Supremolad

It's true that our current system isnt perfect. But we have to get used to the idea that no system is. Even at the height of our success with Klopp with 97 and 99pts seasons, people still complained about the midfield being too functional, lacking much creativity and flair. The sad reality is as soon as we lose a match with this current system, some would just hold that as evidence showing we should bin the whole thing. Ignoring evidence of all the times it worked.

We are close to playing half a season worth of games with the inverted full back system. 16 or 17 games now, still unbeaten with it. And even in all those games, we still had significant portions in which Trent stayed at full back. Every system in football has a weakness which can be exploited or targeted. Even at our very best, opponents usually targeted their attacks through the right hand side of our defence. The fact we have gone unbeaten for so long with this new system really counts for something. Most fans wanted Klopp to change the previous system which saw us getting beat too often. He has successfully done so, and now some are saying we should go back to flying fullbacks. Sigh. Do we really have a mobile, aggressive DM to shuttle across to cover the spaces when our fullbacks are flying up the wings? I dont think so.

Brilliant article. I think Ali's 2nd half save at 2-0 was missed out as a potential turning point though. Watching in real time, I thought it was quite close to going over the line until the replays showed it wasn't. It was a very smart save because he took a couple steps backwards to increase the time he had to react to the header. That's why his feet ended up behind the line. Another great piece of goalkeeping from the best in the league.

I'm now thinking the plan might be to have Endo as an alternative option at CB based on his previous experience playing there for a good chunk of his career. Not that I agree with such a plan but I reckon that's what they might be thinking.

Great podcast. I do have an issue with the contributions who continually complain about this new system Klopp started using towards the end of last season. We were on a wretched run, we looked out of ideas and were getting beat often. People kept complaining that the 433 had been found out and Klopp needed to try something else. He then did with this new system which has seen us unbeaten in 16 games with 11 wins. That's a massive improvement on the previous shite. A good number of those 16 games were also tough games against good opposition. Every system in football has positives and negatives. No system is perfect. People who continually complain about this new system have to admit we've been better since we started using it. And rather than stubbornly ask for the team to scrap it completely, let's focus on the merits and see how it can be improved because based on results and performance, it's worth sticking to.

Seen people saying the club can't stop players from leaving when Saudi money has turned them. I think that is just an easy cop out for FSG. Henderson for example, was encouraged to leave by the club's (in)actions and decrease in playing time on offer. Of course, money was an important factor for him too but Liverpool were prepared to make that deal. Same as they were prepared to take the money for Fabinho. But when Saudi interest came for Diaz, the club were emphatic in saying NO. Hence, they do have the power to say "no, we are not selling you to the Saudis". They just pick when convenient to exercise such power. Similar with the Salah now, the answer they put out to the media is an emphatic NO, we are not selling. That might change next summer when they've put in place a replacement plan but as of now, I don't believe they'll let him go even if he sulks a bit.

Laughable spin. How do you mean he doesn't feel the need to play out of his skin? He was throwing a tantrum first game of the season when he got subbed early. Because he wanted to stay on and felt the game was there to be won. And 2nd game of the season, he had a busy game, taking on shots at goal, being a general threat. And then when we went down to 10 men, he upped his pressing even more, chasing lost causes. There were a couple of intense sprints to recover the ball which drew appaluse. Certainly not the sign of someone who no longer cares.

Not a big fan of Gakpo as an 8. Really hope this is just a temporary thing because we would ideally want Mac Allister in that spot as soon as we have Endo ready to start. Gakpo was already doing a decent job as a false nine, we should have him back there as soon as possible.

Real surprise. During the week, Thiago was looking more likely to be in the squad for this game. Really seems Bajcetic has come from nowhere to take that spot on the bench. Maybe they've just decided to give Thiago more time since we now have Endo available.

Bollocks. So he quit because of an extended contract to a captain who had just led us to our first title in 30 years? Bollocks I say. In 7 years of working together with Klopp, I'm sure there are things Edwards got wrong too. People just elevating him to infallible hero status based on pure speculation. We forget some of the transfer shambles he was also involved in. They were all in it together.

Part of this narrative misuses speculation as fact. Yes, Klopp isn't perfect. But people are now working off the theory he isn't great at transfers while conversely believing Edwards and Ward had great recommendations all the time. Who is to say that if Brandt or Gotze had signed, Klopp wouldn't have turned them to great signings for us? And because Klopp allegedly asked for extensions to contracts for his captain and vice, does that then mean the recruitment team around him get a free pass on some of the shambles they were also involved in before they left? They are all in it together imho.

That 5 year limit was brought in by UEFA. And Chelsea are not in any of their competitions this season. The Premier League hasn't brought in the 5 year limit yet, they've just started considering it. Edit - Babbs already issued a retraction of his earlier post. Sorry Babbs.

Yes he did. And Keane stood there with a mixture of bemusement and disgust on his face.

That's a fair response, even if I dont fully agree that he doesn't want to defend. I think he just enjoys his game more in midfield and attacking situations. You've done well to highlight a difference between "he can't defend" and "he doesn't want to defend". The one which angers me is the "he can't defend" narrative because he clearly can. He has cost us with his defensive lapses, that's true. But when our team is well set up and in good form, he defends well.

The "Klopp is to blame narrative " is getting more traction because some people would rather divert attention away from FSG's failings while crediting Michael Edwards as an infallible hero.

So we are now having this as fact and not mere bollocks. Edwards couldn't have left because he wanted a break after 10 years at the club and 7 years as DoF? It had to be because two players got their contracts extended instead of two targets he wanted to sign. I guess we are now getting into the territory of all the successful transfers being credited to Edwards while the failures are Klopp's fault. *rolls eyes*

Against Chelsea he made a few very good clearances and interceptions. Including one which he cleared when a tap in was about to happen 3 yards out. People only see what they want to see. Some have bought so blindly into the "Trent cant defend" narrative that they simply ignore his good defensive actions during the game. Note, I'm not saying he is a top defender but I'm saying he isn't as terrible as made out.

He already has that opening day record though, doesn't he? I dont think it was about the record. He just wanted to stay on because he felt the game was still there to be won. Klopp said on Skysports that he was absolutely fine with Salah's reaction. Said he doesn't expect a player to happily jump into his arms when subbed off and that he would be worried the day a player is happy to be subbed off.

And a good singer too judging from the way he serenaded live on camera a couple minutes ago.

Sigh. Predictable Trent bashing, contrary to the evidence of defending which we saw him do regularly in the game. Reece James who is supposedly the better defender, went to sleep when Diaz scored. Nothing Trent did today was as bad as that.

The problem is we have not agreed a deal with the player himself yet. A deal can't be completed unless the player himself has agreed to sign. I feel Todd Boehly's ego got bruised by our hijack and he's now told Caicedo to wait while Chelsea bring up another deal.

Dave, it was a chance for Liverpool FC to take a stand and say "we would sell both of you to any other club except the anti-LGBT lot". An institution which is truly an ally of the LGBT community would have done so. It would have sent out a massive message. We've kept unhappy players before and they went on to have good seasons - our beloved Suarez comes to mind. I'm sure Klopp could easily have backed the club if they took the decision not to sell to the Saudis. Liverpool did have a choice. And the club should be facing similar outrage but so many are turning a blind eye to it. Making excuses for the club not turning down the "contaminated" money from over there is basically equivalent to the Geordies making excuses for Howe and their club not turning down Saudi money too.

That's a valid criticism. Yes, he put himself out there as a LGBT ally and has displayed hypocrisy going there. However, I genuinely want to know where people draw the line and why there is no consistency to the level of criticism. Liverpool FC is also a LGBT ally. Yet the club have taken millions from the Saudis for Hendo and are likely to take even more for Fabinho. We're looking at a total of over 50m of Saudi cash coming into the club, money which most people are very fine with. Where is the massive backlash and outrage for that? Where are the numerous fans choosing to boycott Liverpool games because of that?

Ha!! As if.

Superb post.