Samuel

BETTER (PARADOX): The unbeaten run goes on, but so do the draws. However, in this instance we see a small jolt in our attacking dynamics. Liverpool continue to fall short at the most important hurdle: winning. Liverpool one, Burnley one. Words on the reconfiguration of positions to produce new attacking dynamics that produced a better performance (link attached below)

@BCarauleanu It is definitely a complimentary partnership tbh

@samuelap1_ Frimpong + Szoboszlai = Hakimi in aggregate + all the extra things they offer going forward

Would be really interesting to see what the stats were before the first goal.

Hakimi instead of Frimpong probably makes the system more viable. You need someone that you don't always have to prepare certain conditions for. Kerkez can receive the ball deeper and find his team-mates further forward. A little bit annoying that Frimpong is almost a liability when he receives the ball deeper

@samuelap1_ I agree, although the sequences I'm talking about all came in settled play. I still think playing with no touchline wingers has its disadvantages in terms of having more success in settled play, but it does seem like it gives us more balance IP and OOP considering our fwd options

I think we played well and got through quite a lot although I think a lot of that was from our counter-pressing moments rather than cutting through them in settled-play. Not necessarily a bad thing but I think the game changer was that because they had to start committing to the ball earlier we had more space to attack in behind, rather than it being only about our tactics or intent

@samuelap1_ 5 shots What I'd say though is we executed a Szobo-Wirtz-Frimpong (in behind on the right, followed by a cut back) sequence very well 3 times, which only resulted in 1 shot, an Ekitike mistimed header

@BCarauleanu Interesting, how many shots?

@samuelap1_ If you're referring to xG, 0.17 to 0.02

@JohanKamilTM @nas1rs which is why prioritising formations and positions as the reason why the team performed better doesn't quite make sense

@samuelap1_ @nas1rs In a world of football based on rotation and interchangeability, there’s no need to define fixed positions – it makes no sense. It’s the flow of the game that determines the scope of your movements; you simply do what you think is best in any given situation

No idea how anyone could watch our match yesterday and think Salah was playing striker lol

This is newspeak

@adedeji_dolar We played this same system against Bournemouth away and lost.

@samuelap1_ Ekitike Salah front two combinations with wirtz ? That’s definitely a change. I know you’re trying to make a point but don’t overstretch it.

It’s interesting that people are responding to this with supposed tactical tweaks and differences between this performance and our previous performances, I see no difference Before we scored, we had issues in opening up their low-block to get in-behind. Wirtz’s orientation in the centre from the left when receiving the ball was always monitored by Gala, stopping any central incisions from occurring. Frimpong and Jakob’s is a mismatch so we haven’t made much progress on the other side other, Gala seem to be quick to sink into a low block to prevent any running in-behind moments, I think our best moments from the counter-pressing situations and how quickly we would play through them after forcing them to kick it long from their deep buildups.

What do you think?

They want me to eradicate THIS from my mind? Ha, no chance.

@pranav_m28 I’m not happy with Slot’s treatment of him so far 😢

@samuelap1_ you will enjoy this, and the whole idea as a whole as well.

Curtis Jones - Tempo Control Profile -No midfielder in the PL has more successful pass injections per 90 than Curtis Jones. No one. -He is really quick with his actions on the LHS, releases the ball quickly to the LB/LW. -In my opinion, one of the best left side midfield profiles when it comes to on the ball quality and completeness.

@OGNAGBONE @louorns He’s being hyperbolic on purpose

@samuelap1_ @louorns I agree with the first half, but the sentence starting with "So the purpose of.." I feel is a non sequitur to the above point. The purpose of the manager is obviously much more than that, and even with the context of the above point "the purpose of" is wayyyyy to strong language

Incredible bars, anyone who takes this as a defence of Slot’s job so far this season has completely missed the point. This is a beautiful description of the Great Man fallacy!

@chris_ant10 @WC_LFC_Torres It doesn’t suggest that.

@samuelap1_ @WC_LFC_Torres Except it is a defense of slot. its a suggestion that the issues this season by and large are factors outside of slots control, and getting rid of him is a useful scapegoat to hide underlying issues. I completely disagree with this premise. his coaching style, and tactics are key

@louorns Media and reality are inseparable to a large degree, whatever is filtered through media influences the larger population on the ground (reality). I don’t think he applied anything he simply drew a connection from a similar situation to another.

@samuelap1_ I think you’re conflicting media with reality. Clubs control media, what happens after that is up to whatever you want to do with it. Every manager; regardless in situ with a model faces the same criticism. Applying one thing and applying it to another is not good writing

I think this is an excellent piece from Jonathan Liew, and it eloquently describes what I have been pondering for the past few weeks. theguardian.com/football/2026/…

You’re correct - from the text above I’ve read it as Liew simply describing the reality of critique managers receive. You are right i think but both things can be true, not everything is down the manager - which is where discourse can sometimes lead to when things get toxic. Amorim and Ineos is a perfect example.

@samuelap1_ @DistanceCovered It is, but isn't the argument that managers are the people in charge of the systems who create order within the different spheres of influence in a club and as such the first failsafe when things are going wrong is to change those systems?

It most definitely is the reality. Especially on social media and the wider media. Just to be clear the above text doesn’t absolve managers of taking accountability. But rather, due to nature of the managerial position they absorb a lot of the damage, even when things aren’t necessarily their fault. Amorim and Ineos is a good example.

@samuelap1_ It sounds good but it’s not the reality. Pretty bad writing imo