Smal

.59 xG assigned to that Miggy chance (a penalty is .76 for reference). Absolute sitter.

can we talk about Lascelles’ passing tonight omg

Got to try and target their left hand side. They've a left back at centre back and Florenzi on his wrong side at left back. Need Trips at his best.

Cal is going to set the tone tonight hopefully

EL might be our best way of qualifying for the CL tbh. Also… a chance at winning a trophy.

even the boos were half arsed

The Champions League is what the players spent all season playing out of their skins to qualify for, like. Get arsed about it!

I've always been of the opinion that Bruno works really well as the "6" in our system (it's not really a 6) and that we don't need a defensive midfielder, but the more I think about it the more I think Phillips can do that role for us and allow Bruno to play as one of the outside centre mids/8s where and help give us a bit more technical security, control and maybe some extra creativity in there, all of which we really lack at times currently. Bruno's role is essentially to receive the ball from the centre halves when we have possession in the first phase and look to progress it or switch it. Out of possession he has to press high and run back as best he can once the press is beaten. We ask him to cover a lot of ground. Phillips is really well suited to the in possession role (though not as good at it as Bruno obvs), and arguably better suited to the out of possession part because he's more mobile than Bruno (when fit). Phillips, Bruno and one of Joelinton/Willock in midfield is a pretty good balance tbh and allows us to maintain our physical dominance. I like the idea of Phillips in there doing Bruno's current role, then having Bruno in midfield happy receiving the ball too. Those two picking out forward runs from Gordon/Miggy/Isak/Wilson/Joelinton/Willock, or switching it out to Trippier/Livramento sounds good to me. Longstaff and whichever of Willock/Joelinton isn't playing to come in as a sub/rotation too. Options! We need them!

I don’t think there’s much in it between him and Lascelles so I would be getting Burn into the team to replace Lascelles purely so we can put Schar back on the right. It gives Schar his better passing angles, it gives us better build up down that side, and defensively him and Trippier have a much better understanding.

we might have an actual squad back should we reach the knockouts, like

https://markstats.club/epl-players-23-24/ (xThreat is an open play measurement of how a player moves the ball to a more dangerous area of the field by either pass or carry) Even when Trippier is having a tricky patch it's really clear to see why he plays every minute he's available btw. He is by far the most effective build-up player in the league. Basically the player Liverpool fans wish Trent was.

Reckon Longstaff probably starts this. His injury wasn't muscular iirc and he's not been out long at all so shouldn't be much risk in it.

That's fantastic. This has been a fun watch.

He has been absolutely fantastic for us as a lone striker for the most part

Everyone’s knackered I get it, but the last 4 away games we’ve conceded: 2.46xg to Bournemouth 4.54xg to PSG 3.36xg to Everton 3.88xg to Spurs We could’ve been absolutely hammered in all of them. We have to do something differently away from home.

Wilson has looked bright at least

January has to be an opportunity to go out and sign a new first choice GK, like. That Georgian lad at Valencia looks decent.

Trips finally gonna get a rest

How can the ref not give a red for that, man. It was obviously an attempt to injure the player.

how on earth is that a yellow

Miggy can’t even run like so there’s no point in him being on the field

Yeah, we need to go out and spend big on a keeper in January.

Fantastic foul from Lascelles

think Miggy might be the most knackered out of everyone, like