They'll probably end up having an average league season but brilliant CL season or something like that. Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Balotelli stepped up tonight and played well, like you say they often tend to raise their game on the big occasion.
Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
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They'll probably end up having an average league season but brilliant CL season or something like that. Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Balotelli stepped up tonight and played well, like you say they often tend to raise their game on the big occasion.
You could have the Galatasary banner with "Welcome to Hull," on it........
Suarez was so good that he elevated Lovren's performance? He must be some man.
I think you should read the post again.
Reading Cina's post twice or just admitting you are wrong. The choice is yours Manucho. I don't envy you.
If I'm misreading posts then you can thank Liverpool for funding my evening drinking.
This is what I wrote in early September about Liverpool's squad and spending. It rings increasingly true I think.
I actually really hope that they scrape through their group as I think the longer their CL 'dream' stays alive, the worse their league form will be.
Rodgers just has no idea how to build, or manage a CL size squad and it's just marvellous to watch.
Watching them this season in the league and CL is like watching a man desperately trying to keep plates spinning with increasing desperation!
I'm glad Basel lost as I want this to carry on into the knock out phases - the longer it drags on the less likely they'll put together a top 4 campaign in the PL.
If I'm misreading posts then you can thank Liverpool for funding my evening drinking.
If you are misreading posts it's ok. If you are misreading posts and replying to them then you are a liability.
I think people are going a bit over the top about Liverpool's "poor" start to the season. They are in the top 4 having played Spurs, City and Everton, yes they have dropped silly points and performances haven't been great but they weren't near the top of the table for the whole of last season.
Their form picked up from December/January on wards and they were pretty much unbeatable. The Madrid result is just a write off, they are on a different level that Liverpool can't compete but for those saying they won't get top four then I'm not too sure. They are there at the moment despite not playing well but yet picking up key wins e.g. QPR, Ludo. Their performances will no doubt improve then it depends on if they can keep their key players fit and what sort of run they will go on.
I don't see why Borini isn't been given a go instead of Balotelli or even Lambert.
Their form picked up from December/January on wards and they were pretty much unbeatable. The Madrid result is just a write off, they are on a different level that Liverpool can't compete but for those saying they won't get top four then I'm not too sure. They are there at the moment despite not playing well but yet picking up key wins e.g. QPR, Ludo. Their performances will no doubt improve then it depends on if they can keep their key players fit and what sort of run they will go on.
I don't see why Borini isn't been given a go instead of Balotelli or even Lambert.
Is Borini injured? I was wondering why he just doesn't seem to be getting a look in.
Maybe something to do with how Rodgers desperately tried to sell him during the summer? You would have thought he'd get a bit more of a chance though.
Agreed unfortunately, we are in no position to laugh at Liverpool right now, they could be 8 points clear of us in 2 weeks.
Unless we beat both Chelski and City of course
Agreed unfortunately, we are in no position to laugh at Liverpool right now, they could be 8 points clear of us in 2 weeks.
Unless we beat both Chelski and City of course
7 points. But they have to beat Hull and Newcastle.
But then they face Jose and co at Anfield. So we can pull it back quickly.
If we can be within 3-4 points of the top 4 serious contenders at the turn of the year I think we will be OK.
They got offered a ludicrious £14 million though, would be madness not to sell for that price.
Nah mate, I'm not so sure.
Our best chance was getting a big points lead with our opening fixtures, which in turn would have creates a massive psychological advantage in our favour, especially if we was up their with City and Chelsea right now. Our players hardly look like they have any confidence as it is, I doubt they will claw back a 7 point deficit.
We badly need a massive result on Sunday.
Didn't Borini refuse to leave though?
He did yeah, we wanted him to go. He wanted to fight for his place (or wouldn't take a wage cut/holding out for a move to Italy depending on who you believe).
Wouldn't surprise me if it was the wages that tempted him to stay. It's admirable to want to fight for your place, but you'd imagine he'd have known that unless Liverpool weren't looking to emulate last season, which they obviously would be despite the fact that they look like they won't this season, he'd have known he wasn't going to get much of a look in and just cut his losses.
Well back from my long jaunt around the mountains / rivers of Yangshuo & Yangdi in Guangxi in Southern China. Sensational scenery and got back just in time to watch the RM match in a hotel in Guilin at 02.45 yesterday (err today). Probably should have stayed away another couple of days but was not in the slightest surprised we got twatted, I thought before the match we'd lose it 1-4, 1-5 so 0-3 with some semi-decent performances was around that level, especially since Ancelotti described it as RM's best performance of the season. TBH I felt some of our defenders did OK and I didn't think the defence was shit at all (the occasional brain-fart aside) and performed better than I thought they would. Failing to take the quality of the opposition into account is a common failing for the severest of critics. I though RM were superb in both their passing and pressing, they gave us a lesson in both, and were absolutely clinical in their finishing in the first half.
G1 : The first goal was a brilliant pass from James followed by a world-class finish from Ronaldo.
G2 : For the second I simply failed to see how Benzema could score with a header from there - you won't see a better header and I can't blame any of the defence for that either - RM pile players into the box when attacking and we were over-whelmed.
G3 : The third was the only goal where we fecked up badly, IMHO. Ming and Skrtel the main culprits.
Midfield did a very decent job but again it was the quality of RMs passing and switching play from side to side that caused many of the issues we had.
Attack was again the main cause for concern. Allen & Coutinho were both very unlucky not to score but Balo was way out of his depth and our movement was very poor in the first half. We looked better in the 2nd with players that can run at and beat defenders, personally I'd have kept Coutinho on though as, although he lost possession from time to time, he looked dangerous, far more so than Markovic when he replaced Henderson. Sterling, Lallana, Coutinho, Allen & Can may have had got a goal, especially when RM withdrew Ronaldo etc. with 15 mins remaining.
Ming : 6.5. A couple of very good saves along with his now customary brain-fart.
Moreno : 5. Compared to recent performances he was disappointing in both attack & defence (all 3 goals came from his side).
Lovren : 7. I thought he did quite good against maybe the best front 6 in the world (Bale missing aside).
Skrtel : 6. Partly at fault for the 3rd goal but otherwise see Lovren above.
Johnson : 7.5. He was up against currently the best player in the world and was not in any way embarrassed. In fact Ronaldo, who for me was MoM (and kudos to the 'Pool fans for giving him a standing ovation when subbed off), even switched to the right for a time, which brought the first goal.
Gerrard : 6.5. Did well in possession and fought to track runners. Noticeably tired in the last 10-15 mins when we could have attacked far more but seem to settle for 0-3.
Henderson : 6.5. The usual high energy stuff. I thought he did well in the 1st half but looked a little off the pace in the 2nd.
Allen : 6.5. Unlucky not to score from a delightful flick/shot. Involved in both defence and attack. Not his best game but suffice to say we've missed him.
Coutinho : 7. Others may disagree with this rating but he looked by far one of our most dangerous attacking outlets. Superb shot against the post. I can only think he was pulled for his propensity to give away possession now and again however I'd rather that, and have his creativity on the pitch, than stale boring football lacking penetration without players of his ilk.
Sterling : 6.5. Tried hard but was doubled up on and found it very tough to find space. Don't know why we didn't try switching him to the right rather than false 9.
Balotelli : 4. I'd better not start a diatribe. He doesn't help his cause or ours regardless of what is or is not going on around him. As usual attacks falter on this rock.
Subs.
Lallana : 6.5. Immediately added creativity and threat to the attack.
Can : 6. Nice cameo and did nothing wrong but ultimately didn't make a difference. I loved the part where he gave away possession then chased it back into defence to regain it.
Markovic : 5. Again didn't do much wrong but offered nothing in attack. He seems very lacking in confidence to even try to take defenders on. I know he is a gamble for the future but I thought we'd see more of his potential.
Rodgers : 4. I didn't like his formation, team selection or taking Coutinho off.
G1 : The first goal was a brilliant pass from James followed by a world-class finish from Ronaldo.
G2 : For the second I simply failed to see how Benzema could score with a header from there - you won't see a better header and I can't blame any of the defence for that either - RM pile players into the box when attacking and we were over-whelmed.
G3 : The third was the only goal where we fecked up badly, IMHO. Ming and Skrtel the main culprits.
Midfield did a very decent job but again it was the quality of RMs passing and switching play from side to side that caused many of the issues we had.
Attack was again the main cause for concern. Allen & Coutinho were both very unlucky not to score but Balo was way out of his depth and our movement was very poor in the first half. We looked better in the 2nd with players that can run at and beat defenders, personally I'd have kept Coutinho on though as, although he lost possession from time to time, he looked dangerous, far more so than Markovic when he replaced Henderson. Sterling, Lallana, Coutinho, Allen & Can may have had got a goal, especially when RM withdrew Ronaldo etc. with 15 mins remaining.
Ming : 6.5. A couple of very good saves along with his now customary brain-fart.
Moreno : 5. Compared to recent performances he was disappointing in both attack & defence (all 3 goals came from his side).
Lovren : 7. I thought he did quite good against maybe the best front 6 in the world (Bale missing aside).
Skrtel : 6. Partly at fault for the 3rd goal but otherwise see Lovren above.
Johnson : 7.5. He was up against currently the best player in the world and was not in any way embarrassed. In fact Ronaldo, who for me was MoM (and kudos to the 'Pool fans for giving him a standing ovation when subbed off), even switched to the right for a time, which brought the first goal.
Gerrard : 6.5. Did well in possession and fought to track runners. Noticeably tired in the last 10-15 mins when we could have attacked far more but seem to settle for 0-3.
Henderson : 6.5. The usual high energy stuff. I thought he did well in the 1st half but looked a little off the pace in the 2nd.
Allen : 6.5. Unlucky not to score from a delightful flick/shot. Involved in both defence and attack. Not his best game but suffice to say we've missed him.
Coutinho : 7. Others may disagree with this rating but he looked by far one of our most dangerous attacking outlets. Superb shot against the post. I can only think he was pulled for his propensity to give away possession now and again however I'd rather that, and have his creativity on the pitch, than stale boring football lacking penetration without players of his ilk.
Sterling : 6.5. Tried hard but was doubled up on and found it very tough to find space. Don't know why we didn't try switching him to the right rather than false 9.
Balotelli : 4. I'd better not start a diatribe. He doesn't help his cause or ours regardless of what is or is not going on around him. As usual attacks falter on this rock.
Subs.
Lallana : 6.5. Immediately added creativity and threat to the attack.
Can : 6. Nice cameo and did nothing wrong but ultimately didn't make a difference. I loved the part where he gave away possession then chased it back into defence to regain it.
Markovic : 5. Again didn't do much wrong but offered nothing in attack. He seems very lacking in confidence to even try to take defenders on. I know he is a gamble for the future but I thought we'd see more of his potential.
Rodgers : 4. I didn't like his formation, team selection or taking Coutinho off.
Agreed. After Xmas is when the fixture list begins to work to our advantage. At the moment we just have to stay in the race.
We have a really straightforward run of fixtures from News Years Day til the middle of March. If our team is ever going to click into top gear, it should have done by then and we should really be targeting a long run of wins.
On the other hand Liverpool and Arsenal both have much tougher runs at that time, both playing City, Spurs and Everton, and both playing away to Southampton.
Our difficult games come in late March and April, by which time not only will we have played maybe 8 or so less games then our rivals, but they'll mostly be back to midweek games in the Champions League or Europa League (I don't expect any English team to finish bottom of their current group). For example we play Chelsea the weekend after the first leg of the Champions League. If they get a tough draw, and we have a week off, that can only help.
Agree, can't believe I'm seeing any numbers above 5 for any of our defenders/goalie. They were useless and only lucky Real stopped bothering after half time.
Coutinho needs/needed game time to be ready for Hull. I'm happy he did a good job. We were always going to lose tonight so give the lads a run out.
Balotelli playing in any position is as good as being a man down. Which we were for the whole first half. He's more than useless, he's counter productive.
Never thought I would hear Liverpool fans saying such things following/before their biggest Euro night in years.
We never accept second best at Old Trafford. Shankly would be turning in his grave.
Biggest European game for years, probably won't be in the CL again for some years to come - "give the lads a run out".
Brilliant.
If Gerrard isn't going to be dropped, I'd get away from this idea of him being a deep lying play maker, and move him further forward. He holds onto the ball well, has strength about him, a good shot and a knack for scoring goals. Until Sturridge is fit I think they'd do well to give this a try
Borini will work hard and make the runs in behind, which Balotelli doesn't.
Sterling - Henderson - Allen - Lallana
Gerrard - Borini
Gerrard - Borini
Borini will work hard and make the runs in behind, which Balotelli doesn't.
Yeah I think the ratings are a bit silly. Especially giving any back for player more than 6 when the team conceded 3 goals. Our Midfield struggled against Modric, James, ronaldo and Isca. They looked much more comfortable on the ball and had pace to burn. I think its great to get Allen, Coutinho and Sterling experience against a team like real but glad we dont face a side too much like them in the PL
When united returned to Europe after their hiatus they we're handed their arse by Barcelona. It takes a while to get used to the pace of the Champions League. See man city.
I would say giving Sterling, Allen and Coutinho experience of playing against Madrid and asking them to try raise their standard to that of Modric and Ronaldo isn't laughable. I think that is what Dumbstar meant.
Biggest European game for years, probably won't be in the CL again for some years to come - "give the lads a run out".
Brilliant.
I think he meant giving them a runout so they are ready for Hull.
That is what I meant. I don't think I've emphasised enough how important league points are right now when we're playing shite and the team's gelling (again).
Even at the cost of one of our biggest nights in Europe.
After what can only be described as poison form in the league I think we're lucky we got as many points as we have so maybe you're right about the run out and game time for all mentioned.That is what I meant. I don't think I've emphasised enough how important league points are right now when we're playing shite and the team's gelling (again).
Even at the cost of one of our biggest nights in Europe.
Pretty much as I said in the post. Many of our fans rate our players simply on the scoreline and totally ignore the quality of the players they were facing. Johnson was up against the best player in the world and was only clearly beaten 1 on 1 once (after ca. 4-5 mins), thereafter he did a very good job. None of their 3 goals were scored from a deficiency in the RB position. The brilliant Benzema goal came from beyond the far back post - which is not the realm of the RB - so where was Moreno ? I'd still never expect Benzema to score from there with a header though, it was inch-perfect, as it had to be.
Moreno/Lovren/Skrtel/Johnson vs. the best front 6 in the world, and in effect beaten by 2 world class goals (the 3rd was awful but was panic brought on by the first 2 goals). I know you are in the majority berating the defence but that, in my opinion, is to ignore the quality of the attack. BTW Real didn't turn it off until Ronaldo left the field, after 75 mins. Ming made two superb saves, I don't like him and don't think he is good enough, however you can't deny him credit for those stops.
And where did the cross come from for the Benzema goal...? And who allowed the crosser time to cross from there...?
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That was ridiculous, the ball was taken from Coutinho on the other side of the box and allowed to move right across the edge of the area to Toni fecking Kroos of all people who had 3 defenders all yards away allowing him to look up and pick out his man.
Atrocious defending.
Well it wasn't Johnson was it !
Throw him in the reserves.
If you don't think Johnson was bad Rafateria you really need to re watch that game.
Don't need to mate .. I just have to know who he was up against and whether that player, currently the best in the world, went past him or created anything as a direct result of beating him. He didn't in case you were wondering
He had a thankless task and I just feel people are under-valuing how well he did in the circumstances. Ronaldo, Real Madrid, currently the best attack and attacker in the world.
Johnson also made 3 successful tackles and 2 clearances (Skrtel 1-3 and Lovren 2-1).
I saw inept and poor defending from a back 4 that looked like they didnt understand each other. The first goal was poor defending through the middle of the park and bad covering by Skrtel. It was a great finish but if Skrtel reads and covers Lovren earlier then the goal is stopped. The second goal is not a great goal by Benzema. The second goal is a dink to the back post where Johnson is standing. He is suppposed to be marking Benzema but gets caught under the ball and ends up letting Benzema head it back across the goal and it land in the top corner. Any defender worth his salt would drop glance over his shoulder to see where the lad he was marking is gone and even if he can't reach the ball would jump up and lean into Benzema making it very difficult to for him to place his header at all. (This is not the first time Johnson has been done by a ball like this) It would make it nearly impossible for the inch perfect header. I also don't think Benzema expected to score from there as I think he was heading back across goal for someone else and got it a bit wrong or dead right as it turned out.
The third goal was a sham. Real looked like they could score each time they went at us but as Dumbstar says they stopped pressing in the second half. I think you need to call a spade a spade here and recognise the extremely poor defending we've been doing as a team for a while now. I understand Lovren and Moreno needing integration time but Skrtel and Johnson have played together for 4 years and still have no understanding. It's very worrying.