08 Oct 2018 10:38:27
If Klopp has decided on a more pragmatic approach for Liverpool, to conserve energy, then that is a good thing for the team over a long season.
If the front 3 are not pressing the opposition for 90 minutes fair enough, but Liverpool must find a creative spark in midfield.
In those really tight games like yesterday, I always felt 1 eye of the needle pass from David Silva and we were beaten. I never think our midfield has that kind of vision to play those passes. We definitely need a playmaker to help this team.
I am not criticizing any individual players here, I am simply saying this team needs a Silva or Debruyne type player in midfield.
Coutinho has not been replaced and the current midfield has no goals in them.
Hopefully when Keita settles he will weigh in with a few goals.
But we are joint top after a tough set of games, so I better stop moaning now.

1.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 11:07:42
Yet Couts never actually managed to pick any locks when he was with us. We miss Ox more than anything with his direct, powerful running.

2.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 11:15:14
100% agree Greenflash.
We definitley need a creative spark and that has been missing a little since PC was sold.
However I do not see many world class creative types or are there players I have perhaps overlooked or missed?

3.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 11:22:59
I agree with you whole-heartedly, OP. However, you play the hand you are dealt and not the hand you wish you had. |It's called reality, my friend. We all wanted Fekir and it did not happen so no point going on about it. We don't have Silva, KDB nor Bernardo so again, no point talking about players who don't play for you.

The issue here is that even tho we do not have a no. 10, we have STILL created a boat load of chances this season and had we taken more of them, this whole "lack of no. 10" issue becomes a moot point. Afterall, this same team dropped 4, 3 and 3 on WH, PSG and Saints (could have been more) .

This is where we must start the conversation cos regardless of who you have at no. 10, if your forwards are not making better decisions in crucial moments, you will still be were we are now esp. if they are off form and knackered. The hope now is that since our tough run is over for now (one where we did pretty well considering) along with the int'l break, our boys will come back fresher and stronger.

4.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 12:00:50
Do not agree when we are joint top at the premier league table. Klopp is a better tactician than you and I who has always played attacking football.

The opposition was also Mancity which is the toughest team in the league and one of the toughest around Europe.

Even last season it was not untill after the second international break when we started to really fire. Give the boys time and let's hope for the best.

5.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 12:18:27
Hey Redmen. Long time no post. Been away, working like a maniac and sick. but getting back to normality. Feels like, too many people with knee jerk reactions which is not surprising but pointing it out.

For all Man City’s wealth and creativity, they couldn’t score either yesterday, so do you think Man City fans are saying they need to invest in their squad lol? If they are then I have no words.

We have Shaq, Ox, Lallana all to come into our midfield options. Klopp did say after the game that he hasn’t used more of the squad because of the run of fixtures and the level of opponents we have had in last couple weeks and the main core is more settled in formation and way of playing and that going forward he will be using the squad more.

We are sitting top of the table, even on points, unbeaten, not saying it’s perect but damn I am happy with where we are and what’s still to come from our squad. Less drama and more optimism is needed in my opinion. It was a cracking game and looking at the stats after, a draw is a fair reflection on both teams in my opinion.

I just had to add because not seen anyone mention it any where. Gomez at RB was genius in my opinion. He had a stormer. Not faultless but his speed and reading of the game was immense and TAA would have struggled I think against Augero and Sane late on. Fair play to Klopp for that call. I’d go as far as to say that won us a point. Although TAA may have won us the game but we will never know.

6.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 13:32:48
All fair replies guys, but it is not a knee jerk reaction off the back of 1 game against Man City. It is a fact that if the front 3 do not score, Liverpool struggle.
Klopp tried to rectify this with Fekir, maybe we can get David Silva in the Summer lol.

7.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 15:36:10
If we don’t have that player we could certainly buy in January! Money is not the issue I am convinced. More than it we could play Shaqiri in the mix.
If he is never going to displace the front three, he should be fitted elsewhere.
Brilliant post OP. Hit the nail there!

8.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 19:27:27
Greenflash, fair play on your response. I don't believe your post was a knee jerk reaction at all. Just a solid assessment. Our midfield need to start chipping in with goals BUT like I said, this is the hand you are dealt.

As for Shaq, he has to earn Klopp's trust, just like Ox did who played the no. 10 and was brilliant at it. Why? He could create and do the dirty work, get stuck in and score goals. I don't think Klopp is sure Shaq can do that right now as the Saints game showed when he pulled him cos there was too much space in midfield after we lost the ball. It is up to him to earn the right to play and not for Klopp to just play him cos people keep on whining about it.

9.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 21:01:44
Obviously just my opinion and that’s what makes football and this site so entertaining.

I still maintain it’s a knee jerk reaction. We scored the same amount of goals as Chelsea and Man City did against us. That’s because the quality of the opposition and the tactics employed by the managers not because of the quality of the squad.

We have a fantastic squad and when we are able to give others game time and rest some of the core squad, that will help to improve everyone’s form for different reasons. Rest for some and minutes for others.

By knee jerk reaction I mean it’s a reaction to a small part ie: 3 games of a small part of the season, 11 games including cup games.

We are 3rd highest scoring team in the league and arguably had the most difficult start to the season out of all the teams in the league. hardly cause for concern. Let Kloppo do his thing with the squad he has assembled. In my opinion adding more players is not the answer but do agree with the fact that we can’t play Milner, Hendo, and Gini in every game as we need some creativity but I think we have plenty to experiment with. Fabinho, Keita, Lallana, ox to come back and could even drop Firmino behind Studge.

Def not trying to be obtuse or argumentative but think perspective is important.