Liverpool 2018-19: Alisson, I Know Lovren is Killing You

Mighty Joe Young

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Cross posting from the game thread

I think Southgate was there also to catch Joe Gomez, who's quietly been solid in place of Lovren the first 180 minutes of the season.

Alisson makes a world of difference. His distribution is phenomenal and he actually set up his wall properly on the Milivojević FK, something Liverpool keepers did maybe a handful of times last season.
Here’s Allison’s distribution from the Palace game ..

https://www.empireofthekop.com/2018/08/21/alissons-pass-map-vs-crystal-palace-is-magnificent/

In a word .. yowzers!
 

Dummy Hoy

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Complete off topic- Finished the City documentary last night.
The scene that greeted the City bus pulling up to Anfield before the first leg of the CL quarters was a stunning display. Cheers.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Draw is at noon today, with Liverpool in pot 3.

Slightly related, I stumbled upon this on YouTube today. 'Masterclass' is right - and my lord was that Liverpool squad bad

 

SocrManiac

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It's the CL- there are very few cookies. Definitely right down the middle.

Napoli might be tough in the first half of the season before they inevitably fade from lack of rotation.
 

allstonite

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Any chance they mix it up tomorrow especially considering their September-October? Not that I want them to mess with a good thing but I’m also curious to see how Shaqiri looks for 90 minutes in a Klopp system and how healthy Lallana looks and how Fabinho looks.
 

SocrManiac

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I feel like Shaquiri’s best strength in a Klopp side would be that he doesn’t have to play 90 minutes. What he can do with his skill if he plays balls-out for 20 minutes seems to be why he was brought in. No pun intended, I don’t think he has the legs to do what’s needed for a full match.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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In regards to changes for this Saturday .. I think we might see a couple .. Henderson for Milner and one of Sturridge/Shaqiri for Firmino. September is a nightmare schedule-wise so it’s time to work in some rotation I think.

On the other hand it could be an unchanged side. In that scenario a perfect world would see the Reds up by a couple so they can get Sturridge and Shaqiri into the mix. Also like to see a Fabhino appearance.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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So Lazar Markovic was expected to go to Anderlecht today for £2.9m ..

The deal fell through when he couldn’t agree personal terms.

I think this says a lot about why he could never break into the team. He would rather spend the year playing for the U23s on his - presumably higher - wages rather than restart his career. He will be a Bosman FA next year.

Edit: mind you, we don’t know what was offered .. if the deal was 3years for peanuts maybe he figured it was better to wait it out.

Link: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-deal-outcast-lazar-markovic-15098441
 

Muppet

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Does any else watch red men TV on YouTube?

Highly recommended on a the strength of their accents
 

PedroSpecialK

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So much for Southgate picking players who are fit and performing.

Brutal for Lallana and Liverpool overall with the stretch in September - early October:

9/15 - Spurs (A)
9/18 - PSG (H)
9/22 - Southampton (H)
9/25-26 - Chelsea (H) - still to be scheduled
9/29 - Chelsea (A)
10/3 - Napoli (A)
9/7 - Manchester City (H)
 

67YAZ

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So much for Southgate picking players who are fit and performing.

Brutal for Lallana and Liverpool overall with the stretch in September - early October:

9/15 - Spurs (A)
9/18 - PSG (H)
9/22 - Southampton (H)
9/25-26 - Chelsea (H) - still to be scheduled
9/29 - Chelsea (A)
10/3 - Napoli (A)
9/7 - Manchester City (H)
I’m thinking we might see TAA in the 6 role against Southampton and maybe the cup tie.
 

SoxFanInCali

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According to Fox Soccer, this is the first time Liverpool have ever won the first 7 games of the season in all competitions.

Back to back games against Chelsea coming up. Cup game at home, then to the Bridge in the league.
 

SoxFanInCali

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According to Fox Soccer, this is the first time Liverpool have ever won the first 7 games of the season in all competitions.
I did a little more research on this. It's technically true, if you count the Charity Shield as a competition. In 1990 Liverpool won their first 10 games after drawing the Charity Shield opener.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Salah's goal against Everton last year won the Puskas award for best goal of the season at the FIFA awards.

This is pretty silly for a couple of reasons:
- I can think of 5 or 6 Salah goals alone that were better than that.
- Given the skill and importance, it's safe to say that Bale's goal against Liverpool was better.

The moral of the story is that awards decided by internet fan votes are stupid.
 

allstonite

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My quick search didn't find anything but is the Cup game on American TV anywhere or will I have to hope for streams?
 

allstonite

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Appreciate it. I've been holding off trying that mostly for Katie Nolan and the 30 for 30 catalog. I guess it's a good day to start the free 7 day trial
 

allstonite

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Boring first half with a few chances each way (an especially nice pass from my guy Shaqiri for a Mane header but he was too far away). I'm rooting for Liverpool but losing this one wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to concentrate on the other 3 trophies the rest of the year.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Giving up a set piece goal with Lovren and Mignolet involved, then Hazard absolutely shredding Moreno is giving me traumatic flashbacks.
 

67YAZ

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The only way that game turns back the clock more is if Rodgers is on the sideline.
Heh.

Good. This competition really offers nothing except fixture congestion to teams also playing in Europe. Glad Fabinho got a run out and played pretty well, also good to Lovren healthy.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Yeah, I hate losing, but if you aren't going to win the whole thing, might as well go out early. Just means more bench time for Mignolet and Moreno.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Looks like Milner is going to be out 3-4 weeks or so ..

From Bad News Pearce at the Echo :

“He underwent a scan which confirmed there was only minor damage.

“However, Milner isn’t expected to be fit for the Premier League trip to Huddersfield Town on October 20. He’s also a major doubt for the following games against Red Star Belgrade and Cardiff City.

“The 32-year-old retains hope that he can get back before November but much depends on how he responds to treatment.

Liverpool travel to Arsenal on November 3.”
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-news-transfers-live-milner-15251359

This is a shame as he was playing really well - although it was doubtful he would be able to continue at that level (already starting to fade back to merely industrious and responsible IMO)

Looks like the door is swinging open for Fabinho (against attack minded teams) or Shakiri (against the bus parkers)

Fortunately the upcoming fixture list is decidedly kinder.

Oct. 20 Huddersfield (A)
Oct. 24 Red Star Belgrade (H)
Oct. 27 Cardiff (H)
Nov. 3 Arsenal (A)
Nov. 6 Red Star Belgrade (A)
Nov. 11 Fulham (H)

Only the Arsenal -and arguably Fulham - games should provide any problems.
 

67YAZ

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Looks like Milner is going to be out 3-4 weeks or so ..

Oct. 20 Huddersfield (A)
Oct. 24 Red Star Belgrade (H)
Oct. 27 Cardiff (H)
Nov. 3 Arsenal (A)
Nov. 6 Red Star Belgrade (A)
Nov. 11 Fulham (H)

Only the Arsenal -and arguably Fulham - games should provide any problems.
Fabinho is going to get his chances now.

The two Red Star fixtures are key. Liverpool need to take all 6 points and pad out the goal differential.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Looks like Shakiri has won the battle for the attacking mid spot. The contrast with him on the pitch and Lallana was striking. Fabinho looked good as well. I think he is going to be a monster in the six role. Henderson may have lost his starting spot.
 

swiftaw

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Looks like Shakiri has won the battle for the attacking mid spot. The contrast with him on the pitch and Lallana was striking. Fabinho looked good as well. I think he is going to be a monster in the six role. Henderson may have lost his starting spot.
I actually think the best midfield at the moment is the 3 that started against Red Star: Fabinho, Winaldum, Shaquiri.
 

67YAZ

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Since Milner and Henderson are injured and Lallana is a shell of the player he was 2 years ago...I’m not sure that even rates as an opinion.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Even given full health for all the midfielders , I think that’s probably the case. Props to Klopp for giving Lallana the chance to show his quality .. sadly it appears to be left somewhere in 2016.

Klopp is probably going to mix and match depending on the opponent. Against the bus parkers you get Shaqiri- against top six sides you probably see Milner. The Fabinho case is interesting. It looks like he’s at his best with a fellow holding mid. But, given Klopp went two years without ANY holding mids I don’t know how much he fancies that formation.

And they have to work Keita back into the mix as well.
 
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PedroSpecialK

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Assuming PSG and Napoli beat Red Star (not a foregone conclusion as PSG have to travel to Serbia):

  • Win against PSG puts Liverpool through
  • Win against Napoli puts Liverpool through unless Liverpool win by a margin of only 2, or Napoli beats Red Star by 2 more than the Liverpool margin to put Liverpool in third place on GD
Today was a beyond-dreadful performance, but Liverpool are still very much in control of their own destiny
 

SoxFanInCali

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The last time Origi scored for Liverpool was before the team had signed Mo Salah.

On the other hand, he has played in 3 league games against Everton at Anfield, and scored in all of them.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Klopp was fined £8,000 by the FA for his celebration after Origi's derby-winning goal. He did not challenge the charge, and said it wouldn't happen again. We will see.

It's Wolves away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in one of the 2 all-Premier League ties.