Topic: Half time: Brighton 0-0 Liverpool

[Snoopy29]

Just not doing enough against the parked bus really. Lots of sterile possession, not much in the way of penetration. Need to up the tempo in the second half or we'll be relying on a set piece or lucky break to get through.

Hope Trent is okay.

True.

We need to play in a way where there is anchor in the middle of the pitch, as to not let them counter attack or go beyond our half, and at the same time collect the ball in the middle and just pass it to the wing to cross it in.
There is no one who seems to be wanting to take a quick shot, i mean do we lack a Gerrard or Scholes like player who can THUMP in shots from the middle? - We can't seem to do this at all.

The tempo and passes need to be more dangerous, faster and creative if we are ever going to score a goal.
Our midfield isn't strong enough at the moment, if only Fabinho was there instead of centre back if it wasn't for injuries.

We may need Keita in midfield.

[Number 7]

Incredibly frustrating game. Just no space at all Brighton are defending with 11 men at home. We need start using the width of the pitch and start moving the ball a lot quicker. Brighton are just completely content with letting us have the ball and not do much with it. Need to find another gear here and quickly.

[ac]

The lack of creativity from the midfield is shocking. Gini and Henderson lack the balls and ability to play against low block teams. Keita hasn't been pulling up trees but I'd put him on for Henderson.

[peachybum]

Excellent bus parking from Brighton. Not losing concentration. Only made a couple of mistakes but then we've been shite running at them.

Just need to keep the ball moving and hope something falls because they aren't going to come out and we don't really look like doing anything in midfield to open them up.

[Waka]

Brighton defending organised and really well. Gonna be hard work or a worldie to score here. No options for forward pass on numerous occasions. Bit of guile needed, kieta may make a difference

[Felch Aid]

Low block and 11 men behind the ball ffs. No point punting balls in or trying to unblock a 10 man defence.

Henderson passing it back.

Up the tempo and press them as they have turned up for a point.

Get Keita on at 60mins

[Funky_Gibbons]

Wow

[latortuga]

We look a bit flat, but have created chances.

Hopefully can nick it 2nd half as Brighton will certainly tire

[Perham]

We're really finding it hard to break down the parked bus which is something we've gotten better at this season hopefully we can change it up second half

[McSquared]

Need to up the tempo in the second half and create the space. Come on Reds

[RK7]

15  passes in our half  then a long ball over the top. We need to move the ball quicker and show abit more desire to want in the final third.

[killer-heels]

Not surprising. Brighton are not easy to score past.

Keep it tight at the back and they will tire.

[Tony19:6]

Like watching walking football that.

[number 168]

They pose no real threat to us and are content to keep it at nil-nil. Why then we play Wjnaldum and Henderson who have offered absolutely nothing creative whatsoever is a mystery. It's walking football in midfield again, which must frustrate the hell out of our attack. It's a game for someone who can actually beat a man in midfield and look for a pass - Keita is a must.

[Snoopy29]

The lack of creativity from the midfield is shocking. Gini and Henderson lack the balls and ability to play against low block teams. Keita hasn't been pulling up trees but I'd put him on for Henderson.

Agreed 100!

Wasn't this the main problem a few seasons ago?
We couldn't break the busses.

It's up to Salah, Mane, firminho and Shaqiri to be alot more agile and quicker, and play on a higher frequency than the brighton defence if we are ever going to get anything.

[xbugawugax]

just need a goal to brighten the match up

lets hope the players wake up somehow. this match could make or break our season.

[JackWard33]

Horrible half from us
Just no need to be that conservative with the ball against a team that can’t hurt you

Henderson and Wijnaldam remain incapable of getting the front 3 the ball effectively

[cdav]

Lots of talk about Hendo but both him and Wijnaldum equally as guilty of slow laboured passing. Wish Wijnaldum didn't take 4 or 5 touches every time he gets the ball- but its hard to tell from watching on tv if there is a lack of options.

Trent being not fully fit isn't helping either as the lack of width from that side is allowing Brighton to compress the space elsewhere.

[chromed]

Fed up Van Dijk and Fabinho playing long balls over the top to Shaqiri, Mane and Salah. They aren’t exactly giants.

Too passive at the moment but I’ve seen the blueprint for this game a thousand times now. Brighton will have a lapse defensively, and we will get in behind to go one up. Then we will counter late on when they have a corner to make it 2-0.

45 more mins to go, come on the reds.

[jillcwhomever]

Not surprising. Brighton are not easy to score past.

Keep it tight at the back and they will tire.

Exactly Brighton will not be able to keep it up the chances will come, we just need to be ruthless when they do.

[OneTouchFooty]

We have an attack who are average height of 5ft 9in and we’re skying it in the air to them ffs. Use their fucking talents!

[Peabee]

Credit to Brighton. They’ve nullified our attack - not a single shot on goal.

[dirkster]

Don't think we need both Henderson and Gini playing in the middle. Be tempted to take one of them off and put Keita on

[rowan_d]

You expect Henderson to play like this, don't understand why Wijnaldum is replicating it though.

[CS111]

Longer this goes on the more Brighton will fancy a smash and grab
We should have been much more in their faces first half
I thought we have solved how to player against 9 at the back but didn’t create anything in that 45

[Dave D]

Just run at them from midfield. Get down the wings. Easy.

Certain midfielders holding onto the ball for 5 seconds too long and then passing backwards, isn’t helping.

[BazC]

Need Gini to have more confidence running through them, or if it doesn’t change, need to bring him off - Brighton are very well organised and quick to get in their shape, whenever Gini gets it for us it doesn’t move quick enough through midfield, by which time they have their shape back. Gini’s good enough to dribble through their press on him, but hes only done it once in that half. He’s not trying to pass through their press at all though, so it’s going back / sideways too much.

Maybe even get Fabinho on the ball more in that area of the park and have Henderson cover his position if he’s carrying it forward.

[Asam]

We need someone in midfield who can dribble past a few to open the game up, this game is there for the taking but we aren't moving them around enough to create good chances

[I've been a good boy]

Unbelievably boring, we're playing like we're 10 points clear. Need more urgency and quick play, can't help but feel Henderson and Gini are slowing it down. Swap for Keita

[luckyluke]

Not keen on unneccesarily critisizing him but Henderson has frustraetd the hell out of me these last two games.
Maybe it's down to the different midfield setup we are using lately but he seemed to have regressed as well. He was never the most innovative player but he's flat out useless at creating nowdays.

[thekitkatshuffler]

Total garbage from Henderson. That is simply not an acceptable level for a Liverpool midfielder. Trent on one leg is better on the ball. We are lacking intensity here, which is rare for us. Still think we can win this but we really need to up our intensity level and bring on Keita to add something a bit different to the middle.

I don't think he's been "garbage" but I hate it when he goes and stands next to Virgil and then points 3 yards in front of him to indicate where he wants him to stand.  It's worthless, laboured shite.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

I know people can be over critical at times regarding Henderson, but he's been terrible in that first half.

[Upinsmoke]

Fuck off with the parking bus shite. It's Brighton, are they supposed to go toe to toe? Not only that but space shave opened up for the midfield on the odd occasion but we've neglected to use it. Henderson or Gini reluctantly move into it going as slow and ponderous as possible in order to let Brighton get organised again and then make it look like there's no options of the ball. Jesus lets get a little braver. Show something more second half

[Bjinxi]

Hendo off and Keita on please

If that doesnt work put fabinho in midfield and matip in defence...

Midfield far to slow and salah non existent so far

[proudred]

Why the hell are we playing Gini & Henderson?!  Side to side shite football.

[number 168]

We have an attack who are average height of 5ft 9in and we’re skying it in the air to them ffs. Use their fucking talents!

That's what a midfield is supposed to do. The resort to the long ball is the result of a limited midfield duo.

[robgomm]

I really want to see Mane hug the left wing more. He's coming in field and Shaqiri is coming in field. Find it deeply frustrating to watch. Yes Brighton are bus parking but with so little intensity and team structure encouraging safe passing by not offering width, we're making it a much harder game that it needs to be.

[acks]

Has Mane just given up taking players on.

[Petadroli]

Already saw Shaqiri's header in! They prove to be a tough nut to crack. Come on Redmen!

[J-Mc-]

Has Mane just given up taking players on.

No point taking a man on when there’s two more stood right behind him. Just running into a brick wall.

Need more movement from the midfield.