Liverpool Banter Archive March 07 2016

07 Mar 2016 22:30:39
My dad had an accident at the weekend and I returned home from the hospital for a break to see we were 1-1 on 82 mins with 10 men, my little lad was watching the game and I sat with him and my wife.
I asked the boys to get a goal for my poorly dad, a lifelong koppite, Moreno hit the post and then when it looked a draw Benteke scored that pen, I went back to hospital told Dad, showed him both results on my phone and said hope that cheers you up dad, can you see it. His eyes told me he could.
Dad is gravely ill now, with not long left and I'm with him, I'll always remember Benteke scoring that penalty and think of my dad. He's had some stick, from me too, but well done Christian Benteke and thank you from my family and I.

In the next 24 hours I can see dad, chatting with Shanks and Sir Bob about Klopps potential signings, formations and infectious enthusiasm for his new club.
Dad will Never Never Walk Alone and we'll be here to see him join all those koppites in heaven. God Bless and good night dad, YNWA xxx.

{Ed007's Note - Aw mate I'm really sorry to hear that. All our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, may God bless you all and provide you with the strength to get through this.}

08 Mar 2016 00:02:10
Lalas, my heart goes to you and your family during this difficult time. I lost my father to illness ten years ago to prostate cancer and kidney failure and it is something I will never get over. All we have to do is always remember the great times we spent with them and pray we see them again. I pray your father finds peace and that he indeed, will NEVER WALK ALONE.

08 Mar 2016 00:06:09
Thoughts with you Alexi.

08 Mar 2016 00:11:49
Best wishes to you and your family Alexi

YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 00:24:38
Alexi, I hope you have all the strength to pass through this difficult time. All our prayers are with you and your family.

YNWA!

08 Mar 2016 00:45:26
Alexi my love and thoughts to you and your family mate I hope all is peaceful and so sorry to hear your news . YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 03:04:44
it puts everything in perspective when things like this happen, all I can say is my heart goes out to you and your loved ones alexi, may you find the strength to get through this difficult time, and I hope you find comfort in the memories which you have of yourself, your dad and Liverpool fc. Y. N. W. A. stay strong mate.

08 Mar 2016 03:32:52
Our prayers are with your family.

Y. N. W. A.

08 Mar 2016 03:46:06
That really sucks man, my thoughts are with you guys.

08 Mar 2016 05:50:09
YNWA Alexi to you and your family.

{Ed001's Note - my best wishes to all your family Alexi.}

08 Mar 2016 06:14:49
I hope you get some good news with regards to your dad Alexi. Fingers crossed mate.

08 Mar 2016 06:17:51
Best wishes to you and your family Alexi. Lost my dad last December to cancer. I've only got you lot to bounce thoughts on our great club now. Gone but never forgotten Alexi. YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 06:49:15
All the best wishes to you and your family, Alexi. YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 06:53:22
Gutted for you mate. YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 07:15:57
Alexi YNWA, my thoughts are with you and your family.

08 Mar 2016 07:32:46
Thoughts are with you and your family Alexi.

08 Mar 2016 08:03:18
YNWA mate God bless.

08 Mar 2016 08:04:02
Thoughts with you mate stay strong YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 08:08:31
One love alexi, stand tall.

08 Mar 2016 06:07:20
Prayers and thoughts with you and your family Alexi.
YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 08:37:12
YNWA alone alexi and neither will your dad, thoughts are with you and your family mate.

08 Mar 2016 08:41:12
Very touching to read. My best wishes to you and your family. YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 09:23:07
YNWA alexi. Thoughts are with you and your family.

08 Mar 2016 09:36:35
Keep fighting till the end like we did against Palace, YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 09:43:59
YNWA hard read that! All our thoughts are with u and your family x.

08 Mar 2016 09:50:01
Alexi. God Bless your dad, and you and the family.
YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 10:08:17
Thoughts with you mate! stay strong!
Hold your head up high, just as your Dad certainly always did. YNWA.

08 Mar 2016 10:09:45
We are all with you brother. stay strong.

08 Mar 2016 10:13:35
Beautiful touching post Alexi, thoughts are with you.

08 Mar 2016 11:30:24
Best wishes to you and yours mate.

08 Mar 2016 11:53:38
God bless you and your family man. Best wishes.

08 Mar 2016 12:35:12
Walk on walk on walk on, he will never walk alone mate. Youl always be in our prayers sir.

08 Mar 2016 13:49:18
Thoughts and prayers with you and your family mate, and I hope you can take some comfort from the fact that your thread is one of the longest i've seen on this forum, we band together when tragedy strikes, and I know your dad, being a red, would appreciate that.

YNWA, stay strong.

08 Mar 2016 14:08:58
Best Wishes to Alexi and family, YNWA brother.

08 Mar 2016 09:40:04
Thoughts are with you and your family and in time you will smile and laugh thinkin about the good and funny times yous shared . YNWA.

07 Mar 2016 21:27:54
It was only a few years back when Ola Toivanan thought he was too big of a player to join us. Now's he scoring goals for Sunderland u/ 21's against Everton u/ 21's.
What a guy!

08 Mar 2016 00:03:54
He wasn't that good anyway as his career has now found him at the Sunderland U-21's. Dodged a bullet there, mate.

07 Mar 2016 17:08:54
A bit late but it was refreshing to see some of the lads tossing their shirts into the stands, not for the first time this year. I think this is part of the 'Klopp Magic' and it is awesome to see.

07 Mar 2016 19:43:58
Who disagrees? Really.
I'm not always right but this is just daft!

07 Mar 2016 21:08:01
Don't worry about it, perfectly relevant posts have 8 to 10 disagrees on them, I got a load for saying I was taking my young fella to a Reds match, just trolls, pay them no attention.

07 Mar 2016 21:36:23
Mate its trolls don't worry about it. This will get disagree by the same morons with nothing better to do.

07 Mar 2016 16:28:28
Ed001 since I know how you wanted us to sign Son I was wondering how would you compare his season to Firminos, who do you think has better season? Are you satisfied with Firmino?

{Ed001's Note - Son has had a stop start season, so it is difficult to compare. Plus Firmino suffered under Rodgers early on. Overall you would have to say Firmino, if only he would man up, is doing the better by miles. I am very satisfied with Firmino, but then I was glad when we went for him in the first place.}

07 Mar 2016 17:17:26
I have seen enough of son to think he would have done well in a klopp side, agree 100% with you ed001 under Rodgers firmino looked like a little boy lost trying to fit in to Rodgers's system, as soon as klopp arrived he went from black and white to colour, if he can get double figures in both goals and assists I would say that is a good start to his Liverpool career.

07 Mar 2016 17:52:59
I would have loved son personally but he hasn't adapted well. He would have been a more intergral part of the team at Liverpool but if he isn't doing it at Spurs he most likely wouldn't do it here either. Firmino has been awesome for some time now and is our most inform player. I would have loved teixeria in the team alongside coutinho and firmino, think we would be on fire right now. Hopefully we make quality additions in the summer at last.

07 Mar 2016 18:59:47
Thanks for the answer Ed001, have a nice day.

{Ed001's Note - you are welcome mate.}

07 Mar 2016 19:25:57
Firmino is a class act and looks like he's settling in well. He can only get better.
I'm glad we signed him and not DePay. we certainly dodged a bullet there!

07 Mar 2016 20:56:24
Was and still am excited about Firmino, he is class and has adapted well under Klopp to say the least.
Son has not adapted as quickly, but I would not say no to him in a Liverpool shirt.
My preference will always be Firmino, not just because he is a Liverpool player, but because he is class act.

08 Mar 2016 00:16:26
I would have taken Son and my opinion hasn't changed. Firmino was always going to come good and I see that he's getting a bit nasty in his game as shown with his ability to win the ball back and getting stuck in. 8 goals and 7 assists is impressive and I hope he gets more.

07 Mar 2016 23:37:35
There was some doubt from the Eds about Alderweireld - what do they think now? To my mind not signing him, if we actually had the chance, would be reason enough to re-evaluate completely the way we sign players.

{Ed001's Note - he has grown with the move, after being nowhere near good enough at Atletico. They do play in a way that suits him, but I still see a major improvement now he has settled down and got a long run of games. It is not just his defending, it is his work on the ball that has come on.}

08 Mar 2016 07:01:18
he has also benefitted from having a regular partner for most of the season, I think poch has played to his strengths, he has done well, but there is no reason with the right coaching we couldn't get the best out of lovren or sakho.

08 Mar 2016 13:20:03
We are already getting the best out of almost all our CB`s including Lucas and that comes down to coaching and making things simple. Klopp should get all the credit for this.

07 Mar 2016 14:40:46
Hi Eds

Whats your summary on yesterdays game please mate if youve got time? I would say we were not amazing but thought Lovren Can Origi were decent and getting 3 points not playing well is a good sign. Did you think it was a Peno?

{Ed001's Note - we did ok, though Palace were awful after they scored. Flanno looked completely out of sorts, you could see he was recovering from a major injury as he was slow, slow to react, slow movement, slow passing, everything was a struggle for him. That does happen, hopefully it is out of his system now.
Mignolet was decent enough, though his kicking is still woeful. Solid enough apart from that, but never had anything to really test his weaknesses, which is why I struggle to understand why people thought we were lucky. What did Palace really do, other than retreat into their shell after scoring?
Moreno was once again rash and more of a hindrance than a help. What is with him throwing himself in when there is no need? The sheer stupidity of his play beggars belief at times. I have completely given up on the idea of him playing in front of Smith, his movement is moronic in the final third.
Sakho was solid enough, not really outstandingly good or bad, Lovren was good enough alongside him as a centre back, but played really well once we went down to ten and his position seemed to be anything from right back to right mid.
Can was good again. He does make errors, but overall he is growing as a player by the game. Looked fantastic stepping out from the back.
Hendo was ok, still not back to his best, but did nothing really wrong.
Firmino is fine when we have the ball, but he should be nowhere near our box when there is a setpiece to defend. Getting out of the way of the shot was criminal. Leave him upfield where he can worry the opposition in future. Took his goal so well though.
Milner, just why? He was terrible, then stupidly got sent off. Not a good day for him.
Lallana I just don't see what he really offered, then he does something fantastic and you think he is going to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck and instead he just doesn't. Flattered to deceive once again. Could be so much more but just never seems to want to do anything but run about. He drives me mad.
Origi was decent, but it didn't quite come off for him. Still, I like him up front, he offers us something different, a real focal point. He kept their defence busy up until the moment he was taken off and they really struggled with him.
Coutinho was busy when he came on but nothing outstanding. Still he does offer some incision to our play which forced them back even more.
Benteke did ok, win and scored the pen, can't ask much more of him in ten min.
Kolo was not on long enough to judge.}

07 Mar 2016 16:02:08
Spot on but for me I absolutely hate moreno he can not defend or cross I still prefer Enrique hahaha Smith all day for me though at left back and get flanno on now and then ease him in like studge but henderson milner and lallana I just thought was dreadful but moreno I hated from last season anyway.

07 Mar 2016 16:21:05
Totally agree with your why do "people think we were lucky comment".
I watched the game with my mate who is a Palace fan and he thought that we were on top in the first half.
Apart from the Adebayor header (which only arose from the whole team downing tools as the ball had gone out of play) and the Bolasie chance they offered nothing going forward. Even less after we went down to 10 men.
We looked dangerous and kept getting in behind their fullbacks but our final ball was poor.
We just need to sort that out.
Even with that in mind Moreno hit the post, Benteke and Origi had a couple of chances.
Palace are totally our bogey team and we just beat them with 10 men.
Look at what happened to United and Everton after going down to 10 men!

07 Mar 2016 16:41:42
ed, you say we weren't lucky, but 99 times out of 100 if we played like that we would not win. I feel we were very lucky we got the mistake from the keeper and the soft penalty decision. we took our chances which was the only thing that wasnt lucky.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but that is simply not true, we were the better side and 99 times out of 100 they wouldn't have scored and we would have created something and snatched it. I really do not know what you watched but we completely dominated after the sending off.}

07 Mar 2016 17:06:56
I think people are still getting used to actually winning when we're the better team. For the last 18 months we've been able to dominate position and make some good moves into the box but no matter how well we played we never did it enough or were never clinical enough to actually walk out with 3 points. That's changed since Klopp - United aside, we've usually won when we've been better. But it takes emotional adjustment!

07 Mar 2016 17:16:20
I know we dominated after the sending off but palace were trying to win the game too which let us play our game. we didn't just magically play better with 10 men. I think in games like that in the future, we just need to be patient, instead of letting the defensive team snatch an early goal by us going all out attack especially when we never look like scoring anyway with our starting lineup, but we are the better side but played right into palaces hands until they felt forced (they saw it as a great opportunity) to go for the win after we went a man down. we looked like we could go on to win it but it was luck in the end with the penalty decision.

{Ed001's Note - seriously? We were better because we were better. This is just embarrassing now. We can't even win without whines!}

07 Mar 2016 17:39:56
So if people disagree its whining, so from my perspective are you whining? I know we were better than palace. I just don't understand how people fail to see we were lucky to win the game. I feel people just just care about the result and ignore any problems we may have. Could have easily been a draw or a loss, and the mood on these pages would be a lot different. The reason I care because we will get another game like that this season and the problems need to be addressed by klopp, otherwise top 4 is a pipe dream.

{Ed001's Note - so we were better yet you still call that lucky? Lucky is winning when you are not better. You are whining because you can't stop getting on the backs of the players even when we have played well and got a well deserved victory because of this insane idea that it was down to luck that the better team won.}

07 Mar 2016 18:08:20
Agree with ed1, especially on Moreno. When he was at Sevilla you could see he's everything you want in a modern fullback, he just needed to gain more experience at a top club to sort out his defending and he would be a star. Two seasons in and he just makes the most inexperienced mistakes. He can't defend crosses, always caught on the break. He's decent enough in the final third but I don't think I've seen many goals come from him attacking or overlapping. He's just an erratic player. If a better left back is available in the summer I would be in favour of replacing him, certainly as first choice. Enrique is gone, and who knows if Gomez will still be utilised as a LB when he gains fitness again. Mignolet, Moreno and benteke are at this present time certainties to be replaced. Not necessarily sold but definitely not first choice. If benteke has a miracle upturn in form then that's 50/ 50 but I doubt it, we should sell and get some coin. Lallana is like Luis Garcia to a lesser degree. I'm still undecided on whether I'd be patient on him or not, we certainly need another winger/ forward so not sure what that means to lallana.

I'd also say one area that's begging for some creativity and craft is centre mid. We have two players that basically do the same thing and are ok at it. Henderson was immense for most of last season, he was one of our better players and since the injury has just fallen back. Can is improving but i'd still say we need a better midfielder playing there, either alongside him or instead of him.

07 Mar 2016 18:08:44
we were lucky the way the events all unfolded that allowed us to be the better side but still needed luck to get the penalty, which won us the game. i'm not going to talk anymore on this.

07 Mar 2016 18:14:48
I don't call any of that luck. We were the only team creating meaningful chances for at least a third of the game, the other 2/ 3 the chances were pretty even.
Firmino got his "luck" because we were attacking and their defender intercepted and passed back to his keeper.
Now we could have retreated to half way to compete for the second ball, but no, we had a player in the box pressurising and we had Firmino on the edge of the area pressurising. That pressure force the indecision in the keepers mind and he slipped under pressure. The skill to control that ball and dribble in to goal and beat the keeper was fantastic.
With respect to the penalty, you don't get a penalty if you're not attacking the opponents goal. There is no luck in that, it was sustained pressure causing a mistake.

We deserved that win and Palace's goal was the luckiest of the lot, a bouncing ball after a corner kick and smash it through a crowd of players.

{Ed001's Note - well said.}

07 Mar 2016 20:16:30
Cheers for reply ed mate. A grest indepth answer and your spot on with everything youve said. can't beleive so many have hit the disagree button and some have hit it on my initial question to you, can't weigh it up lol but there you go.

Thanks again mate.

07 Mar 2016 21:48:49
I wonder if people are confusing "lucky" with "character. " That was a character win. We were the better team throughout, went down against the run of play, lost a man through brain cramp, then upped our game (admittedly to where it should have been) to snatch a victory from a tough day.

That's what good teams learn to do - win when maybe they aren't at their best. Followed hot on the heals of the ManC win, and admitting a letdown in opposition talent and therefore motivation, this win strikes me as exactly the kind the team needs. After Milner was tossed, they dug deep, showed real character, and found the same type of game they played against the ManCs - and found a way to take the three points.

And while you can point to the overall record of Klopp and say "inconsistent, " I would beg to differ, and point out a slowing increasing confidence and commitment level.

I think it bodes well.

07 Mar 2016 21:54:50
Wiseryan i ohnestly don't know if your messing around or not!?

08 Mar 2016 00:36:08
Wiseryan, you're sound very unwise. You talking about luck but your notion of luck has no basis in reality. How can you be lucky when you created the better chances, scored more goals and didn't concede any, all this after going down to ten men? As Ed asked, what did CP actually do to warrant them being unlucky? They had the man advantage yet a suspect GK like Mingo had NO saves to make? I can keep going. Let it go, bro. You're sounding desperate because you opinion has no facts to back it up.

08 Mar 2016 07:04:53
its best to let sleeping dogs lie, wiseryan, what's done is done mate, move on for the good of your sanity mate.

07 Mar 2016 13:24:37
OMG I've never heard so much moaning and crying from a manager and players over a penalty, if the defender never went down then there's no pen but everyone who plays and watches the game knows that if you slide in to tackle some one in the penalty area then there's a chance of giving a penalty away, delaney who gave the pen away says he never touched benteke and that the palace players where man handled all through the game, he even waited half an hour to talk to the ref who said to him he thought it was not a pen so half an hour after the game ended the palace players and management are still moaning they want to grow up and move on, every team has to go through the same thing but they don't go on and on about it, its making palace look idiots and cryers the manager should have taken it on the chin and said these decisions go for you and go against you, they must all be in training now still whining over it,

07 Mar 2016 22:31:01
Clearly he was sliding on his knees and came into contact with Benteke. Don't see what Delaney has to be aggrieved about other than frustration at himself. He doesn't go down, he doesn't make contact, no penalty.

07 Mar 2016 12:14:48
A thought on Benteke,

regardless of what people think of his abilities when he's on the pitch, I think the lad needs commending for the way he's dealt with being out of favour as of late. I've not seen any or heard of any reports of him moaning/ whinging etc and it seems as though he's just getting his head down.

I for one would love to see him come good for us and was really pleased to see him grab a goal yesterday. YNWA.

07 Mar 2016 12:43:21
Are you just repeating what carra said?

07 Mar 2016 12:55:23
I might be a bit biased, since he's one of my favorite players. I really can't see the rationale behind this bashing. If he is being measured by the stats (goals, assists, etc), maybe it is clear to say so. But things are just more than that.

07 Mar 2016 12:51:24
£80k a week to sit on your ass? Not bad if u can get it.

07 Mar 2016 14:38:42
Arghh. I replied to a wrong post. That was meant for Hendo, not Benteke!

07 Mar 2016 11:50:40
Can anyone tell me why the Chelsea game isn't being played on sunday?

07 Mar 2016 12:06:00
Chelsea play Everton on saturday in the FA Cup.

07 Mar 2016 12:06:47
Because they're playing in the FA cup.

07 Mar 2016 12:46:13
Eds, any word on when we play our game in hand against everton or the Chelsea game? Does that mean we have a free weekend this week and I assume both games will have to be midweek!

{Ed001's Note - I don't think the dates have been set yet.}

07 Mar 2016 16:33:17
Thanks for replying troops.

07 Mar 2016 09:20:35
So Saint Pardew didn't think it was fair it was not a penalty. LET HE WHO NOT SINNED THROW THE FIRST STONE. Welcome to football.

07 Mar 2016 11:10:40
If was a soft penalty but the defender made contact so its a penalty.

Daft challenge really benteke was probably going to run it out for a goal kick.

07 Mar 2016 08:34:15
I see Gerrard got off to a winning start in the mls

Galaxy won 4-1 and are sitting top on GD. Gerrard assisted the opening goal.

Hope he finally gets the league title he deserves this season.

07 Mar 2016 09:32:52
He also gave away possession for their goal. Made me remember why his time was rightly bought to an end for liverpool. Great servant but defo right.

07 Mar 2016 04:05:59
I've heard that the manc fans have been sent a white away shirt free with each ticket for Thursday.
surely this is just like plastic flags in another disguise.

{Ed001's Note - I don't get why the plastic flags thing is such a big deal either personally. I would rather my club spent some money on giving something back to the fans to try and create some atmosphere. It is shocking there at times. Look at what Leicester have done with the clappers, it has created a fantastic atmosphere and helped turn them from strugglers to champions. Giving a free away shirt to traveling fans is a good touch if you ask me.}

07 Mar 2016 04:32:32
champions elect ed001 don't jinx them mate.

{Ed001's Note - that was meant to say challenging to be champions. Doh. That is what happens when you accidentally close the window and have to write it out again.}

07 Mar 2016 05:07:45
Ed, I believe context goes a good way towards explaining why people take pot shots at Chelsea for plastic flags. You can start off with how Chelsea fans just dump their plastic flags and leave them behind at the end of games.

I don't understand the animosity about the white shirts though. It's a good gesture to give all of your fans each an away shirt replica that'd normally cost around 85 quid.

07 Mar 2016 05:18:15
Agree with Nick, giving each fan an away shirt for free is a quality gesture, wouldn't fans of our club like a similar reward from the club? I bet you there would be few complaints.

07 Mar 2016 05:30:49
surely it's utds way of thanking the fans for putting up with lvg!

07 Mar 2016 09:03:48
85 quid for a manc shirt?! Deary me.

07 Mar 2016 12:29:56
I think for a home shirt it would be a bit of a weird gesture as you'd expect there to be a fair few shirts around. But for an away day it's an amazing gesture to create the home effect of a wall of colour, and I'd love to see other clubs giving something that expensive to the fans! Although I can't help but feel giving it to the fans who travelled to Denmark to see them flop would have been a nicer gesture but still, better late than never!

{Ed001's Note - Sunderland did it just a few days before.}

07 Mar 2016 12:51:23
Maybe the seas are changing and clubs are realizing that they need to attract the fans a bit as well.

06 Mar 2016 23:13:12
This is my view on our current consistency problems, posted this as a reply on another post, but I want to see this on the main page to get the opinion of others.

I think it is very simple. We are Liverpool, still one of the biggest names in football. The teams that play against us have two main options, try to play their football, or set up to defend and play on the counter.

When teams come out to play we have the space our current group of players require to score goals. Take Man City for an example, they always try to play football against us hence why we tend to score goals. The League Cup Final game, it was obvious from the start city were set up to defend and score on the counter, and we all know how that worked out.

It is easier to play on the counter, it can take a lot out of you but if you're smart and use your chances you can use the space on the counter to great effect. That is what the so called smaller teams do to us, man u are among those teams under Van Gaal, set up to stop us playing as the main priority which is why we struggled.

It is not a lack of consistency, the team doesn't just become worse one game then good the next game. Lack of space makes it harder to play and so harder to score and create chances. We sometimes get outfought which is a bad sign, but can happen on the day to any team.

What the team lack is a player of quality who has just the right movement or quality to find the space or pick the perfect pass (and it has to be perfect pass) to score in such a scenario. What you also require is a good base in defence so when the eventual counter occurs you can see it out without conceding.

We have good players but not world class players. It is something I believe Klopp can change.

It is also important to note the complete lack of goals from corners and set pieces, bar the one Coutinho goal and the Skrtel header. That is because of a total lack of quality of delivery, we do not have a good free kick taker in the team (don't get me started on Milner taking all the corners) . When a team defends well you need a set piece, or like today a penalty to get through.

07 Mar 2016 04:47:52
I agree with what you said. And I have always wondered why can't we also sit back a bit in those games, and try to get to other team to come at us a bit. Then play them on the break?
Surely we can almost predict which teams will do this.

07 Mar 2016 05:28:04
I agree, and I raised the same point a lot earlier on in the season (I think when Newcastle beat us) . City let us play, the rest do not. It's that simple. City let us play because with the squad they have and the money they've spent on it, they are obliged to try and outclass us.

07 Mar 2016 05:41:09
Great post Reus, agree with much of what you said.

I think our ineffectiveness from the wings makes our life difficult against defensive minded opposition. Teams can pack the centre of the field knowing that the threat from out wide is minimal. And when we don't (rightfully in my opinion) play Benteke we have little aerial threat in the middle. I think our lack of genuine wide midfielders, combined with the mediocrity of our fullbacks attacking play (both Moreno and Clyne seemingly unable to cross the ball) makes life difficult for us against certain teams. You've also mentioned that we have a terrible set piece record Reus and that is also a big factor - those goals can tip games in your favour - we sadly seem to score very few of them.

In terms of fullbacks I like Flanagan playing as, even though he isn't the greatest crosser, he is a very astute, aware player. His positioning is really very good and he rarely over commits himself up front. You could argue that Clyne is quicker and perhaps more dangerous going forward (I would contest that opinion) but ultimately Flanagan is far better at keeping possession, better at reading the game and I think a shoe-in for right back. At left-back Moreno's continual selection is bizarre: he gets in the way of team mates, has no positional awareness, is a poor crosser and passer of the ball and cannot take a man on. I know that Brad Smith has some defensive issues to iron out in his game but honestly I don't think he is any worse than Moreno and, going forward, he is far, far better. I thought he offered a real attacking outlet when he played and that he really stretched and pressured the opposition. On top of that he can actually cross a ball! A rarity in our squad. I think he needs to be given games as he not only deserves it but I think his presence could really make a difference to how successful we are as a team against more turgid opposition - the ability to stretch play and give opposition something else to think about creates space for those special players like Coutinho, Firmino and Sturridge to make a difference.

07 Mar 2016 05:44:56
Width. Width is what we lack. If you watch Liverpool goals, hardly any come about through quality wing play. It is always straight down middle. The 3 goals against man city, the 2 goals against palace, its all down middle. Once a team squeeze us out in middle, our goals dry up. And we have done nothing to change it and that is how Westham pawnzed us 3x this season, its the same with ManU and when play city in league cup final.

07 Mar 2016 07:28:00
Seano and Lee are right. Lack of decent wide play and set piece work is the reason we can't get the better of teams.
Off the top of my head I can only think of Kolo vs Villa (6th goal) being the only goal directly from a corner in an Age.
Getting to the bi line and cutting one back to smash home is rare also. I feel Klopp will be looking at wingers, probably why Markovic has been brought up lately also.

07 Mar 2016 08:21:29
I also feel lack of width is why we concede . Our only width in attack comes from Moreno and Clyne, who can't even cross . We loose the ball then we are on the back foot when defending, the players in the centre are getting pulled out wide to cover our missing full backs so we never really get set in time to stop the opposition attacking . Our defenders constantly seem to get the wrong side of the attacker

Until we sort the width out we will concede and fail to score.

07 Mar 2016 09:09:19
We concede because these players were 'coached' by Brendan Rodgers for 3 years.

07 Mar 2016 09:19:37
to be fair we are attacking from the middle because we don't have players who can provide width.

klopp has to do the best he can with the squad available to him, which does mean attacking from the middle for the most part i guess.

07 Mar 2016 09:25:22
It's like what most of us and the Eds have already said, we lack quality in certain areas.

07 Mar 2016 10:23:01
I agree with the other posters, we don't have any width, all the make shift players who play on the wing want to cut in and play through the middle i. e Coutinho, Lallana and Milner.

In a game that is tight and the opposition is set up well defensively, it is the wing area where you can find the space in behind. A quick move with a winger and the fullback can get us in behind the defence for a good cross or cut back.

We don't have a player who on the wing who can take on the fullback and create space like that, we require a passing move to get through which is not going to work every time. Nor do we have someone who can make a late diagonal run in to the box, which is important when the striker is heavily marked.

This is why I think a genuine world class winger is the biggest priority, even more so than replacing Mignolet (a very close second) . I am all for giving Markovic a chance, giving Ibe time to develop, giving other youth players like Ojo a chance. But like Arsenal did with Sanchez a real world class player can change our fortune and attacking threat massively.

07 Mar 2016 09:15:49
Main, Brendan claimed it was Uncoachable.

07 Mar 2016 12:42:20
You're right DG my mistake! Somehow Jurgen has worked out how to coach defence though and Lovren is looking more like the player we thought we were getting 😏.

07 Mar 2016 13:00:29
more like Rodgers could not be arsed! mate, still he had other things to occupy his time.

07 Mar 2016 13:53:34
Like shinning his teeth and looking like a joke in the media with his pathetic remarks. How he got the job in retrospect, beggars belief, really, KK.