Seems like there's a whole load of individual chat going on in various threads, and I wasn't sure where to put this. So I thought a new thread would be a good idea!
We're out. Which is a shame. This competition was never a priority for the fans or Klopp, and only ever really generates any level of muted excitement when we get to the QF stage. But it's still a trophy, and having been at the last final when we lost to City, it's still not a nice feeling to lose.
And Klopp badly needs to win something soon. I have no complaints about his team selection in principle - he has to rotate, rest players, and give others a chance - but the issue is more that his squad isn't really very good.
Coutinho was by a mile the best player on display in the first half, and after he came off, Leicester took control.
The obvious, well-worn and much discussed issues around Klopp's team and his way of playing were once again on display. We had lots of possession and chances in the first half, but don't have a top quality striker who can be relied on to finish.
And then there's that defence. Oh, that defence. Of course by now, even those a bit slower on the uptake have realised that we made a dreadful error by not strengthening our defence in summer, and the palsied shitshow we got from them again last night was derisory. We have continued to concede our current average of two goals per game, and frankly we are close to becoming a laughing stock. And as for some of the new recruits....more later. On with the ratings:
Ward (6) A few good saves and one superlative claim in his area, this was a decent game from the Welshman, and it's hard to apportion any blame for the two goals conceded, because we always concede goals.
Robertson (7) Solid, energetic, neat footballer. Shades of Finnan in an impressive first half display, it was a shame we had no quality striker on the pitch - or indeed at the club - to take advantage of his crosses. Disappeared from view in the second half, as Okazaki started to run riot, and seemed to badly miss the creativity and guile of Coutinho, who supplied him the lots of possession when he was on the pitch.
Klavan (5) Comfortable enough in the first half, with little to do, but made some useful interventions. Had no answer to the movement and pace of Okazaki, and left nowhere for the goals.
Gomez (6) Played lots of penetrating balls into their half, and wasn't nervous in possession. Good turn of pace can get him out of trouble whenever he was caught out, but not yet at the level required. Promising.
Flanagan (4) Almost unemployed defensively in the first half, but didn't seem overly interested in attacking. No presence or contribution in the second half. Had no answer to either pace or skill when confronted by Gray.
Henderson (4) Did enough work picking up loose balls and looked busy enough, but when we needed to inject some forward momentum, or regroup defensively, his response his always the same, a weirdly hyper-kinetic busyness that only ever sees the ball squirting sideways, in short distances. Another of his too-frequent retarded labrador impressions.
Wijnaldum (4) The Invisible Man did his usual away game disappearing act, but it's a weird trick, in that he looks like he's doing something and being involved, but is actually doing FUCK ALL of any actual use to help us win the game.
Grujic (5) His height and presence are quite interesting, and he duly won almost everything in the air. But the comparisons to Matic seem very premature, in that he's rash and clumsy in the tackle, and tries to many long balls, which he seems entirely incapable of delivering accurately. Not sure how good at football he actually is.
Coutinho (7) Even nowhere near his best, his 45 minute display was miles above the level of anyone else on the pitch. Inventive and busy, his sharpness is increasing, although he still didn't create or score. Getting there, hopefully
Solanke (6) Some promising moments and flashes of skill, but he wasn't given much support and didn't really look like he was going to score. Missed a good chance.
Oxlade-Chamberlain (3) Was quite involved and got through a lot of work, so it's hard to moan about his effort or application. It is, however, easy to moan about the fact that he isn't actually very good at football. He spent most of the evening barelling around the pitch, falling over, losing the ball, passing to the opposition and generally looking like a fucking cabbage.
We're out. Which is a shame. This competition was never a priority for the fans or Klopp, and only ever really generates any level of muted excitement when we get to the QF stage. But it's still a trophy, and having been at the last final when we lost to City, it's still not a nice feeling to lose.
And Klopp badly needs to win something soon. I have no complaints about his team selection in principle - he has to rotate, rest players, and give others a chance - but the issue is more that his squad isn't really very good.
Coutinho was by a mile the best player on display in the first half, and after he came off, Leicester took control.
The obvious, well-worn and much discussed issues around Klopp's team and his way of playing were once again on display. We had lots of possession and chances in the first half, but don't have a top quality striker who can be relied on to finish.
And then there's that defence. Oh, that defence. Of course by now, even those a bit slower on the uptake have realised that we made a dreadful error by not strengthening our defence in summer, and the palsied shitshow we got from them again last night was derisory. We have continued to concede our current average of two goals per game, and frankly we are close to becoming a laughing stock. And as for some of the new recruits....more later. On with the ratings:
Ward (6) A few good saves and one superlative claim in his area, this was a decent game from the Welshman, and it's hard to apportion any blame for the two goals conceded, because we always concede goals.
Robertson (7) Solid, energetic, neat footballer. Shades of Finnan in an impressive first half display, it was a shame we had no quality striker on the pitch - or indeed at the club - to take advantage of his crosses. Disappeared from view in the second half, as Okazaki started to run riot, and seemed to badly miss the creativity and guile of Coutinho, who supplied him the lots of possession when he was on the pitch.
Klavan (5) Comfortable enough in the first half, with little to do, but made some useful interventions. Had no answer to the movement and pace of Okazaki, and left nowhere for the goals.
Gomez (6) Played lots of penetrating balls into their half, and wasn't nervous in possession. Good turn of pace can get him out of trouble whenever he was caught out, but not yet at the level required. Promising.
Flanagan (4) Almost unemployed defensively in the first half, but didn't seem overly interested in attacking. No presence or contribution in the second half. Had no answer to either pace or skill when confronted by Gray.
Henderson (4) Did enough work picking up loose balls and looked busy enough, but when we needed to inject some forward momentum, or regroup defensively, his response his always the same, a weirdly hyper-kinetic busyness that only ever sees the ball squirting sideways, in short distances. Another of his too-frequent retarded labrador impressions.
Wijnaldum (4) The Invisible Man did his usual away game disappearing act, but it's a weird trick, in that he looks like he's doing something and being involved, but is actually doing FUCK ALL of any actual use to help us win the game.
Grujic (5) His height and presence are quite interesting, and he duly won almost everything in the air. But the comparisons to Matic seem very premature, in that he's rash and clumsy in the tackle, and tries to many long balls, which he seems entirely incapable of delivering accurately. Not sure how good at football he actually is.
Coutinho (7) Even nowhere near his best, his 45 minute display was miles above the level of anyone else on the pitch. Inventive and busy, his sharpness is increasing, although he still didn't create or score. Getting there, hopefully
Solanke (6) Some promising moments and flashes of skill, but he wasn't given much support and didn't really look like he was going to score. Missed a good chance.
Oxlade-Chamberlain (3) Was quite involved and got through a lot of work, so it's hard to moan about his effort or application. It is, however, easy to moan about the fact that he isn't actually very good at football. He spent most of the evening barelling around the pitch, falling over, losing the ball, passing to the opposition and generally looking like a fucking cabbage.
