That was the worst goal we conceded all season. Milner, Virgil, and Allison all terrible to gift it to Babel. For me, there was 7 minutes of panic, thinking that we had blown our title challenge. But once again, the players did not panic. The response was strong, and Milner was cool. Liverpool top of the league!
That second half was as bit as bad as the first half against Bayern, except this time Liverpool was criminally complacent. 3 points is all that matters at this point but how we are constantly playing poor teams into form must be one of the mysteries at Liverpool.
Those 2 things are related. Mo is missing chance after chance to put games to bed giving oppo teams hope. Thank god for those 3 points!!!
haha - that's what he's saying too - he thought we blew it - but the players held their nerve. we need to thank Rico for a big gaffe as well. Can't believe he didn't catch that shot right at him and then grabbed Mane. Can't believe the ref had to think about it.
Let down after the Bayern game. Yeah but, it was really a chance to put some goals and 3 fairly simple points. Mr Reliable gets the win with that PK. The only man on the pitch on short sleeves and no undershirt. He's a rock.
In past seasons, getting that first goal was always the most difficult task. Then teams would come out of their shell and we would rip them apart. The season hasn’t been like that. When we have gone 1-0 up, it has rarely been game over. Our opponents don’t change their game plan when one behind. They keep their shape and are happy to stay within one goal and force a nervy finish. We have struggled to get the crucial second goal at times. We scored first against West Ham and Leicester and dropped points. It almost happened again today.
I think about 15 mins into the second half we began to look really leggy , the after effects of the Munich game and the crap weather kicking in. I think Klopp saw it too but ironically we conceded shortly after the fresh legs came on. One nil leads are never comfortable but all told it's three massive points and back to the top. Seven more to go !
Shades of Fulham away during the Title charge of '13 - 14' and a Winning penalty to boot. All that matters is the three points and were back looking down on City Again Our Profligacy in the second half was criminal and thankfully unpunished but we need to start putting out games quickly in the next Seven. YNWA. P.S : TAA's flat corners are a fockin sham
Three points is three points, and yet... Not sure why Klopp isn't giving Shaq any minutes right now, there are some tired legs out there. Virgil is human. I was starting to think he wasn't. Hopefully he and Allison will get it right next time. Onwards and upwards. Spurs will be up for the match on the 31.
The major difference between us and City, and hence how teams approach us differently is that City will cut a team open through the middle and down the flanks. We have no creativity down the middle so the thrust tends to come from the flanks, and mostly as crosses. Recently, these [crosses] have been as bad as I've seen. Also, few of our midfielders drift wide and create chances from out wide, unless it's Milner. We do have our strengths, though, and I'd like to think that despite popular perceptions (me, too!), we actually convert more chances than our opponents. If there is going to be upgrades in the summer, central midfield creativity has to be one of them. Fortunately, there are some quite good sprogs coming up although next season may be too soon. And I hear tell that that Fekir chap-- he's having a good season-- may still be on our radar.
Had enough chances to win by three. Goal against was a Three Stooges moment from Milner, VVD and Allisson. Don’t expect that to happen again this season. Fabinho well off his game, frequently misreading play/mistiming challenges leading to being taken out of play in dangerous places. Lallana our best player in first half.
Wait what? Lallana the guy that got in the way of salah on a great through ball and then almost blocked the goal? I thought he was terrible.
I've re-watched Babel's (gift) goal several times and I still don't understand why Allison didn't just pick it up. Did he think VvD's header didn't have enough power on it? Looks like he was almost hesitant to use his hands. Very strange. 3 pts is 3 pts and we're back top of the league. It was poor but we got it done. Let City look up at us for another (worthless) international break and think about the difficult April they have ahead of them.
Trent, Bobby, and Fabinho made more passes to Fullham players than to teammates today. When you're pressing high and don't complete the front end of a give and go, and your safety valve gambles and misses the tackle on the outlet pass you are in serious danger of getting hit on the counter. Despite that, the only goal we conceded was one where our goalkeeper apparently forgot he wasn't a field player and allowed himself to be strip tackled by someone who is. Not sure if it's nerves, fatigue, or some combination, but we are really capable of playing less than inspiring football at times. But lest we forget, City has had some ugly wins of late lately themselves, and have had to rely on dodgy penalties, or shambolic defending from the opposition to claim some of their points. All we need to do is drop one less point than they do in the run in, and it won't matter how those points were earned or lost. It was never going to be easy. And this year their fans have to say the same, for a change.