Picking the bones: Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool
First things first, what a game of football! That first half was as exciting a half of football as you’ll see, two quality teams going full tilt at each other and both scoring world class goals. Not the result we wanted but a great example of why the Premier league is by far the most popular league in the world.
Let’s get into the game then. Someone once said it’s a funny old game and today was a good example as we were completely outplayed in the opening 20 minutes, couldn’t string two passes together yet suddenly found ourselves 2-0 up. I thought we then started to look in control, we looked dangerous with every attack and Chelsea looked like they were losing their heads, then suddenly it was 2-2! Go figure.
Attack
Great to see Mane back on the scoresheet, capitalising on a defensive error from Chalobah, although Chelsea certainly believed he shouldn’t have still been on the pitch, following the elbow to the face of Azpilicueta after just 6 seconds! It was a bit of a heart in mouth moment as you’ve seen them given but I don’t think it was intentional. Probably one of those you’d describe as an orange card. Mount’s petulant kick out at Tsimikas probably comes under the same bracket. Salah’s goal was simply world class but we’ve become accustomed to that from Mo this season. Unlucky with an outrageous effort having spotted Mendy off his line as well. Jota didn’t manage to find the back of the net but looked sharp and dangerous. All in all I thought our attackers played reasonably well. The rest of the team not so much so.
Midfield
Those who have known me longer will know that prior to us signing Thiago, I craved a player like that for our midfield and it was because we’ve seen so many displays like today from midfield in the Klopp era, granted often in games we’ve gone on to win but sometimes our passing in midfield can be atrocious. I lost count of how many misplaced passes we had in midfield, first half in particular as we gave the ball back to Chelsea time and again, with all three midfielders guilty of it. Fabinho caught in possession a number of times as well and looked well off the pace the whole match. Hendo’s inconsistent form this season continues and it was a stupid, needless free kick Milner conceded that led to their opener.
Good to see Keita and Curtis back on the pitch, hopefully Thiago won’t be too far behind them. We need that technician in the middle of the park to bring some control into our game at times. As exciting as that game was to watch, at 2-0 we could have done with someone like Thiago in there to try and slow the game down a bit, keep things simple for a while or exploit Chelsea’s hung ho approach. So many times across the 90 mins we were in on the counter attack of the pass had been right.
Defence
Some positive things from Tsimikas and Konate again and a lovely assist from Trent to release Salah but as a defensive unit we were all over the place at times. The gap between our CB’s and the nosebleed high line terrifies me at times and that inevitable massive hole that appears on our right hand side that we were punished for again today.
Some weeks I think Van Dijk is back to his imperious best and others he just doesn’t seem quite himself. Today I thought he looked uncomfortable for a lot of the game and I thought it was bizarre that he didn’t even attempt to close Pulisic down for their equaliser. His long passing wasn’t up to its usual standard either.
McMOTM I’m giving to Kelleher. For the lad to come in out the cold, into a massive game like that and a powder keg atmosphere, I thought he did brilliantly. Was Alisson-esque when thwarting Pulisic after a mistake from Trent left him one v one and the Irishman made another excellent point blank save second half to deny Pulisic again. Safe handling and composed throughout. Needs to fill out a bit physically over the next couple of years to allow him to dominate his six yard box more but looks to have all the tools to become a top keeper.
Summary
A fairly useless draw then, for both ourselves and Chelsea and in all honesty, probably hands the title to City. They’re 11 points clear of us now, having a played a game more. To have any hope of winning the title now we’ll pretty much have to win every game until the end of the season and losing our two first choice forwards certainly isn’t going to help our cause. Likewise Chelsea at 10 points behind having played the same number of games, would also need a perfect second half to the season to have any chance of catching City and with their Goalie off to AFCON with Mane and Salah, that doesn’t help their cause either. City on the other hand will easily absorb the loss of Mahrez.
To that end, if we’re being honest it’s difficult to see the title going anywhere else than City and so I think we should prioritise the CL and try and win a domestic cup. Jamie Carragher was saying the other day that he doesn’t think LFC have won enough under Klopp, given the standard of the team and I kind of understand what he means. A big part of that is we’ve never taken the domestic cups seriously, where City and Chelsea do.
This could be the season to buck that trend. I don’t see any way we don’t finish top four so I’d like to see a full strength team against Arsenal in the upcoming league cup fixtures and I’d like to see the F.A cup taken more seriously this season too. You can’t win the league every year but who could forget 2000/01. We won a treble, now granted none of the big trophies we had ambitions to win at the start of the season but what a season none the less! Fans still reminiscing about it to this day so let’s get the reds fans back at Wembley, lifting some silverware.
Champions League should be our main focus though. We’re a horrible team to play over two legs and I fancy us against anyone in that competition.
That’s it for this week then troops. I’ll leave you all to pick the bones some more. Walk on!
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