Liverpool pre match chat

[Cjay]

After a spirited 2nd half vs Man City and a welcome formation change the performance of the season arrived as we took apart multi billion pound Chelsea.

With a more direct and aggressive approach combined with a new formation Poundland Pep and his team of superstars struggled to cope with the new setup and ultimately walked away with defeat.

Next up is the current Premier League Champions, ordinarily a daunting sentence, but this Liverpool are making a case for being the worst defending Champions ever.

They currently sit 8th, they are however 17th in the form table with 10 points from their last 10 games, a total matched by ourselves and only worsened (for now depending on the Manure, Wet spam game later) by the current bottom 3.

Title winning manager Arne Slot is under immense pressure, it isn't even totally guaranteed he will be in charge on Saturday seemingly.

Tactically 4-2-3-1 usually, very possession based, not wed to one passing structure, rank top 3 for short and long passes

So on and so forth.

But they are struggling.

The only comfort for Arne Slot and like most beleaguered managers he will mention it is the data suggests they are unlucky.

The hope with that will be it clicks.

But time is running out.

Are they struggling with age catching up with Salah and Van Dijk? The loss of Alexander Arnold?

Who knows.

The big money signings not settled yet, Wirtz, Isak etc.

But still a talented squad and one that could easily just switch and look like Champions again.

From our point of view.

One swallow doesn't make a summer, nice to be out of the relegation zone (atleast till tonight potentially)

But still a knife edge.

Will we continue with our new formation change? You'd expect so but the flip side is it won't be such a shock now we've used it.

With such a short turn around could we use some rotation?

Gruev did well when he came on? Fresh legs? James Justin maybe to give Bogle a rest?

Okafor perhaps? Or Piroe?

DF must be having withdrawal symptoms, is it a return time for Brenden Aaronson?

[Barlow Boy]

Don’t know if it showed you on the TV at the end, not watched it back yet, but some of those players were absolutely shot to bits last night. Absolutely knackered.

It will take some recovery to put in some sort of similar performance on Saturday evening.

[CUSSIE01]

Don’t know if it showed you on the TV at the end, not watched it back yet, but some of those players were absolutely shot to bits last night. Absolutely knackered.

It will take some recovery to put in some sort of similar performance on Saturday evening.

A home game will help.

[The Subhuman]

Perri
Bogle
Justin
Ampadu
Rodon
Bijol
Struijk
Tanaka
Stach
Gnonto
DCL

[Jammy 07]

Hugely looking forward to this one as Liverpool games at ER are always fantastic.

A point would be a great outcome.

[Cjay]

I'd like to see JP in the 2.

I thought he and Okafor did well in their brief time together helping us keep the lead.

Okafor ran in behind and Piroe played him in and got us up the pitch.

Thought they showed an alternative to DCL and Nmecha.

Also be tempted to start James Justin for some fresh legs.

[Cjay]

Farke here on mood

There is no replacement for wins. To win in this manner, it was a well deserved win. Good for the mood and the confidence. We are always optimistic.

It's normal that the mood drifted a bit, it should be like this at a club like this.




Liverpool

Still a top class side and the regining champions. Lots of fluctuation. Over the course of 38 games, you will have times when you don't have your best performance.

I have no doubt that once we come to the crunch time of the season they will be back and fight for the title and CL. Every team has ups and downs.

They've had very sad moments and it's not easy for the group.




Injury concerns

No frsh injury concerns. James and Longstaff out long term. After this last game, we need to take some late decisions like always.

Nmecha after hamstring problems, will have to assess him, Calvert-Lewin some question marks with calf.

I hope there will not be any injuries. They've had lots of load. During this period I speak more with our medical dept. It's about finding a balance. Normal that we rotate. Might be some new players in the starting line up (than vs Chelsea)

Tanaka is a bit tricky because he's played both games. Was in the ice bath before in joined you here.




Rodon robustness

He is my warrior and key player. Always there woith an unbeliveable attitufde. To achieve 100 games in a row at this level is amazing. Can only do this if you are super professional. He should be very proud of himself, I am.





Exploiting Liverpool

I wouldn't label it with Konate and Van Dijk they are struggling at the back. They are world class defenders. As a striker sometimes you can lose the ball but if you have a mistake in the back row it can be criticised.

The good thing can take out of Chelsea game is that we can score from every situation. Could have scored even more. Whatever base formation we choose, I always back my players to create and score goals.




January

During this week I'm too busy to think about what could happen. Also important re injuries and how players deliver in the upcoming games. In the background we are preparing what is necessary but now is not the tie to speak about it.




Salah resurgence vs Leeds?

Yes because he is a world class player with world class numbers. Dangerous the more games he doesn't score, the more likely he is to next. Hopefully it lasts one more game. No doubt he will deliver unbeleivable things this season.




Perri distribution

What I like about he has been involed in out clean sheets this season. There is no hiding behind the fact there are things he needs to improve.

More important he stops the strikes but we've spoken honestly about this (distribution).





Little possession

If you see the raw stats sometimes doesn't tell the truth. It was one of our important skills vs Man City that we were competitive that we had the ball.

This game, we were in the lead during the whole game - it's quite natural that the team fighting for the title push you back. It had to do with the development of the game.

Would have been different if it was a draw or losing. Wasn't plan to have that little possession. I'm not addicted to possession - Like it but fair to say we are in a league when we don't have the best quality of players so we need to adapt.

Sometimes the long ball was not precise, long kicks could have been better. Wasn't like less possession won use the game. I would always choose to have possession than not.

[Cjay]

By the sounds of it be a surprise isn't some rotation

Both the front 2 have minor issues

Tanaka possible as well

Not major injuries more fitness

[Irish Ian]

If either or Nmecha and DCL can't start it would be Okafor as first drop methinks.
Piroe as a sub option.
Same as Wee Willy sub option late on as a disruptor.

If we keep this type of shape I can't see a place for BA or JH as starters for the foreseeable and that has to be welcomed.. In which case it would be great to offload them in January.

Gruev will possibly start ahead of Tanaka,if there are issues with him. Gruev was terrific last night.

[CUSSIE01]

“ Like it but fair to say we are in a league when we don't have the best quality of players so we need to adapt. “

Still harping on about the quality of our players, must be frustrating for the players week after week to read you’re not very good.

[The Subhuman]

I'd like to see JP in the 2.

I thought he and Okafor did well in their brief time together helping us keep the lead.

Okafor ran in behind and Piroe played him in and got us up the pitch.

Thought they showed an alternative to DCL and Nmecha.

Also be tempted to start James Justin for some fresh legs.

Gnonto for me, I hate seeing that sort of talent rot.

[Musicman1965]

There is a never a good time to play Liverpool. Their quality football always shines through but at this moment in time its a rare opportunity to exploit the lack of cohesion in the current Liverpool set up. They will get it right in the end but on the evidence of the last few games I fancy us to get a result. Confidence makes players perform as a team and this is our moment.