The Liverpool FC Thread XII

I think we have strayed away from the original point I was trying to get across to be honest. I wouldn't excuse his form on just that racism case though, your whole defence was left exposed under those tactics which is what we have to deal with watching Arsenal play decent opposition away from home. I think a lot of people out there assume Mertesacker is useless defender because of his lack of pace and use the big away games as some sort of concrete proof of his inabilities. As Zurich said, he is a perfect defender to have in the right system.

I agree that he would be found out in Liverpool's system but I haven't once compared him to any of Liverpool's defenders, I think someone else made that claim. I couldn't bare to imagine a team consisting of Mertesacker, Skrtel and Gerrard.

Tbh if you look at Gerrard some games now he's not even playing DM he's more or less positioned as a 3rd CB because he slots in between when we push up. Gerrard can make a tackle but he'll be exposed more and more often agaonst teams who counter with pace in that position and we will have more Demba Ba moments.

The defence was left exposed but how bad was it really, we lost 5-3 to Arsenal, however we also beat City 2-1, lost to United 3-1 and drew 3-3, drew to spurs 1-1, lost to Liverpool 2-1, we won vs Everton 3-1 and then lost 2-0.

We did not lose once by a 3 goal margin, despite how bad our tactics were... yet every away game Arsenal did vs the top 5 they lost by at least a 3 goal margin, conceding 6 goals to Chelsea and City and 5 to pool. It's not in any way comparable to Chelsea who equally played suicide tactics like Arsenal. Plus when it came to it and AVB/Di Matteo put a bus in front of goal it was pretty much unpenetratable.


That's Rodgers system, the 3rd CB allows better control of possession as you can recycle possession and the fullbacks push higher up, It's not even supposed to leave him exposed anyway as he supposedly has another 2 CBs to run it, it's where he's meant to get the most protection as long as you avoid putting a run on the defence, if anything the people in front of him should be helping out more. This is reminiscent of when Real Madrid played the 4-3-3 last season. Henderson is essentially the di Maria of the team but you're missing the Modric who can get you up the pitch with play making skills. In reality Coutinho should be that man or Lallana.

Really looking forward to your game - feels huge.

Absolute must-win as If you loose, its as-good-as the title race is over.

I think Ballotelli needs to get more clinical. He's not the type of player who would be satisfied with a spot on the bench.
Everton is a really tough opponent with their pace on the wings and Howard should be a good test for liverpool and I think liverpool must play with really tight spaces between defenders as the champions league teams will easily abuse that like Real madrid for instance.

Hart to Liverpool ? Surely not...

we aren't in the title ace at all - it's must win because it's a derby and we need to get and stay ahead of unnited, spurs and everton.

We'll win, we always do

True, and neither are my team (arsenal) or so it seems at the moment.. really I think everyone can only see 2 title race teams this year..

But by all means both of our teams should have been in the title race.. had the summers gone better (you not lost players, and we actually signed players) Just kind of shows how much of a big difference a transfer window can make..

Still think its important, even if realistaclly neither of our teams are going to win the league, to be seen to be challenging for it.. it boosts moral, and gives the extra motivation which may end up proving enough to get into CL Spots..

For you guys though, a loss tommorow is just awful, that would be 4 losses out of the first 6 games, and recovering from that would be a nightmare..

I tihnk you can do it though - still predicting: 3-2 liverpool

1 win in the last 4 = "always" lol

He obviously meant the derby at Anfield jackass.

Obviously?

If that's the case then 1 in the last 2/2 in 4/3 in 7 = "always" lol

Too many numbers.

I'm only a psychology student

But you have stats modules

The Everton game is basically a 3 point banker for Liverpool at Anfield. Just cant see you lot not getting the win. However if Everton beat you, then alarm bells should start ringing.