2 of those shouldn't really count - the Plymouth games hardly used any of our first-team players.
Is it physical ?
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I agree with both of these points. We do lack a leader in the middle. And Firmino wide with Sturridge in the middle has caused a severe dip in our threat. Firmino should be middle - and we'd be better playing Ojo or Wilson out wide while Mane is away. I was very disappointed neither were on the bench last night.
@Mersey86 - so true regarding that last point. I can understand why Klopp played Sturridge - mainly to give him the stage but it was completely ineffective - Ojo would have been perfect for that right/left side, and can I also take the opportunity to say that young kid on the right (left-back) was really good - yes he had a few misplaced passes but overall he was very good in his attacking play.
If we're knackered, it's a good job we're not good enough to qualify for Europe. Imagine how shit we'd be then.
These are pretty incredible stats if we are knackered .. not many people run FURTHER when they are tired !
Liverpool team continue to run further on average each game, month on month since the start of the season.....
Average Distance Covered Per Game (km)
August 115.3
September 116.5
October 116.7
November 117.3
December 118.2
January 118.7
Liverpool team continue to run further on average each game, month on month since the start of the season.....
Average Distance Covered Per Game (km)
August 115.3
September 116.5
October 116.7
November 117.3
December 118.2
January 118.7
They might run slower though
We have an excellent first choice 11-13 but lack depth outside of that. Recently we've lost Coutinho for a significant run of games, Matip to injury and this Cameroonian FA bollocks and now Mané to ACN when he was doing a good job of carrying the attack when Coutinho was out.
It's also clear to me that Coutinho's game has a pretty big impact on Firmino's when they are left and centre in the 4-3-3.
I agree with the reasoning behind the thin squad, we were always going to experience a dip in form over the season and here it is, but we couldn't carry a bloated squad through the year with no European football. To me, the loss of key players (and invention) in the attack coupled with uncertainty in defence is the main reason for the dip and not any kind of fitness issues - in fact the poor form of replacements (particularly Origi, Sturridge and Can) is far more significant in my opinion.
It's also clear to me that Coutinho's game has a pretty big impact on Firmino's when they are left and centre in the 4-3-3.
I agree with the reasoning behind the thin squad, we were always going to experience a dip in form over the season and here it is, but we couldn't carry a bloated squad through the year with no European football. To me, the loss of key players (and invention) in the attack coupled with uncertainty in defence is the main reason for the dip and not any kind of fitness issues - in fact the poor form of replacements (particularly Origi, Sturridge and Can) is far more significant in my opinion.
Over the last few weeks, it has been the lack of movement that has cost us. Every player has been static, players such as Can have lost their confidence and their first thought is to play it backwards.
The game against Southampton, ever pass we made only just got to the man and was slow. If you don't move the ball at pace you will never open a defensive team up, it isn't just about running. Too many players have lost their mojo and every option is safe (sideways or backwards) added to that a forward line that doesn't run beyond the back four makes it easy to defend against.
The game against Southampton, ever pass we made only just got to the man and was slow. If you don't move the ball at pace you will never open a defensive team up, it isn't just about running. Too many players have lost their mojo and every option is safe (sideways or backwards) added to that a forward line that doesn't run beyond the back four makes it easy to defend against.
It looks like he is reluctant to play any of the young players unless it's absolutely necessary (alexander-arnold at old trafford) in games that he considers important.
All the FA cup games since he's been in charge have been young players and squad players, the early rounds of most of the league cup games have been the same and towards the end of last season there were a number of league games where we picked young/squad players as we were prioritising the Europa League (rightly so as there was a chance of Champions league and a trophy).
Plenty of times this season he's attempted to play one of Sturridge, Firmino or Origi in a wide position and none of them look comfortable there and the team shape goes out of the window. I would prefer him to give a younger player like Ojo or Wilson a go. I also think it's easier for a young player to find his feet if he's playing with first team players rather than playing with other young players.
Just because a senior player is more experienced that doesn't mean he's always suited to play a different position than he normally does.
It isn't the lack of movement. When teams have 11 men behind the ball, which has been common of late, theres nowhere to move to. Rewatch any of our matches and you'll see space in attacking areas is non existent. I agree that we need to move it faster and with more accuracy but there hasn't been much wrong with the movement.
There is definitely a lack of movement, it's probably more psychological than physical given the types of cunts we have in our squad.
Early in the season we had a system without a striker, and guys like Lallana, Mane and Coutinho felt the responsibility to make runs into the box and get goals. It worked. Then we shoved a striker into the team, and guess what, Lallana and Coutinho think their job is to pass the ball to the strikers and they've stopped making those runs. The problem is Klopp hasn't changed the formation and pattern of play bullshit or whatever you call it in order to create space for the striker. He's still trying to play the high tempo game, and hasn't realised that our players are mentally weak cowards who need absolutely no encouragement to pass off their responsibility to Sturridge or Origi.
Early in the season we had a system without a striker, and guys like Lallana, Mane and Coutinho felt the responsibility to make runs into the box and get goals. It worked. Then we shoved a striker into the team, and guess what, Lallana and Coutinho think their job is to pass the ball to the strikers and they've stopped making those runs. The problem is Klopp hasn't changed the formation and pattern of play bullshit or whatever you call it in order to create space for the striker. He's still trying to play the high tempo game, and hasn't realised that our players are mentally weak cowards who need absolutely no encouragement to pass off their responsibility to Sturridge or Origi.
Sorry but your completely wrong, there has been no movement whatsoever from the forward line.
Take today I watched origi for a good 3 minutes and he moved 6 yards, 3 one way and then ended up back where he started - this is why we are constantly shuffling it sideways. The past few matches. No one has made an attempt to make a run in behind, just by doing makes the defenders track and creates space. We all go to the ball or stand still.
Klopp has some serious work to do.
Yes this slump has nothing to do with physicality it's all about the teams willingness to look for ways to break down the opposition.
There is no space to run into. There's 11 men behind the ball. You cannot pass and move through that. If you can't notice that or are able to realise how that effects our 'lack of movement' then I don't know what else to say to you. It's pretty simple shit.
I disagree. You can pass and move through it. Arsenal do it all the time. City too. Barca/Real have done it for years.
I think in games like this, the difference between good technical players (us) and very good technical players (City/Arsenal) really shows up.
We are a well drilled team with plenty of legs but not exceptional skill to penetrate a deep lying block. The question Klopp has to ask himself, is how to solve this problem in the summer. For me, the answer is more patience, more balance, more width and simply being better defensively so we are not chasing games so wildly because we concede a sloppy goal.
Going back to comparison between good technical players vs VERY good ones. In games like today, I watch us toil and think why an Arsenal don't lose to lower shite like this and the answer to me is they simply have the technical ability to play forward quicker than we do.
Ozil (for all his critics) can control a ball shot into him at pace, under pressure, and get a shot of with his 2nd touch, as his first touch sets himself up for it. Arsenal have half their squad that could the same (albeit less consistently).
We have a lot good technical players, but who aren't the most consistent technicians under pressure. I can only point to Coutinho, Firmino, Milner and Lallana who i'd be confident of dealing with a ball under pressure in a tight space somewhat consistently. The rest of the team, especially Can, Clyne, Gini, Henderson always seem to have the need to take that one extra touch and at the top level it's crucial in beating a parked bus.
I agree with those saying that the way teams set up against us isn't uncommon. One of our problems is, that we just don't have anyone who can do something with the crosses we hit into the box.
Try that shit against Man U or Chelsea and we'll see how long Wolves last.
Southampton, Wolves, Plymouth all invited us to cross the ball because we have no threat whatsoever in the air.
Try that shit against Man U or Chelsea and we'll see how long Wolves last.
Southampton, Wolves, Plymouth all invited us to cross the ball because we have no threat whatsoever in the air.
You can when we have our perfect 11 in the pitch. You can't when Klopp selects a load of shite. The fact you've had to highlight the best sides in world football proves how difficult it is. However Klopp doesn't change his tactics. We have one way of playing and only a limited number of players who can play it.
Sorry, I haven't really read much by way of what was said before. Just that one line you wrote I was commenting on.
I completely agree that we need our perfect 11 on the pitch and even then, it would be tough still. But players need breaks and we have to at some point rotate. He played a strong 1st 11 in the league cup. It didn't work out.
Today he had to rotate (possibly not as much as he did), but I think the lack of genuine quality from the squad is demonstrated once again (Randall? Moreno? Ejaria? Woodburn? Are these players even ready for first team football?) and that will only be resolved once we qualify for the CL on a regular basis and have the funds to build up a good squad. When was the last time we qualified for the CL 2 seasons in a row?
Compare our rotation to the likes of Chelsea's (Fabregas 30m, Willian 30m, Batshuyi 30m, Ivanovic 15m, Zouma 12m) and you see the difference in quality they have to call upon.
Totally agree.
It was noticeable up till the end of last year how much movement there was off the ball when one of our players had the ball. We've gone back to the completely static team as in Rodger's final season, something that annoyed the hell out of me at the time.
Which is so uncharacteristic of a Klopp team. It's definitely not just Mane's absence that's causing this. Klopp needs to sort the players out. They're in a shell right now.
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