Preseason 2021

[Paul12]

We need to be able to score goals against team's that sit back. Either Thiago is the key or we need something new.

[BigChief]

We need to be able to score goals against team's that sit back. Either Thiago is the key or we need something new.

Think it's already in hand. Last season's tactics to stop us scoring (other than mental fatigue):

1. Put a pacy man up front for breaks against a third choice backline. That will stop or at least curb our relentless gegen.
2. Blockade the wings, TAA, Salah, Mane and Robbo had SIX players occupying them almost all of the time.
3. That left the risk of central midfield (Gini) and Firmino often being left with lots of time and space on the ball. Teams accepted that risk and it paid off in spades.

So what have we changed? Or looking to change?

1. VvD and Gomez back will render their pacy man up front a waste of player.
2. Need to unblock the wings, that can only be achieved by:
3. More shots and goals from midfield (Ox, Keita and even Thiago). Mainly Ox who will not always be looking for our heavily marked wingmen. He will shoot on clear sight and very accurately too. This will force the man from 1) to drop further back thus zero counter attack threat, and men to come in Central from the wings. Thus Salah getting the golden boot again this season.

[baitman]

If oxlade and keita are the answer then we are truly ****ed.

[Doc_Piptorious]

We avoid the freak amount of injuries we had last season and our current squad is good enough to be challenging for the title let alone a top four spot.

We add one or two more quality players between now and the end of the window and my gut feeling that we will win the title this season will only get stronger.

[BigChief]

If oxlade and keita are the answer then we are truly ****ed.

[Tribute]

Still think teams will just turn up to low block us and unless we do something different to last season, more often than not it'll work out for the opposition.

Our biggest downfall last season - despite the injuries, players out of position, switching the team up a lot - was how wasteful we were in front of goal. At one point we scored 3 from over 100 shots... that's diabolical.

If we can get back to being more clinical, being able to finish teams off when we have the upper hand in games... that will be decisive this season. We were ruthless in 19/20 when we won it pre-Covid. We need to be ruthless again in front of goal.

[RedReet]

We avoid the freak amount of injuries we had last season and our current squad is good enough to be challenging for the title let alone a top four spot.

We add one or two more quality players between now and the end of the window and my gut feeling that we will win the title this season will only get stronger.

From our title winning team we have swapped Gini with Thiago, added Jota (who was best player in PL before injury) and Konate.

For two years we were one of the best teams in history, so if we can keep our main players fit, it's a big ask to expect other teams to bridge the gap (bar City of course)

[Mark79]

If our best players are available for the majority of the season, then we’ll challenge for the title.
If not then we’re playing for top 4.

The same goes for City, Chelsea and Utd.

[Exiled_red]

If our best players are available for the majority of the season, then we’ll challenge for the title.
If not then we’re playing for top 4.

The same goes for City, Chelsea and Utd.

The concern is that City in particular but the other two as well are building squad depth ours is mostly unproven

Assume a starting 11 of Alisson, TAA, VVD, Konate, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Firmino and Mane

The subs/ back up are GK: Kelleher/Adrian, CB: Gomez, Matip, Davies/(Phillips) Fullback: Tsimikas, (Neco Williams)/Milner CM: Jones, Naby, Ox Forward: Jota, Minamino, Elliott, (Origi), (Shaqiri)

Assuming the guys in brackets are probably moving on, CB is well covered in terms of quality if those guys are recovered from injuries, fullback cover isn't ideal, Tsimikas hardly played and if Neco leaves we are looking at Milner or someone else to play out of position which isn't ideal. CM Jones is probably the best option there, but is still young, the other guys have injury issues and are yet to really put a good run of games together in an LFC shirt. Jota is top notch cover and I wouldn't be surprised to see him rotated regularly into the side. Minamino has looked lost in an LFC shirt, Elliott has talent but is still unproven at this level. IMO if any of the midfield or fullbacks get injured we are requiring in most cases the players coming into the side doing a much better job than we have seen from them so far which to me is rather concerning.

If everyone stays fit (or injuries are kind to us) we can challenge for the title a couple of injuries in the wrong places (again) and we could be in trouble.

[Kenneth]

Our current first team doesn’t seriously challenge for the title imo. It’s fine to talk of our title winning side mostly being intact, but that team hasn’t been as functional for a long time, even with players fit. Another 18 months in the legs of our players, dubious form from important players, others strengthening their first XI, less strength in depth than others, and tactical counters from other managers are contributory factors. I don’t think more of the same is a recipe for success this season tbh. But it is what we are going to get, so we’ll see.

[Mark79]

The concern is that City in particular but the other two as well are building squad depth ours is mostly unproven

Assume a starting 11 of Alisson, TAA, VVD, Konate, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Firmino and Mane

The subs/ back up are GK: Kelleher/Adrian, CB: Gomez, Matip, Davies/(Phillips) Fullback: Tsimikas, (Neco Williams)/Milner CM: Jones, Naby, Ox Forward: Jota, Minamino, Elliott, (Origi), (Shaqiri)

Assuming the guys in brackets are probably moving on, CB is well covered in terms of quality if those guys are recovered from injuries, fullback cover isn't ideal, Tsimikas hardly played and if Neco leaves we are looking at Milner or someone else to play out of position which isn't ideal. CM Jones is probably the best option there, but is still young, the other guys have injury issues and are yet to really put a good run of games together in an LFC shirt. Jota is top notch cover and I wouldn't be surprised to see him rotated regularly into the side. Minamino has looked lost in an LFC shirt, Elliott has talent but is still unproven at this level. IMO if any of the midfield or fullbacks get injured we are requiring in most cases the players coming into the side doing a much better job than we have seen from them so far which to me is rather concerning.

If everyone stays fit (or injuries are kind to us) we can challenge for the title a couple of injuries in the wrong places (again) and we could be in trouble.

As I say, as long as we have our best players available for the majority of the season.

I’m talking about an injury rate more like 19/20 than last season, which still included the likes of Alisson, Matip, Fab and Henderson missing 8+ league games. All key players who missed a chunk of the season, but thankfully they were at least spread out.

We can carry a number injuries throughout the season, as long as they’re not all long term and don’t all come at once and in the same positions like last season. But that, or even anything remotely like that would kill off any of the challengers, even with their squads.

Our squad isn’t as deep as the others, but our first 15/16 players are as good as or better than theirs. We’re hopefully going to add a couple more into that group too.

Let’s not forget, we finished the last 10 games of last season on title challenging form, and that was still without Virgil, Matip, Gomez and Henderson.

[baitman]

We have no decent cover for our midfielders or full backs.

[Venton]

Still think teams will just turn up to low block us and unless we do something different to last season, more often than not it'll work out for the opposition.

Our biggest downfall last season - despite the injuries, players out of position, switching the team up a lot - was how wasteful we were in front of goal. At one point we scored 3 from over 100 shots... that's diabolical.

If we can get back to being more clinical, being able to finish teams off when we have the upper hand in games... that will be decisive this season. We were ruthless in 19/20 when we won it pre-Covid. We need to be ruthless again in front of goal.

I know we've now got Jota but the main front three have played together for way too long. That really needs freshening up.

[Kenneth]

As I say, as long as we have our best players available for the majority of the season.

I’m talking about an injury rate more like 19/20 than last season, which still included the likes of Alisson, Matip, Fab and Henderson missing 8+ league games. All key players who missed a chunk of the season, but thankfully they were at least spread out.

We can carry a number injuries throughout the season, as long as they’re not all long term and don’t all come at once and in the same positions like last season. But that, or even anything remotely like that would kill off any of the challengers, even with their squads.

Our squad isn’t as deep as the others, but our first 15/16 players are as good as or better than theirs. We’re hopefully going to add a couple more into that group too.

Let’s not forget, we finished the last 10 games of last season on title challenging form, and that was still without Virgil, Matip, Gomez and Henderson.

Depends what you use as the baseline for comparison. Comparing players based on their best ever form then yes, basing it on more recent from then absolutely not. Which is more representative going into the new season?

[Mark79]

We have no decent cover for our midfielders or full backs.

We’re hopefully bringing another midfielder in, and we’re fine in both positions so long as our 1st choices are available for most of the season.

A proper back up right back would be ideal though.