Football News: Sheffield Unied v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Sheffield United v Liverpool

After such an exciting game last time out, this one was very disappointing, mostly in terms of its lack of intensity from both teams. Not such a surprise from Liverpool, who had very little time to recover and reset after the 4-3 win over Fulham. What made it disappointing was the lack of genuine control over the game that Liverpool had, despite having 80% possession in the first half. Even with the ball almost solely in their possession, Liverpool never managed to shut down the game and control the play. Sheffield United were still in it until right until the end when Szoboszlai killed it off with the second goal. Overall I think this would be what would usually be called an efficient performance, the team played within itself and won without really moving out of second gear, but it still had its cost. The horrible challenge on Mac Allister, which cut open his knee, was somehow not even considered worthy of a yellow by the incomepetent Hooper, who has to be the worst of a very bad bunch of officials in the English leagues right now. Hamer, who I do think is a good player, does have a history of these nasty challenges designed to hurt opponents. Make no bones about it, that was what that was about - leaving one on Mac Allister early doors, knowing that a weak referee like Hooper would be too scared to punish him.

I do feel that Liverpool's tactical approach played directly into the Blades' hands. The lack of width, which is a major issue with the inverted full-back system, increased by using Gomez on the left when he is right-footed, just allowed them to stay compact and they were never really dragged out of position to open up any space centrally. Added to that, there was little danger of quality delivery from the flanks to give them much to defend there either. If the tactics are going to continue with this way of playing, flooding the centre like this, then there needs to be more danger from wide areas to create space there. Otherwise it is going to be tough going all season.

Following the harsh sacking of Heckingbottom before the game, Sheff Utd were a bit of an unknown quantity going into the game, even though Wilder had been in charge of them before. I still am a little confused by the treatment of Heckingbottom, even though I do think he is not a particularly good manager, his feat in getting them promoted deserved better. Especially as they sold his best players in the summer out from under him. I am not sure what the owner expected him to do in the circumstances. Certainly I do not see how Wilder can do anything other than making them harder to beat, because they are simply not very good and it is hard to see anything short of a miracle keeping them in the league. About their only chance will be if Everton's appeal ends in them being deducted a lot more points and Man City and Chelsea are also given massive point deductions this season too. Other than that, they are highly unlikely to survive the season.

What Wilder has done is made them more compact and more physical. They always had a tendency to kick opponents to try to level out their lack of quality, but Wilder has immediately made them snide and dirty on top of that. After almost every ball goes, they arrive late and leave something on a player, something which went completely unpunished, even when it happened millimetres away from the referee's nose. That will not be enough on his own to make them competitive, it will be up to Wilder to develop tactics to suit his players. Perhaps the return of his famous overlapping centre-backs is in prospect, or perhaps he has something new in mind? It will be interesting to see their development over the next few months. I have to say though, I really hope they get relegated because their fans are as moronic as fans come, chanting about scousers while Jack Robinson, a scouser, is producing an excellent performance for them. He even turned to them and pointed out he is scouser as well! Football fans really are imbeciles at times. Added to that the way their owner undermined Heckingbottom so that he could bring back Wilder was just plain wrong. They deserve nothing but contempt right now. It will be a blessing to have them and their fans out of this division again.

Quick notes on the players:

Kelleher - a much better performance by Kelleher, actually making saves rather than letting the ball go through him. It just shows how difficult it is for a player to just step in to a team and be expected to be at their best right away. It takes time to get the rust out of your system and become sharp. Like any skill, you improve it through repetition and your reactions quicken, enabling you to make saves that you miss when you are rusty.

Alexander-Arnold - bang on form right now. Not just attackng well, but also defending well too. Showing he is truly the best right-back around currently. And an excellent midfielder at the same time! This dual role is asking a lot of him though and it is putting a strain on the team to try to fill in all the gaps that are left. Also, I just wish someone would explain to me how it benefits the team, or him for that matter, to be receiving the ball in his own half (admittedly centrally) rather than 30 yards or so further up the pitch where he is when playing full-back. His balls from wide areas are just as capable of doing damage, more so if anything now Nunez is there to use his aerial ability, so how is it a gain for the team to play this ludicrous overcomplicated inverted full-back system that is so in vogue? If he is in midfield and there is someone wide to put quality balls in from wide areas, then that would be different. But right now all that is happening is that the team loses one of its main sources of goals - crosses from wide areas - as neither full-back is now getting forward down the flanks. Just because the other Pep, Guardiola that is, does it, it should not mean everyone else has to copy it, especially Liverpool's very own Pep. Surely a tactical 'genius' like Lijnders can come up with his own way of playing, rather than a poor copy of the City system?

Konate - he offers more solidity defensively, due to his greater awareness and pace over Matip but his tendency to grab is going to cost if he does not stop it. It is stupid to constantly keep making the same mistakes. You have to learn Ibou! The basics are all there to be a top class defender (especially as these days staying fit seems to be a thing of the past for players) but he seems incapable of just sticking to the basics and keeping his hands to himself. Though, judging by the manhandling Sheffield United were able to do in their own penalty box, not limited to just grabbing as rugby tackling is also apparently now not a penalty, maybe he is just ahead of the game?

van Dijk - in imperious form at the moment, though I do wish he would look to engage an attacker higher up the pitch rather than backing away into the penalty box! What a finish for his goal. Showed the supreme technical ability he has.

Gomez - while he can play left-back when required, it is clear he is not comfortable out there. The constant cutting back on to his right foot kills any attacking potential down his side. I have seen a lot of claims he had a mare due to one mistake and then a misunderstanding when Diaz started a run and then decided to stop running just as Gomez played the ball. Yes that pass looked stupid, but that was on Diaz not Gomez. Both the run and pass was on. Overall, he was decent enough, but it makes little sense to play him there while there are youngsters who need games who are comfortable there. If Sheffield United is not the time to give them a chance, then I do not know when is.

Mac Allister - he looked so much better further forward, while still able to get involved in defensive duties. It is such a shame he was taken out, his form had been steadily improving as the season went on and this injury was the last thing he needed.

Szoboszlai - an excellent performance once more by the Hungarian. He was once more everywhere. Whether he is scoring, assisting or not, he is always a key component of the team. What a signing he has been this season and his goal killed the game off. It is also a big plus that he can play so many roles, moving to the left to take Diaz's place after Nunez came on and he looks natural there as well.

Endo - another good performance. Endo provides more solidity and also aids the team going forward by constantly looking forward with his passing. I just do not understand why he has not played more, every time he plays he impresses. It is reminiscent of Minamino, makes me wonder if the Japanese politeness the two men have is something Klopp finds difficult to understand and deal with. Perhaps he feels that players who are that nice and polite are willing to just accept things and roll over? I am just guessing here, because it makes little sense to me that Endo has had so few opportunities. It would make sense as Klopp loves players like Mane, who could start an argument with their own shadow and Robertson, both of whom are very vocal and outgoing.

Salah - his form is not the best at the moment, added to the system forcing him out wide into positions where he is not as much of a goal threat as normal. He looks in need of a break, in terms of a lucky break of a shot going in off his backside or something. Nothing is quite falling right for him right now and he is snatching at things, I think that 200th goal is weighing heavy.

Gakpo - I really like Gakpo as a player. He is physically strong, technically adept, quick, intelligent and works hard for the team. But, and it is a big but, the team just seems to play better and offer more threat at the moment with Nunez in the central role. If Diaz's poor form continues, I would be tempted to try him off the left, where he did most of his best work in the Eredivisie. He looked better dropping into midfield after Elliott and Nunez came on.

Diaz - he is really struggling right now, no doubt emotionally and physically drained after the ordeal his family went through. If it was not for the injury to Jota, I would have thought it would do him good to have a few days off with his family to recover from it all. It is clearly affecting him and he is not looking anything like the player he can be. Hopefully he will find his form quickly.

Jones - replaced the injured Mac Allister in the 59th minute. He is not at his best right now, the sending off has really disrupted his season and then he managed to get injured again. I hope he can find a way to sort out these injury problems before they ruin his career, you simply cannot miss so many games for a big club and hope to hold down a place in the long term.

Nunez - took Diaz's place in the 66th minute, though Szoboszlai moved to the left rather than him. He immediately made a difference. His intensity changed the game. His workrate lifted everyone and woke up the home crowd. And what a tackle! I am shocked to see there are people who are questioning it. The game is already too soft, but now people are against good, clean tackles like that, rather than celebrating that a player has just shown desire for his team. Personally, I want to see more of that in the game. I love to see a good tackle, it is as exciting as a goal or goal-line clearance when a good tackle goes in and wins the ball cleanly. That is why you so often hear a crowd respond when a tackle is made.

Elliott - replaced Salah at the same time as Nunez came on. His impact when coming on as a sub has been excellent recently, and it was once again in this game. He offered more than Salah did on the right, though his time on the pitch was not as much. In part that is down to Salah, who is out of form, but in large part it is down to Elliott, whose energy and drive, along with Nunez's, gave the team a boost just when it was needed.

Gravenberch - only came on for the dying minutes as he replaced Gakpo in the 86th minute. Never really had time to do much.

Written by Tris Burke December 09 2023 09:35:30