Burnley 0 Liverpool 2 (Dec 26 2023)

[tlw content]

 

When Darwin gave us that early lead, of all of the possible ways this game could have played out, us hanging on and needing to wait until stoppage time to get the vital second goal to make the game safe seemed just about the least likely. I could put that down to some sloppy finishing and us not really showing the urgency needed to put them away, but I think that would be unfair. 

 

We did put them away, twice, but when you’re having perfectly good goals ruled out for no reason then it makes life much more difficult. If Gakpo’s goal stands, I reckon we go on to score five or six. If Harvey’s goals stands, we probably score three or four. So as much as I was frustrated at the time at our inability to kill the game, on reflection I’m giving the lads a pass here as they scored four goals and I’m sure it would have been more if the PGMOL mafia had done their job properly.

 

I’ll get to that though. I’ll start with the line up, which was mostly as expected but with one notable exception. The back four picked itself as Konate doesn’t play twice a week so Quansah was always coming in for this one. The only decision to be made up front was Gakpo or Diaz. Nunez was always starting after being given a rest against Arsenal, but Diaz got a knock against Arsenal and even though it was just an impact injury, it would have been a surprise if he started.

 

So midfield was the area where the biggest decisions needed to be made. Szoboszlai was rested so Elliott could start, which I was totally on board with. Good game for Harvey to play in given the way Burnley play. He deserved his chance to start so I liked that. I was shocked to see Curtis on the bench though. Not because of how bad Gravenberh’s cameo against Arsenal was, that’s just one of those things and means nothing, but because Jones was brought off early against Arsenal and has been in great form this past week. Why would he not be starting? It’s a weird one.

 

Either there are fitness things going on or maybe it was something about how Burnley play that made Klopp think Ryan’s attributes would be well suited to it. I’m really surprised Jones wasn’t in that team though and hopefully that changes next week against Newcastle. Not because Gravenberch played badly, he was fine. I just think we’re a better balanced team when Curtis plays.

 

Against Burnley though we should have been able to play anyone and still win the game. They aren’t a Premier League team. They ran away with the Championship playing their style of football, but it doesn’t translate to the top flight when you’re up against better quality teams. Luton aren’t a Premier League standard team either, but their style at least makes them difficult to play against. Burnley are easy to play against, I can see them conceding six, seven or eight to one of the top teams this season. It should have been us, especially after we started the way we did.

 

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[Nunavut Patrick]

Trent Alexander-Arnold could play QB for the Kansas City Chiefs and do a better job than the guy they have now….  
 

It’s worth the price of admission to watch him spray passes around. 
 

I doubt VAR is going anywhere as the social media clicks are off the charts with PGMOL and VAR always trending and that cunt Webb has his own show. All the refs are household names now. It’s the Pandora box of all Pandora’s boxes and we’ll never get it back in. 
 

As Hunter S Thompson once said ‘ I’d hate to advocate drugs, alcohol or violence to anybody but it’s always worked for me’ …so maybe those Turkish managers/team presidents are on to something just walk out and lamp the ref or pull the team off the field. 

[Peter Cormack]

It’s not VAR that’s the biggest problem it’s the biased fuckwits in the studio who are totally inconsistent with their decisions. If it were properly run and overseen VAR could be a good thing. It should be correcting referees when they get it wrong not agreeing with twats like Tierney. The last round of games saw arse’s handball and Bony getting sent off for making an excellent tackle in both cases VAR backed the ref despite clear visual evidence. Absolutely mindblowingly rediculous. 

[Bobby Hundreds]

It's been said a million times but VAR needs to be done by a completely independent body that has no social connection to the pgmol and referees are answerable to them including Webb. It needs to be clear why decisions are made and when big mistakes are made clubs should be compensated for it. Consistency and accountability need bringing to the forefront of the fucking wankers gravy train.

 

[Frank Dacey]

The other thing about Harvey's 'goal' is that Trafford was moving to his right just as Elliot was placing it to his left. Even with completly clear sight he could shift his feet quickly enough to make a save. That much should have been clear and obvious to Hooper.

[dave u]

The pass I was talking about.

People are so used to Trent doing amazing things that this was barely even mentioned the other night. A pass most players couldn't even dream about pulling off and he makes it look absolutely effortless. pic.twitter.com/2Y8iZuD7EI

— The Liverpool Way (@theliverpoolway) December 28, 2023

[Barnesey]

VAR is ruling on subjective matters by committee. It doesn’t matter how you present that it won’t work. One man, one decision, get over it. 

[sir roger]

Thats why they say a camel is a horse designed by a committee.