The Liverpool Thread

[Anthony]

First off how’s it fair they’re allowed to use both feet?! Our lads have clearly agreed a gentleman’s rule to keep it sporting, but Palace out there pinging passes with left AND right like some sort of footballing centipedes. Outrageous advantage.

Plus, Palace players were clearly overhydrated. You could see it in their movement, all that extra electrolytic efficiency. Should be capped at 250ml per half like in the good old days.

 

[dilakh2]

Excited for this. Must win, straight knock-out cup games under the lights elicit that emotion.

First of L’pool’s ‘Big 4’ before the break to hopefully get this show righted and back on track. And the biggest game of those 4. As it’s not only the next. But it starts that cycle. With a proper opponent who should make it a good game of togger. Along with knowing Palace fans will just get behind their own side and not resort to songs about social deprivation/ unemployment/ tragedy chanting et al.

With the added intrigue of what side we’ll put out? Outside of naturally protecting the positions we are down to the bare bones in currently, goal, right full, and CH, you’d hope and expect we’ll go real strong. I don’t see how we can’t needing something to spark this? And I’m not sure if Palace can afford the same now Europe’s kicking in given their small squad.

We’ve had some of the best Anfield atmospheres of recent seasons early in the LC with the belter Arsenal and Leicester games. Let’s hope this is another one in our rich, Anfield LC history.

First of the ‘Big 4.’

Should've sent this to Slot because I dont know what that lineup or bench was. I know we have some tough games coming up but **** that was horrendous and wth was that post match interview. It feels like watching a slow car crash.

Edit: Feel for match going fans as this gave me shades of Rodgers and the lineup and bench he put up away athe bernabeu all those years ago.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

So L’pool’s ‘Big 4!’ before the International break, became a ‘Big 3!’ the moment the teams dropped and Arne waved the white flag to the league cup.

But yanno’, as annoyed and flabbergasted as I was when the team was announced last night, when you rationally look at it from the managers point of view, he’s seeing the bigger picture and protecting the football club for FAR bigger challenges this season.

L’pool have key injuries currently. L’pool can’t afford any more of them. L’pool also have 2 massive home games Sat’day and Tuesday. Against two teams that have this week off. And those two games are in two competitions FAR bigger than progressing another round in the LC. Which would have had the knock-on effect of 2 trips to North London in a matter of days before Christmas. And, if we’d won the LC tie at Arsenal, two more midweeks in the mad, congested months o January and February the semi. All without, whatever you currently think of him, our Egyptian King. Making an already crucial time of the season doubly hard. All of which (Mo aside)Arsenal and City now have to contend with. Now, our real hard start to the season is out of the way. And there’s barely any long travel trips/ midweeks, left between now and the end of the AFCON. We can rest between games and Arne can have full weeks on the teaming pitch preparing a game plan.

So from a managers perspective, I totally get it. They have a bigger picture outlook to consider. And he DEFINITELY did the right thing last night for the league campaign and getting the title defence back on track.

But from a fan perspective, you want the early Spring day out at Wembley. And you can never have enough memories of Liverpool picking up trophies. Along with never wanting to see them beat. Not least at home. So last night was a strange mix of emotions.

Annoyance and stunned reaction to the team drop. (Some lad asking what was on the pictures the boozer before was funny.). Which then lead to a totally laid back atmosphere with the crowd when you got in the ground. As you didn’t then expect anything from the game. To now, when you calmly rationalise things from Slots POV, being able to understand why he put out the team he did. L’pool bringing the prices right down last night made it a lot more palatable to wear too.

The main overall thing was the crowd stayed supportive with no player or manager shout-outs the end. They did as much as they could in context and deserved the support and applause in an equally deserved defeat. If proper harsh scoreline.

What it does do though is it makes Villa and Madrid must wins now to JUSTIFY last night. The pressure is no different. Nottins’ changed there. We had to win them even if he’d gone strong last night and won. But from his POV, he needs to win both to turn things or else what was the point in sacrificing the LC?

So I can’t honestly critique or judge what Arne did last night, until we get Saturday and Tuesday out of the way as they are all interlinked.

On the players that did play, Ramsey was a surprising plus. I thought he did real well all game. You can see the talent we took the flyer on there. Rio showed once more what a ridiculous talent he is. And what a threat he’ll be for us going forward. The young Irish kid who came on looked lively. I mean they played real well for half an hour or so. But when legs and minds started to go with the lack of experience, and inevitable physical stature against seasoned pro’s, that’s when it became, literally and physically, men against boys. Harsh to go in behind HT. And 3-0 was a harsh scoreline overall on them in context. But no issues with Palace getting the win they should against kids and progressing. L’pool were just too light in attack to ever threaten them as hard as Chiesa tried. Just no experience up with him. F knows how Will Hughes stayed on like? He was a dirty disgrace all night long. And the super unfortunate Nallo paid for his indiscretion. Have to really feel for that poor kid having the same situation happen his first two professional games.

So here we are. Arne took the gamble with the long game in mind. And last night is totally defined by the next two games. As always happens in football. It’s what you do next that counts most after a set back. Our horrid October is done mercifully. Now we start afresh November. Fully rested and tactically drilled all week for Villa. With no advantage in that regard to them.

Over to you lads.

Sat’day’s match missive may not be as kind if you don’t come through with the W!

Up the ‘Master plan? Or plain foolish? ….. To be decided’ Reds.