Unlike the last couple of poor results I have taken some time to reflect on this one.
While the game was going on I know I kept banging on about Milner and Bobby but what is actually my bigger worry is our defence. The back four last night apart from Gomez all looked shattered. Gomez for me was the only individual who looked like he wanted to put a shift in both defensively and in going forward trying to make something happen. I am starting to get worried about how frequently teams are able to open us up with 2 or 3 simple passes, yes we play a high line, but we have never been as exposed as we have been recently, something needs to change.
Milner & Henderson, it is common knowledge that this duo simply does nothing for us in midfield. I have seen Hendo getting a bit of stick for his performance but in all honesty he was doing what he normally does, showing for the ball and trying to get us forward. Milner on the other hand just seemed to be all over the pitch with no real intention other try get involved, but it was erratic and he hardly ever was in control of the ball or even his own bloody actions. I really do hope this is the last we see of this duo in our midfield, I know injuries have forced Klopp's hand but Carvalho would have been more than capable to start in Milners place.
Bobby is just not the same anymore, it takes him far too long to get into the game, if we had Jota in that first half I honestly think we would have went in with the lead but unfortunately Bobby just doesn't have the consistency we need for him to be starting for us. Again, no fault of Klopp's really as Nunez was the one who nutted someone. I think Diaz showed glimpses of his brilliance but I am getting worried about whether he is going to be able to play like Mane did, making the instinctive runs in behind and getting at defenders with his runs. He did have a moment with Trent's Crossfield pass but his partnership with Robbo doesn't seem quite there. For whatever reason he looks to take the ball with his back to a defender, rather than look to get in behind the defender with a run, I hope the coaches can see this and help. Salah wasn't at his best but managed to get a goal, that's what the best players do.
So now to Klopp, I get that starting 11's aren't always going to be right and especially with the amount of injuries we had, but I think starting Henderson and Milner just sends the wrong message out. We needed to be going for them, we needed fresh blood in Carvalho, I would have had him in that three, considering the injury to Naby, but hindsight is a great thing. What disappointed me the most from Klopp last night was his inability to make the changes at the right time, the game was screaming out for Bobby and Milner to come off, more so Milner in my opinion. Every time he was on the ball he was laboured and looked like losing it, he instilled 0 confidence in those aorund him and was actually giving VVD a bollocking when he should have looked a bit closer to home. As soon as Carvalho and Fab were on we saw a real difference in our play, we had purpose in midfield, we want to get the ball forward and in behind their lines of midfield and defence. Just a shame it happened too late.
All in all, the season is not over, we are not out of the title race just yet, but before we can even think about a title race we need to fix this rot. We need consistency in winning games, we need to go back to basics and defend well and start getting back those clean sheets, we need to cement ourselves in the top four and see where we go from there.
YNWA
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