Aston Villa -1 Jon Moss’s Liverpool - 2 Post Match Thread

[Baldy]

We put in a good shift, worked really hard. But still 5% below the Liverpool's players effort.

This is one of the gaps we have to bridge if we have top six aspirations.

[Risso]

We put in a good shift, worked really hard. But still 5% below the Liverpool's players effort.

This is one of the gaps we have to bridge if we have top six aspirations.

I didn't see any lack of effort, their players are just (mostly) better than ours.

[LeeB]

We put in a good shift, worked really hard. But still 5% below the Liverpool's players effort.

This is one of the gaps we have to bridge if we have top six aspirations.

I didn't see any lack of effort, their players are just (mostly) better than ours.

I thought we looked a bit gassed in the second half, not for the first time this season. My mate said we're not fit enough, and I'd tend to agree on the whole, Matty Cash aside.

Not lack of effort though.

[Toronto Villa]

We put in a good shift, worked really hard. But still 5% below the Liverpool's players effort.

This is one of the gaps we have to bridge if we have top six aspirations.

I didn't see any lack of effort, their players are just (mostly) better than ours.

Yep. And they brought on Mo Salah, Thiago, Henderson to be able to beat us. That’s around £200m of talent and they still could have brought on Firmino or Origi or Konate. We don’t have many players of that level starting let alone on the bench. We gave it everything yesterday and really succumbed to defensive errors more than them really outplaying us. And we certainly could have got something from the game late on which we would have deserved.

[darren woolley]

We played well last night I'm proud of the lads they put a shift in.

[ChicagoLion]

No lack of effort but we are 3 players away from an X1 that could win that type of game.
More composure in central defense, better ball retention and cover in midfield and a striker that can take chances.

[Brend'Watkins]

One thing that really stood out to be the difference between the two sides is how many players they have spare in or around the box when they attack.  They work really hard for the the entire game.

[brontebilly]

I don't think any ref goes out to disadvantage any side but it was clear half way through the first half he was well out of his depth, some of his decisions were head scratching.

He kept missing obvious fouls. Failing to book Fabinho was another bizarre one. Redknapp called it right at half time, the pace of the game was too much for him. Second half I didn't notice him as much which was a good thing.

However, our goal should have been called offside too. Ignore the nonsense the refs have coughed up about first phase/second phase interpretation. There isn't a second phase if the first phase is blown up for offside. Didn't we get done before on this at Man City or somewhere? Boro definitely got a similar call in their favour when they beat Man United in the cup.

[Lastfootstamper]

Their press is frightening. They must spend hours practicing that every week, drilled into them until it's almost a reflex reaction.

[rougegorge]

One thing that really stood out to be the difference between the two sides is how many players they have spare in or around the box when they attack.  They work really hard for the the entire game.

Yes you can't underestimate how hard the players at top sides work and how fit they are.

Liverpool will have played 63 games this season in comparison to just the 41 we will have played. That's a huge difference in terms of playing time and travelling. Yes, they have better players and a bigger squad, but the core of their side will still have played way more matches than our players.

Whilst skill and ability are another matter, fitness is an obvious benefit. Ideally, we should be matching the really good teams in this respect, even if we may have to work harder and run more in the few games we encounter such teams.

[pauliewalnuts]

The big, big difference between us and them wasn't around effort or belief, it was that they keep the ball so much better than we do.

I found myself repeatedly looking at some of their passing - and it was very often 'simple' stuff, not 40 yard diagonal balls to feet - and thinking we are incapable of doing that.

I know I am talking about a really top side in Liverpool, but I find myself thinking the same against much more modest opposition - if we could keep the ball way better, we'd spend much less time chasing it all over the pitch.

The other things they, and other good sides, do is create space and use it - as per above, if they're in possession their players do a way better job than ours do in creating space to receive the ball.

Mind you, that's been my one annoyance with us for the best part of 30 years now. We don't use or create space, we're just so static.

[ChicagoLion]

Completely agree our lack of ball retention is woefull at times even when the player in possession is not under pressure.

[eamonn]

Yeah, no one on here is mentioning the offside in the lead-up to our goal. If it had been the other way round, we'd be spitting feathers. Maybe Moss was trying to even-up for that the rest of the first half.

[Broadlee]

I really am quite annoyed for several reasons regarding the liverpool equaliser.

I think the first is that prior to the goal, Digne the defender, plays the ball when he tackles, but the opposing Liverpool player goes down as part of the follow on.
To me it was a good tackle and was not and indirect free kick.
BUT
subsequently two issues in the penalty box ensued.
One the attacking Liverpool player had a raised boot to play the ball close to an opponent.
If I read the laws correctly it states  - If there's no contact but he is playing in a dangerous manner/endangering the safety of his opponent then an IDFK is to be awarded.  His foot was high and studs were shown but he played the ball. However, his momentum, Like Digne continued and he felled Konsa who was no longer able to defend the situation.   so if Digne was penalised why was'nt the liverpool player for either offense?
But there were so many other poor decisions but all the press pick up on was that Ollie was offside in 1st phase of play for our goal.. which i also disagree with, they forget offside occurs when the ball has been hit.. not during its flight.

Quite disappointed that we didn't deal with the ball better in our box but I am convinced it was scored following a reasonable call for foul play.
Overall - a great and entertaining performance and if we took one of the three manufactured opportinities the draw would have justified the performace.
UTV

[Hookeysmith]

For the neutral (My mate an Evertonian) said it was a cracking game with a brilliant atmosphere - hard to argue although as a fan i would of preferred a drab game but with a 1-0 win for us.

Thought our game plan and press for the first half was outstanding

Nakamba was excellent and shows exactly what we have missed - his position allowed Luiz to have his best game for us for ages as well as McGinn.

Great effort and a little more composure and we should of got a decent draw out of that - and Bingo could not of complained (although he would)

Now i hope we wipe that smug, cuntish smirk off Saha's face on Sunday

I would play Coutinhio & Bendiua behind a single striker and smash them