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Football News: Cardiff City v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

Cardiff City v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Cardiff City v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective

 


A typical Cardiff game under Colin really, his tactics are always the same, similar to the likes of Burnley, and the ones Everton tend to use against Liverpool, where they get so caught up in trying to leave something in on the opponent and that means they miss out on the tackle. That obsession with trying to be physical and try to bully the opponent is costing them as they are not able to focus on their game.

If it worked, you could understand it, but not once have Liverpool allowed themselves to be bullied out of a game under Klopp. In fact they relish the physical nature of games like this, and use it to their advantage, particularly the front 3, who draw players in to committing themselves to challenges before whipping the ball away.

The tactical plan of sitting deep and just holding on, hoping to catch a chance on the break, is a solid one but it is being undermined by players being too physical, committing themselves to needless challenges or giving away silly fouls in the box. It leaves openings when the plan is based on keeping shape and not giving away those openings. Bizarre how Dyche and Colin fail to notice that flaw!

It is different with Everton, as it is a by-product of it being a derby and players being hyped up that they go in hard, all pumped up with adrenalin due to the atmosphere. It would be nearly impossible to stop it in those matches. Neither Burnley nor Cardiff have the same problem to overcome, it is clearly just a tactical error by managers who should have learnt from their mistakes.

 


Colin - he is a very limited manager and has no idea what to do at the highest levels, when violence is not enough to overcome the quality of the opposition. Of course, it will never be his fault, it is always the officials or the opposition or both cheating him of his 'deserved' victory. Just like this game, when it was all the fault of that nasty Salah diving that his team lost 2-0, even though it was a clear foul by Morrison and they were already 1-0 down and being outplayed. But no, it was all down to him being cheated. Rating: 2.

 

Etheridge - shame he put every kick into touch as he did well on the actual goalkeeping side of things. Good shotstopper but he kicks like Mignolet. Rating: 5.5.

 

Peltier - well he is trier, he has pace, but he is simply out of his depth at this level. Rating: 3.

 

Morrison - had been having a good game until the stupidity of wrapping his arms round Salah and pulling him back in the box. It was a blatant penalty, I have no idea why they complained so much. The ref's mistake was waiting until Salah went down before he gave it, as he is once again bringing forth the argument about players being forced to throw themselves to the floor or they will not get a decision. Rating: 5.5.

 

Manga - another who was completely out of his depth. Gives all he has but he is usually chasing the play rather than being prepared for it. Rating: 3.

 

Bennett - I am really not sure what he offers to Cardiff. His defending is weak, he is positionally all over the place and he can't deliver a decent cross. He was really given a roasting. Rating: 2.

 

Gunnarsson - he is so far behind the play he is probably still out on the pitch now chasing shadows. Rating: 1.

 

Hoilett - absolutely anonymous performance from him. Rating: 1.

 

Camarasa - barely saw the ball let alone touched it, through no fault of his own. Rating: 4.

 

Ralls - works hard but lacks any kind of quality. Rating: 3.5.

 

Mendez-Laing - their one genuine threat, his pace was astonishing when running with the ball. Unfortunately for the Bluebirds he has little else in his locker than running very fast with the ball. Rating: 5.

 

Niasse - terrible touch which stopped him making any impression of the game. Rating: 1.5.

 

Subs:

Zohore - replaced Niasse after 67 minutes. Never got into the game at all. Rating: 4.

Bacuna - came on for the injured Ralls in the 79th minute. Another who barely got involved. Rating: 4.

Murphy - brought on in the 83rd minute to replace Hoilett. Had no effect on the game. Rating: 5.

 


Klopp - prepared the team well, set them up to dominate and win the game. The biggest issue was keeping the team patient and just plugging away, sticking to the plan and continuing to follow the game plan. Rating: 7.5.

 

Alisson - it is really difficult to judge him in a game like this with so little to do, but he did what he needed to keep a clean sheet. Rating: 6.5.

 

Alexander-Arnold - struggled initially with Mendez-Laing, but then Liverpool took control of the game and he was not put into trouble again. A good learning experience, but he does need to be stronger in the challenge as a better player than the Cardiff one could have caused problems. Rating: 5.5.

 

Matip - one of his better games, though there were a couple of moments that worried me, there was nothing major, but he was not exactly put under any real defensive pressure. What he did do a lot of was charging forward with the ball. While it can have an effect if used sometimes, he does it almost every time, even when there is a pass on. With him having a decent range of passing, most of the time he would be better off playing the pass. Rating: 6.5.

 

van Dijk - was imperious once again and rarely troubled. Rating: 7.

 

Robertson - got forward really well and controlled his side of the pitch well but his delivery was hopeless once more. Rating: 6.

 

Wijnaldum - he worked well with the other two in the midfield to control the game and what a goal! The beaming smile afterwards said it all. Rating: 7.5.

 

Henderson - was not able to influence the game like he has been doing recently but still linked up well with those in the midfield. A few times he could have done with holding back from making charges forward, as he closed down the space for the forwards to attack. Rating: 6.

 

Keita - this is the kind of game best suited to him, his runs on and off the ball cause so much havoc. Even when it does not create chances, it creates space for others. Rating: 6.5.

 

Mane - he is incredible. Mane just destroys full backs and it almost feels unfair. Rating: 7.5.

 

Salah - like Mane he is just too much for a full back to handle. Won the penalty because the defence just could not cope, if his touch had been better he would have added a goal or two himself. One thing that does worry me is the unseemly spat with Milner over the penalty taking. Rating: 7.5.

 

Firmino - he is the key to the way LFC play. Without him there to link up the play it seems disjointed. His pressure on the ball is exceptional as well. Rating: 7.5.

 

Subs:

Fabinho - replaced Keita after 71 minutes. Barely got on the pitch before he was injured in a clash of heads. Rating: 5.

Milner - was brought on for Fabinho after his head injury in the 75th minute. He is just so composed on penalties. Rating: 6.5.

Gomez - brought on in the 86th minute for Alexander-Aronold. Having the ability to bring quality like him off the bench at this stage of the season is great. Though I would feel a lot more confident if he was the one starting at centre back. Rating: 5.5.

 

Just to explain my ratings. I have gone for what I believe is more simple than the usual of totting up points. I have decided to go with 5 as having no effect on the game other than being a body on the pitch. Anything below 5 is a player who had a negative effect on his team and anything above 5 as a positive effect. So a goal scored would be a positive effect and add to the rating, whereas giving away a penalty with a needless challenge would take away from it.

Written by Tris Burke April 22 2019 18:48:21

 

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