MDF Liverpool v Luton Town 21/02/24

[shatter2]

Our last game at Anfield was in 1992 just before the first season of the Premier League.
Liverpool manager Klopp praised Luton in an interview yesterday,  we're unbeaten in our last three away games but this one will be a tough nut to crack. COYH!!




Reds Trivia.          Who wouldn't want Mo Salah in their team.

[hatterinSW19]

Last league game in 1992. We played there in the FA Cup in 2008, just when 2020 were taking over

[8two]

The 2008 Luton team was:

1   Dean Brill
12 Richard Jackson
3  Allan Goodall
4  Don Hutchison
21 Keith Keane
8  David Bell
28 Paul Mcveigh
14 Steve Robinson
15 Stephen O'Leary
25 Matthew Spring
10 Darren Currie
20 Calvin Andrew
29 Paul Furlong
19 Drew Talbot

Substitutes
17 Lewis Emanuel
9  Sam Parkin

and Liverpool:

30 Charles Itandje
17 Álvaro Arbeloa
3  Jamie Carragher
4  Sami Hyypiä
6  John Arne Riise
16 Jermaine Pennant
14 Xabi Alonso
8  Steven Gerrard
21 Lucas Leiva
19 Ryan Babel
15 Peter Crouch
18 Dirk Kuyt
9  Fernando Torres
12 Fabio Aurelio

Substitutes:
40 David Martin
7  Harry Kewell

[lancshatter]

I was there with my 2 children when we scored first, had 3 different goalkeepers and lost by 2-1 (Toshack and Keegan scoring in the last 5 minutes!!) Can those memories be correct I wonder?!!!

[shatter2]

Feb 21, 2024 10:59:01 GMT hatterinSW19 said:

Last league game in 1992. We played there in the FA Cup in 2008, just when 2020 were taking over

Thanks Dawn forgot about that one.
My first experience of seeing Liverpool was in Div 2 1961/62 season. We beat them at home 1-0 with a goal from Dave Pacey and drew at Anfield 1-1 with a goal from Gordon Turner. They were promoted that season with Bill Shankly as manager, we lasted another season but then went into one of our declines back to Div 4. 

[bernardshakey]

Lancs think you mean Sep 1982 we had 3 different keepers but ended up drawing 3-3 Souness,Rush and Craig Johnston scoring for them and Stein 2 and Moss for us.Donaghy ended the game in goal for us.

[lancshatter]

Oh yes! Thanks Bernard...there WAS a match at Anfield during which we lost 2-1 having led for a long time...I conflagrated (!) the two memories!!!

[Lake]

[8two]

Totally dominated and as expected got what we deserved. The one good bit was obviously Ogbene's goal and other than for a noticeable Mengi performance that was about the only enjoyment for a Luton fan.

Wasn't expecting anything from this game so not too disappointed. 

[bms]

Terrific first half performance meant the onslaught from the start of the second half was inevitable. That coincided with an injury to Lakonga and we seemed to lose shape and confidence. The notion that Pelly is a saviour in waiting was firmly put to bed - we need Lakonga back ASAP. Alfie looked leggy and took a heavy knock towards the end, looked like an ankle injury, we need him back soon too. Maybe Rob should have introduced Burke in the second half after their second but he was probably concerned that that could have resulted in yet another injury, such was the pace from all directions we were facing along with the Kop roar - quite something.
No shame in that performance or result with Kaminski’s wonderful saves helping to limit the damage.
Another v tough game next - think Rob will not risk anyone who we’ll need for the Palace game.
Onwards and hopefully upwards!

[8two]

Feb 22, 2024 10:07:40 GMT bms said:

Another v tough game next - think Rob will not risk anyone who we’ll need for the Palace game.
Onwards and hopefully upwards!

If Edwards doesn't risk anyone needed for the Palace Villa game he will be playing two goalkeepers as outfield players and probably a couple of youths.

[proudhattersince74]

"That coincided with an injury to Lakonga and we seemed to lose shape and confidence." Lakonga has become as (if not more) important as Barkley to our wellbeing. His protection of our defence was immense vs Man U and was just as evident up to HT vs Liverpool. Take away the shield that is Lakonga and the holes and soft centre in our defence were plain to see. Liverpool exploited them to the very fullest extent.

Watching Luton's evolution in the PL has been fascinating, to say the very least: the improvement in particular individuals is clear to see and way beyond what I expected in most cases. However, there is a ceiling and some players have reached theirs with regard to technical ability so the reliance shifts to fitness, strength, tactics and organisation to allow any semblance of being competitive against established PL teams with squads filled to the brim with players of Barkley's/Lakonga's quality or better.

What worries me ATM is that our approach to the matches is becoming akin to England cricket's Bazball philosophy - a 5h1t or bust mindset that, when it works, can look utterly fabulous but, more often then not, creates self-inflicted errors that are punished. We certainly seem to have turned over the coaching manual page where a defensive approach is dour to watch but makes it hard for the opposition to break down. I'm not talking about the Liverpool match here (as they are different gravy to anything we've faced) but our change of style since Lockyer has been ruled out.

Maybe that change of direction is due to the fact that the CBs we have now are faster and more athletic than Lockyer - but is that really for the good of the team and the results? RE seems to have adopted Postecoglou's defensive high line but, IMO, it ain't working! I praised the fact Osho followed his Brighton striker deep into their half to pressurise him and gave him absolutely no room to manoeuvre ... but I now take that back! Gabe has been caught out of position so many times by very simple chipped over the top passes since the Newcastle game that it has destabilised our defence and only last gasp challenges (plus Lakonga's awareness) have prevented us being totally out of the games. High line defences leave acres of space behind them and the passes don't have to be particularly accurate if there are willing runners bursting from the opposition half: how many times did Man U players start sprints from their half, left us for dead and latched onto balls for one-on ones with Kaminski? Ditto Anthony Gordon at Newcastle in the first half. Ditto Sheffield United. Ditto Liverpool in the first 2 minutes when Osho was about 5-10 yards in their half instead of sitting deeper so he can watch what is happening in front of him!

Okay, we won't create or score as many but, given our current predicament, the Sheffield United 'defend deep and compact' may allow us to gain more than 'nil points'.

Plus, looking at our complete lack of attackers ATM, can we really afford to be expansive and let in one or two goals? We don't look capable of scoring two in 90 minutes without Adebayo. If Lakonga is out for the City cup match, I'd insert Burke into the back line and move one of Osho or Mengi forward to play the defensive holding role (as both of them have played there before) and swap the defenders around if/when necessary to see which one is better suited. That position calls for someone more disciplined that Pelly showed last night - I fully expected Pelly to simply drop in front of the CBs and replicate the role that Lakonga was fulfilling ... but Pelly looked exactly like he tried to play the same way he did in the Championship so Liverpool's passing and movement made him invisible.

I'm not fussed about last night's result as nothing was expected but we have to quickly improve our self harming defence before the games against teams we can actually see and catch!

COYH.

[bernardshakey]

Completely agree Proud, Burnley came up and tried to take on Premier teams at football and look where that has got them. It worked against Brighton helped by two very early goals. We initially missed Nakamba until Lokonga got up to speed which shows we desperately need that defensive midfield cover. I also agree time to bring Burke back and hope he stays fit as he is an excellent defender. At the moment I fear we will depend on others points deductions if we are to stay up losing Adebayo,Brown,Lokonga and Nakamba is too much for our squad.

[rutlandhatter]

Proud, in Pelly's defence he's always looked better as an attacking not defending midfielder and he's not played for a while, not even come off the bench, so will not be match fit.