Liverpool Will Be Competitive

[doctor_mac]

That's a dicking apparently

There's lies, damned lies and statistics. We scored a good goal that was called offside. We created all of the better clearcut chances in the game. That 11 to 14 shots stat flatters them when you consider the quality of the chances. OK, calling it a 'dicking' is overstatement, but we can certainly say that it was a really strong performance, a game that all things being equal we should really have won, and that we for the most part outplayed one of the best teams in the league in their own ground.

 

[mark1975]

There's lies, damned lies and statistics. We scored a good goal that was called offside. We created all of the better clearcut chances in the game. That 11 to 14 shots stat flatters them when you consider the quality of the chances. OK, calling it a 'dicking' is overstatement, but we can certainly say that it was a really strong performance, a game that all things being equal we should really have won, and that we for the most part outplayed one of the best teams in the league in their own ground.

We also hit the bar with Matip. I thought I'd imagined how dominant we were, so I watched the extended highlights again this morning and yep, we were easily the better team with the better chances. Their best chances came from a few setpieces.

 

[Frogfish]

Agree with most of the points Frog - but lets not forget a few things here:-

1) We have failed to score from open play in the last two games.

2) I get what you say about Burnly result but the point on that as I have posted previously - is that last season we encountered many teams that setup against us like they did and it seemed that against Burnly we made exactly the same bad decisions and the overall view is that we learnt nothing from those previous games to indicate that we can break down a 10 man wall.

3) The LB position issue - is a big fucking disaster waiting to happen - agreed that Milner is a massive upgrade but like most of pointed out on here - losing him in midfield is actually a loss for us as he is somewhat effective and we are now playing a soft Lalana in that position.

4) On a plus note - I have a lot of confidence in both Matip and obviously like many - Mane too but the Spurs game kind of scared me as I thought Mane would get sent of in the second half. If that is his usual way of playing given that he has in the past had 6 sending off's then could face some serious shit in the future.

5) from the overall attack - if you take off Mane -we are essentially left with last seasons team up front who don't inspire me that much against the lower teams that do defend in numbers.

1. That can be said of many teams - a huge amount of goals nowadays come from FKs, Pens & corners. 2 games is nothing.
2. One match this season doesn't prove anything considering all the new players. If it looks that way after 3-4 games against relegation fodder then I'll agree.
3. Agree on the disaster bit but really I don't think we can say it's a big loss to our midfield. It removes an option but Can+Hendo is going to be Klopp's midfield two and there's no way Milner gets into the front four. LB is actually a good way of keeping a valuable player in the team .. and an upgrade on Moreno.
4. I was worried for Mane too - didn't he have 2-3 red cards last season or did I imagine that ? You are doing a disservice to the club though, we are not a one man team, tactics and strengthening in other positions highlights that. Look at our better Mane-less wins last season (City, Chelsea etc.).

 

[Fabio]

We also hit the bar with Matip. I thought I'd imagined how dominant we were, so I watched the extended highlights again this morning and yep, we were easily the better team with the better chances. Their best chances came from a few setpieces.

Our goal came from a set piece and one of our best chances (matip) did too.

 

[mark1975]

Our goal came from a set piece and one of our best chances (matip) did too.

We also had a goal marginally disallowed from open play and a chance that Coutinho should have scored.

 

[doctor_mac]

And we should have had another penalty.

 

[keniget]

We've been talking about games we should've won, chances we should've converted and decisions yada yada yada for years.

I'd consider less of that chat a sign of genuine progress.

We've had it in us to obliterate teams for 20mins or so for a few years now. The problem has been consistency, inability to manage a game, shit defending and complacency when it comes to facing "lesser" teams.

There have been a few positives so far this season, sure, but we've also seen as many questions raised as there has ever been. So it's a case of wait and see - whether you want to do your waiting thinking / hoping / believing that everything is going to fall neatly into place or more in more of a "I'll believe it when I see it" fashion, it doesn't really make much difference.