Bournemouth v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective
Bournemouth v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective
Liverpool set up with Barcola on his favoured left flank, while Gakpo switched over to the right to accomodate him. This should have given Barcola the chance to use his blistering pace to get at the veteran Cherries right-back Smith. Should have. There were two problems with this, firstly Barcola refused to make runs in behind him but also most of the chances to play a ball in behind for Barcola to chase wee passed up in favour of playing it down the other flank for Gakpo to battle for. Whether that was a result of defined tactics or Barcola's failure to make runs is hard to be sure.
It was a hard game, against the hardest working team in the Premier League, who press like demons and never stop running. Liverpool never tried to go toe-to-toe with them in that regard, though they did press, they instead looked to get on the ball and move the ball about quickly. It was almost old school Liverpool, letting the ball do the work and looking to wear down the opposition by using the ball and being aggressive to win the ball back extremely quickly to ensure Bournemouth got very little respite from chasing.
The big problem, as I mentioned earlier with regards to Barcola, was the lack of movement up top. It meant all the good play counted for very little return in term of chances. In fact most of the main chances came from the midfielders getting fouled for free kicks near the box, while they were waiting on a forward to give them an option. It is very frustrating to watch, as it is so much better than last season, but lacking such a small thing to be many times more dangerous as an attacking threat.
Bournemouth
I can see why the Cherries have a habit of losing goals late in games, their new system is not so much gegenpressing as the nuclear option! The way they work is incredible, all-out press from the first kick to the last. It will probably take them a few more months to get fit enough to last 90 minutes playing the way they do, but when they do they will a massive test for anyone. It is certainly an entertaining watch and they will be well worth the admission money under Rose.
For the first 20-25 minutes, they were the better team as Liverpool struggled to cope with the press, though they did fade, understandably, during the first half. If their final ball had been better, the result might have been very different, as they mostly coped with a static Liverpool frontline quite easily, only to get caught out by one piece of good movement. They do need to work on their set pieces, which mostly went straight into Alisson's arms but they were winning the 50-50s and seemed like a team that wanted it more.
They did have to spend spells of the game chasing the ball, but overall they played well and it is easy to see why they have taken the lead in most of their matches. Facing them is going to require teams to be at it from the off, though you do wonder if they will be able to keep up this pace all season with European football as well. They do not have the largest squad to cope with injuries, which could cost them. They still look like a team that should be battling for a European place at the end of the season.
Liverpool
Alisson - made a great save from Evanilson as well as claiming almost every set piece comfortably.
Araujo - did well, was aggressive in the press and challenge and supported the attacks well. Did make one mistake late on, but overall was very good.
Jacquet - once again he played well. Iraola's liking for aggressive front foot play from back to front is bringing the best out of him and not letting his laid back nature ever become an issue. He has shown himself to be very good at smothering players and is very good on the ball as well.
van Dijk - another good performance from the veteran. It just shows how much difference the way of playing can make to players, van Dijk looked a spent force, constantly running away from attackers and refusing to commit to challenges. Now he is back on the front foot, being aggressive and attacking the ball at every opportunity, he once more looks like a top class player.
Kerkez - had a very good game defensively and completely shut down Rayan, this despite getting no protection or help at all from Barcola in front of him. Not so good going forward as he did not link up well with Barcola, understandably as it is a new partnership down the left.
Szoboszlai - came fairly close with a couple of free kicks, but not his most effective game at all. He is still a bit absent from the centre too early for my liking. His booking right after half time was needless and not a good challenge.
Wirtz - once again he was left with no movement to pick out. Early on he just tried to play the through balls anyway, in the hope that Isak would make the run, but Isak just stood and watched. When Isak did make a run for him, his pass was not good enough, so a mixed performance. His pressing and closing down, movement off the ball to create space (including for the goal) was very good but he looks bereft of confidence, passing up a chance to shoot in favour of a difficult pass. He is doing work for the team, but now he needs the team to do work for him as well.
Mac Allister - decent game, would have been good but for a silly error which gifted Bournemouth possession on the edge of the box and another moment of pathetic play acting after he lost the ball. Those moments when he stays down for no reason other than he has made a mistake are the most frustrating. Players are human, they make mistakes, no one expects them to be perfect, but when they give it away because of one they should be trying to win it back, not rolling around on the floor pretending to be hurt. You have already put your team under pressure with the mistake, why compound it by leaving them a man down for a while?
Gakpo - despite playing on the right once more, the Dutchman had a good game, creating the goal with an excellent piece of play. It was one of the few times he was given the ball in a position to attack, rather than having to fight for possession. He did swap to the left after Munoz came on but his best chance to get on the ball where he could do damage saw Isak mess up the pass, twice.
Isak - he scored, so you have to say he did the most important part of his job, but that was one of very few flashes of good play from him overall. If he had not managed a goal, he would have had an abysmal game, barely bothering to make runs, not pressing, utterly unable to hold up the ball and being very loose with his passing. At one point towards the end of the first half, he motioned to Szoboszlai to play the ball in behind for him to run onto, the ball was played and he just stood still and watched it! At his best, Isak is very good at the early runs to get the ball, at Newcastle he was always on the move when they got possession back and would fight for the ball and usually held it up very well, if there was no opportunity to run with it. He seems lazy and sluggish right now, and so easily pushed off the ball that it is almost embarrassing. I have to wonder if he is 100% after his injury, both physically and mentally, there is so much more to come from him.
Barcola - a very disappointing performance. He was weak on the ball, never made runs without it and refused a number of chances to run at Smith. The worst part was the way he pulled out of chances to make any kind of challenge, to allow Smith free rein to run past him. He never even got his body in the way to at least slow the full-back down.
Nyoni - came on in the 71st in the place of Wirtz. The team looks much better with him in the deep-lying role. He frees up Mac Allister and is much better at covering the spaces.
Munoz - took the place of Barcola in the 71st minute. Did a lot to stop Truffert from having an effect going forward, but Truffert pretty much nullified his attacking threat as well.
Koumas - subbed on for Isak in the 81st minute. His hold up play was good and enabled the team to get more control of the ball. It was interesting to see that he was not afraid to bawl out his team-mates for failing to press with him and to try and get them to follow him into a high press. He does need to work on his finishing, his one chance he hit straight at Petrovic.
Gravenberch - replaced Szoboszlai in the 81st minute. Played as the 10 behind Koumas but never really got into the game much.
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