Southampton vs Liverpool - Premier League (20/21 - Game 17)

[Exiled_red]

For me the issue is not whether I or anyone else think that it should or shouldn't be a penalty the issue is one of consistency. If the handball last night wasn't a penalty then the Gomez one posted above shouldn't be one either (along with a number of others), but given the precedent set by the Gomez one (and others) the players and us as fans have a right to feel aggrieved. The same with the Mane one, given the Pogba one a week or so ago if that is the standard for a penalty then the one on Mane should have been given.

VAR is doing nothing to help, all it does is make it more amplify the inconsistencies.

The more I watch football the less I understand the rules, I don't know what a penalty is, a handball is or an offside is anymore

[Mark79]

It becomes an question of whether to weaken the team by fatiguing certain players, or by substituting certain players with inferior ones occasionally. Personally, the latter seems more sustainable, and the former isn't going well.

Of course, but the options to rotate obviously becomes limited the more injuries you have to the 1st team squad, and we have loads. It’s not like we haven’t been fielding back ups like Rhys, Neco, Nat and Kelleher at all. We could use reserves/youth more often, but that comes with it’s own risks in drop offs in the team’s performance level.

[Kenneth]

I'm thinking specifically about the front three. We did rotate with Jota and it went well, but we scored 7 with Taki starting in attack and he's not played since. Shaw is class for Switzerland in Salah's position but doesn't get time, even Origi as a target in the centre might have some merit. Or a striker that lots of people have been calling for for several windows. We've been unlucky with injuries in defense and midfield, but our recent issues have been with first choicers near the goal.

[Mark79]

We've also got loads of player who are looking to play there way into form from injury or from not having had any game time and get few minutes to do so. Minamino is a prime example, played his best 90 for us by far against Palace, and then loses all momentum by not getting a kick for the next three games.

It is a balancing act, but we do seem to be solely reliant on Mane, Salah and Firmino, who have delivired for 3 years, but now we do need trusted, or to trust, the back up.

I think in the 1st team squad, Minamino is maybe the only example? Who else hasn’t been getting regular playing time when they’re available?

There’s Origi, but pretty much everyone seems agreed that they don’t want him playing anyway. Neco, similarly nobody ever seems too satisfied when he does play.

As for the front 3, we’ve made a brilliant addition there who seems more than capably of rotating with the front 3 without no drop off in quality. But now he’s injured so we’re back to being over reliant on the old 3.

[Mark79]

I'm thinking specifically about the front three. We did rotate with Jota and it went well, but we scored 7 with Taki starting in attack and he's not played since. Shaw is class for Switzerland in Salah's position but doesn't get time, even Origi as a target in the centre might have some merit. Or a striker that lots of people have been calling for for several windows. We've been unlucky with injuries in defense and midfield, but our recent issues have been with first choicers near the goal.

Yes I agree, the Taki one is bit strange, at least since his Palace performance. But Shaq simply hasn’t been available very often this season again. Origi has been terrible when he has played.

[fabinho]

That's ridiculous. If we were 10 points behind City at this stage I would agree, but we're still top and still require these teams to play and win these games in hand, then we've got to play them etc.

I think its absolutely insane to think we'll win the league this year. We won nothing until we brought in a decent keeper and VVD, now people are expecting us to win the league against City with makeshift centerbacks of either kids or midfielders.

This hurts, but I think some people should really accept the reality of the situation this year. CL will be even worse.

[Kenneth]

Del, wrong thread

[Fivex]

I think its absolutely insane to think we'll win the league this year. We won nothing until we brought in a decent keeper and VVD, now people are expecting us to win the league against City with makeshift centerbacks of either kids or midfielders.

This hurts, but I think some people should really accept the reality of the situation this year. CL will be even worse.

Well we've still got a better chance now that we don't have a keeper intent on throwing the ball into his own net

[Norbs]

For me the issue is not whether I or anyone else think that it should or shouldn't be a penalty the issue is one of consistency. If the handball last night wasn't a penalty then the Gomez one posted above shouldn't be one either (along with a number of others), but given the precedent set by the Gomez one (and others) the players and us as fans have a right to feel aggrieved. The same with the Mane one, given the Pogba one a week or so ago if that is the standard for a penalty then the one on Mane should have been given.

VAR is doing nothing to help, all it does is make it more amplify the inconsistencies.

The more I watch football the less I understand the rules, I don't know what a penalty is, a handball is or an offside is anymore

I absolutely think the handball was a penalty because it was his only remaining chance of blocking the shot, it was goal bound, if your forearm by your knee is a natural position then you need to see a doctor and 4) because his arm is outside of his body line

[Kenneth]

I agree, that was a pen. I mean, we've conceded such pens before the rule change that makes it a clear one (thinking milner in the CL a couple of seasons ago)

[Buzzo]

I sometimes think we’ve forgotten why penalties should be given. A goal bound shot deflected by an arm is 100% a penalty.

Some of the confusion now is with the variances. A cross that hits of an arm but is not going towards the actual goal, is not a pen. Handball should only really count if it has a clear impact on the ball going towards the goal.

[Le Chef]

Some perspective from the G


A little perspective first. This was only Liverpool’s second league defeat of the season. They remain top on goal difference. Four of their next six fixtures are at home. And even in this wasteful effort there was still more than enough pressure, more than enough possession, more than enough in the way of openings, for Liverpool to have turned this around on another night.

[Le Chef]

But

As for Klopp, he can rage – not without justification – about kick-off times and rest periods. But it wasn’t the broadcasters who made the decision to play Diogo Jota in a meaningless Champions League dead rubber who then got a knee injury. The good news for Liverpool is that the title remains up for grabs. The bad news is that if they want to win, they’ll have to suffer like never before.

[Mark79]

Who is the G?

[Le Chef]

Who is the G?

Guardian