Liverpool 2015-16: We Didn't Want To Play in Europe Anyway

Mighty Joe Young

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With Matip coming in Skrtel has to be the odd man out doesn't he? His wages are far too high to be the 4th CB.

The difference in the team defense was massive the second Skrtel came on. Finally getting called on one of his typical clutch and grab jobs seemed inevitable. Bundled off the ball on the winner .. Doing a pylon imitation on the Pelle goal. Bleh.
 

fletcherpost

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Well there's a rumor that Jordan Henderson may get sold, (it was talked about on the Sunday morning footie shows today) so a keeper who is not top tier for sure ain't a stick on to see out his contract at Anfield.
 

SoxFanInCali

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20 years ago today. This is one of the first full Liverpool matches I remember being able to watch when my cable added Fox Sports World.

 
I'll never forget that day. Landed in Glasgow that morning on the overnight flight from the States. Drove directly to Loch Lomond Golf Club for 18 jetlagged holes on Scotland's best inland course. Drove another three hours or so to Machrihanish Golf Club in Argyll. Watched the Liverpool match in the clubhouse on fumes...delirium is hardly a strong enough word for what I felt at the end of that day.
 

Schnerres

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(Just based on the highlights,) Newcastle probably was 3 levels below Liverpool, but please, never ever complain that there never ever was worse defending and goalkeeping at Anfield Road than today.:banana::banana::banana:
 

SocrManiac

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If you told me this time yesterday that I'd have lingering disappointment over the result I'd never have guessed it'd be over a 1-1 draw.

It's amazing what a difference a manager and a philosophy can make. If Klopp can get a few pieces this summer they're going to be even more fun to watch. These guys are playing for each other- the press doesn't work if there's an easy outlet. They're turning the it on and off and using different variants off it in different areas of the pitch. Implementing that is one thing- having effective communication in a stadium like that is something completely different.

Lapses are the team's biggest challenge right now. The only way Dortmund was going to score would be as a result of one, and having Lallana centrally defending a ball into the box was certainly a goal waiting to happen.

Sakho is infuriating to watch. He can be mind numbingly brilliant (THE block) and absolutely brain damaged second to second. His pass completion stats, something his biggest supporters cite constantly, are misleading. He puts his teammates in unnecessary trouble on a regular basis. Awkwardness is one thing, but it results in him dangerously telegraphing his intentions. He generally hits the ball at the first guy he sees and gives the guy about half a second to control the ball before a defender is sharing shorts.

Lovren is light years ahead of where he was last year. If he continues to gain confidence he could be very important next year. Either way, they need a central defender that can act as a calming leader in the back.

You can't discuss lapses without bringing Mignolet's name up. He bailed Sakho out big time early on. He still makes oddball decisions to catch or punch, but overall his results yesterday worked out.

Emre Can's development has been fantastic. Unfortunate about Henderson, but Allen looked fantastic as his replacement. Milner had a typical Milner game- he had his flash of brilliance in springing Origi.

Coutinho's decision making has been pretty poor overall- we're constantly waiting for the ball to end up on his right foot for the trademark strike, but so is everybody he's facing. He needs to use that threat to create some unpredictability and space for teammates. Dortmund got very compact in their own box, but when Coutinho started lining it up he'd draw two or three guys. Developing the understanding with the guys around him on how to best use that space is going to be key to his success.

I think they take the tie at home, and possibly in comfortable fashion- 3-1 (4-2 agg).
 

PedroSpecialK

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Agreed on the CBs - they need one more, but Matip is already signed to a pre-contract, so that should settle the position. Let's not forget the promise Joe Gomez showed, and he should be recovered for next season.

I was among the many clamoring for Klopp to bench Can after a run of bad performances in the league, but he's come into his own as a strong possession player in midfield who can make key challenges. He's not an out-and-out CDM by any means, so I think the club will still need to bring one in - Kevin Stewart looks promising but I'd hope they aren't ready to hand him the keys quite yet. Jordan Rossiter can also challenge for a CDM squad role.

Assuming no GK upgrade (sigh...) this should be how the squad looks for the coming summer.

GK: Mignolet, Ward, Bogdan
CB: Lovren, Sakho, Matip, Gomez, Ilori
FB: Clyne, Moreno, Flanagan, Randall, Smith, McLaughlin
DM: Can, Lucas, Stewart, Rossiter
MF: Henderson, Milner, Allen, Brannagan
AM/#10: Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana, Kent, Ojo
FW: Sturridge, Ings, Origi, Ibe, Benteke, Balotelli

#1 priority for me, GK aside, is getting some kind of value back for Balotelli and Benteke and investing in a defensive midfielder or two.

Side note, I believe Teixeira is out of contract so I left him out.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Looks like Henderson is out for pretty much the rest of the season, but could possibly be OK in time for the Euros.

I think Coutinho is starting to figure out that everyone knows he is trying to set up that curling drive with his right foot. In the game at Old Trafford, he made the quick shift to the left and chipped De Gea for the away goal because they were overplaying him to the right.
 

Pesky Pole

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Hate to see the Henderson injury but maybe the layoff and missing Euros will allow the heel injury to fully heal. I've seen lots of conjecture as to whether it is curable but rest was cited recently by Henderson himself. I miss the old Henderson.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Yeah I still can't quite believe that happened.

Sevilla win in penalties, the semis will include:

Liverpool
Sevilla
Shakhtar Donetsk
Villareal

Spain's coefficient is absolutely bonkers
 

SoxFanInCali

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I'd also just like to point out that the following scenario is still possible:

Manchester United finishes 4th.
Manchester City finishes 5th but wins the Champions League.
Liverpool finish below 5th but win the Europa League.

No Champions League for Manchester United.
 

Investor 11

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Klopp holding off the one fan by his collar while pumping his other fist to the crowd at the :20 mark is great.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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I'd also just like to point out that the following scenario is still possible:

Manchester United finishes 4th.
Manchester City finishes 5th but wins the Champions League.
Liverpool finish below 5th but win the Europa League.

No Champions League for Manchester United.
Would that not also bump out the 3rd place team .. Presumably Arsenal? Now that would be sweet.
 

Gunfighter 09

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No, if either of the Spanish teams or LFC win the Europa, Spain or England get a 5th team in the UCL if the Europa winning team is outside the top 4. City has to win the UCL, and finish outside the top 4, to bump the 4th place team.
 

SoxFanInCali

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It's the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. Today will be the final memorial service held at Anfield. Now that the hearings are being held, the facts have come out, and the families are on the road to receiving justice at last, the Hillsborough Family Support Group decided unanimously that it was time to end the service and allow them to get some closure. The organization has stopped taking donations, and Margaret Aspinall has thanked everyone for all of their support in their fight.

YNWA
 

Pesky Pole

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The Can injury verdict is in and it isn't good. Ruptured ankle ligaments, out for the rest of the domestic season. Outside chance he could play in the Europa final (should Liverpool make it past Villarreal). Next man up.
 

Oklahoma Jones

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Uh... at least it's not a hamstring? Silver lining?

Joe Allen has been excellent lately, though. Hopefully, he makes it to the first Villarreal game.
 

DLew On Roids

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They don't appear to be taking many injury chances with today's lineup: Ward, Randall, Toure, Lucas, Smith, Allen, Stewart, Ojo, Ibe, Firmino, Sturridge.

Klopp is going Europa-or-bust on playing in Europe next season. If they finish in 7th, they'd need United to win the Cup to make it.
 

SoxFanInCali

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I'm not sure I've ever seen a team blow more opportunities when clean through against the keeper than this year's squad.