Liverpool 3 Brentford 0 (Jan 16 2022)

[tlw content]

 

 

 

Report by

Dave Usher

 

That was just what we needed. Nothing special, took us a while to get going but ultimately we picked up three points and looked much better than we had the other night against Arsenal. We were never going to suddenly rediscover our best form and blow Brentford away. It’ll be a steady climb.

 

This was more or less what I expected. I said the other night that we just need games and that we’d be better on Sunday than we had been on Thursday. I also said it wouldn’t be easy but it would be comfortable and that we’d win by two or three. That’s exactly how it played out so let’s hope I’m also right that we’ll smash Arsenal everywhere in the second leg. That’s if they bother showing up.

 

It’s not that this performance was anything to get excited about. Far from it, but the longer it went the more we improved and that’s a good sign. More important to me was that some of our big players looked like they’d blown the cobwebs off from the other night and looked like themselves again. Specifically Trent and Hendo, who were both excellent. Fabinho as well.

 

That’s important. Everyone focuses on Sadio and Mo not being here but if the rest of the team play as they should then we can cope easily enough without them. I wouldn’t want to be facing City or Chelsea without them but Arsenal, Brentford and Palace are games we should win even with no Sadio and Mo. As long as everyone else plays to their usual standard.

 

It’s not like we’re bringing in bums to replace them either. Firmino, Jota and Minamino are all international footballers. The balance and understanding might not be there, but they are all really good players. Taki didn’t start this one of course, but he finished it and looked great when he came on. He’ll start at Arsenal. He’ll probably score too. I’m calling that one now. He’ll score and we’ll win.

 

I assume he was left out of the starting line up for this one because he’s only just back from injury and they’re being careful. Milner was out too, which was an obvious call to make. He’s more useful off the bench these days. Jones and Ox came in but surprisingly it was Ox in the front three and Jones in midfield. I’d have done it the other way, mainly because I hate seeing Ox in the front three.

 

He had some good moments, some bad moments and a whole lot of meh in between. But I don’t hold that against him at all as he can’t play that role. It’s as simple as that. He gave it everything he had though and his application was great, as it always is. I’m made up for him that he scored and just hope the injury isn’t serious.

 

 

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[aws]

The tempo was so much better than the Arse game. Still quite a bit below what we're capable of but definitely on the right track. 

[rb14]

I didn't feel very fist-pumpy about the first half performance. It did get considerably better in the second half. I can't imagine why that would happen. I can see why, after getting three up in the first half, there might be a slackening off after the break, but how can we provide such a turgid performance at 0-0? 

 

There was one point, we had the ball well advanced in their half, and for the 58 billionth time the ball went back to Virge. Sarcastically, I shouted "Too much pressure, pass it back to Ali", much to the amusement of people around me. After a quick look around and a couple of Brentford players advancing within a 50 metre radius, he did exactly that. A small part of me died. 

[alles ist gut]

Top, top “if you’re going to sing about them sacking a manager, save it for the 1995th minute” analysis there, Dave.

[dockers_strike]

Good report Dave although I made Hendo MoTM. Agree about the Rafa chant. Half time was OK but during the game? I thought that disrespected Jurgen even if he doesnt like us singing his name until the end.

[Arnaud]

Good to have the report for lunch, Dave, keep it that way !

 

I thought Fab was man of the match, his goal was vital. Trent got better in second half but he wasn’t that good at first. 
 

Jones tried, it did not work out every time, but he tried and Tile has come for him to be more dominant in game like this.

[StevieMax]

I thought that Curtis played more positively in the second half.  Not everything that he tried came off, but he did run at the defence and had a few defenders turning which made space for Robbo & Jota at times.

[Guest]