Firmino

Jurgen Klopp’s “defensive” tactical tweak

Coming off the back of that defensive implosion at Wembley, something had to change. Personnel, defensive set-up, a mixture of both, just something. Throughout the week there was talk of Klopp making sweeping changes to his back line, Karius in goal, Gomez at CB and Trent back in at right-back were all credible suggestions...

Liverpool 3-0 Maribor – Player Ratings from Liverpool’s defeat of Maribor

Liverpool produced a carbon copy of the weekend performance against Huddersfield, to put themselves in control of Group E in the UEFA Champions League. After an insipid first-half display, goals from Mo Salah, Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge gave the Reds a 3-0 win over a plucky Maribor in the rather quiet confines of...

Liverpool 3 – 0 Maribor: Patience the most important virtue again

The Details Date: 1/11/17 Venue: Anfield, Liverpool Background Liverpool came into this game as hot favourites after disposing of the same opposition 7-0 in Slovenia two weeks ago. They could all-but-guarantee qualification to the knockout stages with three points tonight and maintain pole position at the top of the group ahead of Sevilla. Klopp would have the opportunity to...

Liverpool’s Chance to Turn a Corner

It’s fair to say that Liverpool haven’t been brilliant of late. Before the 3-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday Jurgen Klopp’s team had won twice in their last 10 games. This included frustrating draws to Newcastle, Spartak Moscow, Burnley and Sevilla and away embarrassments to City and Spurs. While the first half performance didn’t...

Expected Distribution – Who Are Liverpool’s Creative Sources?

The AI Under Pressure team produced a graph showing what the ratio of expected goals per 90 minutes played and expected assists per 90 is for each player in the squad in the Premier League. Below is Simon Brundish’s tweet with the attached graph (each line on the graph is 1.0 xG+xA p90). The...

Klopp set to be vindicated over Oxlade-Chamberlain use

Jurgen Klopp has taken something of a beating from supporters in recent weeks from Liverpool fans criticising his signing, and resulting use, of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Much of that criticism has been fair. Whether or not you subscribe to the '£35M is the new £15M' club, it's okay to expect something of a quick return from...

Heavy Metal Isn’t Klopp’s Only Football

On the Anfield Index Pro Post-Match show after Liverpool beat Huddersfield 3-0, Simon Brundish talked about how the idea of Liverpool needing to play fast, flowing football every single game is a complete myth. He also highlighted our excellent form at the back end of last season where Liverpool had to grind out results,...

Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield: A Tactical Breakdown

A calming remedy to the farcical display at Wembley against Spurs, but a hurdle which Liverpool were always expected to jump over rather comfortably. Liverpool's 3-0 victory, for the opening 45 minutes threatened to be a washout, as the Reds struggled, with an all-too-familiar drabness. In the second-half though, Liverpool sprung into life, with...

Klopp Needs Our Support Now More Than Ever

My 3 part series "The Klopp Project" discussed some of the context around the club's current position and fortunes. Context is one thing, but the Spurs debacle at Wembley (Huddersfield result notwithstanding) put some things into perspective. It is undeniable that LFC and, perhaps more pertinently, Jurgen Klopp stands at a crossroad. It almost beggars...

Observations as Liverpool toil to a victory over Huddersfield

Liverpool toiled hard but eventually came out with much needed 3 points. The key takeaway moments from today's game. The Team Sheet The Liverpool fanbase were waiting with bated breath to see how many changes would be affected by Klopp. Ultimately it turned out to be not many, especially in the hotly debated positions. There would...