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Arsenal v Liverpool - match thread
I am positive. I am before every game these days mind. It's true that Arsenal seem to struggle against us - they haven't won since Klopp took charge. We even served up our youth team in the Caravan Cup and they still lost to us. https://twitter.com/NolesAndPhins/status/1283185223421886465
I am positive. I am before every game these days mind. It's true that Arsenal seem to struggle against us - they haven't won since Klopp took charge. We even served up our youth team in the Caravan Cup and they still lost to us. https://twitter.com/NolesAndPhins/status/1283185223421886465
But our record against them in North London isn't great. We have just two Premier League wins there since the turn of the 2000/01 season. That is 2 wins in 19 games.
Klopp's record here is 1 win and 3 draws. So it's far from the easy win it's being painted as in some quarters.
Klopp's record here is 1 win and 3 draws. So it's far from the easy win it's being painted as in some quarters.
That said, I saw a video of their defending the other day against Spurs. I don't really trust or rate any of their centre backs at all. If they play anything like their usual level against us - particularly Luiz - we will run riot on them. https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1282425184327270405
Then again, if we bring Burnley levels of finishing or if Emi Martinez plays how he has been since replacing Leno - we could end up absolutely battering them and still failing to come away with the 3 points. https://twitter.com/Jhdharrison1/status/1282386236137705480
URef this week highlighted how Arsenal and Liverpool are two of the teams that seem to have the most contentious decisions go against them. We are used to horror-show refereeing this season - but will today's go for or against us? https://twitter.com/URef_Official/status/1283360844940632064
Key Man: Roberto Firmino
We love him. Arsenal fans seem to loathe him. It's great. His 8 goals and 3 assists in 9 games against them seems to just boil their piss.
However, only 2 of those goal involvements have come in North London.
We love him. Arsenal fans seem to loathe him. It's great. His 8 goals and 3 assists in 9 games against them seems to just boil their piss.
However, only 2 of those goal involvements have come in North London.
He bagged a goal and an assist in the 3-3 draw here in 17/18.
Arsenal fans have been going loud on his lack of Anfield goals - despite having 7 in 5 games against them there. Feels right that he adds to his away record against them tonight!
Arsenal fans have been going loud on his lack of Anfield goals - despite having 7 in 5 games against them there. Feels right that he adds to his away record against them tonight!
Further reading before kickoff: https://twitter.com/RPftbl/status/1283092380673904640
An Arsenal fan's analysis on their system.
An Arsenal fan's analysis on their system.
Thoughts on this side? Pretty much as expected - I think only Ox v Keita was the only big question who would start. Very happy with this, good balance in midfield and good options from the bench if needed. https://twitter.com/MelissaReddy_/status/1283465094731571205
Arsenal Xi - Arteta abandoned 4 at the back after the Brighton result. Then abandons 3 at the back after a bad game against Spurs?
I said right away I wasn't sure about him as a manager. Just things didn't sit right with me that he had said/done. https://twitter.com/MelissaReddy_/status/1283466519628910598
I said right away I wasn't sure about him as a manager. Just things didn't sit right with me that he had said/done. https://twitter.com/MelissaReddy_/status/1283466519628910598
I was talking to a friend recently and said I thought he had a touch of the Brendans about him too. This constant throwing out of a system after a bad result isn't a good look at all.
Oh and Luiz in a back 4? This could go real bad for them. We'll see though.
Oh and Luiz in a back 4? This could go real bad for them. We'll see though.
Looks like those calling a 532 were spot on. Tierney is LCB, Cedric and Saka at wing backs. They have a very tight 2-1-2 in front of the flat back 5 in the defensive phase so far too.
Fantastic play that by Mané on half-way. Spins, finds Salah in the final third, worked across to Bobby, then Robbo - Robbos cross straight into the defender, deflects to another Arsenal defender who clears.
Strange seeing us defend a set-piece and one of our CBs (Gomez) step up to watch the guy at the edge of the box.
Fabinho, Bobby & Virg being the 3-line along the 6yard box between the post designated to deal with the main threat.
Fabinho, Bobby & Virg being the 3-line along the 6yard box between the post designated to deal with the main threat.
One of those little communication things you hope disappears as Flaco's English improves. Gomez tries to drill a ball past him into Gini in behind the press - Fabinho thinks it's to him, sticks a boot out, deflects it out for an Arsenal throw.
That short corner didn't really work - did well to keep it, recycle and eventually get it back in though. Fabinho looking for that trademark chipped pass from Zone 14 - Mané can't get to it and it's an Arsenal goal kick. Having the better of opening exchanges though.
Had lots of good chances to put the ball in so far - but wasted them all with poor delivery.
OH - Emi Martinez tries to pass out from the back, Bobby closes down, blocks the pass - which rebounds of him, then the post and wide. Almost a calamity opener for Bobby.
OH - Emi Martinez tries to pass out from the back, Bobby closes down, blocks the pass - which rebounds of him, then the post and wide. Almost a calamity opener for Bobby.
Arsenal fans already seem to despise him - scoring a banter goal against them here would only have worsened the sentiment.
Liverpool all over Arsenal here every time we lose the ball. Arsenal struggling to escape their half with the ball.
That HAS to be a yellow card.
Virg heads the ball, it's going over Torreira and Mané will be able to collect and run at the Arsenal defence high up the pitch.
Torreira jumps up and literally catches the ball - freekick and a warning?
Virg heads the ball, it's going over Torreira and Mané will be able to collect and run at the Arsenal defence high up the pitch.
Torreira jumps up and literally catches the ball - freekick and a warning?
Still can't get over that not being a yellow card. I mean - if referees are just letting the most clearly defined of rules go - yellow for intentional handballs. Unreal refereeing. They really are shit in this country.
Liverpool clearly have Martinez scouted for taking too long on kicks. Mané now flykicking at him as he tries to clear.
Oh 1-0!
Oh 1-0!
We won the ball from Mané closing down Martinez, played up to Robbo, who cuts it across to Mané who slides in to put us 0-1 up.
Almost 1-1. Nelson gets in behind Robbo and gets the ball in a similar spot in the box to our goal, tries a cut back. Gomez wins it. Then is super calm when being closed down to feint the forward out of his way and play out.
https://twitter.com/afmoldtimer/status/1283486073335808000
Didn't even see him kicking it away. I was too busy being incredulous at the handball. You play to the whistle not the flag too!
Didn't even see him kicking it away. I was too busy being incredulous at the handball. You play to the whistle not the flag too!
So first quarter down - I'll never get used to this. 1-0 Liverpool. Could have had more as we have had the ball in good spots numerous times. Arsenal have once themselves to be fair - replay suggests it was offside even if they made use of it though.
Has to be said, Liverpool just look at much better team than this Arsenal side in the opening 23 minutes. Sharper in attack and our counterpress is suffocating them every time we lose it. They don't have an answer for what we offer so far.
Commentator saying he hasn't seen Arsenal pass the ball so poorly - I think this is said a lot which does a disservice to teams that are exceptional and disrupting the opponents buildup patterns, which clearly we are.
I would DEFINITELY let that Salah offside go and VAR it if we score. The margin was similar to the Nelson one before.
Absolutely brilliant offside that by big Virg, pulls his line up leaving Laca alone 10 yards offside.
Oh, and then a howler - short backpass Laca gets it, rounds Ali and scores. Virg claiming he was fouled as he was passing the ball.
Oh, and then a howler - short backpass Laca gets it, rounds Ali and scores. Virg claiming he was fouled as he was passing the ball.
Amazes me that when Sterling is having his arm tugged like that it's a penalty, but when Virg is having his arm tugged (look at his body shape when passing the ball) it's find as he is a CB. Same energy with how he never gets awarded a penalty on set pieces.
Reminds me of Shearer tugging Bosnich's shirt when he was trying to kick the ball out of his hands many moons ago.
That goal seems to have knocked us out of our rhythm. We looked like the only side likely to score and had the number of the Arsenal attackers - now squandering good attacks and giving it away cheaply since. Looks a more even contest now.
Torreira marking Mané on set pieces is a weird one IMO. Mané has gave him the slip a couple of times already and I wouldn't put any money on Torreira competing with him in the air either. One to watch.
https://twitter.com/mrsox87/status/1283490492328615938
It happens a lot with big guys. I remember when Crouchie played for us seeing him constantly manhandled when we played the ball up to him and he never seemed to get it called his way. Bellamy on the other hand got far more joy.
It happens a lot with big guys. I remember when Crouchie played for us seeing him constantly manhandled when we played the ball up to him and he never seemed to get it called his way. Bellamy on the other hand got far more joy.
Fabinho absolutely crunches someone in midfield. Salah gets the ball, cuts onto his left, shot blocked - Mané wins a 50/50 edge of the Arsenal box and a foul given against him. Thought he won the ball cleanly there.
Unreal 2-1 Arsenal. Nelson.
We have been trash at the back on both goals. This time Robbo throws to Ali - he tries to return it to him. Arsenal nick the ball off Robbo's toe, square to Nelson - goal. ugh
We have been trash at the back on both goals. This time Robbo throws to Ali - he tries to return it to him. Arsenal nick the ball off Robbo's toe, square to Nelson - goal. ugh
https://twitter.com/callum_may/status/1283492041813626881
We have been a bit sleepy and casual at the back today. Haven't done much wrong tactically - but just gave two stupid goals up.
We have been a bit sleepy and casual at the back today. Haven't done much wrong tactically - but just gave two stupid goals up.
Think the forwards have done well in pressing from the front and movement. Our midfield has largely strangled theirs preventing any real rhythm on the ball for Arsenal. Defence and goalkeeper have made a few errors - two of which cost us goals.
https://twitter.com/RuairiHatchell/status/1283492617515413509
Still think it was a foul on Virg. The fact he is a big strong guy changes nothing. You pull someones arm causing them to bend like that passing the ball - it's fouling them to cause an error imo.
Still think it was a foul on Virg. The fact he is a big strong guy changes nothing. You pull someones arm causing them to bend like that passing the ball - it's fouling them to cause an error imo.
But yeah, I agree. Lots of sloppiness and unforced errors.
The harrying of their goalkeeper very quickly when the ball is at his feet looks really deliberate too. Think our analysts saw something there.
The harrying of their goalkeeper very quickly when the ball is at his feet looks really deliberate too. Think our analysts saw something there.
HT 2-1 Thoughts?
Bobby with the hockey assist (pass before the assist), Robbo assist, Mané goal.
Two arsenal goals were so sloppy. The second in particularly. Robbo should probably drop and make a better angle. Ali should get a cleaner strike or maybe just clear it.
Bobby with the hockey assist (pass before the assist), Robbo assist, Mané goal.
Two arsenal goals were so sloppy. The second in particularly. Robbo should probably drop and make a better angle. Ali should get a cleaner strike or maybe just clear it.
https://twitter.com/RayhaanParwez/status/1283494917201944577
Yep. Just a general lack of sharpness in thought. That little 1 or 2% drop in concentration and decision making has horrific consequences at this level.
Yep. Just a general lack of sharpness in thought. That little 1 or 2% drop in concentration and decision making has horrific consequences at this level.
https://twitter.com/86spag/status/1283495187768127491
Not sure on this. Think it might just be a small sample coincidence. We saw the same sloppiness when he was on the pitch against City and Brighton.
Think it's more down to the league being won and the team lost that sharpness. Didn't think we would but
Not sure on this. Think it might just be a small sample coincidence. We saw the same sloppiness when he was on the pitch against City and Brighton.
Think it's more down to the league being won and the team lost that sharpness. Didn't think we would but
yet here we are.
What changes would you make here and when?
Oh, Trent booked for a high tackle. Bad first touch, ball gets away from him, Saka reacts quickly and Trent catches him.
Oh, Trent booked for a high tackle. Bad first touch, ball gets away from him, Saka reacts quickly and Trent catches him.
PInball in the box - think we might have had 20 shots blocked in there - eventually get a corner.
https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1283497071589425152
Probably stay like this until 60, then we will see Naby and Jones replace our 8s. Maybe Neco for Trent - who hasn't been at his level today and is now on a yellow.
Probably stay like this until 60, then we will see Naby and Jones replace our 8s. Maybe Neco for Trent - who hasn't been at his level today and is now on a yellow.
Feels like the set pieces today have been particularly poor. An area I think we are one of the best in the league this season. Awful delivery and short corners have been little better.
Oh, Trent finds Salah in the box, ball stuck under his feet, does well to shift the ball to make David Luiz look a mug - but his shot is tipped over the bar.
Salah should have toe-poked that. The Romario special.
The one positive is - Klopp always complains about not getting a proper pre-season. This is the longest pre-season any team has ever hard. Started 7 games before the previous season even ends.
Auba, Willock and Ceballos all look like they are coming on.
Torreira, Laca and Nelson off.
Torreira, Laca and Nelson off.
Minamino coming on. Assume for Bobby?
Minamino and Naby coming on. Ox and Firmino off.
Minamino with a brilliant bit of movement to get in behind Luiz, turns and fires on his left, draggs it just wide. Right movement and idea though.
Amazing how many times players kick the ball away without punishment.
Taki been excellent and well involved since coming on.
Taki been excellent and well involved since coming on.
Taki and Naby have certainly brought an energy and intent that we needed from the bench.
Taki thinks he should have a penalty - stayed on his feet so he won't get it.
Taki thinks he should have a penalty - stayed on his feet so he won't get it.
https://twitter.com/unnamedwill/status/1283502579503304706
The Salzburg connection.
I also like when Firmino, Salah and Naby are all on the pitch together. They look for little 1-2s and tight combinations to open sides up.
The Salzburg connection.
I also like when Firmino, Salah and Naby are all on the pitch together. They look for little 1-2s and tight combinations to open sides up.
Don't play balls up for Minamino to win in the air please against Holding.
Ali again being a bit lax atthe back to say the least. Gets away with it.
Xhaka plays a (potential) back pass. Then goes down injured. Ref doesn't give it.
Xhaka plays a (potential) back pass. Then goes down injured. Ref doesn't give it.
