AHHHH, what a heartbreaker. We have deserved to lose many games this season, but that wasn’t one of them.
After a slow start, Liverpool took over the game and I could only see one winner. West Ham looked done in and we looked destined to score, or at least win another penalty shoot-out. And then…
You can view it as another set piece and another game we didn’t score enough goals. I’d prefer to look at it as a night we realised we might have more good players than we think. A night a few got fitter and a few more stepped up.
You can take the positives despite the result and tonight there were loads. Someone else will win the FA Cup this year. But I still feel better about Liverpool than I did on the way down.
Simon Mignolet: 6
What a strange performance. Some very good saves, and caught some belters. But dropped a couple of poor ones and punched Andy Carroll in the head. I don’t know, a six will do. Should stop shouting at team-mates when it’s his fault.
Jon Flanagan: 7
Terrific in the tackle and overlapped well, too. Looked like he could have done another 120 minutes. He’s back. May wonder if he could have closed down quicker on West Ham’s first.
Lucas Leiva: 8
You’re going to tell me he gives away the free kick at the end. But before that he was remarkable. They threw everything at him and he dealt with it all. That blonde Brazilian lad who turned up scared of his shadow? No more. My hero, my mate. Our new centre half?
Tiago Ilori: 7
Always liked him… To be slightly critical, he seemed quite happy to let his partner do the real dirty work. But he was certainly there when he was needed.
Brad Smith: 7
Probably at fault for the opener, but he’s a great weapon going forward. Absolute lightning. Toughed it out when he could have gone off.
Kevin Stewart: 8
Who’s this fella?! Can’t wait to go to Euro 2016 with my “Kevin Stewart You Wha?” banner. He’s gonna carry Roy to glory. Played so well the manager felt he could take the rest of the midfield off.
Pedro Chirivella: 7
Real warrior tonight. Passed it really well, too. Gave his all. Eighteen years old, ladies and gentlemen.
Jordon Ibe: 5
Was swapped around a bit but couldn’t really get into it. Very hot and cold at the moment.
Philippe Coutinho: 7
It needs remembering what a huge plus Coutinho was. Linked up really well with Smith down the left and generally full of class. Scored, too! And from a free kick!
Joao Teixeira: 5
Getting overtaken a bit by the others. Needs to be better to play as a 10 for a top team.
Christian Benteke: 5
His link-up play was actually pretty good, and his partnership with Sturridge was promising. But goals pay the rent — and Benteke is in danger of being evicted.
SUBS
Daniel Sturridge: 6
When he went off after a minute or two to change his boots you had to wonder if the whole thing was a massive wind up. But he looked pretty sharp after that, even if his decision making isn’t always the best.
Divock Origi: 5
After the initial euphoria of three up front, I’m not sure it worked. Was asked to play as a winger, when we might have been better off with a more natural wide player supplying the forward line.
James Milner: 6
Looked for Sturridge every time. Which as a tactic is a pretty good one
The one thing we all have to remember is this: Referees, and assistant referees, are far from infallible. They often, too often, give free-kicks when none have been committed. They are ‘conned’.
Ponder that when you take the decision/declaration of a referee as what actually transpired.
Just because something was CALLED a free-kick, does not mean that we are thereby entitled to label it as X ‘conceded a free-kick’.
Furthermore, one is not legitimately to conclude, working backwards from results, that a free-kick called or conceded “cost us the game”.
I don’t know whether it’s a secret and I’m being out of order for mentioning it but if you mean the Lucas free kick at the end it has divided the fans tonight. Shame really because he was immense but I thought in real time it was a clear free kick and I’ve just watched it on loop and still feel the same. My view is, it’s impossible for your arms to take that projectory in relation to your body unless you’ve been shoved. Having watched it several times his hands hit the deck with some force too. You can’t fall forward and do that. He was physical all night which is why most wouldn’t hold it against him. It was physically and desire which made him have such a great game so it’s just unlucky. Also, I don’t wanna end that game thinking we’ve been robbed. For the first time ever I’ve got no scapegoats and no excuses after a Liverpool loss (except Benteke’s misses). We were just unlucky. Even in defeat I feel content. A lot of positives.
free kick or not, it was still 35 yards from goal and on an angle.
Apart from Carroll that should have been no threat at all. Had it been in the 15th or 65th minute we’d have dealt with it – being in the 120th I think we were drained.
Shit happens – on we go.
Thank you. Just thank you. Few more need to share this view.
The very fact that refs can get conned places a responsibility on the player to minimise the risk. When Flanno gave away a needless free kick on the other side minutes earlier, I was apoplectic. Set-pieces is virtually all those fuckers had. Whether the Lucas infringement was actually a free kick can be argued about till we’re all pensioners, but there shouldn’t have been a decision for the ref to make. It’s what Rafa calls “game intelligence”. Lucas was immense tonight, but regularly conceding needless freekicks is not a minor flaw in any player’s game, and Lucas has done it all his career. Given our record defending set-pieces, it was always going to cost us one day. Today’s the day.
Let me say again that he was hands down our best player tonight, but that play at the end is utterly moronic, so fuck yeah it’s he and not the ref who carries the can.
Let me rephrase: of course Lucas is not to blame for a defeat over 2 games of football. I’m not for hanging individual players out to dry, but I’m not having it that we should just be bitching about the ref. Players need to try to not be as thick as pig shit in the dying seconds of a cup tie, is all.
Yep, he did needlessly give the ref a decision to make.
And the ref saved us from a pen
Such a gut wrencher, really felt in the ground that the ball was going to be sucked in with 5 to go.
Also, this Sturridge lad, he’s just electric isn’t he? I’m convinced if he stays fit for an entire season we are Leicster City and everyone is jumping on our bandwagon.
Can lads just get on board with taking that gamble until he is 34. Why would you not want to?
When you said “Sturridge” and “electric” I instantly thought “mobility scooter”….
Is punching Andy Carroll in the head a bad thing?
I would give mignolet an extra point just for that. So a 7 it is!
Noooooooooo!
No it’s not and its the best thing Mignolet has done all season.
I think his save tonight would challenge that for his best moment of the season. I’m talking about the one from the headed rebound after Payets free kick. A lesser keeper might have stood there and caught it but Mignolet dived the length of his goal and punched it to safety. Astounding goalkeeping. And there was us thinking he was wank.
Indeed. Have to add that the freekick you mentioned came from a passage of West Ham possession caused by Simon deciding not to jog forward 10 yards and pick up a ball but instead leave it to Lucas to kick the ball out for a throw-in. Lucas was giving him grief but he’s too stupid to understand that our Nos. 1 was cunningly trying to invite the Hammers on so that we could hit them on the break.
Shouting at everyone when he’s just fucked up again.
I attended my first Liverpool match in 1980 – I’ve seen plenty of players not good enough to wear the shirt. He’s the first and hopefully only Liverpool player I hate to watch.
5 more years. For fucks sake.
I think his heads gone. The shouting, the looking for spectacular saves and the indecision all point to a man that’s not comfortable.
Mig’s punch ranks as high as Lucas’ header against Fellini.
It’s come to a point where it’s very hard to watch Benteke play football
Solid ratings. I was really impressed with Chirivella, he has a swagger about him that is brilliant to see at just 18.
Yeah Lucas was cool but he had a few dozy moments too. Not just the free kick, I counted 3 times he mistimed a header and dove right under it. Dozy free kicks.. loved the crunch tackles.
Flanno deserves an extra point for putting his boots in Carroll and taking out Kayoute with just his head. Lovely chap that, hard as fucking nails.
It;s funny how Flanno got away without any yellow or caution after taking out a few of their players. Maybe it’s that half asleep / schoolboy look he has about him.
To be fair most of them were probably accidental
For some reason some players get everything going their way and others never. The amount of shit Benteke deals with every games is astonoshing. If defenders were christmas balls poor Christian would be the most posh tree ever assembled. Every game he gets two to three lads climbing in him like he’s Sasha Grey in the peak of her career. But always gets fouls against him.
Suarez always gets the free kicks going his way. Lucas gets them against him and Flanno gets away with murder at times. Funny how that works.
But giving it to Carroll good was a great moment. Love that lad and all he stands for. Scouse backbone, scouse fight and a “not today lat, not having that” attitude we lack so much.
Good summary John,
Felt for the lads at the end, this group yearned for another round of cup football and I was dying to see this core group again away to Blackburn with the usual huge away support,
Stewart really stood out for me tonight after promising displays in earlier rounds,
Bentekes confidence is on the floor, he is literally dreading a one on one at the mo the poor fuc*er, I was all on for keeping him as a plan b but I’m in the middle of “secret diary of a Liverpool scout” and was blown away by how quick Shanks discarded
Hateley, it was like “he’s not for us – end of”
(Begbie style),
Great to see Studge,
Shat myself at boot change.
Lucas is the man who should be captain, end of.
Good performance in the main but Mig, well your just waiting for a cock up aren’t you?.
As for Mr C Benteke. Good saves maybe but strikers have to score and he gives lie to the Rodgers adage of Premership experience
He should always have been captain after Gerrard left (Carra should have been captain BEFORE Gerrard left. )
You have to feel for Benteke. As the Independent pointed out in their report, he could have score 3 in normal time and 3 in extra time. He was a Drogba-lite beast before we bought him, and made us pay often enough. His confidence is shot.
“To be fair on Benteke, he practices his one on one’s against Migs… He probably scores every time
— Willow (@sifuianLFC) February 9, 2016”
In the immortal words of Stevie, “we go again”. While disappointing, there is nothing to be ashamed about this defeat. My two takeaways from this game is that
(i) Lucas deserves to start as CB now. Preferably with Skrtel, but Sakho will do as well. He brings a sense of confidence into the box.
(ii) We desperately need Sturridge or a functioning striker. Look at the added dimensions and threats he brought to the team.
Young lads bar Ibe did us proud tonight. Benny blew chances and his confidence are shut at the moment. Can’t help wondering what will happens if he is able to find it and play with a fit Sturridge? 100% convinced Klopp will take us to heights we haven’t seen for +25 years – if given time. Lucas could be a really good solution for center back? Can’t wait to see Red Cafu take out Sterling in the capital One cup final. While the present time may seam somewhat depressing I am convinced the future will be very bright. We just got to keep supporting Kloppo and the lads – YNWA
Ibe is a weird player for me. The more I see him the more I am reminded of a player who was probably really good through the age ranges, probably skinned half a team by himself aged 10 through to 15. And he looks like he’s never learned to pick a pass to a teammate, when to give, when to go. He seems to have no spacial awareness or recognition of how much time he has or has not to make a decision.
He looks to me like a guy who thinks he can still skin half a team on the way to a goal.
I am disappointed this morning but not really angry as there were a LOT of positives to be taken from last nights game.
The young lads played a blinder and were streets ahead of the ‘usual’ suspects in the so called first team…the future under Klopp looks bright to be honest so long as he gets rid of the deadwood in the summer.
Agree with most of the comments and I have never been a fan of Lucas basically since he started with the club and was all for selling him in the summer but last night he was outstanding as a centre back,
He was brilliant at centre back, strong when needed and was always talking & marshalling the defence so hopefully Kloppo with make the change permanently and it will be the making of him just like when ‘Sir’ Bob Paisley dropped Ray Kennedy from striker to midfielder…which was a masterstroke.
I just wish Lucas would start ‘working smart’ and stop fouling people unnecessarily (or giving opposing players an excuse to con the ref & claim a foul) around the 18 yard box area as he has basically been doing this since he joined us.
Normally I feel at least 4-5 players under perform each game but last night only Benteke and Origi I thought was terrible, Ibe wasn’t much better although he was OK in patches during the 90 minutes.
Why he played Origi I’ll never know, what a waste of space, Ojo would have been a MUCH better choice as he is actually talented…and fast!!
I don’t really feel sorry at all for Benteke who is on 100K a week to put the round thing in the rectangle thing, it’s not rocket science is it??
What did Shankly say” If you find yourself in the 6 yard box with the ball at your feet and don’t know what to do with it, pop it in the net and we’ll talk about your options later”
At least he was in the right place though and was genuinely unlucky not to score although the one on one was a cert really that he should have put away.
Flanno had a great game as well, solid and gets an extra few points for getting stuck into Carroll
Mignolet AKA Mr ‘flappy paddle’ dropping crosses, punching when he could have caught it, and shouting at his defenders when he was clearly at fault.
BTW Why does he continue to kick the ball out of touch, is he some sort of retard, his distribution is woeful…just kick up the centre of the pitch you knob!!! and let benteke deal with it.
Agree with those bar Sturridge, thought he was absolutely outstanding. Showing us exactly what we’ve missed! I’d consider giving Stewart a start at the weekend and Lucas another go at centre half – after all it’s Aston Villa and it’s a pretty meaningless match.
Only thing I took away from this match how much Henderson Can Lallana and Milner have to learn from a Kevin Stewart-led midfield. Add Brannagan and we are sorted for solidity, intelligence and guile in midfield. If Klopp has not given up on the league this season, it’s hard for me to figure out why he thinks the earlier mentioned deadwood are better than the class acts of Stewart and Brannagan. This is a change Arsenal Wenger would have made long ago if you ask me, or a Pochettino. It is a change that is needed. Lucas and either Caulker or Lovren at CB, and Ojo for Ibe. Smith for Moreno. Play them into maturity and you have a brand new team without wasting our usual millions.
Mignolet: inspires no confidence and how dare he tell Lucas to ‘think’ because he dared to give him a backpass?
Flanagan: robust as you like. Loved it when he left one on Carroll. Carroll thinks he’s a hard case but he didn’t like that.
Lucas: probably my favourite player
Ilori: really stood up well in the circumstances. Couple of really timely interceptions
Smith: first team please. Overlaps are brilliant and his delivery so dangerous. Got a bit too close to Antonio and was promptly skinned, but as a young player there is plenty to work with.
Stewart: you’d never know he was a full-back before. Totally outmuscled Payet at one point and mopped up some ominous attacks
Chivirella: terrified when I saw his name on the sheet but mature and composed. Could do with a bit more purchase on some of his passes at times though.
Teixeira: we saw the difference when he had Coutinho near him the Smith overlap. Would have liked to see him with Sturridge up top.
Coutinho: the only player on the field who could have thought that free kick up. Great to see him back.
Ibe: it’s like he doesn’t know what a devastating player he could be. Two-footed, direct attacking player with a vicious strike on him. Just show us.
Benteke: it’s hard watching him struggle like this and he WAS better tonight, but the fact every last one of us knew he wasn’t going to finish that one-on-one speaks volumes
Sturridge looked seriously dangerous when he came on and I thought he’d found the corner with that shot. The difference he made was there for all to see. Just wait til he’s in the team with Coutinho. Origi had the raw end of the 3 up top deal but is always willing. Would like to see him up front with Sturridge as they were at St Mary’s.
*and* the Smith overlap
when I saw the team sheet, I thought Stewart and Chivirella would be the soft centre that would let us down. Was I wrong. Both of these boys, and few others, earned lots of credit to themselves.
time will tell if they progress to be our first team materials, but at least they are a good squad players.
I thought Origi did well. What quick feet and confidence he suddenly has! The way he went past them on the left a couple times.. really promising.
A lot to come from this player. We saw against Southampton what a confident Origi looks like and it’s devastating.
I came on to say how proud i was of the players last night, the futures bright and with players like Lucas around them leading by example they can only get better. it was no surprise Ilorri looked like a player rather than a kid last night, he has a lot to thank Lucas for.
Then I read some of the opinions about Lucas and the “free kick” on here and i just scratch my head…probably the same clowns who boo one of our own wearing a red shirt.
Spot on, Paul, about Lucas. He was leading/guiding from the back throughout.
Until Klopp started using Lucas as CB, I have never thought of that, amazing how useful his reading, positioning, tackles, and calmness on the ball are to the CB role.
Regarding giving away soft fouls: I guess some.can be avoided, but considering how many tackles and interceptions the defenders has to make, I guess some of them are unavoidable. And possible another reason to ‘give away’ fouls is to allow him time to get back to position and organize?… (I have seen Hyppia-Carra gave away similar fouls as well…but if course they can defend set pieces :)
Just wondering how a shitty left back discarded by Spurs is now the best CDM in Europe. Fucking love Stewart.
Lucas is just a top lad, don’t even consider letting him go.
Flanno back to being a boss kicking shit out of lads is what i’ve been waiting for.
Coutinho. Magic.
Sturridge please stay fit.
Teixeira why do you have to be older than Coutinho lad just be about 19.
Chirivella looks a right classy lad. Seen a fair bit of him now and really like the lad.
Ilori cool calm and collected. Did everything well while looking confident and even throws in a sneaky snide pull of the arm. Top fella.
Like to see Lucas and Ilori at Villa with Stewart in front of them. And put a front 3 of Phil, Sturridge and Bobby.
That’s why we love him we love him we really fucking love him, now hes our best CB at club too , Chirevella beautiful touch and vision K Stewart the new Lucas in waiting .Thought we were great tonite good times ahead hofefully , Thought we defended set pieces great tonite ! never freekick ! people trotting out he gives away silly free kicks pretty clueless most his freekicks are due to other players not doing their jobs, well done Gibbo beautiful vision and touch
Get Kevin Stewart in the team against Villa. The lad is obviously full of confidence and improving before our eyes. Our league season is almost certainly going nowhere anyway so what harm can we do by giving the lad a few games? Same with some of the other youngsters. They have earned it. We never seem to be bold in these situations and it really disappoints me because you see other clubs (Spurs, for example) reaping the benefits of giving opportunities to younger players who are in form. He’s taken his chance – let him run with it.
Very enjoyable cup tie.
Funny how easily a 12 stone player can go down these days – surely a premeditated tactic to get free kicks to aim at the Geordie lump.
Despite his size Lucas is probably the best CB at the club- he read the play brilliantly and was as brave as a lion .And why not, didn’t Masch do it at Barca.? Could Gerrard have dropped back in there too?
Ilori did ok but some of his passing was atrocious and he’s several years away from being a starter in the Prem. Lucas helped him out but how would he have fared with Skrtel or Sakho there? And the tug should have cost us.
Bit harsh on Teixiera, thought he was sparkling at times and always puts a shift in.
All the young lads were eager to impress , hope it rubs off on the star players.