Porto - post match

[tombrown]

Placeholder for Brendan's ratings. In the meantime, Ben J can whet the appetite ahead of the main dish:

Liverpool 2 FC Porto 0: The Match Ratings

by Ben Johnson | Apr 9, 2019 | 1 comment

Alisson: 7
Made two good saves in about a minute and then didn’t have loads to do. I write the same thing every fucking week, don’t I?
Arnold: 8
Back up there with his best. Good defensively, good going forward. Great run for the second, great ball. Is right.
Virgil: 8
Somewhere there is a Virgil biproduct, the dregs of the twins experiment, waddling round, being dead shit, and little, and horrible, and awkward, and crooked and that. Speaking of which…
Degsi: 7
Thought he was excellent, actually. Was expecting a half-fit Degsi blooper reel but got a front-foot Degsi not a million miles from his best. Only give him a seven because I seen his Aston Villa semi final 40 yards out blammer again yesterday, the soft cunt. Should have been strangled on the spot.
Milner: 8
Great game for Robbo to have a rest in but he was great. Love him left back rather than right back as he can dictate play a bit with his body open as fuck.
Fabinho: 7
Thought he was good but not at his best. Bit sloppy on the ball but his good is better than loads of fellas best in that deeper role. Freed up the other lads a treat.
Henderson: 8
Your Carlsberg man of the match right there, you big prick. Excellent again, there. Great ball to Trent for the second. Linked together with Mo in them right-side half spaces really well. Created all kinds, unlucky with all kinds. Magnificent.
Naby: 8
Mad the way seasons change, isn’t it? Probably wouldn’t have played against Southampton if Lallana was fit, gets his start, scores a deflection, The Reds win. Starts tonight, scores a deflection, The Reds win. Good tonight, especially the first 60, but tired thereafter. Might end up winning us the league. That’s mad, isn’t it?
Sadio: 6
Quiet one tonight for him. Grafted but our general play just didn’t really fall in his bit of the pitch.
Mo Salah: 8
Thought he was excellent tonight. Had a couple of his own lads block pretty much goals. They were petrified of him. Worked back from right wing to left back to dispossess their lad in our own box.
Firmino: 8
Was excellent. Gets himself out of all kinds of spots just by throwing his hips. Like Swayze. Played footy with a lad once who was the spit of Patrick Swayze but then he packed in playing for us. One of the team wrote a song to the tune of Katie Melua.
“You’re the closest thing to Swayze I have ever seen. You used to play in our team, but now you’re not so keen.”
Best ever.
SUBS
Sturridge:
Jesus Christ, I’m not normally one for shouting shithouse when someone shits out of one, but I couldn’t help myself today y’know.
Big Div:
Made up with him left wing, y’know.

 

[Frogfish]

Ben J's ratings really are shite. TAA, Alisson and 'Degsi' were all dodgy as fuck for some parts of the game. Mo and Firmino both gave the ball away umpteen times aiding and abetting Porto's numerous breaks. None are worthy of 7s and 8s.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

a) Wasn't happy with Lovren, but 1st game in how long? I think we should sell to Italy for 20-30 million ... He's not good enough imo despite having some great games.
b) We missed what Robbo offers us at LB.
c) Keita had a good game but it's obvious he needs to play with Fabinho & another player who can help defensively to allow him to push further up the pitch where he's fucking good.
d) Hendo with another really good game - have we stumbled onto a really good CM of Fabinho + Hendo + _____ (whoever).
e) Salah isn't out of his slump yet ... A lot of frustrating play on his part.
f) It seems that once we were up 2-0, we decided to just close out the game. Save the legs for the chavs.

 

[manwithnoname]

I love winning games, and I didn't care as much about this one as I did Southampton or Spurs, so it was quite relaxing really.
Mad that - being relaxed about a tie that decides if we're in the SEMI-FINALS of the Champions League.

Anyway, it wasn't exactly comfortable, but a clean sheet was a bonus, even if we should have scored more goals. It was quite disconcerting seeing just how many times Porto managed to create chances - that big galoot of a striker had at least four on his own - but anyway, no away goals and a two goal cushion is OK.

Allison (7) One rush of blood to the head, but sound in general. Made a couple of decent saves and some lovely distribution at times.

TAA (6) Probably a 5 for actual defending, because he was again left looking a bit exposed when they attacked us. Was very impressive going forward and laid on yet another goal to add to his excellent tally of assists, but he needs to tighten the fuck up defensively.

Lovren (6) He looked a bit (actually "very") wobbly early on, as Porto went after him and TAA on the left. Recovered well to produce a solid display, and made several good tackles, but he allowed Porto a bit of a foothold and confidence early on.

Virgil (8) Glided around the pitch with his usual authoritative mien and calmly dealt with trouble. Threw in a few lovely long passes too.

Milner (7) Such an important, influential player. Didn't let playing at LB curb his enthusiasm; solid defensively and produced some good passing, even if he is never going to be quite as dynamic or quick up and down that flank as the suspended Robbo.

Fabinho (6) Didn't have a great start, with some scrappy play and poor use of the ball; he seemed a few seconds too slow. Improved as the game went on, and sharpened up his passing and tackling. Still looks like he could do with help defensively, as he has a habit of going after players rather than patrolling space, and if he misses, he's left exposed.

Keita (7) Really good first half; tenacious, positive and always looking to create something by making a clever pass, or wriggling his way out of trouble to attack the Porto defence. Shot took a huge deflection but who cares? You have to shoot to score. Quieter second half and needs to improve his awareness of trouble if this midfield combination is going to be trusted in the biggest games. But well done again, hope he keeps this improvement going.

Henderson (8) Yeah, this is it chief. Relentless work off the ball, and decisive and accurate with it, Henderson bossed the midfield in his preferred "unshackled" role, and delivered two or three superlative balls that created one goal, and should have been rewarded with more. Boss.

Salah (6) Very involved and caused Porto plenty of problems with his skill and movement, however his final pass or shot was too often blocked and he had one glorious chance that should have been despatched.

Mane (6) Seemed to miss his Scottish pal, and that made him a bit less effective perhaps. One goal disallowed, but typically dangerous with the ball.

Firmino (8) Seems to be coming into some great form at just the right time; he was a nightmare here, with delicate skills and super awareness to set up Keita, then popped up in the six yard box to tap in the second. Worked them hard across the line, and then started dropping in deep to annoy Porto in midfield too. Lovely.

 

[Frogfish]

 

[Portly]

Lovren is quite unpopular with the fans because of his occasional brain fades and wacky personality. Looking at him objectively, however, I think he is a quality centre back and well worth his place in the squad. I gather Joe Gomez was on the bench last night, so that reduces Lovren's chances of starting many matches.

 

[manwithnoname]

Lovren is quite unpopular with the fans because of his occasional brain fades and wacky personality. Looking at him objectively, however, I think he is a quality centre back and well worth his place in the squad. I gather Joe Gomez was on the bench last night, so that reduces Lovren's chances of starting many matches.

I think it's the fact that he is never, ever calm. There's an edge of mania to everything he does on the pitch.

I remember watching his debut for us (against the club he'd left acrimoniously that summer), and he was pretty impressive, but kept chasing the ball across the backline, and galloping about all over the place, like it was his personal mission to be all of the defenders for Liverpool.

I put it down to really wanting to impress (I think I may have used words like "excitable drunk horse") playing for his new fans and against his old club, but no, that's how he ALWAYS plays.

 

[MomoWASright]

I think Lovren would be a decent 3rd or 4th choice behind Virgil and Joe. The biggest issue is his injury record. There is a good chance he’ll be out when you need him to fill in.

 

[Brizzle]

Anyone seen or got a link to extended highlights for this? I missed the game, have seen the goals but that is it.

 

[MomoWASright]

Anyone seen or got a link to extended highlights for this? I missed the game, have seen the goals but that is it.

About 6 minutes worth.

 

[Grjt2]

If you could sell Lovren for c.15m and pick up Alderweireld for 25m, it would be crazy not to, right?

 

[Peatcheo]

If you could sell Lovren for c.15m and pick up Alderweireld for 25m, it would be crazy not to, right?

Was thinking this today when I saw that United were linked with him.

That would be a marked improvement on Lovren and Matip for a minuscule fee in the modern market. The only worry is if it would negatively affect Joe Gomez's development. Also would Alderweireld come to potentially be a back up for Gomez.

 

[doctor_mac]

Was thinking this today when I saw that United were linked with him today.

That would be a marked improvement on Lovren and Matip for a minuscule fee in the modern market. The only worry is if it would negatively affect Joe Gomez's development. Also would Alderweireld come to potentially be a back up for Gomez.

The thing is, there's enough games to go around. Alderweireld and Gomez could share the job over the league and 3 cup competitions. Gomez will also get games at FB in games where we want to keep things tight.

 

[Grjt2]

The thing is, there's enough games to go around. Alderweireld and Gomez could share the job over the league and 3 cup competitions. Gomez will also get games at FB in games where we want to keep things tight.

Exactly. Look at how short we have been this season in defence - I think it's possible to keep 3 frontline CBs happy given our likely schedule.

 

[SummerOnions]

I think it's the fact that he is never, ever calm. There's an edge of mania to everything he does on the pitch.

I remember watching his debut for us (against the club he'd left acrimoniously that summer), and he was pretty impressive, but kept chasing the ball across the backline, and galloping about all over the place, like it was his personal mission to be all of the defenders for Liverpool.

I put it down to really wanting to impress (I think I may have used words like "excitable drunk horse") playing for his new fans and against his old club, but no, that's how he ALWAYS plays.

I think the need to be seen to do it is exactly it for him. Van Dijk doesn't give a fuck how he looks if it works

 

[Hansern]

25 mill £ for Alderweireld would make a lot of sense. Only thing going against him is age and possibly wages I reckon.
Lovren has a horrendous injury record, the team has outgrown him, high wages and it feels like the right time to move him on.

 

[SummerOnions]

Alderweireld doesn't have a great injury record either does he?

 

[rurikbird]

Fabinho (6) Didn't have a great start, with some scrappy play and poor use of the ball; he seemed a few seconds too slow. Improved as the game went on, and sharpened up his passing and tackling. Still looks like he could do with help defensively, as he has a habit of going after players rather than patrolling space, and if he misses, he's left exposed.

This is something I've been pointing out with Fabinho earlier in the season – he seemed to cut it out of his game during his impressive run of starts, but recently the old habits have returned. I guess he will always need to be reminded and trained to defend space if he's going to be our first-choice #6; his tackling is so good, but he tends to overuse it and get caught out.

This is what sets Virgil apart BTW – he is so dominant athletically, but never tackles just for the sake of it; he is capable of the spectacular, but will never think twice about doing the unglamorous part of defending and knows when to rely on his teammates.

 

[the count]

 

[RedStar]

I think Lovren would be a decent 3rd or 4th choice behind Virgil and Joe. The biggest issue is his injury record. There is a good chance he’ll be out when you need him to fill in.

His injury record is nowhere near as bad as Gomez

 

[MomoWASright]

I’ve said it a load of times that you cannot put his broken leg down in with his injury record. Getting rammed into the advertisement boards isn’t comparable to muscular injuries.

 

[RedStar]

I’ve said it a load of times that you cannot put his broken leg down in with his injury record. Getting rammed into the advertisement boards isn’t comparable to muscular injuries.

Gomez has started 59 games for us in 4 years, in the same period Lovren has started 127. Hes available half the time Lovren is.

 

[doctor_mac]

Gomez has started 59 games for us in 4 years, in the same period Lovren has started 127. Hes available half the time Lovren is.

Gomez has not been first choice for all of that time though so it isn't a fair comparison. That being said, he definitely has been injured for longer periods than Lovren.

 

[tombrown]

I’ve said it a load of times that you cannot put his broken leg down in with his injury record. Getting rammed into the advertisement boards isn’t comparable to muscular injuries.

But maybe you could put it down to being injury prone that 6 weeks out became 5 months out ...

 

[MomoWASright]

5 months seems normal for a broken leg. 6 weeks was a ridiculous timeframe.