01 Apr 2017 19:00:41
Fundamentally RK and his coaching staff were as responsible as the players for such an abject performance today.
It was fairly obvious early doors that the team set up was not geared to compete with LFC's s set up approach.
What should have been obvious is that you cannot leave a 25 yard void in midfield allowing players of the calibration of Coutinho and Mane to drop deep and have the time to drive at the defenders inviting disaster.
RK should have seen this danger and should have deployed Barkley 15 yards deeper to offer cover and prevent this issue at source. But no, we persist in playing three up front and put pressure on Gana and Davies to try and cope, the result being they were run ragged and rendered totally ineffective.
Add to that Liverpool were fitter and pressed to the point that Ross and co. always had two or three players in very close attendance when they received the ball, but Liverpool players had all the time in the world.
I suggest if the coaching staff can't see the obvious from their position on the sidelines, they should station someone in the stands with contact to the touch line to offer an alternative view of proceedings.
I, therefore, am more disappointed with the coaching team than the players for both the performance and result today.


1.) 02 Apr 2017
02 Apr 2017 06:55:19
There's nothing wrong with the coaching staff. 8wins in 11 previously, we come out a depleted side against a good side who are very good at home. Sounds like your just recycling what sky pundits said with your analysis. Was always going to be a tough game.


2.) 02 Apr 2017
02 Apr 2017 11:00:34
This good team at home lost to Swansea and Wolves if they can do it why can't we in 20 years.


3.) 02 Apr 2017
02 Apr 2017 16:06:32
Rushpalmer, I appreciate everyone is entitled to their opinion and no I don't need to restate what the Sky pundits have to say, in fact there are very few so called ex pro experts I would even consider listening to.
My opinion was formed within the first 15 minutes of play and was based on how Liverpool set up and their tactics.
If you analyse their style which is a high tempo pressing game with a back four and a midfield of five skilled players, who are comfortable on the ball, and a player slightly more advanced.
This ensures they control midfield possession but critically they attack en masse creating a wave of pressure that two opposition midfield players and a back three will never be able to cope.
That's exactly what happened yesterday and why the coaching team should have rung the changes to negate.
In defence of Barkley, Gana and Davies it's difficult to play if you have two or three players snapping at you as soon as you receive the ball. On the other hand if you allow players of the calibe of Coutinho, Mane, Can, Firmino and Wijnaldum space and time they will hurt you.
RK needed to match the numbers in midfield and require all the players to put in a shift and try and hit them on the break when they became frustrated.
If you consider the one on one confrontations, Baines and Holgate won their individual battle with Clyne and Milner just a pity, through poor tactic, they were the exceptions.