Our style of play

[Rigadon]

Will our style continue to evolve? A fully fit Ox and Keita would change the dynamic of the midfield.

[Liverpool]

Will our style continue to evolve? A fully fit Ox and Keita would change the dynamic of the midfield.

2 seasons ago we mainly had success centrally, last year with the full backs getting wide. I think ultimately a mix of both and a mix of 433 and 424 in game to confuse the **** out of the opposition. It's pretty much 3 years in the making and with no new players. Everyone is well tuned to play it.

[baitman]

A few more assists from alisson and virgil i reckon. Laser guided hoofing

[BigChief]

We're winners now, winning breeds winning!

Looking at the new tactics of a high flat back line seems like teams are playing delicate balls and getting behind us. Plus our midfielders are not getting on the ball, we're totally relying on the front three.

I think the answer lies in not workhorses but progressive midfielders who can control a ball and turn on a six pence. Opposition teams will be less likely to try breaking our lines as they'll be too busy with our buzzing midfielders feeding the front three. We cannot afford to play more than two of Fab, Wij, Milner and Hendo at any one time. Maybe even just one. Otherwise we lose possession and ideas from the back.

[Buzzo]

We need Keita fit.

[baitman]

We need Keita fit.

just let it go, hes finished.

[danperkins]

We're winners now, winning breeds winning!

Looking at the new tactics of a high flat back line seems like teams are playing delicate balls and getting behind us. Plus our midfielders are not getting on the ball, we're totally relying on the front three.

I think the answer lies in not workhorses but progressive midfielders who can control a ball and turn on a six pence. Opposition teams will be less likely to try breaking our lines as they'll be too busy with our buzzing midfielders feeding the front three. We cannot afford to play more than two of Fab, Wij, Milner and Hendo at any one time. Maybe even just one. Otherwise we lose possession and ideas from the back.

midfield has looked pretty awful in the last few games giving defence no cover & it does seem that long balls & through balls are catching out our backline.

[Fosterbloke]

Why do we need to do that? Where are we going with this shape?

[Fredo]

We use it probably to help us regain the ball quicker when we haven't got it, compressing the play even more into tighter areas. Some of our players are still leggy and shows that we are some way off full fitness. Our passing was sloppy at times and most of our problems seems to be around as Chelsea were cutting through big open spaces in midfield. Klopp alluded to being too deep in some situations, so expect to see more and more of this high pressing this season.

[greenturnip]

Matip’d passing out of defence was especially bad yesterday, which didn’t help our MF. Ox is off the pace, Gini was poor, Fab was knackered. We’ll improve as we get match fit. In the meantime we just need to keep winning and avoid more injuries.

[Cormack74]

The back line looks far too high. Hopefully it's just an experiment that will be binned off soon.

[danperkins]

The higher line we are playing is susceptible to balls over the top & pace in the channels. I wonder is that that why Klopp is looking to bring Gomez back in ahead of Matip as he has recovery pace? It might be a case where we just need time to adapt but we have look dodgy as **** back there.

Agree about matip's passing last night, ffs it was abysmal lost count of how many times he gave it away and put us under pressure. We should have got cover for Trent at RB, Gomez is ****e out there. Not his fault he is a CB that is being asked to play in a position that doesn't suit him.

We weren't great at all last night but long game, heat & start of the season. One player that does look incredibly sharp in Bobby and he is absolutely essential to the way we play. Complete contrast when he is not there. I worry about Ox, has looked so far off it's untrue. Will take time for him and Gomez to get back to full tilt unfortunately but doing both no favours playing them out of position imo.

[baitman]

Even the 'lesser' teams will be looking to exploit our high line and our even higher full backs, diagonal balls over the top will be a regular thing for us to deal with.

Our midfield is still looking shaky at best

[Rigadon]

Thought we were poor last night. Rusty performances by a couple of players didn’t help (factors could be fitness with one and age with the other). Attack looked sharper when Bobby came on (that touch for Mane’s first was brilliant), but our midfield was easily bypassed by Chelsea (we made them look good). Most important thing - we won.

[Exiled_red]

For me there were a few problems with the way we lined up last night:

Gomez at right back - he's a good CB but he is positionally lost at RB, it's not just that he doesn't offer much going forward, defensively he's not good enough there. Honestly I would play either Milner or Henderson there ahead of him if TAA is out.

Ox - was basically anonymous, I'm not sure if that was the position he played last night or his fitness / sharpness after the injury or what. I hope it was just the position and we won't try him there again.

Midfield - seemed to be getting over run or played through way to easily which lead to the defence being a bit exposed.