Deadbat
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It was not a surprise that Liverpool ended a recent poor run of form and four successive defeats to get back to winning ways against the bottom of the table Blades side. Jurgen Klopp had become involved in an odd spat with United manager Wilder earlier in the season but it was the German who got the better of his counterpart making it four wins out of four for the Reds over the Blades in the last two seasons. In a game where United at least had a go, after some pitiful recent defeats, they were indebted though to Aaron Ramsdale who kept them in the game before two goals from Curtis Jones and a Kean Bryan deflected effort took the game away from the Blades. United created little but nearly got an own goal in the first half and Oli McBurnie missed a good headed chance at 0-1. In truth Liverpool could have had 7 or 8 goals though with better finishing or with Ramsdale not on his game and the margin of victory flattered the home side despite toiling for long spells.
United made two changes with one enforced and one chosen. In came Norwood for Basham with Ampadu switching to defence and McGoldrick was brought back for Sharp, with Oli McBurnie retaining his place up front. Liverpool were without goalkeeper Alisson due to compassionate reasons and Adrian came in. Nat Phillips started at the back alongside Ozan Kabak. There was no Jordan Henderson but they still had the much-vaunted front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino.
Under the lights, the Blades started in competitive fashion and McBurnie flicked onto McGoldrick who was brought down for a free kick. Norwood put a dangerous one in and via a combination of McGoldrick and Mane, the ball went towards Adrian who made the save although the striker may have been offside if the ball had gone in.
Liverpool’s first threat came with a diagonal ball over the top that put in Robertson and as Baldock switched off, Ramsdale did well to come off his line and out of his box to execute the clearance. The game had been relatively even and United had been able to win their fair share of tackles and have enough of the ball but ought to have been behind on 10 minutes as a ball over the top saw Ampadu lose the header and Firmino was in after the ball broke a bit fortuitously. The striker was one on one but as Ramsdale went down he hit the keeper and was not able to lift it over him. It was a really good save. After Ampadu miskicked the ball was returned and several other attempts to clear was missed and Robertson’s cross shot nearly caught the keeper out who again did well to flick behind.
Liverpool now were taking control and Jones individual skill got him away from the trailing Lundstram but the midfielder at least got back to hold him up and from the resultant corner McBurnie showed his aerial prowess at the back.
On 16 minutes, Bryan fired in a good ball to McBurnie who held the ball up to McGoldrick whose shot hit his fellow striker on the way through and was tipped round the post by Adrian.
Ramsdale had been alert all night and came out and clasped the ball again but his poor kick led to a diagonal ball that caught out Baldock again and Jones was in but the keeper managed to recover his error with a brave block.
United won another free kick but Fleck’s poor free kick saw Liverpool break after Mane got away from McBurnie but the Scottish midfielder got ack to make the interception as the Reds threatened to get in.
Bryan put in a good ball but McBurnie could not react quick enough before Jagielka got in at the other end to make a block after Baldock went down too easily and Salah hit a fierce shot.
Another back pass that was unnecessary to Ramsdale saw the ball come back again and was between Bryan and Jagielka for Salah who cut in and tried to go across the United keeper but he made another good save. Soon after Norwood and Ampadu overplayed in trying to defend and the latter’s poor ball was straight to Alexander Arnold who hit a fierce shot after coming inside and sitting his man down but once again Ramsdale made the big save with firm hands.
On 35 minutes, United thought they were ahead against the run of play as the ball over the top put McBurnie in a chase with Kabak and the defender knocked it past his own keeper Adrian completely wrong footing him in a goal reminiscent to the one Chelsea scored for the Blades recently. However, the flag went up and replays showed it was the right decision and not that close.
McGoldrick did well to hold things up and found Fleck after strong and clever link play but the midfielder took too long and once again the flag went up although this time it may have been closer if anything had resulted.
Fleck slipped over in the middle of the park and Salah had a chance but Jagielka made a good block again before another great chance came to the Champions. Wijnaldum was teed up by Thiago and was given way too much time to pick his spot but his fierce shot was beaten away by the excellent Ramsdale again. The rebound came to Firmino who seemed set too score but strangely opted to pass and his ball across goal was cleared by the relieved United defence.
On 42 minutes, another free kick opportunity presented but McGoldrick’s header lacked the necessary purchase and was cleared. Subsequently, Lundstram’s pass was overplayed to McBurnie.
There were no further chances as half time came without any additional time played. Liverpool really should have been in front with several clear chances and Ramsdale had been inspired but the Blades had caused a few problems the other way and it was not one-way traffic.
The second half was only a few minutes old when Liverpool took the lead. Stevens lost a 50-50 tackle and as the ball broke, Trent Alexander reacted quicker and Stevens dithered again. The ball was close to going out but as it came across Jagielka’s clearance was poor and none of the midfield reacted at all. The ball sat perfectly for JONES who smashed home.
After this Liverpool started going through the gears and United struggled to hold them. Mane was in and clipped home but the offside flag saved them.
Alexander Arnold then fired wide after a mazy run when he ran through and it may have taken a touch off Jagielka. Liverpool were threatening to run riot and Wilder made two changes with Burke and Osborn on for McGoldrick and Jagielka. United switched to 4-4-2 in at attempt to get a foot hold back in the game an for a spell it seemed to work.
United had a great chance to level when Norwood’s cross was superbly whipped in and McBurnie had to score but headed wide under no pressure.
United had another chance when McBurnie was in on the angle but the striker took too long and Kabak got his foot in and cleared. The corner came in but as Adrian punched clear, Norwood fired well wide as it dropped in a difficult chance.
After this improvement, Liverpool took the game away from the Blades. Jones did well down the right and played it inside and Firmino was able to take several touches as Bryan and Ampadu did not go to him. Stevens then walked past the ball and as the shot came in, it went in off BRYAN (OG) and looped over the diving Ramsdale and it was 2-0. It was a fortunate deflection as it was probably going wide but once again poor defending from the Blades and it was all too easy.
United tried to respond and Burke got in down the side but his cross shot went further away from goal than towards it summing up his lack of confidence in front of goal. Two poor moments from Lundstram then broke up two possible attacks as Burke continued to threaten but Ampadu made a good tackle as Mane nearly got in down the right.
United had a bit more of the ball but Liverpool were really comfortable now and were easing to the victory.
Robertson got in after good football saw it moved across but he fired it over with 15 minutes left to play. Milner came on for Thiago in Liverpool’s first change. It should have been 3-0 as Robertson’s cross saw Salah somehow put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Sharp came on for Fleck with 10 minutes to play as Wilder opted not to use Brewster or one of the other young players. Mane got away from Ampadu and stayed on his feet. If he had gone down, he would have got a penalty in all likelihood.
A late chance for Burke saw him nearly get in but he could not get the ball away and Adrian made the block as he tried to go round him. The game entered three minutes of stoppage time but nothing really happened of note and Liverpool saw things out to get back to winning ways.
United – It was better than the last few games and we were still well beaten. I thought the players mostly tried and at times they did compete but we lacked the quality once again in the key areas and Liverpool created tons of chances despite us doing our best. I never thought we would win the game and the quality they had meant it was inevitable they would score and we could not rely on Ramsdale for the whole game. Overall, Liverpool were worthy winners and whilst they were not amazing, they did not have to as another team won at a canter really conceding few chances and creating tons at the other end. We simply lacked the quality all over the field even to cope with an out of form Liverpool side.
I felt at least we competed for spells today (we did ok for 10 minutes to start and then 5 minutes at -0-1) and were in the game it felt, certainly first half although much of that was down to Ramsdale. We had a few half chances and the offside goal that they did not really know much about in terms of playing McBurnie offside. However after we started the game ok, Liverpool had most of the ball and carved us open at times and if it was not for Ramsdale it could have been 4-0 at half time. Still, I thought we were ok actually as daft as it sounds. I did not think we were as pitiful as at Fulham or West Ham and at least had some attacks. The front two were a bit of a nuisance and the team did work hard. It was just we lacked quality all over the field and anything decent came from them. If they had been more clinical then they would have been out of sight really. So, whilst we did ok, Liverpool were still much better than us. They had so many chances. Firmino, Salah, Jones, Wijnaldum, Manah, Trent Alexander. Even though we were in the game, they had 4 or 5 really clear chances. I felt no one had been awful really for us but they were just faster, skilled and better. We tried and for the most part did what we could but the players were just inferior. Despite that we did have some spells and a few half chances and won a few free kicks. I felt McBurnie and McGoldrick competed even though were not goal threats but as the game went on, they became less of a threat.
The second half we never started and they blew us away. The first goal is once again pathetic defending as Stevens loses a tackle and then does not get back. Jagielka then does not clear and no one reacts and we all ball watch as the lad scores an easy goal. After this they could have been out of sight as they had several chances with an offside goal and Trent Alexander nearly getting in but we made changes and went 4-4-2 and improved for a 5-10 minutes spell. As dominant as they had been, we had a golden chance as Norwood found McBurnie and he has to score. It was a header under no pressure. He then had another chance but took too long. They then get a second after more poor defending from us as he just walks through. Several at fault here. Ramsdale once again badly exposed.
After this the game was gone. They just saw it out and I think other than a wild Burke shot, they had more chances but it kind of fizzled out. A shocking miss from Salah should have made it 3-0. It just became an easy and professional win. Liverpool did make mistakes at the back but we could not capitalise. I think the Sky pundits summed it up that a better team would have profited from a poor back line and not sure Liverpool were always great in possession really and gave it away a fair but we often gave it back or could not keep it.
It was not a dreadful showing nor were we completely annihilated but it was a routine Liverpool win where they could have had a lot more goals and just needed to be patient. McBurnie did have the chance at 0-1 but you do think even if he scores there, they just up it again and score again. The first 10 minutes of the second half they stepped up the pace and intensity and we could not cope and did not react. We looked all over the place and they picked us off and looked like scoring every time. Once they got the second it was done which ironically after we had a bit better spell. Both teams would have just shook hands then.
After picking up mid-January we now are on another awful run and it is hard to see where the next point is coming from. We have not scored now for nearly 3 and a half games (and that was the Chelsea own goal!) and we remain on target for our worst ever individual season – 1975-76 which was 22 points from 42 – we did get less 19 in 1890-91 from only 18 games and then 15-24 points in war time seasons but these were hardly any games at all. We still need a point to better Derby’s worst ever Premier League season.
The positives are that the keeper did well. Bryan did not disgrace himself also. However, the main positive is it is another game closer to the end of the season.
We now have 12 left (13 if you count the Cup) and it will be 10 by the end of the week! This season just needs to be over. We will probably be mathematically down with about half the games left of the ones we have left to play at this rate. I will be glad in some ways and then they can stop talking about us. It is like the TV companies do not even want to show us and I cannot blame them. If you asked the team and Wilder if we could just concede the rest of the games and pack up now and have a break, they would probably would. Even the fans would probably take losing every game (maybe give us a point too get off the record) if it meant it being done. It continues to be depressing and predictable. As I say not even sure we were awful today but still well beaten and inferior in every aspect to the opponent. We are just not good enough and all those saying West Brom are worse now cannot even make that argument.
We are destined now to finish rock bottom and be one of the worst teams in Premier League ever. It’s been a disaster from the form, results, injuries, signings, manager, you name it. Not sure there is any real positives (Bogle, McGoldrick a bit and Ramsdale maybe a bit now) of the whole season. It just needs to end. My concern is that there will be a huge hangover/carry on and it will be very hard just to flick a switch (yes I know Norwich did but most teams that have gone down like this if you go through history have struggled the next season) and I am concerned unless we change things with a number of fresh players that it will be a tough return in the Championship. I am not convinced that all these players (Norwood, Stevens, Brewster, McBurnie etc) will suddenly just start playing well and dominate at the lower level – it takes a lot to turn round confidence and form. We are not playing as a team, we don’t look together, ship goals and chances every week and don’t look like scoring. There are fundamental issues all over the side and those that just feel these get fixed at the click of a finger as we are going down a division may be in for a shock.
Wilder has a huge job this summer for his own future and for the players – that is if he stays. I still feel he may walk away when relegation is confirmed. Just a gut feeling from his interviews and how he has presented the last few months.
