Another day another away defeat. How Liverpool has fallen from grace between UCL Finals and the curtain opener against Fulham. Liverpool’s worst start under Klopp and it looks like the old curse of the “7th year in-charge” is paying him a visit. Several names with a below par performance and it’s right to say that the Merseyside outfit has very low chances of winning any silverware this season. The opponents are now accustomed to Liverpool’s game play and know how to defend and even score. Liverpool has gone behind in more than half of the encounters so far. Never won at Nottingham in their history and this venue is infamously the only ground city hasn’t won in the English topflight. They have already lost as many games as they did the whole of last season and only worse. Let’s have a look at the Individual performances on the fateful evening at the city grounds.
Allision Becker (9/10): The only hope of any good play this season. Bailing the team day in day out. If it is not him in between the sticks, Liverpool would be by now negotiating for a position in the bottom half of the table. He was a bystander for much of the first half and could do anything for Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal. Then made one magnificent save to deny Yates, having already made several smart saves to keep the score line 1-0. When a goalkeeper is adjudged man of the match you can only imagine how bad the rest were.
James Milner (6/10): Milner enjoyed a couple of decent outings and started over the out of form Trent at the City Ground. The veteran again largely did fine, playing one superb long ball to Salah early on and providing a cross that Van Dijk should have scored from. Made a vital block at 1-0. Dependable figure on the right back than Trent. One could rest assured that the right flank is in safe hands for the time being.
Joe Gomez (4/10): Gomez kept his place after a few decent games, but this was a worrying display. Two sloppy misplaces passes before half-time summed up this lethargic approach and always looked susceptible on the counterattack. He was robbed, dribbled pass, booked and paved way for a free kick in a dangerous area which lead to the Forest goal – on this evidence, he is easily fourth- choice. Right back position would suit him better than center back.
Virgil Van Dijk (5/10): A few good games and back to being an unavoidable pain in the center back position. He could easily erase his bad performance with one good play, but this is not what the team needs now. The camp short of center backs owing to injuries his position is worrying as the season progresses. Nat Phillips would be a good option and tried and one could say he would be decent. To make matters worse all 3 Liverpool’s best chances fell to him which he scuffed successfully. The latter being an absolutely unmarked header. Looking at his performance at City ground it’s understandable if the fans pull the hair out of the heads.
Andy Robertson (5/10): Robertson was favored over the Greek scouser after a breather in the midweek, but he was extremely silent in the attacking sense. He struggled to link up with Fabio Carvalho and it showed. Something Klopp has to look into. Even though Kostas Tsimikas is not as reliable as Robertson he creates deadly crosses which is what the team needs. Robertson is a poor candidate currently for this position.
Fabinho (4/10): A player who was blameless last season with the team being in safe hands, Fabinho has lost his golden touch. Looked miles off pace against West Ham when he came on. His performance was more or less similar against Nottingham.
Curtis Jones (6/10): Decent display for a player who has been out for a while getting his first call up to the starting lineup. Not a player with the maestro’s quality who is injured Curtis has huge room for improvement. With those around him falling apart it is frustrating for a player of his caliber to create something out of it. Would be harsh to be too critical, though, given his lack of playing time. Covered the most distance than any other Liverpool player and completed 90 minutes. He is a player who has the potential to create screamers like he did against Chelsea a few years back. Hopeful.
Harvey Elliott (7/10): Was Liverpool’s best outfield player by some distance, making things happen and opening Forest’s defense several times. He was the star of a bad bunch was Liverpool’s best outfield player by some distance, making things happen and being a constant threat. Almost got an early assist after an inch-perfect pass to Fabio Carvalho. A player to be nurchured.
Mohamed Salah (5/10): He is now becoming an increasingly frustrating figure upfront. Either he is bad, or the referee doesn’t see him getting fouled. He was poorly assisted by those behind him while he is culpable for half of his flaws, his back line has to take the rest of the blame. He would surely score 9/10 provided he is given the right pass, remembering his goal after Allison’s assist. Salah has to start converting and should be more clinical inside the box. By how it looks this probably will be his last season at Anfield and would look for a new challenge elsewhere.
Fabio Carvalho (5/10): With so few options, the youngster was again trusted by Klopp, but given his first season with the club and few starts so far he is growing in confidence and the future only looks bright. With his ex-Fulham mate sharing the field with him he would only get better owing to his talent. He almost opened the scoring after a wonderful first touch but was denied by Dean Henderson.
Roberto Firmino (5/10): After a few bright sparks which gave the fans some hope, this was back to Firmino being Firmino. Over hit passes, missed chances, giving the ball away in dangerous areas this was a frustrating day in office. He has to focus and get back to form if he is to have any future with the club. Surprisingly our leading goal scorer this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (5/10)-On for Milner 62′: A few bright forward thrusts but no end product. Shouldn’t be deceived and make him a permanent starter until he finds his form. Only the season would say if he were suitable for the right back position.
Jordon Henderson (5/10)-On for Carvalho 62′: A bench start to the game demonstrates the captain’s form this season. For a team desperately needing a goal, his performance begs more focus.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlaion (5/10)-On for Firmino 76′: Good to see him after a lengthy absence. He has to get on his feet and play his natural game which is attacking football and long ranger rockets. He is glass so it’s important he stays fit.
Jurgen Klopp (4/10): Poor, Poor and Poor. He is not the Klopp we know the manager who made the red side of Merseyside believe again. It’s the same results week after week and it doesn’t look like addressed. His formation of 433 was partly to be blamed as for 5 long years he had played this formation 90% of the time. Teams now are accustomed to play against this formation and Klopp looks adamant in throwing in something new. When he played the 4321 diamond Formation some players like Xedan Shaqiri, Jota and Ox were very productive and even got into the score/assist sheet regularly with some world class strikes. Some formation only suits a few players therefore Klopp should know better on what formation to deploy. Highlines and 433 have failed and it’s stupid to look for a deferent result with the same game play. If he doesn’t change then sadly the man who made us believe, the normal one will be out of Anfield in no time without a worthy successor.
Deservedly substituted midway through the second half. He struggles to make an impact on games.
How did Liverpool F.C perform today 