Author Topic: PL: Liverpool 2 Diaz '26 Salah '64 v Brighton 1 Welbeck '1 (Read 15226 times)

duvva 💅 · « **on:** March 31, 2024, 01:05:07 pm »

Quote from: Zlen on March 27, 2024, 09:33:46 am

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday, 31st March 2024, 14:00 GMT, Anfield
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Tim Wood, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Paul Tierney, Assistant VAR: Dan Cook

Really, the preview for this game could be as short as saying 'Just win'. That's about it, nothing else matters. No tactics, injuries, excuses - nothing matters. Nothing in the world will matter once it kicks off - just win, just score more goals than Brighton, however they come, whenever they come, whoever scores them. Break legs, records, hearts, norms, cheat, lie , die - just win. With our direct rivals battling it out after this game, we simply must win here to reap the rewards. If we do, any outcome on Etihad will be positive. Just win.

They have our number?
Looking at all games played against Brighton, we have won 20 out of 39 games, losing 7 and drawing the other 12. Not the best record to be honest, but if we focus on recent encounters it looks even worse because we have failed to win in last four games against them. Even more concerning, last two games at Anfield were both draws, 3-3 in 2022 and 2-2 in 2021. Nothing about this game should spark even a hint of complacency. Nothing about it should make anyone think we're in for anything but a properly hard game of football. One where we will have to earn everything, play with high levels of concentration for 90 minutes and show we deserve the three points. This is one of only five remaining home PL games at Anfield, don't let it go to waste.

Brighton come to Anfield in respectable 8th place, having collected 7/15 points in their last five PL games. In the last PL game they narrowly won against Nottingham Forest (own goal), washing away the bad taste of unexpected 3-0 defeat to Fulham in the preceding game. They are still without Solomon March, Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood, though Milner might be available for this one. If there is one thing we can say for certain about their recent form, it's that they are not scoring much. If we exclude the own goal against Forest, they've only scored three goals in their last six games in all competitions since they thrashed Sheffield in late February. I'm sure this is what they've worked on the most during the international break.

International break you say
Well, obviously we have had to lose some players to pointless international friendlies. Where would we all be if this wasn't the case? This time it's Andy and we don't yet know the extent of his injury, or if he will be available for this game. I'll safely assume he won't - because that's our luck most of the time. Some like Szobo got some valuable minutes in their legs, so hopefully it all proverbially balances out. Like fuck it will. But all said, we can't complain too much about the state of our side right now. Considering where we were few weeks ago, things are looking better. We are still without Trent, Ali, Jones and Jota - which isn't great, but Konate is hopefully ready to play, Gravenberch already is and Mo and Szobo are in better shape than before the break. You'll find few who hate international football more than me, but I'd say this break for once came at the right time for us to patch things up.

There is the flip side to it. We often don't look so hot straight after a midseason break, but that would qualify as a sorry-ass excuse and we don't have time for those right now. So they all better be ready from minute one, because this here - this is it.

Do I fucking care?
This is my mood right now.
Summed up in one picture, for those familiar with wonderful video for Audiobullys hit.
Sink or swim.

David Coote and Tierney combined?
I don't care.

Heavy legs and groggy after inter-continental flights?
I don't care.

They scored early and we got a man sent off?
I don't care.

Putin decided to use nuclear weapons at half-time?
I don't care.

This is it.
Right now.
We're in the final stretch with Jurgen.
We have it our hands.

Take it.
Win.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2024, 01:05:52 pm »

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2024, 01:06:18 pm »

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:00:31 pm »

A minutes applause for Larry Lloyd, a great player.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:01:12 pm »

0 Game underway.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:02:24 pm »

1 Brighton starting off quickly pressing up the field, but we manage to retain the ball.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:03:26 pm »

2 Bugger, we lose the ball and Brighton score, through Welbeck.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:05:18 pm »

Not the start we were looking for. But plenty of time to put it right

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:05:19 pm »

3 We just haven't got started at the moment. Brighton look very quick and eager flooding midfield and we need to get some pressure on the ball.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:07:00 pm »

4 Brighton defenders grabs hold of Nunez's shirt and brings him down, only a slight touch according to Carragher.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:08:24 pm »

6 We are starting to settle on the ball now putting some moves together, but Brighton have everyone back at the moment.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:09:32 pm »

Starting to put some better moves together now

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:10:11 pm »

8 First proper shot from Salah but its wide of the post, but we are beginning to play with more tempo now.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:12:14 pm »

10 A bit of pressure from Brighton, Gomez does well to put it out. Eventually it comes to nothing and we Kelleher has the ball.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:13:09 pm »

11 Macca and Salah combine, but Macca can only put it over the bar.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:14:16 pm »

12 Macca puts in a wonderful ball but Salah was a bit slow to get to the ball, but we get a corner as Brighton bundle it out.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:15:16 pm »

14 Awful corner, we lose the ball and Macca is forced to foul to stop the breakaway and gets a yellow card.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:17:39 pm »

16 All Liverpool at the moment, but just not able to create anything. We need to get Diaz on the ball a bit more.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:18:57 pm »

We're breaking up play and winning the ball back well

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:19:02 pm »

17 Another brilliant ball floated over the top by Macca. But though Salah manages to make contact he can't push it into the net and it flies over.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:20:11 pm »

18 Another chance goes begging. Common sense tells you Salah will fire it in eventually but we need to be more ruthless.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:20:59 pm »

19 Gross gets a yellow card for a foul on Macca who is down on the floor.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:21:25 pm »

That looked a nasty contact for Mac Allister

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:22:13 pm »

20 Another good ball gets floated in, but Salah again just can't direct it.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:23:02 pm »

Quote from: jillcwhomever on March 31, 2024, 02:22:13 pm

20 Another good ball gets floated in, but Salah again just can't direct it.

At least the pinpoint ball shows Macca's foot is ok

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:23:35 pm »

22 I should say Macca is back on and moving okay as we look to build once again.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:23:57 pm »

Quote from: Ray K on March 31, 2024, 02:18:28 pm

Fuck off Coote ya useless prick.

I had that in my drafts, sent it earlier than expected.

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:26:02 pm »

23 Diaz wins a corner. The ball goes in and is initially cleared. We win it back and another ball is floated back in just over Van Dijk, but then the ref adjudges that Nunez has fouled someone.

Over to duvva.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:26:43 pm »

25 We continue to press well and win the ball back, but aren't showing enough quality in the final third - we look a little rusty after the Intl break

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:27:27 pm »

26 The ball goes behind for another corner to us, and Diaz scores - there will be a VAR check. The ball was initially cleared. Mo puts it back in and it comes off a defender and finds its way to Diaz who beats the keeper with a finish in to the roof of the net - Goal confirmed 1-1

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #30 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:28:45 pm »

Diaz was so quick to react to that, fantastic work from him.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:31:04 pm »

29 Another Brighton attack which ends up being given off but we aren't convincing defensively at the moment. Bradley gets away but is flagged offside

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:32:30 pm »

30 Welbeck gets a shot off into the side netting, then we attack Macca gets Mo in who's weak shot is straight at the keeper

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:33:58 pm »

32 Great battling run from Bradley into the box, the ball reaches Diaz who shoots but the keeper gets down and holds it

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #34 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:34:15 pm »

A very open game this. Our lack of ruthlessness is a concern.

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #35 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:35:10 pm »

33 Bradley wins it again and charges into the area but can't quite get a shot off or find a team mate

jillcwhomever · « **Reply #36 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:36:39 pm »

How was that a corner?

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:37:00 pm »

34 Brighton get in again down the right and the pull back is deflected over by Virgil for a corner - We break from the corner with Diaz, but as he waits for Nunez to join him but it's nicked away - Brighton end with a free kick

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:38:51 pm »

36 Salah gets Bradley in he pulls it back but Nunez somehow gets a shot in after a tangle on the floor with a Brighton defender. It's cleared we attack again and Bradley fires over

duvva 💅 · « **Reply #39 on:** March 31, 2024, 02:39:50 pm »

38 The brilliant Mac Allister puts a long through ball to Salah but the GK gets there first and it's out for a throw