If I had a magic wand, which part of Liverpool’s team would I wave it at? I guess it would be the midfield. There are problems in other areas, but I would start there.
I played there a little bit for Liverpool and was lucky to have Graeme Souness next to me, a true great. But I would go out there determined to win my individual battle first. Thou shall not pass. Stop the opposition playing and start playing ourselves.
I don’t see that enough in this Liverpool team. I do not see that mentality. The midfield has aged a little, I know. It needs some energy and legs. But it also needs that mentality shift at times.
Liverpool are a team who lead 2-0 and think they should win by more. That’s admirable in a way, but when you are two up against the champions of Europe in 20 minutes then you should look to close down the space, circle the wagons and get to half-time with a lead intact. The coach or the manager can then do his work.
Liverpool don’t seem to be able to do that. As a result they have lost the ability to control games. I don’t remember the last time they controlled a game, really. Even against Newcastle, with a man extra, I can’t say they were in command. They weren’t.
Liverpool look easy to play against and play through and that’s a worry. Teams used to come to Anfield to play a Jurgen Klopp team and feel beaten when they drove through the gate. Now it’s the opposite.
Across the back there are problems. Virgil van Dijk has not quite returned to his best and has been deprived of a regular partner. Ibrahima Konate has been injured and Joel Matip does well but then gets injured too. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, had a bad night against Real Madrid and I advise him to look to Old Trafford.
I hate to use the example of a Manchester United player when talking about Liverpool, but I am going to do it as Lisandro Martinez has been terrific for them. He enjoys defending — he would kick his own grandmother! He does the basic things well and for him that’s his job. We all like defenders who can play but we like ones who can defend more, don’t we?
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are fabulous footballers who I love watching. But at 2-0 on Tuesday, I wanted to see them defending as part of that unit and at Liverpool that’s not the way it seems to happen.
I played centre half for Liverpool with Alan Hansen, and Ronnie Moran would just tell us to ‘sit in your armchairs’. He meant we should watch the game unfold in front of us and not do anything rash. Trust the players in front of us.
I always say in football ‘be a pessimist’. Expect something to go wrong. Expect the guy next to you to make a mistake. This Liverpool team don’t always seem alert or switched on to that.
A few years ago, I could close my eyes and know exactly where all 11 players would be, especially in midfield. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum. Now I can’t do that. People used to ask what Wijnaldum did. Now we know. He was utterly dependable. How many of this team can we say that about right now?
nosklpsuyz
2
what is your name my team roma
Investorpayment
0
Liverpool need midfielder who can play pass very well mostly to Attackers and e left forward we need a replacement for M.Salah and a defender VVD is a waste product for now in fact the full defenders
IronBorn
0
it's a mentality shift they need new players
AbdulZaks008
0
Chale Luis Diaz for return for the second league ooo
Luiz diaz, Alcantara and konate at Santiago. i believe something miracle will happen
wuockmnprs
0
I would prefer my defence midifield to be the boy steffan and the other two cavalho on the left and elliot on the right then my only problem will be the defender and strikers
sisbeklnos
0
Chale Luis Diaz for return for the second league ooo
skychilee
1
Not difficult to understand the same squad which performed brilliantly and won almost all glorious for the club few seasons ago had turned into a vulnerable team like that. Hate to say that but this is true that the Reds has long facing with lacking of bench width. There’s insufficient cover, with quality for every or major position. For example, who do you think of to Hendo’s role ? After VVD, Matrip and Konate, who do you think of, as a CB that can really rely on ? Guess not Gomez. Unlike MC, we are not that wealthy, to have a world class B team that can come out from bench to play with a high standard. We do have high potential young players, but not likely Kloop would play them often, e.g., Carvalho. Honestly, there’s time for a team to rebuild, inflow and outflow of players to maintain the standard, the form and the style the coach want to play. Understood it involved huge money, but the true is if you don’t invest this kind of sum, how could you make big money and win fans’ loyalty and support ? Besides, the worse case is more injuries were resulted in this case if play frequency and lead to more serious injury problem, wrong man deployment and finally affected the result. I really think that the owner, the management and the coaching team have to sit down and to solve the problem together ASAP.
vuaabckopt
1
just because of skine colour that's why liverpool is facing now ,wijnaldum,and the great sadio mane' where are there, because mane' ask for salary increase they said he is ungrateful, but even salah did no body said anything and he was granted what he desired forgetting to know that mane' is far better then salah his work rate and goal scoring ability was tremendous but he was never appreciated so stop crying, first season without mane'no champions league football next year nor Europa league
hw can players who are not at club ..b z reason for our problem..makes no sense..
vuaabckopt
1
....hw can players who not at club b z fault y we not performing.....hw does tht make any sense.... ever since klopp took over club we have not bought a sensible mfielder....he brought keita..flop. he bought ox. flop ..he bought Thiago .which he shud have just put a few more mils. and get a younger more solid less injury prone player....he then failed to get rid of those players..and then used funds to buy 2 midfielders...up to z time klopp was saying mf is fine...hw dumb can 1 get...he keep playing ox in MF. and upfront. . instead of at RB. wen Trent not performing..and in same instance put Trent in MF. ..
babyface2018
1
when the shifting is old and rusty it can hold on to anything anymore
Reebcmrz
4
just because of skine colour that's why liverpool is facing now ,wijnaldum,and the great sadio mane' where are there, because mane' ask for salary increase they said he is ungrateful, but even salah did no body said anything and he was granted what he desired forgetting to know that mane' is far better then salah his work rate and goal scoring ability was tremendous but he was never appreciated so stop crying, first season without mane'no champions league football next year nor Europa league
tewacekpr
4
this storyline doesn't concern AS Roma. next time try and post things that concern Roma only
fihacepy
0
in those days, it's men that play football. not boys. the difference is clear. when yo u have wife and children to feed with the ball against when you mainly need the job for luxury life with fat wages as it is today.
[image]
What r u saying?? No sense. I’m sorry.
Gwinghltd
2
in those days, it's men that play football. not boys. the difference is clear. when yo u have wife and children to feed with the ball against when you mainly need the job for luxury life with fat wages as it is today.