Rangers (h) Champions League

Liverpool 2 - 0 Rangers:

After the disappointing draw at the weekend against Brighton the discussions in the following days were all very much the same.. The system and mind set of the team simply had to change.. We were getting found out game after game and poor old Trent was catching the brunt of it..

So what changed..

In the short of it.. The Formation.. Gone was the 4-3-3 and in came the 4-2-3-1.. This changed absolutely everything.. The team also played about ten yards further back in defence so gone was that schoolboy offside trap.. Which in all honesty this team does not need to play.. 

The full backs sat in and chose their moments to attack like the great full backs of old. The two in midfield just shut down all the space in front of the defence and had more of the ball than ever.. and with a dynamic front four the ball was constantly in the Rangers half rather than our own.

Diaz and Mo dropped in to defend but not as deep as usual while Jota & Nunez rotated their role as the striker and the number 10.. In a word totally SOLID.. It was like they had all found their positions again and could focus on their jobs once more totally relaxed. Simple..

Trent Steps Up:

It was no surprise then really that Trent & Tsimikas came first and second in the voting for Star Player. They just looked so free and full of confidence and every time they went forward you felt something could happen again.. Without them having to sprint back to help out two defenders with five men running at them..

It didn't take long for the first goal as Rangers were under pressure all night.. This could have and should have been 5 or 6.. The impressive Nunez was brought down on the edge of the box and Trent placed the ball down.. Stepped back.. and unleashed a trademark curler right into the top left hand corner. The wall was well beaten.. As was the impressive Alan McGregor..

Mo From The Penalty Spot:

Chances were coming thick and fast. Nunez having save after impressive save made from the Rangers keeper.. Diaz got involved too but it was the Colombians drive into the box that drew the foul for the penalty and our second goal.

Mo Salah stepped up and drove the ball straight down the middle with the keeper diving way before contact was made.. Why keepers even bother diving before the ball is struck I will never know.. Just dive after the ball like any other save.. If its in the top corner you aren't gonna save it anyway.. Rant Over..

Salah looked a different player too last night in this new system.. Probably because he wasn't the main focus and man marked three times over.. With four strikers and pressure in the opponents half their defence had no time to blink let alone try and mark a danger man out the game.

In Summary:

All in all another great European Night at Anfield. Rangers came.. Played OK but were never really a threat.. You can expect a different game at Ibrox mind you.. The atmosphere will be electric as it was at times last night..

This is like our second start to the season with all the breaks we have just had.. So we are bit of a work in progress with the added formation change and game plan set up.. But we like what we see..

As much as the players looked relaxed, focused and totally controlled the game the subs this time round were also a point of interest.. It was all like for like. Which means we can rotate things a hell of a lot easier.. Harvey & Carvalho can come in and play their games now for example..

Not operating wide left and central midfield.. They can play behind the striker and this will allow them to mature properly. Bobby came in and is ideal in this position.. Fabs was rested and came on later in the game. Slotting in effortlessly.. You get the picture.. 

If there is one room for improvement it will be in creating and taking chances but there was enough promise in the moves that this will be a prominent feature in the coming weeks.. That second pre-season rustiness will be gone. The players will get used to each others moves and the goals will flow.. As long as the system doesn't change again.. 

Next Up Arsenal..

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