Match Thread : Brentford v Liverpool

[huyrob]

We coped superbly well without Henderson late last season. Best form of the entire competition.

Mo - Virgil and Alisson - agreed BUT and it is a big one - where do the 3 points come from without Mo’s goals?

Totally agree.

[huyrob]

He does that far too often. Needs plenty of chances to stick one away.

Still, we’d be average joe’s without him.

Bollocks.

[huyrob]

Yep - the finish he needs there is the late Torres v Villa winner from 09/10 but instead Mo tries to lift it - I know he's a leftie but still!

He seemed a pretty good keeper, I think Mo had to lift it.

[huyrob]

This is what ground my beans with Klopp. The best Manager in the world but also the most stubborn.

I see what you say but is this why he’s the best ?

[huyrob]

We will run out of legs by the new year. Our squad is weaker and we have alot of players made of Doritos. Im sure FSG will be happy with fourth place.

Klopp Won’t be though

[huyrob]

What a game of football, that's why we love it. Two teams going for the win . We should've won it but these things happen.
Onto Porto.

Yes great game

[CCTV]

It will depend on Klopp rotating a bit more rather than drawing more from the "tried-and-tested" well, combined with injuries not over-lapping too much.

Henderson
Fabinho
Thiago
Milner
Jones
Keita
Ox
Elliott

Numerically there is plenty there. We'll go "worst case scenario" with Elliott and say he doesn't play again this season. That's still 7 players for 3 spots, with the possibility of (absolute) "emergency" options such as going 4-2-4 or using Minamino or Firmino as a midfielder.

The issue we might have (given we have a few players prone to niggles) is if we find ourselves in situations where Thiago, Keita and Ox are all simultaneously unavailable for 3-6 weeks during the Champion's League knock-out stages or the Christmas period. Hopefully it doesn't come to that - I certainly don't think we should be sitting here feeling we need a ninth midfielder for example.

The first 4 in your list are essentially our 6/8s (dm/cm) types.
Fab and Hendo the regular options, Thiago a little lightweight for 6 and Milner a boss doesn't seem to play too often.

Injuries in the area of the squad will be hard to deal with, Keita a possible back up option but it's not gone great for him here.

Honestly wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Gomez, maybe Konate playing in midfield if issues arise.

[CCTV]

Didn't see the game, checked a few stats but that was a very poor result today.

Statistically it looked like we were a bit soft in the tackling/intercept department, lazy. Out dribbled too.

Had lots of possession without fashioning a significantly greater number of shots. Wasteful with the ball.

Imo today's a day for Klopp to be Kloppy in front of the cameras and one angry german bastard in the dressing rooms

[eggy81]

Didn't see the game, checked a few stats but that was a very poor result today.

Statistically it looked like we were a bit soft in the tackling/intercept department, lazy. Out dribbled too.

Had lots of possession without fashioning a significantly greater number of shots. Wasteful with the ball.

Imo today's a day for Klopp to be Kloppy in front of the cameras and one angry german bastard in the dressing rooms

Their set up was very clever today and allowed them constantly threaten our two cbs. We didn’t get to just knock it around at our leisure. In the flip side we really could have scored a few more. Very open game like a basketball match with neither team ever having control.

[Steveo]

True - we are hamstrung in midfield though - that Brentford manager clearly saw it and others will be well aware of it too:

Can’t help but think we were genuinely relying on Elliott this season. With Gini now gone and without him ( likely all season ) or Thiago for who knows how long - we are unable to run games at all. Those forwards are going to be fooking busy and so is that back line.

Sorry to be a pessimist but this doesn’t look good to me at all: