Liverpool 3 West Ham 1 (Sep 24 2023)

I think we got better after Jota and Gakpo came on, if that was because West Ham got tired, or because Jota and Gakpo are better suited to play against a packed defense I need to look at a bit more.

But I was thinking most of the game that I wanted to see those two instead of Nunez and Diaz for that exact reason. 
 

Wasn't a packed defence at that point though as they were having to come out a bit and the game was more stretched.

I said on the pod there was a case for starting those two and then bringing Diaz and Nunez on later when there was more room. We went the other way, and it is easier for the ones coming on with a bit more room to play in.

Feels like whatever "two" are left out the way we are generally so powerful we are that any 2 coming on are playing against tired mentally opponents. Would assume we will score tons of goals in those last 15/20 mins in games.

Does feel like every second half this season as soon as the subs come on we just blow teams away

It was indeed a great game.

3 hours ago, dave u said:

Wasn't a packed defence at that point though as they were having to come out a bit and the game was more stretched.

 

I said on the pod there was a case for starting those two and then bringing Diaz and Nunez on later when there was more room. We went the other way, and it is easier for the ones coming on with a bit more room to play in.

No thats what I tried to say, but I was thinking during the game maybe it had been better to start Jota and Gakpo, then to bring them on.

Not important now though, but I feel Gakpo holds the ball up better and Jota is more clever with his running.

While Mo's goal and assist stats are always excellent, it's a pity OPTA don't keep a tally of nutmegs,  as the times per game he is threading  cute little passes through opponents legs is ridiculous,

2 hours ago, Code said:

No thats what I tried to say, but I was thinking during the game maybe it had been better to start Jota and Gakpo, then to bring them on.

Not important now though, but I feel Gakpo holds the ball up better and Jota is more clever with his running.

Yeah I think what I said on the pod was that as much as I want Darwin starting every game, there might be some situations where he'd be more impactful in the final half an hour rather than the first hour. Against deep lying, packed defences specifically. But as much as I like Gakpo, he's had loads of ineffective games and the team is set up differently to when Bobby played that role.

In theory him dropping off and Darwin running in behind should be a match made in heaven, but it's tough getting them both in the side.

4 hours ago, Paul Wright said:

Feels like whatever "two" are left out the way we are generally so powerful we are that any 2 coming on are playing against tired mentally opponents. Would assume we will score tons of goals in those last 15/20 mins in games.

Pretty soon that 'two' will be a 'three' when Doak has a bit more game time under his belt.

I’d actually really like to see Gakpo tried in his natural LW position at times. Hasn’t played there once since we signed him.

Gakpo Nunez Salah

1 hour ago, Simbo said:

I’d actually really like to see Gakpo tried in his natural LW position at times. Hasn’t played there once since we signed him.

 

Gakpo Nunez Salah

He's played there a few times, mainly when he first got here and was struggling. Maybe he can excel there, but he'll have a big job trying to shift Diaz.

18 minutes ago, dave u said:

 

He's played there a few times, mainly when he first got here and was struggling. Maybe he can excel there, but he'll have a big job trying to shift Diaz.

I don’t remember him ever playing on the left? Not saying I’m doubting you Dave but the majority of the pods are you, Paul & Jules talking about how you only remember stuff from 1998.

Also if Diaz plays like he did on Sunday, Adrian might get a run out at LW.

4 minutes ago, The Midnight Rambler said:

I don’t remember him ever playing on the left? Not saying I’m doubting you Dave but the majority of the pods are you, Paul & Jules talking about how you only remember stuff from 1998.

Also if Diaz plays like he did on Sunday, Adrian might get a run out at LW.

Defo played there in a couple of his early games and everyone said he was too slow.

6 hours ago, Simbo said:

I’d actually really like to see Gakpo tried in his natural LW position at times. Hasn’t played there once since we signed him.

 

Gakpo Nunez Salah

Dave is right. Gakpo has played more than a few games at LW. His most effective game there was in the 7 nil win over Utd. But most of the other times he played in that wide position, he was ineffective. Hence, Klopp shifting him to the central areas as a false nine or an 8.

I still believe Jota is our best option wide left. Diaz very often flatters to deceive, runs into dead ends and doesn't display as much guile as Jota does. And while Diaz is certainly a very good player, I'll trust Jota who drifts in more as a poacher who can sniff opportunities more regularly. 

44 minutes ago, Supremolad said:

Dave is right. Gakpo has played more than a few games at LW. His most effective game there was in the 7 nil win over Utd. But most of the other times he played in that wide position, he was ineffective. Hence, Klopp shifting him to the central areas as a false nine or an 8.

 

I still believe Jota is our best option wide left. Diaz very often flatters to deceive, runs into dead ends and doesn't display as much guile as Jota does. And while Diaz is certainly a very good player, I'll trust Jota who drifts in more as a poacher who can sniff opportunities more regularly. 

While I agree Gakpo played a few games on the left when he first arrived, pretty sure he was through the middle for the Man Utd game.  Nunez was on the left.

11 hours ago, The Midnight Rambler said:

I don’t remember him ever playing on the left? Not saying I’m doubting you Dave but the majority of the pods are you, Paul & Jules talking about how you only remember stuff from 1998.

Also if Diaz plays like he did on Sunday, Adrian might get a run out at LW.

Two things: 1. I can’t even remember stuff from back then. 2. Jules’ memory is sound. Don’t be throwing him on the old man pile with me and Usher. 

7 hours ago, Supremolad said:

Dave is right. Gakpo has played more than a few games at LW. His most effective game there was in the 7 nil win over Utd. But most of the other times he played in that wide position, he was ineffective. Hence, Klopp shifting him to the central areas as a false nine or an 8.

 

I still believe Jota is our best option wide left. Diaz very often flatters to deceive, runs into dead ends and doesn't display as much guile as Jota does. And while Diaz is certainly a very good player, I'll trust Jota who drifts in more as a poacher who can sniff opportunities more regularly. 

6 hours ago, Jose Jones said:

While I agree Gakpo played a few games on the left when he first arrived, pretty sure he was through the middle for the Man Utd game.  Nunez was on the left.

Yes I remember it being Nunez however they swapped temporarily in game which is when Gakkers scored his goal.

That’s why I want to see him out there more.

24 minutes ago, Simbo said:

 

Yes I remember it being Nunez however they swapped temporarily in game which is when Gakkers scored his goal.

 

That’s why I want to see him out there more.

Just had to remind myself, and you are right on the first goal. He cut in from the left and curled it in the bottom corner.

Second goal he was through the middle. Mo slipped it through down the inner right channel, and Gakpo dinked it in. 

Gakpo is clearly good enough to play through the middle and has scored a decent amount of goals playing there.

However Nunez is the one you want playing through the middle at the moment so would love to see Gakpo played in his natural position a bit more. 

We haven't had any significant injuries amongst the forwards yet, but statistically we will at some point. All of the guys will get loads of games. Mo is the only one I would worry about our cover for.