The pre-match headlines were that our manager Jurgen Klopp made six changes for the third game in a row,
opting to leave several key players back on Merseyside. Captain Jordan
Henderson returned for his first start since recovering from injury, and only his
second appearance under Klopp. Coutinho also returned to the squad with a place on
the bench.
Liverpool
just needed a point to top the group and get a seeded spot in Monday's draw.
However, a win would go a long way to get the bitter taste out of our mouths
after the last Sunday's stinker against Newcastle.
Some
decent build-up early on, including a Bradley Smith cross to Origi at the back
post that was just beyond
the young striker's ability (at the moment) to make clean contact with it. Can
deputising for Lucas in the holding midfielder role tried to dictate
the flow of the game.
Our team
provided a better high pressing game than we saw against Newcastle
(granted, it was a low hurdle to clear). Smith in particular impressed down
the left flank early, doing well to join the attack and not noticeably out of
his depth defensively.
Origi looked
to be in the mood to score a goal or two, which unfortunately didn't happen. We can add this Belgian to
the long list of players seemingly transformed by the new boss. At the very
least he's making good runs and keeping the centre backs occupied.
Halftime
summary: We had a decent first half, though admittedly not a lot of excitement having had
the better build-up play and 60 percent of the possession, but nothing too dangerous
aside from a couple half-chances from Origi with only one shot on target.
A draw
would see both of these sides through to the knockout rounds, and both sides
are played like it. A goal by either side would certainly have livened things
up.
A boring
first half gave way to an equally boring first 15 minutes of the second
half. Not a lot to report. There's kicking, heading, the occasional foul, etc.
Neither team seemed to be fussed to get forward or try to score goals at this
point.
The Brazilian
magician Coutinho returned for Milner. Milner has actually had a
decent night and his pressing game was on point. Maybe Klopp hopes to rekindle
that Brazilian magic that we last saw running riot through Manchester City's
defence because at the moment Firmino looks like a shadow of that player
especially with Coutinho being out injured.
Can picked
out Origi with an inch-perfect through ball and almost catching the keeper out.
Unfortunately, Origi failed to get the ball under control in time or pick out a
teammate to take full advantage.
Our
captain Henderson came off after 76 minutes, replaced by Rossiter. All told,
it was a pretty average performance from the skipper, but then again, almost
everyone had a pretty average night.
Still, it was great to see him back starting a match.
Still, it was great to see him back starting a match.
Much like
playing poker or fighting in a war, with hours of boredom followed by moments
of sheer terror, Smith very nearly picked out Origi's great run in front of
goal. Any contact would have likely resulted in the winning goal, but it wasn't
to be.
Full
time: A very
encouraging debut by Bradley Smith, who was the standout performer on both
sides and showed the pace and power of a young Gareth Bale at times with the
same turbo boost turn of pace – also did not let us down defensively.
Neither
side deserved much more than a scoreless bore draw, and that's precisely what
they got. We created a few half-chances from open play, whereas Sion had more
chances from set pieces. Either way, not much in it between the sides, and
they'll both be marching on to the knockout rounds in February 2016.
We can
now fully focus on getting the points in the Premier League which can get us
competing at the top end of the table and see where that takes us this season.
Most importantly we also had no further injury issues despite playing on a poor
pitch having so far this season suffered from so many bad injuries which have affected the
momentum of the team.
FC SION (4-1-4-1):
Vanins : Zverotic , Lacroiz , R Ziegler , Jagne : V Salatic : Assifuah (Mujangi Bia 3mins ), Kouassi ., Fernandes ,
Carlitos : Ruefli
UNUSED –
Fickentscher (GK), Akolo, Sierro, Vanczak, Mujangi Bia, Adao, Follonier
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3)
Mignolet : Clyne , Toure , Lovren , Smith: Can , Henderson . (Rossiter mins ),
Milner (Coutinho 1mins ): Lallana ,
Origi , Firmino (Brannagan 90mins)
UNUSED: Bogdan
(GK), Benteke, Skrtel, Rossiter, Randall
Booked –
Assifuah, Kouassi, Clyne
Attendance –
10,000
Referee – Michael
Koukoulaki (Greece)
Man-of-the-Match
– Brad Smith
Manager’s comments:-
"Nothing
to criticise the team for, the ground was crazy to play on, we had to stay
concentrated, I am completely satisfied, really difficult tonight, nobody can
say we didn’t try, we are first in the table so that’s ok. No players injured,
if Lallana and Coutinho are unable to control the ball you know something is
wrong with the pitch.
The first
thing you have to do in a match like this is show character and that’s what we
did. We saw the pitch and we knew what could happen."
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