23 Aug 2022 06:55:43
Poor poor performances last night from those we've come to rely on over the past few years, particularly in defence (VVD and TAA were particularly poor I thought and Robertson wasn't great either) . Wonder if it's time to try something different just to shake things up a bit and 'surprise' the teams who think they have worked out how to play us?

Think I'd go 4-4-2 on Saturday:

GK Allison
RB Gomez
CB VVD
CB Philips
LB Tsimikas
RM TAA
CM Fabinho
CM Henderson
LM Diaz
ST Firmino
ST Salah

Takes TAA out of defense so he can concentrate on getting forward. Gives Robertson a rest and puts our best striker closer to goal.

Thoughts welcome. I'm no expert but our 4-3-3 looks to have gone a bit stale so I think a change is needed!

1.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:37:52
Phillips should be no where near a high line with Virgil.

2.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:51:13
Johnny I’m with you on performance mate but your solution keeps in the 2 who you said were particularly poor and drops out the one who wasn’t as poor.

The 2 players who looked to be trying last night were Elliot and Carvalho and they don’t get In that side.

A change of formation might work mate but for me it’s our high line that is killing us. We’ve always banked on Allison saving us when it’s breached but this season our high line is like a revolving door whilst our midfielders cannot get to 2nd balls first or play a penetrative pass.

Then up top we’re hoping that Salah and Diaz can perform some magic to score as we have a false 9 who hasn’t scored since March.

Players coming back from injuries might help but this squad is just as likely to pick up more injuries before that happens.

3.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:52:51
Firmino shouldn’t be near the 1st 11.

4.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 08:20:13
JK - not sure we have a fit replacement for VVD or I may have swapped him out. And I’ve at least taken TAA out of the defensive firing line in the hope that playing RM brings out the best of his attacking ability.

As for Philips - agreed he wouldn’t be my fist choice but with Konate and Matip out then not many options.

We’d have to play with not quite a high line using this line-up but given how that’s been working for us then maybe that’s not a bad thing!

5.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 08:24:19
I think at this level you rarely see managers changing the whole system. I think trust in what has made us great and focus on getting the players who are on their feet prepared well to perform.

6.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 08:50:22
Part of the problem though Faithinworks is that many managers change their systems just to play against us and it seems to be working. Our rigid adherence to 4-3-3 at all costs just doesn’t seem to be doing so great with the players we have available to us at the moment so tweak it and try something unexpected is my thinking.

7.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 09:06:15
Johnny I get that mate and 100% see what you’re saying. I think Gomez has to stick with Vvd now for them to try and build a partnership. Vvd has played 3 games with 3 different partners. Fans have been saying that Gomez is our best centre back alongside Vvd so it’s time for him to be given his chance to prove it.

Teams are looking to exploit our right hand side and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Milner start there as I think Klopp has him as captain in his fantasy team so he will be shoe horned in. Robbo could be dropped out but Tsimikas last 2 sub appearances he’s been just as bad. Against Palace his crossing was Sunday league and last night he was getting brushed aside by Utds attack.

Honestly mate I’ve never seen our team under Klopp look so not bothered. Perhaps they are saving themselves for the World Cup.

Or as WDW pointed out perhaps they are still worn out from last seasons exploits. Problem is if true then things will only get worse as we have no time to recover now as we move to 2 games a week and a World Cup thrown in for the rest of the season.

8.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 09:35:10
is that 20m from Juve still on offer!

9.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 10:22:27
JK, if Gomez is allowed a chance to play himself into the team and get rid of rustiness shouldn't Tsimikas also be afforded that same chance?

10.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 10:46:07
most of the time our system is fine. and Klopp makes adjustments in-games too. I just don't think changing the entire system will work. Trust what has made them successful and focus on getting the best out of the players who are fit and ready to play.

11.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 12:01:58
I think 4-3-3?works fine if we played more of a counter attacking style

For me Diaz, Nunez and Salah all benefit from space in behind to attack

Out play now is soo slow with loads of passes that teams play a low block and there’s nowhere to go

Think about Trent and Robbo putting crosses in 3/ 4 seasons ago and there’s loads of room in the box - now it’s packed with opposition defenders.

12.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 12:08:38
McGoveb he does mate and I’d have no issue with Tsimikas getting that opportunity.

I’m only saying Gomez deserves the opportunity to play himself into the team because at the moment it’s him or Phillips. If Matip or Konate were available it would be a different tune. And to be fair if both were fit I wouldn’t be against Vvd dropping out for a bit either.