The Liverpool Thread

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Started the half well but finished it very sloppily giving the ball away too easily - Positive signs is that the energy levels have been the best since Man City in my opinion

Still a lack of cutting edge when it comes to getting the ball forward
 
The team and Rodgers must find a way to use balotellis strength.
 
Good match this one. Liverpool hanging on at times but with the likes of Sterling and Balotelli you can never tell where a spark might come from.
 
LFCMarshall said:
Started the half well but finished it very sloppily giving the ball away too easily - Positive signs is that the energy levels have been the best since Man City in my opinion

Still a lack of cutting edge when it comes to getting the ball forward
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Been pretty much a mirror match really. Both sides are looking to press the opposition's back fours and force the ball out long or to force mistakes. Both sides are coming down 1 side with their chief creator cutting inside. Both sides are contesting the midfield and speeding up play.

The big differences so far are just in the effectiveness of the players in each roles. Our fullbacks are doing a better job defensively, Hazard has been harder to control than Sterling and Costa is playing considerably better than Balotelli. The big problem for you imo, is that Balotelli isn't that great upfront alone and he's (hilariously enough, given recent criticism) just drifting around, looking to get on the end of moves. Costa dropping deep, pulling wide and generally fighting for every ball is causing you a huge amount of issues and opening up space for Hazard.
 
Subtle said:
Been pretty much a mirror match really. Both sides are looking to press the opposition's back fours and force the ball out long or to force mistakes. Both sides are coming down 1 side with their chief creator cutting inside. Both sides are contesting the midfield and speeding up play.

The big differences so far are just in the effectiveness of the players in each roles. Our fullbacks are doing a better job defensively, Hazard has been harder to control than Sterling and Costa is playing considerably better than Balotelli. The big problem for you imo, is that Balotelli isn't that great upfront alone and he's (hilariously enough, given recent criticism) just drifting around, looking to get on the end of moves. Costa dropping deep, pulling wide and generally fighting for every ball is causing you a huge amount of issues and opening up space for Hazard.
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Like you say, i think it's a simple case of you having better players so in a match where both teams set up similar there would usually be only one winner

Because of the pressing Gerrard is getting isolated against Hazard and Oscar and that is not his game at all. Where as Chelsea have someone like Matic who is very capable in a one v one situation

Not much needs to be said about Costa, he is just a fantastic player and can play that lone role very well
 
It's better that Liverpool use Can as a central defender in a 5-3-2 formation.
 
LFCMarshall said:
Like you say, i think it's a simple case of you having better players so in a match where both teams set up similar there would usually be only one winner

Because of the pressing Gerrard is getting isolated against Hazard and Oscar and that is not his game at all. Where as Chelsea have someone like Matic who is very capable in a one v one situation

Not much needs to be said about Costa, he is just a fantastic player and can play that lone role very well
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It's not even about having better players as such, it's more that our players better fit their roles. It really is a tough one though. I'm not a massive fan of Rodgers, but there isn't a whole lot he can do here. Yes, Balotelli really could do with another striker with him upfront but with Sturridge injured, it's just not worth it.

Having said that, playing this narrow formation with 2 very defensively suspect fullbacks is a risky strategy.
 
Subtle said:
It's not even about having better players as such, it's more that our players better fit their roles. It really is a tough one though. I'm not a massive fan of Rodgers, but there isn't a whole lot he can do here. Yes, Balotelli really could do with another striker with him upfront but with Sturridge injured, it's just not worth it.

Having said that, playing this narrow formation with 2 very defensively suspect fullbacks is a risky strategy.
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I do agree the options are limited to try and counter the Chelsea threat at the moment... Last season it was all about attack but with us losing what, 80% of our goals from last season? Its hardly surprising
 
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