Football News: Liverpool v Roma - A Liverpool Perspective
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Liverpool v Roma
The difference in performance when the players are at it, rather than worrying about getting injured, is incredible. It did not start out so well, as Roma came out to take the game to Liverpool rather than sit deep. The early stages saw Liverpool put on the back foot and pushed back as they struggled to get to grips with the Rome midfield.
Then Henderson stepped up, got the rest of the midfield to step up as well and turned the game on its head by shutting down the Roman midfield. With no space and time to operate, Roma were losing the ball easily and starting to lose their heads and finding themselves caught out over and over.
The quick turnovers and pace on the break ripped through them time and time again and it could have been much worse than five goals for them. Then there was that moment when the midfield stopped pressing and most of the defence did not recognise it and suddenly it was 5-2 and the tie was not over like it very easily could have been.
Disappointing but who would not have been happy with that result if offered it before kick off? I know I would have bitten your hand off for a 5-2 win!
Klopp - despite what people are saying about his decision to take off Salah, I do not really see how you can fault Klopp last night. Taking off Salah did not change the game, it was the players getting themselves mixed up between continuing the high press and dropping off to defend. In particular the midfield. The problem was having a 5-0 lead was so unexpected the players naturally slackened off a bit. Klopp could shout all he wanted from the sidelines but they are not going to listen at 5-0.
Karius - he looked nervous and was not decisive enough with the defence in front of him. Though I have to say he was not helped by being taken out by van Dijk early on after clearly calling for a ball because you could see van Dijk duck out of attacking it, but still collided with him. He will have to learn to just give van Dijk enough stick that next time he will make sure not to catch him.
Alexander-Arnold - it was a really difficult game for him as he was not up against an actual winger, but a wingback who is slightly deeper. That meant he had to decide whether to push on to Kolarov, leaving a space behind, or hold off him and give him time and space. He mostly got it right in his choices. Attacking he put in some dangerous crosses too. Good game for the lad.
Lovren - as usual Lovren is the scapegoat for errors at the back. I have already explained on the Liverpool site how I feel it was more than his fault that the first goal was conceded, but I will explain it again here for those that have not seen it. Firstly Nainggolan picks up in the ball in acres of space, Milner is the closest player and should have denied the Belgian time and space to get his head up and pick a pass. Instead Milner drops off, a consequence of being 5-0 up is that players do tend to settle for it, rather than pushing on, so I can understand his decision.
Seeing that there is no pressure on the ball the defence as a whole should have dropped off to deny space for a pass. It is a basic thing, when the passer has no pressure on him you have to drop off as a defence. Unfortunately only Lovren recognised the situation and dropped off, so, when he was unable to get to the header, which was an error by him, there was none of the cover coming over to help. That was Trent's big error, that he had not spotted it and come over on the cover to enable him to pressure Dzeko to rush his shot.
Van Dijk should have been dropping in on the cover as well to either get across and pressure Dzeko or to be able to get on the line in the event of a shot going across the goal. None of that happened, so Lovren is left looking an arse because the team around him failed to do their jobs and he was exposed. Shame, because up until that point he had been having an excellent game.
van Dijk - mostly good, but did get caught out at the end as he was still trying to maintain the high line while the midfield were dropping off and they were all getting mixed up together. For all his communication, that was a definite breakdown in communications there that could do with being sorted.
Robertson - he had a decent game but was not as involved as usual, never really got the chances to break forward that he usually does. Clearly they were cautious of his attacking runs and never allowed themselves to overcommit on his side.
Milner - started off slowly but he and Henderson stepped up and worked well together to completely take Roma's midfield out of the game, right up until the moment he stopped pressing them and started dropping off. That was why he was caught far too deep for the pen given against him. Yes he was unlucky, they are not always given, in fact probably more often not given, but he should not have been so deep in the first place. He should have been closing down on the edge of the box.
Henderson - when Liverpool needed their captain to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck, Henderson did so. He was top class for most of the game, though he did look a bit leggy in the final ten minutes or so. Probably man of the match.
Oxlade-Chamberlain - was just starting to work his way into the game when he injured his knee ligaments and now the poor bugger will miss the World Cup. Get well soon Ox, you have shown doubters like me you deserve to be a starter at Liverpool.
Salah - what more can be said about this guy that has not already been said? It is enough to say that his performance last night stood up to comparison with anything Ronaldo or Messi have done. The scary thing is that he is getting better as the season goes on.
Mane - was also excellent. He does play a more creative, deeper role this season, but he played it superbly in this game.
Firmino - fantastic game once more. He really is excelling this season and improving along with Salah.
Subs:
Wijnaldum - came on in the 18th minute in place of the unfortunate Oxlade-Chamberlain. He had one of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt, though there were still those moments of dithering that seem to plague him. At least he was noticeable and supporting the attack when he could.
Ings - replaced Salah in the 75th minute and really did not get into the game much at all.
Klavan - in the 90th+2 minute he was brought on in place of Firmino as Klopp looked to shut up shop before any more were conceded. Was basically just a time wasting exercise.
Written by Tris Burke April 25 2018 18:48:49