Chelsea (H) 28.08.21

[Irishnev]

I'd agree on Firmino, but Thiago was class. I dont think he gave the ball away once. He also did one little move where he left the Burnley midfield tackling thin air.

Firmino had his usual Anfield assortment of misplaced passes and the ball bouncing off his shins.

He did show one piece of pure class where he nearly made a goal but was sloppy twice and made two chances for them. One was from a header that lead to the Barnes chance. I agree with the lads - he is still building sharpness but it’s great he’s not being rushed back

Like others I think it will be Naby, Hendo and Fab

[Doc_Piptorious]

I'd agree on Firmino, but Thiago was class. I dont think he gave the ball away once. He also did one little move where he left the Burnley midfield tackling thin air.

Firmino had his usual Anfield assortment of misplaced passes and the ball bouncing off his shins.

Thiago was below his usual standards during that 16 or so mins on the pitch when it came to pass completion.


His pass completion was 80%, which by his own standards is quite poor. His average for all of last season for example was 90%.

He did not play badly at all, but how well he played depends on whether you judge him by his own standards (elite level) or by what would be decent for a regular player.

[Buzzo]

Thiago was below his usual standards during that 16 or so mins on the pitch when it came to pass completion.


His pass completion was 80%, which by his own standards is quite poor. His average for all of last season for example was 90%.

He did not play badly at all, but how well he played depends on whether you judge him by his own standards (elite level) or by what would be decent for a regular player.

Nine minutes was all Thiago Alcântara was given against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, but it was his first chance to play in front of a full Anfield stadium in a competitive game.

In those nine minutes, Thiago attempted 15 passes, completed 12, won an aerial duel and made a clearance. Statistically, it was a tidy performance. However, anyone at Anfield would have been able to tell you that Thiago is far more than a tidy player.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder demonstrated in those few minutes just what made him such a coveted asset. He was able to speed up and slow down passages of play in an instant, opening up avenues and spaces that were previously hidden.

In an already entertaining game, Thiago added colour, verve, flair and joy. Every time he received or released the ball there was a sense and air of anticipation, the promise of magic or trickery.

In one move, he let the ball roll across the front of a Burnley player on the open side, as he glided round and moved the ball forward. It was a glorious trick made better by both its simplicity and also the hopelessness of the Burnley player who was dumbfounded.

Again, all it took was nine minutes to capture the imagination of fans and permanently imprint a smile across the faces of supporters across the world.

[labourRed]

Thiago over Keita for me. The former is a big game player, whereas there are question marks over Naby against the best.

Also last year Thiago put on a bit of clinic in midfield generalship last year.

[ronanm]

They have beaten us comfortably since tuchel took over so hoping to see a closer game this time. They are stronger than they were but so are we, albeit with little transfer activity

[Buzzo]

They have beaten us comfortably since tuchel took over so hoping to see a closer game this time. They are stronger than they were but so are we, albeit with little transfer activity

We only played them once though, and we were on our knees.

Sundays game will be a massive indicator as to where both teams are this season.

Anfield, late kick off on a Saturday. The place will be bouncing, that is a massive advantage for us.

[Doc_Piptorious]

12 passed completed from 15 is an 80% completion rate. Yes I know I typed in 16 minutes and not 9 :P


Like I said, it depends on whether his performance is judged by his own very high standards or that of a more regular player.

By the standards he has set in the past, it was a sub par performance, however by the standards of most players it was a good performance.


Give him another game or two and his pass completion will be back close to the 90% mark and everything else about his game will be back to those standards as well.

I'm not knocking the guy though as I love watching him play.

[Buzzo]

12 passed completed from 15 is an 80% completion rate. Yes I know I typed in 16 minutes and not 9 :P


Like I said, it depends on whether his performance is judged by his own very high standards or that of a more regular player.

By the standards he has set in the past, it was a sub par performance, however by the standards of most players it was a good performance.


Give him another game or two and his pass completion will be back close to the 90% mark and everything else about his game will be back to those standards as well.

I'm not knocking the guy though as I love watching him play.

You are such a pedant

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

I thought he looked good when he came on. Passed quickly, and (mainly) accurately and had one moment of genius in 9 minutes.

[Exiled_red]

I don't see Thiago starting based on the number of minutes he's had so far, given he's only been on for ~10mins I don't think we will start him in such a big game.

[Doc_Piptorious]

They have beaten us comfortably since tuchel took over so hoping to see a closer game this time. They are stronger than they were but so are we, albeit with little transfer activity

We only played them once though, and we were on our knees.

Sundays game will be a massive indicator as to where both teams are this season.

Anfield, late kick off on a Saturday. The place will be bouncing, that is a massive advantage for us.

Was not even a comfortable win for them either. Was a tight game which they won by a single goal despite us being in that six home game losing run.

Don't think that game will have any bearing come the weekend though.

They are a strong well drilled team who are as good as they were last season at the back and in the middle whilst better up front with the return of Lukaku.

We have everyone who missed the last game against them back now, plus right now have a few of our usually injured players available and we have a pre season behind us.

My guess is Tuchel will do what he usually does when he meets a Klopp team and take a more pragmatic approach tactically than he usually does. He has form for doing this in the past even if the Klopp team is stumbling and his own team is flying.


Will be an interesting clash of styles though with Klopp probably going 4-3-3 and Tuchel going 3-5-1-1 or more likely 3-4-2-1.

Think it is a game that would suit the direct running of Jota more than the deeper lying Firmino though. Tuchel will pack the midfield and make things very compact in the centre so someone like Jota who can stretch the play might force Chelsea to lose some of that compactness.

Will be a good early indicator of where we are as a team though. Chelsea are a quality team with a manager who is tactically very good.

[Doc_Piptorious]

You are such a pedant

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

I thought he looked good when he came on. Passed quickly, and (mainly) accurately and had one moment of genius in 9 minutes.

I can be

Though in the case of Thiago, I think he is in need of more game time to go from looking good in a game to playing at his own lofty level.

I don't see Thiago starting based on the number of minutes he's had so far, given he's only been on for ~10mins I don't think we will start him in such a big game.

Me neither. I think he will come on with 20 or 30 minutes to go so he can impact the game tempo to either close out the game or help force a needed goal. Do expect him to be starting games after the international break though.

Course with Kopp you just do not know and Thiago has form for being the sort of player that is able to start a game and put in an amazing performance on the back of very little game minutes prior to that game.

[Buzzo]

Was not even a comfortable win for them either. Was a tight game which they won by a single goal despite us being in that six home game losing run.

Don't think that game will have any bearing come the weekend though.

They are a strong well drilled team who are as good as they were last season at the back and in the middle whilst better up front with the return of Lukaku.

We have everyone who missed the last game against them back now, plus right now have a few of our usually injured players available and we have a pre season behind us.

My guess is Tuchel will do what he usually does when he meets a Klopp team and take a more pragmatic approach tactically than he usually does. He has form for doing this in the past even if the Klopp team is stumbling and his own team is flying.


Will be an interesting clash of styles though with Klopp probably going 4-3-3 and Tuchel going 3-5-1-1 or more likely 3-4-2-1.

Think it is a game that would suit the direct running of Jota more than the deeper lying Firmino though. Tuchel will pack the midfield and make things very compact in the centre so someone like Jota who can stretch the play might force Chelsea to lose some of that compactness.

Will be a good early indicator of where we are as a team though. Chelsea are a quality team with a manager who is tactically very good.

[Rich]

We need the legs of Keita rather than the passing of Thaigo/

[Doc_Piptorious]

We need the legs of Keita rather than the passing of Thaigo/

Keita vs Kante will be fascinating to watch imo. Assuming both start. Kante is a beast, and Keita excels at breaking a press.

[Scratch]

Keita vs Kante will be fascinating to watch imo. Assuming both start. Kante is a beast, and Keita excels at breaking a press.

So, Kante to foul Keita at least 6 times without picking up a card. Keita will tackle Kante the once and be booked.