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The Liverpool FC Thread XIV

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Only just caught the full match - and it was really, really enjoyable. No wonder Klopp has said how impressed he was post-match, and spoken about his pride.

I thought Ojo was exceptional: so positive, so urgent, so fearless. It was the exact type of performance you expect from a lad making his full home debut in the Premier League for Liverpool. We saw a similar performance from Sterling once upon a time, and Ibe against QPR back in 2012-13 if I recall correctly. Flanagan, too, was MOTM against Man City on his debut under Kenny.

Ojo's assist for Sturridge - who himself was brilliant - was just perfect, and my favourite moment of the match. The 90 minutes did nothing to harm Ojo, Sturridge or Origi's reputation - but it has proved fatal for Benteke's long-term career with us. If anybody was unsure he'd leave in the summer, then re-think that. The man has no future at Anfield.

Origi just seemed to be absolutely brimming with confidence. He came on, he turned Stoke's defence inside out, and he is now becoming a real, real exciting player. The only person to disappoint me in the final third, in truth, was Firmino. He seemed to have a quiet day, and it's a shame that Sturridge and Origi are both fit and firing because I'm convinced that Firmino does his best work in the opposition's penalty box. For now, though, he'll have to be deployed deeper.

Our set-piece defending is a worry (when will it not be?) but Moreno was a shining light in the defence, beating men and whipping in great crosses in the final third and striking a real fizzer of an opener. Aside from him, I was disappointed with the way Skrtel handled Crouch (who hasn't played much football this season and isn't the player he once was) but to get a 4-1 victory with a side boasting Stewart, Ojo et al was just magnificent so I feel it's churlish to criticise.

Stewart proved he was a useful option in the middle of the park, though I think he was aided no end by Allen and Milner. Both were excellent, and the trio themselves completely bossed the battle in the middle portion of the pitch. They were combative, brave, broke down play at regular intervals and coasted at times. It was the perfect performance in a game when I felt we could come unstuck without Henderson and Can.

Roll on Dortmund on Thursday. They warmed up with a 2-2 draw with Schalke (though, admittedly, scored a worldie to open the scoring). I can't wait to be at Anfield.

Reply 6261

Parties in LA

Original post by Mackay

I thought Ojo was exceptional: so positive, so urgent, so fearless. It was the exact type of performance you expect from a lad making his full home debut in the Premier League for Liverpool. We saw a similar performance from Sterling once upon a time, and Ibe against QPR back in 2012-13 if I recall correctly. Flanagan, too, was MOTM against Man City on his debut under Kenny.

Ojo's assist for Sturridge - who himself was brilliant - was just perfect, and my favourite moment of the match.

The assist was magnificent but Ojo in general wasn't brilliant, he was pretty average to be honest. Even a bit timid at times but not overly so, and he wasn't all too effective. He wasn't really used to the speed and power.

Reply 6262

A Mysterious Lord

I was at the game today, I'll still be watching MOTD though - I need to see Moreno's goal again to properly appreciate it.

Very impressed with Stewart, especially so soon after coming back from injury.

Reply 6263

Mackay

The more I see Joe Allen as we approach the season's end, the more I'd be inclined to say "give him a new deal, Jurgen."

Reply 6264

Lúcio

Original post by Mackay

The more I see Joe Allen as we approach the season's end, the more I'd be inclined to say "give him a new deal, Jurgen."

Allen has been phenomenal and although I feel like he'd get so much more time elsewhere, I'd love to have him as a squad player here.

In fact, everybody on the pitch today had a great game with the exception of the centre backs who are both likely to depart anyway. With the Lovren-Sakho partnership going strong and Matip to come in, I can't see room for either given Skrtel's wages and Kolo's age.

Reply 6265

Mackay

Original post by Lúcio

Feel like Allen needs to be playing every week, though. He deserves that.

If I was him, I'd be looking to go abroad personally. I think he could be really effective.

Reply 6266

Lúcio

Original post by Mackay

Feel like Allen needs to be playing every week, though. He deserves that.

If I was him, I'd be looking to go abroad personally. I think he could be really effective.

I agree. He may not have immense quality in a particular area but he's one of the tidiest and composed players I've ever seen. He just plays football in a simple way. He doesn't go over the top, he just gets on with it and does what he's been asked to do.

These kind of players can be invaluable and he's the perfect guy to bring on to close a game out and calm down the team. However he's too good to be sat on our bench every week, and that's funny because it wasn't long since we thought he was garbage. Same goes with Lovren - how things change...

Reply 6267

Parties in LA

I don't know why you guys think he's too good to be sat on our bench, or that you feel he should be playing every week. Let the player decide what he wants (in Allen's case the latest quotes from the man himself are that he wants to stay but hasn't been offered a deal), and appreciate that top teams have top players on their benches. Allen isn't even a 'top player' but he's the level we should be aspiring to have on our bench. So let him decide whether he should be playing every week or not, or helping us to trophies next season (assuming the club don't let him go, which would be farcical, as I've said all season).

Absolute nonsense

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 6268

Lúcio

Original post by Parties in LA

I don't mean he's good enough to start, I mean that he's good enough not to be constantly used as a second half sub if you get me? He'd thrive at a lesser club and be a key man in midfield, but obviously I'd be glad if he stayed because he has been exceptional under Klopp.

One thing that has really impressed me about Klopp is his ability to get performances out of players that Rodgers just couldn't. Obviously it takes time to make a significant difference, but we've already seen the likes of Lovren and Allen looking like completely different players. Hell, even Mignolet of late has looked surprisingly solid (I think he had a great game vs Stoke - very commanding and not hesitant about going for the ball).

There's a long way to go and even though our league position may not improve, the fact without any new played got to a cup final and are in the EL quarter finals shows the effect he's had on the club without even a full season.

Reply 6269

samir12

He'll leave if Rodgers goes into management next season imo, guranteed playing every week with a manager who adores him.

Reply 6270

cBay

Original post by samir12

He'll leave if Rodgers goes into management next season imo, guranteed playing every week with a manager who adores him.

really? Rodgers stopped giving him chances to play a couple years ago

Reply 6271

samir12

Original post by cBay

really? Rodgers stopped giving him chances to play a couple years ago

He couldn't stay fit enough to keep place in the first team and had Gerrard and Henderson to compete with who were in great form in the 13/14 season. There was always a period when he would play well then get injured and take a while to get to back into form. Besides offensively we were better with Gerrard and Henderson as we just went gungho for goals rather than try and control games which is what you want Allen for.

Reply 6272

Zerforax

With Allen, it's not just about ability but also our squad.

Currently our midfield looks like:

Can, Henderson, Allen, Milner, Lucas (imo order of Klopp's preference too (Milner behind Allen only because he's more more on the side of the midfield rather than regularly in the middle).

We know Grujic is coming in and I think most of us expect Klopp to buy another midfield player of his choice. That will most likely move everyone down one pekking order:

[new CM], Can, Henderson, Allen, Milner, Lucas, Grujic

Suddenly looks like a lot of players for 2 positions. Perhaps we'll play 3 in the middle more often so it's fine or perhaps Klopp will also look for an attacking midfield player who we'll class with the front 3 or 4 players (someone in the Mkhitaryan mold).

I think Milner will stay due to his experience, leadership and utility to plug so many positions. Lucas might stay as another experienced and well liked player who can cover DM and CB as a specialist squad player.

It would seem likely that Allen or Henderson would get the chop. Whichever stays will get relegated to the bench in any event. Maybe Henderson goes because of his heel issue or he doesn't want to be a squad player.

Both players will demand a sizeable fee since even Shelvey went for £12mil recently.. Allen's contract expires in summer 2017 so either we need to give him a contract extension now or we have to sell in the summer. Henderson signed a new contract on big wages last summer.

I also think while Allen is technically good and has fight in him, he doesn't fit the Klopp type player who tend to be big units. The Dortmund side he put together are generally pretty big. Henderson is more of that type of athlete imo.

Original post by samir12

He'll leave if Rodgers goes into management next season imo, guranteed playing every week with a manager who adores him.

Original post by cBay

really? Rodgers stopped giving him chances to play a couple years ago

I think I agree with samir, especially if Rodgers goes back to Swansea. I can see Allen being happy to go back.

On a side note, Klopp is hilarious. On Origi:

"He used the last injury to work on his body strength and now he has to wear a different shirt. You can see the confidence too. His second goal was only possible with confidence."

Reply 6273

Mackay

Original post by Parties in LA

I said: "Feel like Allen needs to be playing every week, though. He deserves that."

That doesn't mean he deserves to be playing every week at Liverpool - because he doesn't.

Because of his age (he's firmly in his prime now), the fact he's been a squad player or an option off the bench for four seasons now as opposed to a starter, when less talented footballers walk into lesser PL side, and the fact he has shown great improvement under Klopp, you'd bank him on making a difference and being a player of the season-style influence at a club from 10th to 15th.

If he wants to stay, I'd welcome that. But if he wants to go and spend the next three seasons until he's 30 playing week in, week out, maybe winning the captain's armband somewhere, then I feel he should. It's his career.

Reply 6274

A Mysterious Lord

Original post by Zerforax

On a side note, Klopp is hilarious. On Origi:

"He used the last injury to work on his body strength and now he has to wear a different shirt. You can see the confidence too. His second goal was only possible with confidence."

Gained 5kg of muscle apparantly.

Reply 6275

Mackay

Original post by A Mysterious Lord

Gained 5kg of muscle apparantly.

He looks a unit IRL. I remember against United in the EL, when he came on I thought from a distance he looked so, so big.

Reply 6276

Zerforax

Original post by A Mysterious Lord

Gained 5kg of muscle apparantly.

Will be interesting to see what happens this summer in the pre-season. No doubt Klopp will want to do a lot of work to lay the groundwork for next season and the demands he'll place on the team. It's a huge shame that the Euros and other internationals will reduce his time with a number of players.

Origi is going to be a tough one to balance so that he can continue to develop. I still expect Klopp to buy a first choice striker so that his options are [new striker], Sturridge, Origi and Firmino. Will Origi get enough game time?

Not sure what happens with Ings but I expect us to cut our losses on Balotelli and Benteke one way or another.

Reply 6277

bj27

Original post by Mackay

You can say that for every 25-30 year old who is coming off the bench at a top club.

If you don't have the likes of Allen warming your bench how are Liverpool going to improve when they need an impetus off the bench. You just going to use somebody inexperienced like Brannagan and hope for the best.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 6278

Zerforax

Original post by bammy jastard 27

I think that's the tough thing for clubs in our position. Clubs like Man City just offer a lot of money to those players - much more than what they would get even as a starter for a smaller club and in the past, a club like Man Utd has been able to keep fringe players happy with some rotation + the players knowing that they will get silverware.

If Liverpool can't offer:
- huge wages
- regular football
- silverware

How do we get quality squad players to stay and be happy?

Reply 6279

Mackay

Original post by bammy jastard 27

You can say that for every 25-30 year old who is coming off the bench at a top club.

Except, unlike six or seven other clubs in the country next season, we won't have European football.

Sure, there's the aspect of Klopp which could keep squad players more than happy and willing to learn, develop and be a part of our journey, but it would be just as easy for someone like Allen (who has a healthy relationship with Rodgers) to move back to Swansea if BR gets that job and, with Ashley Williams ageing, Allen would be a natural successor for the captaincy.