NeedsMoreCoffee

I dunno... so you can push a defender 6' out of position, then immediately play the ball straight into the space he was defending and score?

Been waiting for this for a while... going to have to find this to watch. From the account it sounds like a Xabi tactical masterclass. Let's bring him home next season:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/10/stanisic-and-grimaldo-stun-bayern-to-extend-leverkusens-bundesliga-lead

I expect part of this is the way we now have enough players up front to be able to rotate them. When all we had was Mane/Firmino/Salah and that combo played every game then it's understandable that they knew what the guys either side of them would do and could play those blind/first-touch passes.

3-1 is the most Liverpool score... although this week I predicted 2-1 - oh well I'd take that 3rd goal any day of the week

Such a mess from start to finish. Alisson/VVD at least partly responsible for all their goals and on another day weirdly it seems we could have had a clean sheet. Having said that, felt like they dominated us for most of the game but maybe that's a bit of the whole "...equality feels like oppression" thing given that the possession & passes stats look to be in our favour (although shots most definitely not!).

If not for the defensive cock-ups on both sides, game would have finished 0-0 lol.

some home-side deflation based on that crazy goal they just gave us.

Ouch - I think we've more than cancelled that out... what a mess. Start of 2nd half was so strong too.

Shades of the FA Cup in the first half where Arsenal were all over us and we were only saved by their bad finishing.

Hoping for a Klopp half-time tactical masterclass and some home-side deflation based on that crazy goal they just gave us.

Alisson

Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez

Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones

Diaz, Gakpo, Jota

Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Thiago, Nunez, Elliott, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Quansah

Always sets alarm bells ringing when we put two keepers on the bench. And only one striker on the bench and he's an injury concern. But Thiago... ooooh.

I've heard the release clause claim stated and also denied. As far as I know, both are just rumours rather than provable fact so who knows! Maybe we'll find out in May lol

There's also been a suggestion going around that this is all happening now rather than in 2026 specifically because Real were expected to come calling for Alonso this summer.

Still, 2026 would have been a perfect time. Sure he's doing very well right now but he's still incredibly unproven for a top flight position like Liverpool. An extra 2 years might have been useful to judge him better. Heck, two years ago we all thought Gerrard was a managerial genius and destined to return, and now...

I'm very shocked - as I think everybody is. Not long since he signed the contract extension which came with lots of positive words. Exciting team rebuild just getting established and he seemed revitalized recently. I guess go out on a high and not after one season too many?

Sad to hear Pep & co also moving on... although big name managers usually have a backroom team they bring so maybe that's not unexpected.

The 2026 date segued nicely with the expiry of Alonso's contact too... Wonder if we can tempt him over early?

Fascinating seeing those extreme single-player close-ups during the VAR checks. The VAR guy is seeing the lines there but they're hidden from us until he's fiddled around enough to get the result he wants.

2nd half is going to kick off. Lackadaisical reffing for fouls and pernickety reffing for any reaction to that... players are going to start taking it out on each other.