Game kicks off at 1:30 pm EST. I’ll be here right around then, but as always: feel free to talk amongst yourselves before things start! It’s the Nat Philipps v. Sebastien Haller battle we’ve all been waiting for.
Our discussion around the Salah penalty shows how important both passing the ball into the box and finding space within the box to receive a pass are. Either the defense has to defend you less aggressively and give you more space to make a pass/dribble/shoot or they can play up on you, mistime a tackle, and give up a penalty.
-Shots (on target): Liverpool 9 (5), West Ham 4 (3)
-xG: Liverpool 1.66 (pen: 0.79), West Ham 0.25
-Share of final third passes: Liverpool 76, West Ham 24
-Penalty-area passes: Liverpool 18, West Ham 3
Deserved win in the end for LFC. It really does seem like all the European games are taking an extra toll on teams compared to the typical attrition we'd see in a normal season. WH defended reasonably well, but you can only hold out for so long, especially when the other team doesn't have to respect your counter-attack at all (see: three passes into the box over 90 minutes). Liverpool haven't been the Liverpool of the past couple seasons yet, but their depth is better than it's ever been. VVD, Thiago, Keita, Matip, Fabinho, Ox were all out, and yet they were still able to bring on Milner, Shaq, and Diogo J to flip the game. Thanks, as always, for joining in today. One of these days we'll get another fun game to watch ... right?
I was just thinking to myself that Nat Phillips has looked really good in the air defensively, but I think that Fornals just showed his limitations. Just not quick enough to both block the path for the deep cross but also step out to eliminate the cut back.
Cresswell broke up a near-1v1 with Mane and then broke up a potential shot from Firmino from about 10 yards out -- all in the span of, like, five seconds.
I'm fully convinced DJ needs to start. He's looking great, but I also think he shakes things up with M-F-S up front who are quite frankly looking... stale =\
The single best play of the match was that marvelous pass from Shaqiri for the winning goal. Actually, that's one of the best Liverpool moments of the season.
I know creating better chances is always better, but at what point is it more beneficial to start taking shots from outside the box? Surely that has to be about the same xG as a standard cross would produce?
Obviously early but something I’ve been thinking about. If you were going to replace Firmino with Jota in the front 3 & keep the same shape, who plays through the middle?
Our discussion around the Salah penalty shows how important both passing the ball into the box and finding space within the box to receive a pass are. Either the defense has to defend you less aggressively and give you more space to make a pass/dribble/shoot or they can play up on you, mistime a tackle, and give up a penalty.
Shaqiri is gonna win another Fall-on d'Or. What a ball!
FT stats, via Stats Perform:
-Shots (on target): Liverpool 9 (5), West Ham 4 (3)
-xG: Liverpool 1.66 (pen: 0.79), West Ham 0.25
-Share of final third passes: Liverpool 76, West Ham 24
-Penalty-area passes: Liverpool 18, West Ham 3
Deserved win in the end for LFC. It really does seem like all the European games are taking an extra toll on teams compared to the typical attrition we'd see in a normal season. WH defended reasonably well, but you can only hold out for so long, especially when the other team doesn't have to respect your counter-attack at all (see: three passes into the box over 90 minutes). Liverpool haven't been the Liverpool of the past couple seasons yet, but their depth is better than it's ever been. VVD, Thiago, Keita, Matip, Fabinho, Ox were all out, and yet they were still able to bring on Milner, Shaq, and Diogo J to flip the game. Thanks, as always, for joining in today. One of these days we'll get another fun game to watch ... right?
I have no idea what is happening or what will happen.
Good reminder of why we should stop doing these fucking chats during Liverpool matches ...
Per the (very good) Qs from Emmanuel earlier, that move is why you don't shoot from 25 yards out.
Pouring one out for our boy Scott Dangler ...
Twenty-plus minutes in, and not a single shot from Liverpool. Gonna be tough to make the comeback if that continues.
let the nat phillips era begin
I wish Diogo Jota played for my team
Just when you think they are getting too dainty trying to pass it into the net they daintily pass it into the net
is sep van den berg alive?
And with that pass he can happily go into hibernation until fall
Perisic, a Ryan favorite, with a clutch game tying finish. Will Haller follow suit?
Game needs more Milner.
Are we gonna have to ban Liverpool and West Ham from future chats now, too? Will there ever be another fun Premier League game?
I was just thinking to myself that Nat Phillips has looked really good in the air defensively, but I think that Fornals just showed his limitations. Just not quick enough to both block the path for the deep cross but also step out to eliminate the cut back.
HT Stats, per Stats Perform:
Shots (on target): Liverpool 4 (1), West Ham 1 (1)
xG: Liverpool 0.99 (0.79 for pen), West Ham 0.06
Share of final-third passes: Liverpool 77 percent, West Ham, 23 percent
Penalty-area passes: Liverpool 9, West Ham 2
Cresswell broke up a near-1v1 with Mane and then broke up a potential shot from Firmino from about 10 yards out -- all in the span of, like, five seconds.
There are four players in Liverpool's starting lineup wearing a number below 12. The u-11 team I coached in New Mexico would be proud.
I'm fully convinced DJ needs to start. He's looking great, but I also think he shakes things up with M-F-S up front who are quite frankly looking... stale =\
You and the crew need to do a "Do you rate him?" Joe Gomez edition
BIG BAD SHAQ!
The single best play of the match was that marvelous pass from Shaqiri for the winning goal. Actually, that's one of the best Liverpool moments of the season.
Salah's pass to Mane right there with DJ the obvious choice on his left looked very much like a "you'll get your shot later, kid" to me
who needs thiago when you have shaqiri!
J!
shaqiri should do curls pre cap like vernon davis
Competent West Ham is the strangest West Ham
Unrelated question - does Messi still leave Barca in the summer since Bartomeu and the board resigned?
Liverpool's schedule from now till the Fulham game is must watch
Do we think Chompers gets slowly phased out over the course of this season before he turns up at PSG and scores 3 a game?
Nice of Jota to pay tribute to James Milner with that celebration.
Thats a foul? on the keeper?
I feel like Antonio is built for these minutes... Haller is a bit gassed
So who's the first Liverpool sub? Jota? Minamino? Milner?
I know creating better chances is always better, but at what point is it more beneficial to start taking shots from outside the box? Surely that has to be about the same xG as a standard cross would produce?
Liverpool needs a Lee Cattermole, West Ham already have two of them: Mark Noble and ol' Snodgrass
In unrelated news...gervinho still plays?!
In some games, Firmino looks so dang slow on the ball. I know he isn't slow or lollygagging, but he is a weird one to watch sometimes.
That's a pretty great pass from Jones
Appreciate the honesty of not protesting the decision.
This feels like exactly the kind of game we hoped to keep Thiago fit for
Has TAA been average/bad by the stats this year?
He's felt a step or two off all year from just watching.
West Hams Defense is VERY prepared today. I think around 80 we'll start to see the jelly legs
Get xherdan in this game...maybe get a shot on goal before the end of the first half...
Obviously early but something I’ve been thinking about. If you were going to replace Firmino with Jota in the front 3 & keep the same shape, who plays through the middle?
Flappyhandski is going to win this for Liverpool.
Can someone explain to me what Joe Gomez does?
I'm probably the only West Ham fan here, so apologies in advance for my Arthur Masuaku hot takes