What a difference a couple of days make eh? Saturday afternoon and we're all reaching the knives, Tuesday night and we're all back to seeing sunshine and rainbows and how great we are again. Gotta love football!
On a tricky, difficult, away European tie we've shown (to quote Brendan) character. We wasn't at our best, by any means, but always looked in control after the initial iffy ten or fifteen minutes.
The problems of last year are still there, mainly down the left hand side of the back four, but we're still looking a threat when we go forward. Obviously, teams don't change that much that quickly so the good and bad of last year is still going to exist for some time yet. Hopefully though, over time, Klopp will be able to address the issues we currently have.
Mignolet - made some good, important saves. Nothing spectacular but they didn't need to be. They needed to be kept simple and Simple Simon did just that. No parrying it back into danger, no real flapping at crosses but constantly pushing the ball out of danger and collecting the ball with a lot more authority.
Alexander-Arnold - the lad was F***ing boss. Got beat a couple of times early on and was partly at fault for their goal but grew in confidence as the game went on. A constant threat going forward and very assured at the back. You could see his disappointment when we conceded as well, finally some real F***ing passion from one of our lads. And what a find we've got on our hands where set pieces are concerned. His delivery against Watford was as good as anything in the world and that free kick last night, no keeper in the world was stopping it. Right in the bottom corner. Shows the courage of the lad to step up and take it and all. For me, he's cemented that right back slot as his own.
Matip - can't really say too much about big Joel's performance last night based on the fact he went about his business in his usual calm way. No outstanding moments and, thankfully, no complete F**k up moments. Just a solid, well done, kind of performance from Matip. A string of those sort of performances is now required.
Lovren - dear oh dear Dejan, you're gonna cop it from some quarters after that showing mate. Clumsy for the penalty, out of position for the goal and the odd shaky moment in between. But when not looking shaky, looked like a good centre half. And I'm sure there is one in there but he strikes me very much as a confidence player and it takes him a long time to recover from a mistake. On a positive, he was our biggest threat from attacking set pieces, two or three times he won the header in their box for a shot on goal. If only he could be that commanding when we're defending them.
Moreno - I said it against Watford that this lad shouldn't be our first choice left back and last night only strengthened my belief in that. Continuously out of position and his attacking play doesn't make up for it because he very rarely finds his target with his crosses. Klopp either needs to return to Milner, give Robertson a go or say to Clyne you're now a left back because Arnie is on the right. Any of those three solutions to resolve the Moreno problem.
Henderson - slightly better than Watford but only slightly. And that's probably with the rose tinted specs because of the result. If we'd failed to see last night through, then Henderson, Wijnaldum and Can would all be coming for a lot more criticism than they are. Because we've won, then they've suddenly upped their game a bit. I've no problem with Henderson constantly playing the safe pass if it keeps the ball ticking over but when he's partnered with the Dutchman and German then he has to take responsibility and be the creative player, he hasn't done so far. His fitness is looking way down. The one thing he always had for him was his ability to get around the pitch, that hasn't been there this year. Given the amount of time he's been out though, that is somewhat understandable.
Wijnaldum - like Henderson, the result is clouding my reflection of his performance a bit. He was better than he was against Watford. Made a few more of those ghost runs that he was making last year. Linked the play up a bit better and helped us control the game for the most part. But, he too has to show more responsibility in the middle of the park. Attempt to make a few more telling passes. Don't just always shift the blame onto somebody else.
Can - and the third wheel of the midfield tricycle. His form this time last year was that of somebody I never wanted to see in a Liverpool shirt again. And he appeared to be going in the opposite direction to the rest of the side. When we were flying, he was sinking and when the team's form sunk, his personal form rose. Twelve months on and he's been the best of the three central midfielders so far. Needs to be more of a threat both in terms of attacking but also as a physical threat. He's a big F***ing tank, use that to our advantage. He's another who would benefit greatly from having a creative player beside him because he too is only too happy to play the safe option and give responsibility to somebody else.
Salah - is going to be a very frustrating player for me. I can see it already. He's got all the talent but hasn't got the composure. Against Watford and again last night he had golden opportunities to score and wasted them. His goal record for Roma might show he knows where the net is but his performances in the games that have mattered in a Liverpool shirt, have shown he lacks that killer instinct. Maybe, it's nerves of his first couple of games for the biggest club in the world and after settling in he'll be alright but for now, it looks like he's gonna frustrate the F**k out of me.
Firmino - he's one who already frustrates the F**k out of me. Was largely anonymous last night and despite the odd good touch here and there was rather sloppy with the ball. Can't recall him having too many chances either, which isn't a good sign for our main forward. I still don't think he's good enough to be leading the line but it's what Klopp wants so just gotta accept it basically.
Mane - was a constant threat to their defence and you could tell they wanted to be as close as they possibly could to him at all times. His performance deserved a goal and he looks like he's just picked up from last year with no worries about the injury that ruled him out for the last few games. Right or left flank doesn't seem to bother him either, comfortable on either and a threat on both. Had Arnie not had the game he did, Sadio would be walking away with another Man of the Match award.
Milner - came on and did basically what the other central midfielders did, played it nice and safe. He got a goal, albeit a deflected one, though. Taking up a few more attacking positions than the others and getting us moving forward. A solid enough performance from the elder statesman.
Solanke - at least he got a run out this time and ahead of Origi which is another big plus. Didn't really have much time to do anything of note but hopefully this run out is a precursor for the rest of the season, in that Solanke is ahead of Origi in the pecking order and will get more game time as the year goes on.
Grujic - he's the most different of our central midfielders in that he has that bit of bite about them. I said it about Mane after the Watford game that maybe what we need is a few more players with a nasty side and I think Grujic has that. Yeah it'll get him into a bit trouble here and there but it'll also give opposition sides a bit of concern that we're not a bunch of pushovers. I've high hopes for this lad.
Overall, an away victory in Europe is always welcome. Takes the pressure off, slightly, for the return leg at Anfield. Gives us the cushion we wanted. And while we're still not at full speed yet, picking up these sort of victories can only help building our confidence back up. We should see the tie through at Anfield and take our rightful place among Europe's elite again.
Well done Reds.
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