If you read my whole post, I said "Not that it is the only reason for those poor results. But it hasn't helped."
I never said we couldn't win games without Henderson, you've got me confused with someone else.
As I said to you before Saturday's match when you were telling me how difficult it was going to be without Henderson because of some pretty pointless win/without stats
last season, I don't think missing one player has anywhere near the impact on a result people continually make out. I think it's an easy, simple answer for fans when there are actually deeper problems, be it one-off issues or more persisting ones.
It's obvious that our problem against low-block sides are mostly tactical. We're hugely efficient at counter-attacking and counter-pressing, which works best when there is a) space in behind, particularly because it gets the best out of Firmino dropping deep, luring defenders into him and either he or a team-mate he lays it off to hitting Mané into space and b) the opposition play through midfield, where our press triggers (mostly through Lallana) and we can win the ball back on numerous occasions to launch quick attacks with the opponent off-guard and out of defensive shape.
However, in my opinion, we can be hugely inefficient at passing and combination play in tight areas which is and always will be the best way to break down a parked bus, as Arsenal have shown over the years. Firmino dropping deep is pretty pointless when defenders have no interest in following him, Mané's explosiveness becomes less effective (though given that he is still quick on the ball too, he's far from a problem), Lallana can't trigger the midfield press because it gets bypassed, etc.
For me Gini Wijnaldum is the best example of all of this. He's probably been our best big game player this season. Goals against City, Chelsea, Arsenal, as well as nearly scoring the winner against United. Even without the goals and increased chances (because of the space on the break) though, he's generally had excellent performances where he has used his physicality to dominate good teams trying to play through midfield. He's also been near the top of our completed passes in a lot of these games.
Whereas he's possibly one of our least effective players in games against "the rest", particularly away from home. No where near the top of our completed passes, less occasions to use his physicality to win the ball back as like Lallana he gets bypassed, a disappointing lack of threat from range, etc.
People talk about us breaking down the bus earlier in the season but I'm not sure we did as often or as effectively as people think. Sure, a hapless Hull tried and failed. West Brom were fairly deep and turgid (though perhaps not as much as expected) before an excellent Coutinho goal opened them up. But Southampton and United both nullified us on the whole in the exact way we've seen weaker sides than them do against us.
The main difference between those two games and, say, Hull and Leicester is what Jookie is talking about. Back then we were defending much better - partly because Matip and Lovren were consistently playing, which helps as the drop-off in quality between those two and our cover is bigger than anywhere else in our squad, which is where I would agree with your personnel point more, and partly because I think we were physically fresher as a side to press better - and would get the point.
But anyway, regressing, the main example people seem to use of us 'breaking the bus' is the Watford 6-1. I don't think it's entirely valid. Watford were in more of a medium block than a low block. I can recall countless occasions in the first half where there was certainly enough space in behind which we exploited (I'm thinking Kaboul right up Firmino's arse roughly between their area and the half-way line). They foolishly tried to take the game to us early on and were punished.
I don't think it's a chronic problem though. The easiest way to overcome it is by having better quality (and defending better again to ensure we don't lose as many games at the very least). Be that in the form of a striker who can score from nothing and swing these games, more pace and width from the left hand side, and/or a better edge-of-the-area combination footballer in midfield.
Equally though I don't think it's a coincidence Klopp had similar problems at Dortmund at different times. I think the style of football he looks to play will always be more effective against sides that come at us more. He's no different to any manager in the regard of having strengths and weaknesses: Wenger's football for example is the opposite. I'd rather have it our way because I think it's easier to fix.
A specific quality that I miss is a long-distance shooter in midfield, who could take advantage of low defenses. Most top teams have this. We only have Coutinho.
Agreed, and even Coutinho blows very hot and cold. I think there was a stat knocking around that he scored more goals outside the area for club and country than anyone else in 2016, but then he must have been bang up there for most shots outside of the area as well. Consistency and power from range is a trait I would be seriously wanting in the midfielder we sign.
It would free more space for Coutinho in those instances as well - frequently he's got two or three bodies instantly around him because they know he's our major threat and any lay-off to a team-mate once the shot is closed off doesn't really alarm them in the same way.
