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Brentford 3 Liverpool 3 (Sep 25 2021)

     

     
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    Report by
    Dave Usher

Shite that. Two points thrown away and a defensive showing that brought back unpleasant memories of the days before Virgil. We looked a soft touch, and that's not like us.

 

We had a bit of a disagreement on the podcast about whether this is on the forwards or the defence. In the past I’d usually be the first one to pin it on wasteful forwards, mainly on the basis that the defensive side of our game is normally so reliable that they should be allowed the occasional bad game and when that happens they should be entitled to expect the forwards to bail them out.

 

This time I don’t see it that way. Sure, we could have scored more goals but we did get three and it’s not like we squandered loads of chances. There were a few that probably should have been converted but you aren’t going to score with every chance and three should have been enough. It wasn’t enough because we defended like knobheads.

 

That’s not a shot at the back four specifically either; it’s a team thing. We gave away shitty goals, we didn't press well enough and this wasn’t one of those games where everything they hit went in and you can therefore put it down to bad luck. They looked dangerous all day and fully deserved a point, because we just never got to grips with what they were doing. 

 

It’s not like what they were doing was unique or anything we don’t face all the time. It was very direct. Loads of long balls up to two physical frontmen and plenty of crosses into an overloaded box. They did it well, credit to them, but we shouldn’t be getting done like that as often as we did.

 

I didn't see it coming, especially after such a great first ten minutes. It was going exactly how you’d want it to and there were no warnings of what was to come. We were within a whisker of an early goal when Jota played Mo in and his shot was cleared off the line by a defender who came out of nowhere. Mo’s first touch wasn’t brilliant which meant his options were limited and all he could do was poke it through the keepers legs. It looked like it had enough pace to get there but credit to the lad for getting back.

 

Sadio’s follow up effort was fucking terrible. He shouldn’t even be attempting to score from that angle and should have taken a touch and tried to pick someone out. He scored a similar chance last week but a) that was a better angle, b) it was his right foot and c) this wasn’t Crystal Palace.

 

Then we had our first scare when Matip had to get back and clear off the line too. That was basic shit that we didn’t deal with. We were on the attack but the keeper came out to deal with it and launched it upfield. Matip lost the header to Toney but Virgil was in no man’s land and Mbeumo went through. He dinked it over Alisson but there wasn’t enough pace on the ball and big Joel got back in to clear the danger.

 

That chance changed the game really as Brentford took great encouragement from it and after that they were a real handful. They went ahead with a superbly worked free-kick that completely caught us napping. Curtis let a runner go and they got in behind him. The ball was fizzed across the box, Toney got a flick and Jota didn’t goal side of his man in the middle. He couldn’t get there but then Fabinho was caught napping on the back post and Pinnock tapped in.

 

Really well played by them but we were so fucking dozy right across the team and that was a sign of things to come.

 

We were level almost immediately though. Hendo whipped in a cross from the right and Jota got between two defenders to bury the header. Quality finish from him, and he almost had a second soon after but was denied by an incredible save by the keeper. It was from a Jones shot that was deflected onto the post. Jota reacted first and did nothing wrong, but that save was incredible.

 

We had a decent chance to go ahead just on half time when Robbo’s surging run was brought to an illegal end on the edge of the box. Mo and Trent were talking about it for ages, but we all knew Trent was going to be the one taking it. He shouldn’t have been though.

 

This isn’t me doing the same thing I did a while ago when I said he should be taken off free-kicks and then he scored one in the very next game. I’m not advocating Salah be put on them either as he’s not the best and I always envisage him floating them well over the bar. On this occasion though, it was screaming out for the left footer as the keeper was covering the far post and left that side of the goal wide open. Instead, Trent took it and it was shite.

 

We took the lead early in the second half when Fabinho produced that trademark diagonal ball of his into the stride of Mo who finished first time. The flag went up and it did look off on the first viewing. The replay showed their right back had dropped a yard behind everyone else and Mo was comfortably onside really. This wasn’t one of those toenail decisions, you could see clear daylight between the two lines they drew.

 

100 LFC goals for Mo now. Here’s to the next hundred. Assuming they give him a contract, of course.

 

And then it was 2-2. Shitty goal to concede. There was no pressure on the cross, then they had three players challenging Trent on the back post. He’s got no fucking chance there. The ball drops to one of their players who hits the bar, then another one of their lads heads it up in the air and then wins the next header while Virgil is looking around trying to locate the ball. Trent tried to get back and clear but it’s over the line. Shite. By the time the ball went over the line they had seven players in the box, so credit to them too even if we should be doing better. 

 

So we had to go again. And we did. A couple of minutes later Jones lashed one in from the edge of the box. Great strike, went like a rocket, but the keeper probably gets there is a slight nick didn’t elevate the ball just over his outstretched arm. 

 

Curtis enjoyed that though. Probably didn’t enjoy seeing his number on the fourth officials board straight away though. Still, he left on a high note.

 

That change was interesting as it was Bobby that came on and we switched to 4-2-3-1. It worked for a while and we should have killed the game off with a couple of good chances that we didn’t take. The best one fell to Mo who ran onto a Mané pass but was too casual and lobbed it up onto the roof of the net. That was probably the only think Sadio did right all game.

 

We were in control at that point but it didn’t last and Brentford came again. Their equaliser was another fucking dreadful one from our perspective. Big ball to the back post where Trent has two players on him. Again he’s got no chance of dealing with that, but what the fuck is everyone else doing? Ball watching, that’s what.

 

Jota stands there watching, Matip is too slow getting there, Alisson isn’t quick enough off his line, Virgil doesn’t bother getting back on the line and just stands in the middle watching, and just like that, 3-3. Fucks sake.

 

It could have been worse too when a long ball up the middle sent the lively Toney through, but Virgil’s recovery pace saved the day. We had a chance to win it when Sadio’s cross was almost put into his own net by a defender, but again the keeper saved the day for them. 

 

The draw was fair and very few of our players come out of this with any credit. Mo was really good again but he missed the chance that would have wrapped it up, so that takes some of the shine off what he did. Jota had his best game of the season and Curtis was very good. Everyone else? Must do better.

 

Robbo has developed a concerning habit this season of playing people onside all the time by either dropping in deeper than everyone else, or just being slower than the rest to get out. He needs to knock that shit off as it’s mostly about concentration.

 

As pissed off as I am about this it doesn’t really change my view on anything. We always have one or two mad games in a season like this one, it’s just that usually we’ll find a winner and get away with it. Not this time, but it did actually extend our ‘lead’ at the top of the table. We went top on goal difference after Chelsea lost, but this almost had a feel of Rafa in 2008 when we kept drawing to shite to extend out lead but it was a hollow feeling as we knew it was a missed opportunity.

 

It’s too early in the season to be thinking like that but it’s still frustrating as fuck. Beat City next week though and this will quickly be forgotten. Ultimately it’s just one of those days that every team has from time to time. They sting at the time but as long as it doesn’t become a habit you can just put it to bed and move one.

 

We’ve got the Champions League in midweek and it will be interesting to see what Klopp does with his team selection. Beating Milan gives us a little leeway and a draw wouldn’t be bad, but ideally we’ll be able to rest a couple and still win the game. Bobby needs to come back in now and if he performs then you’d think Sadio’s place is under serious threat for the weekend.

 

Kostas probably deserves a run out too but I think I’d play Robbo to let him find his rhythm . Maybe Joel or Virgil (or both) get a rest, but the Tuesday / Sunday thing gives Klopp some leeway to not have to worry too much about overplaying anyone.

 

Star man is Curtis. 

 

 

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones (Firmino); Salah, Jota, Mané:

 

 


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Good report Dave. From Brentford's perspective, they had a go and fought well for the point. I just got the feeling 2 seasons ago we wouldnt have shipped so many goals.

 

Not sure Id rest either \ both Joel and Virgil against Porto after that showing on Saturday. I think the pair need to get back on the horse as it were and tighten up at the back.

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59 minutes ago, dockers_strike said:

Not sure Id rest either \ both Joel and Virgil against Porto after that showing on Saturday. I think the pair need to get back on the horse as it were and tighten up at the back.

Follow that logic but Konate and Gomez are going to get quizzical if they aren't given any chances in weeks where we have 3 tough games in eight days.

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Matip simply can't be trusted to play 3 games in a week so therefore i'd rest him in midweek so he is ok for the cheats on Sunday.

 

VVD being on way back to full match fitness after so long out is also probably a risk for 3 games in a week as well.

 

Be interesting to see what Klopp does at centre half.

 

 

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I don't really care who takes the free kick. There is on job, and one job only. Hit the target. Hit the target. I knew Trent wouldn't manage that simple task and so it proved to be. And sooo many crap corners too. Good grief. 

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This could become a template for opposing sides. A bit more than just lump it to the right side of our defence and not everyone has a Toney so not overly concerned right now but we have to be switched on. As said in the report, beat Citeh and we’ll view it as a point gained. 

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In addition to that Robbo has a tendency to drift in behind the offside-line, his crosses and corners are not that good anymore. Once in a while he produces quality crosses, but so far this season Kostas has been superior when it comes to deliveries.

For matches where we are expected to see most of the ball, I would now like to see Kostas start at left back

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Trent took it and it was shite.

 

We had a player unmarked on the edge of the box, mix it up and play the side pass for a shot. 

Also, still don't get why Trent and Robbo stand over a free kick no matter where it is on the pitch, Trent takes them, leave it to him.

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Good report that,Robbo has also developed a concerning habit of being weak as piss in the tackle and turning his back,he needs to knock that on the head too,his attempt to block the cross for the first goal was abysmal 

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Agree with you, the disappointing result in on the defense. But if we look at the bright side, this game was the Villa away of last year. So we only conceded 3 and we took a point to be top ( watch mighty Brighton though). Let’s beat City and roll on …

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The defending was awful but hopefully it was just a one off, the finishing wasn't great but their keeper had a really good game and still conceded 3 he was their man of the match I'd say. Hopefully moving forward Trent doesn't get isolated like that again because every team will look at that and try to use it against us.

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9 hours ago, major said:

In addition to that Robbo has a tendency to drift in behind the offside-line, his crosses and corners are not that good anymore. Once in a while he produces quality crosses, but so far this season Kostas has been superior when it comes to deliveries.

For matches where we are expected to see most of the ball, I would now like to see Kostas start at left back

i would now like to see kostas start at left back, wow mr usher wont enjoy reading that comment, suggesting you drop 'his boy robbo'

 

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Yes it's hindsite but it was a game Nat Phillips would have been made for.  I miss big Nat heading everything. We wouldn't be playing in Porto tomorrow without him... and Rhys too of course.

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On 27/09/2021 at 00:22, sir roger said:

Follow that logic but Konate and Gomez are going to get quizzical if they aren't given any chances in weeks where we have 3 tough games in eight days.

Yeah wouldnt disagree with that thinking either Roger. It's good that jurgen has the conundrum to sort out.

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