Liverpool Football Club Thread

[dogsout]

Yep, that was a pumping.

[Stig]

Could be 7th by the end of the weekend. Despressing going for finishing 2nd to potentially finishing 7th. Just don't know what we can do to be considered constant top 4 contenders.

[Gabe]

Even considering our pretty rubbish record away to them, that was awful. Consistently gave the ball away, let Arsenal press us but didn't do the same back, lacked any real threat once Markovic spurned his chance to put Sterling in and generally looked we did earlier in the season when it appeared the team lost belief. Nobody comes out of that with any credit, including Rodgers.

I still expect Chelsea to beat us away, too, so I think 5th is now going to be a tough ask. Not looking forward to Blackburn on Wednesday.

[JamesTW]

So Lovren in for Can on Wednesday with Toure, can't wait for that

[Adrock]

If, looking at the fixtures before they were played, the results had come out as they have I think the majority of fans would have been happy.

The problem is that the performances in the last two games have been horrendous.

Allen definitely is the worst midfielder at the club.

Edit: I meant the first statement to take in the period since the first loss against United.

[NexivRed]

I think you're missing the point - nobody is saying he isn't any good, but that he isn't good enough to play for any of the real current giants. If you think he is, then you could probably get a job as one of his advisors. Also, most people aren't advocating selling him, but if he has it in his mind that he wants to go, then there isn't a great deal that can be done. In that scenario the club has to ensure they get the best price for him and try to avoid selling domestically.

Sterling would get plenty of games for City or Chelsea. He doesn't need to go to Bayern/Real/Barca to increase both his wages and his chances of winning stuff.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Should replay Sterling's performance next time he has it in his head that he's a £200k a week Barca player.

Shoddy defending, shows after our first choice defence we have nothing, I'd rather give Illori or Wisdom the chance than have to put our faith in Toure or Lovren who are clearly not up to task.

I wouldn't say 4th was lost, as United have a tough run in. Certainly a huge improvement is needed as the only way to claim that spot is a winning run from now till the end.

[SMD]

????

[ryodi]

7 points behind fourth placed City with 7 games to go. Hanging onto a Europa League place is the best we'll manage now and I'd expect the top four to finish in the positions they are in now barring one of them having a Derby County like collapse.

[Gabe]

Sterling would get plenty of games for City or Chelsea. He doesn't need to go to Bayern/Real/Barca to increase both his wages and his chances of winning stuff.

I agree to the second part, but then I don't rate City as one of the best teams in Europe and so wasn't referring to them in my statement. I wouldn't call Chelsea one of the European giants either. It goes without saying that both represent a better chance of winning stuff they we do, though I don't think Chelsea would pay mega-wages as I don't think Mourinho would want to.

[Azrael]

Luckily I was working today so didn't have to see the mauling.

Not looking forward to the Blackburn game. Skrtel still banned and Can now too, and read Lovren is injured?

Sakho and Kolo CB partnership in a back 4 perhaps. But fullbacks aren't exactly a strong point either.

At what point do we start to worry about Rodgers' job? If we lose midweek? Better not get fired.

[Guest]

Is this whole "players not being offered contracts early enough" part of Moneyball?

It seems like the club are simply alienating players and not making them feel wanted.

[carlito]

You guys do basically the opposite of Moneyball though no?

With the odd exception you seem to drill loads of cash on overrated and unsuitable players that don't work out in your system at all.

[JamesTW]

Man Utds next 3 games are Man City(H) Chelsea (A) & Everton (A), our next 3 if we get to FA Cup semi final are Newcastle (H) WBA (A) & QPR (H), still a chance or is that being daft?

[glb]

Man Utds next 3 games are Man City(H) Chelsea (A) & Everton (A), our next 3 if we get to FA Cup semi final are Newcastle (H) WBA (A) & QPR (H), still a chance or is that being daft?

If we continue playing like we did yesterday, would back Man United to get more points from their next three games than we'll get from our next three. Ever the optimist.

To be honest, think fourth is gone, so Blackburn on Wednesday becomes our biggest game of the season, and can see it being a struggle of our own making. Good times!

[DeNeo]

Looks like someone isn't happy, enough to have leaked this to the papers:

The Anfield boss called a meeting after training at Melwood yesterday and accused several players of not playing for him.

Some senior players spoke up angrily against Rodgers as they were left incensed at the accusation.

[Gabe]

Man Utds next 3 games are Man City(H) Chelsea (A) & Everton (A), our next 3 if we get to FA Cup semi final are Newcastle (H) WBA (A) & QPR (H), still a chance or is that being daft?

They've started to find their feet as a team now and are playing decently at the moment, so I can see them beating City and Everton, perhaps a draw with Chelsea. I actually think we've a better chance of pipping City to 4th than Man U, given their rather indifferent form of late.

Talking of Man U, I wonder what all those people who wrote them off and said they'd never get a CL spot now think? Robbie Savage spent most of the first 5 months of the season saying how poor they were and how they had no chance. Now, like Arsenal and City, they are ready to pounce should Chelsea slip up. It further highlights what a (relatively speaking) poor season this has been for us, and that'd be true even if we won the FA Cup.

[Chewylegs]

Man Utds next 3 games are Man City(H) Chelsea (A) & Everton (A), our next 3 if we get to FA Cup semi final are Newcastle (H) WBA (A) & QPR (H), still a chance or is that being daft?

Up until the Man U game I genuinely believed we would beat them and snatch a draw at Arsenal. We were on such a good run, I didn't expect us to implode quite so spectacularly. So, taking that into consideration, Man U are on a great run but they still have their problems, so they could get beaten by City and Chelsea and draw against Everton. Unfortunately though, with our injury/suspension list we are starting to look a bit frail so could cock up against any of those teams!

[glb]

Just because it's a slow day at work, predict we'll edge Blackburn in extra time, beat Newcastle, lose to WBA and draw an incredibly frustrating draw with QPR.

[Gabe]

So the papers are running with the Rodgers outburst about not playing for him, and Henderson has turned down a new contract (apparently). Just what is going on at the moment?

The BBC article about Sterling the other day made the point that both he and Gerrard said they would have signed new deals had they been offered last year, so it does make you wonder about the policy at the club. Should we really be waiting until players approach their final year (Hendo) before offering them something? Especially if we're intending to have them be a key player?

As for the outburst, who do you think that would have been aimed at?

[Guest]

Gerrard and Skrtyl I reckon. They didn't play for Rodgers yesterday. Oh, and John Barnes.

[DeNeo]

We just seem to have completely imploded in the last couple of weeks. If it continues like this, we might be looking at another overhaul in the summer - whether it's the manager, the players or even the introduction of someone above Rodgers. We need someone who's better at sorting out contracts and transfers.

[SMD]

It's just paper talk, we're easy copy now Van Gaal is winning.

[DeNeo]

And it would be pointless getting rid of Rodgers unless there's someone available who's a lot better, otherwise we end up with a Benitez > Hodgson situation again.

It's just sobering at the moment because we were well beaten twice in succession. Doesn't feel like we'll get near the title again unless we bring in some 'magic', like we had with Suarez. All the teams in the top 4 have someone like that.

[SMD]

We have Sturridge, Coutinho, Sterling and Markovic. Difference is Suarez was at his peak and fit.

[El Pibe]

They've started to find their feet as a team now and are playing decently at the moment, so I can see them beating City and Everton, perhaps a draw with Chelsea. I actually think we've a better chance of pipping City to 4th than Man U, given their rather indifferent form of late.

Talking of Man U, I wonder what all those people who wrote them off and said they'd never get a CL spot now think? Robbie Savage spent most of the first 5 months of the season saying how poor they were and how they had no chance. Now, like Arsenal and City, they are ready to pounce should Chelsea slip up. It further highlights what a (relatively speaking) poor season this has been for us, and that'd be true even if we won the FA Cup.

I think it just highlights the relatively poor quality of the league this season. Man United have been distinctly average all season but now look set to finish in the top four.

[Oh Danny Boy]

So the papers are running with the Rodgers outburst about not playing for him, and Henderson has turned down a new contract (apparently). Just what is going on at the moment?

The BBC article about Sterling the other day made the point that both he and Gerrard said they would have signed new deals had they been offered last year, so it does make you wonder about the policy at the club. Should we really be waiting until players approach their final year (Hendo) before offering them something? Especially if we're intending to have them be a key player?

As for the outburst, who do you think that would have been aimed at?

calling paper bullshit on that. The media is going to give us a kicking now we've lost two important games. The only way to end all this speculation is to return to winning ways.

[christaylor]

We need to find some form and quick, we're fortunate to still be in 5th only due to spurs and Southampton's crappy results.

I've got a stadium tour with my son booked in for Thursday lunchtime so we better bloody beat Blackburn.

[Guest]

Thing is we had a lot of "We've the best form in the league" and "Rodgers has turned it around in spectacular fashion".

That form seemed false to me and the test for me was been Man Utd. How would we fare? We came undone.

We had been scraping through the cup games and having a good game, bad game, and being what I felt was lucky.

Now it's come home to roost.

We didn't spend well, and now we are unravelling. Sure some god awful refeering and the ridiculous FA haven't helped in the past few weeks and yet it is in reality of our own making.

All we have now is the FA cup. Otherwise it's been a failure of a season.

[Azrael]

So with City's loss tonight it'd be best for us if United win the Manchester derby this weekend. Give us hope of nabbing 4th from City.

Is that correct? I need to be totally sure before showing any kind of support to United..