Claudius wrote:

Again go back to right flank. TAA completely uncontested on the cross that led to goal. Arteta blew it on this guy. He is a shit defender who we should’ve pressured by trying to do our traditional buildups on the left.

Auba was pocketed by Gomez because we offer no passing threat from midfield. Ceballos should've played but Xhaka was unable to find his range.

Doesn't help that all of our attackers were very, very poor today. That includes Auba.

Qwiss! wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

Game over.

This game is on you Lacazette.

Meh he missed a clear chance but we didn't create nearly enough.

That one clear chance is more than what most teams normally get at Anfield. It was as gifted a goal as it should be.

I think we have done enough today to get a draw, considering Leno's shit keeping for the first goal. If we held on the lead longer they were there for the taking

I mean, they're by far and away the best team in the league. Didn't really expect to get much out of this. Would have been great to win but we finished 8th last season and have serious defensive/offensive failings we're still fixing. This won't define our season so long as we pick up points where we should.

awooga83 wrote:

We surely need to have Aubameyang in the forward position. You can't have your best striker on the wing.

2 games in a row he's been totally out of it. Makes no sense to keep playing him wide.

Good thing we get to play them again this week.

Got battered first half, second half was better but legs went after a big effort.

On to the next one.

Not too bad in the end, basic 5/10 performance.

Arteta went too negative, lineup was too workman like.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

I have no idea how anyone could think Elneny should start over Ceballos.

Ceballos head and shoulders our best midfielder. By a distance its not even close, both defensively and attacking wise.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

I have no idea how anyone could think Elneny should start over Ceballos.

Presume dani had a knock and was knly good for a part role

No idea why Ceballos didn't start. He was involved in all our chances in the 2nd half and he puts a shift in defensively. Agree that Gabriel should also have started. Understand why he went with AMN over Saka due to his previous good performances against Salah.

Also Saka should be ahead of Pepe on the roster now.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

I don’t understand why Firmino looks like he does - what’s he trying to achieve?

'40s abstract purdy

Claudius wrote:

You gain little from excessive negativity. The first time that I have been very unhappy with Arteta.

It was so obvious befire the match too. We weren't even set up to counter. Then we played out from the back under extreme pressure. Just boot it up to Auba FSS. Very little of Artetas plan made sense to me tonight.

Clrnc wrote:

Kel Varnsen wrote:

I have no idea how anyone could think Elneny should start over Ceballos.

Ceballos head and shoulders our best midfielder. By a distance its not even close, both defensively and attacking wise.

In fairness he was crap against West Ham. Ceballos is a very good player but lets not pretend he's peak Zidane either.

I only caught the 2nd half but we looked competitive. Arteta picked a crap starting line-up, and ive noticed he's prone to dropping a selection clanger every couple of games

Kel Varnsen wrote:

I have no idea how anyone could think Elneny should start over Ceballos.

This has been Arteta's most concerning decision to date. Definitely got it wrong today.

To be fair, Klopp is a well-seasoned cast-iron veteran. He shut down the Auba threat and let us have our right flank, which Willian was really poor in exploiting. Laca too slow to really scare Van Dijk but he did get his chances, two of which he blew.

Mane plays 3 positions at once, he's a cheat-code player. I really which we had someone that good.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

I have no idea how anyone could think Elneny should start over Ceballos.

he was decent enough 2nd half. Better than Xhaka been all match.

Again, let's face it, our options for CM were Dani, Elneny and Xhaka and nawt else except Willock who is defo not ready. We know this is where we need new players.

In the meantime, Willian is as underwhelming a signing as I've thought he was so far.

Mirth wrote:

Also Saka should be ahead of Pepe on the roster now.

Should be ahead of Willian too. Play him on the right and you would have had two different performances in the last two league games.

Anyway, Captain is right, mixed performance in a game we were unlikely to win either way against Europe's finest. Arteta needs to take this lesson on board much more than the players I reckon.