Match Day Liverpool v Bournemouth, Wednesday 5th April 20:00

[Bilo]

The best part of that match was Carra. Don't often watch the sky studio and he's rarely commentating, but he speaks some sense.

The rest was pretty shit I guess. Coutinho for Matip was the kind of substitution you make on FM, moving about half your team in one single stroke of getting a tall player on the pitch. We played well, but what I take from this game is another reminder that Bournemouth is a good team. The difference between today and all the other equally frustrating days is that Bournemouth played some good football today, and got a draw at our place when I can't say we were at our worst. We missed a bunch of chances but Bournemouth had an absolute sitter at 0-1 as well. It's worth mentioning again because I swear I'd back myself to bury it.

It'll be interesting to follow this team in general and Eddie Howe in particular. With there not really being a huge talent pool of young english managers, the road is paved for him if he's up for it. His 4-4-2 (which I think he prefers??) is in line with the times as well, many teams will revert back to the 4-4-2 in the coming years I think.

 

[G-Dragon]

Gifted two goals to Bournemouth. Top 4 still in our hands though. We could still throw maybe 2 games away and still make it.

 

[smat]

Can I shock you? I like Bournemouth.

I did TIP THEM FOR RELEGATION in the not too distant past, but then again I was also quite insistent about Chelsea not finishing in the top four. So basically I'm a right pillock.

 

[Bilo]

Can I shock you? I like Bournemouth.

I did TIP THEM FOR RELEGATION in the not too distant past, but then again I was also quite insistent about Chelsea not finishing in the top four. So basically I'm a right pillock.

Oh, pointing out stuff you got wrong that nobody remembers? I like to call it the reverse Dessie.

 

[Bilo]

Apparently Coutinho felt sick and vomited at half time. Which makes you wonder why we sent him out at all from that point? This was how Klopp further explained it:

"The decision was then to organise a little bit differently, three at the back plus the two in front with Lucas and Emre to still give the full-backs the opportunity to use the space on the wings. Against a 4-4-2 system that makes absolute sense."

He's not wrong but if that's what we tried to do we didn't do it well enough. 4-4-2/4-2-3-1/3-5-2 (in variations) is a bit like rock paper scissors*, tactically. But I find that most managers who subscribe to this view tend to underestimate how fucking complicated it is to play three at the back. I mean you look at Chelsea and it works great but a back three is as complicated as a knee, and as hard to fix when it doesn't work.

Naive from Klopp in hindsight, but to some extent I guess injuries forced his hand.

Also, watching the highlights again, I have to say for how good Bournemouth look they can't defend set pieces for shit. Having watched Liverpool for so long you become very adept att noticing when a team can't defend a set piece, and Bournemouth are a mess. It genuinely seems like each player decides for himself whether to zonal- or man mark because it seems to change from one set piece to another. I have to say it's an original idea if that's the case but it doesn't work, to say the least.

* 4-4-2 counters 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2 counters 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 counters 3-5-2.

 

[G-Dragon]

Can't put blame on formation or marking for 2nd goal imo. Klavan completely fucked up. What made him look up I still don't know.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

The equaliser originated from a Cook long throw that wasn't dealt with properly, just like the winner against Liverpool at Dean Court started from a Cook long throw that wasn't dealt with properly. Maybe something for LFC defenders to practice.

For all our nicey nicey play, when we do mix it up with something a tad more agricultural it does tend to cause confusion for our opposition.

 

[johnnytodd]

Bournemouth taken 4 points off Flopp

PMSL