Liverpool v Leicester City A Liverpool Perspective
For the first few minutes, it looked like another stellar performance, with fast, beautiful, almost showboat, football. It looked like it was going to be a follow on from the Spurs game right up until Leicester had their first attack. The defending was horrendous, Gravenberch caught ball-watching and not covering behind Alexander-Arnold, who was pressing higher up the pitch, which allowed Mavididi space to attack and then play in a ball. Robertson, again, was also caught ball-watching and it was in the back of the net in a huge shock moment. For a while after that, the team struggled to get going again. The fluidity vanished, decision making was poor, particularly set-pieces (one corner Alexander-Arnold and Robertson contrived to completely waste between themselves) and the ball was being played around at a snail’s pace, giving the Foxes plenty of time to get into position.
There was a sloppiness on the ball, an openness at the back and players were trying to force things to happen, rather than just being patient. As the game wore on though, the performance began to pick up again, helped by Leicester’s shoddy attempts to play out from the back and inability to cope with being pressed. The pressure built, cross after cross after cross was put into very dangerous areas and chances were created and wasted. Then the breakthrough happened and it was like the dam had burst. That moment seemed to kill them and the win was almost inevitable after that. It ended up as a well-deserved win against a team that barely threatened to cross the halfway line, let alone score, in the second half.
What was odd was seeing an attempt to copy the Arsenal corner routine, of sorts. The key thing, other than decent delivery as the delivery was abysmal in this game, was players blocking the keeper. Instead, they just copied the bit about all hanging around past the back post and then rushing in to the centre as the ball is kicked. I can see the sense in it, if the timing is right, but it is easier to time if you instead have everyone clustered on the edge of the box to rush into the 6 yard box that way. Not only is it easier to time, as it is more natural, but also just a player’s momentum means that they are going to increase their chances of hitting the target, as they are moving towards it, so just colliding with the ball will be more likely to hit the target. When they are all moving forward, any mistimed touch will steer it forward back to where the ball came from, rather than towards the goal. Either way, it matters little when the set pieces are so poorly delivered and the runs are timed so badly.
Leicester City
They have a lot to thank their keeper for, Stolarczyk was their best player, keeping them in the game with some good saves and quick reactions. I can see why they have rushed him into the team following his injury return. You could also see that he has not played in their poor run of games since promotion, as he was the only one full of confidence and who did not wilt the moment they conceded.
Tactically, they were very poor, attempting to play it around at the back while being pressed hard. They are just not good enough to do that and it caused them to hand over possession multiple times. They do like a dive or seven as well, Buonanotte being the biggest offender, though Justin did his level best to match him. I do wish referees would act by handing out cards, rather than just waving play on. The game would benefit so much from the blight of diving being driven out. Time wasting as well. All very well adding time on at the end of the game, but it is not good for the audience to be made to wait by a keeper who is just messing around.
To be honest, there is not a lot to say about Leicester, other than they have a thoroughly detestable bunch of fans following them around. They sat back and tried to soak up pressure but with no clear plan of how to do it other than to just get bodies in the way of shots. They are not good enough to play out from the back, but they lacked an out ball most of the time, despite having plenty of pace in forward areas. They need to make better use of the ball if they are to have any chance of survival in the Premier League.
The one thing I did notice about them is a discipline issue. As soon as Liverpool took the lead, they lost discipline completely and van Nistelrooy spotted it and was out on the edge of the technical area trying to calm them down. That is something that will need to be sorted, they could easily end up getting a hiding if it is not sorted and that will kill the little morale they have at the club.
Liverpool
Alisson – barely featured in the game, which tells you a lot about this performance by the team.
Alexander-Arnold – his set pieces and shooting were awful but his passing and crossing from open play were sublime once again. He also defended well. Overall a very good game.
Gomez – the best defender on the pitch in this particular game. His booking was ridiculous, it was not even a foul, let alone worthy of a booking.
van Dijk – it was a van Dijk performance, very good game, some good passes out from the back too.
Robertson – the nicest thing I can say about his game was mixed. Going forward, he was good. Maybe even very good. However, defensively he was once again woeful. He was badly at fault on the Leicester goal. Then there was his defending in open play, he was constantly dropping too deep, van Dijk and Gomez ended up taking it in turns to scream at him to move up with the rest of the back four unit. But he was always dropping off. Then there was his booking, which was idiotic at best. A challenge that he had no need to make, but he flew into it in a way that could easily have risked getting sent off. He worries me. The way he constantly drops off is that off a player whose pace is going and he knows it, so tries to give himself an extra yard. The problem is that it is destroying the offside trap.
Gravenberch – a good game but once again showed his lack of a defensive mindset on the Leicester goal. Alexander-Arnold was pressing higher up the pitch and he saw Mavididi in the space behind but did not get over to deal with it until the ball was played. An Endo-type, defensive-minded midfielder would have seen the danger and moved over to cover immediately. It was a moment that showed that he still has a lot to learn in this role.
Mac Allister – defensively he can still be got at, though he did a bit better in this game in that respect. But overall, he played really well and showed some nice touches and passes plus got an assist.
Jones – he scored but his tendency to take too many touches is a very big weakness. Far too often it just kills momentum in a move. If he had not scored, it would have been a poor game for him.
Salah – he could have gone home with the matchball, but had to settle for just one goal. He is such a threat at the moment and caused Leicester problems all game.
Nunez – it just is not happening for him right now. He should have scored, but their goalkeeper did really well against him to help ensure he got nothing.
Gakpo – had a really good game, great opening goal and got an assist as well. He is so direct with his running and pacey, he always causes problems, especially as he can hit a shot like that, so they cannot just back away and let him run with it.
Szoboszlai – replaced Jones in the 77th minute. I felt his energy and movement was sorely missed until he came on. The team plays so much better with him in the mix. It was disappointing he picked up a booking and so will miss the game against West Ham United, but it was a very soft booking from a referee who was handing out those yellow cards like they were going out of fashion. I do not think that the ref got a single booking right for either team. The only ones that really deserved them were the divers and timewasters, but he failed to give out any for that, despite repeatedly pointing out that it was happening. He was very poor. Sorry to do this on Szoboszlai’s note, but I did need to get that off my chest!
Jota – came on for Nunez in the 77th minute. Put in a good shift in the short time he was on. He is usually a very good player to bring off the bench as he can be relied upon to put in a performance.
Tsimikas – took Robertson’s place in the 86th minute. The game was over by the time he came on and he had little to really do.
Endo – allowed Gravenberch to go off for a rest in the 86th minute when Endo arrived to replace him. Like Tsimikas, he came on with the game pretty much over, but he did his best to make an impact on the game.
Elliott – was brought on in place of Mac Allister in the 92nd minute. Barely had time to get on the pitch, let alone have any kind of noticeable effect on the match.
Written by Tris Burke December 27 2024 20:31:59
