Liverpool
Steven Gerrard agrees with Liverpool’s ‘positive’ statement, but Luka Modrić’s lesson needs to be learned
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Steven Gerrard agrees with Liverpool’s ‘positive’ statement, but Luka Modrić’s lesson needs to be learned
Steven Gerrard was right with a ‘positive’ statement ahead of Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid, when a young player outclassed most of his team-mates.
With the run-up to the game dominated by new concerns over Darwin Núñez’s shoulder, it was easy to overlook the absence of two other key players for Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konaté was missing from central defense following a hamstring injury sustained in Brighton’s FA Cup defeat at the end of January.
Jürgen Klopp’s contingency plan was to select Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk, but the Englishman had a bad night.
And in midfield, Thiago was sidelined with a hip problem which also questions his participation in the second leg. The gap to the left of Klopp’s midfield was filled by Stefan Bajčetić, who made his 15th appearance for the club, made his ninth start for the club and made his full Champions League debut. He was the youngest player in Liverpool history to start in this competition, ahead of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
At the start of the season, many Liverpool fans didn’t even know the teenager. Now he has started the biggest game of the season so far in place of one of the team’s most important players.
How did he get out? Let’s start with the areas where he could have done better. Bajčetić played a minor role in two of Madrid’s five goals that night.
He tried to outwit the caller’s draw. After Real Madrid cleared a corner from Liverpool, Fabinho played a pass to the Spaniard, who tried to drag the ball between Federico Valverde and Karim Benzema and lost.
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experienced opponent, who then turned to Vinícius Jr for a two-on-two with Benzema. Had it been the other way around, one could imagine that Modrić would have stopped the dangerous attack by any means necessary.
Also, Bajčetić also gave the ball away too often. Only Vinícius and Trent Alexander-Arnold (both 22) lost possession more often than the midfielder (18), and while his long passes were strong (seven from 11 completions), there were too many mistakes in his short game. Only Cody Gakpo (75 percent) and Núñez (66.7) had a lower short hitting success rate than Bajčetić (81.5 percent).
But now let’s look at the positives. As we’ve pinpointed his role in Real’s goal, it’s only fair to also mention the negative pressure pass he played to Jordan Henderson before Liverpool’s goal.
He also came close to scoring with an excellent first attempt curling from 25 yards in the second half.
Part of the reason why Bajčetić has lost so often is that he was brutal in possession, and at times it paid off.
“He’s always trying to pass forward, he’s always trying to be positive,” Liverpool legend Gerrard told BT Sport ahead of the game.
Indeed, Bajčetić would record five progressive passes and three passes in the last third, tied for fourth place in both divisions. And perhaps the most impressive aspect of his performance was his work from possession. Bajčetić pressed well and fought like a tiger in the middle of the park, making four team-high tackles. He once again agreed with Gerrard.
“He shows aggression, he covers the ground very well,” the former Reds skipper said before the match.
Despite his faults, it’s probably still fair to say that he was Liverpool’s best midfielder during the match. It was therefore an evening which simultaneously showcased the inexperience and potential of Liverpool’s greatest talent, chosen by Gerrard with good reason.
Also…
Newcastle United v Brighton: Premier League make ‘controversial’ Liverpool call for key fixture
Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion: The officials have been confirmed for Thursday night’s Premier League match at St James’ Park (7:30pm kick-off)
Merseyside-based referee Robert Jones has been appointed in charge of Thursday night’s Newcastle United match. And Magpies supporters have voiced their concern with the appointment on social media given the importance of the match and permutations surrounding it as Eddie Howe’s side battle for Champions League qualification against Liverpool and Manchester United.
Newcastle currently sit third, a point ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool in the table with Thursday night’s match their game in hand on Jurgen Klopp’s side. A win for United would put a serious dent in Liverpool’s top four hopes heading into the final two matches.
And Jones’ appointment for the match is an interesting one given his connections to the Liverpool area. Since stepping up to the Premier League in 2020, he has not officiated a single Everton or Liverpool match which tends to be the case when referees have affiliations with certain clubs. For example, Newcastle supporter Michael Oliver is not allowed to officiate any Newcastle or Sunderland matches.
But it is not publicly known whether Jones’ affiliation lies with Everton or Liverpool. He will be assisted by Ian Hussin and Wade Smith with Thomas Bramal as fourth official. Jarred Gillett will be the video assistant referee assisted by Adam Nunn.
Robert Jones’ Newcastle United record this season
Jones has been the match official for two Newcastle matches so far this season with both ending in 1-0 home wins for The Magpies against Chelsea and Fulham at St James’ Park.
The referee has awarded 14 penalties in 29 matches in all competitions this season, including one against Newcastle against Fulham. Jones pointed to the spot following a VAR check on a challenge from Kieran Trippier on Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Aleksandar Mitrovic took the penalty which found the net but was disallowed as it was deemed the Fulham striker had touched the ball twice.
Jones has awarded seven penalties in his last 10 Premier League matches. He is yet to send a player off this season but has dished out 119 yellow cards.
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