One of our lowest quality performances of the season and it highlights just why we'll miss Mane so much. We have so little pace in this side without him that we become much less of a threat on the sides or to get in behind.
Sturridge, for all his quality showed exactly why he isn't making the first XI and that is, unfortunately, his pace is gone. Without that threat he becomes much more easily managed by defenders and ends up having to drop deeper and deeper to receive the ball. At times he was in the centre circle trying to get the ball, now those who will try to defend those actions as trying to influence the play are reaching far too hard, it's quite simply poor play from your central striker.
We need to get Bobby back in the middle, we've lost our fluidity, not just with Coutinho out but without Bobby's movement and dictation of the opposition's play we're simply giving up far too much to get Origi or Sturridge into the side. In the centre of the park I'm completely disillusioned by Can, I thought he had the potential to kick on this season but he's regressed quite markedly in my book and right now I don't see a long term future for him. Sure he's chipped in with the odd goal but his overall play has been consistently poor for a long time now. He's had plenty of time to get over his pre-season injuries/lack of fitness and should be well up to speed and he just isn't contributing positively enough. In similar ways I look at Wijnaldum although he does offer more protection on the ball it's time he started producing so much more. Again, away from home, he puts in a performance that is only noticeable by his absence. Lucas, in my opinion, was our best midfielder on the night, his distribution was excellent in the first half and was only shown up for his lack of pace, which we all accept. Other than those couple of occasions I thought he played quite decently.
At the back Milner is continuously crossing to nobody and Clyne is doing the same from the other side, it's frustrating as hell but in terms of defending Clyne is starting to deteriorate also. He should have covered his man when Klavan missed the clearance. Now everyone will jump on Klavan's back but Lovren tries to cover and fail and Clyne totally screws up his role in the side, in fact so poorly he again made himself insignificant. It's much like his performance recently, if you make yourself that far away from the correct position that you're unnoticeable then people might make that mistake, but not for me. He's been very poor recently and I think these are our two key areas to improve. They both get gifted the lion's share of possession and what they achieve with the ball is frankly not good enough, not even close.
Karius played well, the first 1v1 save was excellent, looking at the second from a different angle and I agree with WAHS he's expected to make that save but it is a shame for him to be let down so poorly by 3 of his defenders to be exposed so massively by Redmond. Can't blame him on the goal at all, it was a simple finish.
Moving forward I'd love to know what is going on with Grujic, doesn't make the bench, doesn't really get mentioned at all. I thought he showed plenty of promise in pre-season and right now both Can and Wijnaldum look completely open to being dropped. Without question we move Bobby back into the centre, he brings so much more to the side from there. We can try Origi from wide left if Coutinho isn't up to starting yet, his pace should at least bring a little doubt into defences and of course, as soon as we can, get Cou back into the side.
Thankfully only half-time in this one and we can rectify all this without suffering too much, time for action is now and I'm sure Jürgen will make the required changes. When he does we'll trash these at Anfield.
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