After being held at home by Wolves in the FA Cup last Saturday, Liverpool’s inconsistent season encountered yet another obstacle.
The Reds will play Brighton at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League before traveling to Molineux for a third-round rematch the following week. From this point on until the end of the season, games will continue to come thick and fast, and Jurgen Klopp’s team will need to step up if they want to prevent their season from fizzling out.
Four Liverpool supporters have discussed the most recent talking points regarding the Reds as part of a regular ECHO fan column.
Gakpo has made a case for a starting berth at Brighton, according to Rhys Buchanan (city center, @Rhys Buchanan).
Mohamed Salah took the lead with a beautiful goal to make it 2-1, and in any other recent season, we would have ended the Wolves cup match at that point. The issue is that Liverpool currently exhibits a panicked and disorganized on-ball appearance and lacks the ability to see out a game.
Gakpo seemed to be the only bright spot on that depressing evening at Anfield, with the exception of a few clinical goalscoring opportunities. He seems intelligent enough to argue for a starting position against Brighton on Saturday, which would create some intriguing possibilities elsewhere.
He looked bright enough to make a case for starting against Brighton come Saturday, which could open up a few interesting options elsewhere on the pitch.
I’d want to see a buoyant and lively Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the middle of the field given our obvious lack of confidence there in order to perhaps restore some serenity to the team. According to Klopp, who previously mentioned that confidence is a delicate flower, this team could most definitely use some sunshine after this weekend’s away performance.
The 4-4-2 diamond by Andrew Cullen (Widnes, (@brothersred5) might be the solution to our issues.
On Saturday, Wolves revealed our flaws and came close to winning. Teams have figured us out, and we no longer possess the strength, motivation, or control necessary to regularly win. It is clearly known that midfield needs surgery, but what should we do till replacement personnel shows up?
Although Jurgen probably knows best, it appears that our style of play exposes rather than builds upon our weaknesses. Play a 4-4-2 midfield diamond with Salah and Nunez down the middle and Trent at right midfield; move the aging “Lighthouse” Fabinho to right-back – a position he previously played for Monaco – or play Gomez there; add the young Bajcetic in to add some bite; and prioritize keeping the scoreless in the first half by not overcommitting.
David Shams (@ShamsWriter, Washington, DC) – It’s crucial to return to the fundamentals.
Numerous issues persist. Another depressing performance has elevated the ambiance from hand-wringing to a more funerary state. But we’re not yet gone.
There is still a lot of fighting to do.
To prevent the team from falling into the kind of disorder that opposing fans would love, a number of things need to go well. But deciding where to start might be challenging. The addition of one or more midfielders will undoubtedly be beneficial. No question there. But do we just toss them in?
The Reds’ constant inconsistency—they never have the same problem twice in a row—seems to be another issue. But perhaps all of this calls for a return to the fundamentals and a tactical rethink as a result of injuries, poor form, and efforts to acclimate new or younger players.
That might entail abandoning the high line in favor of a simpler high press, which hardly one appears to be playing anyhow. As we saw for the opening goal last weekend, it might even offer the Reds room in behind to create more opportunities.
Fans will be watching Jurgen and the guys on Saturday for an indication of intent, even if they don’t fully address all the questions. Send us a ray of hope.
Worcestershire’s James Noble (@james noble98): Carvalho chance may be coming
A repeat on Saturday, it was generally agreed, was not the desired result for those who supported Liverpool. Given that Wolves’ late goal was ruled to have been offside, we may have been lucky to get one. We do, however, have a replay. And it might even turn out to be advantageous.
It might not seem very useful to play another game on short notice between two important Premier League matches against Brighton and Chelsea, and that is understandable. A full week of training could have been more welcome given the current injury and performance difficulties.
However, it may offer yet another opportunity to pick up new information or provide players with more playing time. Naby Keta, Stefan Bajetti, Ben Doak, and Fábio Carvalho, who has been on the sidelines since scoring in the Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City last month, could all gain from this.
Another chance to experiment and pick up some extra rhythm as we work to chart a course for greater consistency may not be the worst case situation. The three-game week that will now take place from January 14 to January 21 may seem more difficult than usual, but it could be beneficial for the Reds’ season.