We shouldn't focus on the ref decisions as a reason we didn't win, even though that might be legitimate. We do have to look at the continuing problem of not turning possession dominance into goals, though. And as mentioned before, this is a long-term thing with Klopp at Liverpool. It got better this season, but we're clearly some players short on the technical side in midfield. We'd 72% possession today, and only 2 shots on target. So our players are either too impatient, make bad shot choices, or we don't have players who can set up a good final ball in these games. It's likely a combination of all three.
I asked a pro player once what they thought the most important position on the field was. They said the playmaker, as a good playmaker can elevate a good striker to a great striker, and an average one to a good one, by putting goals on a plate.
We need a high-energy, tactically disciplined, agile playmaker.
Do any exist?
Or is it Keita?
For me under Klopp we have relied on Coutinho dropping off and scoring from outside the area or Lallana twisting and turning and creating things in the final third against low block sides. We gambled on selling Coutinho and not replacing him, that gamble backfired the moment Lallana got injured. That has been compounded by the loss of AOC who was one of the few players we have who is prepared to run with the ball.
Keita will help but for me we need more players who are prepared to dribble with the ball. Robbo, Moreno and Trent have good delivery and good movement but don't have the ability to take their man on, Milner and Hendo are the same, Gini can dribble but isn't really aggressive enough his dribbles are usually more about retaining the ball than offering penetration so it is left to the front three to take players on but against a low block there is very little space.
So for me the key is to have more players comfortable at taking on an opponent and breaking the lines.
