Liverpool v Norwich - Match Thread

[moron]

Ok - never looked like losing the game, good moments in the first half led to us being 4-0 up. Then came the 2nd half - early on it looked like we were going to run away with but then two things started to come to mind:

1) Like the games we drew last season - there was too much pissing about in that final third, over-indulgent passing, that too often led to nothing, when the better options would have been a single incisive pass for Salah.

2) Then there were moments where you could see the players trying to set one another up for goal when really someone else in a better position could take the shot - e.g. Firminho spin and miss when Origi was in a better position.

Both elements are what make us different to City - it's called being fucking too nice to one another rather than having that ruthless streak, and in many ways it comes from the manager. Part of me believes that Klopp may not have wanted us to smash the shit out of Norwich because of their managers background and .. you get the picture ? - don't tell me City if they had those opportunities would not have gone onto smash that lot 9-0 , coz they would have done that to a man without trying to get their mates setup to score. That entire half worried me all-though we never looked like losing control - and you could say that Norwich won that 1-0, which they did.

Also - I really think Alisson would have saved that goal, and for heavens sake - please don' t let Fab be the one that is responsible for taking the ball out of deep-midfield by running with it while surrounded by opposition players - as good as he is a DM, he really is a bit slow sometimes.

 

[Modo]

I wonder if we're going to sign Lonergan now.

 

[Markeh]

I wonder if we're going to sign Lonergan now.

That's what I was wondering too. Can we sign unattached players outside of the window?

 

[MomoWASright]

My understanding is that we can sign free agents v

 

[doctor_mac]

There was some great stuff tonight, actually especially in the first part of the second half, even though we didn't score. I think we can give credit to Norwich who look great going forward. I think they'll get loads of goals. We did well. The Becker injury is a nightmare though.

 

[Farkmaster]

What a weird game... other than the fact that you could say the same about dozens of other games last season.

Normally watching at the ground really changes my opinion about things, but I think I came away thinking things I already completely knew:

1) Origi isn't a valid substitute for Mane and isn't a valid starter in this system
2) Firmino really does a lot
3) Have fun trying to win headers against VVD

The other reason the match was weird was that was a really weird atmosphere where I was, especially in the second half. I've never been in hospitality seats before, and it was fucking shit. No one around knew any songs, and I mostly listened to the unoriginal shit coming out of the Norwich fans while trying (and in the second half failing) to join in with the distant Kop. I'd rather not go than be there again, it was that shit - and that was on a good night, at a good time.

And yes, I'm aware of the irony of complaining about tourists as a tourist, even if my dad has some old fart street credibility. I just wanted to sing some songs with some people, is all. Instead it was like, I don't know, me doing kop kareoke while people looked at me strangely.

 

[Halmeister]

That's a shame, Fark.

 

[Farkmaster]

Still happy to be in Liverpool. Last time I was here was for a funeral, so I'm not complaining.

Also, just to go with my dad is special. Always get some stories out of him. Sometimes even one I haven't heard a thousand times.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Still happy to be in Liverpool. Last time I was here was for a funeral, so I'm not complaining.

Also, just to go with my dad is special. Always get some stories out of him. Sometimes even one I haven't heard a thousand times.

Great memory to have

 

[walesnj]

I hope to God that it's not his Achilles, I ruptured mine 18 months ago and this is exactly how I felt -- From the BBC ""He felt his calf. He looked behind him because he thought something hit him."

 

[Dreambeliever]

I hope to God that it's not his Achilles, I ruptured mine 18 months ago and this is exactly how I felt -- From the BBC ""He felt his calf. He looked behind him because he thought something hit him."

Ya my father was the same. Felt like someone throw a stone at his calf.

 

[Red Astaire]

Great game - Off to a flier. They looked smooth and clinical. Perfect.

 

[walesnj]

Ya my father was the same. Felt like someone throw a stone at his calf.

Yeah, I was coaching 7th grade girls and it felt as though one of the little devils had kicked me from behind

 

[rurikbird]

 

[Dreambeliever]

Wonder if getting Cech in on a short term deal is a possibility?

Fuck that I’d prefer Adrian

 

[rurikbird]

 

[Y1]

First match of the season. Great to watch. Merciful on the ticker. What more do fans want?

 

[rurikbird]

I think some of you are too critical of Origi. People are saying he doesn't look good on the left, sometimes makes wrong choices and loses the ball too much – which are exactly the things we've all been saying about Mane in his first couple of seasons, particularly after he got switched to the left to accommodate Salah. It's only fairly recently, after a couple of years of working on his game with with Klopp, that Mane has matured into this well-rounded attacker who can switch between getting on the end of chances and supporting teammates so smoothly. Origi clearly still has a lot to learn, but in the meanwhile I'm OK with him not looking completely slick and polished, as long as he produces goals and stretches defenses. A goal and assist in his first game of the season is a brilliant start by any standard.

 

[Red Bird]

By the way, I'd mute Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher for the first 10 matches of the season. The hyperbole from those two is suffocating.

 

[Piedro]

What a weird game... other than the fact that you could say the same about dozens of other games last season.

Normally watching at the ground really changes my opinion about things, but I think I came away thinking things I already completely knew:

1) Origi isn't a valid substitute for Mane and isn't a valid starter in this system
2) Firmino really does a lot
3) Have fun trying to win headers against VVD

The other reason the match was weird was that was a really weird atmosphere where I was, especially in the second half. I've never been in hospitality seats before, and it was fucking shit. No one around knew any songs, and I mostly listened to the unoriginal shit coming out of the Norwich fans while trying (and in the second half failing) to join in with the distant Kop. I'd rather not go than be there again, it was that shit - and that was on a good night, at a good time.

And yes, I'm aware of the irony of complaining about tourists as a tourist, even if my dad has some old fart street credibility. I just wanted to sing some songs with some people, is all. Instead it was like, I don't know, me doing kop kareoke while people looked at me strangely.

It’s like that in most places bar the Kop. Ive sat in the lower centenary for 30 years around the same people every year, and most of them don’t know / don’t want to sing the songs. That’s why I get pissed before the game now, makes it easier to join in with the Kop on my own.

The new mane song got a small airing in the second half but no fucker seemed to know the words!

 

[Piedro]

Ya my father was the same. Felt like someone throw a stone at his calf.

I had a slight tear in my calf muscle last year. It just went while I was playing footy, no one near me. I just felt like I’d been shot in the calf.

I was only out 4 weeks so hopefully it’s similar to that.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I had a slight tear in my calf muscle last year. It just went while I was playing footy, no one near me. I just felt like I’d been shot in the calf.

I was only out 4 weeks so hopefully it’s similar to that.

Are you still playing?

This is my last season. Golf only next season.

 

[tombrown]

Liverpool 4 Norwich City 1: The Match Ratings

by Ben Johnson | Aug 10, 2019 | 5 comments


HERE we are again.
The summer was boss, weren’t it? Unbearable bastards everywhere sixing there head off.
Spent circa 30 per cent of Glastonbury pretending to lift the European Cup. Flags all over the gaff getting pictures taken, six fingers erected all over the world.
Everyone going berserk because the national anthem got booed. Most hated team in the country, aye? Six times, dickheads. Ta’ra.
Bring on them fucking European Champions.
Alisson: 7
Absolutely loves a bevvy, winning and God — not necessarily in that order. Would love to get on the ale with him but I reckon you would have to put up with a fair bit of the Jesus chat.
Like a wedding or a christening. Belter days on the ale but absolutely wounded when you get in the church and it is a full mass as well as the ceremony, the time of the first pint suddenly gets legged for a few hours.
“Fucking selfish god bothering bastards will have us in here all fucking day. I fucking wish this arl fucker would hurry up with his lord’s be with you and his fucking hallelujah’s. Fuck me.”
Anyway, had an unreal bronze, looked cool as fuck, the game kicked off, he gave it away once made a few good saves, then snapped his banjo and the world nearly ended, and then everyone remembered that we fucked Mignolet off last week and thank fuck for that.
Where’s your god now though, lad?
Trent: 8
The ball for Divock’s header is unreal. Anyone who thinks he didn’t mean that wants flogging to within an inch of their life. He’s boss, isn’t he?
Virgil: 8
Was great as per but then they kept getting in behind him and Joey which, you know, needs to stop and that. Great header, great goal. Paul Johno had him to score two and The Reds to score more than three for five ton so we are all made up.
Joe Gomez: 7
In his one on ones he was sound but them fellas running off him need to fuck off.
Robbo: 8
Just asked the lads what he did. The answer was nothing. Which I don’t think is a bad thing necessarily. It means he did everything he needed too. Possibly means he’s that good we are just a bit numb to his quality.
Henderson: 9
Might be the greatest attacking midfielder in the country. Certainly on this form. Tremendous. Fabinho ran into him like a siesta testing a crash test dummy. Just got up when he probably should have had a punctured lung. A hero. A European Cup-lifting hero.
Gini: 8
Got onto his top halfway through the second half. No sweat whatsoever. Not a drizzle.
I went on a spin bike today in the gym and spent half an hour cleaning the fucker when I had finished. Fucking frogs bouncing round me jumping on lily pads, tadpoles everywhere. Absolute pond. Wet floor hazard signs all around me. Only did twenty minutes. Fat mess.
Was just there, wasn’t he? As per. But not sweating.
Fabinho: 7
Was great first half at times, but maybe needs to be part of the solution to stop them getting in every fucking five minutes. Thought he looked goosed second half. Doesn’t half win some tackles, though.
Mo Salah: 8
Unreal that he only had three weeks off. For a kick off he went on more holidays than Judith Chalmers, fucking all over the gaff having a lovely time. Squeeze them in, lad. But then comes back, half a session in pre season and is flying. Might score every game this year.
Firmino: 8
Looks fitter than he did for the last two months of last year which is mad. Unreal touch half way through the first half to diddle their lad. Just a tremendous footballer.
Divock: 8
He’s a mad player really all told. Thought he was great for the first 60, really direct, a fucking nuisance to mark, but then second half he started trying a few flicks and that and basically gave it away for 10 minutes straight and then got dragged. If we wanted to buy him we’d have had to spend 50 mill.
SUBS:
Adrian: 9
Imagine if we hadn’t have signed him lad, and Mignolet came on. Fucking hell, I would have spewed it. Fucking sold the seasie on Gumtree. Not arsed. Greatest signing we’ve ever made and he could be shite. Greatest transfer window of our lives getting shot of Big Si. Good god.
Sadio: 8
Had a week on holiday, probably built a few hospitals and that — what with him being the soundest fella to walk the planet — had a night away with his bird, bounced back to training and declared himself fit to start. Probably pissed off he was on the bench

 

[Modo]

Is it just me or does Trent look more confident going forward than defending.
Don't get me wrong, the kid is great but early signs are telling me that teams will start targeting our right side.

 

[the count]

Is it just me or does Trent look more confident going forward than defending.
Don't get me wrong, the kid is great but early signs are telling me that teams will start targeting our right side.

That not withstanding, I think teams target our right side because Mane, and last night Origi, track back and offer more protection on the left side than Mo does on the right.

 

[Modo]

That not withstanding, I think teams target our right side because Mane, and last night Origi, track back and offer more protection on the left side than Mo does on the right.

Yep, that too

 

[doctor_mac]

I think some of you are too critical of Origi. People are saying he doesn't look good on the left, sometimes makes wrong choices and loses the ball too much – which are exactly the things we've all been saying about Mane in his first couple of seasons, particularly after he got switched to the left to accommodate Salah. It's only fairly recently, after a couple of years of working on his game with with Klopp, that Mane has matured into this well-rounded attacker who can switch between getting on the end of chances and supporting teammates so smoothly. Origi clearly still has a lot to learn, but in the meanwhile I'm OK with him not looking completely slick and polished, as long as he produces goals and stretches defenses. A goal and assist in his first game of the season is a brilliant start by any standard.

Yeah, he got a goal, his play caused the first goal, and I thought he generally looked switched on and dangerous. I thought it was a very encouraging performance.

 

[aquaman4]

Jamal Lewis the Norwich left back looks a real prospect would not mind having him as back up to Robertson.

 

[6TimesaRed]

The other Thread title was better

 

[FoxForceFive]

Is it just me or does Trent look more confident going forward than defending.
Don't get me wrong, the kid is great but early signs are telling me that teams will start targeting our right side.

There's a myriad of reasons team attack that side.

No matter who plays alongside VVD, that's clearly preferable to attacking Virgil!

TAA is slightly easier to get at than Robbo, & he looks a few percent off where he started the season last year imo, which is telling when he's trying to get forward & back so quickly.

Most teams we face will have right footed strikers, coming in from that side means they can open the goal up.

Salah tracks back less than Mane. He still tracks back more than 90% of the strikers in the league, but Mane tracks back more than any forward I've ever seen.

It was all amplified a bit yesterday, cos Gomez was clearly way the pace, but I stand by my comments during the match, we have to get him fully match fit & on form again, we have too many games this season & he was too impressive last season to risk not doing that, & if we can't do that against a newly promoted side then we have bigger problems.

All that said, teams attacked that side more last season, & we used it to our advantage, utilising Trent's pace to open the game up.