Another great win. Two in four days. Things are looking up again. West Ham were riding high in the table but I think we all know they’re one of a few teams in a false position and that come May they’ll be scrapping for 8th or 9th with Everton. Still, they’ve been in good form recently and given the players we had missing this was really impressive from us.
The points are obviously welcome but just as in midweek against Spurs it was the performance that really gives cause for optimism. We’re looking like we’re back in the groove again now, and we’re doing it with makeshift looking line ups. No Sadio, Bobby on the bench and a central defensive pairing of Henderson and Phillips. Yet we made this look easy.
It was complete domination and from the moment we finally opened the scoring the result was never in doubt. The only negative was we didn’t get the clean sheet the lads at the back deserved.
We did all the damage in the second half but but I thought we played well in both halves, just in different ways. The second half was brilliant, obviously, but I was relatively pleased with the first half too. We didn’t threaten enough but that was partly due to the way we kept the ball and controlled the game. That seemed to be the focus.
I don’t mind that in our current situation. Don’t give the opposition any reason to think there’s something in the game for them and then gradually turn the screw. Maybe West Ham fancied their chances ahead of this one but you’d never have guessed based on the performance and the longer the game went on the less belief they had.
It’s easy to say it looked like they didn’t believe they could win or that they didn’t have a go, but I don’t buy that at all. West Ham’s lacklustre performance said more about us than it did them. What was different in how West Ham played the game to how any of West Brom, Southampton, Newcastle, Burnley or Man United approached it? Nothing at all.
None of those teams ‘opened up’ and had a go at us either. Not really. Some were more adventurous than others but the gameplan was more or less the same. Defend in numbers, stay in the game and hope for a counter attack or set-piece. Unless you’re Man City, that’s how you play against us because it’s the only approach that gives you a chance. Going toe to toe isn’t an option for anybody else.
Moyes is getting a load of stick for not going for it but the truth is he did nothing differently to Sean Dyche, who came away from Anfield with an unlikely (and undeserved) win. He was no more adventurous than Moyes, he just got lucky and Moyes didn’t. Same with most of the others who got results against us. None of them did anything that differently to Moyes.
The only team I can think of that actually had a right good go at us (not counting the Villa debacle) was Fulham and even that was only for half an hour until we forced them back for the rest of the game. West Ham didn’t have a go at us because we didn’t let them and because if they had really tried to open up and attack us they’d have got their arsed handed to them.
Look at what happened for the second goal. They’d had a little spell of pressure, had a couple of sights of goal and their tails were up. They get a corner and 10 seconds later the ball is in their own net. Not for the first time either as we seem to punish them like this every season. No wonder they’re scared to open up!
The narrative on Sky prior to the game (and afterwards for that matter) seemed to be all about how we “were there for the taking” and that Antonio should be “licking his chops” about facing Henderson and Phillips. It was a bit weird I thought, especially as even Souness was buying into it. I kept having to check that we were playing West Ham and not 1970 Brazil.
Yeah, we all had a concern about Antonio against Big Nat. So what? I’d have had concerns about Antonio against any of our defenders other than Virgil because he’s really fucking hard to play against. He gives everyone problems, so Nat was obviously going to have his hands full.
Was that really the biggest ‘key to the game’ though? It’s still West Ham versus a vastly superior team, irrespective of our makeshift defence and the current state of the table. Anyone who saw the game the other night must have known that we’re much better than them. Moyes defo knew. Attacking us was not the smart play.
All due respect to Antonio, who I like a lot, but it was just weird listening to the way our chances were being talked down. All we heard was how West Ham’s height on corners was going to be decisive and that Phillips and Hendo would be over-run by Antonio.
I’ll tell you what I thought when I heard that. I thought it was the kind of lazy shite we’d hear when teams faced Barcelona with Mascherano at centre back. I’m not comparing us in our current situation with that Barcelona team, but the point remains the same; they can’t hurt you if they can’t get near you.
West Ham obviously did have an edge in height and would be a threat from corners (and yeah, they scored from one late on). So you know what you do to counter that? You keep the ball, don’t let them near your goal and restrict the amount of corners they get.
And yeah, Antonio could have joy against our high line and if he got one v one against Phillips it would be a problem. So the answer to that is don’t allow them to play that ball that gets him in behind.
And we did both of those things brilliantly. In the first half we just dominated the ball and smothered West Ham. They had one or two excursions into our box but mostly we just passed it around and didn’t give them a sniff. Antonio wasn’t a factor because Nat did everything right and those in front of him completely closed off any option for West Ham to play him in.
We weren’t especially dangerous ourselves either and that was why Klopp changed some things at half time. He said the three midfielders were all behind the ball too much which meant Shaq had no-one to pass to when he turned.
That wasn’t really what I saw if I’m honest, as I thought Milner made a lot of runs ahead of the ball. And considering Klopp said afterwards that he had to tell Milner at half time to stop running forward (to protect a tight hamstring) it doesn’t really tie in with his explanation of what changed does it?
He definitely changed something because you could see as soon as the second half started that we were more direct in our passing and we instantly looked more threatening, but I don’t think it was what he told us it was, which is fine because I’d rather he kept any tactical adjustments in house anyway.
The change was immediate though. Origi started the second half very well having been largely dreadful in the first. I’d have subbed him at half time because he was so fucking passive. He should be so much better than he is and it’s frustrating as hell. When he misses a chance or plays a bad pass, you see him ruefully smiling. I want to see him fired up and angry. He’s too laid back at times. As I say, he should be better than this.
Something definitely changed at half time though because there was just more purpose and direction to our attacking play. Not just Origi, but the way the whole team attacked was different. It was more direct. The possession football was still there but it was mixed in with moments when we got it forward much quicker and it was definitely a result of instructions from the manager.
I think Klopp just doesn’t want to discuss what we’ve started doing differently and he was deliberately just talking shite there about the midfielders to throw people off the scent. I don’t know what we did differently but he has hinted that he has changed things up front recently and that the message is now getting through, whereas before it wasn’t.
It will be tactical stuff that’s too complex for most of us to pick up on. The timing of runs made by forwards, or the midfielders playing one extra (or one fewer pass). Things that you or I wouldn’t notice because we’re not privy to what they do in training or how Klopp wants them to play.
Something has definitely changed though because we’re creating more chances and looking more dangerous. Mind you, the biggest change is probably just that we’re finishing better. Even in the bad run we were still dominating games and creating chances (albeit not enough). Now we’re finishing them, which tends to happen once you get out of the rut and players are more relaxed in front of goal.
We’ve gone from no goals in five to six in two. It’s partly down to improved play but mostly about better finishing and higher confidence now that the monkey is off our back. Salah was pretty dreadful for most of that five game run but then all of a sudden he’s been razor sharp in the last three games. He scored two at Old Trafford, had one wrongly disallowed at Spurs and then hit another couple here.
We needed him to step up in this one as two thirds of the front three didn’t start. And step up he did. Both goals were brilliant but the second one was a work of art. I’ll get to that in due course though.
Mo had been busy and looked hungry in the first half but we weren’t getting him the ball in areas where he could do much damage. West Ham had a lot of men behind the ball and we were passing it around so much that by the time it reached the forwards there wasn’t really much on for them.
Origi had a couple of sights of goal though. He was making decent runs and showing for the ball but there was no conviction in anything he did. He put an ambitious left foot shot high and wide when the better option was the cutback for Mo, and then he had a poor attempt at converting a ridiculously good disguised ball by Thiago.
In between that there was a whole host of not attacking crosses, not really chasing anything with conviction and general ambling about. He was doing my head in. Playing opportunities are going to be few and far between when Jota comes back so games like this are a chance for him to stake a claim. He should be busting a gut but he isn’t.
As I said, he was better after the break when Klopp said he wanted him to play more through the centre (funny thing is it looked to my untrained eye like he was even wider left after the break!) but the team in general was just much more threatening.
The opening goal came seconds after Jones replaced Milner. That was so funny. Milner and Klopp had a discussion as Milner came off. It never looked to me like a row even though that’s how it was being described on commentary. Milner looked more confused than pissed off and there was no tantrum or open show of dissent.
Seconds later he’s running over to Klopp and telling him he was right and it was a good decision as Curtis ran at the defence and rolled it to Mo who cut inside and curled one into the top corner. That goal doesn’t happen if Jones isn’t on the field because it wasn’t a run Milner (good as he’d played) was going to make. That little bit of something different that Jones brought was decisive.
Having one behind West Ham now had to try and commit more men forward and they had a decent little spell until they were ruthlessly punished with one of our trademark breaks. You know how much I love these goals. These are my favourite, there’s nothing quite like those fast breaks from an opposition set-piece. If that doesn’t get your juices flowing nothing will.
This is one of the best ones we’ve seen, not least because it wasn’t all about pace. When you’ve got Salah and Mané leading a charge it’s difficult for anyone to handle, but this was Shaqiri charging down the left, and if you look in the centre when Mo collects the ball, the nearest Liverpool player in support of him was Hendo!!
I fucking love this goal so much. It’s just perfection. Every little part of it is just perfect. Robbo wins the header at the near post. Trent collects on the edge of the box and assesses his options before playing the right ball at the right moment into the space Shaq was running into.
This is where it got really special. Most players take a touch or even two in that situation. Shaq didn’t. He saw Mo in the centre and even though it was a difficult ball that needed to be landed on a sixpence, he knew that playing it in that moment - and at that height - was the best chance of finding Mo. If he’d tried to play that ball low the defender was in position to cut it out.
The execution of that pass was ridiculous, but it was eclipsed by the first touch and then finish from Mo. I thought Bobby’s first one at Palace would be the best counter attacking goal we’d see all season. I was wrong. This was better. It’s probably the best goal we’ve score since Mo’s header against City at Anfield last season. This one might even be better. It probably is, quality of opposition notwithstanding.
It felt symbolic in a way. After the terrible run we’d had this goal was like a massive “WE’RE BACK!!” moment. This is what we do. Attack us if you fucking dare, because when we get the ball back we’ll do this. Just exhilarating.
The third goal wasn’t bad either. I think there were thirty odd passes before Bobby played a one-two with Ox (lovely back heel from him) and then unselfishly squared for Gini to finish. Great stuff, some proper swag to that goal.
Unfortunately the clean sheet was denied us when Dawson stole in to meet a corner and give Alisson no chance. Phillips would have headed that one away if it hadn’t brushed off the top of Robbo’s head. Frustrating but no real harm done.
That could have sparked a late comeback as there was still a bit of time left but we saw the game out very well and just kept the ball confidently and gave West Ham no glimmer of hope.
There was so much to like about this performance. Henderson was flawless at the back and no doubt helped Big Nat through the game with his covering play and vocal support. Not that Phillips looks like he needs too much help as he’s a clever lad who clearly knows the game. More importantly he knows HIS game. That’s what I like most about him. He plays to his strengths, which is attacking the ball and being physical.
He’s not Franz Beckenbauer with the ball but he’s competent and doesn’t take risks. If he doesn’t think he can make the forward pass he has no qualms about rolling it five yards to Trent and letting him do it. Other than one moment when he got done by Callum Wilson I can’t think of anything Phillips has done wrong. He’s stepped in during our hour of need and been a fucking hero really.
It remains to be seen what today’s transfer window will bring and how that will effect the playing time for Phillips, but if he isn’t called upon too much between now and May he can be proud of what he has done and of the contribution he’s made when we needed help.
As for the rest, the full backs were good again even if they weren’t quite as influential as they often are. We didn’t need to them to be this time. Gini was class (I’ll say again, pay him whatever it is he’s asking because he’s earned it) and Thiago is looking more at home with each game now.
If we can ever get Hendo and Fabinho back as midfield options alongside him and Gini then choosing three from that four is going to be nigh on impossible. One of them will play at the back and we might now have reached a point where Hendo might be the better option. He’s brilliant at the back, and maybe having Fabinho as the six will make us stronger overall? Food for thought definitely.
Shaq was neat and tidy and I like what Jones gave us when he came on but star man was obviously Mo. It’s a big concern if Sadio misses any more time but if Salah plays like this we can overcome it, especially if Bobby is on his game. Having all three of them out of form at the same time was impossible to overcome but hopefully that won’t happen again and when one of them isn’t on it another one is able to pick up the slack.
We’ve not just steadied the ship with these last two performances, we’ve put our foot down and we’re speeding away again out to sea chasing after Man City. A week ago we were stuck in the harbour, trapped in a bottleneck with Leicester, Everton, Spurs, West Ham and whoever else had stuck up to with a few points of us (I think Arsenal got within four at one stage) but we’re free of that now and the focus is on chasing down City.
Yeah I know United are still just ahead of us too but it’s only a matter of time before we go past them now. We have to beat Brighton this week and that won’t be easy because they’ve been tough opposition for us since Potter went there. It’s a game we need to win though to set things up nicely for City next weekend.
With fans in the stadium I’d have no doubt whatsoever that we’d win both of these games, but without fans it’s just much more difficult to call, especially the City one. Their record at Anfield is hideous, but this isn’t the same now. Without fans Anfield isn’t Anfield. City will fancy their chances.
We’ve got to beat Brighton first though. Get the job done there and then we’ll see what happens next weekend.
The mood is so much lighter now though isn’t it? As much as I want to catch City and retain the title, if they were to go on one of their mad winning runs and stay ahead of us then I can live with that. The thing that was really getting to me was being surrounded by teams who really have no business being within ten, twenty, in some cases thirty points of us.
A few days ago we were below West Ham and there was the chance that Everton would also go above us. That’s something my brain just couldn’t process. Even being below United was tough to accept, but Everton and West Ham?? Fuck me, that shit just wasn’t right. Thankfully some kind of order has since been restored and let’s hope that kind of nightmare doesn’t happen again.
As I say, being below City is one thing. It’s not nice but it’s not exactly a disgrace either. Being below any of the others is just impossible to swallow. Like, if your missus left you for Brad Pitt you’d be upset but you’d also shrug and go “yeah fair enough, he’s Brad Pitt”. If she fucks off with Peter Beardsley or the fella from the Pogues then you’re going to struggle to process that and you’ll be pretty irrational about it.
Final word on the ref. I can't stand Jon Moss. He's crap. He was ok in this one though. Nothing majorly wrong, although thankfully there were no big decisions that he had to make.
It's funny really because going into games now, other than when we play City I'm more worried about the officials than I am with the opposition. Even against City I worry about whether we'll get screwed, but there's also the concern they could beat us anyway. I don't really have that with anyone else, it's the officials that put the wind up me these days.
Can't wait to find out who'll be in charge next Sunday. Ordinarily I'd want Oliver but after Goodison I've got no trust in him either. Just keep Atkinson and Mason well away from it. And Marriner too. And Friend. Ah fuck, it doesn't matter who it is does it? Can't trust any of the fuckers.
Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Thiago, Milner (Jones); Shaqiri (Oxlade-Chamberlain); Salah, Origi (Firmino):
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