1.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 13:42:45
I don't know how you can say our players are exhausted when they are still covering more ground per match than almost everyone else with no drop since the start of the season.
The problem is the same as it has been for a while, not turning up against the lower placed teams, the players didn't look exhausted against chelsea after all, you suggesting Hulls players are fitter than ours?

2.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 13:46:28
Not to reopen The Brendan Rodgers debate - but what has actually changed since we sold Suarez?

The issue has been, whoever the manager is, our squad is just not up to it. Maybe Rodgers squandered money on average players but if he did, it was no worse than what Kenny Dalglish spent before him on the likes of Andy Carroll, and others - and the dross that Hodgson brought in as well. I also feel for Rodgers because when we needed quality strikers there were just none available, and we weren't the only club struggling with that.

There are players I really rate: Firmino, Couthino, Mané, Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Matip, and Milner - either through talent or work ethic. There are some that have talent but need to be more consistent: such Origi, Sturridge, Can, Lovren. Some that have had bad luck with injury like Ings, Flannagan, and Gomez and some youngsters that are starting to show promise - Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Kent, Ojo (the list goes on) but aren't really ready for first team football. We are mostly rid of the dross now, but the squad is not what it needs to be. Our defense is certainly not there and we need a Zlatan or Costa type finisher up front - as much as I love Firmino, he's not a natural number 9.

Maybe this isn't news to anyone, although some might rate some a bit more and others a bit less. Look at Chelsea and Spurs - good players throughout, good squads. United have found form with a fair squad, whilst City are under achieving somewhat and Arsenal really face the same problems as we do - just not enough players, not enough quality.

Rodgers needed players he just didn't have, and in the end he over thought the problem and couldn't see the wood for the trees. I worry Klopp is going to struggle for the same reason - although there's a lot to say he will stick with his own pressing game, come what may. I happen to believe he's right to do so, but unless we have a squad that's deep enough to cover loss of players through AFCON, injury or ban we are going to continue to struggle year in, year out.

Looking at recent form, I think our defence needs to wake up. It's the individual mistakes, not necessarily the coaching, that is letting us down at present. Under Rodgers the defence seemed to have no direction, however under Klopp I think it's more down to the players just not being up to it.

German football is not the same; they have a mid season break and maybe Dortmund's success under Klopp owes something to the players being able to recover. Maybe English football is just too hectic - maybe we should have a shorter season - 16 teams rather than 20 - allowing players a break between match weeks. Maybe English teams will fair better in Europe as well with fewer domestic games to play.

Failing that, from Liverpool's perspective, we need a higher calibre squad - with enough depth that players on the bench are as good as the players on the pitch. Under Rodgers the squad became bloated. What we need now is 16-18 players of real quality. There's so much football to play, a rotation system like Benitez' used may not be a bad thing.

Maybe Klopp can unearth a few gems on the cheap, as he does, but really the club needs to start writing big cheques. I find the amount of money in professional sport morally abhorrent but it is what it is and unless we want to end up a small fish in a big pond I hope the the club has realised this and is on board for recruiting the necessary players.

I'm not bashing the owners, clearly FSG/ NESV saved the club - no doubt - and there's a lot to say foundations have been laid in so much as the club is being turned into a commercial success. Hopefully that manifests into the club being able to afford and maintain a better squad. It is surely what is needed.

Just my tuppence and a half's worth.

Come on The Reds.

3.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 15:14:25
Liverpool recent loss to couple of relegation folder has nothing to do with squad depth. I can't believe a 300 plus experience man could speak so dumb. How would a new player solve a puzzle called park the bus system?

4.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 16:12:15
There is no plan B. Every game is the same, 7 passes to the left 7 to the right hoof it up field. The opposing teams put 5/ 6 across the back and walk from side to side following the ball.

No invention, no penetration and no idea. unless the opposition open the door for them Liverpool will always struggle to score.
Master tactician . I think not.

{Ed001's Note - that is just nonsense Bobby. Embarrassing stuff.}

5.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 16:21:40
All the top teams can get through the parked bus.
An early goal for us would help hugely though when playing against teams like these. Once we concede early it's game over They can park up, wind up the windows, lock all the doors and throw away the key.
It was so disheartening to watch on Saturday. We lacked any sort of creativity and were so predictable.

6.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 16:51:39
I thought a while ago everyone here was praising Jurgen on how he has trimmed an over-bloated squad.

7.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 16:51:45
Burnley A, Utd H, Southampton A, West Ham H, Bournemouth A, Sunderland A, Swansea H, Hull A. You could even go to the likes of Watford last season.
To us non experts the game plan looked the same, and I'm talking about the opposition game plan. Sit back and strike on the break. The only opposition our game plan changes for is against other top six teams.
Jurgen proved against City that we can control a game without all out attack.
If after the Leicester game it transpires that Utd have overtaken us on the League Table then I believe Jurgens extended honeymoon will be truly over.
I hope this isn't going to turn into a rerun of his last season in Germany.

8.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 18:33:13
Firstly Kenny Dalglish won our last trophy . secondly Klopp has played the same tactics at all his old clubs were he was a success there his style was worked out and he had some seasons were the teams struggled he would never change his tactics no matter how many times his team were beaten .

It was always the same if his team did not score then they were always prone to counter attack goal as happened in champions league final . But he discovered some of the best players in European football and that is what he is here to do most of the team are not his buys they were put on big contract so he can't move them on as quickly as he likes.

so we have to have patience support him support the team after all it took the fella down the east lancs several years before he won anything so come on guys we have a big name manager one we were all shouting for now we have him there is moaning because we have hit a poor patch maybe just maybe it will bring people down to earth we had a great start but we have gone off the boil but the boys can get better with their manager and your support.

9.) 06 Feb 2017
06 Feb 2017 23:23:54
Why is there a visible drop in intensity while facing a top 6 team and facing a team who are between 15 to 20?

We always seem to struggle when facing these teams.

There is a simple answer to it. What I feel is this:

1. The high intensity game tactic might work 50% to 60% of the times but not always.

2. If you see the trend the games where we lost, the opposite teams are not parking a full length bus. They are just blocking the width of the outer penalty area and are leaving the flanks for us to attack.

3. Klopp tactic isn't able to break this mini bus parking system as our play from either flank is abysmal. (wing play needs much much improvement)

4. No matter how good you try and hound the opposite players with this high press (gegen) press, Firminio is not a natural goal scorer. Using the same set of players and tactics shows inflexibility on the part of Klopp to go with natural strikers and attack the opposition by changing the system to 4-4-2 or any other variation.

5. While Rodgers was ridiculed for having put too many formations in the same game where the players lost what formation they were on, Klopp is being very rigid by not changing the formation or style of play.

6. There should be some long diagonal balls in the opposition box and we need to attack the 2nd balls and take a early shot. We need to see what is the statistic on shots taken from outside the box or from inside to see what it shows.

7. Currently the pattern of our play is the same and we are expecting different results which is not going to happen.

8. Even if we draw or win, it is due to the opposition team trying to be ope up and play and being naive to let us pass centrally and not because we manage to change our system is what I feel.

9. Most important is we lack quality players and what we have achieved till now is par for the course. A bit of over achievement in the first half had raised the expectation over the top for few of the fans and usual media who have no clue.

10. Changing the manager is not an option. We need to buy quality players and Klopp has to change his formations and mix it up during the games to change the results.

Cheers.

10.) 07 Feb 2017
07 Feb 2017 00:23:13
Klopp needs to take off the blinkers.

11.) 07 Feb 2017
07 Feb 2017 01:00:06
Let's not over complicate this - we're not beating the sides that sit back because our deliveries from out wide are poor, Origi and Sturridge haven't been on form, and we're vulnerable at set pieces and counterattacks. Nothing to do with exhaustion, and all fixable IMO by a better keeper than Migs, a good CB pairing, Firmino/ Origi/ Ings coming back into form (or a new striker in the mould of Costa/ Kane/ Lukaku - I'm discounting Sturridge making it back), and getting some improved deliveries from out wide. Mane has immediately made a difference coming back but we need more from Milner or Clyne. TAA and Juanma could be the answer given time but we'll see.