Liverpool 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[trousers]

Half time

Liverpool 0 Saints 1

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Manning block! Handy that they aren;t trying to take him on one on one. He's got in a couple of really good clearances as a result.

[Saint NL]

Just now, trousers said:

Half time

Liverpool 0 Saints 1

We gave up caring about the scores ages ago. What are the possession stats?

[ant]

FOUR at the back, playing deep; 

Central midfielders providing genuine cover for the defence; 

Playing on the counter, utilising Sulemana's pace.

It's not been pretty, but it has been pragmatic. Why the fuck has it taken so long to try this setup?

We'll still contrive a way to lose this particular match - and probably by a good few goals.

But against some of the shitter sides we'd probably be good for the odd point.

[Jack]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Shame Sule's pass didn;t get to it's destination. Nice skill.

If he could pass or shoot, he’d be top class 

[Saint Matty 76]

May be a bit harsh but not a whole lot in this Gronbaek bloke

[pimpin4rizeal]

Anyone have a stream ? 
please pretty please 🙏

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, ant said:

FOUR at the back, playing deep; 

Central midfielders providing genuine cover for the defence; 

Playing on the counter, utilising Sulemana's pace.

It's not been pretty, but it has been pragmatic. Why the fuck has it taken so long to try this setup?

We'll still contrive a way to lose this particular match - and probably by a good few goals.

But against some of the shitter sides we'd probably be good for the odd point.

This is exactly how we should have been playing ages ago

[Toadhall Saint]

Well well well - thought we deserved our goal tbh 

[IronCitySaint]

Best performance for ages, helped by a sensible formation and not completely conceding the midfield. We will still lose, but at least we are giving them a game so far.

[HarvSFC]

Two centre-backs and two full-backs playing on their natural side seems to be working. Who'd have thought that! I know it's Liverpool, and we always raise our games for these types of matches, but KWP's playing like his old self again and Sulemana's been causing issues.

Probably get battered in the second half, but that was a good, competitive, pragmatic first half against top of the league.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Les is actually playing more like a box to box midfielder which strange as it seems is playing to his strengths.

[John Boy Saint]

Soccer Saturday slinging the VAR officials under the bus aided by Mike “look at me” Dean 

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

Christ, was hoping they'd heavily rotate given the slim margin of victory V PSG but nope. 

Smallbone at CB, this is going to get ugly. 

Well.

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, IronCitySaint said:

Best performance for ages, helped by a sensible formation and not completely conceding the midfield. We will still lose, but at least we are giving them a game so far.

4 at the back is the only way to play when you can't afford centrebacks that can do everything like the top sides. 

[Saint NL]

I dreamt about this game last night.

Visions of a baldheaded man knee sliding by the touchline. I just assumed it was Slot celebrating another win...... Thinking back, it might have been Smallbone 🤦

[Holmes_and_Watson]

We set ourselves up with a decent formation and a plan today. Will and Les got a bit of cover in midfield, while Juric counted on Sule to be our outlet.

We did enough to keep them relatively safely at bay, with good positioning on a few shots that needed blocking. Salah was having some joy against Manning. We doubled up on that, and then Salah cut in,allowing us to have Manning in there to provide more cover.

Up front, they couldn;t let Sule alone as they know he's got the pace. Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Being able to have more structure suits Will well. He's had an excellent half. Linking up with defence, being an outlet in midfield and looking to release Sule. And then there's his composure for his goal. I was looking forward to seeing him develop in the PL after such a lot of it in the Championship. Very pleased to see him doing so well today.

More of the same second half, please.

[saintant]

Well done guys. Just need Ramsdale to have a brilliant second half and the points are ours.

[adrian lord]

16 minutes ago, 64saint said:

Paul Merson on soccer Saturday...... I'll let u know if Saint's get into Liverpools half 🙄

I’m sure they only keep him on out of pity.

[The Kraken]

4 minutes ago, ant said:

FOUR at the back, playing deep; 

Central midfielders providing genuine cover for the defence; 

Playing on the counter, utilising Sulemana's pace.

It's not been pretty, but it has been pragmatic. Why the fuck has it taken so long to try this setup?

We'll still contrive a way to lose this particular match - and probably by a good few goals.

But against some of the shitter sides we'd probably be good for the odd point.

No mate. Formations are entirely irrelevant apparently.

[Saint NL]

I'm watching on Irish TV, Shane Long in the studio giving the analysis. 

 

He reckons Smallbone is the best player when they do 5v5 games.

[Saint_clark]

Last time we looked fantastic and contrived to lose was United away, because Juric decided to try something different. Just stick to what works for the rest of this game, please.

[davefizzy14]

More of the same second half please 😊

Edited 22 hours ago by davefizzy14

[Saint Fan CaM]

And this is what we all expect right? Competitive and looking like they give a fuck. That’s all. Even if we lose this game which is very likely, I’ll be content with the performance. Just think how much better we’d be with a better striker.

[Saint Fan CaM]

4 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Well.

Ugly for Liverpool? 😉😂

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

I'm watching on Irish TV, Shane Long in the studio giving the analysis. 

 

He reckons Smallbone is the best player when they do 5v5 games.

Gotta love Shane Long

[trousers]

Liverpool still odds-on to win. The bookies have sussed us out at last, haven't they...?

 

[OttawaSaint]

Well, I'm convinced, we've won this. Derby's record remains.

Think I'll just give the 2nd hald a miss and go grocery shopping.

Need more time to make sure I'm not buying anything American.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Last time we looked fantastic and contrived to lose was United away, because Juric decided to try something different. Just stick to what works for the rest of this game, please.

players will get tired. subs will be required.

 

[OneMrsWallace]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

And this is what we all expect right? Competitive and looking like they give a fuck. That’s all. Even if we lose this game which is very likely, I’ll be content with the performance. Just think how much better we’d be with a better striker.

Exactly this. And if we'd done this earlier we could well have had a few more results under our belt. 

[SNSUN]

Physios gonna need a lot of tissues post match for all the nosebleeds the players will get if we win this. 

[Saint_clark]

Just now, Chez said:

players will get tired. subs will be required.

 

Subs are one thing. Changes in formation are another.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Wonder if Juric will cry?

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

May be a bit harsh but not a whole lot in this Gronbaek bloke

is he playing up front? Listening on the radio its hard to tell.

[obelisk]

A reasonably good half from Saints. It'd make for a satisfying day if they could string two of them together in one game.

[suewhistle]

Thought Smallbone started sluggishly but can't argue with that run into space: the sort of thing we saw a fair bit of in the Championship. Cool finish too.

I still expect us to lose but this is a heartening performance.

 

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, Chez said:

is he playing up front? Listening on the radio its hard to tell.

Kinda playing with two false 9s (Gronbaek and Fernandes) and no-one really as a striker!   😁

With Sulemana on the left and Dibling on the right of midfield.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 Liverpool subs. We have them worried.

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

is he playing up front? Listening on the radio its hard to tell.

Sort of a No.8 position I think

[Saint Fan CaM]

Three subs for Pool - that’ll do it.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

C'Mon Saints!

[trousers]

Right... Here we go... Please no tinkering on 60 minutes Mr Juric. 

[obelisk]

Why did Smallbone give it to Les?

[OttawaSaint]

Great save Rammer!

[Saint Fan CaM]

Just now, obelisk said:

Why did Smallbone give it to Les?

Because he starting to panic.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

We've been looking forward again this half. Good to see. Nice pass out from Will.

Super stop from Ramsdale!

[Saint Fan CaM]

Brilliant save from Rambo.

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Right... Here we go... Please no tinkering on 60 minutes Mr Juric. 

Trousers picked the wrong day to bet his Glasgow Tenement flat on a Saints loss...

[miserableoldgit]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

Brilliant save from Rambo.

He Rambo'd It!!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

"A bit of a lazy shot from Salah" said the 'tator who will be apologising for that and fawning later.