Would be great if Matip was back in time but doubt he will be ready.

comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 50 minutes ago
I mean Gomez was outstanding last week. Harsh to suddenly say he’s not good enough.

He’s not long turned 23, for a 23 year old centre back i think he’s excellent. Centre backs tend to mature much later than the attacking positions.
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He can have absolutely outstanding games, no denying that at all but I'd say he has more poor error-ridden games than he does outstanding ones.

I appreciate he's 23 but we are trying to win titles so can't be carrying a centre back just because he has potential in the future. Wouldn't want him leaving the club but he can't be first choice yet.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 12 minutes ago
Would be great if Matip was back in time but doubt he will be ready.
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This worries me endlessly, why can't either of our partners to VVD stay fit?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Gomez had an off-day, let's not pretend he's suddenly not good. Van Dijk makes mistakes too, such as against Leeds - you don't question him, he just had an off-day and so did Gomez.

One thing, I hope we get revenge against Villa when we play them at home.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 2 minutes ago
Gomez had an off-day, let's not pretend he's suddenly not good. Van Dijk makes mistakes too, such as against Leeds - you don't question him, he just had an off-day and so did Gomez.

One thing, I hope we get revenge against Villa when we play them at home.
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Not sure you can compare VVD having off days and Gomez.

comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)

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Not sure you can compare VVD having off days and Gomez.
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Of course you can, they're our starting centrebacks

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)

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Not sure you can compare VVD having off days and Gomez.
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Of course you can, they're our starting centrebacks
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VVD has consistently proven himself as the best centre back in the world and gave us about 18 months of incredible form that was vital to our winning CL and PL campaigns. Gomez hasn't had any real consistent period of form without a clanger or an injury.

That's why when VVD Has an off day it's a rare off day, Gomez doesn't have that reputation yet.

Gomez has many off days in comparison to Van Djik which is the big difference and Van Djik is the better "defender" by a country mile.

One example was when Barkley burst into the box yesterday, Van Djik kept him on his weaker left foot, showed him away from goal and he dragged it wide. Gomez allowed Watkins inside for Villa's 2nd which he fired into the top corner. That's the difference.

I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season

Just need to find the balance, with this new tactics. It will come.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season
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Don't buy deflected goals being bad luck. Get a proper block in.

comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season
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Don't buy deflected goals being bad luck. Get a proper block in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season
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Don't buy deflected goals being bad luck. Get a proper block in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Klopp's words, not mine.

Barkley deflected goals Trent was very lazy where he was begging Barkley to shoot while not closing in.

For the Grealish deflected goal he made the mistake of letting him cut in. Cardinal sin. Remember Neco getting pasted for allowing Auba to do the same in community shield but Trent 100 plus games later is still making same mistake.

Term...

"That is why we conceded and three goals were deflected. It's unlucky but it is not a coincidence because it means it was not a proper block. There is nobody to blame apart from me and us."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54413613

Trent is nowhere near the finished article defensively by any means.

It's hard to find defenders that are actually committed to defensive duties. It's all well and good playing a high line during open play and from set pieces, but you can't just expect the offside flag to be raised on nearly every opportunity. You have to follow it in.

Attackers will always look to exploit space, be it out wide, through the middle or in behind. Defenders have to cover that space and nobody seemed interested in doing that last night. It's lazy and it's not being committed to the defensive duties.

comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season
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Don't buy deflected goals being bad luck. Get a proper block in.
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Klopp's words, not mine.
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Don’t pass them off as your own then

And I still think it’s nonsense anyway, whoever said it.

comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 3 seconds ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought my point was quite obviously not ranking our CBs but giving perspective that off-days happen, and Gomez was excellent for us for a large part of 17/18 which you forget as when Matip stepped-in after Joe's injury, he was also excellent.

Perfect hattrick and 3 deflected goals, that's hopefully all our bad luck for the season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't buy deflected goals being bad luck. Get a proper block in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Klopp's words, not mine.
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Don’t pass them off as your own then

And I still think it’s nonsense anyway, whoever said it.
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I agree with Klopp though, so it's also my opinion.

I really really hope we get revenge when we play them again. Then again, last year was a real smash and grab at theirs

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by *GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 3 minutes ago
Proper block is weird. Considering with deflections it isn't something you can control. It is completely dependent on what the opposition player does. The build up to them taking the shot you can maybe argue jobs aren't done properly in allowing attackers to get the shot away/ not being close enough. The actual deflection though has nothing to do with anyone.
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Depends on the context really.

Is it unlucky if you've thrown your body at the ball and the striker mishits his shot, deflecting off that defender and wrong footing the goalkeeper? Yes imo.

Is it unlucky if you make a half-hearted attempt to engage a forward whose shot deflects off the defender? Not really imo.

You should put everything into blocking an effort really, then you can deem it as quite unfortunate. Not saying you throw your body at every shot/cross, but you should be doing enough to close your man down really.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I meant in more a last ditch effort, say somebody squares a ball to an onrushing player ready to finish, in that scenario, you would probably expect a nearby defender to throw his body in the way of the ball.

Like I said it is more based on context of the situation to judge what can be considered a lucky deflection. If the player could have done more in that situation he was in and it deflects off said player and it results in a goal, then I don't deem that as unlucky imo.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 42 minutes ago
Gomez had an off-day, let's not pretend he's suddenly not good. Van Dijk makes mistakes too, such as against Leeds - you don't question him, he just had an off-day and so did Gomez.

One thing, I hope we get revenge against Villa when we play them at home.
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You need to analyse the previous games when we conceded goals. The majority of those come from the right flank. I don't think this backline is good at playing the offside trap.

The zonal pressing which we play which means protecting the centre and forcing opponents to the outside and press them there needs high energy type of players. Milner, Gini and Hendo are essential for this otherwise we should play with a mid block.