Liverpool Football Club Thread

[Keiths_Dad]

Not a bad half that, Lallana in particular has looked good tracking back. We're giving them too many chances, but so far our shape looks better than it has for a while, and for the most part we're containing them well.

[SnoopZakaDaVe]

Promising signs but skrtels (on the brink) of having a mare and is making me nervy

[Gabe]

Unlucky with the header against the bar, but other than that we've created little and Tottenham have had some good chances. We started very brightly, good pressing, but then they have come right back into it and had more of the ball, and done more with it. Still, I'd take a draw and a clean sheet today, as I'm sure nearly everybody would.

[Guest]

An efficient draw! Good work.

[Gabe]

Yep, would've taken that at the start even before hearing Sturridge was injured. Hopefully some goals will turn-up on Thursday at home.

[Timbuktu]

Yeah. That was not a bad draw at all. Origin did better than I thought and could have snatched that with a bit of luck. I though Can and Lallana did well enough, whereas Cout didn't do as much today, hopefully Klopp can get the best out of him. It was really Mignolet kept us in it though. At the very least the game would have let Klopp as where the problems are and I will be a lot more confident when the first team players come back from injury.

[glb]

A decent point, and a rare clean sheet, which is nice. Good to see a couple of squad players come in and do a job too. Can't get over-excited about a 0-0 but it's not a bad result against a good side that have only lost once in the league this season.

[Istanbul]

Very happy with that. If Klopp had any of the missing strikers up front, I think we might have just won that. Sakho was excellent and Mignolet made some world class saves. It's amazing, 1 week at the helm and the team already looks more solid than it did under Rodgers. Can't wait for the next game now. Not expecting miracles of course, but it's great that once again...

[Chewylegs]

Definitely happy with that result and performance, we obviously lacked up front but as a team I thought we looked solid. We hunted in packs, never gave up and only looked dodgy at the back a couple of times (Skrtel!).

When we have people back from injury I expect even more.

[Azrael]

Didn't see the game, not a bad result. Happy with what I read about the overall performance.

[Istanbul]

Dunno if it's just a Klopptical illusion but I feel I've seen more pressing in the first 2 mins than we've done all season.

Stat:

Liverpool ran 116.0km yesterday, more than any other team in the Premier League this season and almost 10km up on their last game against Everton.

[angel]

Which is nice proof that without that work rate under rodgers you'd probably have lost 1-0 but been outstanding doing it.

[dogsout]

I believe Klopp's Dortmund would average around 120km per match, so I'd expect that number (above) to climb, if anything.

[ryodi]

The number wouldn't be nearly as high if Mignolet didn't keep kicking it straight to a Spurs player and they all have to chase it down again.

[Istanbul]

It's hard to say how much of that you can attribute to 'new manager bounce' but Klopp seems the type who'll keep that motivation going. Lallana looked very up for playing in his style too so that bodes well, I thought he was our best player yesterday.

Thought he wasn't too great myself. His transition from attacking to defending (and vice versa) is just too slow. He's one player that I'm not to sure will work under Klopp. He'll give it his all, he's that type of character, but I haven't been anything but frustrated with him so far. Obviously it's one game under Klopp, so long way to go yet for Lallana.

Spurs are well tapping him up though, wouldn't be surprised if they came sniffing if they get a scent that we don't want him. Doubt we'll get anywhere near that inflated £25m though.

For me, best player yesterday apart from Mignolet, was big Mama Sakho.

[christaylor]

I believe Klopp's Dortmund would average around 120km per match, so I'd expect that number (above) to climb, if anything.

God knows how sustainable this is though, given that half of our squad seem to be made of faberge egg.

[Sng]

Plus all those pussies get a break halfway through the season.

[Adrock]

I'm not too concerned about the sustainability right now. The fact the club have a very distinct methodology means progress will be made and if required players signed to do specific jobs the current squad can't.

Having a manger with a defined style who knows what he wants is a massive step forward after the recent couple of seasons.

I agree sakho was brilliant against Tottenham

[Rev]

I'm not too concerned about the sustainability right now. The fact the club have a very distinct methodology means progress will be made and if required players signed to do specific jobs the current squad can't.

Having a manger with a defined style who knows what he wants is a massive step forward after the recent couple of seasons.

I agree sakho was brilliant against Tottenham

Rodgers definitely had a defined style before he arrived. That's why spending £15m on Joe Allen seemed reasonable.

[dogsout]

Sakho, whose errant sideways pass nearly let Spurs in? I don't really get the love for Sakho, he seems shockingly error prone every time I've seen him. Is it just that he's better than our other options?

That pass was right next to Lucas but he had switched off. He's an excellent defender and it's laughable that Rodgers kept overlooking him.

[Gabe]

I think Sakho looks a bit ugly on the ball but I compared him to Carragher yonks back, in that he's an out-and-out defender, rather than a cultured centre-back. It's probably unfortunate that none of our CB options are actually any good on the ball, as an Agger (for example) would compliment him quite well and allow a safer out-ball across the back (rather than having pass to a congested midfield all the time or back to Mignolet so he can kick it out of play.)

I thought he looked good on Saturday, actually looked a bit more assured on the ball. Still can't pass though

As for Lallana, I agree with you Pockets, I thought he looked good too. Was continually pressing, showed some good skill on the ball and tried to make things happen. Whether there is still a place for him when Henderson and Firmino are back (and Sturridge) is a different matter, though.

[Adrock]

Rodgers definitely had a defined style before he arrived. That's why spending £15m on Joe Allen seemed reasonable.

15m on Allen was never reasonable.

I agree Rodgers did have a definite style but that was quickly lost when the pressure of the job got to him.

[Gabe]

15m on Allen was never reasonable.

I agree Rodgers did have a definite style but that was quickly lost when the pressure of the job got to him.

What do you mean? He continued to say how 'fantastic' we were and how much 'character' we showed (despite results) right up to the end. He never lost it!

[angel]

He's probably rocking backwards and forwards in a chair right now still doing it..

..outstanding...out-standing..thought we were exceptional..

[dogsout]

I think Sakho looks a bit ugly on the ball but I compared him to Carragher yonks back, in that he's an out-and-out defender, rather than a cultured centre-back. It's probably unfortunate that none of our CB options are actually any good on the ball, as an Agger (for example) would compliment him quite well and allow a safer out-ball across the back (rather than having pass to a congested midfield all the time or back to Mignolet so he can kick it out of play.)

I thought he looked good on Saturday, actually looked a bit more assured on the ball. Still can't pass though

I really don't understand this view at all. The guy's a baller. These stats are from 13/14:

Koscielny and Mertesacker have been included as they were the only players with a higher passing accuracy than Sakho that season. Note the amount of back passes. He's so good at fizzing the ball forwards into feet. He regularly combines with Phil in this way. I'm actually amazed anyone could think he's poor on the ball. Sure, whenever he does anything he looks like an octopus falling out of a tree, but his distribution is excellent.

[Istanbul]

I really don't understand this view at all. The guy's a baller.

I don't understand it at all either, I feel it's a myth perpetrated by the media who don't watch him week in week out, and people have just latched onto it.

To add further weight, his passing from the last game:

[Adrock]

It simply is because, as has been pointed out on numerous occasions, he looks like the most awkward player on the ball I think I've ever seen. Regardless of what he does with the ball or in his defending the fact he moves like a newly emerged lamb will give people a bad impression of him.

Its very easy to see that part of his game and it'll always get highlighted for that reason.

[JohnnyNolan]

I agree wit that. His awkward style makes you think he's about to make a mistake every time he goes near the ball.

[dogsout]

Well, yeah. I said as much in my post above. But all you have to do is watch where the ball goes to see that the guy can pass.

[lolly]

It simply is because, as has been pointed out on numerous occasions, he looks like the most awkward player on the ball I think I've ever seen. Regardless of what he does with the ball or in his defending the fact he moves like a newly emerged lamb will give people a bad impression of him.

Its very easy to see that part of his game and it'll always get highlighted for that reason.

Djimi Traore (god love him!)anyone? with honourable mentions to Kvarme, Meijer,Cissohko(sp?) and a few others I've relegated from my memory.