Jump to content
  • Sign up for free and receive a month's subscription

    You are viewing this page as a guest. That means you are either a member who has not logged in, or you have not yet registered with us. Signing up for an account only takes a minute and it means you will no longer see this annoying box! It will also allow you to get involved with our friendly(ish!) community and take part in the discussions on our forums. And because we're feeling generous, if you sign up for a free account we will give you a month's free trial access to our subscriber only content with no obligation to commit. Register an account and then send a private message to @dave u and he'll hook you up with a subscription.

Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0 (Oct 14 2017)


tlw content
 Share

Recommended Posts

manutdreport1.jpg

The only way that could have been more predictable was if Lukaku had buried the one and only chance United had. It was last year all over again as we huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow their hurricane re-enforced house down. They came not to play and it worked. 
 
As well as we usually do in big games, this fixture is the outlier because United don’t play like a big team. When they play us, they’re just Burnley with better players. 
 
Readers of the weekly Premier League Round Ups will know that since Mourinho went there I’ve had a policy of not watching United games live and only bothering with the highlights when they don't win. So I only see them for a full game twice a season, when they play us. That’s twice too many. I fucking hate watching them, it brings out a side of me I don’t like. 
 
If there was a camera on me during this game it wouldn’t make for comfortable viewing. I’m usually a fairly relaxed observer during games, largely because of the apathy that has swept over me after so many let downs from this club of ours. This fixture though? Mr Hyde comes out. 
 
Five or six times in the first half alone I was on my feet spewing out obscenities, face all contorted and spittle flying out on the poor unfortunates on the rows in front. If I ever had to see myself like that I’d never go to another game again. I imagine I look like your average Evertonian in a derby game, and that's not something anyone wants to see in themselves. 
 
I can’t help it though. It’s partly United and partly Mourinho. Put them together and it just brings out the absolute worst in me. I was desperate for us to win this game and when it ended I was pissed off and massively disappointed that we didn’t. On reflection though with the dust settled, I’m relieved that at least we didn’t lose. Not that we ever really looked like losing, but since when has that even mattered with us? 
 
United are fucking horrible. I’m not even talking about the whole ‘parking the bus’ thing either, it’s more the tactical fouling and taking turns on fouling the opposing team’s danger man that I hate. It’s a well known Mourinho ploy, at least it’s well known to everyone other than the refs that continually allow them to do it.
 
How many times was Coutinho fouled in this game? It felt like loads. How many were by the same player? Very few. As I say, they took it in turns. Of course Herrera was the one leading the way, the snivelling snide little shitbag. 
 
Then there’s Lukaku, who booted Gomez and then kicked Lovren in the head. Not even a yellow card for either. Fucking joke that Martin Atkinson is. Yeah Lovren rolled around embarrassingly (the one and only time in his life he could ever be compared to Sergio Ramos), but I’m ok with him doing that because sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. 
 
This is the kind of cuntery we’ve had to deal with from these for years. Remember Johnny Evans getting Shelvey sent off? Unfortunately refs are far more sympathetic towards them. Always have been. That’s why Lukaku can stand on Lovren’s head without any kind of recourse. 
 
Our players usually just shrug things like that off and don’t make an issue of it, which just lets the refs off the hook and allows them to not make a decision. So I’ve got no problem with Lovren trying to draw the refs attention to it but he needs some acting lessons as no-one was buying that overly dramatic performance. 
 
As for the tactical approach that everyone is talking about, I don’t like how they play but that’s down to them. If their supporters are happy for a team with the talent they’ve got to play like that then that’s their problem, not ours. Not being able to overcome it is our problem, but hopefully one day we will be able to, because if we win the game 1-0 suddenly it’s not a “Mourinho masterclass” it’s a fucking dreadful, shithouse performance. 
 
 

This is just a teaser, click here to view the full report

 

Please note that Match Reports are only available to website subscribers. Subscriptions cost just £2 a month (you need to register first) and can be purchased here. If you are not currently registered on the site, sign up for free and receive a FREE no obligation trial subscription, which gives you access to all the members only content for THREE MONTHS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was a very poor execution of the typical Mourinho plan on their part. They survived through luck more than design - despite our confidence being shot with Mane out and a blunt midfield, & Klopp also desperately needing to avoid the loss.

 

The Mourinho away performance has become more and more a parody of itself: 1 goal & 14 shots in 6 away games against the top 6 while at United.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Chamberlain should start this week now out wide on the right and Solanke should be given a go up front. Sturridge should not be starting any games where the formation is him in the middle on his own even against sides like Maribor. He's just not good enough to play in that position. Wrap Salah in cotton wool for Sunday. If Chamberlain plays well I'd move Salah left and put Coutinho in midfield.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The suggestions on TV that we didn't go for it came from Carragher, who said we should sacrifice a midfielder for a forward. Personally I thought that would have been reckless as it would have given Rashford & Lingard a sniff on the break.

Agreed. Carra was saying we knew how Negative they were so should have taken a Midfielder off. We do that, they could have changed their tactics too. I got no problems keeping it as it was.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The suggestions on TV that we didn't go for it came from Carragher, who said we should sacrifice a midfielder for a forward. Personally I thought that would have been reckless as it would have given Rashford & Lingard a sniff on the break.

I thought I heard Tyler saying it to Neville Neville's lad before Carra piped up. After about 15-20 mins of the second half he said something like "Should the onus be on Liverpool to be more bold? What do you think, you little manc twat?"

 

I may have misheard the second sentence though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The suggestions on TV that we didn't go for it came from Carragher, who said we should sacrifice a midfielder for a forward. Personally I thought that would have been reckless as it would have given Rashford & Lingard a sniff on the break. 

 

Also agree, Klopp gave them no gifts and with a bit more composure we would have nicked the game. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Top stuff as ever Dave.

 

I can't get the club owners and team management this season though. This team and squad is like watching a building site with 'work in progress' signs all over the gaff.

 

It's been like this for so many years through every manager since Kenny left his first stint and then Sooonnnneeess arrived and then ever since on a loop with each manager to various degrees. We get so close to former glories and then.. Bang - Mismanagement strikes again...

 

Why build a big new main stand and then leave the actual playing side with such obvious and glaring flawes?

 

It's like they aren't that bothered if we don't qualify for the Champions League again this year. I realise they aren't that bothered about winning the league or silverware but I thought they wanted someone to '$how them the money!' FFS...

 

Anyone know what they're smoking over there in Boston these days?

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's right that the Moreno performance was highlighted as well. As much as everyone groans when they see him start games (he obviously knows this and has to deal with that pressure in itself) he's actually been good this season. Not even just okay, he's been one of our most consistent players and that performance on Saturday topped his season off so far. I like Robertson and think he will get his chances but for me it's not looking so bleak at left back any more.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's right that the Moreno performance was highlighted as well. As much as everyone groans when they see him start games (he obviously knows this and has to deal with that pressure in itself) he's actually been good this season. Not even just okay, he's been one of our most consistent players and that performance on Saturday topped his season off so far. I like Robertson and think he will get his chances but for me it's not looking so bleak at left back any more.

 

I'm all for a dose of of optimism but TBH I've seen as much going to ground too soon, rash challenges in risky positions, runs in the opposite direction of play as before.  Luckily we've been able to recover the situation so far, but sooner or later it will tell.  Especially when teams work out that our Right back is not in fact our weak point.  When they go back to targetting left back then we'll see reality.

 

If Robertson isn't 1st choice by end of season, it'll be because he's as crap as the fannies in the transfer thread were bemoaning.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He has his own style and it looks fucking horrific sometimes. If he plays like he did on Sunday though for the rest of the season there won't be much Robertson could do to keep him out of the side. He seems to have got some genuine confidence back in his game and it's come out of nowhere. He was very aggressive on Saturday without being over top.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He has his own style and it looks fucking horrific sometimes. If he plays like he did on Sunday though for the rest of the season there won't be much Robertson could do to keep him out of the side. He seems to have got some genuine confidence back in his game and it's come out of nowhere. He was very aggressive on Saturday without being over top.

He looks great when the other team target Gomez, I'll give you that.  Under pressure though he reverts to type.  Which is basically the last thing we need right now.  Still with bus parkers and shit teams there's no doubt his pace et al is an asset.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought Moreno was as suspect as ever defensively. Young and Lukaku both got behind him and he got lucky with a couple of freekicks. He was badly out of position a few times. I completely agree that he was good going forward but the fact that he won a few tackles and headers  doesn't make his defensive performance good in my opinion. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The thing I find baffling that Klopp played for a 0-0 by not taking risks thing is that Rodgers gets criticised for going gung ho against Mourinho in 2014 and losing instead of taking the 0-0.

 

It's doubled standards.

One game was a game that the league title hinged on and we didn't have to win. The other was a game against a team that were there for the taking and a team we trailed in the league by 7 points early doors.

 

I don't know what the specific criticisms are that you speak of, but the two instances you are comparing cannot be compared in the grand scheme of things.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...