Report by
Dave Usher at Anfield
After the Swansea defeat I was annoyed and frustrated more than anything else. After this loss, my biggest feeling is worry. It's only two games, but even so, it just feels like things might be getting away from us, just like they did this time last year. Losing to West Brom is bad enough, but the way we lost has to have set massive alarm bells ringing off for Klopp.
I’m trying not to panic because I said earlier in the season that the way the team responded to the loss at Spurs means they deserve the benefit of the doubt the next time they let themselves down. An impressive 18 game unbeaten run means they deserve some slack. Two bad results does not undo all the progress we’ve seen this season and I don’t want to be a massive shithouse and jump overboard at the first sign of trouble, but I’d be lying if I said my confidence hasn’t been shaken by the events of this past week.
Not so much the Swansea game as that was just one of those things that can happen to anyone. They wanted to defend for their lives and play for a goalless draw, but they took advantage of a set-piece and then rode their luck to hold on for a win. We didn’t play well but we didn't get any of the breaks in that game either. You could argue it was unlucky.
This defeat was much worse because we did get virtually all of the breaks and still lost. Deservedly. West Brom didn’t just sit back and they were good value for their win. It wasn't a park the bus smash and grab. They actually looked like they’d score every time they got anywhere near our box. It was a chastening experience and we looked an absolute shambles.
Klopp has occasionally taken liberties with his team selections in the cup competitions but you can’t accuse him of not taking this one seriously. He picked more or less his strongest team, which makes the defeat even more alarming really as we can’t even use the ‘weakened side’ excuse. We threw the best we had at the team that is second from bottom in the table, and we came up short.
What went wrong? I don’t even know. The easiest thing is to say everything. Not much went right, that’s for sure. The forwards aren’t at their best right now, but they weren't that bad though and did put two goals on the board, which should be enough to win. Defensively we were a joke and the midfield didn’t help out at either end of the pitch. It was just a mess. I’d like to think that Klopp knows what the problems are and how to fix them, but I suspect he was just as fucking perplexed at what went on as the rest of us were.
Talk about the loss of Coutinho all you like, and clearly that hasn’t helped, but it’s much more than that. It wasn’t the absence of Coutinho that allowed West Brom to score three times in the first half. Four if you count the one that we were fortunate to see ruled out by the video ref. I’ll get to that whole farcical situation in due course though, as there’s a lot I want to say about it.
Going back to the team selection for a second, the only thing I could take issue with was the choice of goalkeeper. I know this is how it usually works, with one taking the league games and the other getting the cups, but the situation changed when Mignolet was dumped the other week. This wasn’t like before, when he knew he just needed to bide his time and fight to regain his place. He’s finished here now and he knows it, so why play him? What possible benefit is there in that decision?
If Karius turns out to be shite that doesn’t change Mignolet’s situation at all, as it just means Klopp will buy another keeper in the summer. He almost certainly will anyway but in the meantime he may as well have a proper look at Karius just to see if he’s worth keeping around. The Mig is done here though, so why bring him back in to play in the cup? Is he going to get the Champions League games now too? I’d assume not. Mignolet wasn’t the reason we lost, but he certainly didn’t help as he was crap.
Then there’s Moreno. He came in for Robertson but looked rusty after his lay off. Robertson should be - and hopefully is - first choice now, but he’s played a lot of football lately and I’ve got no issue with him being rested for this one. Similarly on the opposite flank, Trent coming in for Gomez made sense, as the plan was to be on the front foot and his delivery should have given us a more productive outlet down the right. Should have, but didn’t. He was terrible, but the decision to start him was the right one.
So overall I’m happy that Klopp tried to go as strong as possible and that he took the game seriously. We need to win trophies and if I thought he’d prioritised the Huddersfield game in midweek I’d have been pissed off. He didn’t do that, but having lost the game anyway we would have been better off if he had done. Now we go to Huddersfield with some heavy legs.
West Brom had half a dozen players missing with flu, but Pardew still went with two strikers and although their 4-4-2 looked pretty defensive on paper, that’s not how it played out as they were not hesitant in getting midfield players forward when possible. Credit to them, they played well. We were garbage though, despite getting off to the perfect start with an early goal.
The goal was a gift and did not come from good build up play, but no-one was complaining. Johnny Evans looked to be in no trouble as he chased a through ball ahead of Salah, but for some reason he decided to leave it for his goalkeeper who had no chance of getting there. Mo nipped in and although Foster did well to keep out his low shot, Bobby pounced and dinked the rebound over everyone and into the net. Lovely finish that.
It was a present though and just what we needed after the Swansea game, but we failed to take advantage of it and immediately allowed them to equalise pretty much right from the kick off. Brilliant finish from Rodriguez, but defensively it was poor. Very poor. Wijnaldum lost possession, Trent failed to win it back, Can didn’t react quickly enough and Moreno was too slow to get round on the cover.
It quickly got worse as Rodriguez pounced again. The defending was crap once more. Can was beaten far too easily and then didn’t get back in quickly enough, while Moreno was once again napping and didn’t get round on the cover in time. Too often Moreno just doesn’t think like a defender in those situations and that was the case on both goals, although the second was more egregious than the first.
It was just a collective mess though. I’ve been saying since the summer that Van Dijk wouldn’t stop the goals going in against us because much as some people like to blame Lovren for anything that goes wrong, it’s never been about one player and if anything, we probably concede more when Lovren isn't there (I don't have stats to back that up, it's just a general feeling so if I'm wrong it won't be the first, or last time). Van Dijk should help, otherwise there was no point shelling out all that dough on him, but one player isn’t going to make us water tight even if he’s Hansen, Lawrenson, Carragher and Hyypia rolled into one.
We were all at sea any time they got near our box, it was just shambolic and depressing. This was West Brom, not fucking Man City. It then looked like they’d scored a third from a corner but that’s when all the video nonsense began. Dawson headed in from about three yards out and the whole thing seemed to happen in slow motion. Mignolet and a few defenders appealed for something so the ref called for the video.
It took an eternity but eventually the verdict went in our favour. No-one in the ground seemed to know why it had been disallowed and most around me assumed Dawson had been punished for going over the back of Firmino, but then I got a message from a mate saying it was offside.
Having since watched a replay of it I’d say we got lucky. That’s not to say the decision was wrong, it was right because Barry’s big fat arse was marginally offside and as he was stood in front of the keeper technically he was interfering with play. The goal was given initially and had that been a league game we’d have been 3-1 down. So yeah, we got lucky.
It was weak from Mignolet. He should have been coming out and dealing with that, and although I accept that Barry’s arse could block out the sun, you still need to find a way around him to deal with the cross and frankly it was pitiful from the Mig, as he didn’t even really try to get past him. Also, what the fuck was Firmino doing ducking underneath the ball instead of heading it away? That was shite too.
The amount of time that was wasted for them to get to that decision seemed a bit excessive but it chalked off a goal against us so no-one inside Anfield was complaining. Apart from Pardew, his players and the Albion fans in the Anny Road of course. They were even more pissed off soon after when Salah went tumbling in the box and immediately started yelling at the ref to go to the video. He did, and this is where it got confusing.
On the previous one he waited until he was told in his headset that the goal shouldn’t stand. On this, he waited for a while and then decided to go over to the touchline himself and have a look at the screen. Why didn’t he do that on the first one? Did the video ref tell him he needed to look for himself? I honestly have no idea how the fuck any of this works.
No-one sat around me had a fucking clue what was happening, but then he came back on the pitch and pointed to the spot so again, no complaints from us. It was the right decision too. Mo milked it a bit but he was cleared pulled back by Livermore and having seen a replay of it the ref had to give it. Great this VAR thing isn’t it? Well no actually, but I’ll get to that in a second.
Firmino was the obvious choice to take the pen as he’d be the one I trusted most of those on the field. I didn’t trust him much though if I’m honest, and I wasn’t shocked that he missed. I think Bobby’s problem is trying to be too precise. The last one he missed hit the inside of the post, this one hit the underside of the bar. Both close to being perfect, but both missed, and both costly.
It proved to be a massive turning point as in first half stoppage time West Brom scored a third. I’m not happy at all about this one as it should never have stood. Firstly, the free kick that led to it was never a foul. Mané got the ball and Barry bought a free-kick by feigning contact when there didn’t look to be any. Secondly, when the free-kick is played forward Dawson is offside. I thought he was at the time and the replay confirms it, as the below screenshot (taken at the moment the free kick was taken) shows.
Not only that, but when he won the header the player in the middle who went for it was definitely offside (see the second screenshot), but because Van Dijk beat him to the ball the linesman didn’t flag. Sorry, that’s bollocks. Is Van Dijk supposed to leave it in the hope that the linesman has spotted the offside and puts his flag up? He headed the ball away to stop it reaching a forward in an offside position. Dawson was trying to pick him out, the player himself moves towards the ball, it’s FUCKING OFFSIDE.
I even thought Dawson was offside when it came back to him the second time, but it turns out he was level. He hit the ball across Mignolet but Matip’s attempted clearance was fucking shocking and it hit him and went over the line. Because it looked like Dawson may have been offside they went to the video again but this time the goal stood. What were they looking at, because as shown above there were two offsides in the build up. Do they not count? How far back are they allowed to go when reviewing it? Load of shite.
That isn’t even the reason I’m not down with the VAR though. I hate it because it completely kills the moment. West Brom went 3-1 up at Anfield but couldn’t celebrate it because it went to the video and they'd been burned twice by it already. By the time the officials looked at it and gave the goal, the moment had completely passed and it was embarrassing looking at the Albion players because they didn’t know what to do or who to celebrate with. It’s shit and if this comes in for every game it will completely kill the emotion of the moment.
When the ball hits the net you go wild. Occasionally, if there's something a little bit iffy you may have a quick look at the ref or linesman to see if they aren’t signalling anything before you completely lose it, but generally it's a split second emotional response and that moment of unbridled joy is the best thing about watching football. This shit is going to take that away from us though. Ask West Brom fans how they felt about that third goal. Going 3-1 up at Anfield should have been an amazing moment they'd remember for the rest of their lives. They still will I suppose, but for all the wrong reasons.
Tell you what else was fucked up. Four minutes stoppage time at the end of the half? There was four minutes for the first VAR alone, at least two minutes on the second and in between that West Brom had two players need treatment on the pitch for hamstring injuries that forced them off soon after. There should have been at least eight minutes added on, but that would have been embarrassing for the officials so they cut it in half to save face.
And those hamstring injuries.... bit of a co-incidence they came so soon after the game was stopped for those decisions, don't you think? Pardew blamed the stoppages for the injuries and I reckon he’s got a case. So in short, I’m not on board with VAR and hope it doesn’t come in full time. It probably will though, and it'll be yet another nail in the coffin of football.
Anyway, the second half started the same way the first had ended and West Brom had a couple of dangerous moments in the opening minutes. The crowd were ready to turn now but in fairness the players then got a grip of the game and forced West Brom back. Not that they needed much encouragement to sit back, as it reached a point where they decided a two goal lead was enough and they battoned down the hatches and prepared for a siege that didn’t really come.
We had a few moments here and there but never built up a proper head of steam. For once Klopp didn’t fuck about with his subs and he made a triple change just after the hour. It didn’t turn the game for us but it did see some improvement. Ox and Can were obvious candidates for the hook but I’d have dragged Wijnaldum off too. Instead it was Mané, who in fairness couldn’t really have any complaints.
His performance was weird. I felt in the first half that he looked quite sharp but he kept taking the safe option and was always looking to lay it off instead of go himself. There were several opportunities for him to drive at his man, cut inside and shoot, but he was reluctant to do it. Then in the second half he just wasn’t doing anything. Ings was more of a threat in the short time he was on. At least he wanted to work the goalkeeper.
Henderson came on and was immediately about five levels up from anything we’ve seen from the rest of our midfield since the City game. He passed the ball with purpose, with a bit of zip on the ball and - most importantly - ahead of his intended target so they were able to take the ball on the run and not have to wait for it or go backwards to collect it. It’s a basic thing but some of our players just don’t seem to bother with it. I'm fed up of seeing the ball passed behind people.
By passing it with pace in front of someone it gives them that extra split second of space before the opposition shuffle across. I’m sick of seeing our players having to wait for a pass to arrive at their feet because it’s not been hit crisply enough. Henderson didn’t do anything special and yet it still elevated our play, which goes to show how little those other crabs had contributed.
Big Sexy had an absolute ‘mare. Don’t ever make him captain again. He’s had the armband twice and we’ve lost to the bottom two teams in the league. Even allowing for the valid argument that a player refusing to sign a contract should not be captain, the lad is a fucking jinx anyway. I like him and I think he’s had a solid season, but he was proper shite in this game.
The midfield now concerns me deeply. Losing Coutinho has left a massive creative void in there but with a fully fit Lallana available between now and May we’d be able to cope. That’s not going to happen though is it? He’s been missing virtually all season and then just as it looked like he was ready to come back in, he’s fucking injured again. It’s always muscle injuries with him and it’s never a short term thing either. We can’t count on him, and if we can’t count on him then we’re in trouble.
Realistically, is this midfield going to have enough to secure a top four spot? We concede too many goals and when teams deny the front three space to run into it reduces their effectiveness by at least 50%. When that happens we need the midfield to help out but they’re basically all just water carriers. Where the inspirational player in there? There isn’t one. Not paying that extra to get Naby Keita is understandable on a matter of principle, but this midfield really needs help right now and it doesn’t look like the cavalry are coming any time soon.
When we got back to 3-2 there was plenty of time left and we had momentum. We should have got something out of the game from there but it quickly fizzled out and went flat again. The delivery from out wide was shocking, whether it was Trent slinging in high hopeful balls that provided nothing other than catching practice for Foster, or Ox and then Milner delivering shite corners, it just wasn’t good enough.
But I have some sympathy for those putting in crosses because what did they have to aim for? Ings and Firmino were usually the only ones in the box but I doubt if Trent and Moreno could even see them given all the height West Brom had in there. Not least that big Egyptian fucker who looks like he should have been running out at the Royal Rumble this weekend rather than at Anfield. What Foster didn’t catch he was just heading away.
Until stoppage time when finally, FINALLY, Van Dijk went up top and hey, guess what, he almost scored with a header. This is what is doing my fucking head in at the moment with Klopp. The other night at Swansea we needed a goal and there was zero chance of a counter attack as Swansea were in all out defence mode. Yet Van Dijk only went up right at the end. He was the one who picked the ball up in the box and crossed for Firmino to almost grab us a point. This time he goes up and almost scores himself.
Next time we’re in this situation, get him up there with ten minutes to go and throw the fucking kitchen sink at them. If teams want to defend their own box and deny us space to play through, fine, let’s take advantage of that and sling some crosses in to the big man. Don’t be too proud to do it, Jurgen, don’t forget it wasn’t that long ago you were throwing Steven Caulker on as a battering ram late in games (and having some success with it too).
We need to get the rig back on the road now because we saw this time last year how quickly a season can be derailed. We just about managed to rally and sneak fourth spot last season but it’s going to be harder this year as the competition is so fierce. A couple of weeks ago we looked shoe ins for the top four, but then Coutinho was sold, we’ve had two terrible performances and all of a sudden it feels as though we’re the ones most at risk.
We have to beat Huddersfield this week and then at the very least not lose to Spurs, otherwise a couple of bad results could turn into slump and a crisis of confidence. A couple of wins and we can just put this down to a minor blip. As I said though, I'm worried.
Star man is…. hell I don’t even know. Henderson, Ings, Firmino and Van Dijk weren’t terrible but two of them weren’t on long enough for me to justify giving it to them and the other two were just ok, nothing more. Can I give it to the video?
Team: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Moreno; Can (Henderson), Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Milner); Salah, Firmino, Mané (Ings):
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