The reason we only scored 1 goal, as opposed to the ten we could have got, is because of the substandard players.
The "system" worked, as in, we dominated the game, we pumped balls into the box, we passed it from left to right and back again, holding onto it until we could fashion a half chance. That's because we've got a fucking excellent football manager at the helm.
BUT
Once again, as has happened countless times, the players let the tactics down. Not through lack of effort, but through lack of skill. Henderson is great, and had a good game at doing the Henderson job. But without a Coutino or a Lallana next to him, he's got to be the one to deliver the assists and his "into the box" passing was diabolical. Outside of it, some nice passes and diagonals.
Milner the same. He produced three assists in a drubbing against a team that, to their credit, came at us and we caught them on the counter again and again. He's not right for the sort of game where we are having to unlock the door and shift a parked bus.
Oxlade played OK, but anything he did, Phil could have done 10 times better. And Jurgen took him off and left the other two centre midfielders on!
Mane had an absolute stinker, but he is a class player and should have been on, Salah pulled out a bit of magic as usual (but subbed off at only 1-0 when we've already let 37 points slip from winning positions?!), but playing Solanke in a game like this, the same as with Milner. He's not going to work it into the box, drop a shoulder and beat a man and unlock that tricky defence? No. He brought a few balls down well, fair play to him. But it's not his game.
At the back, the less said about the two in the middle the better (generally as players, not good enough for the club. Klavan had an OK game, but he doesn't bring it out into the opponents third like Matip (injured I know) or Can do. Lovren, I've already said too much on him but every time I see his name on the team sheet it pissed me off.
Robertson provided a good option on the left and Gomez was great on the right, but Gomez should have been shifted to the middle and Trent played on the right. If Everton weren't going to attack us, we could afford the better deliverer of the ball as full back.
And Simon... he didn't do anything wrong but he's not been good enough since he's been here and needs upgrading.
So for all the possession, all the crosses and long rangers, we had two players on the pitch capable of doing something in that sort of game. Great system, great manager, poor choices.
If Mane passes - this never gets written. Same for 95 % of the other shite in this thread.
Selection was fine. Performance was fine. Penalty is beyond soft, I still think it absolutely wasn't.
If Mane passes - we win. Lovren can still get harshly punished and we win. Personally, I think if we go in at 2-0 we batter them, as they HAVE to come out.
I'd have subbed him at halftime. It was 100% selfish. Cost us two crucial points yesterday.
Watch Messi, Suarez. Two of the best players on the planet - they always pass in that situation - because it guarantees the goal. Watch a Pep side - that pass is played square - its a guaranteed goal. Fuming about that yesterday. Doesn't then help when you're surrounded by idiotic Liverpool fans blaming the manager, having a pop at selection etc, criticising players for not repeatedly breaking down a well organised 11. It's not easy. We did it twice in first 45. We did our job. Mane didn't do his.
