He looks a completely different player to the nervous, overawed kid that played at Spurs in Klopp's first game
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He looks a completely different player to the nervous, overawed kid that played at Spurs in Klopp's first game
Is there a post-match thread? anyway, I'll do a review and ratings.
While City looked heavy-legged and forlorn, Liverpool looked like an entirely different side to the one that performed so disappointingly on Sunday. We started quite well, without really generating any chances, but the Lallana strike - what was Hart doing? - settled the game and after that City never looked like getting anything as we controlled the game with ease.
The frustrating lack of consistency is what Klopp needs to fix in summer. It isn't a case of the players becoming more used to his methods, tactics and demands, and over time this level of performance will become the norm. It's simpler than that: the players aren't good enough. Really good players perform in 80% of games, not 50%. That's the issue.
Mignolet (7) Had little to do, did it well.
Flanagan (7) He started like he had a point to prove, and made it several times on Sterling and anyone else who came near him. Impressive return, and most welcome. I hope he does a Carragher and overcomes doubts some had about his quality and technique to become undroppable. We shall see if he is good enough.
Toure (8) He was imperious at times, and handled everything that City had to offer with assurance
Lovren (7) Good return and if he keeps up this level, he should play ahead of Sakho every time
Clyne (7) Bit of a wobbly start, but was very good overall. Limited in attack as he is very one-footed. I don't think we can play Flanno at RB and Clyne at LB when neither are great going forward. If those positions swapped, I think Clyne being on his "right" side may assuage any issues of the lack of attacking possibilities, although neither are exactly Moreno. But both are much better defenders.
Henderson (6) Some nice touches and flicks, but his longer passing game was slightly awry at times. Worked hard with Can to dominate the midfield and protect the defence
Can (8) He can veer alarmingly between "not very good" and "totally great" and this was a display out of the latter category. He was snappy in possession, won plenty of balls, and used it very well. Bravo.
Milner (8) Added quality to his work rate and made several great runs into the final third. Scored one, could have had more, gave City no peace at all, with his marauding.
Origi (6) He created space for others with a very unselfish display of running, and worked the channels well, didn't really look like scoring though
Firmino (8) I think "mercurial" is a good word for him. As awful as he was on Sunday, here he caused City endless problems with his work rate, movement, passing and of course a great finish. City found it hard to track him and he punished them for it.
Lallana (9) Possibly his best display for Liverpool. There was an element of luck for his goal - it wasn't that well struck - but he was all over the pitch, winning the ball, closing down space, and generally creating mayhem with his touch and vision. When he plays like this he actually looks like a £25m player.
While City looked heavy-legged and forlorn, Liverpool looked like an entirely different side to the one that performed so disappointingly on Sunday. We started quite well, without really generating any chances, but the Lallana strike - what was Hart doing? - settled the game and after that City never looked like getting anything as we controlled the game with ease.
The frustrating lack of consistency is what Klopp needs to fix in summer. It isn't a case of the players becoming more used to his methods, tactics and demands, and over time this level of performance will become the norm. It's simpler than that: the players aren't good enough. Really good players perform in 80% of games, not 50%. That's the issue.
Mignolet (7) Had little to do, did it well.
Flanagan (7) He started like he had a point to prove, and made it several times on Sterling and anyone else who came near him. Impressive return, and most welcome. I hope he does a Carragher and overcomes doubts some had about his quality and technique to become undroppable. We shall see if he is good enough.
Toure (8) He was imperious at times, and handled everything that City had to offer with assurance
Lovren (7) Good return and if he keeps up this level, he should play ahead of Sakho every time
Clyne (7) Bit of a wobbly start, but was very good overall. Limited in attack as he is very one-footed. I don't think we can play Flanno at RB and Clyne at LB when neither are great going forward. If those positions swapped, I think Clyne being on his "right" side may assuage any issues of the lack of attacking possibilities, although neither are exactly Moreno. But both are much better defenders.
Henderson (6) Some nice touches and flicks, but his longer passing game was slightly awry at times. Worked hard with Can to dominate the midfield and protect the defence
Can (8) He can veer alarmingly between "not very good" and "totally great" and this was a display out of the latter category. He was snappy in possession, won plenty of balls, and used it very well. Bravo.
Milner (8) Added quality to his work rate and made several great runs into the final third. Scored one, could have had more, gave City no peace at all, with his marauding.
Origi (6) He created space for others with a very unselfish display of running, and worked the channels well, didn't really look like scoring though
Firmino (8) I think "mercurial" is a good word for him. As awful as he was on Sunday, here he caused City endless problems with his work rate, movement, passing and of course a great finish. City found it hard to track him and he punished them for it.
Lallana (9) Possibly his best display for Liverpool. There was an element of luck for his goal - it wasn't that well struck - but he was all over the pitch, winning the ball, closing down space, and generally creating mayhem with his touch and vision. When he plays like this he actually looks like a £25m player.
It's not that mysterious. Really good players are consistent. It's easy to say it's a temperament issue, or mentality, or attitude or whatever. But this team won't ever win things because there isn't enough really good players in it.
It's not that hard for a decent Premiership player to look amazingly good in certain games, some even manage it for a season. But then they drop back to their usual level. Because they aren't good enough.
I think the conditions shaped the game. It was constant hurly-burly in midfield. The wind meant that, rather than trying to pick our way through City's midfield, the hoof upfield was potentially more damaging as it was difficult for the defenders to position themselves.
But even the likes of Coutinho, Firmino, Henderson, who I will consider really good players, are bloody weak. I get where you are coming from but to me there just seems to be a malaise affecting them.
OK, but there are many facets that contribute to being a good player and mentality is one. It isn't a malaise.
He got injured at an unfortunate time. He was getting better and better before then and had just banged in that hatrick. It's good to see he's come back with his confidence intact. He's right to. Whilst he's not setting the world alight, he is keeping his £32M strike partner out the side and is showing a decent amount of potential for a young striker. Klopp clearly sees him as suited to the type of game he wishes to play.
Lovren at the moment puts me at much more ease than Sakho. Things just seem so much calmer at the back without Sakho.
The twitter hipsters will try to prove you wrong about Sakho with stats if you say that though. "He just looks clumsy - he actually is the opposite" "Have you seen his pass ratio".
The twitter hipsters will try to prove you wrong about Sakho with stats if you say that though. "He just looks clumsy - he actually is the opposite" "Have you seen his pass ratio".
That's inaccurate, IMO.
People were slating Sakho for looking "awkward" when he was having an excellent run of form last season. He was rightfully defended at this point, because he was playing extremely well and people were, rightly, judging him on his effectiveness rather than how he got it done.
This season there has been no such defence, because his form has been shite.
In fairness to Sakho this season, he seems to be constantly coming back from injury, and maybe his performances are being affected by that.
Yeah they threw that pass ratio in my face too.
reminds me of a post I made a few years ago...gimme a sec.
Couldn't find it.
Anyway, I honestly believe Sakho is a decent defender but definitely not good enough for a team chasing trophies.
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We are all in agreement that we need more better players. This *should * offset 1 or 2 players having a poor games.
He could be our very own Aubameyang next season!!!
Can on 42" - #justsaying 😉
I think he'll do the same for Belgium. It's often overlooked, but the Belgium national team manager was getting frustrated by Benteke even before the player signed for us.
Yeah I think he said Lakaku and Benteke were like two poles up front.
Advice for whoever is responsible for cleaning Kolo Toure and John Flannagans Kit..
Please remove any Man City Strikers from the pockets before washing.. Thank-You..
Please remove any Man City Strikers from the pockets before washing.. Thank-You..
I agree with this - and highlighted the word "enough". Just a couple of real leaders bought this summer could be all it needs. Suarez-mentality - those who won't settle for less than 100% from themselves, and who won't allow those around them to live comfortably at less than their best.
We're gonna sign him sure.
Sterling already came preshrunk so it's okay to run him through the wash.
He's quite outspoken against his players though, he basically labelled both Lukaku and Benteke lazy/static after one of their recent games.
He's right like, but he's not very coy and it's not just limited to Benteke. As said though, Origi is everything we want really in terms of attributes - pace, power, energy. He just needs goals now.
EDIT: I quiffed sorry. What ILD said.
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