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The way Liverpool must approach West Brom FA Cup tie on the heels of Swansea disappointment

4:39 PM

Facing West Brom in a FA Cup tie on Saturday, Jurgen Klopp must find a balance between making the crushing defeat to Swansea a distance memory while, at the same time, not risking Liverpool’s season-long ambitions.

“I am frustrated. I am angry.” 

Those were Jurgen Klopp’s words after a 1-0 defeat at Swansea City Monday night. If you asked Liverpool supporters for their thoughts, “frustrated” and “angry” would be politically correct expressions of their true feelings.

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SWANSEA, WALES – Monday, January 22, 2018: Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp throws the ball to Joe Gomez during the FA Premier League match between Swansea City FC and Liverpool FC at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory against unbeaten Manchester City the previous weekend, each visible mistake on Monday felt that much more amplified.

The lack of movement, the lack of opportunities, the inability to finish the few chances that did exist, they were all glaring against arguably the weakest side in the Premier League.

Liverpool as a whole – both the team and their supporters – are desperate to flip the page. James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo writes just that.

‘After the Reds’ 18-game unbeaten run bit the dust against Swansea this week he [Jurgen Klopp] can’t risk another crushing setback. Liverpool need to prove that [Monday] was merely a blip’.

Saturday’s FA Cup match vs West Brom at Anfield is the first opportunity to get the sour taste out of our mouths. It’s a match that cannot arrive soon enough.

But restraint is needed; cooler heads need to prevail.

In the last two matches, Liverpool’s “Fab Three” individual minutes total is as follows:

Salah: 88 min vs City, 90+ vs Swansea

Firmino: 90+ vs City, 90+ vs Swansea

Mané: 90+ vs City, 90+ vs Swansea

For a manager who at times this season has frustrated supporters with his lineup changes, Liverpool’s front three have been plenty utilized over these past two weeks.

Right now, more than ever, Liverpool has to be diligent and remain cognizant of the big picture, their season long objectives. Objective number one – finish in the top four.

Liverpool face a quick Premier League turnaround this week; they are away to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday. If everyone’s ideal lineup is fielded Saturday against West Brom, one would have to imagine the lineup will look uncomfortably different three days later.

SWANSEA, WALES – Monday, January 22, 2018: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk looks dejected during the FA Premier League match between Swansea City FC and Liverpool FC at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

On February 4th, Liverpool will play host to Tottenham in the Premier League. Assuming the top of the table remains as tight as it is now, this is an absolutely crucial fixture. At seasons end, it is one that might be looked back upon as “defining” in the race for a spot in the top four.

Top four is the first objective.

10 days after facing Tottenham, Liverpool return to the first round of the Champions League knockout phase. A positive result in the first leg against Porto has to be the second objective.

The knockout phase of the Champions League is where Liverpool should be. And in order to be at their best, they have to be at full-strength – or, at the very least, put themselves in the best possible position to be healthy.

In any sport, health is the Joker in a deck of cards. It’s the one thing you cannot anticipate. It is the one thing you cannot predict. Injuries affect all teams, all players always at what seems like the most inopportune time.

Like Mother Nature, you do not mess around with it.

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SWANSEA, WALES – Monday, January 22, 2018: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino looks dejected during the FA Premier League match between Swansea City FC and Liverpool FC at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Right now, Liverpool cannot afford an injury.

You will read it here, you will read it everywhere. At this moment in time, Liverpool lacks depth. Liverpool, particularly, lacks depth up top. They cannot afford an injury to a member of their “Fab Three”.

By no means do I mean to diminish the importance of the FA Cup. It is an opportunity to win silverware. For Liverpool, it is most likely their best chance to win a trophy this season.

But I want to take three points against Huddersfield Town.

I want to beat Tottenham on February 4th.

And I want to take the 1st leg vs Porto on February 14th.

It is already a tall task, not because we are not good enough, but because one match is on three days’ rest. Another is against a dangerous top four competitor. The last is against a team that fought for the opportunity to play on the highest stage of European football, the same as Liverpool.

Liverpool need to be put themselves in the best position possible to be at full-strength for all of them.

On Saturday, fielding the same squad that faced Swansea would be a mistake, from both a depth and schedule perspective.

So what exactly should Liverpool’s approach be?

SWANSEA, WALES – Monday, January 22, 2018: Liverpool’s Sadio Mane looks dejected after missing a chance during the FA Premier League match between Swansea City FC and Liverpool FC at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Salah can play. Firmino can play. Mané can play. But they should not come close to playing for 90 minutes. And, dare I say, they probably should not all start.

On Saturday, I want a resounding win just as much as any other Liverpool supporter. It would mean Liverpool is one step closer to winning a trophy this season. It would be the first step to getting rid of the sour taste that Monday’s defeat left in everyone’s mouth.

But we must remember, it was just that – one defeat. It does not count for anything less or anything more at the end of the season. It is done, it is finite, it is in the past. The only way its effects survive beyond Monday is if it causes the club to make rash decisions that impact season-long ambitions.

The post The way Liverpool must approach West Brom FA Cup tie on the heels of Swansea disappointment appeared first on AnfieldHQ.



Source: anfieldhq.com

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