I’m still trying to work out if Gyokeres actually did anything against us. Not even in a wind-up way, either. I looked back at the line-ups and had that little moment of disbelief because I can’t picture a touch, a run, even a nuisance foul. One of those nights where an opposition forward seems to just… disappear.
And yet, despite that, it didn’t feel like a match where we went full throttle ourselves. There were good bits. You could see a version of us in there that can put teams on the back foot and keep them there. But the big frustration is we didn’t quite turn the screw when it was begging for it.
Quickened it up, finally
The second half in particular felt like we’d decided to move the ball with a bit of purpose. Quicker passes, less hesitation, more willingness to take space when it was there. It wasn’t perfect, but it was miles closer to what you want to see from Liverpool: tempo up, opponents having to think, and our press and possession starting to look like they belong together.
That’s why it’s such a shame we didn’t go for the win with a bit more bravery. It’s like getting the wrapper off a lovely bar of chocolate and then just putting it back in the cupboard. All the build-up, none of the payoff.
The season’s little habit: safety first
Truth is, it’s started to feel like a theme. We can have a strong spell, even “boss” a half, but we don’t always look like we’re desperate to land the punch. Sometimes it’s sensible game management, sometimes it’s just being a touch too cautious. The line between the two is thin, and we’ve lived on it far too often.
When you’re on top, you need that killer instinct. Not chaos for chaos’ sake, but a proper intent to finish teams off. A bit more risk. A bit more belief.
Bradley worries and the right-back question
Fingers crossed for Bradley, because he’s a player you want available. But if he is going to miss time, it does throw the spotlight back onto right-back depth and reliability. It’s not about writing anyone off, it’s just reality: you need someone you can count on week after week if you’re serious.
That’s why it’s fair to say Liverpool might have to look hard at that position, whether it’s now or in the summer. Good squads don’t carry “hopefully he’s fit” as a plan.
Playacting, shoves, and a sport testing your patience
On the discipline side of it, Martinelli’s shove on a player who’s down is horrible stuff. There’s no excuse for that. But it also sits in the same wider mess the game’s drifting into, where playacting and rolling around has become normalised.
Every team has players at it, including us, and it’s making football harder to watch than it should be. If officials can enforce things like time-wasting, they can also stop amateur dramatics. Give it a few seconds, and if you’re still down, off you go for treatment. Either you’re hurt, or you’re not.
For Fowler’s sake, the sport doesn’t help itself sometimes.
One small thing that still matters
Even on nights where it feels like we’ve not taken the full reward, there’s value in seeing the tempo lift after the break. If Liverpool are going to look more consistent, that sharper, quicker second-half version has to become the default rather than the exception.
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Liverpool News Views offers daily Liverpool coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, EFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
