by bodacious benny » Mon Aug 22, 2022 9:00 am
Still buzzing after the game yesterday. I can't recall many games where a team outside of Liverpool has gone toe-to-toe with Man City and given them a game like that. I'd be interested to see how many times Man C have conceded 3 goals in the PL under Pep, can't be many. And on another day we could have had 4 or 5 had it been for better finishing. Actually, had the game finished 5-5 you'd have said "yeah, that seems about right". I'm still more than happy with a point against a team who are certainly one of the top 3 teams in world football, yes we were 3-1 up but we were also trailing and showed amazing fight and spirit to come back from the early set back. How many times under Bruce (and even Rafa) were we resigned to losing as soon as we went 1-0 down? It was commonplace, now when we fall behind I don't sit there thinking that it's game over, we know we'll still play and will still go to get something out of the game.
Pope was tremendous yesterday, our MOTM alongside ASM. He was an absolute steal, and again showed his value when he was very quick off his line a couple of times to deny Haaland. We do struggle a bit more with Burn at LB as he's obviously not a LB but that'll sort itself when Targett is back. Will be interesting to see which of the centre backs (Schar/Burn/Botman) get dropped.
Loved how much we collectively pressed them and didn't let them settle, it was backs to the wall for the last 20 minutes but that's not surprising against a team of City's quality. The fitness of the players was evident again with the press we put on them and the amount of closing down we were doing, pre-Howe the entire team were gassed by half-time, what a turn around.
Joelinton and Bruno are forming a great partnership in midfield, you can tell the confidence is oozing through Joelinton now as his touch and some of his movement and passing is continuing to improve (as well as his all action in your face display that we all love now!). I think that Willock has done well in Shelvey's absence and adds some drive from midfield too.
I'm glad that Almiron got his goal, but it did show why we're looking to get a new right side attacker as for all his hard work that we love, in the positions he finds himself in we need someone to score/assist more regularly. But what a position to be in if we get someone like Joao Pedro and then can bring Miggy on to help see out games.
On the left ASM was exceptional, one of his best games for us and a joy to watch. I thought he could be a weak link v City if he didn't fall in line and work with the team but my God, what an outlet he was (helped by City playing their fullbacks in CM). Wilson did what Wilson does, and again could've had a couple of goals. Howe is managing him well too, in seasons gone by he'd have played the full 90 mins but Howe is smarter than that and sees the bigger picture.
Roll on next week and hopefully points at Wolves, and Tranmere in midweek probably gives the likes of Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Longstaff and one or two others some decent game time.
Still buzzing after the game yesterday. I can't recall many games where a team outside of Liverpool has gone toe-to-toe with Man City and given them a game like that. I'd be interested to see how many times Man C have conceded 3 goals in the PL under Pep, can't be many. And on another day we could have had 4 or 5 had it been for better finishing. Actually, had the game finished 5-5 you'd have said "yeah, that seems about right". I'm still more than happy with a point against a team who are certainly one of the top 3 teams in world football, yes we were 3-1 up but we were also trailing and showed amazing fight and spirit to come back from the early set back. How many times under Bruce (and even Rafa) were we resigned to losing as soon as we went 1-0 down? It was commonplace, now when we fall behind I don't sit there thinking that it's game over, we know we'll still play and will still go to get something out of the game.
Pope was tremendous yesterday, our MOTM alongside ASM. He was an absolute steal, and again showed his value when he was very quick off his line a couple of times to deny Haaland. We do struggle a bit more with Burn at LB as he's obviously not a LB but that'll sort itself when Targett is back. Will be interesting to see which of the centre backs (Schar/Burn/Botman) get dropped.
Loved how much we collectively pressed them and didn't let them settle, it was backs to the wall for the last 20 minutes but that's not surprising against a team of City's quality. The fitness of the players was evident again with the press we put on them and the amount of closing down we were doing, pre-Howe the entire team were gassed by half-time, what a turn around.
Joelinton and Bruno are forming a great partnership in midfield, you can tell the confidence is oozing through Joelinton now as his touch and some of his movement and passing is continuing to improve (as well as his all action in your face display that we all love now!). I think that Willock has done well in Shelvey's absence and adds some drive from midfield too.
I'm glad that Almiron got his goal, but it did show why we're looking to get a new right side attacker as for all his hard work that we love, in the positions he finds himself in we need someone to score/assist more regularly. But what a position to be in if we get someone like Joao Pedro and then can bring Miggy on to help see out games.
On the left ASM was exceptional, one of his best games for us and a joy to watch. I thought he could be a weak link v City if he didn't fall in line and work with the team but my God, what an outlet he was (helped by City playing their fullbacks in CM). Wilson did what Wilson does, and again could've had a couple of goals. Howe is managing him well too, in seasons gone by he'd have played the full 90 mins but Howe is smarter than that and sees the bigger picture.
Roll on next week and hopefully points at Wolves, and Tranmere in midweek probably gives the likes of Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Longstaff and one or two others some decent game time.
