, Fabinho and Sturridge should start:

#1. It's a great opportunity to test the tactical flexibility which is essential if we intend on pushing City all the way.

#2. Salah, Firmino, TAA looks a bit rusty and should be afforded some rest (and challenge).

#3. All of them had a good/great pre-season and it's no good hurting their confidence by keeping them idle. It will come back to bite us in the ass when they are actually needed.

Big Shaq also plz

Clyne: A lot has been made about his (lack of) attacking prowess, but his solidity in defense will allow Robertson to be more adventurous.

Fabinho: May seem Mourinesque to field a DM against a PTB team at home; but he will not only allow Naby and Willy to stay further up-field but will also supply them from deep.

Shaqiri: Will create width and allow space for Sturridge, Naby and Willy.

Sturridge: A great target for Robertson and Shaqiri for crosses from wide areas. Also, will distract the defenders from paying too much attention to Naby, Willy, Shaqiri.

Matchday

As expected Fabinho is going the same route Robbo and Ox did, so I've no doubt he will flourish once he settles to Klopp's style, Robbo and Ox needed 3-4 months to settle but once they did they exploded, so let's give him time.

Jürgen Klopp has explained the factors that have led to a delay in summer signing Fabinho making his competitive debut for the club.

“That is it. It is different football to what he is used to in Monaco but he is improving already with big steps. I can see that in the sessions and that is cool.”

Comparisons have been drawn with the initial weeks of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Robertson’s Liverpool careers a year ago.

Then, the new recruits had to bide their time before breaking into the starting XI – and Klopp pointed to their experiences as inspiration for Fabinho.

“You see Andy Robertson running around here at Melwood now and he’s a completely different person to the one who was here in the first three months. That’s how it is, but everything will be fine,” he said.

“Fabinho is used to playing at a high level in France. It is not about who we play but about how we play. For sure it is not nice for a new player. It never was but it is all fine.”

Unchanged lineup, you be silly to think Klopp would ever move away from his plan A, his really got no plan b, so we'll always do plan a.

Klopp has a plan B, but he only does it if we lose or draw the game.

If we win the game he'll almost certainly do the same line-up again even if some other players deserve to be playing.

This was a shit game overall but at least we got the 3 points.

Sturridge needs to be given a chance to start ffs don't be so stubborn Klopp.

He looked more dangerous than anyone when he came on, just give him a chance

But we'll get the same starting 11 next week

Someone please explain the Gini love, I've been reading comments about how his our unsung hero after the first three games, I'm just not on that page, his been the third best midfielder so far, out of three.