If Borini can cost more than £10 mil, at £5 mil seems a steal for a player that rumoured being chased after by many big clubs....

Origi is better in term of mobility, chasing down the hoof ball compared to Benteke (I guess this is why Origi was started ahead of Benteke), but his shooting skill is somehow need a lot of improvement if want to be an established striker that can score double digit goals.

Benteke is still a better in term of aerial power and thunderbolt in front of goal, but his style of play is target man, that waiting the ball to come to him, instead chasing down the through ball type of player.

With Origi injured, now the team left with 1 striker only with matches come thick and fast over the new year time.

While, Firmino was like non-existence for the entire match, if didn't see the teamsheet of starting XI, one may not know he was playing...

One thing good about yesterday match was the clean sheet, and it was Leicester's first game that failed to score a goal since September and first away loss.

Can was the one provide the cross or assist, if not mistaken.

Just watch the highlight again.
The assist indeed come from Firmino. Can passed to Firmino then assist to Benteke.

It is a crazy season.

No one is consistent enough across.

Who can predict Soton won 4-0 against red hot form Arsenal.

Any team just needs pull up a string run of 4-5 wins together, the position on the table can be totally changed.
Remember when first Klopp came in, a series of draw and a few win together, there were reporters asked the question of potential title challenge, simply crazy.

See how Watford with 4 win on the streak, now suddenly become a top 4 contender.

I don't intend to look down on Leicester but history showed that you can't win anything without a good defence.

Leicester may be a replica of the history Liv's run of 2013/2014 season.
Very much similarity.
Cannot defence properly, always leaking goals, rely on outscoring opponent to win matches.
Striker and attacking players in sizzling form, Suarez/Sturridge, Vardy/Mahrez.

But he scored 2 crucial winner that the team collected 6 points in 2 matches.

The positive is another clean sheet.

Nobody seems able to provide good crosses.
See those corner taken, all wasted only and no threat at all, floating high in air easy to defend.

The team currently suffered due to poorly assembled team over the 2 transfer window.
A major overhaul of the team clearly needed.

The team seems too rooted for tiki taka approach. You see a lot of goals in EPL scored due to one route football, high ball, diagonal ball, long pass through ball, cross come in from flank, then one touch or heading and scored, instead of pass pass pass.
Once pass pass pass, opponent defenders all organised, you have 2 wall of defenders to break through, not something easy, unless you have Suarez, Messi type of players.

Nowadays more possession /= more chance to score goal.
Quality of ball is 10x better than quantity (possession) of the ball.
This is what WH did on Liv last night.

As compared to Benteke (which become a new spacegoat lately), Firmino was even more disappointing.
But seldom fans blamed him, may be little people noticing he was playing on the field....

Last summer transfer spending of Benteke + Firmino > £50 mil....

If Shaqiri can go to Stoke, I don't see why Liv can sign some decent players at reasonable price.

15 mil is not that realistic, but with manager pulling power and better negotiation, it may be a better deal than previous transfer like Lovren 20 mil, Benteke + Firmino that cost more than 50 mil.

Mind that Stoke signed the highly rated Shaqiri at 12 mil only, ya, I knew it was summer (we set aside whether it is Jan or summer issue, just to discuss how so many bad business was done on previous few years

Just like Grujic deal, at 5 mil, we don't know he will be flop or not, but at least with the price tag 5 mil, it won't be too much damage if the player doesn't shine.

While previously business done always big money, Benteke, Firmino even Allen and Borini (more than 10 mil before "inflation" in recent years), all cost big money one.

At least this is a sound better in the transfer business as compared to the past, a 5.1 mil deal despite there were 7 mil offer.

http://www.espnfcasia.com/story/2779642/ma...-medical-report


See the difference?

Yup.
Mig may not the world class, but he should not be the spacegoat or root of problem for poor run recently.

He did save well to win matches for the team as well, typically like against Leicester.

Even if Liv has Buffon or Cech, it doesn't solve the problem the team lack of goal that enable the team to win matches.

If the team keeps on drawing or losing matches like 2-2, 2-3 due to calamity or schoolboy error by GK that conceding goals, then yes, GK is a priority, but current situation is not.

It is odd to see match to take place on Friday...

When the teamsheet is getting thin, cleansheet become very important,

One positive factor is the team has the ability to grind out 1-0 result lately which something impossible over the last few years.

If a player can't even getting on the bench in a relegation battle team, I don't think it is wise to call back to make into first team XI or even on the bench.

Might as well play Lucas/Can as CB.

Any one cup will do, 5th or 12th makes little different.

Highly will be Can and Lucas.

Since when Enrique got speed?

It is funny to see some pundit who have no access to the team training session, and see how they train, can talk so much and blame the manager's too "tough" training causing those injury.