Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Match Thread

[Buddha]

Half decent performances from AOC and Gini would help too

In the context of Sunday's game, it would have made a huge difference. Having controlled the midfield in the first half and seen it gradually slip away (not least because of Henderson, who had been excellent, suddenly getting very leggy), we were perfectly poised to bring on two energetic, intelligent midfielders to renew our control.

Instead we got two seemingly disinterested, mediocre and knackered subs. Awful in particular from Chamberlain who seemed either demotivated or overawed - either is worrying.

 

[beejay]

In the context of Sunday's game, it would have made a huge difference. Having controlled the midfield in the first half and seen it gradually slip away (not least because of Henderson, who had been excellent, suddenly getting very leggy), we were perfectly poised to bring on two energetic, intelligent midfielders to renew our control.

Instead we got two seemingly disinterested, mediocre and knackered subs. Awful in particular from Chamberlain who seemed either demotivated or overawed - either is worrying.

That's exactly how I saw it as well. It was the right decision to bring on 2 midfielders to regain some control and with Henderson gassed and Mane ineffective. But Gini & AOC were dreadful, offering little in defence and nothing whatsoever going forward. Both need a kick up the arse

 

[FoxForceFive]

Gini was extremely disappointing.

I wanted him played from the start instead of Milner as for me they're the only games (big teams, at home) that he looks the business in.

Whether or not he'd have performed as he usually does in those big games I have no idea though.

I fucking hate that player when he does that though. He quite literally strolled, he moved away from the ball a lot of the time, didn't bolster either the attack or defence & I dont recall seeing him run even once.

 

[moron]

That's exactly how I saw it as well. It was the right decision to bring on 2 midfielders to regain some control and with Henderson gassed and Mane ineffective. But Gini & AOC were dreadful, offering little in defence and nothing whatsoever going forward. Both need a kick up the arse

Have to agree .. they may as well not been on the pitch. Dont actually remember them doing anything.

 

[beejay]

Have to agree .. they may as well not been on the pitch. Dont actually remember them doing anything.

There's been some criticism of Klopp for his substitutions but the players themselves have to take responsibility and make an impact.

It was the same when Milner came on against Man City, he was all over the shop and could have cost us dear. We seem to specialise in bad cameos, I can't recall too many subs improving us this season let alone doing a Fairclough

 

[doctor_mac]

There's been some criticism of Klopp for his substitutions but the players themselves have to take responsibility and make an impact.

It was the same when Milner came on against Man City, he was all over the shop and could have cost us dear. We seem to specialise in bad cameos, I can't recall too many subs improving us this season let alone doing a Fairclough

Salah came on once and scored two goals.

 

[Frogfish]

Am I reading this right.... you're suggesting lamella effectively threw himself at VDV's foot, while he was kicking out at a ball m, to wine a penalty?????

Seriously?

The ball dropped in the box- VDV tried to hoof it.... Lamella put his body between VDV and the ball to gain space and control in the box.

2 minutes earlier Salah scored a cracking goal because Spurs defenders didn't dive in and gave him space- which he exploited.

Lamella tried to exploit some space in the box and got clearly booted in the thigh.

There isn't a part of the pitch that's not a foul - intent it not - which means.... penalty.

Ref didn't give it... view from linesman is pretty clear.

You need to watch the incident from a little further away (and a longer clip) than most of those being posted. Lamela had zero chance of getting to that ball, you can see him run at and dive into VvD then go down holding his thigh. It was contrived and probably some people would say, clever, professional play, but it was still blatant cheating nonetheless.

 

[Frogfish]

Footy365's 16 conclusions:

[article]* While Kane’s first penalty was not the most difficult to either save or read, Karius should take great confidence from it. The German had a positive game, making smart saves from Dembele and Heung-min Son. There can also be no blame apportioned to him for either goal. His punch clear was simply unfortunate to land at the foot of Wanyama for the first, while Kane made no mistake with the second penalty.

The only worry is that the keeper’s distribution was haphazard. It is normally his most reliable trait, but he completed under one-third of his passes at Anfield. Tottenham’s high press goes some way to explaining that. This was at least two steps forward before one back.[/article]

More here.

I would take issue in that it's harsh to blame Karius' low pass completion on him alone or to use it as a stick to beat him with - Spurs' high press meant he had to kick long, meaning that Spurs' CBs or Dembele (later Wanyama) were most likely to get their heads on it first (meaning a failed pass as far as completion stats are concerned), the fact we subsequently won a lot of those knock-downs doesn't come into it for stats purposes, as in they helped instigate attacks, especially in the first half.

 

[StevieM]

You need to watch the incident from a little further away (and a longer clip) than most of those being posted. Lamela had zero chance of getting to that ball, you can see him run at and dive into VvD then go down holding his thigh. It was contrived and probably some people would say, clever, professional play, but it was still blatant cheating nonetheless.

He was holding his thigh because VVD booted him on the thigh.

I don't understand this "no chance of getting the ball" nonsense - are you saying VDV had no chance of reaching the ball with his foot before it connected with the back of Lamela's thigh.

Lamela jumps between VDV & the ball, and tries to use his body to shield the ball which bounced right in front of him.

 

[Insignificance]

He was holding his thigh because VVD booted him on the thigh.

I don't understand this "no chance of getting the ball" nonsense - are you saying VDV had no chance of reaching the ball with his foot before it connected with the back of Lamela's thigh.

Lamela jumps between VDV & the ball, and tries to use his body to shield the ball which bounced right in front of him.

Just Bull. Lamela har no interest of shielding any ball. His only interest is making contact with VVD and throw himself to the ground.

It is a good testimony to out CD's that Spurs har to start diving desperately to get something out of a game they had a lot of ball in. They often get criticized but this time they played very well.

 

[Frogfish]

He was holding his thigh because VVD booted him on the thigh.

I don't understand this "no chance of getting the ball" nonsense - are you saying VDV had no chance of reaching the ball with his foot before it connected with the back of Lamela's thigh.

Lamela jumps between VDV & the ball, and tries to use his body to shield the ball which bounced right in front of him.

That bolded bit is clearly unrealistic, the ball wasn't bouncing vertically ! VvD had no chance of getting to the ball (even though he was attempting it) and neither did Lamela .... it was already past them both when the incident occured. Otherwise how fast do you think Lamela was moving to get between VdV and shield the ball 😱

Lamela jumped into VvD and received a boot for his troubles. He went down to con the ref (and clearly conned a host of fans too). Jumping into someone constitutes a foul. The FK should have been given to us !

 

[StevieM]

That bolded bit is clearly unrealistic, the ball wasn't bouncing vertically ! VdV had no chance of getting to the ball (even though he was attempting it) and neither did Lamela .... it was already past them both when the incident occured. Otherwise how fast do you think Lamela was moving to get between VdV and shield the ball 😱

Lamela jumped into VdV and received a boot for his troubles. He went down to con the ref (and clearly conned a host of fans too). Jumping into someone constitutes a foul. The FK should have been given to us !

Hang on... so VDV had no chance of getting the ball so he was wafting his leg aimlessly in the air and Lamela jumped into that outstretched leg, that had no chance of reaching the ball, perfectly timing the back of his thigh onto VDV's foot.

That's just mental.

It's not a penalty because Lamela threw himself at VDV's outstretched leg when neither of them had a chance to get the ball???

WHAT???

 

[StevieM]

Am I being wooshed here?

 

[moron]

Hang on... so VDV had no chance of getting the ball so he was wafting his leg aimlessly in the air and Lamela jumped into that outstretched leg, that had no chance of reaching the ball, perfectly timing the back of his thigh onto VDV's foot.

That's just mental.

It's not a penalty because Lamela threw himself at VDV's outstretched leg when neither of them had a chance to get the ball???

WHAT???

Lamela just jumps in front of VVD - VVD does not even see him, Lamela's angle of approach was purely to get VVD's knee up his little arsehole - and then bend over slowly till he was on the ground - it was a well worked penalty decision that the ref obviously dismissed but the linesman's view as it happened at that pace was one where all he could see at speed was VVD's knew coming down from Lamela's back/backside and Lamela going down. The whole incident is a disgrace, but ultimately the fault was ours for not doing enough to keep the ball. No team should allow its defense to be under so much pressure for an entire half. We were letting them cross that ball in, bypass our midfield, no tackles going in or anything. Fucking madness on our part as much as the bad officiating.

 

[jason]

In the context of Sunday's game, it would have made a huge difference. Having controlled the midfield in the first half and seen it gradually slip away (not least because of Henderson, who had been excellent, suddenly getting very leggy), we were perfectly poised to bring on two energetic, intelligent midfielders to renew our control.

Instead we got two seemingly disinterested, mediocre and knackered subs. Awful in particular from Chamberlain who seemed either demotivated or overawed - either is worrying.

What the hell caused this sudden lack of energy? That´s what cost us this game.

 

[tombrown]

Hang on... so VDV had no chance of getting the ball so he was wafting his leg aimlessly in the air and Lamela jumped into that outstretched leg, that had no chance of reaching the ball, perfectly timing the back of his thigh onto VDV's foot.

That's just mental.

It's not a penalty because Lamela threw himself at VDV's outstretched leg when neither of them had a chance to get the ball???

WHAT???

I don't think Van der Vaart is even employed by Spurs anymore, let alone played for them Sunday

 

[Frogfish]

Hang on... so VDV had no chance of getting the ball so he was wafting his leg aimlessly in the air and Lamela jumped into that outstretched leg, that had no chance of reaching the ball, perfectly timing the back of his thigh onto VDV's foot.

That's just mental.

It's not a penalty because Lamela threw himself at VDV's outstretched leg when neither of them had a chance to get the ball???

WHAT???

Well clearly there are two opposing views on this because there's no consensus between commentators or media either. Judging by Likes given above people here tend to agree with my viewpoint .... or at the very least find it more entertaining, despite your artistic use of Upper Case and multiple question marks 😉

 

[StevieM]

Well clearly there are two opposing views on this because there's no consensus between commentators or media either. Judging by Likes given above people here tend to agree with my viewpoint .... or at the very least find it more entertaining, despite your artistic use of Upper Case and multiple question marks 😉

Hah!