Kelly Cates presents, alongside school children (from Hounslow schools or schools that work with Liverpool's Foundation) Aman, Delilah, Naveed and Rishi who will take part in presenting, commentating and interviewing players/managers.
Refereeing hasn't been much worse than I'd expect in the EPL at this point. I'm hoping to see changes with Webb in charge.I’d pretend to be mad at the refereeing or Darwin’s finishing but it would only distract from Brentford deserving to win by even more today than 2 goals.
Mee actually made a really good block on that early chance. Tsimikas going near post with 80% of the goal open far post bothered me more.Refereeing hasn't been much worse than I'd expect in the EPL at this point. I'm hoping to see changes with Webb in charge.
I disagree about Darwin's finishing. If he buries his early chance the entire complexion changes.
Raya distracting from an otherwise good game by collapsing on the easy balls. Have some goddamn pride and stand with the ball.
Ugh. They got their asses beat today. Konate was not fouled, he just fouled up that play. I wish Klopp would just compliment Brentford and move along.
FTFY.Co-signed. Klopp’s whiningabout refereesis his biggest weakness.
The good news, if any, if this wasn’t the club giving up on the manager. The opening of the second half and the frustration displayed make it pretty clear these players want to succeed.
The flip side… I think they’re cooked. The core of this team has never enjoyed any rotation. They’re all a step slower, exposing their weaknesses. When they were flying all over the pitch it didn’t matter. Now the press can’t get to the ball in time defensively and when they have the ball they can’t accurately pass out of trouble. It’s a nightmare and I’m glad it isn’t my job to figure out the way back.
Mané had a habit of missing sitters, but he scored the bangers. Replacing him with Darwin who can do neither has been a big difference. That said, in terms of workrate I don't think Darwin is that big of a letoff. The kid works hard.There's also a Mane-sized hole in this side. It's not just a matter of whether the other attacking players have replaced or will replace his production. Dude is just a fucking brilliant footballer. I don't think Salah or anyone else approaches his level of see-the-whole-chessboard.
How much of the dropoff in their pressing is due to the loss of Mane? A lot, I bet.
I didn't see him in Portugal, so I have more questions than anything. I'm wondering if his finishing issue was as clearly mental as it is now, and if he can crawl out from under the burden of his transfer fee this time around. It looks to me like the problem is getting worse. That shot/cross toward the end was just horrific.I mostly agree with MMS about Nunez. The weird thing about him is that he had the same criticism his first year in Portugal about not having end product. Then the next season it all sort of clicked. You could maybe see the same repeating at Liverpool unless he was just purchased after having a good run of luck himself. He’s onthe end of so much I can’t see how he doesn’t somehow become at least a decent goal scorer
There is definitely a trend toward midtable clubs having these strikers like Mbeumo, Che Adams, or Ollie Watkins that are kind of crap footballers but are crazy athletes, very physically strong and also very quick. These guys aren't the lumbering target men of old, they're duel winning, second-ball winning, channel running machines and if you don't have CBs/DMs that can compete with them athletically in open spaces its trouble.There was a moment in the first half where Brentford were on the counter and Mbeumo just absolutely torched VVD and left him in the dust. Mbeumo didn't score, but it was concerning just how badly VVD was beaten in space. I wonder how much of Liverpool's strength is pushing the fullbacks up the field and leaving VVD alone in space with a lot of ground to cover, and getting away without it because VVD was such a monster defensively. If he doesn't have that pace anymore (and age and injuries would suggest it is likely he does not) it's going to lead to some ugly moments without more support.
Sometimes. I’ve had successes and failures with no apparent common predictor.Can you rewind a live match on peacock
VVD has always been demonstrative in organizing the back line + Fab, and with the high line, I’ve always assumed he is the main organizer during open play. This was almost always perfect since VVD can read the game at a world class level.I saw a criticism of Alisson that may or may not have merit. It's difficult to knock the team's clear cut best player (especially without any firsthand knowledge), but the question was if he is marshalling the defense effectively. Has he (or VVD) dropped the ball on organization? Is that one of the key flaws right now?
Granit Xhaka having to play 50 minutes on a yellow is a scary thing for Arsenal fans. Or at least it used to be.Not sure how this Arsenal-Newcastle game ends with 22 players.
Referee lost the plot and the players have no clue what is a yellow and what isn't.Not sure how this Arsenal-Newcastle game ends with 22 players.
Defensively, yes. Offensively, they offered nothing.Very, very solid performance from Newcastle
I hate complaining about refs, because that is almost always weak sauce, but what was and was not a yellow card seemed completely random, and there was a lot of nonsense in the box that didn't even get reviewed.Newcastle are tough defensively and also elite at time wasting.
Whatevs. Arsenal didn’t offer much either. Reduced to begging for VAR intervention. You hate to see it.Defensively, yes. Offensively, they offered nothing.
hard to beat a side that puts all 11 in the box for 90 minutesWhatevs. Arsenal didn’t offer much either. Reduced to begging for VAR intervention. You hate to see it.
No need to get snarky. I said they were solid defensively.Whatevs. Arsenal didn’t offer much either. Reduced to begging for VAR intervention. You hate to see it.
Well, I suppose Eddie Howe could have left our flanks exposed as they were in the first ten minutes or so and let Arsenal romp to a three goal victory, but he’s become too pragmatic for that. When the opposition is better sometimes you just do what you can to survive. I definitely prefer being on this end of these kinds of matches, though, given our result last time out against Leeds. The xG for the match was almost even, so I wouldn’t agree that there was anything extremely cynical about Newcastle’s approach to the match.hard to beat a side that puts all 11 in the box for 90 minutes
No it is not! See Newcastle from 15 months ago.hard to beat a side that puts all 11 in the box for 90 minutes
Just wanted to check to make sure.. but xG is possibly the only category you could look at to say there play wasn’t cynical.. top, shots, sog, all majorly favored arsenal.. that and all the time wasting.Well, I suppose Eddie Howe could have left our flanks exposed as they were in the first ten minutes or so and let Arsenal romp to a three goal victory, but he’s become too pragmatic for that. When the opposition is better sometimes you just do what you can to survive. I definitely prefer being on this end of these kinds of matches, though, given our result last time out against Leeds. The xG for the match was almost even, so I wouldn’t agree that there was anything extremely cynical about Newcastle’s approach to the match.
I was watching this game on delay. I saw the first half. Everton started brightly and had Brighton pinned back, but against the run of play Brighton scored on a counter when Patterson got turned round (sorry fletch). Everton were still on the front foot for most of the half although the Brighton attackers had it a limitless too easy in the counter. Still it was Everton 0-1 Brighton at half and Everton looked good value to at least draw level.What is happening at Goodison?
Brighton were a goal up last time i checked, now they are three up. Oh boy.
Edit, Make that 0-4 to Brighton
The handball was only scandalous insofar as nobody has any clue how that situation will be called from a game to game and incident-to-incident basis. The referee probably didn't see it very well, makes an instantaneous decision based on shit information, and then the VAR will just affirm the on-field call no matter what. But you can't really complain that much when you don't get a call like that, its just a roll of the dice.Strong words from Arteta. I don’t recall him being this outspoken often.
Webb has a job to do. VAR must be fixed. The overall standard needs to be raised. I think we’re at an inflection point, though, and there will be pushback on managers speaking out instead of additional clarity from PMGOL. Time will tell.
Maybe you'd be less exhausted if you spent less time policing the forum's discussions about VAR and Daryl Dike.The constant complaining about missed calls/VAR decisions is one of the most exhausting aspects of being a soccer fan. It all pretty much evens out in the end anyways, sometimes you are on the short end of it, sometimes you get a break.
There are degrees. I doubt anyone would complain about blatent shirt-pulling in the penalty box being called consistently. That's the key. The ref was handing out cards for shirt pulling all over the pitch.The constant complaining about missed calls/VAR decisions is one of the most exhausting aspects of being a soccer fan. It all pretty much evens out in the end anyways, sometimes you are on the short end of it, sometimes you get a break.
FWIW the Dike post was meant as a joke; appreciation for the eccentricities of the board. Just feels like we have a VAR Grievence of the Week.Maybe you'd be less exhausted if you spent less time policing the forum's discussions about VAR and Daryl Dike.
Ahh, my sarcasm-meter was broken on the Dike post.FWIW the Dike post was meant as a joke; appreciation for the eccentricities of the board. Just feels like we have a VAR Grievence of the Week.
The box before a corner is pretty much no holds barred but it’s always allowed hence no complaints.There are degrees. I doubt anyone would complain about blatent shirt-pulling in the penalty box being called consistently. That's the key. The ref was handing out cards for shirt pulling all over the pitch.