Rory Fitzgerald

I think will determine 90% of Klopp's decision on the team and squad for that day. There is a group of 4 games after that with only a few days apart including travelling to Italy. Whatever way squad management goes for this kinda stuff, he could decide to play some of our best players after a long break to get them in the groove for Leicester. Probably depends on how far Egypt and Senegal go in the AFCON to see what rest/break as well. I could see him starting his 1st team (except Henderson maybe) and give them 60 mins together and then take 5 players off for subs on 60. Its a big block of game. If we can win the 3 league games and win the Cup Final, then the squad will be buzzing. I am not saying the team that we pick against Cardiff influences any of that But its a small but very important block of games coming back after 2 weeks off and easing back in with Cardiff. If we can use this time and Cardiff game to optimise players condition, then I think thats the focus - cause if we hit March with 9 more points and a the buzz of a cup final win, then we'll be all feeling very good. Sunday 6th vs Cardiff (H) Thursday 10th vs Leicester (H) Sunday 13th vs Burnley (A) Wednesday 16th vs Inter (A) Saturday 19th vs Norwich (H) 1 week break to Chelsea in the League Cup Final

I thought we were great in the 1st half and gave them a torrid time when they were trying to get out. But I think our energy levels were sliding from 55-60 onwards, and I say that by looking at the teams approach. We weren't holding the ball, we were playing longer passes, we were not fast in getting to their defenders on the ball. But we still stuck to the high line - so Palace simplified it I think - and decided there was more threat by playing a longer ball. For the goal, its not the high line I dont think, its the decision to play offside. The defensive line retreated when their man was running with the ball. He had space but Fabinho was coming across. At that point, with pressure on the ball and the pass coming, Van Dijk stops. He's played "offside" as the pressure went on the ball ..... and as we know, he didn't read the man behind.

City have had a massive run - we needed them to blink next. They have. Imagine seeing a table with only 3 points between us and the same games played. It'll take a massive effort including tomorrow - but christ it'll feel big if we can get a win at Palace Win tomorrow (batter, grind, even spawn it), get the gap to 9, have a weekend off next weekend, get the AFCON lads back - then we go again.

I have to say, I am guessing at the height of his starting position when Kelleher has it. He does put himself around an awful lot. Fabinho never gets in those areas, nor really a Jones or Ox but Henderson will make bursts into a "nine" position at times. In the instance at Arsenal, I think it was to get closer to Gordon and I can understand that given you dont want him collecting balls with no options. I did notice the Klopp animation during the game as we were not holding the ball. Its only looking back at it, that you can maybe start to see what he was looking to change. As for Henderson, he was not as slick as Fabinho and Jones in midfield last night. His touch is off at the moment. He's a big presence on the pitch but it feels like he's going through a patch like a golfer does when he keeps shanking his shots. Its a glitch, but its massive in a tight game. We really need it sorted before the Final against Chelsea because it was a weakness in our ability to get early control at Chelsea. We struggled in possession early in the game that day.

There you go mate, great shout

Me too, good shout @smithdown, just seen it

I thought both Jones and Robertson were telling Trent that he's now got to reel it in. With the lead in the tie and Martinelli being a threat, it was up to Arsenal to get the next goal and it seemed they were telling him stick on the right.

Arsenal started well and we didn't. The game changed after the goal but could have been a natural rebalancing from us getting a bit better and Arsenal not able to keep it going after the initial 20min burst Seems Klopp wanted something different from Henderson. As Kelleher miskicks the ball out of play, Henderson is ahead of Firmino and Gordon. Klopp is already shouting at him before the ball leaves the field of play. By dropping deeper after that, he's let Trent go more. Is it a case of the captain being off script inside 15mins, or Klopp seeing the game not going our way and wanting something different get control. You'd imagine (or hope) its the latter, and thats more likely I think. I can only think Henderson was going parallel with Gordon to offer him options close to him if the got the ball.

I put my out to be slapped and it duly was.

Its a left-field shout, but Neco Williams could play as RM in a 4231 My thing with Jota/Bobby is that I want them central given we are not getting a goal threat from anywhere else. We get none of the flexibility you get if Williams plays there compared to when we play 433 with Salah or Jota there, as he won't come infield. However, you can still ask him to play on tramlines without need to be flexible to come in field. You then let TAA sit inside him and see if he can find balls into Bobby and Jota. Or we could go with the mad shout that Rodgers did by playing Downing LB and Enrique LW for a 2 or 3 games and have Williams behind TAA - no I am not serious on that shout.

Thomas Partey knocked out of the AFCON tonight - can't see him getting an Uber from the stadium to the hotel to grab his gear and off to the airport. Even if they did get him out, cant see him playing 2 games in 48hours with travel in between. Edit: Might be a curve ball for their assessment of "available players" though if they were on the threshold to look for a postponement

Tough one. On our day, we are one of the best teams in Europe with a few players tethering on their peak. Its a European Cup winning team if we can keep our players fit in the right areas - and these types of teams/squads don't come around too often. However, we've had that in 2018 (beaten in Kiev), 2019 (won in Madrid), 2020 (keeper problem vs Atleti), 2021 (defensive and form problems). Having 2 finals and 2 trophies would be great for the fans. But with the ceiling in this squad, its heights are much higher than those 2 competitions. If I thought we'd need a bit of luck even with a fully fit team to beat the best team in the CL then I might pump for the 2 cups. As it is, the only luck we need is to be able to put out our best team. I'd rather ride that wave even if winning the Caraboa Cup means we do it by beating Chelsea in the final, which would be nice.

I like it, we could have send them our very talented, but very injured players, kinda like succession planning for their squad. Keita will work nicely in a few years after Ox

I haven't seen Murphy's comments but I was thinking during the game yesterday that Ox doesn't dribble past players anymore. He was great at taking balls side-on and could then carry the ball and drift past players in tight spaces. But he's lost alot of that. Jones is that midfielder now out of the 2 of them. Then we have Harvey Elliot coming back. His contract is up June 2023 and he turns 30 two months later in August 2023. The only clubs that might offer for him this Summer would be clubs that know they have no chance of getting him when he is on a free. But who would sanction money for him given his injury record. Joking aside, Eddie Howe at Newcastle is possibly the only option. The club, I think, would gladly take a token few million in transfer fee and then saving 1 year of wages also (could be a £10m swing with £5m fee and £5m wages saved).

Yeah, that's what I want, I want a title run in. Some competition for them. We need a perfect run in but if we get the "breaks" to bring the gap down, then maybe that can create its own energy in the 2 camps (positive for Liverpool, negative for City). But for now, its about making sure we can narrow that gap when the opportunities arise - be it City away or a game in hand and hopefully if they drop points

It was quite an important win - it had a few early sign posts of being a difficult game (no Salah/Mane vs a 532). If we dropped points then the league was gone. I wonder how close we can get to City but I am not conceding the title when we have 1 game in hand and we still need to play them. That can get the gap to 5pts potentially and if they can slip once then it can be 2pts. Lots of assumptions of course but if we want to win the league then an away win at City is do-able, winning a game in hand is a "must" and the next 4 games of Palace, Burnley, Leicester, Norwich are a do-able 12 points. But as you say, had we slipped to a draw today then confidence would be shot - so I see today as a big win if just to ensure no more air is let out of the balloon.

Brentford are playing a 5-3-2 and with our team, you can see them trying to frustrate us. They top the stats for having most of the shots conceded on their goal coming from "outside the box" which is indicative of teams being frustrated by a lack of space and shooting. Our only goals in this team are Bobby (4) and Jota (10). In a game in which we may struggle for space, I am not keen on the idea of Jota playing in a wider area Space against a 5-3-2 will come in the wider areas in the build up play, until we get 20-30 yards from goal, let Ox link up with TAA on the right and Jones link up with Robertson on the left. Let them do it often by keeping Fabinho and Henderson behind to mind Mbuemo and Toney on the counter attacks. But mainly, we've seen these games before and struggling to create against a 5-3-2 (more so without Mane and Salah), so whatever formation or set up we have, I would like Firmino and Jota to be central as they are our only finishers so would like them in areas to capitalise on any space or chances when they occur

I had a quick look at Cardiff, very quick. 20th in Championship and 4 points above safety Rubbish at home - worst points total at home (7) Decent away - 4th most goals away (17) Most set piece goals (12) and alot of tall players. A bit like the back 3 that Brentford had when we played them. In saying that, Jota got our 1st goal with a header between them. But they could be useful at set pieces including throw ins.

I had to google Paul Anderson and I still have no idea who he is. I know who Cherno Samba is and he never played for us.

They can all isolate in their own luxury suite at their new sponsor, Emirates Palace. Who knew that the luxury hospitality sector in UAE has so much to gain by giving millions and millions every year to a football club in England. Being an arm's length business transaction, the hotel group has to derive an appropriate corporate benefit. So I'm sure the commercial department of every other single-location hotel is looking to leverage off this nouveau strategy and reap the mystic windfalls it must surely bring.

Yep, bit of a t** and a bit contrived too. I found the game to then find the situation. Chelsea made a balls of a clearance (4 times) so Henderson was running back as Chelsea were trying to clear. It broke to him with his body shape never in position to get it to Salah and Jorginho already very close if he did take the touch out of his feet to try that pass. I don't think it was every on. Not impossible, but not a simple pass as that guy was trying his best to imply.

If we are playing through the middle, nor do I. But I hope we are involving the full backs loads and getting either side of their midfield, if so, then it will be fine.

Yep, we only need 3 subs

Thiago Silva back for Chelsea so Azpilicueta plays RWB. Kovacic over Jorginho.

Fully understand the Milner shout. Hopefully it allows Kostas to make a bigger impact on the left. TAA on the right. Stretch the Chelsea team. The legs of Ox and Keita will be big for the last 20mins, the 2 teams could be running on fumes towards the end of the game and not sure what options Chelsea have on the bench - Kovacic, Pulisic and Saul ? Will Curtis Jones be available for the bench ?