The Kopite View

Positives For Reds Despite Another Draw

Liverpool went so close to winning their first game for new manager Jurgen Klopp against Southampton when Christian Benteke headed the Reds into the lead in the 77^th minute but an 85^th leveller form Mane stunned the home support and left them disappointed as they hoped the former Aston Villa striker’s goal would give them the win they craved.

Liverpool have certainly been consistent in recent weeks, but not in the manner anyone connected to the club wants as they find wins hard to find after drawing their 8^th game out of 9.

It has become a common theme to see Liverpool take the lead only to let it slip time and time again and Klopp mentioned after yesterday’s latest draw that the players don’t believe they can win at the moment with their lack of confidence.

There certainly is a lack of confidence in the team and it showed again after taking the lead yesterday with only 10 minutes to go and still not able to see the game out.

But although Klopp has many problems to solve, there were many good things about yesterday’s draw.

The team is playing with a lot more heart since Klopp’s arrival and no matter the result Liverpool supporters want to see their players giving their all and that is now happening with the German in charge and Moreno’s tremendous tackle on Mane highlighted the commitment shown by the players yesterday.

Klopp has inherited an average squad with no confidence and numerous injuries to key players but in his short time in charge he has installed a tremendous work ethic in the team and made Liverpool more solid defensively.

Liverpool looked more confident in possession against Southampton despite not creating many goal scoring opportunities.

Southampton are a dangerous team from set-pieces and apart from the equalising goal the only other time they threatened was van Dijk’s headed chance in the first half as Liverpool’s defence played well.

It is disappointing to lose the lead late in any game but there were more signs of encouragement in yesterday’s performance as Klopp’s influence becomes more noticeable with each game.

Just Like Christmas

Yesterday was like Christmas come early for Liverpool supporters as Jurgen Klopp appeared in his first press conference since taking over as manager from Brendan Rodgers.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss said all the right things and had Liverpool supporters buzzing with excitement. The major fact in Klopp’s signing is that this is the man that the supporters wanted and he is seen as major upgrade on Brendan Rodgers with his reputation and impressive CV.

Klopp has made such in an impact in one day and has unified the supporters already before a ball is kicked and his arrival could herald an exciting era at Anfield.

The German is regarded as one of the top managers in Europe and it is a statement of intent by Liverpool Football Club to bring someone of his stature to the club with many people assuming that the Anfield club can’t attract the best anymore.

It remains to be seen if Klopp can turn around Liverpool’s fortunes and bring success that the supporters crave but many believe that he can and his work at Dortmund can be replicated at Anfield.

It is just great to see Liverpool supporters walking around with a smile on their face again and that can’t be a bad start for Klopp’s career at Liverpool.

Owners Did The Right Thing At Last

So finally Brendan Rodgers has been sacked, the news comes with great delight to many Liverpool supporters but the owners must get the right man to replace him to make the decision worthwhile.

It’s not nice to see a manager sacked but it is also difficult to show too much sympathy when they will receive a tidy compensation package, in Rodgers’ case around £9 million.

The owners wanted a ‘yes’ man in and it didn’t work despite going close to winning the league a couple of seasons ago with Rodgers having his team playing some of the best football seen at Anfield for many years in the title run-in.

We as supporters enjoyed the ride that year and there is no taking away from Rodgers the impressive season he orchestrated, but he was fortunate with no European football to worry about and usually played just one game per-week making him able to concentrate on the league and able to play an unchanged team most of the time with the likes of Suarez, Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho and Sturridge providing an amazing attacking threat.

But Rodgers failed to sort out his defence that ultimately led to Liverpool losing the title and the defensive frailties are still there to this day but Rodgers has also lost his attacking threat and losing players like Suarez, Gerrard and Sterling hasn’t helped but his money spent on new recruits has been a major disappointment.

The fact is Rodgers has lost his way and Liverpool needed a change of manager because the job became too big for him and his lack of experience working at a big club was showing.

Rodgers’ poor signings and failure to sort out his defence and struggles to score goals has eventually cost him his job.

The signs were there at the end of last season and the owners should have brought in a new manager then because it is not ideal to bring in a new manager during the season where he can’t sign any new players until January and has to work with the squad he has.

The news of Rodgers sacking being announced after yesterday’s Merseyside derby draw was another surprise, and it would have been better if the club waited until this morning to make the announcement.

However they need to bring in the right man and let him take control instead of bringing in another ‘yes’ man to run the team.

Most supporters would love to see Jurgen Klopp as next manager and I’d also love to see that, fingers crossed the owners get the man the supporters want.

Reds Dreading Derby

Tomorrow’s Merseyside derby is one that many Liverpool supporters are not looking forward to for the first time in many years. There has been little for Liverpool supporters to get excited about this season so far and a game against city rivals Everton is the last thing Liverpool need.

Despite Liverpool’s poor start to the season, they find themselves only a point behind Everton in the league table, but it is the poor performances that the Reds have produced that has worried Liverpool supporters and the lack of goals scored has been a major worry.

Brendan Rodgers is under immense pressure at the moment and most Liverpool supporters are desperate for the owners to bring in a new manager with most believing that Rodgers won’t be able to turn things around and don’t want to witness another poor season.

With names like Klopp, Ancelotti and De Boer mentioned as candidates to take over from Rodgers, supporters feel the time is right for a change and many want the change no matter the outcome of Sunday’s derby.

Everton have had a decent start to the season with some great results and performances like the win over Chelsea and last Monday’s superb 3-2 win and comeback over West Brom that have encouraged supporters ahead of the Liverpool clash.

Everton supporters are relishing the match and believe they can inflict more pain and suffering to the Liverpool supporters and Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool’s struggles against lowly Carlisle and a poor Sion side that saw the Reds booed off at the end didn’t give the supporters much confidence ahead of Sunday’s derby and the only encouraging sign for Liverpool supporters is that form doesn’t matter in derby games and hopefully that is the case tomorrow.

Relying On Sturridge Again Is A Big Mistake

It is a real worry for Liverpool and their supporters that their manager Brendan Rodgers is once again relying on striker Daniel Sturridge to produce the goals needed for the club to have a successful season.

After the loss of Luis Suarez the Reds’ boss failed to replace the brilliant Uruguayan and although he signed the likes of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli he was depending on Sturridge staying fit and the result was that he hardly played at all last season with lengthy injury problems.

“Players like that make the difference,” said the Reds boss. “We haven’t scored three goals since he last started a game.

“He gives you a big opportunity to win games and compete at the top end of the table.

“He is a fantastic talent and now the job is hopefully he can stay fit.”

Rodgers is obviously delighted to have Sturridge back and scoring goals but if he is relying on the England striker staying fit then Liverpool supporters won’t be building their hopes up with his injury record.

Rodgers has spent plenty of money on strikers like Benteke, Ings and Origi but if he is still depending on Sturridge and not convinced with his signings then it is another example of his poor management.

We all hope Sturridge stays fit because he is a quality striker but Rodgers is making a big mistake relying on his fitness once again.

Rodgers Has To Accept Criticism

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers came out fighting after his team’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

“There has been a frenzy, there is no doubt about that, to get me out of here,” Rodgers said.

It is obvious Rodgers is not happy with some of the attention and criticism being aimed at him at the moment but what does he expect being manager of Liverpool Football Club.

Rodgers has to expect criticism, especially when results and performances are not the best and there will always be speculation regarding potential managers.

It is believed that Rodgers is having a go at former players who have disappointed him with some of their comments but many of these ex-players are now working in the media and expected to give opinions about their former club on a regular basis, so they are just doing their job and not instigating a witch hunt.

Most supporters have also lost faith in Rodgers and the win over Aston Villa will only act as a temporary reprieve unless he can string a run of positive results together like he did last season after the defeat at Old Trafford.

Rodgers has to have thicker skin and toughen up if he wants to continue being Liverpool manager because if he is starting to take offence to what others are saying then he is not man enough to manage Liverpool and no manager has ever been sacked by a “frenzy,” he is sacked because of results.

Players Gave Supporters Something To Cheer About

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Anfield yesterday in what was a much needed win for manager Brendan Rodgers. The Reds’ boss has been under immense pressure in recent weeks and the win gives Rodgers some welcome relief.

Milner’s early goal inside the first minute was the catalyst to the win and gave Liverpool the perfect platform to ultimately win the game. The goal settled the Reds down and they dominated the whole of the first half on possession without creating too much in the way of chances as the visitors sat deep in a defensive shell.

Liverpool knocked the ball around confidently and pressed to get the ball back when they lost possession.

The second half was more creative with Liverpool creating more chances as they passed the ball quicker and their play encouraged the crowd to cheer them on in what was much better atmosphere at Anfield than recent weeks.

Daniel Sturridge will get all the headlines for his two stunning goals but Luca Leiva was instrumental in the win with his commanding performance in the middle of the park, the Brazilian covered every blade of grass and broke up so many Villa attacks with his superb positional play and sense of danger combined with his desire to get on the ball as he made himself ability for a pass and rarely lost possession.

Milner had one of his best games in a red shirt highlighted by his superb early goal, his workrate is never in question but his quality has been, but yesterday he produced moments of magic, like his pass for Sturridge’s first goal.

Moreno had another good performance down the left flank and Clyne offered more of an attacking threat down the right side by providing some teasing crosses to attack.

But the most encouraging factor about the win was the players’ desire and hunger that has been lacking this season. The players chased and harried the Villa players for 90 minutes and the Anfield crowd responded with encouragement and singing.

This is the best atmosphere there has been at Anfield so far this season and it was all because the supporters had something to cheer about by the effort shown from their team.

Que Sera, Sera

Liverpool face Aston Villa today at Anfield in a must win game for manager Brendan Rodgers. The pressure is intensifying after recent disappointing performances and results and the majority of supporters have lost faith in Rodgers turning things around, especially after Wednesday night’s penalty shoot-out win over lowly Carlisle in the Capital One Cup.

I am one of the many that would like to see Rodgers replaced and the names of Klopp and Ancelotti as possible replacements only encourage me to see our manager replaced sooner rather than later.

But the criticism of Rodgers has turned nasty recently and although we all think it is time for a change of manager with Rodgers looking more unlikely to change Liverpool’s fortunes around, he doesn’t deserve some of the disgusting treatment dished out by some keyboard warriors.

The supporters need to keep supporting the team and hopefully there are no masks of Klopp at Anfield today or planes with banners flying over the ground because the players need the fans’ support.

It is getting so ugly that many supporters are hoping Liverpool lose to accelerate the departure of Rodgers.

We have to keep supporting the team no matter who is in charge and if Rodgers can somehow, although unlikely turn things around, then great and if he doesn’t then surely the hierarchy will see sense and replace him but we have to back the team and whatever will be will be.

Reds Sink To New Low

Liverpool scraped through against minnows Carlisle United at Anfield last night after winning 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after both teams couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes in a 1-1 stalemate.

This was supposed to be a game that Liverpool should have gained some much needed confidence from with a comfortable win, but in what has become a common theme in recent months, Liverpool struggled to break down a team intent on frustrating by sitting deep and well organised defensively.

Liverpool are struggling to create chances and look clueless for ideas to break down teams set up in this way, but to struggle to break down a second division side is not only worrying it is embarrassing.

Brendan Rodgers is a man under pressure and he showed this with his team selection by playing so many first team regulars. The Reds’ boss started Skrtel, Clyne, Moreno, Milner, Lallana and Firmino in a strong team that meant he was desperate for a confidence boosting win.

The fixture was an ideal opportunity for Jordon Ibe (Liverpool’s only attacking wide player to gain some much needed confidence) to start, and Jordan Rossiter to gain more experience after his impressive game in France last week.

Rodgers decision to play so many regulars didn’t help his cause as he watched his team struggle again and this poor performance against a second division team heaps more pressure on the Liverpool manager’s position.

This was another embarrassment for Liverpool and Rodgers and they are sinking to new lows that leave you wondering how much time the owners can give Rodgers to turn things around, because it looks like it has got to the stage where it is impossible for him to turn things around with  his players not believing in him anymore.