Right off the bat of a frustrating draw in the Merseyside Derby on Sunday, Liverpool were once again left wondering what could’ve been as West Brom produced a strong defensive performance to take a point from Anfield. In truth, The Reds weren’t really at it on the night, struggling to muster up any ingenuity in midfield.
Here are the observations from the match.
Klopp delivers starting lineup that everyone wanted but to no avail
The German’s starting eleven raised a number of eyebrows last time out, with Coutinho and Firmino taking up a role on the bench and Henderson returning to the starting eleven. Here though, Klopp re-united the Brazilian’s with Mane and Salah while opting for Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum in a midfield pivot. That may have pleased the fans but it delivered no better luck than the much-criticised selection on Sunday.
Liverpool returned to their old habits, struggling to break down a dogged defence with no signs of the incisive movement that has seen them rack up 7-0 victories in weeks prior. This was never going to be an easy game for The Reds but the flat tone that transpired offered no indication that this team would’ve fared any better against Everton.
Liverpool fail to respond to Derby day frustrations
After failing to get three points at the weekend, many fans would’ve expected to see a response from Klopp’s boys. Yet, this was a game without any verve or guile nor the creative spark that we’ve come to demand from the newly named ‘Fab Four’. Philippe Coutinho wasn’t at the races, struggling to break down a resolute West Ham defence while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had a surprisingly quiet evening of their own with the Egyptian missing a great chance from Trent’s cross at the back post and Mane squandering his own attempt slicing wide from Firmino’s pass.
Despite having 69% of the ball, Liverpool mustered only two shots on goal*, emphasising the lack of cutting edge in their forward play. Of course, credit should be given to the visitors for shutting off the supply lines and closing down the space but this was a thoroughly drab performance from a starting eleven that had more than enough quality to put away The Baggies.
Refereeing decisions steal the headlines, again
Ah, here we are again.
Liverpool never seem to get their slice of luck. First, there was the penalty decision against Everton on Sunday when Dejan Lovren was deemed to have pushed Calvert Lewis to the ground, although later replays showed it was the striker who actually initiated the contact. That saw the away side level the scores up and leave a hugely frustrated tone around Anfield.
Such was the case here, too. Dominic Solanke almost provided the perfect substitute appearance for Klopp when he steered the ball into the net for the first time in front of the Kop only for the referee to rule it out for handball. It seemed a desperately hard decision on the striker, who couldn’t get his arm out the way following a deflection of the West Brom defender and one that invariably led to a second home draw on the trot.
If only Liverpool could get the kind of luck their rivals do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold the bright spark in an otherwise dull affair
Back in the starting eleven for Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold showed his usual energy down the right-hand side to get forward and add some width to the attack. Delivering a series of really dangerous balls, the youngster was arguably the most threatening player in Red on Wednesday night. Seemed destined for an assist in the second-half but for his ball to narrowly miss the head of Mohamed Salah. Still, it was an energetic performance from Trent on a night that sorely lacked it.
* Stats via Liverpool Echo.
Seriously questions should be asked of the the owner(s), board of directors, the entire managment and staffs piloting the affairs of Liverpool.
Some fans more passionate than I would come out to point toward the period when we were winning our matches convincingly and that the less dedicated fans like me did not talk but I would like to draw all your attention to the common trend in each respective season we have failed to win the league including those we mounted a semblance of title challenge, we lack the character to get the job done when the odds are stacked on Liverpool condemning us to win a match overwhelmingly, we surely tend to fumble woefully. I don’t think anyone could come out and say confidently that he would have placed his money on Liverpool to go on the fantastic run we had since the Tottenham loss but we did anyway. It only prove we have a good squad of some average players playing out of there level sometimes and a very small population of good player who have the potential of becoming world class.
My mother will say when a man either lacks the money or is stingy to buy good meat it is then he will be forming excuse of how nutritional kpomo is to the body but if the money is there and he is willing to spend, then you will know that there are Assorted meats and fish out there he can buy and eat occasionally.
Milner, Henderson, ain’t the way forward in our midfield. Firmino isn’t a proper striker the earlier we realise that and use him elsewhere other than a striker, mignolet isn’t a first choice keeper but a backup and Karius doesn’t give me peace of mind either whenever he is between the goal post, while our defenders are all a joke, hence we should not be so obsessed with stat to prove that X is equal to Y because if it isn’t X then Y isn’t a substitute for X because it Isn’t
Big club go out and buy the big players to win trophies or at least aspire to win major trophies not carling or fa cup because they only fill up your cabinet and they are nice to win to keep your winning streak burning but all they do is guarantee you Europa cup qualification and big club don’t want to be in small competitions like that but big ones.
Well, Ologunagba, you took the words right out of my mouth. However we have fans who are being brain washed to believe that if you are a LFC fans these days you have no right to expect to win all the time. I am not sure if you have such believe, why the heck are you supporting LFC? Please switch to another team. I am a fan since 1986 and not for one moment i carry such believe.
I am no fan of big Sam as a person or manager but he is right about one thing, Klopp is a soft German. He might be very good at stringing together attacking players but he knows nothing about balance, about winning. Any manager that places his belief in players such as Henderson, Lovren (no 5 better defenders in the world), Mignolet, Karius, who time and time again never fails to let us down and who very occasionally plays a decent game, is a soft manager, one who has no desire to win and who would find excuses.
The penalty that Lovren gave away, thev
opposition was moving away from goal, why the need to push him? Stupidity in its highest form, again. Why Klopp blames thw ref? He should have teared into Lovren. And he should have replaced Mane in The second half just to send him a message that this is a team game and there are no room for jealousy. The STAR is the team, not you. Klopp did none of those but is very quick to blame others. No leadership, no wonder he picks Henderson as captain. Soft, soft German indeed.
As for FSG, i think anyone who promises them of the possibility of winning things on the cheap gets their vote. My biggest fear is confirmed, we are a mini Arsenal, who are not really a football team but a profit making entity first and foremost.