1.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:36:23
Great review Ed001, who would you have us our starting midfield for big games?
I'm partial to the idea of Fabinho, Henderson and WIjnaldum though its not exactly been tried and tested.

Defence really needs to up its game, its been fantastic through most of the year but has seemed lax of late with Van Dijk carrying them. Gomez can't come back soon enough. Chuffed with the result though, especially Salah and Henderson's goals.

{Ed001's Note - I would vary it personally.}

2.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:46:52
Couldn't belive that the sky sports website gave Matip man of the match!

His positional play recently has been awful and I blame him for Saints goal event though it seemed VVD got the blame.

Will be great to have Gomez back although after the Chelsea game we will have a few easier games so we won't need him as much anyway. I'm sure if we'd had Gomez and VVD at the back all season we would be flying clear at the top of the league.

3.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:49:09
sounds fair to me Ed001, was always going to be a tricky game, as Southampton have much improved, delighted for all 3 goalscorers for different reasons, the sooner we get Gomez back in defence the better for all, not least Allison, as for wijnaldum at least we have options in midfield, be interesting to see who klopp picks vs Chelsea and porto of course. As for Southampton at least they have a proper manager in charge now who im sure will get rid of the crap they have up front in time, I doubt if they will get relegated now so they can rebuild in time.

4.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:59:36
Spot on as always Ed001.

Matip was shocking and Henderson once again showed how important he is to the team.

5.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:59:38
Yeah. Matip MOM was an atrocity. I don't think he was a 2 though. He did ok, but nowhere near the best man on the pitch. I'd give that honour to Henderson. It all changed when he came on.

6.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 20:55:27
I'm so glad to read that you thought that was a pentalty. At the time I was screaming at my tv because the pundits said that it was a dive. A dive? It was a clear trip and that is a penalty in my book. They said that the ball got away from him and then he looked for a penalty. So, what, it was a penalty. They would have called that a foul in the middle of the pitch. Unbelievable to me. Also, agree with you about Long. He should have put them up 2-0 and Ings would have. Great run by Henderson for his goal and beautiful vision by Firmino on the pass. Thank you Ed, great read as always.

{Ed025's Note - it was a pen stone but these things happen in football and thats part of the magic, the thing is that there is a lot of cheating going on by players in the form of simulation and that makes it hard for the officials, its actually ironic that liverpool supporters are the biggest complainants when they have one of the biggest exponents of the art in salah mate..

7.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:06:22
I think all being fit our defence and attack picks it's self, where we need strengthen is midfield. I think we will release/ sell some of our midfielders as not strong or creative enough imo. Where would you strengthen next season Eds1.

{Ed001's Note - full backs.}

8.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:13:48
I am still in two minds as to whether it was a penalty or not. I know the Keita was clearly taken out, but he was never going to get to the ball to score, the keeper was already in possession of the ball as Keita hit the floor. I mean at the time I was screaming "penalty! " but now I'm not so sure.

At least it didn't play a major part in the outcome of the game though, so in that respect we got lucky. I feel a few years ago it may have been a major factor between 1 and 3 points, but not these days thankfully!

{Ed002's Note - He was already dragging his foot before there was contact.}

9.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:15:58
I think the refs would give that if it was Kane or Sterling but it was keita so no penalty the refs and the media manipulate the rules depending on where the players are from if it is English its contact so its a penalty if it is a foreign player it is a dive.

{Ed025's Note - what a load of crap, when are we going to stop with this persecution complex and realize that bad decisions get made at times and its not all about liverpool?..

10.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:40:33
Very fair review Ed. Thought Henderson was excellent when he came on. can't remember the last time our subs had such an impact?

Regarding the penalty, there was definitely contact but naby did make the most of it. In the end it balanced itself out with our first goal which I felt was offside. Onwards and upwards.

11.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:46:40
that game came in useful last night as my son plays CB so we sat down and replayed the game so could show him how NOT to defend (matip) . Surly lovren has to start ahead of him now. I would have given matip a 0-1 as he actually ducked out of a header that needed clearing.
I thought Firmino deserved an 8 for he's header clearances for corners on more than one occasion plus the skills before the hendo goal.

12.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 21:26:55
Ed25, totally agree mate, you win some you lose some. We’ve certainly had the rub of the green at times.

Having said that, I do agree with the above poster, Kane is the golden boy and gets away with everything.

{Ed025's Note - i think it just looks that way drogie mate..

13.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 22:30:39
Matip was atrocious yesterday. Can't wait for Gomez to get back.
I think Alisson's lack of confidence in the defence is part of the reason for his mistakes - he's overcompensating and making errors because of that. When Gomez gets back and provides a bit of stability, we'll be good again.
For next season, I really hope we go all out for Wan Bissaka if he becomes available. He's a fullback's fullback. He's one of the few I've seen that has that "you won't cross the ball" mentality. Most fullback's allow the cross and expect their centrebacks or goalkeepers to deal with it.

14.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 23:19:54
Eamonst, I'd probably have Milner at right back in big matches with Henderson, Gini, and Fabhino. I could see an argument for Keita instead of Gini at some point.

15.) 06 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 23:49:34
I'd be inclined to agree with that Stone, just based on current form though. Trent did manage to completely shut down Sane when Man City tried to target him last year, so he definitely has the ability to raise his game.

I'd love Wan Bissaka as well realtofel, but it doesn't look like palace want to sell so we're probably talking crazy money and the manchester clubs are circling. Haven't seen too many other names thrown around, terrible era for defensive fullbacks.

16.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 00:29:19
Take a look at max Aaron’s eamon, English and a year younger than Trent.

17.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 02:10:19
i think the foul on keita is about a normal penalty that gets called. one of those obe that gets called on anither day. Kane has won a couple against us exactly like that. algoods, maybe we get it next time.

also, I may have to watch the game cos I honestly can't recall how Salah was causing havoc all game other than his goal. great goal tho!

18.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 04:26:48
Keita's dive was never a penalty. He knocked the ball ten yards ahead and played for the penalty.

I say dive because in my mind that's what it should be called. If he had kept close control the defender most likely makes a good challenge and takes some part of the ball.

Apart from that onwards and upwards. Good win against a southampton team that were really up for it and were very well organised until a very badly positioned coner.

This liverpool team are showing some grit at the tail end of the season. If we can beat chelsea the last four games are there for the taking.

It would be extremely unlucky if liverpool were to win all their games and still not win the league.

Im not one for overly bashing players and while matip has been very poor positionally he seems to be taking all the flack for both his own but also a lot of other players failings as of late.

But he is giving his all and is part of a team sitting top of the league. He has probably played the same if not more league games than gomez and we are still top. Conceding more goals most certainly but the guy has a ceiling and has come in to play when others were absent. Give him a break lads.

The absolute hate towards our own players is baffling at times. The best way for a player to pick up form and confidence is through receiving positivity. The last thing a player needs after a bad game is to see messages of hate.

YNWA guys not YNWA when your are only playing well.

{Ed001's Note - sorry that is nonsense based on watching the game through slow motion replays. The defender was never getting the ball and took out Keita. All this crap about dragging a foot is again based on people who are watching through slow motion which skews perspective as it makes it look like there was time for him to think 'oh bugger I have knocked that well ahead and won't get it'. At full speed, Keita will not have even had time to see that before the defender comes flying in, doesn't get the ball, so it has to be a pen. The defender made a massive mistake by going to ground and those exact pens were given in a number of games this afternoon.}

19.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 04:56:44
Thought it was one of those penalties that, if it had been given against us, I'd be bemoaning it as a soft one. There was contact but he was already going down - perhaps anticipating the contact - but I thought it was 50/ 50 myself.

Good review Ed, think you called it pretty much spot on. Defence is starting to look increasingly shaky - both Robertson and TAA are worrying in how poor they have been defensively. They do offer a lot going forward but that needs to be in conjunction with a solid defensive performance and it isn't there at the moment. Feels like teams really like attacking the Matip/ TAA side of the pitch as they tend to get a lot of space and a lot of joy. I do think TAA would be doing better if there was a better CB close to him instead of Matip. Will we see Gomez in the team again before the end of the season?

{Ed001's Note - Gomez just needs match fitness now, so should be back. As for the pen, the defender slid in and got nowhere near the ball, whether Keita was going down or not, there is no way he is going to avoid the contact. That is a pen.}

20.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 06:02:47
Great review Ed, though I saw one mistake, you forgot to put the minus sign before Matip's 2 rating ;) lol thank you very much mate! A brilliant read.

{Ed001's Note - damn I knew I had missed out something!}

21.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 06:03:19
The pen situation doesn't even make sense from the ref's perspective. Either Keita was taken out (which means pen) or Keita dived for it (which means a yellow for Keita) . By not doing either, does that mean the ref deemed it acceptable contact or something like that? Either way, that was really poor from the ref.

22.) 07 Apr 2019
06 Apr 2019 23:17:19
Ed025, agree with you completely. There's so much cheating going on I'm really never surprised when they aren't given. I get it. Thanks for the response.

{Ed025's Note - no problem mate, its ruining the game stone and its not just diving, we see players going down holding their face even though there has been no contact just to get an opponent sent off, or rolling around like they have been shot even though there has been minimal contact, the punishments have to be bigger for offenders or we will lose the game..

23.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 08:25:30
Good to see the fans who were bemoaning the Hendo critics yesterday are now hanging Matip out to dry themselves. Contradiction at its finest.

{Ed001's Note - is it? Or is it the fact that Matip has been nothing but dreadful constantly, while Henderson has very rarely let the team down but gets stick all the time? Hardly a contradiction to criticise someone who deserves criticism while supporting someone who doesn't is it?}

24.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 08:47:29
Doesn’t say a lot for Klopp as a manager if he is constantly picking a dreadful player in Matip. For me Matip is the weakest of the 4 centre half’s and I agree that he has made errors and we are are a far better team when Gomez is in there. But he also plays his part in the team when he does play. If other players are criticised then those fans are called trolls or not proper fans by the same fans who are happy to hang Matip and other certain players out to dry. For me that is contradiction.

{Ed001's Note - what it says for Klopp is that he is loyal and also that for a lengthy period there was no other option anyway.

Sorry this is a pointless discussion as you clearly do not understand what a contradiction is if you think criticising a player playing poorly is the same as criticising a player because you don't like him.

As for playing a part, Matip is unfortunately not playing a good part and our defence has been much the weaker for his presence. Before Gomez got injured Alisson was well clear of Ederson in terms of clean sheets, now there is just one between them. Most of those goals conceded can be laid in very large part at the door of Matip. So yes he plays a part, just not a positive one. If you can't criticise a player directly at fault for those faults, then when can you criticise a player? Or will any criticism be a contradiction according to you?}

25.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 09:09:40
I was trying to think how to better explain it and I think what I am trying to say is that a contradiction would be if they were saying Matip is playing crap and criticising him for it while saying A N Other player is playing crap but we should all support him anyway. That is not what is happening. They are in fact giving an opinion that one player is not performing and A N Other is actually not playing badly but is getting criticised anyway.

26.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 09:14:41
I agree with you JK23 100%. It is total double standards. Matip is playing to his level what more can he do. As for Matip being responsible for goals conceded There are not more than 2. There is not one point we have dropped that is down to Matip.

On Friday he won the most headers in our box and made 2 last man tackles. He had to cover Trent who was constantly getting beaten by the winger.

If he was so rubbish why is Lovren not playing? Do people know more than Klopp now.

27.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 09:35:37
Lets pick on the weakest member of the squad blame him for everything and constantly tell him he is crap. So you think Kane on Matip of course he did but he didn't have much effect on the game. Do you not think Kane will play on Gomez or will he suddenly think no I will go agains't VVD.

Alison and VVD problems v Fulham I assume this was Matip's fault. Robertson's free kick v Leicster. No shots v Man U. Salah missing 4 chances v Everton.


Bullies I can't stand them.

{Ed025's Note - mark posters are not having a go at matip for the sake of it, its because hes crap mate, i dont like bullies either but this is just guys expressing an opinion about a player who has proven that he is just not good enough..

28.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 09:25:48
What about the challenge from mane for the salah goal very brave hard tackle especially for a winger


Also agree on matip he day dreams far to often and is quite weak


Made one very good tackle on Redmond and 1 decent pass and run

Ed you mentioned klopps loyalty to him but lovren is only back so loyalty or forced.

{Ed001's Note - that was what I was meaning when I said he had no choice for a lengthy period. Now he has he is staying loyal to a winning team, something I would usually agree with.}

29.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 09:33:23
Ed001 no worries mate. I don’t think my original comment came out as I intended it either. Mine wasn’t aimed at Hendo as a dig, I was merely using his circumstance as the example. Hendo played brilliantly on Fri night in an advanced position of which he has hardly played under Klopp’s tenure. For me that’s Hendo’s best performance in a long time.

{Ed001's Note - I realise you weren't having a dig at Hendo, but it just seems a bit unfair to criticise fans for criticising a player performing badly by saying they aren't criticising one they feel is not performing badly. Henderson gets a lot of undue criticism, so some people do feel protective over him, it is only to be expected. I mean you have people claiming he is a crap captain even after Friday night, like they have any idea of what a captain does in football or whether he does any of it or not.}

30.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 10:10:43
Good review Ed

- definitely a penalty and the sliding tackle took out Keïta. Arguments over trailing legs are ridiculous as Kane did far worse to initiate contact last season back, and people still argued a pen because the tackle didn’t get the ball
- Matip is a real problem IMO, constantly stepping out when it’s not certain for him to win possession, leaving VVD on his own
- their goal was mostly down to midfield not tracking runners IMO. Gini for the flick on and Keïta left a runner too leaving Robbo with a two on one. hopefully they learn

Overall a fantastic result though
- late winner to frustrate City and prove to instill even further belief in the team
- even better the late was from Salah, breaking his duck
- proves Hendos worth yet again and help silence the doubters for a while

Big one against Chelsea next in the league. if we can take that there will be huge pressure on City in a tough run of matches.

31.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 10:19:05
He was awesome when he came on. I think the captaincy is a burden for hendo. He's not a regular now so give it to VVD and let Jordan work on his game can only be good for him, therefore good for Liverpool.

32.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 11:25:05
The darlings of the england team DO get special treatment ed025. Its not about the reds being persecuted but top england players being given the benefit of the doubt. Technically it was a penalty. The guy missed the ball, took keita down. that's a foul.

And to call salah a serial diver ed025 mate, i think that's harsh. I can think of many times when he was fouled in the box but instead of taking rhe foul he tries to score.

{Ed025's Note - i thought it was a penalty as well robbie but it wont be the first not given and its not only liverpool who are on the sharp end of decisions like that...its just that you moan more, everton had niasse banned for two games for simulation when he was bundled over in the box, yet salah has done a greg louganis impression on numerous occasions and gets nothing....yes he is a serial cheat im afraid mate, you say that english players get the benefit of the doubt but i would say its more to do with the top 6 getting it more than their nationality, maybe when everton are in the top 6 next season i will become a victim of the persecution complex and think everyone hates us and will think city get preferential treatment as well..

33.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 11:51:50
I'm going to say it pretty simple. Hendo is a brilliant vital player for the team, he deserves to be praised. Matip is crap and when the other lads are fully fit he won't get ANY game time, that's the reality of it. Matip deserves to be criticised because he's not good enough for this Liverpool team.

{Ed025's Note - most of that makes perfect sense to me salah...but please dont put the word "brilliant" and jordan henderson on the same page mate, he is a good pro who gives his all but has limited ability..

34.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 12:12:05
Fair points ed025.

Matip is not "crap" in my opinion. We have conceded very few goals while he has been in the team. This wpuldnt be the case if he was hopeless. He plays next to the best cb in the world and in front of one of the best gks in the world, also the wing backs are excellent. So he is surrounded by players that are much better than him. It makes him look poor. And at timrs he is very poor.

But, he has also played well this season. Excellent against bayern in both games. He is the worst senior cb at the club but i think he is getting better. Klopp is famous for making decent players into excellent players (andy robertson and aoc for example) why can matip not improve.

{Ed025's Note - in the end its all about opinions robbie, when i say "crap"i suppose i mean not good enough for a side looking for success in the league and in europe mate, which i believe is true..

35.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 13:09:24
Good review. Don’t understand the defence of matip on here always makes me feel like we are going to concede with him in the team. Hoping lovren May get the the nod on Tuesday.

On the Southampton goal I do think matip was out of position but there was a few others to blame too. Wij literally just watched Holjberg make the run to which he won the header and flicked it on to long. Surprising as win been one of our better players recently seems like an off game for him.

{Ed001's Note - agreed, I did say that the midfield was too far forwards as well. Both Wijnaldum and Keita were letting men run off them all game. I put that down to exhaustion in Gini's case.}

36.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 12:51:27
Where are we going to find this top 4th choice centre back? It isn't that anyone thinks he is a good player ed025 but after every game he gets hammered by the same posters on this site. He is 4th choice for a reason and has played to his level and very few goals have been his fault. I would say he has done well enough and tried his best and the goals conceded all but one were not his fault and no points dropped have been down to Matip.

If you tell a player every week wether win lose or draw that you are crap then how it that going to help. Lovren has been fit for the last couple of games but still Matip players. Give the lad a break. This YNWA they only use it when it suits them.

{Ed025's Note - he is just not good enough for a side that wants to win things mark, liverpool do need a CB and im sure that will be addressed in the summer, i have nothing against the guy but we are talking the difference between winning things and coming runner up,s mate, and thats why the fans are venting their frustration..

37.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 13:21:44
Yeah i agree ed025. But he isn't a first choice cb idt. We need back up cbs and i think joel has played well, especially in europe. He has made mistakes also but he has definitely improved from the cb of last year.

{Ed025's Note - i just dont trust him robbie and am worried that one of his lapses could cost valuable points mate..

38.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 15:28:29
'i just don't trust him robbie and am worried that one of his lapses could cost valuable points mate. '

Spot on Ed25, that's the most worrying thing because he runs around like a headless chicken constantly giving the ball away. Some people say he's had good games, he might've had the odd good game but that's about it. For THIS Liverpool team he is no good, we're right at the very top going for the top trophies now, if we had Matip on first choice all season we certainly wouldn't be. Thankfully he is our 4th choice and the sooner he's replaced the better because he does my heart no good when he plays.

Anybody who backs him up, that's fair enough, we all have our opinions but I believe we deserve better considering how elite we are these days, we have no room for weak links. Matip imo is a championship player at best.

39.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 17:00:33
There’s a contradiction in terms going on here though.
If we accept that a stand-in player gives for a drop in standard, we have to accept that Matip is 4th choice and has come in and done his best and, to be fair to the lad, has helped see us through some tough tests so far.
He has some redeeming qualities, principally his recovery pace, and personally I can see him remaining part of the squad longer than Lovren.
He didn’t play well yesterday but he has done better in other games.
It’s like Ed001’s criticism validates constant dislike, we saw the same with Wijnaldum last season too.
No need for it imo, though I’m not getting at Ed001 here.
But he does seem to influence a lot of the site’s attitudes towards certain players.

{Ed001's Note - recovery pace? Are you deliberately trying to be funny? That is one thing he does not possess at all. As for influencing the site's attitude, no idea but I only point out what I see, I don't dislike any player in a Liverpool shirt, so not sure how constant dislike is anything to do with me.}

40.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 17:15:33
He’s quicker than Lovren (or Fabinho) put it that way.
And a sobering thought, if we win the league and / or European Cup he’ll have been in place for almost half the campaign.

41.) 07 Apr 2019
07 Apr 2019 21:50:45
The Juicer, Matip is NOT quicker than Lovren anywhere on this planet. Lovs is one of the quickest CB's in the PL. If he wasn't then how was he able to shut down CR7 in the CL final? Matip is poor and has been making the types of mistakes you and his defenders would NEVER have stood for if Lovs was making them yet you keep defending him by making lame excuses like "He is our 4th choice. What should we expect? " or some other nonsense.

N btw, he is worse than Lovs and Gomez and right now, Lovs is fit so he should come in for him or as Ed25 said, Matip's mistakes will cost us cos he is the weakest link in our defence now and teams are targeting his side at will. "If we win the league and / or European Cup he’ll have been in place for almost half the campaign. ". There will be NO CL or PL to win if he makes mistakes we cannot overcome in the next few games cos he is killing us right now. If you can't see any of that then I can't help you, man.