Our style of play

[Kenneth]

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

We have a fantastic back line, so relying on them to cover and deal with such balls should be less of a worry for us than many other sides, as long as there is a corresponding benefit in being able to control midfield and let some of the midfield get closer to Bobby. Risk vs reward. The midfield with Milner, Hendo out wide and Ox did not have the tools to make use of the extra options in the middle, especially when up against Kante.

[baitman]

We have a fantastic back line, so relying on them to cover and deal with such balls should be less of a worry for us than many other sides, as long as there is a corresponding benefit in being able to control midfield and let some of the midfield get closer to Bobby. Risk vs reward. The midfield with Milner, Hendo out wide and Ox did not have the tools to make use of the extra options in the middle, especially when up against Kante.

Very true about risk/reward but as good as kante is he shouldnt be able to dominate and upset our lightweight but well moisturised midfielders.

We just turned to jelly and we will be getting bullied and dropping points to many lesser teams, not much chance of converting all those draws into wins if we play like that.

[Fredo]

Very true about risk/reward but as good as kante is he shouldnt be able to dominate and upset our lightweight but well moisturised midfielders.

We just turned to jelly and we will be getting bullied and dropping points to many lesser teams, not much chance of converting all those draws into wins if we play like that.

As we get fitter this won't be a problem. We're still quite off our best. I'd say we are possibly at 80%. You can see it's a fitness issue as for some periods of the game against City second half and for 20 mins last night, we threatened to blow them apart.

[SB]

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.

Agree with all that. It was good that Ox got minutes on the pitch but yeah wide left is definitely not his position in the side. The same with RB not being Gomez’s strength either. He was lost & a real weak link out wide so we did well considering round pegs in square holes n all.

[Frenchie]

I think the high line we are playing has come straight out of the statistical analysis team. With VAR they are now safer to take the risk and catch players off side knowing it will be picked up if missed by the asst ref.

[Fredo]

Klopp said in his presser that the high line is not a new thing.

[labourRed]

Klopp said in his presser that the high line is not a new thing.

Of course it isn't. Since Virgil came in we've moved up the pitch and got an unreal number of offsides. It was a key feature of our play last year.

[Rigadon]

Of course it isn't. Since Virgil came in we've moved up the pitch and got an unreal number of offsides. It was a key feature of our play last year.

Like watching the Arsenal back four with Tony Adams

[RedReet]

Of course it isn't. Since Virgil came in we've moved up the pitch and got an unreal number of offsides. It was a key feature of our play last year.

In the first 3 PL games last year, we had 8 offsides. In the 3 games so far we've had 19. Opposition and VAR clearly has a say, but it's definitely a tactic we're using more this year and probably explains why Gomez was preferred ahead of Matip initially.

It seems a dangerous ploy and you would think it could be easily exploited by opposing teams. But Klopp is a genius and I'm sure once the whole team are on the same wavelength we'll really see how effective it is.

[RedReet]

12 straight wins (I think) - A club record.

97 points in the league - A club record.

Go 10 mins without scoring - Our midfield is still ****.

I'm guessing we need Sky or MOTD to do some sort of special before fans finally give up on this myth...

[baitman]

12 straight wins (I think) - A club record.

97 points in the league - A club record.

Go 10 mins without scoring - Our midfield is still ****.

I'm guessing we need Sky or MOTD to do some sort of special before fans finally give up on this myth...

Our midfield is a bit ****, but mainly because two/three of them are on in the final third and leaving massive space and allowing counter attacks. They very rarely score and only occasionally provide an assist. Lazy European champions scum.
I know they are supportibg the attack and the press, but it does leave us very vulnerable.
Id be much happier with fabinho being ten yards deeper to help prevent the lazy lob

[labourRed]

In the first 3 PL games last year, we had 8 offsides. In the 3 games so far we've had 19. Opposition and VAR clearly has a say, but it's definitely a tactic we're using more this year and probably explains why Gomez was preferred ahead of Matip initially.

It seems a dangerous ploy and you would think it could be easily exploited by opposing teams. But Klopp is a genius and I'm sure once the whole team are on the same wavelength we'll really see how effective it is.

Nah, I'm not having that. It was something I noticed all season, particularly towards the end. We're very tight at the defensive line as was evidenced today. Its a great tactic but it needs a superb defence, which we have.

[Norbs]

Our midfield is a bit ****, but mainly because two/three of them are on in the final third and leaving massive space and allowing counter attacks. They very rarely score and only occasionally provide an assist. Lazy European champions scum.
I know they are supportibg the attack and the press, but it does leave us very vulnerable.
Id be much happier with fabinho being ten yards deeper to help prevent the lazy lob

Our midfield isn't ****, any validity to your argument ends with that suggestion

[Buzzo]

Our midfield isn't ****, any validity to your argument ends with that suggestion

We’ve managed to get to 2 CL finals and clocked 97 points (Club record and third highest in the history of the top division) only losing once last season with a **** midfield

Meanest defence in the League last season, despite our ****e midfield.

It’s laughable I’m afraid.

It’s not a glamorous job playing in our midfield, it’s hard work. But they let us play. Pressure, pressing and tempo. Making life difficult for a player in possession who may go on to play a loose pass or lose possession. Our midfield is relentless.

Henderson is the epitome of why our midfield is underrated. Wijnaldun was also getting stick but he left the pitch with something like 98% passing success rate.

[Norbs]

Spot on Buzzo

I don't pretend to be a master tactician but what I see is that our midfield constantly and repeatedly forego their own glory for the good of the team. They're performing a job, perfectly