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Football News: Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective

 

I have read a number of things about this game that have left me scratching my head totally confused by what the writer has seen. Some ridiculous comments about how Brighton were 'unlucky' or how they 'deserved something from the match'. I just wonder what those people were watching! This was a game that Liverpool dominated right from kick off and Brighton never really threatened even when a goal behind. They set out to play for a draw and were willing to pull, kick and throw their arms into faces at every opportunity in order to achieve that aim. Perhaps if they had actually come out and had a go at Liverpool with a makeshift back 4 they might have actually got something from the game.

Chris Hughton is a lovely man but if he truly believes that his team were good enough and did enough to deserve a draw then he is deluded. They were completely out of their depth and barely kicked the ball in the entire match. It was the first time in a long time that I can remember watching a 1-0 and never fearing the opposition would score, because they never looked like they were capable of doing so.

Liverpool are looking more and more like a top side, one who just does enough to win most weeks, rather than goes hell-for-leather one week and the next struggles to raise their intensity. It is just like a steamroller, slowly rolling along crushing anything in the way not quick enough to clear its path. There is no need to go any quicker, it is just about getting those 3 points and keeping as many players fit and fresh as possible for the next game and the next.

Titles are won by defences, so they say, if that is the case then Liverpool have a run of titles to look forward to as the defence right now is superb. Though is that down to van Dijk, Alisson, style of play or a combination of the 3?

 

Hughton - usually at home he is more attacking and that is why his team have such a good record there. Instead he wanted to sit back and try to soak up pressure and it was always asking for trouble. His team could not even manage to hit the target once in the full 90 minutes. That says it all for me. Hughton got it all wrong and ceded the initiative from the start. Rating: 3.

 

Button - one of their better players on the day, they looked a lot more solid with him there rather than the inconsistent Ryan. Not that he is a better keeper as such, but the defence clearly knew what he was going to do and could set themselves to deal with that. With Ryan they never seem sure if he will come for things or stay on his line. Rating: 5.

 

Montoya - a technically acclomplished right back who is always willing to bomb forward but is weak defensively and offered little in this game, often getting caught between two stools in his positioning. He never figured out whether he should have been trying to push forward or sit deep. Rating: 3.5.

 

Duffy - just a very poor player made to look acceptable because the formation is set up to suit him. When it matters he is regularly found wanting and offers no quality to the play when they have the ball either. Rating: 2.5.

 

Dunk - the better half of the centre back pairing, but not really good enough at Premier League level. The club concede so many from set pieces because the individual defenders are simply not good enough, imo. Found wanting a number of times and just looks panicky when players run at him. Rating: 4.

 

Bong - why is it every time I hear his name a Cypress Hill track starts buzzing round my head? I don't even like the song!! Struggled at times to cope defensively with Liverpool's movement, but stuck to his task and did take advantage of Shaqiri's lack of tracking back when he could. Rating: 6.

 

March - never got into the game. Did not do enough to help his full back nor offer anything going forward. They looked much better once he went off as he was really struggling. Rating: 2.

 

Gross - one of the best passers, crossers and deliverers of a dead ball in world football who was utterly wasted yesterday. He works hard but he was unable to use his key assets for 99% of the game due to the way Brighton set up and played. Rating: 4.5.

 

Stephens - in his element running around putting a foot in, but he was getting swamped at times. Struggled to get close enough to Liverpool's midfield to put any real pressure on them due to how deep he was playing. Rating: 4.

 

Propper - a very underrated midfielder imo (notice I resisted any bad 'proper' midfielder gags), but another one that needs to get on the ball to really get the most from him. When he did get the ball he was not able to do much as there were no options in front of him and he was being swarmed. Rating: 4.

 

Locadia - was a genuine threat down the Brighton right but never had anyone to pick out with the ball or support to draw defenders away. Showed good pace, skill and workrate though. Rating: 5.5.

 

Murray - had a poor game and his only real contribution was to smash his arm into the face of anyone challenging him for the ball. Rating: 2.

 

Subs:

Knockaert - replaced March in the 66th minute. Lifted the Brighton team when he came on with his energy and willingness to run forward. Just a shame his quality was not at the same level in this match. Rating: 5.

Andone - took the place of Murray in the 66th minute. Provided much more movement and pace up top but got almost no service. Rating: 5.

Kayal - brought on in the 79th minute to replace Gross. No idea why he was even brought on. Offered nothing. Rating: 4.

 


Klopp - his team totally dominated the game from start to finish. He got it right, even the decision to go with Fabinho at centre back. Maybe could have brought off Shaqiri sooner, as he was not helping Alexander-Arnold out defensively, but difficult to criticise after such a one-sided win. Rating: 6.5.

 

Alisson - never faced a shot on target and had very little to do other than distribute the ball every now and then. Rating: 6.

 

Alexander-Arnold - a difficult game for him, as he got very little help until Shaqiri went off. Especially at the start when he was worried over a potential injury from the warm up and he was moving tentatively. Then he was forced into a sprint with Locadia and he seemed much happier after that test. Got forward well but still has a tendency to get caught out of position at times. Rating: 5.5.

 

Fabinho - what can you say? Fabinho played really well, only getting caught out once when he failed to notice Murray had dropped off behind him. The rest of the time he was good, in large part thanks to van Dijk talking him through the game. Rating: 7.5.

 

van Dijk - nursemaided Fabinho through the match and had an excellent game defensively. He did play a small number of loose passes though. It is testament to how high a bar he has set that I can only pick at things he done to criticise him, as there is so little he has done wrong. Rating: 8.

 

Robertson - a very mixed game. As usual he worked really hard, but his touch and passing were off, but he did keep winning it back. His delivery was poor as well, but he is always an outlet for the ball. Rating: 6.5.

 

Henderson - an excellent controlled game. He and Wijnaldum were in charge of the midfield from the first moment until the last. Rating: 7.5.

 

Wijnaldum - he really needs an away goal! Still has a tendency to dally on the ball, but has the skill and strength to protect the ball most of the time. Another really good game for him. Rating: 7.5.

 

Shaqiri - not at his best and did not help Alexander-Arnold out enough, which led to Klopp berating him and eventually taking him off. Rating: 5.5.

 

Mane - sometimes I think that Mane is underappreciated for all he does. Not only does he twist fullbacks into knots and cause havoc in the opposing third, he also works really hard to protect the fullback behind him. The moment he was moved to the right, Alexander-Arnold must have breathed a huge sigh of relief. Rating: 7.5.

 

Salah - he was excellent once again. Not just the run to win the penalty but the second half from the start when he kept dropping deep to pick up the ball and just run at the Brighton midfield and defence. They could not handle that at all. Rating: 8.

 

Firmino - like Mane he does so much work to help out, does a lot going forward, but he can be a little loose with his passing, which he was at times. At other times he is just incredible. Even when he does make a mistake, you can count on him to do everything he can to win it back. Rating: 7.5.

 

Subs:

Milner - replaced Shaqiri in the 72nd minute. Made a lot of good runs and got himself involved in the play from the moment he came on. Rating: 6.

Keita - came on in place of Mane in the 90th minute. Never really had time to get into the game. Rating: 5.

Origi - brought on in the 90+4th minute to replace Salah. Barely even got on the pitch before the whistle went for the end of the game. Rating: 5.

 

Just to explain my ratings. I have gone for what I believe is more simple than the usual of totting up points. I have decided to go with 5 as having no effect on the game other than being a body on the pitch. Anything below 5 is a player who had a negative effect on his team and anything above 5 as a positive effect. So a goal scored would be a positive effect and add to the rating, whereas giving away a penalty with a needless challenge would take away from it.

Written by Tris Burke January 13 2019 19:32:25

 

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