THOSE lads celebrating the final whistle in front of an exultant Kop. Those lads — chests stuck out, saluting each others indefatigability. Those lads learning how to win together.
I love those lads.
Liverpool decided, as teams sometimes do, that they were going to win tonight. They weren’t having a draw. They weren’t interested in it. Spurs were good — perhaps even really good — but they were going to be denied. Inevitability was against them.
This had a bit of everything. A bit of last season’s we’ll score one more, pace in attack and haphazard at the back. A bit of dogging it. A bit of patience in key moments. A bit of all the things football matches sometimes need to see them won.
There is little point in being Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool if you don’t score the fifth goal in a five-goal thriller. What else are we all in it for if not that. The fifth is a lovely goal. Patience, leading to quality, quality leading to pace, the ball crisp against the net. Henderson, Ibe, Lallana, Balotelli. Lovely football from Liverpool.
Ibe deserved a moment in the game. He got a flank of players booked in half an hour. He’s terrifying carrying it. Quick, strong and more tricks than a game of bridge (one for the teenagers there). His decision-making needs work but here is the exemplar. Gets that thing right, feeds Lallana, Liverpool score. His return from loan does indeed feel like the new signing so many got their snark on about.
Ibe, like Can, like Coutinho, looks like a lad who carries it 80 yards for a laugh. To make a point. These last two seasons I’ve never seen a Liverpool team carry the ball so often and so well. They play and play and play. Maybe too much at times but I don’t want to be the man who tells them to stop. Why would you?
The manager maligned for the use of the bench against Everton got his changes spot on today. Lovren for Gerrard feels like a medium to big move but one vindicated by events, by Lovren himself who had the 20 he needed, most of all by Emre Can. Everyone improved, most noticeably Henderson. Psychological? Tactical? Bit of both? I don’t know but Jordan doesn’t want to share the centre of the pitch with Gerrard at the minute. He wants his starring role. Shame Emre Can has his matinee looks to go with his x-rated football. He should be cloned, but if he was imagine the clamour. We’d all want one of our own.
Moreno an improvement on Saturday, Sturridge making the pitch enormous without having the sharpness. He’ll come on for this. And he set two up. Prior to the game Steve Graves said to me he wanted Sturridge to have company, said he’d start Balo. Rodgers didn’t do that but it looked a little more like 3-4-1-2 than 2-1; Markovic more of a partner for Sturridge than a provider. Then once the subs were made it looked like Lallana with Balotelli. A gentle tweak but a smart one. An extra body deeper, more support for Daniel. Markovic did well for 60 and then looked a bit punched out.
Gerrard had his moments in centre midfield but the feeling persists this side is evolving past him. It will need to stop and stare at some point this season but for now it’s football is played at pace. I might want it to slow down but it doesn’t.
Sakho, Skrtel and Can were given an examination. They just about passed. Kane’s movement is very impressive. But Sakho is caught wrong side. Later he is caught in possession but makes up for it with yellow of the season (see above).
All this needs to be said in the context of how impressive Spurs were at times. Their movement, sense and shape was very good indeed. A good manager and a good team working for each other.
But it wasn’t enough. Liverpool had decided. Balotelli’s touch conclusive, Anfield rapturous and those lads, our lads, upon the final whistle young, raucous and victorious. Together.
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda
whenmarioscoresweallscore.
When Mario scores, the Reds win.
When Markovic scores, the Reds win.
Was never in doubt last night ;-)
This is the happiest I’ve ever been! It wasn’t always like this though and I realised how easy is it to see a different perspective if you’ve got your other glasses on. I was so sure a few weeks ago but then Saturday and on 80 minutes tonight I was asking questions. Had that really vindictive feeling one gets when Liverpool are on the verge of failing spectacularly. I was looking for scapegoats. Even planned to blame Neil Atkinson after Kane’s goal. You never say that about an opposition player days before a big game, there’s only one outcome. I also wondered if this is what we had to look forward to for next 6 weeks. Pointless going there though, clarity is restored. One term in office is no way to build for the future. The merry go round just spins then stops for the next one to get off and then slowly it starts again for another term. I think it’s called treading water. This team can go into orbit though. There’s absolutely no reason to stop. Brilliant young lads.
One last moan, when Mario (it’s not Balotelli anymore) came on, Lovren hadn’t been far in front of him, I gave up. The officials were doing my head in and I decided there was no point having a heart rate of 150bpm, dilated pupils and lips like a lizard on Saturday night. It’s a horrible state of being tense, desperately hopeful of a Roy of the Rovers minute but actually agitated because you know how it ends and it’s never good. It did cross my mind the game was so mad that Lovren might pop up and get the winner but fuck me, I wasn’t expecting that. Did anyone have a glance round for Jeremy Beadle? Unfuckinbelievable! What a joyous moment! What I realised was I was more made up it was Mario than any other player. I don’t want any Liverpool player to fail. I’d much rather our 20th in the pecking order was a £16m bargain than a £16m flop. Don’t get me wrong, a mate just asked ‘does he kick on from here’? I said ‘I doubt it tbh’. It’s just a superb win though. Huge huge game. I wasn’t ready for the season to be over. I’m only just starting to enjoy it.
Everyone’s said it about Can but tonight just confirms it. He’s a beast. Ibe too. Those young lads have got some fight in them. If they felt anything like me then they’d have just capitulated near the end but fuck that, go on and win it innit. I think there’s another common belief starting to look like a myth. Why do you need experience? You just need a team of lads who are still passionate about their hair and like running around a lot. Forget about the kids though, you don’t win anything with a keeper who can’t actually do goalkeepers stuff. I can’t praise Mignolet highly enough. Apart from being a massive bonus for Liverpool I admire his turnaround. His head was well and truly gone a few weeks ago. Absolute credit to him but what the fuck was he doing with Kane? Shouldn’t have been anywhere near that. Got this weird thing where I like us winning when Linda’s there. Luckily, there’s no ‘shut out’ to tweet.
Pleased to see Lallana get the assist. Ibe was excellent in that move too. Just makes the squad stronger all round. Loved seeing Sakho take one for the team. One of the best fouls I’ve seen from a Liverpool player in a very long time. 7 points from Everton, Spurs and Southampton is still on. We’d be right in the mix if we can achieve it and could have progressed in the cup on 2 fronts by the time City come. Interesting times! ‘The Squad’ becomes all important in February. Jesus, was I happy to hear that whistle tonight! Saying that, nothing happened in those last minutes. Fuckin brilliant Liverpool! I don’t see us losing anyone in the summer (well, Gerrard aside). I’m already looking forward to next season whatever happens with 4th. It’s gonna be like last season. We’re gonna be talking about team spirit again. Tonight was just amazing! #Finally! #WLWWAW
“I don’t want any Liverpool player to fail.”
I can’t emphasize enough how much this informs how I feel about the club. I know it’s ridiculous to hope that Fabio, Mario, and Rickie somehow explode for the last fourteen fixtures of the season, but I never find myself thinking “God, I can’t wait to sell these guys off.”
I love this team. I love the characters that are on it. Our worst players are a guy who’s getting to play for the club he’s loved since childhood as part of what might be his swan-song to professional football; an outcast-in-all-but-name who refused to move on to another club for more money, to grab a chance – any chance – of success here; a much-maligned, quixotic foreigner who has never been truly accepted anywhere and whose undeniable talent is double-locked inside of a cypher.
I wish to God that Stevie and Hendo could crack the code and learn to co-exist for a dozen games and change, for them to kick down the doors of Football Valhalla. Right now, that’s our biggest stumbling block. If those two could click, whether Stevie is playing DM, AM, or whatever, there’s no way we drop points to Everton. More than that, I just don’t want Captain Fantastic’s last season to be one where supporters are genuinely debating whether or not he should be playing. It saddens me when Neil Atkinson opines that “this side is evolving past [Stevie]”. It saddens me because he may very well be right.
Despite all the adversity, all the difficulties and injuries and setbacks, we’re still somehow in the chase for Champions League. We’ve more or less kept pace with sides like Spurs and Arsenal, who would have been lost without their Kane or Sanchez.
Form should keep improving. Sturridge will only get better. Sturridge being on the pitch will only make Coutinho and Sterling better. Lallana will pick up form. Ibe is already looking sharp. Can is Can.
If we somehow claw a top-four spot, what a monumental campaign this will have been. I may end up looking at it as more of a “What If?” campaign than last year’s. While the 2013-14 swashbuckling side may very well have overachieved on the shoulders of a magnificent anti-hero, I think what we’re seeing right now is perhaps the most complete Liverpool we’ve seen in half a decade or more. Their youth and potential is scary.
Is right mate! I think it’s a brilliant time to be a Liverpool fan. For me, this season was intriguing to see if last season was a fluke, or down to Suarez or down to weak opposition. I’m sure 2 of those played a part but the fact is we’re a really good team. After some soul searching questions earlier in the season, tonight was like a tipping point for me. We’re back in the big four. The gulf between us and City/ Chelsea is not as big as it felt even a few weeks ago same as it wasn’t last season. Utd are Arsenal are certainly not better than us. We’re not in that next bracket of Spurs, Southampton and sometimes Everton, anymore. I can feel it. Peaks and troughs but we’re on an upward projection, long term. It’s amazing how players like Henderson have become the elder statesmen of the team. They’re so young! There may be the odd tweak needed but this team will match anyone in England and I’d be equally intrigued to see a Champions League campaign next season.
Great post, mate. Put a fit Lucas in the mix and its the most balanced team since 2008/9. Bags of potential. Last season was great, perhaps the most fun I’ve had as a supporter since the late 70s, but it wasn’t sustainable. The manager took a long time to work out his best team this season, but we should get behind him now.
So so happy with this win.
I though to myself even when we went 2-1 up that we were gonna need a 3rd to see this game out.
We missed Lucas. He seems just to know where to be to snuff out the danger and still is able to sneak in to cut out a pass. Gerrard wasn’t the best and I think that affected Hendo too. Even if you think Gerrard was good you still gotta question the decision to put him in for the 3rd start in a week. Surely we’ve moved past that.
Ibe looked really good. Excellent carrying the ball and a lot more tactically astute than his yrs bely. I question his decision making at times but it’s still very early for him. In fact I’m worried about the decision making of so many young players at the pitch at once. Moreno, Can, Markovic, Coutinho, Ibe all under 23 is fantastic news for us for the future but, Can aside, their decision making in key areas is a slight worry. Too many opportunities are wasted in dangerous areas with the wrong pass or cross. Eventually they’ll work it out but I hope this doesn’t hurt our top 4 chances this season. It’s a pity we didn’t maybe have a more experienced head up there to help them. I know Sturridge is back, and that will help but he has his own challenges to face with returning to form.
Fantastic win and next up in the league is Southampton. Far from an easy game but we need a result there!
Pleased.
Agree with your points about decision making, that’s the missing piece to these players at the mo.
If Raheem added that to his game would have had a fewxmore goals and assists and more claim to 100 K plus.
Stevie does have the decision making , in the Derby It was He who was involved in all our best chances, have no problem with him further forward, further back is more problematic but anyone is gonna look 2nd rate compared to the mighty Lucas.
Wev’e got that Ibe,Ibe,Ibe!! R Kelly Public Announcement:)
Have theory about the short, fat guy Dowd, gives so many fouls yellows so he can catch a breather, apparently he’s a referee:0
Yellow of the season indeed.
Sakho’s yellow might have won us three points.
Absolutely glorious try-saver.
I was pretty disgusted at the post-derby thread and resisted adding to it. It seemed wrong to do so. Doesn’t seem so wrong now.
One of the less unpalatable debates centred around Brendan’s (not Brenda, not Hodgers, or even Hodger’s) lack of a match-winning tactical change in his Liverpool career. Lallana to Balotelli. There you go, lads. Have that.
Last season we didn’t even have a squad. If he didn’t make a match-winning substitution it was probably because a) the game was already over with the opposition blown away, or b) he looked back and saw Aspas, Alberto and Moses. And he nearly wins the title despite that.
Another of the less unpalatable debates centred around whether or not Rodgers has to go if he doesn’t deliver Champions League. On the evidence of tonight and the last couple of months it would be harsh on either of tonight’s managers to lose his job should one of them lose out on 4th. In fact, it would be bonkers and the likelihood is that it will be both who lose out. The fact is that 3 of Koeman, Van Gaal, Rodgers, Wenger and Potchettino are going to lose out. This league needs those managers to stay in their jobs come the start of next season. Those two teams playing out there tonight are a match for anyone in the league and it would be a travesty if their managers weren’t there for a long long time to come. Keep all those managers on board and they might go some way to justifying the hype evidenced in the new TV deal earlier today.
Spot on, mate. Nuff said.
Despite the name nutbusters has pretty much hit the proverbial nail there.
4 hour flight delay from Munich.Gutted!Snow!
Stuck in Heathrow with a bunch of Cockneys.
So Here It Is Merry Christmas-Slade!
A goal up ! They’re gutted – I’m not!
Who Do You Think You’re Kiddin-Big Bill Broonzy
Had a chat then they got one back!
Baby It Ain’t Sad- Little Sara Meow and the Sisters
But we scored another!
Modern Times- Bob Dylan
Oh no! They equalised again!
Not On This Street-The Rasberry Quartet (Live Version).
But then up stepped Mario.I always thought he would.And so did the Spurs supporters when he came on.They were terrified of him!
This Sun Is a Big Bright Shine-Little Tony Vollacci and the Corner Boys
Haha, apart from making me laugh, that’s a brilliant match report, Brian! Got to be the future of writing!
If anyone is seriously saying “Rodgers should go if we don’t finish top four” then they need to have a very strong word with themselves!
If Sturridge had been match sharp, we win that 4/5 – 2 and it would of been deserved.
Another great performance from a side who genuinely buy in to Rodgers’ ideas and are plainly loving their football.
Cannot wait to watch the match when my missus goes to bed. Listened to first half at work and second half on the subway home. Let out an almighty roar when Mario bagged the winner. Making me the ubiquitous crazy person on the train. Several air punches and a few “yee ohhs ” later and it was all over. I love these Redmen, the season lives once again . Abso-fucking-lutely delighted!!!!
What a terrific game! Imagine what happens when Sturridge gets his eye in! Can was immense, especially in midfield. Lovren didn’t do himself any harm. Ibe was excellent. Mignolet’s saves, from Eriksen and Lamela were both huge.
Only down side was the midfield with a certain aging legend strolling as everyone sprinted around the place.
I’m a happy man. We’re better than Utd and Southampton. It’s also possible that City will drop another 2-3 places, so there may be more room in the top 4. (though I don’t really believe they will deep down)
Had to follow on text updates, can’t wait to view it tonight! This looked just right….. Subs not used: Ward, Johnson, Allen, Lambert.
I believe in Mario
We just need to back him and manage him well, it’d be a mistake to sell him I think. Has a lot to offer
He definitely looked a lot sharper than he has for us, and that was the movement of a genuine striker for the goal, very encouraging. Lots of work to do but hopefully he keeps it up and keeps listening to the manager in training. Thought Lovren looked pretty solid when he came on too. Just saying like ;)
How much does it say about Mignolet that Neil doesn’t even mention THAT save. The lad had no right to stop that ball. Launched with real venom, it could have definitively turned the tide of the match. But that’s what Mignolet does – he makes extraordinary saves seem ordinary.
Good on him for having such a turn around.
Man of the match for me, really great game.
Watched the live text updates on the BBC site while in a sales conference in Texas. Let out an audible “Yes!” when Mario scored which I tried to cover up with a cough.
Think I got away with it.
Got the subs right tonight!
Horrible game to watch. We lose any semblance of control when Lucas is unavailable. Need a replacement pronto. Can continues to inspire: what.a.player. Ibe’s not bad either, is he.
Lucas is a really special player, and the style Rodgers is going for this season seems to be bringing out the best in him. Not sure who you replace with him though, I reckon he is one of the best in the league.
I thought Can did a much better job filling in for him than both Allen on Saturday and Gerrard. Although Eriksen going off definitely helped us get a grip of things (didn’t understand that substitution at all).
Agreed.
Agreed on all points. There just wasn’t the same shield that there has been for this back 3 on this run of upturned results/performances – especially in such a breathless , end-to-end game. Their first equaliser was painful to watch unfold because you could see our centre backs getting moved about and stretched: Henderson got had off and Gerrard just stood and watched it.
I’ve never seen such ice-cool composure on a 21 year old player in risky areas as Can. He’s got frightening potential as has Ibe who’s become our best player in half a week. Bringing him back was a much smarter move than splurging cash on more players last month would have been.
The word Sakho is synonymous with Hero, I love him. Emre..let’s not get started. Ibe, how is he that composed at this age? Lazar, his arrogance is OUR arrogance. Sturridge, back-heel, enough said.
BREEEENDAN ROOOODGERS, BREEEENDAN ROOOODGERS
Feel like I’ve jinxed Sakho!
Still love him, but he’s got some work to do on his game. If I were an opposition coach I’d high press him all day long. Still make our best three at the moment, though, and he does have bags of potential.
That’s exactly what Rodgers is trying to get opposition to do. That’s what creates the space in the midfield & allows effective counter attacks.
I get that, but it requires a bit more composure from our defenders. He’s great 90-95% of the time, but makes one high-risk/slack pass a game. It hasn’t cost us yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
Bloody love Emre Can, x-rated football with a haircut to match. He’s looking an absolute steal at sub £10mil.
Beating the other inform team with the best striker in the league at the moment (on form), impressive.
Brilliant win. Made up. Gerrard though (sad face). So sad to see him now. He must know too. Hope he ends the season with a trophy because he is a legend and deserves to go out on a high. Hopefully he can embrace a cameo role as intensity and pace of our team is too much for him. Seeing him come on and positively influence last 25 when the game is spread and his wonderful passing would benefit us rather than the leggy game passing him by gerrard we have now.
Feel I need to add Mignolet’s save from Lamella. There was a split-second from him hitting the ball to Mignolet’s save. And he didn’t just get a fingertip to it, he tips it clean over the bar. A more difficult save than any of Courtois’ or De Gea’s against us.
Great 100% typical result. This keeps up and we might even get a decent price for Balotelli!
Great result, but not good for the old ticker. Those who still can’t see what Lucas brings to the team might want to draw breath right now. He brings discipline, astute passing and control. I do sometimes think that supporters have lost sight of what makes a good defensive midfielder: Lucas has excellent touch and technique (the Brazilian side to his game) and keeps the ball and the team moving. He brings so much to this team and his passing is arguably better than the majority of DMs in the Prem. We desperately need a player to step up when he’s unavailable.
Where’s Chris?
He will be too gutted that we didn’t lose to comment Mr. Chance
Proved you wrong didn’t I? Sums up a lot of whats wrong with the attitude of our (and indeed most football) fans. Criticise the manager or the team and you “have an agenda” or “gutted when we don’t lose.”
Catch a grip.
But you do have an agenda, not even a hidden one. Might as well be tweeting “Rodgers Out” for the sum all your contributions to this site from when you started posting earlier this season.
Comparing Rodgers to Hodgson, really? Come on that was pretty lame attempt, you can do better than that.
As I’ve said before, only morons disagree with others and scream “agenda agenda” – if I have an agenda its to watch liverpool win.
I don’t sit here and say your agenda is st rodgers or st stevie who you want us to believe have been tremendous all season. I don’t sit here and say your agenda is to support both regardless of how their respective performances have cost us so much this season.
And if you’re so keen to discuss my posts from earlier this season, we can do that. Because they prove me right consistently.
I said Lovren needed dropping. I said Gerrard needed removing from dm. I said Gerrard would be better used from the bench as an impact player in an attacking role. I said his legs had gone. (But we had clowns on here even arguing with that crystal clear observation! Eh brownie) I said sakho needed to play. I said Lucas needed to play. I said Rodgers want to sell Lucas was idiotic.
Yes, this “agenda” of mine has been well and truly proven incorrect…..
Its funny I don’t remember you saying all those things, but I will have to take your word for it though as I’m not going to go back and read all your old posts (they were hard enough to skim through the first time through). You would think that we would agree more often though because I’m sure I made the exact same calls to the ones you cited. Maybe it is just your negative slant and campaign to oust the manager that gets to me then.
Big win. Massive. And the manager deserves credit. For once he got things spot on from the bench.
It was still an absolute nonsense to have selected Gerrard & it’s more than likely that he’d have left him on had the captain not tweaked a hamstring.
But things worked out and we won due to what happened, not what might have happened, so Rodgers gets credit where its due.
Thought Spurs were good & for the most part we were average. They deserved at least a point.
Studge is struggling but its completely understandable & hopefully only a matter of time before he gets his sharpness back. Lazar was lightweight.
Henderson is a different player with no Gerrard. Not having to worry about doing his running or deferring to him at every available opportunity. He will blossom next season & be outstanding – just one other reason im delighted Steven is leaving. Gerrard was awful again, just not quite as awful as against Bolton & Everton. Watch him for Their first goal. He stands still as Lamela drifts in behind Henderson who is pressing, then continues to stand still instead of dropping in when Lamela plays in Kane. Heres the rule, even in this new look defence which has been more solid (but resukts in us scoring less) = if Gerrard plays in a 2 we concede goals. Its that simple.
Ibe is in & out of games but again understandable given his inexperience in this team at this level. Said two years ago he’d be better than Sterling, not sure now given how brilliant Sterling is but Ibe is very exciting. Moreno was ok.
Coutinho not great – beginning to do too much with the ball again. Emre Can excellent. Love him as most of us do but one note of caution – when he’s in the middle of the park & opponents are playing in and around him he’s a liability. Ive seen milk turn quicker. He does have pace but only when he gets going snd in straight lines. He has a severe lack of acceleration & sharpness in tight spaces. Sakho done what Sakho does. Skrtel was fine. Even Lovren looked assured when he came on.
Mignolet. Very good overalla and a tip top save when we needed it but what was so disappointing was not one player went over & gave him 5 or patted him on his head or back to tell him well done. Relations perhaps still not great, especially between him & Skrtel who turned his back immediately.
Lallana done well, was great for the winner. And Mario. Finally Mario. Went at the goal with his wrong foot but whatever. As Ive said all season there is bothing wrong with his workrate & will ti succeed here. The silence was deafening from the commentators as he chased and harried the ball from defender to keeper to defender. Lets see him in a 2 with Sturridge in a few weeks & see how he goes but I still doubt he makes it in this team.
We won. 2 points from the last 2 games wouldnt have been enough. 4 is ok even though 6 was there for the taking but was sacrificed for the “Gerrard moving to LA” show.
At this stage we need to add on an extra point for goal difference. We aren’t making the difference up with 13 games left, especially when you look at the fixtures we & our rivals for 4th have left. If utd & southampton win tonight we’ll be 5 points & at least 11 goals behind 4th place. Thats 6 points for me.
I think Coutinho really missed Sterling as I think teams can work out ways to deny him dangerous spaces when he is by himself, but put them both on together and it is impossible (as Matic found out). Still, if his passing was on like it was when he first came to the club then he would have put through a lot of dangerous balls from the spaces he took up in the first 30 min.
Our lack of control in the midfield with Lucas out doesn’t help him get into games either.
Good post. You’ve highlighted my only worry about Can. I still think he’ll be fine, but you do need to be moble in CM. Worst case scenario? He’ll be the best centre back/libero in the Prem.
Henderson needs Lucas present and Gerrard absent, in Defence at least. All true KFC fans I have spoken to are a but distressed at Stevie’s season so far. I believe he is our best ever player (and I saw Liddell, Dalglish, Hansen et al) but I don’t want to remember him for his being walked past by journeymen. He should be nursed and used as an attacking impact player from now on.
I am NOT a KFC FAN!!!!
Fat fingers, small letters…
But you know what I meant.
I think most of us agree with you Kevin, his injury could be a blessing for the team and it’s development. Sad but true: it makes Brendan’s mind up for him.
You forgot to point out that £110,000,000.00 worth of summer signings played in this game and all contributed pretty well (not that Lovren had all that much to do but still no obvious errors). Maybe Rodgers didn’t blow all that money after all…
Thought Lazar did quite well, particularly early on, after all he did score. Also, he was playing in a slightly different position to where he has been and is coming back from a back injury, which could explain why he wasn’t as hard at it as has been. Disagree with the Ibe in&out of the game call too, he was pretty much in the whole game until they started paying more attention to him and even then he managed to thread a nice ball for the goal.
£120m and we are sitting in fucking 7th. In February. Yes Tom the summer transfers have been a wild success.
£16m on mario who has just scored his 1st league goal. Never starts.
£20m on lovren who has been a shambles & since his removal from the side we’ve conceded a million fewer goals. Never starts.
£25m on lallana – the marquee signing – who has 4 goals & 3 assists. Rarely starts.
£20m on markovic with 2 goals and 1 assist. In and out of team, been pretty average.
£10m on Can. Far and away the best piece of business. Just a pity it took the manager so long to put him in the team. Starter.
£16m on Moreno. Another starter! Hurrah! Not kicked on after impressive start, as Neil says on the pod he’s a bit blunt.
£4.5m on Lambert. A lumbering mess. 3 goals, 0 assists. Never starts.
£2m loan fee on Manqillo. A kid. Now never starts.
£10m on Origi. A player so good his own fans can’t wait to see the back of him. Regularly boo’ed. He plays for Lille. 4 goals and 2 assists. Doubt he’ll start.
Success after success after success there eh? The fact your posts are triumphilist in nature despite the fact we have just 42 points from 25 games and a goal different of +7 says so, so much.
Such happiness & excitement at utter mediocrity….I envy you.
On the game itself, markovic was lightweight and lost the ball more than anyone on our team. His goal does not disprove that. His goal was a cock up from Lloris.
Then you disagree Ibe was in and out of the game but back it up by saying he was in the game “until they started paying more attention to him” – so he was in & out then?
Love people who disagree for disagreements sake – they continually show themselves up like that.
You may note that the team we played against on Tuesday also sold its world class player and spent £110m and it has taken them 1 1/2 seasons and a very good manager to get them to a decent point again (and we still beat them).
It takes time to bed in new players from the continent, especially if they are young and only just starting to establish themselves anyway. In that context taking half a season for it to start working is not unreasonable, especially when your only fit frontline striker gets himself injured for that period when you were hoping his dynamism would smooth over the transition to a new style of play.
I also don’t think it is fair to judge the performances of the players in isolation from the form of the team. Notice how as our back line has settled down into a groove and formation, they all look a million times better players, including Mingolet. Notice how good Henderson was beginning to play with Lucas, partner him with a fast-tiring Gerrard and he is rendered pretty ineffective. Likewise, Coutinho with Sterling as a foil in this last game doesn’t get on the ball as much and is no where near as threatening. So to quote near useless stats from the start of the season, like Lallana’s goals and assists record when he has been in and out of the side with injuries is just full of crap.
Now just to be clear, I am not saying that all our transfers have been resounding successes (but then they never are, are they?), or that their form over the start of the season is what they should be judged on as it takes time for signings to really show their true worth. Also, I am pretty sure you have produced a very similar list on a previous post, which I responded to at the time but we can go through it again if you like.
£16m on mario – a “calculated risk”. For his potential that is an absolute steal. Jury is out as to whether Rodgers will be able to unlock it though. I had given up to be honest but there were some good signs on Tuesday. You never know with Mario though.
£20m on lovren – fair play was woeful when he started but I am willing to bet that this was in large part due to the pressure of coming in and being told the he was the main man to sort out Liverpool’s defence. That I am putting down as a Rodgers’ mistake (but think he has learnt from it the way he is trying to nurse him back into the side). Not sure how good he is, but certain he is much better than he has shown for us so far.
£25m on lallana – £25m is not a “marquee signing” in the current market, just a good player, which he is proving to be. In the region of £40m would be a marquee signing. Although he hasn’t had a good run in the side he has still scored and assisted some important goals.
£20m on markovic – name me a better 20 year old who doesn’t play for Liverpool. Has already improved us and will only get better. Hopefully including his finishing, which does need some work.
£10m on Can – agree he is a very good signing, but thought he looked a bit raw at the start of the season. Reckon the manager has blooded him to the team very well. Would agree with you that he seems to lack a bit of pace on the turn but reckon he is tactically aware enough to cover for that.
£16m on Moreno. – it was reported at £12 are you counting add ons? At either price I reckon it is a good buy (better value than Luke Shaw at least), and he is definite an improvement over Enrique. Needs to work on his right foot but feel the guys were being a bit harsh calling him a bit blunt. He is a left-back after all and after a few mistakes early when he was still getting up to the pace of English football his defence has been pretty good, especially his recovery speed, which is exceptional and vital if you are going to play high up the pitch.
£4.5m on Lambert – was never bought to start. Has come on and changed the game for us a few times, although not as many as we would have hoped. But at £4.5m that is all you could expect.
£2m loan fee on Manqillo – what is your point? Did quite a few jobs for us at the start of the season and looked really solid. Not starting because the formation we are playing doesn’t really suit him anymore.
£10m on Origi – Doesn’t even play for us, so how can you judge him? Doesn’t matter how he plays for Lille. I’m sure he will get plenty of minutes next year unless we get someone like Benzema for argument’s sake. Shouldn’t really be included on this list, more of an investment for the next transfer window.
So I am not going to sit back and say that it has been a 10/10 but I would rate it a 7/10 at worst. Definitely, not the disaster you were implying. As is witin that context sitting in 7th but only 5 points and GD off 3rd and starting to come into some form.
Markovic scored. Sure it was also a cock up from Lloris but he got himself in the position to take the shot through being switched on and taking on his man. If you can’t give him credit for that and insist on calling him lightweight on return from a back injury I don’t know how you can say you don’t have an agenda. What’s more, a couple of years time and that shot is slotted inside the post I guarantee you.
My point was Ibe was never really out of the game because he was caused them to change their shape to protect that flank, thus opening up other areas of the pitch. Then when they lose there concentration he punishes them, what more can you ask for from a wide player?
For the record, I am not disagreeing with you for the sake of disagreeing. I just disagree with you because your posts are written like a rival supporter who is trolling this thread. Not saying you are, just that you write like one, the way you insist on putting a negative spin on everything, even after a really good win and even for players you profess to rate such as Can.
(jeese that was a long post, really got sucked into that one)
Typical fanboy myopia. I’d rather have players bought that improve the starting 11, not squad padding. The replaced starters pad the squad.
“£25m is not a “marquee signing” in the current market, just a good player”
Disagree. 25m is I believe our 3rd ever highest transfer fee, and only just below our 2nd. Not saying he’s a flop yet, but hasn’t justified 25m.
If we sold him in summer I doubt very much we’d get that fee back.
@paul Read that on my phone and couldn’t work out who you were calling myopic there for a bit. You could argue that our squad is still too thin for the number of competitions we are playing, and one of the main reasons we are doing as badly as we are. What’s more, Markovic, Can and Moreno are all in the starting 11 and Lallana has been out injured. What would you have preferred, we went out and signed Falcao for 45m + ridiculous salary? Typical armchair critic myopia.
@Youdothemath
The current transfer market is all that matters, so saying he is our third biggest signing given the inflation that has gone on is meaningless. I would agree that we paid over the odds for him and that if we went to sold him now we would probably only get around 18m. But paying an extra 30% (I thought it was 23m) because Southampton were in a strong bargaining position and there aren’t many players of similar style going around doesn’t make him a marquee signing. Lukaku, Bony, Shaw, Fellani, Mangala, etc all cost more and would be considered good but not marquee players for Liverpool. Only Costa and Fabragas would come close and I am still a bit sus on Chelsea’s web of shared investments with their player’s agents.
In response to Paul: I’m sure Brendan Rodgers would too, but that’s not the club’s operating model. The sooner you accept that, the better.
“Love people who disagree for disagreements sake – they continually show themselves up like that.”
And you show yourself up as a myopic, miserable fucking cunt. Trot on with that wounded animal “I have a right to speak” shite. So you don’t like Brendan Rodgers. Good for you, now fuck off.
Wait till you see Harry Wilson coming through Neill, he has to be the most exciting prospect the club has had for 20 years now.
Not sure if he’s the most exciting Joe but I think he’s got a fantastic chance. Reminds me of Harry Kewell at his best. Runs with his head up and almost invariably results in a good outcome. He takes a mean free kick and he can finish too. Great chance of making it.
Definitely one of the most entertaining matches this season and I can’t add anything about the match that hasn’t already been said, so what about the following points of interest:
1) Brendan Rodgers: Great man, Great coach. Why has he started saying ‘As I say’ and ‘As I said’ every 10 secs? All you have to do now is say two words followed by ‘As I said’ and repeat and you’ve nailed the Brendan Rodgers impression. Previously, I wouldn’t have tried as his accent is so strange (try it – you inevitably end up sounding Scottish or Irish, but not BR)
2) 18 years ago, the name Jordan meant two things – a page 3 model or a middle-Eastern country. Why did a quarter of our squad’s parents deem it okay to name their sons Jordan at this point?I didn’t ever read the Sun, but I had heard of fucking Jordan.
3) We need 9 wins from 13 games to qualify for Europe.
You’re forgetting Joe.
First names, p. First names.
Assuming that the conversion from last name to acceptable first name only happens in America and giving it a few years to disseminate from there, which places it in the early nineties, then it has to be all about Michael surely?
Or sites of meaning. Isn’t the star the of 50 Shades of Shite? called ‘Dakota’ Johnson? Could this historic phase relate to the River Jordan………
I propose an alternative to 50 Shades, ’50 Shades of Purple’ starring the one and only Govan Ferguson. I’d take 50 Shades of Mauve, or Puce as alternative titles.
So the point at Everton was just about acceptable then.
Half time and I’m discussing with a couple of other 50 plus old timers. My take is that we can win it if we tuck one of the wide players in to match them up as we look more likely to score against their central defenders. Predicted a 3-2er but not really sure which way. One mate thinks we need to get closer to Kane as he’s their only real threat other than Erikson free kicks (prescient that). Other one takes a point. Shithouse.
The turning point was Steven going off though. Good subs from Brendan. Can just fucking bossed it from then on. Mario shows really good movement to score the winner. Lana and Lovren also played their part. A good night no doubt.
Win at the Dell and we finish top 4. You can quote me on that.
It would be great to win at the Dell. Pity the game’s at St. Mary’s though! ;)
Balo’s goal was very reminiscent of Borini’s against Villa. Evidence of good work on the training ground?
Brendan has been saying “as I say” since he first arrived, I noticed it straight away, he says it even if he’s not actually said what he says he’s just said :-)
I watched the game in a London pub, terrific atmosphere!
Still going to be difficult to claw back the points to get 4th – I was surprised that since our nadir vs after the 3-0 to Utd we’ve only clawed back 2 points on both Arsenal and Spurs and 1 on Soton – and they’ve had clearly the harder fixtures. Problem is of course teams around the top 4 generally keep winning, it’s easy to gorget we were 4th or so for a long time this stage last season, and probably equally frustrated those in 5th to 7th…
A full five on Utd though who’ve had a similar winnable run to us, but allowing for GD need +6 on Utd or +4 on Arsenal as well as making up 5 more on Soton.
Hmm…
It’s simple: we’ve got to play the teams around us. We’ve got to beat the teams around us. If we do that we’ll make top 4. If we don’t….
Balotelli has had a season of games against Spurs; let’s just write off what happened in between (or more accurately, what didn’t happen). The subs scoring and assisting the winner is one for the anti-Rodgers brigade to have a look at.
Mignolet’s worthy of big praise as well after all the (rightful) stick he took. He’s never going to be perfect but he’s made improvements and certainly isn’t the goner I thought he was in December.
Chris Mc. Thank you because I really enjoyed and thoroughly agreed with your analysis of the Spurs game. I shall definitely take interest in any further posts that you make. I don’t mind your glass being half empty. Everyone is different and it’s refreshing to hear different points of view. However, you could tone it down a little bit. No one likes a know it all. I’m a teacher by profession and you remind me of that cliche kid who is right about everything, is unable to handle criticism and never attempts to see anyone else’s point of view. You are very black and white and this suggests a lack of intelligence that is not evident in the narrative of your posts. I imagine you are a decent bloke that isn’t arrogant at all but that’s definitely how you come across sometimes. I’m just giving my opinion. Do you care?