Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade Match Thread - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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First 20 minutes I thought to myself - Ok we got problems tonight. Then Fab and Shaq push turn on the style and so do the front three. I thought Fab was everything some of you guys were expecting of him the night it was announced we signed him - especially @Oncy - who i am sure was giving himself a blowjob when it was announced that we had signed him. Shaqiri - brilliant passing - the very thing we have been missing this season - his touch and the measure of his passing was inch perfect. Gini - really stepped it up too as he has been doing so far this season. Robertson was outstanding with those runs.
All I can say is that after the first 20 minutes - I saw the team play in a way which was a marked improvement in our midfield - they all fought for the ball to win it back as soon as we lost it and the harsh truth is that all of that midfield today can pass with confidence - and make the hard passes that we are not able to make when Henderson is playing. They all actually saw the gaps and the forward runs of the players around them - this is something we have not been doing in the PL games for a while now.
I feel very happy.
All I can say is that after the first 20 minutes - I saw the team play in a way which was a marked improvement in our midfield - they all fought for the ball to win it back as soon as we lost it and the harsh truth is that all of that midfield today can pass with confidence - and make the hard passes that we are not able to make when Henderson is playing. They all actually saw the gaps and the forward runs of the players around them - this is something we have not been doing in the PL games for a while now.
I feel very happy.
Liverpool 4 Red Star Belgrade 0: Match Ratings
by Ben Johnson | Oct 25, 2018 | 0 comments
YOU want to see our spec there, you know.
Gazprom have our season ticket spec in the Kemlyn for a jolly band of Russians, Serbs, wools and fat fellas so we get lashed elsewhere for the Euro games. Tough shit, lads. Thanks for the warm up.
Our spec is row nine behind the goal in The Kop. Can’t see a fucking thing. Well in fairness, you can see The Kop box really clearly, but other than that fuck all.
You want well-considered, thought-out ratings with a lovely blend of insight and tactical analysis? Go and read some fucker cryarsing about having no power to polish their shoes in the main tonight.
Alisson: I’m going 7. Extra point for a clean sheet.
What do you give someone who turns up for work and has fuck all to do? Seriously? Is it a seven? Is it a five? Is six par? Boss warm ups, in fairness. His arms are long. His beard is thick. At least they were in the first half. He might have had a shave there at half time for all I know.
Trent: 7
He’s a lovely footballer, isn’t he? His balance, his strength, his passing ability, his positional sense, intelligence. One of the best we will ever have by the time he packs in.
Virg: 8
Starting a Big Virg appreciation society, if you fancy it. Going to meet every fourth Tuesday of the month in the Bennett’s. Need a treasurer and a secretary. Four quid a week subs. Need to bring your favourite Virg poster, pictures of dogs dressed as Virg and some that look like Virgil. Here’s the agenda for next month:
- What’s your favourite bit?
- How do you like his hair?
- Where would you like to go on holiday with him?
- Where do you reckon he goes on holiday?
- Anyone got any dogs dressed as Virg?
- What’s his fancy dress game?
- Captain, leader, legend?
- Any other business.
- Time and date of next meeting.
Joe Gomez: 8
Flawless again. To the extent that he was probably better than Virgil, and to be fair, if the Virg appreciation society heard me say that my days would be numbered.
Andy Robbo: 7
Was boss again. Worry that he is going to be knackered when we need him most, but in fairness the thought of Moreno playing any games whatsoever fills me with dread. One of them, init? Sorry Andy. Rest up, lad. Seventy games for you this year.
Fabinho: 8
Lovely big massive long legs, hasn’t he? It’s been a while since one of our centre mids was an expert in tackling first and foremost. He loves a tackle. From every angle. When you don’t think he is going to get it, in pops a lovely big pink-headed leg to pinch it back. Thought he was excellent tonight. Would like to see him do it in a faster paced game, mind you.
Gini: 8
Thought the pair of them were great, in fairness. Love the way he gambles and draws the man in for the tackle and then rolls them for fun.
Sheridan Shaqiri: 8
As soon as their no fans in the Upper Kemlyn Gazprom section stated booing him I wanted him to score six, whip his undies off to reveal his own red star, surrounded by a massive tattoo of Fernando Torres ghosting Nemanja Vidic before whipping round with a tattoo of himself on his own cock. Cop for that, lads. Go and have a Gazprom and Coke. Great for at least two of the goals. His passing, and movement is pretty fucking good, you know. Might be up there with the best in the team. Mad that he played for Stoke last year.
Firmino: 8
Was it my lack of depth perception or did he play as a number 10? Was good, wasn’t he? Great for his goal, loved the way he just twatted it right down the middle.
Mo Salah: 8
Love them little pop offs the front three do to each other all the time. Without looking. Great movement, decent pen, great finish for the goal. Fancied a trick, didn’t he? Fuck that lad, save your legs.
Sadio: 7
Was quiet. Unlucky with the pen cos it’s a pretty good save, but then makes up for it with the goal. I’m not sure I’d cope with a broken thumb. Dead hard to do your fly up with no thumb. Probably needs to have someone dress him there, you know. That would do my head in.
SUBS
Moreno: n/a
Mad the way he might be signing for Barca and he come on at 4-0 or whatever, and the thought bounces through your head as to how long is left, and whether there is enough time for them to get back in it. Lovely back heel.
Lallana: n/a
Looked lively, lovely half turns, some decent pressing, got put through on goal, looked like he was trying to run away from an Alsatian in a nightmare before he got his shot off. As he woke up from his dream the Ally was chewing his calf.
Dan Sturridge: 7
Lovely ball for Mane’s goal. Big role to play this year, la.
Do they play exactly the same role?
Ever so slightly skewed stats as it’s only been one game.
A few quickies:
Shaq - he's going to replace to an extent what we lost with Ox. He's buzzing around the pitch constantly and impossible to track. This will create more room & time for our front 3 and we know what that means.
Fabinho - tough start to his career here - and wasn't great the first few minutes but boy did he grow into the game. Good passer, good tackler and he looks like a cunt on the pitch ... I like it.
Mane/Salah/Firmino - hope they're back.
Gini - du du du du dud ud gini wijnaldum.
Back 5 - another clean sheet ... wonderful.
Shaq - he's going to replace to an extent what we lost with Ox. He's buzzing around the pitch constantly and impossible to track. This will create more room & time for our front 3 and we know what that means.
Fabinho - tough start to his career here - and wasn't great the first few minutes but boy did he grow into the game. Good passer, good tackler and he looks like a cunt on the pitch ... I like it.
Mane/Salah/Firmino - hope they're back.
Gini - du du du du dud ud gini wijnaldum.
Back 5 - another clean sheet ... wonderful.
Haven't watched full highlights yet but looks to me like having another potent threat in the midfield three really helped our balance. Also looks like Fabinho took his chance and surely he won't have the starting spot removed. I think we need someone who is going to be a serial ball winner at the Emirates in Nov.
The front 3 have found some confidence, a lethal finish from Firmino, good attacking work from Mane for the goal and winning a peno and some good finishes from Mo will all compound to us putting 8 past Cardiff this weekend.
I wonder how quickly we'll stick to this line up and rotate Naby with Gini and Lallana with Shaqiri, keeping Fabs at DM.
The front 3 have found some confidence, a lethal finish from Firmino, good attacking work from Mane for the goal and winning a peno and some good finishes from Mo will all compound to us putting 8 past Cardiff this weekend.
I wonder how quickly we'll stick to this line up and rotate Naby with Gini and Lallana with Shaqiri, keeping Fabs at DM.
In what way?
Subdued? Needlessly aggressive? Or was it the lack of away fans that made it go eerie at points
Eerie was exactly what the guy next to me said. It was just all a bit flat with a few half arsed efforts to force some atmosphere. I think it was a combination of it being such a stroll and no away support to bounce off.
I banged on about it during the match, but Shaq didn't play like Chamberlain does, he played a lot more like Coutinho.
Obv a very different style, much more aggressive & frenetic, (& square) but plays in similar areas & pops up all over the pitch in doing so.
Chamberlain was more focused, would usually look to drive forwards with the ball, whereas Shaq will do that, plus cross, win back possession followed by a quick give & go, shoot, beat a man on the edge of the area, & create space by dragging defenders all over the shop.
He's Cubetinho.
Nope, very different players but their presence creates the same problems for defenders. They have to know where he is - and instead of 3 attacking players, it's 4 and they can all pass, move around and score ...
And that's what we lost when AOC got injured and it coincided with a downturn in performances really, after the City game. The flat midfield hasn't really worked, as good as Milner and Gini in particular have been, they (or Fabs or Hendo) need someone ahead of them who can do the roaming work and link the midfield and attack. I'd play two from Milner, Gini, Fabinho and Henderson with either Shaqiri or Keita ahead of them, from now on. We don't need three solid midfielders.
Yup - I'm just very interested to see
a) How Keita responds to Shaqiri's form ... as Shaq can play in the front 3, or the midfield 3, while Keita will only really be in the midfield 3.
b) What happens when Ox returns ... talk about 'good headaches'
Excellent points from you both but here is another one, Keita has done nada, zilch to even warrant been considered ahead of any of the midfield. Shaqiri is a breath of fresh air, and pointed out already would compliment the 3 up front. He is a menace and a beautiful footballer. Keïta can keep his backside on the bench alongside Henderson and Lallana. Fabinho & Gini & Shaq with a touch of Milner. Done.
Right, so. After the wailing and gnashing of teeth, and deafening clamour for my RAAAAATIIIINNNNGS! - I dunno, you miss one game and the entitlement is almost toxic - here they are, a bit late, but here.
The first 20 minutes was a fucking shambles, with Firmino and Fabinho ambling around like they had their boots on the wrong feet and Red Star being aggressive and certainly not sitting back. After that, the extra class in the Liverpool team allowed us to dominate almost entirely, with Allison unemployed and any chances they had were due to sloppy mistakes from us.
The team's "new" midfield shape was interesting, and felt closer to what i thought Klopp had in his head in summer; a holding player, a mobile CM stitching play together, and an AM flitting about. That player was actually Firmino, rather than Shaqiri or the long-lost Fekir. But it showed promise, once the initial torpor disappeared. We should probably have scored more, but nobody can complain about a 4-0 home win.
Allison (n/a) Did some nice quick throws. Probably just so he didn't freeze to death. If he had frozen to death, we probably still would had a clean sheet.
TAA (7) Patchy start to the season, but bang on it last night. Wasted some good positions in attack, but was sharp and aggressive - which is what I like.
Virgil (7) Can't remember the last time he lost a header. Unruffled and classy as ever, and made some very cute passes and forays into midfield, probably because he was bored.
Gomez (7) One silly hospital pass to Fabinho, but otherwise dominant. Can do the nice, eye-catching stuff as well as anyone, but not averse to a bit of brute physicality when it is required - which I also like. One run to dispossess Red Star was a disgusting display of almost unfair acceleration and speed.
Robinson (7) Was a massive threat down the left and while he did fuck up a few opportunities, he helped create the first goal and was as quick, clever and energetic as ever.
Fabinho (7) Started in clown shoes, but then got into a delightfully destructive/ creative groove, as he tackled and dispossessed Belgrade's midfield time and again. Used the ball well and overall this an encouraging display of power and aggression from the Brazilian. I'd like him to be a bit sharper and quick about the pitch at times though.
Wijnaldum (7) I'm enjoying his Rolls-Royce consistency and smooth style of play. He played closer to Fabinho than I expected - perhaps Klopp wants two deep-lying
CMs if he plays an AM? - and he passed the ball about with aplomb. Also seems to be just about impossible to shift off the ball when he deploys the Wijnaldum Arse Shield.
Firmino (7) I think he goes here in Midfield, and at times he didn't seem sure either. But then he scored, and started linking play very well indeed, and unlike your stereotypical AM, he's hard as fucking nails too. Almost gave him an extra point for passing the ball with his chest further than Lallana can fucking kick it.
Mane (7) A total menace from start to finish. Made the most of the arm into his chest/ neck/ FACE?? (haha) to win the first penalty, missed the second and then scored anyway. He does seem to score quite a few of those unorthodox, not-very-footballery toe-pokes. So dangerous, but wasted chances to score more.
Shaqiri (8) I thought he would get more chances centrally, with the left side of the attack being Salah's position, but took this rare opportunity well. His running and playing style looks "busy" anyway, and he was a blur of movement, tricks and flicks last night. Some clever passing and movement, this was a display of class and high energy. If he'd been signed for £50m from anywhere but Stoke, we would be hailing him as the Albanian Messi or something retarded. Or Swiss Messi. Swissi. Whatever.
Salah (8) Wow, he does have a right foot. Smacked in the first with glorious insouciance, and then smacked in the second from the spot. Still not quite at his imperious, clinical, devastating best, where every shot seemed to fly in, from whatever distance/ angle, but the swagger is returning. I hope.
The first 20 minutes was a fucking shambles, with Firmino and Fabinho ambling around like they had their boots on the wrong feet and Red Star being aggressive and certainly not sitting back. After that, the extra class in the Liverpool team allowed us to dominate almost entirely, with Allison unemployed and any chances they had were due to sloppy mistakes from us.
The team's "new" midfield shape was interesting, and felt closer to what i thought Klopp had in his head in summer; a holding player, a mobile CM stitching play together, and an AM flitting about. That player was actually Firmino, rather than Shaqiri or the long-lost Fekir. But it showed promise, once the initial torpor disappeared. We should probably have scored more, but nobody can complain about a 4-0 home win.
Allison (n/a) Did some nice quick throws. Probably just so he didn't freeze to death. If he had frozen to death, we probably still would had a clean sheet.
TAA (7) Patchy start to the season, but bang on it last night. Wasted some good positions in attack, but was sharp and aggressive - which is what I like.
Virgil (7) Can't remember the last time he lost a header. Unruffled and classy as ever, and made some very cute passes and forays into midfield, probably because he was bored.
Gomez (7) One silly hospital pass to Fabinho, but otherwise dominant. Can do the nice, eye-catching stuff as well as anyone, but not averse to a bit of brute physicality when it is required - which I also like. One run to dispossess Red Star was a disgusting display of almost unfair acceleration and speed.
Robinson (7) Was a massive threat down the left and while he did fuck up a few opportunities, he helped create the first goal and was as quick, clever and energetic as ever.
Fabinho (7) Started in clown shoes, but then got into a delightfully destructive/ creative groove, as he tackled and dispossessed Belgrade's midfield time and again. Used the ball well and overall this an encouraging display of power and aggression from the Brazilian. I'd like him to be a bit sharper and quick about the pitch at times though.
Wijnaldum (7) I'm enjoying his Rolls-Royce consistency and smooth style of play. He played closer to Fabinho than I expected - perhaps Klopp wants two deep-lying
CMs if he plays an AM? - and he passed the ball about with aplomb. Also seems to be just about impossible to shift off the ball when he deploys the Wijnaldum Arse Shield.
Firmino (7) I think he goes here in Midfield, and at times he didn't seem sure either. But then he scored, and started linking play very well indeed, and unlike your stereotypical AM, he's hard as fucking nails too. Almost gave him an extra point for passing the ball with his chest further than Lallana can fucking kick it.
Mane (7) A total menace from start to finish. Made the most of the arm into his chest/ neck/ FACE?? (haha) to win the first penalty, missed the second and then scored anyway. He does seem to score quite a few of those unorthodox, not-very-footballery toe-pokes. So dangerous, but wasted chances to score more.
Shaqiri (8) I thought he would get more chances centrally, with the left side of the attack being Salah's position, but took this rare opportunity well. His running and playing style looks "busy" anyway, and he was a blur of movement, tricks and flicks last night. Some clever passing and movement, this was a display of class and high energy. If he'd been signed for £50m from anywhere but Stoke, we would be hailing him as the Albanian Messi or something retarded. Or Swiss Messi. Swissi. Whatever.
Salah (8) Wow, he does have a right foot. Smacked in the first with glorious insouciance, and then smacked in the second from the spot. Still not quite at his imperious, clinical, devastating best, where every shot seemed to fly in, from whatever distance/ angle, but the swagger is returning. I hope.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
I still don't feel like Mo has scored a goal he has properly celebrated with natural elation. I think that is when we'll know that he is mentally back in the game 100%. He'll hammer one in from a tight position and fucking leg it to the corner to celebrate.
Maybe he needs his BFF on the pitch, or warming up on the sidelines to celebrate with.
Maybe he needs his BFF on the pitch, or warming up on the sidelines to celebrate with.
Who is his BFF? I feel I should know this, even if I don't really care.
Degsy
Interesting that Klopp obviously reads my posts (and has a time machine):
"He played closer to Fabinho than I expected - perhaps Klopp wants two deep-lying CMs if he plays an AM?"
Klopp: "The present for his (Fabinho's) birthday was that we played a his favourite system with a double 6 (two defensive midfielders)"
"He played closer to Fabinho than I expected - perhaps Klopp wants two deep-lying CMs if he plays an AM?"
Klopp: "The present for his (Fabinho's) birthday was that we played a his favourite system with a double 6 (two defensive midfielders)"
Lovren - they appear to be inseparable off the field in training and outside of Melwood.
I also thought he was v good vs Palace. Once the attack have their mojo back we’ll see Naby flying.
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