Stoke thread

[RichC]

I didn't think they controlled it from the start, we started the brighter. They got lucky with their first attempt against the run of the play. Then they had us on the ropes for 10 mins at most

watched it again this morning and that's exactly right.

Their goal was a mixture of Lovren switching off a bit and poor keeping from Mignolet.

[Bender]

watched it again this morning and that's exactly right.

Their goal was a mixture of Lovren switching off a bit and poor keeping from Mignolet.

I thought Lovren was at fault for the goal,poor positioning and really should have headed the ball away,Think this is what Mignolet was expecting and why he seemed to react late to Walters goal.

[BigChief]

Wasn't just one person to blame, but the majority of blame does lie with Mig and Lovren. Defender should be defending it else Keeper should be keeping it out of the near post. The good thing from it is both Mig and Lovren redeemed themselves well in the match. Good to see some mental strength at last.

Mane too was a little too casual in defending the move but picked up his game straight afterwards.

[Norbs]

watched it again this morning and that's exactly right.

Their goal was a mixture of Lovren switching off a bit and poor keeping from Mignolet.

You wouldn't think that listening to the commentary either. Game of two halves etc which just wasn't the case. They did defend well first 30 mins and again for 10 mins at the start of the second half but they weren't much of an attacking threat and we were much quicker to any lose ball once wee Joe Allen had tired himself out midway through the first half

[Buzzo]

watched it again this morning and that's exactly right.

Their goal was a mixture of Lovren switching off a bit and poor keeping from Mignolet.

And a pathetic attempt by Mane and maybe Milner at blocking a cross.

[labourRed]

Wasn't just one person to blame, but the majority of blame does lie with Mig and Lovren. Defender should be defending it else Keeper should be keeping it out of the near post. The good thing from it is both Mig and Lovren redeemed themselves well in the match. Good to see some mental strength at last.

Mane too was a little too casual in defending the move but picked up his game straight afterwards.

Exactly this.

Same earlier in the match thread with the, it's not Mignolet's fault it was Lovren. Probably poorly worded but more than one person can be at fault and that attempt of a save was pathetic.

Good point on mental strength also... an area we've been lacking in but we rarely collapse as such, just need more concentration in defending mostly.

[Doc_Piptorious]

We don't have anything to fear but we will need to control the game better than what we did early in the game today. We will cause them problems in attack but I'm more concerned for our midfield dealing with the likes of Silva, Sterling and De Bruyne. They will cause us problems.

Don't need to control a game against City to beat them. Just need the firepower. Their game against Chelsea is a recent example.

Guardiola has form for changing his tactics to going long against Klopp teams, so fancy our chances of putting a few goals past them even if we have to take a hit ourselves along the way.

[The_weatherman]

Don't need to control a game against City to beat them. Just need the firepower. Their game against Chelsea is a recent example.

Guardiola has form for changing his tactics to going long against Klopp teams, so fancy our chances of putting a few goals past them even if we have to take a hit ourselves along the way.

They have Aguero back and their front players consist of Sterling, KDB and Silva, can't see them going long really. Surely they'll play to their own strengths. Also I think Klopp isn't playing the exact same style as he did with Dortmund but I can't be sure. Wish we had Matip back for this one.

[Doc_Piptorious]

They have Aguero back and their front players consist of Sterling, KDB and Silva, can't see them going long really. Surely they'll play to their own strengths. Also I think Klopp isn't playing the exact same style as he did with Dortmund but I can't be sure. Wish we had Matip back for this one.

They may well do, but then again look at the attacking players and passing players that Guardiola had available to him at Bayern and that did not stop him trying to counter a pressing style with a direct style.


Don't have any worries about City tbh despite the quality they have. We have plenty of quality too, and we are certainly scoring more than them. It gets said that our weak point is our inability to defend, but the same gets said about City so to exploit our supposed weak back line they will have to expose their own against our attack.


It is a title rival (isn't it great to be able to say that we have title rivals ) coming to Anfield for an evening kick off. I reckon the boys will be up for it, and the ground will be bouncing.

[Roboklopp]

I dunno, wasn't me.

Had a shufty. Was chiefly Tank the Frank droning on & on about him. Bob wasn't enamoured either.

[BigChief]

Everton and Stoke have shown going long is the ideal style against us. Problem is they don't have the players to hold possession in midfield. City do. Conversely City don't have a tall target man so it's anyone's guess how Pep approaches this.

[The_weatherman]

They may well do, but then again look at the attacking players and passing players that Guardiola had available to him at Bayern and that did not stop him trying to counter a pressing style with a direct style.


Don't have any worries about City tbh despite the quality they have. We have plenty of quality too, and we are certainly scoring more than them. It gets said that our weak point is our inability to defend, but the same gets said about City so to exploit our supposed weak back line they will have to expose their own against our attack.


It is a title rival (isn't it great to be able to say that we have title rivals ) coming to Anfield for an evening kick off. I reckon the boys will be up for it, and the ground will be bouncing.

Yeah, I agree, I'm not really nervous, I was a bit before the derby but I'm rather excited for this one, last game of the year, Anfield, Klopp will have them pumped up for this one. I think it would suit us well though if City try to emulate Stoke, it would mean that they altered their style and that's always a risk. Where is the build up thread btw?

[poorscousertommy]

I thought Lovren was at fault for the goal,poor positioning and really should have headed the ball away,Think this is what Mignolet was expecting and why he seemed to react late to Walters goal.

Both Lovren and Mig were culpable.

Not singling them out for criticism but it was just a fact. **** defending by Lovren and **** keeping by Mig.

Both were fine after the goal and Mig in particular made a great save.

[Irishnev]

Wasn't just one person to blame, but the majority of blame does lie with Mig and Lovren. Defender should be defending it else Keeper should be keeping it out of the near post. The good thing from it is both Mig and Lovren redeemed themselves well in the match. Good to see some mental strength at last.

Mane too was a little too casual in defending the move but picked up his game straight afterwards.

The ball should have been cleared long before Mane's mis control - they were bullied off it on the left hand side of the box in the build up. The cross was never blocked, Lovren reacted slowly and Mig couldn't get a strong enough hand.

It could have been avioded but so could our goals from Stoke's pov, that's football - a game of mistakes.

[Irishnev]

Both Lovren and Mig were culpable.

Not singling them out for criticism but it was just a fact. **** defending by Lovren and **** keeping by Mig.

Both were fine after the goal and Mig in particular made a great save.

I thought Lovren lost his head a bit after the goal, flew into a few challenges he had no chance of winning and fluffed some long range passes. Migs made a massive save from Allen all right.

Lovren is all right when he doesn't over think things, when he forces it then he can go to ****.......I would say that though as I don't rate him that highly