Time for another Classico! This could be tougher than usual. Carlo is starting to get the team he needs to play his style. But then, we know Klopp and his style.
This is the most concerned I've been about Everton in God knows how long. The only silver-lining to our absolute catastrophe vs Villa is that we'll be eager to bounce back and show that it was just an anomaly.
I wonder if the international break will work against us .... my guess is a lot fewer of the Bitters squad will be away on NT duty right now, so they will have a lot more time to prepare. ditto. usually I hate these games simply coz I'm afraid they'll kick the shit out of us, but this time their from is actually better than ours, for once in a few decades.
sink to their level? nah .... anyhow my Bitter brother and his son would burst a few blood vessels if we did.
That midfleld is no joke, and they represent a real counter threat as well. Not super sold on their back line, but at the same time they are still capable in that regard. Going to be a real test. Liverpool is probably going to win, they tend to get up for this kind of match especially considering the Villa game... but this won't be easy I don't think. 2-1. Or maybe 2-2.
Liverpool has been quite sh!t for a number of games when teams have had the temerity to have a go at them (Villa and Leeds spring to mind.) And Adrian hasn't filled hi steam-mates with confidence, although it is up to them also to limit the number of chances he faces (they know his weaknesses.) This match will hinge on whether we actually put away chances we create or simply let Everton carve us open each time we lose the ball. Be sure that we'll concede, probably first. But surely we can't be that bad again, can we?
I'm nervous about this one because of our form since securing the title. Hopefully, it will prove a catalyst to jump start the rest of the season.
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...braced-for-merseyside-derby-with-a-difference For most of the last 30 years Liverpool have gone into Merseyside derbies as favourites, so it is ironic that now they are finally crossing Stanley Park as Premier League champions they are having to deal with Everton getting most of the pre-match attention. We know enough about Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s perfect start, not just four league wins out of four but seven victories out of seven in all competitions. We know about Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goals, James Rodríguez’s unlikely rehabilitation and Jordan Pickford’s erratic displays. But what can be expected of Liverpool based on their season so far?
How the team will respond coming off that disaster at Villa is difficult to say. Normally Klopp and the coaches will have worked intensively with the squad coming into this one but the international break has put the kibosh on that.
Klopp's talking them up, doing the reverse psychology thing https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...verton-Liverpools-proper-challenger-line.html
media saying this game will prove 2 things: - are the Bitters as good as they appear - have we forgotten how to play football and are totally screwed I'm getting tense already.
Me too, Sam though I think the media always look to put some kind of spin on these games. Despite our dominance in recent times for me when it comes to the Derby I generally toss form out the window because of that extra edge to this game but there's no doubt that Everton are a much improved outfit and look more balanced . They're tighter at the the back , have a good mf and their forwards offer a real scoring threat. I think Pickford remains a weak spot as Adrian does for us. Should be an interesting game .
I'm feeling pretty good about this game - our attacking lynchpin is back (Mane), the midfield general(s) are back - Henderson and Thiago ("unproven" as he may be) - and we are coming off a really humiliating loss. And the Bitters are in love with themselves after nicking a 1-0 win against Spurs in the first game of the season, a bs penalty against CP, 10 man WBA, and Brighton. Are they playing better? Of course - would you expect less from a team managed by a top 20 manager of all time? Are they scaring me? Not yet.
You can just feel it that most (listen to the guarded comments in the media) are just waiting for Liverpool to drop another clanger. Go redmen!
Interesting, especially at centre-half. Gomez is being spared having to face Calvert-Lewin and that may be for the better for him and hopefully he works on his concentration which has lately not been up to scratch. But the entire team needs to focus and protect Adrian's goal and Alexander Arnold's flank (Mane will help out Robertson on the opposite flank.) And take our chances when we get them-- Pickford is worse than Adrian.
I hope Matip is fully match fit / sharp. He's been out for quite a while. The Hendo-Thiago-Fab midfield will be very interesting.