Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Plunging rj right into the cold after playing like 4 times in 10 months was a gamble that backfired as his lack of sharpness directly caused that goal. But we don’t know how veiga would have handled salah…

as noted before a big point was on the table but pool showed up and when they do, esp at anfield, it’s gonna be hard. they are just a better oiled machine with more big game experience. Back in the last league cup final, simply having VVD and Konate was enough for them to beat us despite having almost all their starters missing . Shows what a difference leadership, winning mentality and experience make. 

[Vesper 30,195]

Why Robert Sanchez’s erratic game shows how far Chelsea still have to go in title race

Enzo Maresca’s side will not contend for title until they can find the sort of consistency their goalkeeper has yet to demonstrate

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/10/20/robert-sanchez-erratic-Chelsea/

An emerging Premier League team’s stock is never higher than during the second international break. Every season provides the in-form side who suddenly “demand to be taken seriously” or are “now a credible title threat”. 

 

This year’s biggest status beneficiaries were Chelsea, unbeaten since the opening day and with a chance to go above Arsenal with a win at Anfield. Their 2-1 defeat was both harsh and instructive.

 

Few teams win the league with an erratic goalkeeper and that was a fair description of Robert Sanchez. Watching Mohamed Salah prepare to take his penalty from the over-the-shoulder Spidercam angle, Sanchez did not look as if he stood a chance. 

 

 

This despite Salah’s uneven record from the spot, missing four of his last 12 attempts in the Premier League. So it proved, Sanchez going the wrong way.

 

At least the penalty had nothing to do with Chelsea’s Spanish keeper, but he was fortunate not to give away a second for his rash upending of Curtis Jones. VAR reprieved him on the grounds of a brief brush of the ball before felling the midfielder like a reckless lumberjack. 

 

The credit for Jones’ winner went mainly to Salah for a wonderful cross but there was a hint of indecision to Sanchez’s angle-narrowing attempt which gave Jones space to prod in despite a loose first touch.

 

 

It should be stressed that this was neither a woeful performance from Sanchez nor representative of a previously reasonable season. Admittedly, Chelsea’s 4-2 home win against Brighton masked a couple of howlers.

 

Georginio Rutter headed in the first with Sanchez stranded while trying to punch away a deflection, then Carlos Baleba punished him for a lax pass straight towards his opponent.

 

But such is the way with goalkeepers, whose ricks are unforgettable and eclipse a body of otherwise competent work.

 

Remember too his point-sealing saves from Neco Williams and Jota Silva in the draw with Nottingham Forest, and an impressive clean sheet at Bournemouth, including saving a penalty from Evanilson – a penalty Sanchez gave away.

James the merciless

During half-time there was an Anfield re-appearance for David James, another accomplished keeper capable of self-inflicted pain. He was on ceremonial goalkeeping duty in front of the Kop for a competition in which a child was attempting to win signed match shirts. 

 

The usual protocol here is to theatrically dive the wrong way, ideally in a mascot’s outfit, but James saved his first attempt.

 

This was understandably booed with gusto so the kid was given a second chance. James threw himself full stretch to the bottom corner, saving acrobatically with his legs. 

 

Where was that kind of consistency, some Liverpool fans wondered, when James was in goal for a good but flawed Liverpool side in the mid-90s?

 

At 26 Sanchez has years left to reach his peak, so plenty of time to hit the level all top keepers must. In time the errors must become quirks rather than regular occurrences. For now he and his club clearly still have a way to go.

[Special Juan 28,141]

There are no more excuses and only Maresca is babbling shite to the contrary- This bloke needs dropping ASAP. We are all shouting from the roof tops how shaky the back line looks and he's part of it.

Levi Colwill was every bit as bad yesterday, absolutely tragic performance

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

11 hours ago, Special Juan said:

There are no more excuses and only Maresca is babbling shite to the contrary- This bloke needs dropping ASAP. We are all shouting from the roof tops how shaky the back line looks and he's part of it.

Levi Colwill was every bit as bad yesterday, absolutely tragic performance

Sanchez may be average/second choice quality but still the back 4 and team as a whole is conceding too many easy chances irrespective. As you said, Colwill was poor. He has struggled a lot of games since the start of last season in all honestly.

Edited October 21, 2024 by OneMoSalah

[Strike 7,492]

I had no issue with Sanchez performance. Couldn't do much with either goal. The defense left him for dead for the 2nd 

He's been pretty solid this season. Nothing exceptional but definitely not the problem in this team. Even in this game, he did play a few really good passes - the one to Sancho in the first half was great. 

[Vesper 30,195]

1 hour ago, Strike said:

He's been pretty solid this season. Nothing exceptional but definitely not the problem in this team.

[cosmicway 1,333]

6 hours ago, Strike said:

I had no issue with Sanchez performance. Couldn't do much with either goal. The defense left him for dead for the 2nd 

He's been pretty solid this season. Nothing exceptional but definitely not the problem in this team. Even in this game, he did play a few really good passes - the one to Sancho in the first half was great. 

My issue is his distribution.
If he corrects that then he is ok.
The really bad one we had was the one who replaced Czech in the semi against Atletico in 2014 - costed us an additional champions league title.

 

 

[Special Juan 28,141]

People talk about the back four but talk about him that actually make the back four worries to pass him the fucking ball

[Reddish-Blue 2,509]

10 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Colwill was poor. He has struggled a lot of games since the start of last season in all honestly.

He needs a JT/Cahill type next to him, feel like the talent is there and he won't be helped by having no real leaders alongside him. 

[Vesper 30,195]

1 hour ago, Reddish-Blue said:

He needs a JT/Cahill type next to him, feel like the talent is there and he won't be helped by having no real leaders alongside him. 

Ronald Araujo

The only non seriously injured 10 ten (he is 3rd atm after Saliba and Dias) right footed CB who would be remotely available in the summer.

25 years old (26 on March 7, 2025), and Barca will want crazy money for him (especially as they want to buy Håland). Other huge clubs crave him too.

[Strike 7,492]

9 hours ago, Special Juan said:

People talk about the back four but talk about him that actually make the back four worries to pass him the fucking ball

I think you are overplaying this. Every keeper in the league is having trouble with playing out the back - even Raya who is hailed for his passing makes many mistakes in a game. I would rather keep a keeper who makes mistakes but is committed to playing his way out like Sanchez is. This is also why Maresca is happy with him. 

We could upgrade, sure. But he's not the problem you're making him out to be imo

[robsblubot 3,595]

Sanchez is a decent goalie... "decent" is far from good enough at this level.

I wasn't crazy about the performance tbh; did not see the same game Maresca did.
Perhaps we simply aren't at that level yet and it showed.

[Vesper 30,195]

1 hour ago, Strike said:

Every keeper in the league is having trouble with playing out the back

not

[Special Juan 28,141]

14 hours ago, Strike said:

I think you are overplaying this. Every keeper in the league is having trouble with playing out the back - even Raya who is hailed for his passing makes many mistakes in a game. I would rather keep a keeper who makes mistakes but is committed to playing his way out like Sanchez is. This is also why Maresca is happy with him. 

We could upgrade, sure. But he's not the problem you're making him out to be imo

Only person overplaying anything is Sanchez.

[cosmicway 1,333]

15 hours ago, Vesper said:

not

Well, if you are as a keeper trying to be like Cesc and set up attacks, the possibility of a steal is always there,
I say let's do away with this type of play for safety's sake.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Big games, against quality opposition can be really different. It's incredible how many players played well below their norm at the same time.

It's not surprising either. That extra touch that usually goes unpunished against lesser opposition will get a pool player "in your face" eh. Even Palmer had to hurry his game, losing composure as a result.