05 Jan 2021 07:43:16
You can't play midfielders In defence. In addition to weakening the midfield it is a wildly different position. Sure it only looks like a few feet in physical space but it not even close to being the same thing in terms of responsibility and needs.

Fabinho has done a superb job, but he did say klopp has been preparing him to play there since he first signed so that might explain why.

A good example of just how different it is was on show when Southampton scored. While Trent does a bad job on both marking and intercepting the pass it shouldn't have mattered because ings should have been offside. And if it were not for Henderson he would have been.

And don't take this as blame to Henderson it is not his fault, because he's used to making starting position 2 or 3 yards further forward. And even a coach as good as klopp with a player as good as Henderson can't remove 200+ games of muscle memory and reflexive action in a few days. In a normal game Henderson would be 2 yards further forward and a defender would have held the same line that Trent, Robbo and fabinho did - because that's automatic for them.

There's a lot of reasons why we lost and why our form is poor so I don't want anyone to think I'm blaming the result on that one thing because I'm not. I'm just highlighting the small differences that make putting a player in a position they're not trained for.

If we can't sign a centre back, then an actual centre back needs to play in that position because in addition to weakening the midfield it's very tough for anyone to switch which third of the field they play in, and it's virtually impossible to do it mid season unless it's been heavily coached beforehand.

{Ed001's Note - actually all the players usually hold the same line, Hendo would not have been further forward. The difference is that usually the lead centre-back sets the line they hold and ensures everyone is level with him. There was no one to do that.}


1.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 07:59:38
My point was Henderson was the one spoiling the line because he is not accustomed to the responsibilities of that role.

It's not even the only time it happened, just the only time we got punished for it.

We have two midfielders in defence and while one is pretty good at making sure he's focused on defending, it isn't automatic enough for him to then direct other people as well.

Having two dedicated central defenders drastically decreases that issue.

Most players hold the same line but not everyone, typically Salah and one (sometimes) two others are further forward to initiate a counter if possession is won.

{Ed001's Note - I understand your point and I was just being pedantic, but you were still incorrect with what you said. I was only explaining it properly so that people actually understand how the line actually works.}


2.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 08:38:41
On the same lines as Ed001's comments, there wasnt a leader and no communication. Trent should of pulled Salah in or told Henderson that he had two men to mark. Henderson was wrong in moving Gini back to help him. So like Ed said no one taking control of the line. That close to the pen area its probably not a good idea to try and play offside as if you get it wrong there is no chance of making up for it.
To be fair to Trent I think he thought the Southampton player in front of him was going to header it. So that made him misjudge the flight of the ball. Great finish though!


3.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 09:06:49
Respect to Danny Ings for not celebrating his goal such a shame it didn't work out for him during his time with LFC.


4.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 09:13:31
Klopp said they worked on defending for 2 or 3 days before this defeat. Surely the first thing to work out is who will set the line? And why were they so so deep in the second half, with Tiago in the back 3 half the time.
Thiago was knackered and should have been off at 60 mins, Hendo in midfield. Southampton needs pushing back.


5.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 09:44:36
They'd be better off working on how to put the ball on the net because right now none of them seem able to. Trent needs a spell out of the team because i think he has started to believe in his own hype. He to slow to release the ball everytime and gets closed down. Gini another one who is killing the speed at which we break. And while im at it liverpool are carrying far to many passengers who contribute absolutely nothing to the team and can't be relied upon. Matip, shaqiri, kieta, Chamberlain, Gomez constantly picking up injuries. No wonder the lads look out on there feet. And as much respect as i have for origi's important goals for us the fact remains that this team has out grown him and we need better options. If we don't sign a cb in this window and quick it is like waving a white flag.


6.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 10:48:48
I agree with Nevada. Klopp is exacerbating the cb issue by playing midfielders there. It creates a problem in midfield as well as defence. Now both Williams and Phillips confidence will be low seeing midfielders playing in cb positions. While Matip is injured I would accept that Fab is a necessity at Cb. Klopp should make up his mind whether he prefers Williams or Phillips play them with Matip or Fab for a period give them a chance to build a partnership. Hendo Thiago and Gini should be played together in midfield for the rest of Jan. (or Fab if Matip fit) We need stability in team selections we have gone from a team where everyone knew what they were doing to a team where nobody seems to know what they are doing. I agree re the refereeing decisions we are getting a very very raw deal at the moment.
Also you would like to see Klopp change the shape occasionally we have become very predictable in the way we play.


7.) 05 Jan 2021
05 Jan 2021 15:10:59
Was it just me or did anyone else notice why hendo actually played them onside? It was a very clever play by the Southampton man to push him backwards just as the ball was played which is why ings was onside.

Trent then had a brain fart and what a finish from ings, but it was all made by the slight nudge on hendo.