[PL] Arsenal (A): Post Match

[Liverpool]

The lack of control in middle it's easy to see why people want someone like that. Still sick that we never went for kante same fee as we're getting for benteke and less wages than him. No brainer

[labourRed]

The world of football forums is amusing. I'm not having a pop at anyone but i remember the Rafa days of playing two DMs and folk were equally bemused.

[TheElephantMan]

We were so boring to watch at times under Rafa (and amazing in 2008/9), still love him. Mascherano and Alonso were exceptional, we were lucky to have them both. In spite of his faults Rodgers got us playing some nice football at times. This feels different though, hopefully Klopp is here for a long time. We have more fighting spirit now and there's a buzz about the players.

[Alex]

We had a fighting spirit during the 13/14 season under Rodgers. The team seemed very together.

But it does feel different though this feels like a team of constituent parts, rather than a load of constituent parts forced to make a working team.

[RichC]

This DM obsession amongst the fans is reminiscent of the whole CM argument under Rafa when fans (thanks to Andy Gray) argued that there was no need to 2 holding/controlling midfielders. That was how Rafa liked to set up (funny that most teams do now, likewise mark zonally) and wasn't going to change, just like it doesn't look like Klopp sees a need for a DM in his team. I'm sure if he could sign the complete package he would (does Dahoud fit this profile?), but it seems obvious that physical attributes and ability to contribute in attack are more important than having a specialised DM. The onus is on the team to defend well as a unit and press in numbers, not have a Mascherano or Kante type to sit and tidy up.

[Parm]

We need consistency. Can't have fits of brilliance followed up by periods of sloppiness like that.

I really hope that we don't see too many more of those crazy games this season, the odd one here or there is fine and we seem to have a lot of those v Arsenal (esp at Anfield) over the years. We need better game management to protect the lead and shut games down. Left Back was and remains a huge issue and I don't know what Klopp's game plan here is-please sort it out quickly!

But it's only day one and we cant expect miracles, lots of things for Klopp to think upon but we did see a glimpse again today that when we click under klopp we are unstoppable.

[BigChief]

The team that started yesterday v the team that didn't/couldn't. Who'd win?

Mig
Clyne Lovren Klavan Moreno
Henderson Wijny
Mane Lallana Coutinho
Firmino

v

Karius
Gomez Matip Sakho Milner
Stewart Grujic Can
Origi Sturridge Ings

I can't decide. The second team looks like it will concede a hell of a lot less.

[labourRed]

Second team is full of injured players so i'll go for the first.

[The_weatherman]

Second team is full of injured players so i'll go for the first.

[The_weatherman]

The team that started yesterday v the team that didn't/couldn't. Who'd win?

Mig
Clyne Lovren Klavan Moreno
Henderson Wijny
Mane Lallana Coutinho
Firmino

v

Karius
Gomez Matip Sakho Milner
Stewart Grujic Can
Origi Sturridge Ings

I can't decide. The second team looks like it will concede a hell of a lot less.

Luckily we can mix them up, but we have great strength in depth now. Having Matip, Sakho and Milner to come in the defence is major plus though.

[redmike65]

Maybe Pulis is not such a mug

---------Mignolet
Matip-Lovren-Sakho-Klavan

[BigChief]

Second team is full of injured players so i'll go for the first.

Your team may be fit, but it contains a fully fit Moreno. Good luck, I don't fancy your chances.

[Slinky Skills]

The funniest thing about yesterday's performance was when the 3rd went in and Gary Neville said "What a goal" ha ha!



He must have been devastated when that went in lol.

[rodo]

Garth Crooks on yesterday

Having spent it wisely on Mane, he should seriously think about selling striker Christian Benteke – as he is surplus to requirements – and buying a decent left-back.

If he keeps Alberto Moreno in the team, he can forget the top four – he’ll get relegated.

[danperkins]

This DM obsession amongst the fans is reminiscent of the whole CM argument under Rafa when fans (thanks to Andy Gray) argued that there was no need to 2 holding/controlling midfielders. That was how Rafa liked to set up (funny that most teams do now, likewise mark zonally) and wasn't going to change, just like it doesn't look like Klopp sees a need for a DM in his team. I'm sure if he could sign the complete package he would (does Dahoud fit this profile?), but it seems obvious that physical attributes and ability to contribute in attack are more important than having a specialised DM. The onus is on the team to defend well as a unit and press in numbers, not have a Mascherano or Kante type to sit and tidy up.

valid points mate.

Lucas is still around, so I would imagine Klopp blocked the sale of Lucas as we do not have any one else like him in our squad. I just don't see any other real ball winners in our side. We have so much energy in the team but nobody who specialises in that particular area in front of the CBs, apart from Lucas. Mane judging by the stats seems like the one doing most of the tackling/ball recovery and he's a forward essentially.

Maybe Dahoud was probably was the answer to what Klopp was looking for as regards that, we didn't get him & that is why Lucas seems to be staying put as he can do the job nobody else can.

I get the defending as a unit and countering on transition as a unit but we do need to win the ball back first. Watching us under Klopp, sometimes we do, sometimes we don't... it's like two different sides. The first half yesterday we did nothing in the way of pressing, they over ran us in the midfield, the first 20 of the second half we absolutely blitzed them and gave them nothing on the ball, then the last 20 mins we reverted back to giving them loads of time on the ball again. With Liverpool you just don't know what you are going to get, Jekyll & Hyde. I get the impression players have to be reminded to win the ball back sometimes rather than it being ingrained in them to do that. IMO it's because it's not their natural game.

I just worry about the midfield not being strong or solid enough in that area to give adequate protection to our defence, which has looked fragile for awhile.