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Football: Better Call Raul


Raja

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Story of the year we are digging these games out where previously we would have conceded late to draw or lose we are now able to go again and find a winner. We might not have played as well as we would like and haven't looked as fluid as previously under Klopp but we keep on getting the right result because the team is tougher and more determined than ever before.

Hard luck to Wolves they were great and I really enjoy watching them play. Traore has turned himself into a really good premier league winger.

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3 hours ago, polishgenius said:


Thing is, that's a lot less of a problem for Grealish than Alli or Maddison - he's not a straight no10 for preference, although he's obviously played there. Alli isn't a traditional one either, of course, but he's more reliant on being  pushed up close to the forwards.

Just going back to this. Southgate's almost certainly going to play 4-3-3 and I think the likelihood is he's going to try to be Liverpool lite with a pacy, somewhat interchangeable front 3 and creativity from the fullbacks. That requires the midfield 3 to do quite a lot of work covering for the fullbacks, like Liverpool do, and probably rules out Maddison from being part of plan A. Grealish would be a better bet but you're probably looking at only one of him, Alli or Oxlade-Chamberlain making the starting team.

ETA: Or theoretically one of Mount or Foden too I suppose.

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Wolves are always a tough opponent but we dominated the first half and then still had the more dangerous chances in the second half despite them putting us under pressure.  Getting the win, and refusing to settle for a draw on a difficult night, is what this team has been doing all season.  Salah showed some great skill and drive on the ball at times, without adding the finish it deserved.  A huge pity to lose Mane like that, and clearly Minamino isn’t up to speed yet, but Keita and Shaq are both injured and Lallana is ill.  Probably Origi should have come on instead though. Quite a few tired legs out there, but Allison, VVD, Gomez and Henderson were all excellent to give us a solid spine.  Both FBs were shaky defensively, with Robertson making a bad error for their goal, and getting roasted by Traore’s speed (although CBs cleared most crosses comfortably), while Trent wasn’t staying close to Jimenez as the crosses came in.  Ox is still short of full match sharpness, but at least he’s fit enough to start each game and build his sharpness.

So many injuries to deal with.  Mane joins Milner, Shaq, Keita and Lovren.  At least Fabinho and Matip are back to health but they need to get match sharpness.  Shaq may be back soon, but he seems to get a new muscle strain every few weeks.  Lallana will hopefully recover from his illness quickly.  Henderson and Gini have played a lot of games in the past two months, and don’t have much hope of a break for a while. 

I assume we’ll rotate heavily for the Cup at the weekend, because then we have our game-in-hand against West Ham in midweek while most teams will have a rest. 

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