I said it against Wolves and again v West Ham. Don't become complacent due to the points gap - this game is huge. Let's go into the break 22 points ahead. Won't be easy against a resurgent Southampton, and without Mane. But we are closing in on something which has not happened in a generation - keep focused on the next win.
Pre match: Southampton (H)
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We are fucking boss though and will win by 7.
Match Day Programme for Southampton on Saturday;
https://en.calameo.com/read/0044497...PORRYBPv1TDoL2hOsk1VDGHKJPxk-0WmCcoahsHBGQw3Q
https://en.calameo.com/read/0044497...PORRYBPv1TDoL2hOsk1VDGHKJPxk-0WmCcoahsHBGQw3Q
Collector's copy.
Keita and Ox appear similar mentality wise where sometimes they want to show off more than anything, they want that headline-grabbing dribble or shot at goal. Gini used to be a little like that too but quickly reigned that part of himself in and plays in a very intelligent and controlled manner, Keita's better performances have come when he has controlled himself rather than when he's tried too much. The challenge for Ox (and Keita) is to think more about the teams' system rather than individual brilliance. As I said Keita is getting better at this and Ox can get there too like he did before he got that big injury (Roma) but maybe it takes more time than we realize.
Their pre match thread:
https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?61682-Liverpool-v-Saints-Build-Up
They seem optimistic.
https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?61682-Liverpool-v-Saints-Build-Up
They seem optimistic.
Extremely so -
"Going for 5 straight away wins and to be honest with you we shouldn’t have any problems. Liverpool are not too good at home and they are certainly there for the taking.".
"Going for 5 straight away wins and to be honest with you we shouldn’t have any problems. Liverpool are not too good at home and they are certainly there for the taking.".
We are that bad at home we’ve won every league at Anfield this season.
This Southampton fan trying to calm them down a bit lol
"Can't believe the optimism on here! We're good away and can compete with top teams, but they've dropped points once all season. They just win games. I'm expecting a decent performance but we'll still lose, kind of like the home fixture."
That's ....quite something
I'm looking forward to this one. Unlike Moyes's team, Saints will not just sit deep and frustrate us – they will look to press, stay compact and cut off passing lanes in the middle of the pitch. I think our best avenue of attack will be to go around the press and try to create down the wings, forcing their wingers to track back into uncomfortable defensive territory. Then Bobby and Mo's movement in and around the box will be key as their CBs are not the most mobile. Overall, I think our players will enjoy playing against an opponent who is also full of confidence and wants to give us a proper game.
We will probably start the game in the usual system, but at some point it might be interesting to try to match their 4-4-2 shape with something like this:
----------------Alisson----------------
--------Gomez------Van Dijk-------
Trent--------------------------Robbo
-----------Fabinho---Gini-----------
--Hendo-------------------------Ox--
-----------Salah-------Firmino------
Saints will not want to stray from their compact pressing 4-4-2 shape, so there should be a little more space down the wings for the likes of Ox and Hendo to run into than against teams playing 5 at the back against us. We should look to move the ball quickly, switching the focus between flanks and the middle, and try to drag defenders out of position. Minamino, if ready, would be a good option for that role of a winger-playmaker.
We will probably start the game in the usual system, but at some point it might be interesting to try to match their 4-4-2 shape with something like this:
----------------Alisson----------------
--------Gomez------Van Dijk-------
Trent--------------------------Robbo
-----------Fabinho---Gini-----------
--Hendo-------------------------Ox--
-----------Salah-------Firmino------
Saints will not want to stray from their compact pressing 4-4-2 shape, so there should be a little more space down the wings for the likes of Ox and Hendo to run into than against teams playing 5 at the back against us. We should look to move the ball quickly, switching the focus between flanks and the middle, and try to drag defenders out of position. Minamino, if ready, would be a good option for that role of a winger-playmaker.
I suspect this will be a pretty enjoyable match for the neutral. Perhaps for me too, although if we dont put in a huge amount of energy & stay concentrated we could easily suffer our first defeat of the season, so even the enjoyment I've taken out of the last few matches thanks to the huge points lead may be at a premium today.
I'd like to think that we're doing just enough to get through games, but against West Ham we had several lapses in concentration, Southampton will capitalise on any such weakness, so we need that mindset of not giving them any inroads back again.
I wouldn't be too surprised if we played a lot of long balls over the top early, to negate their press & utilise Origi's pace in behind (if he plays, as I suspect he will), this will also allow us to switch play with long balls, & mean their backline is continually dragged out of position, trying to cover the full backs pushing up, & the threat from Salah or Origi running behind them. In turn, this should mean they cant press as high up the pitch & reduces the pressure.
Of course, that tactic will only work if the ball 'sticks' a lot of the time when we play a long ball & we're not just conceding possession.
I'd like to think that we're doing just enough to get through games, but against West Ham we had several lapses in concentration, Southampton will capitalise on any such weakness, so we need that mindset of not giving them any inroads back again.
I wouldn't be too surprised if we played a lot of long balls over the top early, to negate their press & utilise Origi's pace in behind (if he plays, as I suspect he will), this will also allow us to switch play with long balls, & mean their backline is continually dragged out of position, trying to cover the full backs pushing up, & the threat from Salah or Origi running behind them. In turn, this should mean they cant press as high up the pitch & reduces the pressure.
Of course, that tactic will only work if the ball 'sticks' a lot of the time when we play a long ball & we're not just conceding possession.
So we should adapt to them? At Anfield?
I agree that Southampton are a good team, they play a high tempo - counter pressing type of football like we do.
But, their defence is still shite. Wolves came back from 2-0 deficit to beat them and we just beat Wolves in their ground.
I also look forward to this game cause it might be more open and entertaining but I don't really think we should change our shape for their sake.
It's also the fact that what Mane does on that left wing can't be fully replaced by Origi or anyone else, so then the question becomes do you try to stick with the usual system but with worse execution, or try to adjust the system to suit both the available players and the opponent. In quite a few games (or parts of games) this season we played some sort of a hybrid of a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 – defending in one shape and attacking in another. I think this game could be another case of something along those lines. Personally I like the idea of having Salah and Firmino pair up against Vestergaard and Stephens to try to expose their lack of mobility.
But most important thing to consider is where is the space going to be? Playing against a 4-4-2 compact system, I would definitely look for space down the wings, always having an outlet there and then once the ball gets worked to the wing try to start dragging their defenders around, by playing with wingers capable of running at players, picking a pass or crossing.
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Actually I'd bring Fabs into this one. Move Hendo to the right to help Trent cope with Redmond, cause if there's someone I fear in that team it's him.
Yes we should be able to exploit the wings, it's what Wolves did. I'm not sure about longballs with Vestergaard playing and Southampton sitting deep. It didn't work against West Ham, but I don't think Southampton will sit deep.
They're a bunch that likes to play their style despite the opposition. I saw a lot of space in the middle. I mean Jonny just ran through their defence before getting chopped down.
Anyway, I look forward to it.
Yes we should be able to exploit the wings, it's what Wolves did. I'm not sure about longballs with Vestergaard playing and Southampton sitting deep. It didn't work against West Ham, but I don't think Southampton will sit deep.
They're a bunch that likes to play their style despite the opposition. I saw a lot of space in the middle. I mean Jonny just ran through their defence before getting chopped down.
Anyway, I look forward to it.
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A few quotes from the Saints forum (one has to wonder if some of them have ever seen us play) :
... Add to the fact that Liverpool play counter attacking with pace and we are ****ed. It's the exact style of play we struggle against as we push our midfield quite high. So they will break multiple times with an extra man. You don't get away with that when they have Salah, Mane and Firmino up top.
Saw their game against West Ham. Kind of boring. Liverpool's defense is not used to pressing from the other side. Not at all. Westham pressed in total 2 and 1/2 minutes or so and even in this minor time span they could win the ball several times. So their defense will have a hard time with us on Saturday!
They are as good as they are allowed to be good. As I stated already above, they are maybe not used to get pressed themselves. .......
Can't believe the optimism on here! We're good away and can compete with top teams, but they've dropped points once all season. They just win games. I'm expecting a decent performance but we'll still lose, kind of like the home fixture.
IF we perform as we did in the recent weeks, or even better (RH: "We are getting better each week") then 1 or 3 points can be taken from Liverpool.
We play a very similar style to the Bindippers so maybe Ralph has been a very keen follower of Klopp's fashion. They will certainly not be taken by surprise by our aggressive in-their-faces style as they do exactly the same thing.
........ without Cedric and Armstrong, it makes the right side weak, Klopp will realise this and bomb his left back on. So target him for a dead leg.
Going for 5 straight away wins and to be honest with you we shouldn’t have any problems.
Liverpool are not too good at home and they are certainly there for the taking.
Usual 1-3 with Ings getting a couple.
----------
So, reading between the lines of today's press conference, I've got a feeling Ralph will chuck Valery back into the deep end, thus allowing JWP to play in the position he's been thriving in recently...
McCarthy
Bertrand
Bednarek
Stephens
Valery
JWP
Hojbjerg
Djenepo
Redmond
Ings
Long
... Add to the fact that Liverpool play counter attacking with pace and we are ****ed. It's the exact style of play we struggle against as we push our midfield quite high. So they will break multiple times with an extra man. You don't get away with that when they have Salah, Mane and Firmino up top.
Saw their game against West Ham. Kind of boring. Liverpool's defense is not used to pressing from the other side. Not at all. Westham pressed in total 2 and 1/2 minutes or so and even in this minor time span they could win the ball several times. So their defense will have a hard time with us on Saturday!
They are as good as they are allowed to be good. As I stated already above, they are maybe not used to get pressed themselves. .......
Can't believe the optimism on here! We're good away and can compete with top teams, but they've dropped points once all season. They just win games. I'm expecting a decent performance but we'll still lose, kind of like the home fixture.
IF we perform as we did in the recent weeks, or even better (RH: "We are getting better each week") then 1 or 3 points can be taken from Liverpool.
We play a very similar style to the Bindippers so maybe Ralph has been a very keen follower of Klopp's fashion. They will certainly not be taken by surprise by our aggressive in-their-faces style as they do exactly the same thing.
........ without Cedric and Armstrong, it makes the right side weak, Klopp will realise this and bomb his left back on. So target him for a dead leg.
Going for 5 straight away wins and to be honest with you we shouldn’t have any problems.
Liverpool are not too good at home and they are certainly there for the taking.
Usual 1-3 with Ings getting a couple.
----------
So, reading between the lines of today's press conference, I've got a feeling Ralph will chuck Valery back into the deep end, thus allowing JWP to play in the position he's been thriving in recently...
McCarthy
Bertrand
Bednarek
Stephens
Valery
JWP
Hojbjerg
Djenepo
Redmond
Ings
Long
Some of these guys are deffo taking the piss.
Saints are almost competing for a European place after that hammering against Leicester. You can see why they are confident, plus they have a striker bang in form.
We haven’t been water tight at the back. Watford missed some easy chances at anfield, you can see why other teams always think they have a chance
We haven’t been water tight at the back. Watford missed some easy chances at anfield, you can see why other teams always think they have a chance
Hahaha. What ?
Good luck with that. Anyone trying might just end up dead dead never mind their fucking leg
I hope Robbo and Trent can find some form on tired legs before they get a well deserved rest.
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