Liverpool fans could be entirely forgiven for wanting the second half to end early, as it became increasingly clear that neither team on the pitch was prepared to provide an injection of what some may call ‘! umph!’ in a game that desperately needs goals.
A point each and a few smiles from Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle suggested the result was not as disastrous as it will no doubt appear in some quarters.
As much as we suspect we’ll be going against the grain here by singing the praises of a tie that’s become so boring to look at as to inspire less-than-favorable comparisons to classic boredom staples like watching paint dry, it’s critical that we take a look at look at the bigger picture.
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avoiding defeat
For starters, it’s worth noting that despite some scares, Liverpool didn’t lose a football game and totally compromised the hope that came from a 1-0 win over Wolves in the FA Cup.
It will fairly be argued that a higher quality side than Chelsea would perhaps have caused more problems for Jurgen Klopp’s men, although ultimately you can only play what’s put in front of you.
There was much to criticize in terms of chances up and the nervousness that nearly fatally paralyzed our back line on multiple occasions, most notably right at the start of the first half proceedings before a VAR check ruled out the supposed goal. initial by Kai Havertz.
However, when all is said and done, this was a game that could easily have ended in another disheartening defeat, raising new questions about the manager’s capabilities – and those of his squad – at a time when further action seems unlikely. investment in the window.
A lot to reflect on with the midfield
Klopp drew some raised eyebrows with a midfield that was a carbon copy of his Wolves selection and was largely vindicated for his meritocratic call-up with Stefan Bajcetic once again impressive, all while sitting on a yellow card for much of the encounter.
The manager brought in the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho towards the end of the second half, perhaps in an attempt to inject some energy into the tie, and while that was a decision that didn’t backfire entirely, it barely succeeded. the desired effect the German would have been hoping for.
He thinks this is an eye-opening statistic.
Thiago won 11 of our 46 duels today. That’s ridiculous.
Hendo had none off the bench – this myth that he protects our right side persists even though he seriously struggled defensively for a long time.
Fabinho also lost all his duels after entering pic.twitter.com/nowex7SpUl
— Stephen Drennan (@babuyagu) January 21, 2023
Going forward, it looks like a midfield combination of 18-year-old Spaniard Thiago Alcántara and Naby Keita will provide the best answer to Klopp’s call for solidity and, more importantly, heart-of-pitch challenges. At least until reinforcements arrive.
Darwin Núñez shows the way forward
From yelling at his teammates to showing arguably the most intent in the final third, Darwin Nunez was a welcome injection of enthusiasm into a forward line arguably lacking in that department.
Credit has to go to Harvey Elliott who, despite playing out of position, looked like Liverpool’s most promising option; Cody Gakpo seemed the victim of a strange positional call from the coach as he was pushed into the middle, but he offered some more encouraging signs (shooting after winning the ball deep in opposition territory); while Mo Salah seemed just a waste.
There is no doubt that having the likes of Diogo Jota and the electric Luis Díaz back in contention will offer a big boost to our offensive prowess in the second half of the season, although there will need to be an improvement sooner as the top four places slip. further in the distance.
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