Norwich (H) - Sat 19th Feb 2022 (3:00pm)

[John102]

2 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

All well and good but the game is played on the ground.

Snarf snarf

[dockers_strike]

15 minutes ago, Joey8FrogsLegs said:

Twice you could clearly see him more or less having to tell Henderson to get out of the way, where the latter was looking for the three yard sideways pass. The second time he hit a 50 yarder to Mo which very nearly become an assist. There’s only one flaw, his ability to stay fit. We’re a significantly better team with him playing.

Was this before Hendo put the pass through for Diaz? Sorry but there's some utter bollocks in these match threads.

[Joey8FrogsLegs]

4 minutes ago, dockers_strike said:

Was this before Hendo put the pass through for Diaz? Sorry but there's some utter bollocks in these match threads.

The second time was when Salah curled it low and just wide of the far post, after a 50 yard pass from Thiago. Watch it again and see what you make of it.

 

Edit: Which I’m pretty sure was before the Henderson assist to Diaz. Which was brilliant, credit where it’s due.

[Harry Squatter]

Might have been a bad performance for a lot of the game but we won and Klopp made use of our squad.

 

If we win every game between now and the end of May with a string of boring 1-0 results that will do for me. 

[J-V]

31 minutes ago, John102 said:

Snarf snarf

[Carvalho Diablo]

3 hours ago, dockers_strike said:

Was this before Hendo put the pass through for Diaz? Sorry but there's some utter bollocks in these match threads.

Yes it was.

[VladimirIlyich]

11 hours ago, dockers_strike said:

Absolute bollocks. He was good all game. Ignore what you want but you lump on him every game from the kick off. So, I'll just ignore the verbage you post.

Best thing to do with Stringy when talking about Henderson. It's just a wind up these days.

[rb14]

I tex (sic) my mate after 40 minutes. "AOC and Keita off at half time." 

 

Unfortunately for AOC, his will to do well, and his dejection when he fails, doesn't cut it with me any more. Bless you love, you tried really hard, but time's up I'm afraid. 

 

As for the other one, just FUCK OFF. Fuck right off. In your less appalling moments last night, you just about managed a decent pass, possibly two or three. You're always willing, and you come across as a decent guy, but your record with Liverpool is lamentable. You have provided this club with nothing but failure, despair, and huge expense. If I never see you in a Liverpool shirt again, it'll be too soon. 

[Anubis]

I don’t think either of them read the forum, Rog. I think you should hang around outside their houses to pass the message on in person.

 

*sits back and waits for Rog’s arrest*

[El Dangerous]

“Oi Oxlade Chamberlain, bless you love you try but your shit! That’s all mate, go back to polishing your Bentley and boning Little Mix.”

[Shitty Arse]

I don’t want too see Oxlade Chamberlain in the starting line up again. He’s had so many chances. It’s just not gonna happen. There was one moment I think not long after Norwich scored when he was in a good position to put in a cross and he just ballooned it into the Kop. That was the moment for me. I’ve had enough thank you very much. He does seem a nice lad though!!

[Arnaud]

14 hours ago, Bobby Hundreds said:

I think the idea that Hendos problem is he isn't Steven Gerrard is bullshit. Generally peoples view is a reflection of how he's played. He's nowhere near Gerrards level I dont think anybody has ever expected him to be. You'll always get extreme opinions that go too far one way or the other, if his problem is he isn't Steven Gerrard then every single players problem is they're not someone better. It's a soundbite.

We all agree Gerrard was way better than Henderson. But Hendo is a way better skipper, this part of this is often underrated. He’s the one who keeps it going when it’s rough or when some one is having problems.

 

He’s been poor for 6 weeks, but he’s one of the reason this team has been so good for years. He’s out driving force, and before Thiago became a key player , we were often worse when he wasn’t playing. 

[Arnaud]

Les goûts et les couleurs as we say down here …. 
 

I think we  poor all together, we never felt in danger because Norwich are really bad, especially at the back.

 

It’s good to be able to rotate for once. Mané can be useful in the number 9 role.

 

Happy days ….

[El Rojo]

Ox was really good for us in January when we were missing loads of players and still continued to keep the title race alive. 

[dockers_strike]

I dont agree with the cheese eating surrender monkey that we're 'back' in the title race, particularly his last sentence but, there you go! And as for any fans suggesting Klopp should have been sacked during the last season, just fuck off and go and support city, chelsea, PSG or even the newest financially doped club, newcastle, you'll fit in well giving them your questionable support.

 

The ups and downs of the Premier League title race continue. With Manchester City's loss at home to Spurs on Saturday, Liverpool's comeback win against Norwich puts them back within six points of the league leaders and with a game in hand. 

 

Chris Bascombe looks at the factors that have led to Jürgen Klopp's side's revival, who are now a team that have won their last eight games in all competitions. 

Van Dijk's return

Amid the praise for Liverpool’s seventh consecutive Premier League win - the latest after a stirring second half against Norwich City - Jürgen Klopp’s mind could have drifted back to the corresponding weekend last season, which serves as a reminder of how far Liverpool have come to restore their position as the greatest threat to Manchester City.

 

In February 2021, Liverpool suffered a fourth consecutive defeat - at home to Everton - and were adrift in sixth place with just 40 points from 25 games. The word ‘crisis’ was being liberally scattered, with some even suggesting there should be questions about Klopp’s future. Liverpool’s hierarchy promptly responded that it was preposterous to even think Klopp was under that kind of pressure. 

 

“We just need to get our centre-backs fit, the fans back, and football out of this cosmetic, soulless environment,” was the view from within. Such sentiments were ridiculed as an excuse by Liverpool’s rivals. Instead, those who trusted Klopp to restore normality have been spectacularly vindicated with the title race resuscitated and Liverpool fighting for four trophies.

 

Inevitably, after missing most of last season seriously injured, Virgil van Dijk’s restoration at centre-back is the foundation of the revival, enabling every facet of the side to function. On Saturday, Van Dijk gave one of those virtuoso performances in which he controls the pace of the game from centre-half as if he is a midfield playmaker.

'Finishers' on the bench

Liverpool’s squad is stronger than that which won the Champions League in 2019 and the title in 2020. Klopp made seven changes to his starting XI on Saturday, and although that was more out of necessity because of injuries, they were still able to ride out the scare Norwich provided by taking the lead.

 

Substitutions in the second half were crucial. A stronger bench allows Klopp to take some inspiration from England’s rugby coach Eddie Jones and introduce the concept of ‘finishers’. That was definitely the case against Inter Milan in last week’s Champions League. Bringing on Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita for the last 30 minutes in the San Siro looked premeditated as much as a reaction to the previous hour. Sending on Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi at the weekend was more responsive, as was a switch to 4-4-2. The difference was telling.

Klopp does not like so many references to his strength in depth. No sooner did he have a fully fit squad for the first time in his Anfield career, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were injured. It is hoped Jota’s ankle problem is not too serious, but Firmino requires further tests. The key to Liverpool sustaining their title bid is avoiding such setbacks.

Diaz's immediate impact

The greatest tribute afforded Luis Diaz came shortly after his first, exquisitely taken Liverpool goal. The Kop's chant in his honour is a replica of that which once acclaimed Luis Suarez. If Diaz matches the heights Suarez reached at Anfield, the £37 million fee will look more of a bargain than it already does.

 

Klopp’s reign is full of examples of signings who arrived amid much excitement only to spend their first six months being educated about the demands of their new side. Andy Robertson barely played for half a season. Even world class players such as Fabinho took a while to adjust.

 

Diaz, however, has acclimatised immediately, showing he is able to play anywhere across the front three. He played the last 30 minutes on Saturday as a more traditional central striker. The manner in which he took his goal, a clever dink over advancing goalkeeper Angus Gunn, suggests he has the potential to become as clinical as his attacking teammates.

 

Like many coaches, Klopp is usually reluctant to dip into the transfer market in January. But when the deal is right, it gives the dressing room and crowd a lift at a key point in the season. Liverpool’s title bid needed revitalising after Christmas. If they catch City, Diaz’s arrival will be seen as one of the critical turning points.

Salah and Mane

St John and Hunt; Toshack and Keegan; Dalglish and Rush; Beardsley, Barnes and Aldridge; and now, Salah and Mane.

Salah naturally grabbed the immediate headlines with his 150th Liverpool goal - his 25th of the season. Not for the first time, Sadio Mane’s spectacular efforts were overshadowed. His 64th-minute overhead kick triggered the comeback. Mane also moved level with John Barnes in scoring his 108th Liverpool goal. 

 

“Sadio’s goal record is absolutely insane and the goal he scored shows the whole range of the things he can do,” said Klopp.

Like Salah, Mane’s consistency in front of goal is so freakish it eclipses legends. No Liverpool team has ever possessed two players of such world class quality delivering with such frequency. That is why even when City were 12 points clear, they could sense Liverpool on their shoulder.

 

If Klopp's side win their game in hand against Leeds United on Wednesday, it really is game on.

[Funkasy]

Who wanted Klopp sackes? Ive never heard or seen any person with that view,

[DalyanPete]

14 minutes ago, Funkasy said:

Who wanted Klopp sackes? Ive never heard or seen any person with that view,

Nor me.

[Anubis]

Norwich fans have a Blueshitesque thread on Mike Dean’s performance yesterday. One mentalist thinks that Ali sliding out of the area slightly before throwing the ball into touch was a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity???!!!

[Grinch]

1 hour ago, Funkasy said:

Who wanted Klopp sackes? Ive never heard or seen any person with that view,

Sssh don’t let facts get in the way of a good chance to act the super fan.

[Caramac]

26 minutes ago, Anubis said:

Norwich fans have a Blueshitesque thread on Mike Dean’s performance yesterday. One mentalist thinks that Ali sliding out of the area slightly before throwing the ball into touch was a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity???!!!

Probably a lifelong but now retired mustard factory worker.

[Bjornebye]

I’m glad the bitch tits fairweather fans have been shut up 

[Reckoner]

 

[Moo]

The Diaz goal was out of this world.  The pass, then the touch which was extraordinary and made it such a special goal, then nicely finished with the dink.

[VladimirIlyich]

20 hours ago, Anubis said:

Norwich fans have a Blueshitesque thread on Mike Dean’s performance yesterday. One mentalist thinks that Ali sliding out of the area slightly before throwing the ball into touch was a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity???!!!

The fact that their goal was sailing into the crowd before deflecting off Matip seems to kill that argument.

[J-V]

20 hours ago, Reckoner said:

 

How good is Magnum PI in goal.  He even has a lay down after the pass it was that good.