Topic: FT - L'pool 3 v S'hpton 0 - OG Hoedt 10', Matip 21', Mo 45+3'

[PoetryInMotion]

Above we have quote that is telling....  "not enough time to practice this system because of the weather in Liverpool"....   He saw the weakness before Soton did and sorted it.

You gotta love the gaffer.

Actually, Southampton were getting behind quite a few times in the 1st half. Van Dijk made two wonderful blocks to concede corners or they'd have been shots on target at the minimum from close range. Then Alexander-Arnold had to track his man and stick a foot out to stop a tap-in. Then came the cut-back to Hojberg, which he mis-kicked. So, there were situations that materialized for Southampton which they couldn't make the best of, and our defenders were covering for each other, so we came clean, but we were not entirely comfortable in the 1st half.

2nd half was a different story. Our final pass was lacking in attack, but our front three did some nice interchanges (the passes are coming back) and we didn't give them a sniff.

[Tony19:6]

Gomez & Milner were superb when they came on.

[Claude Cat]

Only 50k attendance, eh? Could swear the additional members sale was sold out.

[PoetryInMotion]

The result confirms what Poetry in Motion and Defacto were talking about on the Pregame thread for Soton.

They thought we needed to inject the team with three to four changes.  They proved right with Firmino, Shaq and Matip.   Although, there were calls for Fabinho, Keita, Shaq and Moreno if I remember accurately.

Further, I think supporters like these fine two gentleman got it right with our offensively flow (especially, Shaq and Firmino -- combining all over the center of the pitch --- and in wide areas too.).  All three goals created by these substitutions.

However, I will say that the above quote by Klopp and the resulting changes did reinforce the idea that we needed more continuity ---  in system and personnel.  This was my point earlier, that teams on streak have a certain way they do things and changes to this can disrupt.

Ironically, Liverpool were able to handle these challenges, get some minutes for Keita, Shaq, and Matip without too much concern.  Let's hope VVD's x-ray is negative.   It will be interesting to see what Klopp refers to with his statement about what he thinks he messed up.

7 straight boys!   I hope.....

 

There's no doubt that we need continuity, but that's why training's there for, for Klopp to try different systems and combinations. Unfortunately, this time he said that they had to only do recovery sessions for the first couple of days and the day they started tactical training, there were weather issues. Hopefully, all this experience helps us in the future and we're able to tune ourselves better to use various combinations over the course of the season.

[I've been a good boy]

Didn't watch but saw that VVD came off injured, any news on that yet?

[classycarra]

Didn't watch but saw that VVD came off injured, any news on that yet?

Yep

[PoetryInMotion]

I can understand Klopp wanting to get control in midfield back but he should have took Mane off not Shaq. Mane barely had a kick in the first half. Mane has also played a shitload of minutes recently and Shaq could have just slotted onto the right of the front 3 keeping Mo down the middle.

Not to pick on the sub decisions, which were really good, but I agree with this line of reasoning. Anyway, I think Mane will get a rest this midweek and then we'll see where it takes us.

[sms1986]

Didn't watch but saw that VVD came off injured, any news on that yet?

Just a bruised rib, he'll be fine for next weekend.

[sharkfin034]

Can anyone inform me if the Shaqiri sub was tactical? Do you think this means we will see him feature less in the more advanced 8 role? I hope not as I was hoping he could play this role for us. Would Klopp really abandon this after only 45 mins?


Watching the game today was a really good feeling, knowing we would coast home for another 3 points. I have never had this feeling as a Liverpool fan in my life so far. I am 30 and this is just amazing times. We can do this!

[sms1986]

Can anyone inform me if the Shaqiri sub was tactical? Do you think this means we will see him feature less in the more advanced 8 role? I hope not as I was hoping he could play this role for us. Would Klopp really abandon this after only 45 mins?


Watching the game today was a really good feeling, knowing we would coast home for another 3 points. I have never had this feeling as a Liverpool fan in my life so far. I am 30 and this is just amazing times. We can do this!

It was tactical, yes.

[duvva 💅]

Thought Klopp got the half time substitution spot on. Although we were 3 up they had far more success in the first half. Second half they hardly had a kick.

Shame we didn’t add to the score but I think that’s more down to the fact we’re still not quite clicking or playing with the same fluency in the final third as last year. That said by the end of the game I thought Salah was looking more like his old self. Turning people running with the ball and looking like scoring.

Hopefully we can make it 8 league wins from 8 next Saturday, although I think last time we did that was 90/91 which didn’t end well. However I can’t see the same happening to this squad.

Roll on Wednesday, just can’t wait for the next game at the moment

EDIT: just realised it’s not our 8th league game next week but hopefully 8 from 8 will still be possible when Man City visit

[classycarra]

Just a bruised rib, he'll be fine for next weekend.

*klopp: "hopefully"

[sharkfin034]

Thought Klopp got the half time substitution spot on. Although we were 3 up they had far more success in the first half. Second half they hardly had a kick.

Shame we didn’t add to the score but I think that’s more down to the fact we’re still not quite clicking or playing with the same fluency in the final third as last year. That said by the end of the game I thought Salah was looking more like his old self. Turning people running with the ball and looking like scoring.

Hopefully we can make it 8 league wins from 8 next Saturday, although I think last time we did that was 90/91 which didn’t end well. However I can’t see the same happening to this squad.

Roll on Wednesday, just can’t wait for the next game at the moment

Yeah I agree with that, they certainly had no threat at all in the 2nd half. Salah is getting there, I saw those signs too.....I hope! I am the same brother!! Roll on wednesday!

[sharkfin034]

It was tactical, yes.

I saw that yeah

[Suareznumber7]

Southampton were beaten before a ball was kicked today weren’t they?

[sms1986]

Southampton were beaten before a ball was kicked today weren’t they?

A lot of teams will be when they visit Anfield this season, I bet!

[Eeyore]

It was tactical, yes.

I would argue that the tactical bit was starting Shaqiri in the first place.

It was a wildly imbalanced starting line up that encouraged Southampton to come out of their shell. Sit back and allow the likes of Shaqiri, Mane, Bobby and Mo to run riot or meet fire with fire. Hughes went with the meet fire with fire option and ended up fighting heat seeking missiles with pea shooters.

The best bit was Jurgen's 'we didn't have time to work on the defensive shape because of the weather line'

The truth is that parking the bus is now a gamble because we might overload the attacking positions, however we might play our normal game and look to dominate.

 

[Welshred]

Only 50k attendance, eh? Could swear the additional members sale was sold out.

We publish attendance figures by people in the ground, unlike other clubs who do it by tickets sold.

[sharkfin034]

Southampton were beaten before a ball was kicked today weren’t they?

Yes that was my feeling too mate. I am unaccustomed to it. I was almost bored with a routine 3-o win......what a time to be alive!

how do you explain this joy to the wife??? any advice guys? she thinks im crazy to be so pumped about it so many hours later. fair play to anyone who married a fellow red. well played.

[sharkfin034]

This team really feels like its got something special coming. They came out and played like real contenders.

[abs-ibs]

Completely agree that Salah looked much more like his old self that we saw rampaging through teams last year. The smile was back even when he missed chances. We looked like we are slowly getting back into that groove that we got into last year.

If I remember rightly it took a couple of months for us to get going last year too, but we have just had the success in the games this year instead of the infuriating draws.

Decent game in the first half and Shakiri was awesome. More defensive in the second but Soton were well n truly beaten.

Chelsea x2 next.

YNWA

[sharkfin034]

Completely agree that Salah looked much more like his old self that we saw rampaging through teams last year. The smile was back even when he missed chances. We looked like we are slowly getting back into that groove that we got into last year.

If I remember rightly it took a couple of months for us to get going last year too, but we have just had the success in the games this year instead of the infuriating draws.

Decent game in the first half and Shakiri was awesome. More defensive in the second but Soton were well n truly beaten.

Chelsea x2 next.

YNWA

Yes it does usually seem to take Klopp teams some time to hit top gear, but I believe they prefer to tailor their peak period toward the second half of the season. You nailed the difference though, comfortable wins instead of infuriating draws and bad luck etc etc etc Salah is starting to look happier toward the end of the game too. Did he look almost embarresed to have scored the tap in?


I too though Shaqiri was great offensively and hope he can develop into the midfield in a more complete way in the future. Exciting times!

[sharkfin034]

You could see a few more slick passing moves between the forwards linking up today. each game a little faster, a little better. Someone is in for an 8-0 smashing at some point when they click

[sharkfin034]

there's gotta be some US reds fans who are still awake, help me analyse our progress! I may not have a high post count but.....I may know a thing or 2

[G Richards]

It’s going very well. Mind you, Man City still look very good indeed. Nothing will be decided but we’ll know a bit more after the next two league games against Chelsea and Man City. Win both of them and a little gap opens up and it could put a lot of wind in our sails. Early days though, and we have to go one game at a time. Next up, League Cup.

[sharkfin034]

It’s going very well. Mind you, Man City still look very good indeed. Nothing will be decided but we’ll know a bit more after the next two league games against Chelsea and Man City. Win both of them and a little gap opens up and it could put a lot of wind in our sails. Early days though, and we have to go one game at a time. Next up, League Cup.

Yeah man, I think we will do well in these games. We will continue to raise our level to beat whats in front of us. As you say a nice little gap could emerge afterwards and from there its just full steam ahead and try and hang on as long as possible. I hope seeing us go toe to toe with city in these games will put more pressure on them this year. City were 3-0 up at the break and mustve thought they were making a statement, only to find we were up 3 as well!

[harleydanger]

It’s going very well. Mind you, Man City still look very good indeed. Nothing will be decided but we’ll know a bit more after the next two league games against Chelsea and Man City. Win both of them and a little gap opens up and it could put a lot of wind in our sails. Early days though, and we have to go one game at a time. Next up, League Cup.

Chelsea and City are the two biggest league games since the one against Chelsea under Rodgers.

This is going to be some year, enjoy the ride.

[Claude Cat]

Chelsea and City are the two biggest league games since the one against Chelsea under Rodgers.

This is going to be some year, enjoy the ride.

I reckon Middlesbrough at home 16/17 was bigger like. Imagine where we'd be now if Arsenal pipped us to CL football that day.

[Giono]

Southampton were beaten before a ball was kicked today weren’t they?

A good defence can do that. A good offence makes the opponents nervous, a good defence makes them despair.

[Qcase1977]

Yep

Fantastically helpful answer that.

[Redshadow]

Yes that was my feeling too mate. I am unaccustomed to it. I was almost bored with a routine 3-o win......what a time to be alive!

how do you explain this joy to the wife??? any advice guys? she thinks im crazy to be so pumped about it so many hours later. fair play to anyone who married a fellow red. well played.

Have that difficulty also with my wife. Thank God my boy is 10 and really shows interest in Liverpool. So I have someone to share this excitement; although I had trouble consoling him after losing to Madrid and my wife scolded me for getting him into this. 

[biscuitme]

there's gotta be some US reds fans who are still awake, help me analyse our progress! I may not have a high post count but.....I may know a thing or 2

There's a lot of false assumptions in this post. I would start by giving us your two cents-pence

[MinnyRed]

there's gotta be some US reds fans who are still awake, help me analyse our progress! I may not have a high post count but.....I may know a thing or 2

Yep. Always here for you. We’re boss and getting more boss.

[PhaseOfPlay]

Southampton were beaten before a ball was kicked today weren’t they?

They were  beaten the day they hired Mark Hughes!

[No666]

Have that difficulty also with my wife. Thank God my boy is 10 and really shows interest in Liverpool. So I have someone to share this excitement; although I had trouble consoling him after losing to Madrid and my wife scolded me for getting him into this. 

Just remind her what he'd be going through had you been an Evertonian. --I have my daughter's permission to brainwash my granddaughter. They live between the old Boleyn Ground and the Olympic Stadium ... so shouldn't be too hard to ensure.

[sidneyroughdiamond]

Apologies in advance but does anyone know where I can find George's set list pre game yesterday ? Many thanks.

[vicar]

Only 50k attendance, eh? Could swear the additional members sale was sold out.

There were definitely a few empty seats scattered around. I guess its the nature of the way we sell tickets, people want the credits and don't always go.

[ConqueredAllOfEurope]

When you win 7/7 without really getting out of second gear 

The team organisation is just fantastic to see.

[88_RED]

@JamesMilner
Proud to be part of this team 💪🏻🔴 #seveninarow #YNWA

Keita should put out the next tweet at 8 in a row..

[Red Beret]

Keita should put out the next tweet at 8 in a row..

In which case I'm looking forward to Shaqiri's tweet.