Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)
Pre-match thoughts: The one thing you can’t say about
our manager Klopp is that he doesn’t do things in half measures. He was
expected to play half experienced, half youngsters against Plymouth but instead
decided to play our youngest starting eleven in our club’s long and prestigious
history with an average age of 21 years and 296 days. The return of Joe Gomez, who plays
his first match for the Reds since appearing against FC Sion in October 2015 –
15 months ago!! (Seems like a lifetime!). Oh, and it’s a first senior team start
for young Ben Woodburn. Good luck to both youngsters!
And we’re off! We get things started by lofting the
ball out of play in Plymouth’s half. All part of the plan.
Good early start by Alexander-Arnold, going forward
very early. We win a corner from the ensuing attack, and two shooting
opportunities materialize for Stewart and Ejaria respectively, but it all comes
to nought. The hosts are well in control during the initial exchanges.
Another long range shot from Kevin Stewart after we
spend an eternity pinging it around just outside the Plymouth box, waiting for
an opening. It’s not on target. Still, good patience from our young side.
Free kick conceded just outside the Plymouth box
for a high foot by Carey. Emre Can takes it, it comes off a defender’s head,
and Ojo can’t quite finish off the ensuing pinball.
Chance for Woodburn! Can bulldozes his way up the
pitch and lays it off for the youngster in the Plymouth box but he chooses not
to take the chance on his left foot, and keeper McCormick is just about able to
snuff out the danger.
It’s in the net from Origi, but the Belgian forward
is adjudged to have manhandled his marker prior to the shot. This decision
could have gone either way.
Not for the first time, Can finds Alexander-Arnold
surging in from the right past the back line, and Plymouth, thanks to keeper
McCormick, are just about able to hold firm.
Another free kick just outside the box with half
time about ten minutes away. It’s into the wall again. Plymouth lump it languorously
towards Karius when they can, but you feel they need to spring the counter more
quickly if they want to catch us out.
Corner for Plymouth on the stroke of half-time.
It’s wasted and that is the end of the first half.
Halftime thoughts: If Liverpool had more control of
that first half, it would be a Janet Jackson album in 1986!
Still, it’s all square in the most important stat.
By which I mean goals. Of which there are, somehow, none.
Overall, we have dominated but lack the creativity
and guile of a Lallana/Coutinho/Firmino – two of these three players are on the
bench but we are trying to get through this game without having to use our
senior players.
Plymouth start the second half they emulate
Liverpool by immediately punting the ball out of play.
A little bit more threat going forward from
Plymouth now, with Garita making a nuisance of himself with his strength and
some nifty footwork. The visitors are also committing a few more players
forward, which could play into our hands.
Excellent chance for Ojo! Woodburn lifts an excellent
cross towards Ojo but the young forward can’t quite direct it with any force.
Free kick taken by Carey outside the Liverpool box.
It’s on target and delivered with some venom, but Karius saves comfortably.
Daniel Sturridge comes on for the disappointing Emre
Can. Under half an hour left in this one. Sturridge has a shot at the end of a
nice move up the pitch by the hosts and its inches wide.
Plymouth defender Gary Miller seems to be in some serious
distress with a potential ankle break being mentioned, unfortunately, and out
comes the oxygen and the stretcher. Not a good sign. Connor Smith will replace
him. Elsewhere, Lallana and Firmino come on for Ejaria and Woodburn in an
effort to avoid the replay.
Lallana twists and turns on the right to make room
for a cross. It finds Origi who is just about able to get a forehead on it but
again not on target. A minute later Sturridge does his thing unleashing a shot
while drifting from the right and it’s just off target.
Six minutes of added time. A few nervy moments for Plymouth
but nothing materializes.
Final whistle thoughts: The traveling supporters are
ecstatic and have every right to be, as their team put on a gritty and
disciplined defensive performance. Our kids acquitted themselves well in the
first half but lacked a cutting edge with an 80.3% possession overall
but struggled to break down their gritty opponents.
Klopp’s gamble to play
the youngsters backfired so therefore a replay it is. An additional game now added to our already
tight schedule in January!
This should be looked at by our youngsters as an opportunity
to impress which not all of them have grabbed with both hands – hopefully some
of them will get another chance to show their worth to the squad and the
manager in the replay at Home Park.
Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Lucas,
Moreno, Stewart, Can, Ejaria, Ojo, Woodburn, Origi
Substitutes: Mignolet, Klavan, Clyne, Wijnaldum, Lallana,
Firmino, Sturridge
Man of
the match – Joe Gomez – excellent, calming influence return for our young
defender – didn’t put a foot wrong and played as though he hadn’t been away.
Very encouraging signs long term.
Special mentions for Kevin Stewart who showed that if Lucas
leaves the club this month that he is a solid defensive midfield alternative to
our captain Jordan Henderson when required.
Very disappointed in Emre Can’s performances in the last three
games including this one – it seems that Wijnaldum’s presence in our team has
affected his confidence – he needs to show more fight and determination when he
does get a chance. His passing and general play has shown that he is not on his
A game at the moment – I am hoping he can regain his form or this will be seen
as another season where he has not shown his full potential.
Comments from our manager Klopp who
was less pleased, and he took full responsibility for the failure to progress
through to the fourth round when he said:
“We have to go to Plymouth – that’s it. Yippee. It is my
responsibility, the line up, performance. We could have done better.
“It was a
mistake. I don’t think the line up was a mistake but you can see it like this
if you want. We made mistakes in the game and as it is always with the boys -
the good things they are responsible for and the bad ones I am.
“If you want to see it in a bad way then I am 100 per cent
responsible. I have no problem with it. I take it even if we played a fuller
squad. I always choose line ups to win the game and I accept that was not in
all situations to see today.”
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