Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

Probably the biggest plus for me from last night, considering it was only our second competitive game of the season, as it's been an aspect of our game which has just disappeared over the past few years, since Rafa left really. When Rafa was here we used to hunt in packs and really put the opposition under pressure high up the pitch when we didn't have the ball which allowed us to get on top of teams, especially in Europe. The 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid was probably the pinnacle of this when it was probably the best display of high energy, fast tempo football with and without the ball I've ever seen from a Liverpool side. Last night I saw something similar which was great, all be it against a poor side, although you can only beat what you're up against. We were still doing it in the last ten minutes in the same manner we were in the first ten.

Whether this is a Rodgers thing we can only speculate but I certainly think it's the way we'll play going forward. Rodgers used the tactic at Swansea which was part of the reason they were able to dominate possession against even better sides than them. Here he's got better players. He obviously sees Allen as key to his system, Lucas is a far better player than Leon Britton and is one of the best pressers in the League, and that's without even mentioning Gerrard and Henderson. Borini looks like he has an excellent workrate which is also a major plus.

The other key of course is Agger which Rodgers even stated himself before the game when he said that he was a "key part of his plans". It's plain to see that Agger enables us to defend higher up the pitch as a team which means the midfield and forward line can defend from the front and put pressure on higher on up the pitch aswell. One of the negatives of Carra's deterioration over the last couple of years has been our defence has been sitting so deep at times that we've just sat off teams, even at home and surrendered possession and territory. In the last few years I've seen us play 4-4-2 time and again and get overrun at Anfield by the likes of Swansea, Wolves, Sunderland and Wigan for long spells.

Anyway lets hope this pressing game long may continue, especially with City, Arsenal and United in the first three home games. To get results in any of those games we'll have to be really on the ball like we were last night.

[paisleyred]

I also think that is why Brendan is being so particular in his signings.
Of course you need to be a top player but you also must have the hunger and desire to 'buy into' Brendans philosophy.
As seen last night Borini will run all night for the team and Allen will do the same.
He will have a team of players who will hunt the ball down and use it well and that is how he can overcome the likes of Man City and Chelsea who have top players but perhaps not the same team spirit.
Can't wait for these first few Prem fixtures.
Not expecting miracles overnight but i think we may surprise a few people.

[stmichael]

I also think that is why Brendan is being so particular in his signings.
Of course you need to be a top player but you also must have the hunger and desire to 'buy into' Brendans philosophy.
As seen last night Borini will run all night for the team and Allen will do the same.
He will have a team of players who will hunt the ball down and use it well and that is how he can overcome the likes of Man City and Chelsea who have top players but perhaps not the same team spirit.
Can't wait for these first few Prem fixtures.
Not expecting miracles overnight but i think we may surprise a few people.

Absolutely, and this is where Allen fits in. People talk about his ability to retain possession but he also won 82 tackles last term, the fourth highest total in the Premier League. This is why Rodgers wants him and will get him. It's not just because he can retain possession, but because he can win it, too. In the system that the new Liverpool boss likes to play this is not just a luxury, it is a necessity.

[Reg]

Anyway lets hope this pressing game long may continue, especially with City, Arsenal and United in the first three home games. To get results in any of those games we'll have to be really on the ball like we were last night.

Spot on, we have to come out all guns blazing, its not acceptable to come away without a decent points tally from those key games.

[maguskwt]

Anyway lets hope this pressing game long may continue, especially with City, Arsenal and United in the first three home games. To get results in any of those games we'll have to be really on the ball like we were last night.

Spot on, we have to come out all guns blazing, its not acceptable to come away without a decent points tally from those key games.

Agreed, we need to come out all guns blazing but the guns need to be big as well...

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

people go on about rafa and rodgers but i thought we pressed well under kenny until lucas got injured.
in kenny`s first 6 months in charge we pressed and harried really well and even at the beggining of last season united played us the ultimate compliment by filling their team with grafters to match our work rate when they played us at anfield.
until lucas got injured we were playing well last season, okay we had a couple of frustrating draws at home but we were unlucky in those games too, in the sunderland game suarez missed a pen and they should have been down to 10 men, even after that downing nearly snapped the crossbar and their keeper made a world class save from suarez and re their goal 9 times out of 10 those flying scissor kicks end up in row z. it was a similar story against norwich.
but in that spell we did beat arsenal away, everton away and chelsea away twice plus drew at home against city and united and were the better side in both games, we were comfortably beating united until they scored a late equaliser and the reason city hung on for a draw was because hart had a blinder.
then lucas got injured and the rest is history.
i must say he looks like he has made a complete recovery, i thought it would take him months to get over it but he looks almost back to his best.

[paisleyred]

I think it's great how Lucas has become such an integral part of the team considering his slow start at the club.
I really hope Henderson can do the same.