1.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 13:55:00
I can't recall matip winning a header, to say he is strong in the air puzzles me.
Surely if Burnley were offside constantly then the high line worked no?
Can't argue with your scoring although generous for matip and Salah imo, thought naby did ok TBF also, but wasn't a high bar to go against.
Scrappy result but a welcome one at this stage.

2.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 14:00:55
Great write up Seano. Henderson seems to have gone off the boil over the last while. His influence on the team is waning at a rate of knots. Firmino had started the season reasonably well got injured and hasn't looked remotely close to that form. Thiago done rightly when he came on, I agree he calmed the team down and controlled the tempo of the game. He needs to stay fit and contribute in more games imo.

3.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 14:37:40
When Hendo drifts to the right, it seems that Trent then struggles as his space has gone. and then it pushes him inside and becomes a bit less effective. I don't know if anyone else agrees with this and i get its Klopps decision and he knows far more than i do. And i thought this may have been the game to play Konate as he would have gone against their big lad and is way quicker than Matip.

4.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 14:55:44
I saw a worrying stat about Hendo last night. Apparently his pass completion yesterday was 50% as he gave the ball away 24 times out of 48 attempts. It went on to further say that this is the 5th time this season he has had less than 60% ball retention in a match.

For comparison Naby's was 90%.

Not a bashing of him but his league season was ended last year through an injury and it looked like he rushed himself back just to go to the Euros where he ended up only being a squad player. He's just not looked himself quite a few times this season and i think there could be a link to him rushing back and not having a proper break and rehab.

{Ed0666's Note - I think your putting 2 + 2 together and it adds up to 5. All players have blips but no one will be working harder to get his form back than our captain. I’m not saying he’s not on the decline he may well be but a slightly below par Hendo is better than most. His captaincy is second to none even when he’s not playing well that facet of his game is vital.

5.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 15:05:29
Seano are you Bobbys agent lol. You described everything he did as woeful and then go on to say he was hugely important and helped us control the game. Are you sure you didn't get Firmino and Fabinho mixed up.

6.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 15:11:06
With it being so windy only one team was going to get anywhere with long balls. Burnley sat back so our long balls needed to be accurate and that’s almost impossible in the wind, whereas we leave so much space at the back all Burnley have to do is hit it into the general direction of that 9ft giant they have playing up front.
Not the best game of football and one that really didn’t suit us so happy with the 3 points and happy we won’t have to play Burnley again next season.

{Ed0666's Note - I think that’s slightly unfair to Burnley as they were playing against the wind first half so there long balls had less margin of error whereas our diagonals were wind assisted so more margin for error maybe? No matter how you break it down mate we should be ecstatic with the three points irrespective of the way we played. I know I’m my time playing football trying to play in the wind and rain is the worst conditions possible.

7.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 15:12:04
@John - they were caught offside a lot but not all the time and, in the first half especially, were caught out and bailed out by Alisson.

@Irish - agreed Thiago needs to stay fit because he contributes so much when he is. Bobby is finding things difficult at the moment but it’s not all bad, and we at least have significant attacking options if needed.

@Worzal - exactly Trent struggles to influence things as much because his space is taken, I’m not a fan of how Henderson is being used in this way. We’re still winning but things can be better. I’m not entirely sold on Konate and yesterdays game would’ve been tough, 50/ 50 for me. I’d like to see Gomez getting starts but he is the invisible man at the moment.

8.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 16:10:39
Those stats are disingenuous. Look at the types of passes that Hendo was playing- trying to split the Burnley defence, risk and reward. Keita on the other hand always and without exception would pass it to the nearest man to him. Not advance up the pitch, not create a chance, leaving the 90% figure meaningless. I could literally have done what Keita did yesterday. Sorry but it's true.

9.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 16:27:15
Great write up but I felt the milner piece was light.

Milner 6/ 10 - he was ready to come on and contribute to stabilizing the team for the final few minutes. When Kieta past him the armband I felt he put it on in a very timely manner. On the pitch he didn't touch the ball much but had a look as though he was ready if he had to. His calm muted celebration at the final whistle let his teamates know it was job done but room for improvement. Over all, very solid cameo.

10.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 16:47:02
Stoneage fair reply mate. Fab and Thiago were both in the 80’s percentage wise for their passes. But I guess neither of them tried to take risks either.

11.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 16:55:21
What's the thoughts on Salah penalty claim? I ddin't see the match live, but MoTD didn't even mention it once, which I thought was odd as personally I thought it was a pen from the highlights.

12.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 17:04:50
Thiago changed the game in the second half. He is the most important cog in our midfield after Fabinho. He controls the game like nobody.

{Ed0666's Note - By Thiago do you mean De Bruyne Harry?

13.) 14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022 21:07:19
Appreciate the write up Seano but think some of your ratings were harsh. I thought VVD and Robbo were pretty good and let down by others. Similarly I thought Keita was decent. He won the ball a few times and kept it well. Whereas Henderson on the other side struggled with both aspects. Also thought salah struggled all game

Henderson’s form is worrying at the moment and I don’t think he’s comfortable going out wide. Not really a fan of this tactic as I think it doesn’t play to his strengths and leaves us a bit exposed at times.

I do wish Gomez was fit and given the nod. I like matip but he has weaknesses that do get exposed. The ball over the top can always get him and he worryingly he hasn’t built a good connection with Trent. He may be an overall better defender than Gomez but I feel Gomez suits the team better with his pace. And I worry when we come up against city, matip will be exposed again.

Overall its good we could squeeze out the win with a clean sheet. We’ve struggled a few times to see out games so hopefully we’ve turned the corner.

14.) 15 Feb 2022
15 Feb 2022 11:15:50
Great read, Seano. No stats required to identify that Hendo had a poor game and has having a rough time of it of late. It is clear for all to see. Hopefully, he can get some rest t recharge. As for Keita was woeful in the second half and now that you mentioned it, I totally forgot he was playing that second half.

I do have a problem tho. You said Burnley had success with their long balls. How could that have been possible when they were caught offside for the most part except twice? Headscratcher for me, bro.

I agree with you on Bobbie completely, as well. He was very important as regards to ball recovery and ball retention. Great in the former. Decent in the latter. Here’s my worry, tho. His link up play is getting worse cos even the very thing he has been brilliant for his entire LFC career, is starting to suffer and that needs to be fixed or might as well sell him.

15.) 15 Feb 2022
15 Feb 2022 11:18:30
Excellent analysis mate

16.) 16 Feb 2022
16 Feb 2022 08:55:03
stoneage - Hendo's development is now complete. A fan has defended his passing as more progressive and cutting edge than another player who just plays it sideways 5m lol.