Few takeaways from the game.
1. As much as I try to see what Thiago offers to us I just don't get it. Doesn't play the ball quickly. Doesn't close down. Doesn't win second balls. Doesn't press. I'm sure there's a great footballer in there but fully fit squad there's no way he gets in the starting XI. Having said all that - I'm not sure peak Xabi Alonso would fit in to a Jürgen Klopp team.
2. How interesting that when we play two centre backs in defence we get a clean sheet - even with the Adrian factor. When Fabinho comes back - he goes in midfield. A lot of us have been saying it for some time now. Novelty personally for him 'filling in at CB', and Henderson, has worn off. Take the sh*t goals we concede and have as much competition as we can up front.
3. I haven't seen Phillips put a foot wrong since for us since he has been playing. Not sure why he had a spell of being binned off. Him and Kabak might well be rough diamonds but the age they are they could learn a huge amount, not just now, but when our more senior players do eventually return next season.
Funny how people see football differently.
Thiago has had a couple of poor games of late by his usual standards but I thought he was fine in this game. Most of the things you’ve said he doesn’t do I find that he actually does do too. I’ve been rather surprised (and at times frustrated) with how feisty he is. I’ve watched him for years and it’s a side to his game I’ve never really noticed until now.
We kept a clean sheet against Sheffield United who have only managed 15 goals all season and they’ve played 26 games. They’re arguably the worst top flight team I’ve ever seen. They’re terrible, particularly in the final third. So I wouldn’t describe us keeping a clean sheet as interesting myself.
And even Sheffield United had two goals disallowed, a couple of half chances and kabak was dragged all over the place, again.
In his defence he made a couple of decent recoveries but he certainly doesn’t fill me with confidence and I have a bad feeling he will have a torrid time against Chelsea depending on who they start upfront.
Agree on Phillips though. He made a big mistake against Everton (turned ridiculously easy near the half way) that led to their penalty but in general he’s played very well for us.
But as a two they weren’t tested properly tonight. Let’s see how they get on after playing 4 or 5 games against better opposition. I saw some stats the other day of when Fabinho has ‘filled in at cb’ and they’re actually very good. Him and matip were solid. There is no doubt we’ve missed him in the midfield but when fab is back it’s still a no brainer for me, he plays at centre half next to Phillips.
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