I don't really know where to start after that. I feel sorry for the travelling reds because that performance was arguably our worst under Jürgen so far. Those type of performances have been extremely rare under klopp to be fair but Jesus Christ we were truly awful tonight. Really abysmal. I don't even remember us having a shot. Very unlike us.
I said in the pre match thread that if we lost tonight it wouldnt have been a disaster because of our win over PSG and Napolis draw in Belgrade. We could have made some changes and focused solely on city at the weekend which is a much bigger game.
We didn't do that and we fielded our strongest 11 instead. Thats absolutely fine but only if you get the bloody win and we didn't. I now feel klopp has made a massive mistake because we've already lost Keita through injury and I'm sure some of our other key players won't be 100% for the weekend after that game either. And for what? Nothing, that's what. I said there was no reason to risk anyone but we did...and we got caught out. Stupid in my opinion.
Theres little point talking about the game because we were bossed all over the pitch. There were only two players who came out with any credit tonight and that's Joe Gomez who for the majority of the match was immense I thought, and Alisson who continues to justify his transfer fee with another solid performance in goal.
The full backs and front three were all poor tonight but once again that midfield three of Henderson gini and Milner was just shocking. Dreadful all three of them. You need your midfield more than ever in these type of games but they didn't show up.
The result is disappointing but we can bounce back and recover from it and I'm sure we will. I've got to say though, there were a couple of warning signs for me regarding our performance.
Back in the summer I repeatedly said that we need to do three things to improve and win trophies. 1. Replace Lovren who is a liability. 2. Upgrade on Henderson. 3. Add real proper quality in the CAM position.
We've replaced Lovren with Gomez and we look a million times better at the back now. I can't see Lovren getting back into the team providing Gomez stays fit and keeps his form up. I've got no doubt at all that if Lovren had played every minute this season then he would have made at least one crucial error by now that would have led to a goal. So number 1 is completed.
Number 2 is currently in process. Henderson has been left out of some games this season and whenever he has we have looked far superior in my opinion. When he has played, we've not looked anywhere near as good. The balance isn't right and other players performances have been affected just to accommodate him. If Klopp takes him out of the side and plays either Wijnaldum or Fabinho then I've got no doubt we will perform better and pick up more wins. If klopp continues to play him then I feel we will lose games occasionally and drop points/exit competitions.
Number 3 didn't happen. Maybe we can mold shaqiri into a CAM but my preference would be to sign somebody in January if they're available. Similar to number 2, I feel not having a CAM could hurt us this season, especially in games like tonight where the front three are stinking the place out and just aren't firing. That's when you need a bit of quality or magic from the middle of the park and we just don't have it.
There is a long way to go obviously but numbed 2 and number 3 so concern me.
But anyway, we put this one behind us now, forget about it and we move on. We have city next and that game is a F***ing massive one. We cannot lose. The midfield three who played most of the game today will probably start and they really have to book their ideas up if we're going to get anything out of it. I'm expecting a massive reaction on Sunday from each and every one of them.
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