So as always the first thing I comment on is the starting line up. I was very, very happy with the starting 11 and i stated in the pre match thread it was the team I wanted. I said klopp needed to grow a pair and drop our captain for one of the biggest games of the season and that he did. I didn't doubt for one second it would be the wrong decision.
The first three games of the season we controlled them very well, we looked confident, we played some good football and we deserved the points. As soon as we made a change at Leicester we looked all over the place, we really struggled but we got away with it somehow. So to go back to the original starting 11 was very refreshing and good to see.
So the game starts and I'm not surprised one bit that we are in complete control again and we were dominating the game. We had some glorious opportunities to really hurt Spurs but we just lacked that final pass. They had a spell where they had the ball for ten minutes or so but our shape was brilliant. I said it the other week after the palace game but it doesn't matter how much possession the opposition have, you can still control the game without the ball and that's exactly what we did. I thought our defensive units were brilliant and I don't remember Kane touching the ball which shows how well we did defend. So Spurs might have had a bit of the ball but they did nothing with it.
So we went in 1-0 up at HT and it was fully deserved. If we had gone in 3 or 4 up though it wouldn't have flattered us one bit and I don't think Spurs could have had any complaints.
Second half begins and it's more or less identical to the first. If anything, we were even more dominant. We get the second goal and then that was it then, it was game over. We had a lot more chances to kill the game dead and that's my only criticism for today - just how wasteful we were in the final third. We conceded a soft goal in stoppage time but it was nothing more than a consolation for them. I felt sorry for the back four because they didn't deserve to concede a goal after such a solid and professional defensive display. Shout out to Gomez and VVD who once again were superb.
People will say I'm obsessed but I don't care, I want to comment on Gini in the 6 and the very noticeable difference there is in having him in the team instead of Henderson.
The first three games gini played in that position and I thought he was excellent. He played further up the pitch at Leicester just to accommodate Henderson and he was a passenger in that game and didn't get involved. He was back in the 6 position today and once again I thought he was excellent. The lad just oozes class in that position. His reading of the game is a thousand times better than what jordans is and he's much better and calmer on the ball too. He's so strong, he shields the ball extremely well (which wins us free kicks sometimes) and he very rarely loses possession. 9/10 times he chooses the right pass and his positioning is always spot on - he cuts out so much space which means the opposition can't play. I know klopp said recently that he sees Gini as an 8 but personally I see him as a 6 now. I think he's found his place in this team and has made that position his own for the time being. Brilliant performance from him and great to see him get on the score sheet too.
2 weeks ago on this forum there were a few posters who were repeatedly saying Henderson is undroppable and klopp will always pick him no matter what. Well thankfully they were wron and it was blatantly obvious how well we played without him today. Due to their weird agendas and trying to prove he's this top player I'm sure they will fail to accept or admit that though.
MOTM was James Milner who was all over the pitch. He's come on leaps and bounds and he's probably first name on the team sheet right now. Another top class, leader like performance from him. I loved the way he was slowing the game down by moaning at the ref when Spurs had a free kick or in the later stages of the game clipping the ball into the corners and barking at salah to shield it. Little things like that adding to his obvious energy levels and his quality too makes him a key asset to this side. Hes become a crucial player.
Well done reds. A phenomenal performance. 5 out of 5. What a start.
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