THAT first half wasn’t fun. Watching Liverpool outclassed on our own pitch for the first time since Real Madrid. The team from Manchester better at everything. Watching Steven Gerrard getting sent off wasn’t fun. Seeing one of our own essentially cost us the game. It wasn’t fun watching them score a second and thinking it could be anything. Thinking you’d take 2-0. But then, they showed something. Finally. Crowd and players showing battle, desire, fight. The performance with 10 men commendable even if everything that came before was way short. I enjoyed watching the fans of the cockiest team in the North collectively shit themselves for 20 minutes even if I can take very little else. But anyway. Scores.
SIMON MIGNOLET 8
Saved a Wayne Rooney penalty. Deserves that to mean more than it did.
EMRE CAN 4
Had that mad 10 seconds. You know the one. When he gave the ball away and went “I’ve got this lads” and then put everyone in murder. And he gave away a really soft penalty. But yeah apart from that.
MARTIN SKRTEL 6
I think he was fine. I think. Can’t remember anything he did wrong. I’m sure you’ll let me know if he did. Did that mad thing where he plays left wing for ages after a corner.
MAMADOU SAKHO 6
Opening goal was down his side but not seen it again to see if he could do better. Some lovely turns under pressure.
JOE ALLEN 5
First half a text book argument for the Joe Allen haters. Timid and careless. Deserves credit for the 10-man resurgence though.
JORDAN HENDERSON 5
Disappeared first half, great ball to Lallana though for that chance. Ran himself into the ground second half and looked shattered at the end.
RAHEEM STERLING 5
Managers can try and take contract talks away but fans don’t listen. Was on the lips of every Liverpool fan every time he disappointed, which was plenty. But who else in the country is being asked to play 14 positions a game?
ALBERTO MORENO 3
Just couldn’t keep the ball first half. Needs more composure. Offering my services to run at him screaming at Melwood to try and help him pass under pressure.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO 7
Best outfield player. One of those games where he looks frustrated with everyone else.
ADAM LALLANA 4
Any hopes, lad?
DANIEL STURRIDGE 6
Scored but you still want more. Couldn’t get into the game. But could we get him into the game?
SUBSTITUTES:
STEVEN GERRARD: Yeah.
MARIO BALOTELLI: Brendan deserves massive credit for this sub when almost everyone else would have done differently. Didn’t do everything you wanted him to. But does he ever? 6
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I voted Sakho.
Can understand the satirical but bizarre votes for Gerrard though …
Bit generous to Moreno. At fault for both goals. Offered nothing in attack. Or are these marks out of 100?
Haha, that’s good. Needed a laugh.
Sakho was our best player. Kept his head when all about him were losing theirs. Composure his middle name. 8.
Coutinho very good but couldnt give it to him enough. 7.
Skrtel was fine. As was the keeper overall as his good things cancelled out the bad (& mad). 6 and 6.
The rest were so poor. Some, like hendo, 4, were mostly anonymous, not making many mistakes but hardly contributing. Others, like Moreno, 2, and Can, 2, were shocking. As I’ve said now for a few weeks, Can’s form is now very much a concern. Beaten too easily in one on ones, teams see it and are attacking it. It took utd 8 seconds to target him. He gives too many fouls away. Not made up with his attitude either. When Daley Blind put him on his arse in the first half (yes, you’ve read that correctly) Can just sat there. Didnt rush to get up and get back. Obvious talent but a player without a position in poor form.
A player with too many positions is Sterling. Again, something Ive said for months. The manager is stunting his development by not allowing him to become brilliant in one position. I know he’s been very average & I know the contract situation doesn’t help but neither is Rodgers. Too slow to see or change 4-2-3-1 not working, too slow to see or change Balotelli on his own not working, too slow to see or change Gerrard at DM or in the first 11 not working, Rodgers is now too slow to see or change his management of Raheem, who is not now or ever will be a right wing back. He must play centrally or on the left of a 3. Awful today. 3.
Watching Sturridge is painful at the minute. Its not clear whats happening. One, he doesnt trust his body to do what we need it to, ie, sprint to stretch opposition and press high, two, his attitude his a joke and feels he doesnt have to do this hard work (I doubt it) or three, he’s now Torres post injury. The half yard is gone, the sharpness gone. As a result the confidence gone. Awful today despite goal. 3.
Allen. 4.
Nothing to say about Gerrard apart from his last two major contributions at the club will have been to cost us the title & help (only help) cost us top 4. If Balotelli, 5, had done what he did the reaction from the majority of lfc fans would have been very different. 0 for Stevie. Suspended for 3 games so take the positives.
Do one with that costing us the title shite. It’s bollocks. Losing against Hull was worse.
Whether you like it or not, regardless of what went on before, his inability to control a 5 yard pass from Sakho, then his slip and lack of legs to catch Ba, cost us the title.
We draw that game, we beat Palace and Newcastle, we win the title.
Fuck your hero worship. Regardless of the amazing things he’s done for us 7-10 years ago, he cost us the title and today he’s made sure we’re massive outsiders to finish top 4.
Rubbish. You clearly don’t understand the game.
“We draw that game, wah, wah…”
And if my aunt Mabel had a pair of bollocks she’d be my uncle Frank.
We lost 5 other games last season. What if we’d drawn any of those? What if Sterling hadn’t been given offside at City? What if Henderson hadn’t got sent off at home to City?
What if you weren’t such a crashing bore?
But we didn’t beat palace.
Are you deliberately being thick as possible on purpose?
We didnt beat Palace because we were 3-0 up and had to try and win 10-0 because we lost to Chelsea, because if Gerrard’s miscontrol, slip and lack of pace.
Seriously, did I just have to explain that? Fucking hell.
“We draw that game, wah , wah, I’ll scweam and scweam until I’m sick…”
And if my aunt Mabel had a pair of bollocks she’d be my uncle Frank.
We lost 5 other games last season. If we’d draw any of them…etc, et-fucking-cetera. If Sterling had not been given offside at City? If Henderson had not been sent off at home to City? If you were not such a crashing bore?
Fuck your finger-pointing.
Having favourite players is one thing, but defending and excusing til the ends of the earth any behaviours off one player because of previous performances is of the most sickening, revolting, infantile behaviour, that would shame anyone with an iota of intelligence and/or objectivity.
Transfer requests, use of media & leaks to the press to get an extra few million per year, lack of effort at certain points, public reactions to managerial decisions in the past etc etc never happened to you because he was once a world class player who happened to be Huyton. He lived your dreams and this means you protect him the way you do.
This reasoning makes your behaviour no less vile, asinine and childish. As ive said before, whdn liverpool fans are criticised for their myopia and delusions its you they have in mind, not me.
Now away back to your Gerrard shrine.
Gerrard fucked up today. He’s said and so has everyone else. These people “defending and excusing til the ends of the earth” are a figment of your imagination (the same one that has convinced you that you’re some sort of analytical genius). Inventing fantastical characterisations of anyone and everyone who does share your insanely hyperbolic reaction to everything LFC-related isn’t fooling anyone. You’re like the guy at the local asylum who runs up and down the corridors with his pants on his head screaming about how everyone else is crazy.
One thing I will agree on: when fans of other clubs criticize Liverpool fans for their shared outlook they probably don’t have you in mind, because there’s nary a sentient being in existence that would recognize you as a fan of LFC. You’re a fan of “Chris Mc” and no-one else, you narcissistic, cretinous cockwomble.
Who do you support Chris? Gerrard “cost us the title” , just fuck off! Seems like you enjoyed our defeat today. Chance to show how ‘clever’ you are..?
Gerrard let us down today no doubt. Being suspended is not a “positive” though.
The cretins questioned who I supported in the summer and autumn.
Have a different opinion (one that has now been proven correct) to the majority of lfc fans? Oh you must support someone else! Oh you must be a manc troll! We should all think alike!
Take this incredibly sad and childish line of thinking and shove it up your hole.
I wasn’t accusing you of being a Manc troll and I won’t be shoving anything anywhere thanks. But, I am sick of the moaning know all’s and “I told you so”s that come out of the woodwork every time we lose a game. They’re in the ground, the pubs, all over the mainstream media mostly talking complete shite.
I come to TAW to try and escape some of that hysteria and for some thoughtful, balanced views. Listened to the lads’ podcast after the Utd game and felt slightly better. Then clicked on this page and what do I see? “Gerrard cost us the title” ffs! That sentence is not correct as it ignores his leadership, goals and assists during an excellent campaign and title challenge.
You also need to settle down a bit and stop accusing anyone who disagrees with you of being “infantile” “childish” “thick” etc etc.
Gerrard did not “cost us the title”. He had an excellent season and you should feel ashamed of yourself for posting such nonsense.
He clearly let us down today but his suspension is not in anyway a “positive”.
Forgot Lallana. Never mind the miss, all players miss those. What else did he do? Exactly. Been clear from very early all he does is slow us down. Takes too many touches as well as the fact he is as slow as Ruddock at 48 years old. Nice feet is not enough. £25m. Forget that too. Just look at his ability. Is it enough to start for a top 4 team (thats all Im asking from us this season)? No. Is it enough to be a top 4 squad? Very debatable. 3.
Glad to see I’m not only one failing to spot all the fuss about Emre. Not the first time he’s come up well short against the “better” sides and compounded it by giving fouls and pens away. Prepared to give the benefit of the doubt t as he’s allegedly out of position but oppositions getting on him early is now an easy and predictable tactic. And he does saunter and is slow.
In a similar vein – Raheem. He needs to play up front. We need to solve that RWB position. Not on for the crowd to get on his back though – he’s been carrying us for many games this season, remember.
Absolutely terrified of a European moneybags powerhouse coming in for Mama, Raheem or Phil.
Thought Skrtel was excellent. A real leader. Was dominant and covered well on a couple of occasions. Sakho was also good but if he didn’t have the cult following he wouldn’t rate as high. Mignolet and Sturridge were good.
Allen was woeful. He is back up to Lucas surely. No more.
Gerrard was awesome for 46 seconds. :)
Rodgers should also be rated. 4/10. got it wrong from the off and should have changed things sooner. The again he can’t legislate for Gerrard’s moment of madness.
Well Skrtel WAS excellent till the 93rd minute. With an upcoming 3 game ban for not missing De Geas leg, that’ll be the last we see of him for a month.
The skipper should be ashamed of himself, he’s old enough to know better, but Alberto Moreno cost us the game today. That was as poor a performance as you could hope (or not, in this case) to see from a wing-back: offered nothing going forward and was out of position for both goals. Looked as though he’d borrowed Glen Johnson’s dozy pills (to be fair, Glenn’s spells don’t usually last for 90 mins). A worry after his poor game against Swansea.
Rodgers’ in-game management has been very good recently but he made the wrong change today. Johnson and Lucas for Lallana and Moreno all day long.
Mama best for us by a long shot. Phil next and I agree that he was frustrated. Skrtel then Migs. Don’t ever want to see Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana in the team at the same time.
Sturridge has been criticised quite a bit recently but he has still threatened the goal almost every match and nearly scored in loads of them. The problem is that we aren’t creating enough opportunities for him
We were better when we had Markovic’s pace down wingback, his defending is suspect but no more than Moreno’s today I would’ve thought
Lallana also spends too much of the game not doing enough, especially going forward
Seeing as Balotelli seemingly won’t get a consistent starting berth and will be sold in the summer, we need another top class attacking player alongside the ones we have (assuming we re-sign Sterling). Coz atm we still look short going forward
Thought Moreno was poor. Like Manquillo he is a very good fullback in a flat back four, but the wingback role is finding him out a bit. Would prefer Markovich there: he offers more going forward and while his defending is suspect at times, it couldn’t possibly have been worse than Moreno this morning.
Sakho was our best and Lallana really needs to be finishing those chances to justify his place.
Although Sterling is being asked to fulfil a variety of roles that still doesn’t excuse his poor decision-making and passing. A player who insists that he is worth 150 grand/week should be able to carry out those basic functions.
I’m puzzled as to why Rodgers didn’t change up to a 4-3-3, or even a 4-4-2. Manchester United’s centre-backs have been very suspect re; ball control, passing and decision-making all season and a susceptible to pressing pressure. He basically conceded them their own half of the pitch, leaving Jones, Smalling and de Gea(!) to play it about with impunity.
Gerrard? Best just to say nothing, methinks.
In between all the typical internet bullshit there’s a good point in one of the comments – why doesn’t Rodgers get a rating for every match as well as the players? Please include BR in the match ratings for the future. As far as I am concerned Liverpool failed to really show up in the first half (except for a few odd spells) which is pretty much inexcusable. If the occasion is too much for the lads then they aren’t being prepared properly or they aren’t up for it. Rodgers needs to regroup the team and refocus. Top 4 is still achievable but it will take everyone working together and some results to go our way.