When Darwin gave us that early lead, of all of the possible ways this game could have played out, us hanging on and needing to wait until stoppage time to get the vital second goal to make the game safe seemed just about the least likely. I could put that down to some sloppy finishing and us not really showing the urgency needed to put them away, but I think that would be unfair.
We did put them away, twice, but when you’re having perfectly good goals ruled out for no reason then it makes life much more difficult. If Gakpo’s goal stands, I reckon we go on to score five or six. If Harvey’s goals stands, we probably score three or four. So as much as I was frustrated at the time at our inability to kill the game, on reflection I’m giving the lads a pass here as they scored four goals and I’m sure it would have been more if the PGMOL mafia had done their job properly.
I’ll get to that though. I’ll start with the line up, which was mostly as expected but with one notable exception. The back four picked itself as Konate doesn’t play twice a week so Quansah was always coming in for this one. The only decision to be made up front was Gakpo or Diaz. Nunez was always starting after being given a rest against Arsenal, but Diaz got a knock against Arsenal and even though it was just an impact injury, it would have been a surprise if he started.
So midfield was the area where the biggest decisions needed to be made. Szoboszlai was rested so Elliott could start, which I was totally on board with. Good game for Harvey to play in given the way Burnley play. He deserved his chance to start so I liked that. I was shocked to see Curtis on the bench though. Not because of how bad Gravenberh’s cameo against Arsenal was, that’s just one of those things and means nothing, but because Jones was brought off early against Arsenal and has been in great form this past week. Why would he not be starting? It’s a weird one.
Either there are fitness things going on or maybe it was something about how Burnley play that made Klopp think Ryan’s attributes would be well suited to it. I’m really surprised Jones wasn’t in that team though and hopefully that changes next week against Newcastle. Not because Gravenberch played badly, he was fine. I just think we’re a better balanced team when Curtis plays.
Against Burnley though we should have been able to play anyone and still win the game. They aren’t a Premier League team. They ran away with the Championship playing their style of football, but it doesn’t translate to the top flight when you’re up against better quality teams. Luton aren’t a Premier League standard team either, but their style at least makes them difficult to play against. Burnley are easy to play against, I can see them conceding six, seven or eight to one of the top teams this season. It should have been us, especially after we started the way we did.
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