Liverpool Football Club Thread

[Stig]

Sigh, can't keep a cs

[rjpageuk]

No idea how we made that so difficult for ourselves - the first Villa goal was a terrible goal to concede but their second was just a great cross and header.

Sturridge makes such a difference for us and that ended up winning the game today with two great goals and he could have had one or two more. His link up play with all the other attackers especially Coutinho is so good.

Thought Ings did really well too, worked really hard and was unlucky not to get a goal.

[Oh Danny Boy]

We should concede that under Rodgers our defence is always going to be shit. Let's just out score the opposition. It makes for more fun even when the result is disappointing.

How have we missed Sturridge.

[Gabe]

How did we play generally then? Did Ings play up front with Sturridge? Only based on the highlights, but the first goal was atrocious defending.

Good goals from Sturridge, good to see him back, but as Ruud is saying (stealing my thunder here) we can't rely on him. Milner's goal was good too.

Anyway, a rare win, very much needed.

[ryodi]

Apart from the usual terrible defending Liverpool played well. Lots of good passing in contrast to the last few games and Ings alongside Sturridge upfront looked looks like it could be a good partnership. But Villa aren't a great side and didn't play very well and while Gestede's second goal was the result of a great cross and even better finish, they had a few opportunities and only took one from poor defending that a better side would punish Liverpool for.

[Gabe]

Well Everton and Tottenham in our next 2 games (both away) will certainly prove sterner tests. Tottenham especially are looking pretty good at the moment (with the help of linesmen ).

[Istanbul]

The defence is still shaky as Hell. That's just the way it is under Rodgers. He can't fix it. I've given up on having any kind of solidity at the back under him. It's not going to improve now, if it was...he would have already done it. He's had more than enough time, and more than enough players to blame.

At least with Sturridge we have a chance of outscoring the opposition given the inevitable goals we will concede.

Special mention to Danny Ings yesterday, and to a lesser extent Moreno...worked their socks off yesterday. That's what fans love to see.

Could be 2 league defeats in a row coming up next though, could even be more...Spurs, Everton, Southampton, Chelsea, Palace, City...

The end could be near for Rodgers.

[Gabe]

I always hate the phrase 'worked hard', it always makes me think of players that have little impact on things. I know that isn't what you meant, but you'd always want to be able to say a bit more about somebody's contribution to a game.

Anyway, defensively, yeah, we're rubbish. The first goal yesterday was poor from about 4 players, the second was a great cross but there was no pressure on Gestede. Plus, it looked like it was straight at Mignolet, though it was a real bullet-header so I guess he can't be accountable for that. We struggle against any teams that have good movement up top, with players looking to make those runs behind (especially behind Can) and we with Mignolet flapping away at things we vulnerable to crosses too. I think you're right though, Rodgers has had long enough to do better than he has and doesn't look like he's ever going to get it.

Hopefully Sturridge will stay fit and click with Benteke and perhaps then enough goals will roll-in to overcome the rubbish at the back.

[Adrock]

I think Ings will fit into a system with Sturridge better than Benteke does. Either way, its nice to have Sturridge back and scoring, its a shame defensively under Rodgers the team just cant seem to improve.

Yesterday was another nervous afternoon for a match that should have been relatively straight forward.

[ryodi]

Liverpool v Sion tonight. Brings back memories of the first European game I can remember watching.

[ryodi]

Defending has gotten much better in 20 years.

Also how patronising is the BT Sport commentary, Sion have scored at Anfield before you know. And as always Michael Owen is a terrible co-commentator.

[Timbuktu]

They really are willing for Liverpool to lose.

[hmm]

Ah, some of my favourites on show in that video. As much as I loved the guy, I think that Roy Evans era team is about the only one that would make our current 'defence' look solid. There was a reason why every game against Newcastle in that period ended up finishing 4-3!

[ryodi]

It wasn't an awful display but Liverpool really should be beating Sion. Origi missed a good chance and Coutinho was yet again a class above everyone else on the pitch. I wonder how much longer he's going to want to stick around if it continues like this.

[hmm]

Re. Owen - it is a bit weird. Not to diminish the striker he was in his peak years but it's a bit fucking rich the way he doles out wisdom when he played a total of about 5 years of top level football.

[Gabe]

Liverpool v Sion tonight. Brings back memories of the first European game I can remember watching.

What I would give for another McManaman to come through the ranks. What a joy to watch he was And if he could bring another Fowler with him...

Anyway, pretty middling performance really and it's hard to be happy with 2 rather lacklustre draws. Obviously more changes in personnel and shapes don't help, but you really need to win your home games in Europe and Sion, like the Carlisle game, didn't really have to defend particularly well to get the draw.

A rather meh/10.

[Doomguy]

Owen has no one to blame for his post liverpool career but himself. I remember seeing him talk about putting 2 stone on to be 'stronger on the ball', completely ignoring that speed and cardio were his best attributes. It's no coincidence his record went to shit after he added the bulk.

[Gabe]

Did it? Despite being in an awful Newcastle team and an irregular starter at Man U (and being injured for about 6 years), he still scored 47 in 130-odd appearances combined. There are plenty of Premier League strikers in their peak that would like those stats.

[Istanbul]

The boos at the final whistle are getting stronger and stronger with each game. He's losing more and more fans with every abysmal result and performance. Only Sturridge can save him now...and even then, his time should be up. The tactics, the style of play, the years and years of being totally unable to be build a solid defence. It's all coming to a head.

[Chewylegs]

Liverpool are taking the piss, I think they are actually trolling their own fans now!

Playing like we have been, we could end up losing by 3 or 4 goals on Sunday which would be humiliating.

Pretty fed up to be fair.

[Istanbul]

Respect to FC Sion Fans last night. Great banners, support and even took part in YNWA (like a lot of foreign visiting fans do).

[Doomguy]

Did it? Despite being in an awful Newcastle team and an irregular starter at Man U (and being injured for about 6 years), he still scored 47 in 130-odd appearances combined. There are plenty of Premier League strikers in their peak that would like those stats.

Shit is an overstatement but If you look at who he scored those goals against then compare that to his liverpool record you'll see what I'm getting at.

His United record is majority league cup and early fa cup rounds.

His liverpool record was mostly made up of Premiership and europe. Plus he scored once every two games pretty much.

[Gabe]

Aye, don't disagree with that and get what you mean. I think part of the reason for the bulk was to compensate for the fact he had lost his pace and so needed to be harder to get off the ball, rather than being able to dash away from defenders - and I do think that worked, he looked pretty stacked towards the end.

Plus, he was excellent for a good 7 years or so both domestically and internationally, so I do think he's earned the right to pass judgement on others. I guess I should point out that I actually don't hate his commentary at all, though, so that probably means my view is null and void.

Still wasn't as good (or as loved) as Fowler, mind.

[ryodi]

He would have probably had a longer career at the top level if he had not played so many games when he broke into the Liverpool side, a lot like Robbie Fowler. It's sad to see the last two great strikers Liverpool have produced start so well and then flame out in their mid 20s through repeated injuries. I wonder if the same thing might happen to Stirling who also has pace to burn and will probably play a lot of games for Man City over the next 5 years.

[Istanbul]

Yeah, as soon as Owen lost his pace he was more or less finished. He was 99% about the pace. Before that, he was just unstoppable. He will be forever tainted among Liverpool fans though. I've got no time for him myself.

[glb]

See Owen as a pantomime villain, can't really blame him for taking the best option available to him but was amusing being at his return to Anfield with United and hearing him getting both ends of the barrel. Added extra spice to an already tense game. He's not a great pundit, but thankfully live overseas so don't have to endure him too often. And he did at least provide us with that fantastic finale to the FA Cup final which we had by that point no right to be winning.

Not got any confidence whatsoever going in to tomorrow's derby. A win has been a long-time coming for the Bitters, and can't see us keeping a clean sheet, nor having the steel in midfield to get through the game unscathed. Would gladly take a draw, but at this point would also take a performance that was cohesive and not insipid like the one at United. Get some fire in their bellies, Brendan, Fowler knows we're going to need it.

[feltmonkey]

Both ends of the barrel, eh?

[glb]

Yeah, that's entirely wrong isn't it? Whatever he got, he deserved it on the day.

Maybe bent over the barrel and shown the 50 states. No, no, that's wrong too.

He got abuse, Coral.

[Chewylegs]

A worrying quote from Rodgers about today's game.....We will go into the game with every notion to perform and win well. If we get a wee bit of luck, if we earn a bit of good fortune, we can win the game. I am not worried and that is not being arrogant or having been given any assurances. I will do my best with what I am working with, we are rebuilding a group again with new players and going again, and our notion is to win.

So, we can only win the game by luck and fortune.... Woo hoo, lucky us!

[hmm]

Pretty much every win at the top level involves a certain amount going that team's way and that's all he means.

The guy produces industrial quantities of horseshit but I don't think this is really a prime example.