New CB partnership

[rurikbird]

It's early days, but the signs are promising with Matip-Lovren partnership. Hazard and Costa in form are as big a test as any and except for one moment for the goal and a shot by Costa that Ming saved, they successfully snuffed out all the threats Chelsea could throw at them with minimum of fuss and no signs of panic even under periods of heavy pressure.

They seem like a good personality match - Lovren is better when he doesn't have to do too much and Matip's confidence and elegance with the ball allows Dejan to be simply a no-nonsense defender. It's also good for Lovren that Matip's height draws everyone's attention on set-pieces; that was part of the reason why Lovren could be alone for the first goal (while Matip stood in the middle surrounded by 4 Chelsea players). Basically our team's aerial ability just got upgraded in every position - the other team's best header of the ball used to mark Lovren, but now he has to be on Matip, so Lovren, Can, Origi and our other good headers of the ball will all have slightly easier duels to contend with on set-pieces.

 

[Hansern]

Agreed. It looks like the start of a great partnership.
Matip is so calm and composed on the ball and in difficult situations. Very impressive.

I'm equally impressed with how Lovren had turned around his Liverpool career. Building on last seasons performances, he looks very good. Full of confidence and comfortable next to Matip.

Clyne and Milner have been great aswell.
I'd only change Ming with Karius to get the best possible back 5.

 

[doctor_mac]

How long has it been where we have a back 4 that we can look on with relative confidence? Clyne Matip Lovren Milner. I put those names on the screen and I feel a wave of serenity wash over me. This is a defence you can hang your hat on. Early days, but very exciting. It is possible we look back on the Summer business and recognise Matip as the crucial signing. I think Gomez will hopefully be fit by the winter rush of games and I'd like to see him get some cup games.

He and Matip could be the future.

 

[HC]

They seem like a good personality match - Lovren is better when he doesn't have to do too much

Lol

 

[tony]

Matip looks the real deal - reminds me of Jockey so far. It would appear that Klopp has curbed Lovren's forward runs and long range passing which are woeful, he looks a lot more solid than in his first season. Sort out the keepers distribution ( which was terrible again last night ) and keep this four playing together as a unit and we could be going places.

 

[Modo]

 

[Modo]

 

[Judge Jules]

Agreed. It looks like the start of a great partnership.
Matip is so calm and composed on the ball and in difficult situations. Very impressive.

I'm equally impressed with how Lovren had turned around his Liverpool career. Building on last seasons performances, he looks very good. Full of confidence and comfortable next to Matip.

Clyne and Milner have been great aswell.
I'd only change Ming with Karius to get the best possible back 5.

Agree with most of this, especially about Lovren. The way he's pulled things round speaks volumes for his fundamental character and that's got to be a good sign for the future as well.

I'd hold my horses a little bit on the keepers though. Despite one or two slips I thought Mignolet did well last night in the kind of situations (high balls especially) in which he hasn't always seemed comfortable (though that may well have a lot to do with the improvements in front of him) and Karius has yet to prove himself.

 

[manwithnoname]

Matip looks the real deal - reminds me of Jockey so far. It would appear that Klopp has curbed Lovren's forward runs and long range passing which are woeful, he looks a lot more solid than in his first season. Sort out the keepers distribution ( which was terrible again last night ) and keep this four playing together as a unit and we could be going places.

Please. Don't.

Alan Hansen? Possibly my favourite ever Liverpool player? And Matip?

He played well, but he's already gone to ground (way too early) more often in two games than Hansen did in his entire career.

On the plus side, Matip can actually head a ball

 

[manwithnoname]

Agreed. It looks like the start of a great partnership.
Matip is so calm and composed on the ball and in difficult situations. Very impressive.

I'm equally impressed with how Lovren had turned around his Liverpool career. Building on last seasons performances, he looks very good. Full of confidence and comfortable next to Matip.

Clyne and Milner have been great aswell.
I'd only change Ming with Karius to get the best possible back 5.

Lovren was indeed very good last night

 

[tony]

Please. Don't.

Alan Hansen? Possibly my favourite ever Liverpool player? And Matip?

He played well, but he's already gone to ground (way too early) more often in two games than Hansen did in his entire career.

On the plus side, Matip can actually head a ball

Yeah me too, but you cannot deny those lovely languid runs out of defence are Hansenesque. Excellent anticipation and calmness from him too. Expectations are raised with this fella

 

[leftpeg]

Please. Don't.

Alan Hansen? Possibly my favourite ever Liverpool player? And Matip?

He played well, but he's already gone to ground (way too early) more often in two games than Hansen did in his entire career.

On the plus side, Matip can actually head a ball

Yes, very encouraging signs but let's not start comparing him to the greatest CB in the club's history.

 

[Modo]

MOM performance