12 Oct 2018 17:11:43
For a team that's at no more than gear 2 with a not-so-clinical frontline, I think we done well for our start. 20 out of 24 points claimed, tied with MC and CFC. Already played City, Spurs (A) and Chelsea (A) and lost to none, 5 neat points collected.
That's 3 of the current top 5.

We've had it rammed down our throats daily how "brilliant" Chelsea have been, the "miracle" Sarri's worked. Not to forget how City have been "City" and may as well be handed the title yesterday.
Yet here third we sit, equal points with the favourites.

Out of form Liverpool with out of sync, misfiring forwards winning six on the trot, outplaying "brilliant" Chelsea and reducing "streets ahead" City to no more than 2 shots on target and zero goals, not be Stoke-ing it but playing decent stuff.
Oh, by the way, did I mention it's 3 goals conceded? Yes THREE. Played away to Leicester, Spurs, Palace and Chelsea and hosted City (H/ A seemingly makes little difference to these) . Shipped in only 3.

See, much has been said about LFC's high press and counterattacking prowess. And fair dos.
What's not been highlighted much is how the teams has actually varied the style this season. Bulk of our goals have actually been less from the usual turnovers from the press. Set pieces and build play up have been our mainstay.

Mane (Palace) and Salah (Brighton) are the two vintage c/ a goals I recall off the top of my head.
Look at the clear cut to half chances we created at Chelsea. Not typical h/ p or c/ a play.
Westhampton? Southampton? Spurs?

There's a far greater defensive solidity, control and calm in our play now. Sturridge, Shaqiri, Keita allow us to to vary our style.
Fact is that, Liverpool is far more equipped now to deal with the low block teamz.
And I'm absolutely loving the turnaround in set pieces. We were literally the worst in either defending or exploiting them.

All of a sudden that's swung now. We going to score more from set plays and concede considerably less (have we a conceded from a set piece so far? ) . We pose multiple threats.
And we can even afford to "carry" our frontline, unlike last season when it was the other way round.

As for Salah being figured out? I think not. Mo's been getting and CREATING chances. He just hasn't been taking them, little to do with the opposition.
He's not being stopped playing, no. He's VERY much been playing. It's the finish letting him down.

It's likely that he'll improve, as no doubt will Bobby and Mane.
That the team is at gear 2 and the frontline somewhat off the boil and we still where we are on the log speaks volumes about the quality of this team and what's still to come.

I can accept Napoli for sure. Unless you think that every game played should be won and won convincingly, there's little to analyse there. There will be bad days. And they be just that, bad days.
This thing of nano-analyzing and overanalyzing is ridiculous. Players managers are allowed to get it wrong some occasions.

Sorry for the long post.


1.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 18:36:50
Great post lad. The boys look tired, the champions league run and the World Cup looks to have tired them out.


2.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 21:52:17
Spot on, OP. The fact that people are getting concerned cos we lost a CK game vs Napoli away from home (where we were useless from top top to bottom, is what I find baffling. As if LFC are not allowed to have a bad day at the office. If that is the standard then such fans had better quit watching us now cos there WILL be bad days. The hope is that they are not that many during the season.

Also on the high press system, we stopped playing that way (in it's purest form) for two years now and Klopp has calibrated it a bit more to suit the demands of the PL hence, we a re a bit more pragmatic in our approach right now as ED01 said, in a bid to conserve energy for the business end of the season.

The fact is that we are joint top of the PL, 20 points out of 24 (10 out of 12 point away from home vs CP, Chelsea, Spurs and Leicester), second in the CL group (smashed up PSG), gone through the hardest period of fixtures in the division and WE ARE STILL STANDING. It's all good, people. Up Da Pool!


3.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 22:35:05
Spot on brover lad couldn't of said it any better if I tried fella. YNWA.


4.) 14 Oct 2018
14 Oct 2018 07:51:28
The question is BRover, what if we stay at this 2nd gear for the entire season? What then? We're quickly approaching the first quarter mark of the season. 😵.


5.) 14 Oct 2018
14 Oct 2018 09:17:57
I know, we are growing into this season, and it's mad saying that sitting joint top. Good post OP. Spot on.

Watched the Premier league show on I player. Chris Sutton, Wes Brown, Ian Wright, Gaby Logan and some journalist. Debating the best Premier league side of all time. I felt sick watching it! But annoys me how it's always the "premier" league. All they did is change the spelling from one word, into french, and Liverpool are never mentioned.

Man United were deemed the best, Giggs, Roy Keane, Scholes and Beckham era. Because they dominated in the league AND won the European Cup. Well we did that for fun and it annoys me how they talk about the Premier league as if it is a different league from the one we dominated. It's EXACTLY the same bloody league. (think I said league too many times, there I go again, saying league) do you know what mean? I think we are the greatest ever English side. Our team in the 70s/ 80 was one of the best sides the world has ever seen. Fact, it shouldn't be so easily forgotten, especially by youngsters, who maybe don't support Liverpool.