For as long as I’ve been watching football, the most frustrating part of that watching is not being able to overcome the low block. You’re given 100% of the possession outside the penalty area and then subjected to hours of toenail blocks, bollock blocks and when all else fails, a keeper on his game. Every time I’m told that Liverpool don’t have a way to break the low block, we don’t have an artist with magic in his feet, I believe. Or should I say, I believed. But it struck me today - and this might genuinely count as an epiphany - that it’s odd, over the many years, we’ve never had a lockpicker. Never. Our two Achilles’ heels over so many seasons? The low block and no lockpicker. The other champions and top teams handle it so well. De Bruyne? Lockpicker. Modric? Lockpicker. Messi? Lockpicker. So we go out and sign a lockpicker, Wirtz, and sure he’s still settling in, but he’s no lockpicker. And neither, supposedly, is our best forward, Salah. So are we forever fated never to sign a real lockpicker? Or is it that the only real way to counteract the low block is to keep recycling, keep pumping that ball into the area, keep pressing, waiting for the mistake? See, I’m now epiphanally convinced (it’s a word!) that there really isn’t such a thing or player as a lockpicker; the low block is only ever counteracted by resilience, patience and constant pressure. Sometimes you get a 95th minute penalty, sometimes you get a 0-0 draw.
Plus - as sort of alluded to by Samarkand - we did a fantastic job in the second half of relentlessly getting the ball back quickly and recycling it and moving forward. And this was well before their red card as well. More importantly, we limited their chances at some random breaks, which I feel like in years past the other team would've gotten one chance and one goal. That's when we started to see the best of Wirtz, too. We may have wanted to try a couple of more shots from outside the box like Dom to keep them honest and start pulling apart the low block sponge.
I was so infuriated by the Macca decision I tuned out and wife and I spent an afternoon out. What I did see however, and it’s been spoken about before, but to get the best out of this team and Wirtz/Salah together, Wirtz needs to replace Gakpo on the left - with Dom pushing into the 8/10.
If Wirtz ever goes out to the left, I think it will be so that Isak and Ekitike can play together through the middle.
Both are options but our press is not the same without Dom and he works best in the middle with Mo. Could push Dom out wide too and give Mo some respite.
Watch Clery’s last video I posted in the Isak thread which looks at these conundrums. I thought it very good. He doesn’t have to be right, but a lot, an awful lot of what he says makes sense.
He is seriously behind on fitness. It's a major concern. Slot said he's at the same spot as guys would be after 2nd week of preseason. To get him caught up will means lots of extra work, which will preclude him from playing much part in matches when they come 3 in 7 days. Yet another reason to not like this signing.
But he signed a 6 year contract, so it’s a bit short sided to make a big issue out of that. Slot suggested he could possibly go 45 minutes on Wednesday.
I have seen analysis that goals late vs early doesn't really matter... it just feels like it matters. I have trouble squaring that, since a.) without a horrible handball this probably ends 0-0, and b.) if Liverpool had 85% possession and didn't create almost any good chances, that would be an issue even if they were up 1 the whole time. Agreed on all counts. Frimpong is gonna be really good for this side, in time. Grav was one of the only players today where I felt like they almost didn't make a mistake, he's class. And Rio looks like a sparkplug, loved him considering his options before that daisy cutty along the box to Frimpong. First-time/quicker shot there, who knows what happens at that near post.
I think it’s going to take a bit of time for Wirtz to adjust to the increased speed and physicality in the EPL. I think he’ll eventually be fine, but he’s going to have to put on a bit of muscle and get used to playing with people hanging all over him and it not being called. I think the key will be to keep him integrated and playing in such a way that he doesn’t get too discouraged in these early stages. While he didn’t’ show a lot in the first half, the second half showed more promise. We’ve got to occasionally get him the pass when he’s making his darting runs as well… it isn’t only his fault that he’s not making as much of an impact. I think we’ve got to get Gakpo, Ekitike, and Macca/Szobo including him in the passing play a bit more. I’m not too worried about him yet, as long as he doesn’t start sulking we’ll be fine.
Actually today was a good example of adapting - he fought off defenders 4/5 times to retain the ball. Wasn't happening the first 2.5 games.
Yeah that's true. And he was much better overall in 2nd half, looked downright dangerous. Just didn't quite come off. I'm not really concerned. He's clearly class. Like hb said, matter of adjusting.
I think Wirtz will be fine. To my eye, it’s Kerkez who is not at the races. It’s not so much the diving yellow yesterday, though that should never have happened, more that he seems disconnected both at the back and up top. He has yet to click and the marauding LB/LWB from Bournemouth who defended so well and struck terror going forward has yet to be seen in a Liverpool shirt.
Tough game. I agree with pretty much everything said above. One thing that bugs me is the corners. There were several really poor deliveries. And also, we keep trying to copy arsenal with balls close to the keeper. That was never our way when we were dangerous from corner kicks. It was always putting the ball between 5yd box and PK spot in vicinity of Big Virg. Konate did have one chance close to the goal but that was it.
In the last two games Burnley and Arsenal hardly created a chance against us. This was after in the first two games we were told we can’t defend. It’s not like there has been one consistent issue that has plagued us this season. It’s a very new team and we are working through the issues on the fly all while winning and sitting top of the league. The attack will take time to gel. Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike, and Salah are all used to being the best player on their team and the focal point of the attack. Last season everything went through Salah. Almost too much. This season I think he’s struggled with not being in the game as much. Then we he does get on it he tries to do too much to make up for not being involved earlier. I have no doubt that they will work it out because they are all brilliant players and we have a brilliant manager. When it starts to click it will be phenomenal to watch.
For teams like Burnley, we need the big guys in the box to occupy these defenders. They clogged the midfle annd dared us to cross, but we lacked the physical presence. Much better second half, getting more players into the box. Wirtz had a coyple of good chances for first time shots, needed to pull the trigger. Two clean sheets in a row, lets kerp it going!
yeah. Maybe, that game would have suited Isak a bit more, if he'd been ready. Also, there wer a coupleof passing options where Gakpo and Wirtz tried idle shooting , rather than the pass that might have broken that game open in the first half. Not too bad, overall, oncwe the luck kicked in! Onward/upward