Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea: A cure for insomnia
In seasons gone by, this fixture has been a top of the table clash between two heavyweights of the game, however it’s testament to how far both teams have fallen this season that at the midway point of the season, it saw 9th vs 10th in the PL and the (lack of) quality from both teams demonstrated why.
Chelsea had the better of the first half without really creating any clear chances, while we huffed and puffed. Second half we started much better and for about 15 minutes we put Chelsea under pressure but again, without really creating chances.
I found the team setup strange, not the lineup itself but the positions the players were in. Harvey, just off the back of a goal and a MOTM display from the RW against Wolves midweek, was shunted over to the left, with the struggling Gakpo through the middle and Salah on the right. I’m never a huge fan of playing players out of their natural position but particularly when the team is struggling. Prior to Klopp’s attempts to convert Harvey to a central midfielder, he’s played predominantly on the RW throughout his career and Gakpo has played predominantly LW in his, so I don’t understand the logic of playing two players out of position to accommodate Salah, who hasn’t made an impact from the RW in weeks. When Nunez came on, I thought we might find better balance but for some bizarre reason, he played on the left and we persisted with the ineffective Gakpo through the middle.
On Gakpo, I think it’s fair to say that an indifferent start to his LFC career, has now become a poor start. He came with a reputation of being a pacy, direct dribbler of the ball, with an eye for goal and a good shot from distance but we’ve seen none of that up to now, as he seems to be playing within himself. The two half chances he had were blazed high and wide into that stands and once again, completely lacked conviction in his play. I do feel a bit sorry for him, he’s been thrown into a struggling team, playing different positions but I’d like to see him take the initiative and try and make something happen for himself, as at the moment he’s a passenger.
One thing I did agree with in Klopp’s selection was young Bajcetic keeping his place and I do think the team selection yesterday for such a big game was supposed to be something of a kick up the backside for Fabinho and Hendo in particular. It’s been said Trent had a slight groin issue so that may have been the reason for him losing his place in the starting lineup, however much like the aforementioned duo, he couldn’t have any complaints about being dropped.
The fledgling CB partnership of Gomez and Konate did ok, although we were so vulnerable from set pieces and once again got very lucky with an offside ruling out a Chelsea opener within two minutes, from the first corner of the game. Unfortunately we can’t even blame bad luck for our form as we’ve got out of jail a few times in recent weeks with a little help from VAR.
A fairly dismal game in truth, both sides showing why they’re mid-table mediocrity this season, although Chelsea did look threatening once Mudryk came on. Their spending over the last two windows isn’t far off half a billion, although you wouldn’t know it to watch them. What Klopp wouldn’t give for even a fraction of the backing Chelsea have received from their new owners.
More of the same then, as our turgid 22/23 season continues and with each passing week, top four becomes more and more of a pipe dream and the summer rebuild looking ever more drastic.
Brighton again up next and I’m sure most feel a little trepidation going into that game, after the spanking we received from them a couple of games back. You’d hope the boys would be fired up for it and looking to put the record straight but unfortunately we’ve seen a distinct lack of fire from the players this season and I’m in no way confident going into that match, that we won’t get turned over again by a very decent Brighton side.
Anyway we’ve picked at the bones of our troubles all season but no matter what we’ve tried, there’s been very little improvement and for now there’s nothing else for it but head down and keep trudging onwards, in the hope the tide will turn at some point.
Come the summer, there badly needs serious investment in a squad we’ve allowed to become stale. Klopp needs something in the region of £200 million to spend in my opinion. Whether he’ll get it or not remains to be seen but with what he’s achieved at the club, the least he deserves is the backing of the owners at least occasionally and if he doesn’t get it, I really don’t think you could blame him if he walked away. This is a manager who could walk into pretty much any job in world football but he’s being asked to fight with one hand tied behind his back by the increasingly frustrating FSG. Whether there’s movement in the background at the club remains to be seen, the mass exodus of back room staff would certainly seem to suggest there is but we’ll just have to wait and see. Until then, all we can do is to continue to walk on with hope in our hearts.
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