Liverpool vs. Rubin Kazan

Coutinho -> Origi -> Can -> Net

Me like.

Love how we're playing.

There is direction in our player. Players know what they're doing. We're patient when we need to be and the second there is a chance we go for the jugular.

Good half. Rubin with 10 men we have to win now. Everyone playing really well.

bah Gawd our players are so shit sometimes, I mean no can keep cool head and there is probably not a single run in small spaces to pick out someone. I hope we win this one for Klopp !

Curtinho wrote:This team doesn't need a quality midfielder really. They need real wide players, or the ones they have to stay healthy/step up.

The best combo we could put out right now would be Henderson - Coutinho backed by Lucas or Can (if Can can learn to stifle his runs a bit for more defensive discipline). Coutinho is best when playing in midfield as an 8 anyway and he would perfectly fill that 'Gundogan' role that so many people suggest we need. Henderson is an amazing midfielder in his own right, and there are pretty good replacements available in each role except maybe Coutinho's.

Wide players is where we're pretty bare since all the advanced players we have like to play centrally pretty much.

Coutinho's passing is too bad for a CM imo. Maybe he can grow into it I don't know. But I find the Gündogan comparison massively weird.

Don't call me James wrote:There is direction in our player. Players know what they're doing. We're patient when we need to be and the second there is a chance we go for the jugular.

Good half. Rubin with 10 men we have to win now. Everyone playing really well.

I want more ! They are good, there is also more movement compared to what we played under Brenda but still we need to keep cool head. In first few minutes, Clyne had the ball when on the left side two of our players were in open space and he doesnt see that. There were few moments like this in the game.

Yeah the end product is honestly the only thing not going for us. We haven't been able to create an amazing chance outside of the goal.

but general play is good imo.

I think Klopp has a lot to do with these set of players. I mean tactically they were good against Spurs, today also they are good. But our players are not able to make right decisions in the advntageous situation.

With Benteke, Sturridge, Henderson and Firmino, 4 of your 5 best players are missing. Coutinho isn't performing very well right now IMO.
So no wonder you have next to none quality upfront.
And your midfield is very mediocre without Henderson.

Hapless_Hans wrote:Coutinho's passing is too bad for a CM imo. Maybe he can grow into it I don't know. But I find the Gündogan comparison massively weird.

I disagree. He can definitely fit into a very similar role and he has in the past. Unfortunately when he's in an advanced position, and especially over the last year or so he tends to force things (and even moreso in that timespan because so much was put on his shoulders).

Look at the difference in the way he has developed between his 13/14 season up to now. He's become a lot more selfish, tries to force things more, and is generally much more advanced on the pitch, etc.

If you want an example of how he can play a controlling midfielder go watch the 13/14 City game at the tail end of the season.

Ok.
I haven't seen him then in this role so I can't disagree. I have seen mostly the things you describe, forcing things too much etc.
He's talented enough to be all kinds of things that much is clear.

That by the way was also a main problem with your usage of Sterling in 14/15. Much too much put on his shoulders.
Feel like too much is put on Can's shoulders too.

I think there were two parts to Sterling 'failing' at Liverpool. He's incredibly talented, and while yes too much pressure was put on him he also bottled hard under the first hint of the pressure and raised some serious character questions with his actions (IMO).

Anyway, has Klopp ever played a diamond? I feel with our current players that would be by and far the best formation to use.


There's adequate cover at every position except for that creative midfielder where Coutinho is (which could be bought). If we want to continue with a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 then we'll need to get some wide players or bring back Markovic and hope him and Ibe can really contribute out wide. Lallana, Firmino and Coutinho play too centrally and Origi, Sturridge and Ings are not real wide players anyway. Trying Milner on the wing is not a bad idea either since his crosses are actually fantastic and his workrate is unreal obviously.

Not sure whether he's used a diamond often, but he's by no means locked on a certain formation.
As you can see, he did use a different formation than at Dortmund already so far, and he showed he doesn't plan to force Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino into winger positions. (Firmino can do it though).
No doubt he will consider such options to integrate Benteke AND Sturridge.

Not the best result specially with 10 men for Rubin but the desire is back and it's great to see.

We're gonna finish with 6 points in the group with 6 1-1 draws

Don't call me James wrote:Not the best result specially with 10 men for Rubin but the desire is back and it's great to see.

We're gonna finish with 6 points in the group with 6 1-1 draws

I would like that our players are scrub

Firmino can be a bragain for that money. We need to play him and Coutinho, one of Benteke/Studge...we are set then

Well, no two ways about it, that's the most disappointing of the three EL draws, after playing with a man advantage for so long at Anfield. It's a bit worrying that we have only one home game left and only three points. Anyway, onwards.

That was dross and we still lack cutting edge from the midfield, Lallana offers more creativity than the entire team combined at the moment, Coutinho's hit his rough patch and Henderson is still far away.

Hopefully Sturridge comes back and finds his feet quickly.

Kazan are no mugs, contrary what those clowns on BT say.

"The pressure was on to deliver, but he must be given time"

Art Morte wrote:Well, no two ways about it, that's the most disappointing of the three EL draws, after playing with a man advantage for so long at Anfield. It's a bit worrying that we have only one home game left and only three points. Anyway, onwards.

Disappointed. Not gutted, but disappointed.

Did we press hard enough? I don't know, I think Kazan were more aggressive in our half than we were in theirs. Once again we couldn't find spaces/opportunities to crack a packed box.

Anyway, on wards now.

Also, I'm beginning to accept that our squad is average, except a few. Milner is all energy and grit, but he can't provide a defense-splitting pass. Emre has lots of strength and stamina, but he can't see a pass even if it's staring at him. Coutinho needs a runner in front of him to be effective. Lallana has good movement and footwork but seriously inconsistent.

Love Can and Sakho under Klopp so far. Two games and those 2 have been our 2 best players in both games. Sakho specifically in this game. MOTM.

*bleep* Rodgers man, keeping Sakho on the bench for Lovren of all *bleep* people, and playing Can out of position to fit in his son Joe Allen.

By the way we've drawn 7 out of the last 8 matches Didn't even realize.

Ifty wrote:Also, I'm beginning to accept that our squad is average, except a few.

Not really, Rodgers just effed up by making the squad too homogeneous. A lot of our players are good at their roles, but too many of them share the same preferred role.

we wont see the team improve until we have a fit squad. we are missing our big players. just having a fit Henderson and sturridge will make the world of difference for us. plus klopp is still having a look at some players.

I just wonder would Sturridge accept playing out wide in a 4-3-3. Along with Coutinho he's our best player running at defenders. We need some of that, imo. Clyne and Moreno providing width isn't enough.