Liverpool 2-0 Brentford: In game and Post Match discussion

2 wins, only another 36 needed

Decent performance in the end. Some slick attacking moves and it could've been 3 or 4. Diaz pipped Mo to MOTM. Few others did well, Trent, Mo, Dom. Takes time to gel with the new manager.He does it differently, took Trent off as we needed the right back to hold his position more once we went 2 up.

The boss likes controlled possession and I think we can pick United off. Good start.

Could have been a different result on another day but we take the points and move.

Two clean sheets is a welcome change to what came before but I’m sure Arne knows there’s a lot to do.

No raised blood pressure no kamikaze defending no silly goals conceded in first minute. I'm actually watching 11 good footballers playing good football nice compact only thing lacking is could be more clinical but that's being picky.

Ah clean sheets.....love em

Ah clean sheets.....love em

United will get a bag full Brian. 

Ah clean sheets.....love em

Is that a line from a Persil advert?...*Other detergents are available

My player ratings:

Ali 7 - Remember 1 very good stop from the header, again like Ipswich - not too troubled.

Trent 7 - A very Trent performance, A little lackluster at times defensively, the lad Lewis Potter had the better of him at times but offensively, with the ball, a joy to watch him spread the play.

Ibou 8 - Can't remember him putting a foot wrong, a real collosus of a performance.

Virgil 7.5 - Didn't have as much to do defensively as Ibou but still very good.

Robbo 8 - Really positive display, got forward really well.....unlucky with the 2 chances he had.

Grav 8.5 - The work rate, game involvement and defensive contribution is slowly matching his quality on the ball.

Mac 6 - Just an ok game from him, didn't really notice him first half.....a little more 2nd half but still not enough.

Szobo 6 - See Mac.

Salah 7 - Well taken goal but I thought for the most part Brentford defended him pretty well.

Jota 7 - Nice breakaway and assist for the first, struggled to find consistency otherwise.

Diaz 9 - Phenominal performance. Goal and assist. The link up play with Robbo and most pleasing was his defensive shift, won the ball back numerous times.

It was another game of two halves wasn’t it! First half was quite lacklustre but then they (like Ipswich) worked incredibly hard and were never going to sustain that. Second was so much better, our passing was crisper, tempo was quicker, we started to get behind them and forced them to make saves or block shots.

Early observations

- our press is a little bit half arsed, notice our fullbacks don’t get up the pitch so there is usually an out ball for the oppo

- but as a result we look defensively more solid. Trent has got pelters the last few years but he’s been playing like a winger and with Salah (not exactly the busiest defender) in front of him.

- because we don’t commit as many bodies forward we don’t look so dangerous as an attacking outfit. For example, we don’t see so many two on ones or overlaps from the fullbacks.

- Mac is a bit lost playing in the left of the midfield three. Honestly I’d much prefer Jones or Elliot come in for Grav and play him in the 6. He’s our best ball player, put him where he’ll see more if it!

- we’re not giving up many chances this far. It makes a nice change!!

Like that we appear to be a little stronger defensively. It all starts there. Don’t give up goals and it’s easier to win.

3 points, next up the non cheaters from Manchester.

Could have been a different result on another day but we take the points and move.

Two clean sheets is a welcome change to what came before but I’m sure Arne knows there’s a lot to do.

They had two dangerous headers. Every match could be different .

We had two posts, Flekken on steroids and two brilliant goals.

Gravenberch is improving, Diaz is on fire, Salah super professional. Konate, VVD were very good. Robertson is back flying on the left. The only player that was quite was Jota and he got his assist nonetheless.

2 out of 2. We need to win next Sunday, imagine the boost to Slot.

Interesting to read through the thread - seems like I watched a different game at times

Few observations from inside

Slot appears to want to play the game at a more controlled pace , no heavy metal but then pounce when the opportunity happens , it looks like a lot of passing the opposition to death and trying to drag them all over

I think because it’s a bit more controlled it doesn’t have the same levels of “excitement” as we have seen previously, which I think is why the crowd felt a bit quieter , it didn’t feel nervously more intriguing

When the passes did click wow some of the moves were just stunning , the front three with Dom supporting were purring at times , it was brilliant to see and it’s going to grind teams to death

The midfield controlled the game very well , Gravenburch was very good again , Mac at times looked a little lost but when he gets involved it clicks


As for the back line - Konate was brilliant , VVD calm , Robbo could have popped in a few and Trent - just brilliant when pinging the ball about

But the player that was out of this world was Diaz - he looks a completely different player , confidence is flowing through him

Said a number of times this team will surprise many and stick by that , this team will be challenging

Really good performance second half. First half was a bit poor and felt they were controlling the game for large periods

Only thing we miss is aggressive defending in midfield especially, definitely need
More legs from Mac and szob at times imo especially the first half

3 points, no goals conceded ...Job done......
...But it was an odd game in many respects:
There was precious little intensity (from either side) in the first half, it had a curious pre season feel about it, and apart from the goal we scored and the goal they failed to score there was nothing much to get excited about or reflect on. Much like last week the players broke out of their collective slumbers in the second half and started to look like they actually liked playing football. Brentford competed well enough but didn't ever give the impression they fully believed they'd get anything from the game and in truth it was never in any doubt we would win the game.
It felt to me there was a sense of uncertainty in the crowd and in the players, then I realised, although the same players as last season, and us all expecting them to be the same...but it is different, it has to be, JK is gone...he's not in the dugout...The fist pumps...everything, it really is all change. And as it is for us to adjust, so it is more so with the players.
I expect it'll take a while yet for a "Slot" identity to develop...but two wins from two, you can't ask for more than that.

Anybody who was at the match to comment on the atmosphere? Hard to tell from the telly. Carra was saying on Sky it was strange and quiet. BBC are saying it was "more boisterous than usual".

Got that Rafa vibe about him with his style of play…

Went the game. Sank 9 pints before I got in to the ground.

How did we play?

2 wins, only another 36 needed

Easy as piss.

Went the game. Sank 9 pints before I got in to the ground.

How did we play?

Terribly. Turns out Slotball isn’t much better than Dycheball.

But we still dominated and won easy enough so there is that. Wheyy heyyyy.

Anybody who was at the match to comment on the atmosphere? Hard to tell from the telly. Carra was saying on Sky it was strange and quiet. BBC are saying it was "more boisterous than usual".

Neil mellor in lfctv said it was a cracking atmosphere.

Carra is becoming a right annoying c**t, likes to find problems where there are none.

Neil mellor in lfctv said it was a cracking atmosphere.

Carra is becoming a right annoying c**t, likes to find problems where there are none.

The atmosphere wasn’t bad at all

3 points, next up the non cheaters from Manchester.

We not playing utd next week?

We not playing utd next week?

Playing them on the 1st