Pre-Season #3: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Liverpool

Still another good run out, a couple of goals and a clean sheet. Can we read anything into these clean sheets? Are they indicative of a stronger understanding and more solid shape with Karius, Matip and Lovren?

It's more about effective front pressing, opponents lack quality passing option due to ours aggressive play. When they come to us eventually defense is already in a good position.

Of course, as S@int mentioned, opponents are not very strong.

It's no coincidence when Lucas plays, we play football, he oozes composure and it is his presence that calms the team down, his ability to slow the tempo allows our players more time to make those runs behind their defense or into space to receive the ball in a better position. Still our best #6.

Highlights (extended):

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/07/17/wigan-athletic-vs-liverpool-highlights-full-match/

Full match
1st half:

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/07/17/wigan-athletic-vs-liverpool-highlights-full-match/4/

2nd half:

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/07/17/wigan-athletic-vs-liverpool-highlights-full-match/5/

Ing's goal:

https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGifs/status/754716731441025024

Woodburn's goal:

https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGifs/status/754717493579702276

It's no coincidence when Lucas plays, we play football, he oozes composure and it is his presence that calms the team down, his ability to change tempo allows our players more time to make those runs behind their defense or into space to receive the ball in a better position. Still our best #6.

Always the most underrated and under appreciated aspect of the team and for the past 5+ years Lucas has been just as underrated and under appreciated within our team as the position is in the whole of football. Letting him go and not replacing him with someone even better at being an actual #6 (not Emre Can) would be an absolutely massive oversight and a crushing blow going into the season.

Always the most underrated and under appreciated aspect of the team and for the past 5+ years Lucas has been just as underrated and under appreciated within our team as the position is in the whole of football. Letting him go and not replacing him with someone even better at being an actual #6 (not Emre Can) would be an absolutely massive oversight and a crushing blow going into the season.

Is Grujic not similar to Lucas in terms of position?

Is Grujic not similar to Lucas in terms of position?

A number 6 is someone who sits directly in front of the back four to constantly break down opposition attacks before they reach our center backs. He also covers men for them consistently so the two center backs can be free for other defensive responsibilities (shifting to cover the outside backs, commanding the line, positioning properly, cheating a bit to cover runs so they don't get turned for pace, etc). Offensively they simply link the rest of the midfield and the attack to the defense, they can launch attacks, and if they are good enough they can control the tempo of play.

Can doesn't have the positioning, consistent defensive abilities, or discipline to play as a #6 effectively. Haven't seen enough of Grujic to know whether he's capable of performing the role, but early signs and reading up on his past have led me to believe that he also might be too interested in the attack. Maybe together Grujic and Can are capable of filling the midfield enough to hold a #6 at all times, but that can always lead to mistakes due to communication and both of them wanting to go up at the same time, etc.

Not saying it is a must to always play with Lucas or a #6, but in my opinion it is a must to at least always have someone like that in the side.

How was Markovic? He made an assist, right?

I completely forgot that Ings was such a good striker. He has everything to prove in a LFC shirt but when he has played he never disappointed, right?

Some nice performances out there today , the young lads doing their best to impress the boss , thought the only downer was Markovich. real poor .

Who's that with the assist for Ings?  Decent little flick over.

Who's that with the assist for Ings?  Decent little flick over.

Markovic.

Markovic.

In that case it must have been pure fluke...

I'm still very much in the keep Markovic camp (not based on that assist).  Lads only 22 and is probably living out of a suitcase at the minute not knowing whether he's coming or going.

8 goals, 3 clean sheets against lesser opposition in those 3 games is as much as can be expected.  Doesn't impact on the season at all.  Been majorly impressed with some of the younger lads, but there comes a point in pre-season where they have to start being sidelined and our first team play together.

Only concern is the recent injuries we've picked up - Sakho, Gomez, Matip.  Not a good start.  Especially not in that position. 

In that case it must have been pure fluke...

I'm still very much in the keep Markovic camp (not based on that assist).  Lads only 22 and is probably living out of a suitcase at the minute not knowing whether he's coming or going.

8 goals, 3 clean sheets against lesser opposition in those 3 games is as much as can be expected.  Doesn't impact on the season at all.  Been majorly impressed with some of the younger lads, but there comes a point in pre-season where they have to start being sidelined and our first team play together.

Only concern is the recent injuries we've picked up - Sakho, Gomez, Matip.  Not a good start.  Especially not in that position. 

He clearly meant to kick it out for a throw in but he can't even do that right . I'd like to see us keep him too tbh, he's not exactly had a fair crack at the whip compared to some other players.

I think the point you mentioned will be our first game in the U.S. We've got quite a few players still missing from the squad (Mignolet, Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi, Benteke, no doubt there's some I missed).

He clearly meant to kick it out for a throw in but he can't even do that right . I'd like to see us keep him too tbh, he's not exactly had a fair crack at the whip compared to some other players.

I think the point you mentioned will be our first game in the U.S. We've got quite a few players still missing from the squad (Mignolet, Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi, Benteke, no doubt there's some I missed).

Allen, Can and Ojo will also join shortly after the team gets to the U.S.

https://twitter.com/Linda_Pizzuti/status/755058036964782081

Some of our fans are embarrassing, giving her abuse in the comments for sh*t that she has nothing to do with.

Only concern is the recent injuries we've picked up - Sakho, Gomez, Matip.  Not a good start.  Especially not in that position. 

Over training perhaps?

Over training perhaps?

Probably but considering how unfit we were before Klopp came in, these extra sessions were always going to happen.

Over training perhaps?

Sakho picks up frequent injuries - Gomez has just returned from (probably) sitting on his arse for a year - those are explainable.

Matip I'm sure I heard something Klopp said about an ongoing problem..?  Is that how we get free transfers these days? I hope not.

Been a while since Lovren was out for a few weeks so watch this space!

Matip I'm sure I heard something Klopp said about an ongoing problem..?

He had minor ankle surgery last month; they are just being cautious with Matip.

He had minor ankle surgery last month; they are just being cautious with Matip.

Ah I see. Cotton wool then - makes sense.