Stephen Warnock noticed two Liverpool players ‘constantly arguing’ during today’s Premier League match against Chelsea at Anfield.
The home side got off to the perfect start as Ryan Gravenberch’s goal put them in front after just five minutes, but then the Reds inexplicably went into their shell and allowed their hosts back into the game.
When Enzo Fernandez equalised with a free kick which went straight in from near the right-hand touchline, it came at a time that the Blues were in the ascendancy, and if anything the hosts were relieved to get in at half-time on level terms.
One worrying feature of the first half was the disconnect between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in terms of trying to hold a high defensive line, and Warnock noticed an ongoing shouting match between the Liverpool centre-backs.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live shortly before the interval, he said: “There’s no pressure on the ball; there’s no intensity. They look lost in the system as Chelsea come forward. Chelsea have dominated the ball.
“Chelsea players have got the run of Anfield at the moment. The line is really deep from Liverpool’s point of view. Konate drops all the time, he’s petrified of the ball in behind him. Him and Van Dijk are constantly arguing about the bravery of how to hold the line and Konate is not strong enough to do it.”
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Considering how long the Liverpool centre-back duo have been playing alongside each other (five seasons), it’s alarming that they weren’t even close to being on the same wavelength in the first half in terms of whether to press high or drop deep.
As Warnock observed, Chelsea were playing through the middle of the Reds’ midfield and backline at will, and it took some strong saves by Giorgi Mamardashvili to restrict the visitors to just one goal prior to half-time.
The Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle bemoaned some ‘mindless passing’ by Konate during the first half, with Van Dijk require to make ‘a couple of important interventions’ to bail out his teammates as they looked like rabbits caught in the headlights.
The Blues were able to find a route into the final third all too easily given how disjointed Liverpool’s defensive line had been throughout the game, and the bickering between the defensive duo was indicative of how ragged the performance has been.
It remains 1-1 at the time of writing, but even if the Reds come away with victory, there’s a lot for Arne Slot and his coaching staff to chew over going into the final two games of the season.
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They’re just jointed because Arne Slot has no consistent strategy other than not pressing or being aggressive on offense. The first move is always backwards with him. You have a team full of world class players, so why not allow them to play?
How can Liverpool be so Disjointed? Unfortunately it’s what’s happening on the training ground. Not coached properly, players playing out of position ect. A slow and gradual decline since klopp departed. It was there in the last few months of last season. I said after we lifted the premier league trophy that this Liverpool team under slot was the worst Liverpool team ever to win the league.
It was only won because of one man Salah. And Manchester city had their worst season ever under Guardiola. We weren’t a good team last season, the warning signs were there for me the way we lost against Newcastle in the league cup final.
It’s not going to improve now, I don’t care who we buy, unless the manager gets replaced with someone better, there’s worse to come.
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