Liverpool FC’s performance against West Bromwich Albion was their best so far this season.
I’m stating that as a fact, without feeling particularly bold about it.
They started well, got on the front foot, got the early goal and never looked back. Apart from a ten minute spell at 3-0, the visitors never looked capable of threatening the hosts at Anfield.
Steve Clarke’s boys usually are a very solid and decent unit, but on this particular occasion they were reduced to anything but that by a determined and focused Liverpool team who simply were too good for them.
In some ways we could say Brendan Rodgers took a step back to take a giant leap forward. When you are up against an inferior team, the initial thought is to pack the team with as many creative players as possible and force the opposition to submission with attacking threats coming from everywhere.
However, against West Bromwich Rodgers took a different approach. To use his own analogy: instead of running through the fence, he went around it. In a way, at least – if you reverse the instinctive meaning the analogy probably has to you.
By leaving Victor Moses out of the team and switching the midfield shape from the 2-1 Liverpool have used this season, to more of a standard 1-2 shape often used in a classic 4-3-3 system, Rodgers made sure his team was never outnumbered and outfought in the middle of the park. Creativity and individual game changing ability were sacrificed for the sake of solidity and energy. The midfield battle had to be won. Balance is always the key in football, and on this particular day this midfield provided the right platform for our attackers to flourish.
Whether or not this was a one-off performance from LFC and the team now go back to their (so far) usual ’45 on, 45 off’ routine, it showed us fans a couple of things worth taking with us. First of all it was further evidence of how lethally decisive top strikers can be – especially when you have two of them.
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For many seasons now, with certain exceptions, Liverpool have been a team depending on one or two players. Usually those one or two have been Steven Gerrard, or Gerrard plus one. I’m not suggesting things are that different now – after all, most teams depend on one or two players to drag them across the finish line – but we are gradually reaching a point where it’s not only about one or two players anymore, even though it may appear so when looking at the goal column on the squad list.
Just think about it: nobody really talks about Steven Gerrard anymore, which is actually a good thing. The man who practically carried this club on his shoulders for the best part of a decade can finally take a breather, knowing there are others who have taken over the majority of the goal scoring burden. That doesn’t mean he’s suddenly no good, of course. It just means he’s one of many now.
Most importantly though: the team stood up and turned in the best performance of the season when it was needed the most. In some ways this was a bit of a must win for Liverpool; losing points at home on the back of a slightly disappointing draw at St James’ Park would have been most unfortunate ahead of the upcoming trip to the Emirates.
By winning the game against West Brom, Liverpool are suddenly in a position where they have very little to lose. The three points at stake aren’t that big a deal as they tend to be when they travel to London to face Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
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dude i tink dat those three points are a very big deal
Rodgers can have no more excuses .the easy start is over . It’s time to start performing against the big clubs .
Ah well . Tactically hopeless against the big clubs (as usual) . We won’t get anywhere with BR.
Toughest Test: Failed Miserably
Rodgers always comes up short against the good managers . He has no clue strategically .
Lucas, always the bridesmaid, never a title winner.
Midfield was poor and we have no squad depth. We badly needed to reinforce in the summer but we opted for more defenders. Sturridge and Suarez have been performing in isolation from the rest f the team. To be fair I am amazed we lasted this long in the top four. When did we last put in a 90 minute shift against a top half team? I hate to rant but this was always going to happen. We have over achieved with the goals of the so called SAS. Now we are going to be shown for what we are. Top 6 or 7. We needed reinforcing in the middle in the summer. Nothing has changed.
Why did we buy more defenders when we have good ones,while it’s clear we need quality in midfield,typical Liverpool midfield today.
Gerrard is tired!!
The problem is most fans know that the squad we have is simply not good enough to really compete with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United or Tottenham.
Only OZRED and Aaron seriously think we can,
Gerrard has been a great amazing loyal servant for the team, but he no longer has the legs, mobility or pace in centre of park to be playing week in week out. Lucas is good at what he does but like Gerrard lacks mobility and pace, so against mobile, nibbly, quick , youthful sides who move the ball round quick them two struggle. (Newcastle, Swansea, Southampton and as we found out last night Arsenal) Henderson stood out for us in the middle due to the fact he has mobility and pace and was only person in middle who could press well and win ball off the likes of arteta, cazorla, ozil, ramsey and rosicky.
The biggest is problem with our centre midfield is the players that we have who are mobile and have some pace are Allen and Henderson and to be honest, both of them are average. Both good passers of ball, both do not create enough, both prefer to pass back or side ways and both choke when opportunity in front of goal arises, as we all saw with Henderson’s chance in first half.
The owners need to give B Rodgers 60-70m to bring in 6 players in January:
3 of them are for centre midfield: 2 of them are two eventually replace S Gerrard:
And all of them are mobile:
1: DM: Fernando(26) Of Porto Or M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan needs to be brought for 10-15M as Lucas needs some class, quality competition for his place.
2: CM: Koke(21) Of A Madrid needs to be brought in to compete with Henderson for 15-18M
3: CM: B Etxrebarria(26) Of A Bilbao needs to be brought in to compete and Cover Allen for 10-14M
B Rodgers is a young manager, but the 3 5 2 system will only work against the top sides if G Johnson and J Enrique are fully fit. And Toure needs to be benched, Agger is our best defender, followed by skrtel and then sakho. Flannagan should be nowhere near the first team, who did he start ahead of Kelly?
And Rodgers needs to start resting S gerrard, how many times did he lose the ball last night under pressure? He needs a rest, he is 33 not 23 against young , hungry ,mobile , class, quality midfielders week in week out him and Lucas struggle miserably.
Cant wait to hear what Ozred & Aaron have got to say, those two bell-ends are clueless muppets.
100% SPOT ON
But they will do what they always do – MAKE EXCUSES
Haha. Yay we lost… This means we can break out of our self imposed exile and start abusing everyone including the club we support….
Exile ? What you on about you fool ? I commented several times this week.why do you care when I post ? Get a life
Deluded !!
Ozred, still got a holier than thou attitude, i bet you supported Woy and Konchesky the same way right?
Just cause ozred and Aaron don’t act like a couple of spoilt little girls(crying and stomping their feet), every time a result doesn’t go our way.
Facts. Us missing Johnson and Enrique affected us way more then arsenal missing Walcott and flammini. If we had our starting wing backs that would have been a completely different game.
Lfc never got going, not cause arsenal pressed us high but because the players never got going. All teams have days like that. The players were the ones to blame not management. Even tho we were so bad, Liverpool still carved out more clear goal scoring chances and we also had the better ones.
Ha ha ha ha
Little kid no sheep returns. We all know that no sheep and ozred are the same dumb person .
As usual no sheep trots out idiotic excuses that make no sense. Well what do we expect from the clown who said Suarez is not good.
The mighty footballing tactician realist! Again with your footballing knowledge and witty banter.
Once again you post stuff out of context about Suarez.
Without Suarez With Suarez.
V Newcastle. 6.0. V Newcastle. 2.2
V united. 1.0. V united. 1.0
Why not instead of trying to influence people against me. Just put up the link and let them decide for themselves. Unfortunately that would go against your trolling nature wouldn’t it.
I won’t even comment on the me and oz red are the same person section. I can only imagine it is one of your tricks.
“As usual no sheep trots out idiotic excuses that make no sense.”
Il give you some help will I.
Please tell me which excuse is not fact and why.
1. us missing Johnson and Enrique affected us why more then arsenal missing Walcott and flammini.
2. If we had our starting wing backs that would have been a completely different game.
3. Lfc never got going, not cause arsenal pressed us up high but because the players never got going.
4. All teams have days like that ( noting works for them).
5. The player were the ones to blame not management.
6. Even tho lfc were so bad, we still carved out more clear goal scoring chances and we also had the better ones. ( not including the one where the manc pulled us back).
No Sheep .I have to agree with the realist. YOU TALK SH*TE.
U obviously dont know anything about footie as shown by your RIDICULOUS list of stupid excuses
NONE of those 6 stupid excuses are FACT.
They are all your opinion. A rather unintelligent opinion , but still just your opinion
Look up the meaning of the word FACT b4 posting more li es
Ha ha ha ha ha hahaha
You have him sussed Patrick. No sheep doesnt know ‘facts’. He just makes up mindless nonsense. He is either retarded or a small kid.
Can’t sleep well after watching the defeat to Arsenal. My thought:
1) Gerrard and Lucas are our weakest link this session and BR must do his best to convince FSG that LFC URGENTLY need 2 replacement for them this January. Just replay the match to FSG or J.W. Henry along with proper commentary after 55 minutes of the game.
2) First the first time I have the sympathy to BR. Gerrard and Lucas were the ones to blame for the defeat. They both effectively do nothing after 55 minutes of the game. BR needs proper players to do his job !!!
3) BR needs to be bold and afraid nobody. He should sub Gerrard and Lucas before the second goals just around the 55 minutes.
4) Mignolet was a mistake. I just can’t believe no one notice this guy just keep conceding goals every match.
5) LFC is not that bad or Arsenal is too good. Just count the missing chances by SaS and others.
6) Stamina problem for Cissokho, Henderson, Gerrard and Lucas must be solved ASAP
7) Mosses should be the starting 11 for next match
8) LFC problems clearly demonstrated in this match. IF BR wanted to keep his job or achieve something this session, please study in depth and DO corrective actions immediately. Look at the table now. Other teams are fast catching up and LFC may eventually ended up the 7 / 8 place again.
9) If BR only allowed by FSG to bring in 2 players under 30m budget in January, just reinforce the midfield and forget about other areas.
Red . Rodgers wasted ALL our transfer budget on defenders we dont need. A goalkeeper we didn’t need. And total cack like Aspas
We are woefully short in midfield. Allen is not even a premier league player , yet Rodgers bought NO midfielders
So , only Rodgers is to blame. Dont feel sorry for him . He has been lucky with the fixture list . Amazingly lucky to have little injuries. He has the leagues best player in his side too.
And can someone explain why that fool Rodgers doesn’t pick our best defender Agger
Or Kelly for that matter ?
Am beginin to suspect dat aaron is B rodgers!!
Stupid excuses!this is what you get,if you av an average manager!they will praise d players after loses like dis!very dissapointing for liverpool!
‘showing our potential’ ?
The problem with buying cheap younger players is that we will always be SHOWING our potential….but never FULFILLING it.
The table does not lie!
We are only 3rd because of a easy fixture start.
Amazing. Bet you were one of those people going around this time last season saying the table does not lie. Why don’t you put up lfc,arsenals,Chelsea,mu,mc,spurs and nevertons fixture lists so you can prove your point. Ours is not that much harder then our rivals.
Also instead of arguing like a child, why don’t you put up counter arguments to my post on the other page. . One realist is more then enough. Even tho you agreeing with him says enough about ye.
Sorry meant easier
Only person arguing like a child is No sheep !
He gets everything wrong and calls everybody else names .
This reality check was badly needed for some deluded fans to realize the massive difference between a quality squad (Arsenal) & an average squad (Liverpool).
Like I said before, we would keep losing points until we sort out this “Central Midfield” mess ! Gerrard was helpless in today’s match & I thought he has passed his best but I still think he’s quality. Henderson was lively today but again… I don’t know what he ‘exactly’ does on the pitch. Lucas is the worst of all. Oh dear, the guy does absolutely nothing on the pitch – he’s slow, can’t break-up play, can’t tackle, can’t keep possession… he’s useless ! The worst thing about him today is that he made Ramsey look like Zidane !!
The midfield needs a serious revamp come January… we need at least two Centre Midfielders to mount a serious challenge for the big four. We should make a move for Fernando Reges before another club snaps him up ! He’s on the last year of his contract & he would be available on the cheap in January. There’s no doubt he would do a world of good for this current average midfield.
Rodgers has had more time than he deserves. He has wasted millions on poor players and filled our ears with waffle for too long . Time to produce or get out. He reminds me in so many ways of Steve Kean , formerly of Blackburn
That was an arsenal side missing 7 first team players with injury, including some of their star performers against a full strength Liverpool.
Rodgers really doesn’t have a clue tactically against the big boys .he stands at the side of the pitch and affects NOTHING.
Unbelievable. So Flanagan and cissoko are our best 2 wing backs are they?
Little up date for you. Flammini and Walcott are the only starting 11 players that they missed. You can try and argue for Wilshire, but who are you gonna drop. Ramsey Carzola?
Not gonna happen.
Johnson and Enrique would have completely changed that game.
Can handle the big boys.
V avb. Draw
V Mancini Draw
V sir blue nose. Lose
V rafa. Draw
V arsen. Loss/draw.
BR had a much weeker squad then the other big boys. So what are you on about?
The whole first choice midfield – Wilshire and flamini OUT
Walcott and Chamberlain BOTH FIRST CHOICE WIDE PLAYERS OUT
Podolski OUT
Diary and Gnabry OUT
Sanogo OUT
You obviously don’t know what ur talking about , so maybe shut up til u do
Rodgers has weaker squad ? Well he wouldn’t if he hadn’t bought rubbish
So what imaginary formation do you have arsenal playing?
Flamini,Wilshire,ox and Walcott are starters.
While arterta, Ramsey and Carzola sit on the bench is it.
Why just make stuff up its point less and you will be found out. Like arsenal were missing 7 first team players and Liverpool had a full squad.
A real fan aren’t ye.
You obviously have no idea about Liverpool FC so I wouldn’t expect any knowledge of arsenal either.
Arteta has been sat on the bench nearly ALL season . Cazorla has started only HALF the league fixtures. So neither are regular starters when the squad is fit
I don’t know why I or anyone would bother wasting our time discussing football with someone like you , who simply doesn’t have any clue.
Please stop trolling sir. You seem more foolish with each post. I wont respond again.
You might look up the meaning of troll. It show what you are when you call someone names while running away. As I said flamini and Walcott are the only first team players missing.
Well said Patrick !!! No sheep has no clue
No sheep thinks Wilshire and podolski are not first team definites .
Ha ha ha Ha haha hahaha .what a dope !
Wilshire ? Not their number 1 midfielder ? Ha ha ha ha
No sheep is not just stupid / HE IS STAGGERINGLY stupid.
V Ferguson – loss/ loss
V mancini – draw / draw
V Wenger – loss / draw / loss
V Benitez – draw
Not many wins in there hmmmm ?