Leeds United - v - Liverpool ***Matchday Thread***

[Monaco_Totty]

Maybe it's too easy to judge from the outside but most in the stadium expected a performance.We instead got 'battlers' at times outplayed in my opinion.

Again outside of the stadium folks will this & that & if what & maybe but that's football and that's what you'll get with this season's Bielsa side who for me have very capable players but not quite performing with fluidity instead stuttering through the 90 mins.

Dallas & Rodrigo are capable players but not in the roles asked presently. Fabinho emerged as the game’s outstanding individual and he prompted Liverpool swiftly to control by pressing brilliantly and sidelining Phillips in the second half.He also orchestrated a move with one cross for Salah to net which was ruled out - such a cross that we failed to deliver all game.

I 'firmly believe' that Raph should be our 10 and given the freedom to do what he wants.As an intelligent maverick player he can create situations left right & centre.

Our wing-work is predictable on both flanks & needs more inside work options around the box as crosses put in are dire.Rodrigo has become a luxury in his role presently & Roberts although practical gives no natural individuality instinct options to his game presently.That needs sorting.

Hope in training that both James & Harrison can prove secure starting 11 selection but suspect it'll be another 3 weeks before that magical team balance surfaces.

Down but not Out - Terrific team Liverpool,as a unit,as a game plan and as individuals.Our known flaws were laid down before them to often in truth.Presently, man to man we are not coming out on top as a team unit and it shows over 90 mins.

I know personally one can make mistakes and fall but one can also get back to his feet. Life is full of unexpected events but it's how you react to them - so next up its those Geordies in another belter of hostile atmosphere where you either sink or swim.

Looking forward to the game as I'll be over for it & looking forward to my annual medical results evaluation day this week at the Tony Adams Sporting Chance Re-hab Clinic in Leeds.
So bring it all on !

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Agree on getting Raph more involved and 10 may suit him - also agree we sometimes look predictable - I sometimes wonder if the players get pre programmed moves in training as sometimes we seem to carry on when the pass isn’t on.

Really need a schemer in the middle of the park to buddy up with Kalvin and run the game (please come back Pablo).

Were a lot of high points from the game and easy to forget that Liverpool are probably in the top 10 sides in world football. Phillips, Bamford, Rapha and Llorente till he went off all looked good. I also thought Firpo did okay as Harrison didn’t have his best game and he was being overloaded and having to deal witn Sallah and TAA.

Must beat the barcodes.

I like how they pull through home grown talent too a model to follow - Thought Alexander Arnold and Barnes were two of their best players.

[ozleeds]

Agree on getting Raph more involved and 10 may suit him - also agree we sometimes look predictable - I sometimes wonder if the players get pre programmed moves in training as sometimes we seem to carry on when the pass isn’t on.

Really need a schemer in the middle of the park to buddy up with Kalvin and run the game (please come back Pablo).

Were a lot of high points from the game and easy to forget that Liverpool are probably in the top 10 sides in world football. Phillips, Bamford, Rapha and Llorente till he went off all looked good. I also thought Firpo did okay as Harrison didn’t have his best game and he was being overloaded and having to deal witn Sallah and TAA.

Must beat the barcodes.

I like how they pull through home grown talent too a model to follow - Thought Alexander Arnold and Barnes were two of their best players.

Again MB after we got James was asked this question and his reply was he plays wing and is playing well I don't see the point of changing! And we all know how stubborn he can be. He also came out after the game and blamed himself for our form Well hello your selections are one big factor.

[cherrypie7]

Maybe it's too easy to judge from the outside but most in the stadium expected a performance.We instead got 'battlers' at times outplayed in my opinion.

Again outside of the stadium folks will this & that & if what & maybe but that's football and that's what you'll get with this season's Bielsa side who for me have very capable players but not quite performing with fluidity instead stuttering through the 90 mins.

Dallas & Rodrigo are capable players but not in the roles asked presently. Fabinho emerged as the game’s outstanding individual and he prompted Liverpool swiftly to control by pressing brilliantly and sidelining Phillips in the second half.He also orchestrated a move with one cross for Salah to net which was ruled out - such a cross that we failed to deliver all game.

I 'firmly believe' that Raph should be our 10 and given the freedom to do what he wants.As an intelligent maverick player he can create situations left right & centre.

Our wing-work is predictable on both flanks & needs more inside work options around the box as crosses put in are dire.Rodrigo has become a luxury in his role presently & Roberts although practical gives no natural individuality instinct options to his game presently.That needs sorting.

Hope in training that both James & Harrison can prove secure starting 11 selection but suspect it'll be another 3 weeks before that magical team balance surfaces.

Down but not Out - Terrific team Liverpool,as a unit,as a game plan and as individuals.Our known flaws were laid down before them to often in truth.Presently, man to man we are not coming out on top as a team unit and it shows over 90 mins.

I know personally one can make mistakes and fall but one can also get back to his feet. Life is full of unexpected events but it's how you react to them - so next up its those Geordies in another belter of hostile atmosphere where you either sink or swim.

Looking forward to the game as I'll be over for it & looking forward to my annual medical results evaluation day this week at the Tony Adams Sporting Chance Re-hab Clinic in Leeds.
So bring it all on !

Agree with almost all said here. Some further thoughts and 1 clarification.
1. Just to clarify and confirm, the red card was the referee's decision alone. No VAR involvement.
2. Firpo at this instant is not as good as Alioski, which makes that side of the pitch rather ineffective as far as the attack goes.
3. We created 2 or 3 clear cut chances which were not taken. This is against a very good team in Liverpool and should be encouraging.
4. Rodrigo just isn't right in the role he is playing now. Missed a good chance too.
5. Even though we did create good chances we also let them have too many opportunities. Meslier kept it from being a tennis score.
6. The biggest problem is simply that we cannot keep the ball. That's it. The only time we were able to keep the ball and pass it efficiently this entire season was against Crewe Alexandria and for about a total of 45 minutes against Bur. Both clubs are not what i would term world beaters especially Burnley.
7. Not sure about Raphinha as a number 10, but I also think anything is worth a try at this moment.

[Monaco_Totty]

Agree with almost all said here. Some further thoughts and 1 clarification.
1. Just to clarify and confirm, the red card was the referee's decision alone. No VAR involvement.
2. Firpo at this instant is not as good as Alioski, which makes that side of the pitch rather ineffective as far as the attack goes.
3. We created 2 or 3 clear cut chances which were not taken. This is against a very good team in Liverpool and should be encouraging.
4. Rodrigo just isn't right in the role he is playing now. Missed a good chance too.
5. Even though we did create good chances we also let them have too many opportunities. Meslier kept it from being a tennis score.
6. The biggest problem is simply that we cannot keep the ball. That's it. The only time we were able to keep the ball and pass it efficiently this entire season was against Crewe Alexandria and for about a total of 45 minutes against Bur. Both clubs are not what i would term world beaters especially Burnley.
7. Not sure about Raphinha as a number 10, but I also think anything is worth a try at this moment.

Hi Cherry - Raph as a 10 ?

Raphinia's passing quality played an important role for Rennes in a variety of different ways.With him more central as an attacking Rennes playmaker it did cause the opposition problems with his passing when running in behind or when given even a small bit of space in front of the defensive line which makes him a difficult threat to deal with for plenty of defences.


Yes he provides width & pace & defensive duties presently but i just feel he's got so much more to offer the team tactically which he's done well in the past when required.

With Bamfords unselfish running Raph can make more goals happen with his tactical brain & such a brain is required sometimes during 90 mins when things are not going well.

This picture below highlights what he can do if switched centrally when needed.
Imagine him with 3 Leeds runners taking defenders away - some option.

With 4 pacey wingmen in the squad - now enough room for 2 on and Raph moved more central when the situation is necessary during 90 mins or against opposition who line up deep.It'll fit the counter attack option MB likes to use & won't disrupt our style.

I wish I had that service option when playing centre forward at netball years ago