It was important that we won yesterday so that we are not playing catch up. We only need to catch Arsenal now.
Not a catch up game but to put S;town behind us. We have very very very winnable coming up and could be sitting pretty come december.
Really disappointed with the performance - looked really disjointed and the lack of Coutinho to link our attack and midfield is worrying. The defence looks very dodgy at the moment but I think that may be down to the personnel as the partnership/relationship is still in its infancy. Still inviting so much pressure, Sunderland had so many shots due to a lack of closing down. Still maintain that Lucas and Gerrard need replacing in centre midfield. Granted that Sunderland didn't create many clear cut chances but if you let them shoot, they can cause problems as we saw with their goal. I think the system is good but Coutinho and Johnson should bring more balance. Not the best performance but another 3 points so I'm happy! Suarez and Sturridge
Some match reports......... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24193132 http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/sunderland-1-liverpool-fc-3-6105699
Lucas Interview http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-striker-luis-suarez-6112435 Lucas Leiva hailed the brilliance of Luis Suarez after the Liverpool FC striker’s match-winning performance against Sunderland. The Uruguayan celebrated the birth of his son Benjamin in style by bagging a clinical double at the Stadium of Light. The 3-1 victory over the Black Cats lifted the Reds up to second place in the Premier League – just two points adrift of leaders Arsenal. It was Suarez’s first league appearance since returning from his 10-game ban and he helped ensure Liverpool returned to winning ways. “Luis has just become a father again and for him to celebrate with two goals, I am very happy for him,” Lucas told the ECHO. “He is showing again just how good he is. He is a world class player and it is so important to have players like that if you want to fight for good things this season. “Hopefully he will have another fantastic season for us like he did last year.” The Brazil midfielder feared he wouldn’t get the chance to play alongside his close friend again during a summer when Suarez tried to force through a move away from Anfield. But to Lucas’ delight the 26-year-old stayed put and he expects Liverpool to keep reaping the rewards of their decision to retain his services. “Everyone was a bit worried as there was a lot of talk during the transfer window, but I’m so glad that he’s still with us,” he added. “Luis showed today with his performance that he is really committed to the team and to the club. He just wants to help us and we will try to help him too.” Suarez linked up expertly with Daniel Sturridge, who scored the opening goal after unintentionally diverting the ball home with his arm. The England striker then set up both of Suarez’s goals and Lucas is excited about their blossoming partnership. “When Dan arrived here, within a few months Luis got the ban so they didn’t have much chance to play many games together,” he said. “But you could see today how well they linked up. The understanding between them is really good and it will only get better. “It will improve over the course of the season and hopefully they will keep helping us with goals and assists. It was really important for us as a team that we got back on track with a win. “To lose at home to Southampton was really disappointing and we didn’t perform the way we should have done. “At Old Trafford we played well but didn’t get the result. This was a great game for us to respond. “After going 2-0 up, we knew they would come back at us at the start of the second half. They got back into it but after their scored we controlled the game quite well. “We were solid defensively and then we got a brilliant goal on the counter-attack to kill the game off. “Overall we deserved the victory and the three points has moved us back up the table.” The only downside for Lucas was the fact he picked up a fifth booking of the season and will now sit out next Saturday’s home clash with Crystal Palace due to suspension. “To be fair, I think it was quite harsh,” he said. “The previous booking I got against Man United was another one that I didn’t think I deserved, but I will work to improve that element of my game. “It is frustrating because having just got back into the Brazil squad I wanted to play every game I could. “I wanted to help my team-mates against Palace but I will be there supporting them and hopefully I will return against Newcastle.”
My OPINION (I am alowed one or what?) Player Ratings [table="width: 500, class:grid"] [tr] [td]Name[/td] [td]Rating[/td] [td]Comment[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Mingolet[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]very poor, one dropped catch and he went to pieces, should have caught a lot of stuff and started punching and missing stuff. He's done well so far replacing pepe even if his distribution is average at best but this was poor and I think I should just be honest [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Henderson[/td] [td]6.5[/td] [td]did better once the tactics changed, not good at wing back IMO[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Toure[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]Good performance, multiple roles played I thought he didn't put a foot wrong[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]skertl[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Played well, altidore had his measure but most tall men do, IN MY OPNION[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]sahko[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Played well again settling in and when the team went 4 at the back he got on altidore and went to town on the guy.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]enrique[/td] [td]6.5[/td] [td]better today but I think he needs someone to work with so I don't think this wing back slot works all that well for him, he likes to have space and overlap and nobody pulled wide on this side enough.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Lucas[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Played better, frankly had a lot to do against weak enough opposition and the system did him no favours, he is the one doing all the work.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Gerrard[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Decent innnings in my opinion but needs to do more to help lucas and drop popping out of position to close someone down that some else should be and then simply not getting back.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Moses[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]didn't like him in this role last week and he was not good this week in it. He is struggling to get to grips with it. I actually put him down as a 5 first then upped it as he was "ok" when on the ball but its not his position and i don't get it. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Suarez[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Better performance, 2 goals that were about being in the right place and on both occasions he made no mistake. Can only improve from here.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]sturridge[/td] [td]7.5[/td] [td]Did much better linking but this time it was him coming from wide and providing that made the difference. I'd like to see someone else providing and him and squarez in the box. MOTM? not so sure but 3 key contributions to deliver the game for us. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Sterling[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]diidn't make any mistakes when he came on, helped out well too boot..[/td] [/tr] [/table] Tactics: I do not like this tactic at all now. The reason I don't like it and its just my opinion is that it is putting 3 mean marking one verses at least 75% of the premiership and it is weakening midfield to the extent that we are struggling to get any possession. I don't like henderson as a wing back and I hate moses in a sort of no 10 midfield role as he's got no clue where to drop into when defending. Credit to sunderland, they rioted to get shut of the mad man in charge and those players stood up and gave a bit of a performance. I think they faded after 70mins. Here is what i don't get...... I thought that maybe the boss was worred about wisdom after playing RB V swansea and didn't want utd to destroy his confidence but I just am not sure that its more that Rodgers doesn't rate the lad now.. Toure may have said I can't play RB to rodgers and he took it on baord perhaps??? In the end we (in my opinion) need to return to 4-3-3 poste haste... Palace will pack 10 men back so 3 cbs is utter waste. I think it can work when playing 4-4-2 but needs coutinho in the no 10 shirt and needs johnson too. Set piece Attacking set piece is still awful. I still see our lads wondering when is the ball coming and where to go. Free kicks form suarez are back and thats good. The ref Nothing major to report, its the same old webb. you need to assault someone to get a pen and he won't brandish cards unless you are in the second half or mouth off. I must say i say at least 4 good tackles that were clearly form the front that he blew up. positives? 1. Goals from suarez and no controversy. If sturridge's goal had been suarez the papers would be full of it. english player = no mention. that was a nice slice of luck. 2. We've 3 more points, always useful. 3. Lucas booking means he misses the game v palace who are awful so it will force a formation change. Best game for a DM to miss to get suspension over with and frankly a 4-3-3 will be good to see.
No opinions on here Luv fachkts only - with references if possible please P.S. good post MITO, I may disagree on a couple of the ratings but that just minor details.
MITO's ratings are fair and an honest appraisal of what transpired. Like Sky I could disagree slightly with some of the ratings but that is truly a matter of opinion. As I said somewhere-else I'm still can't put my finger on exactly what is working with our side but the general overall result is both promising and pleasing. The loss of the little Ford is certainly clear. Moses can't play in that role and it's unfair to ask him to do so as it significantly reduces the good that he can bring to the attack from out wide. Similarly, and we nearly all said it before it happened, Hendo can't play wide right!!!! In that role he becomes the Great Al rounder - can't do anything - pass, shoot, tackle, etc.
Having see a fair few of your games this season on the box (you seem to be on every week ffs!) I thought that yesterdays was the worst I've seen you play & yet you still got a 3-1 win away from home, which either makes you lucky, resilient or ruthless - take your pick! I think if he perseveres with the 3 at the back it'd be a mistake personally, as you look shaky & it won't take long for the better teams to figure out how to exploit it, plus to play that system effectively you need to top quality attacking wing backs & you certainly didn't have that yesterday. I think what yesterday showed, is that if you have 2 top quality strikers in a side, then you're always going to stand a good chance of getting a result. If you can keep both of your 2 fit, then you could do something this season.
Saw this was the case a few weeks ago. Its something like eleven of our first fourteen games (can't remember exactly).
United under Fergie would win all the time when they weren't playing very well, it's what top teams do and we need to start doing it now.
I really dislike the system but yesterday was the best its been in three games. I agree about the WBs but Johnson and Enrique are pretty well suited to the role, Hendo isn't. It was a combination of all three IMO. We certainly got the run of the ball when it came to the referee.
1. Swansea for me was worse. 2. Resilient and Ruthless 3. Keep them both fit and get the little fella back and teams are in the **** I personally like the system, but the players have to be in the right positions, with practice it'll flourish and reap rewards. Plus it gives us an extra versatility to formation set ups, if and when injuries occur and also depending on what type of team we're playing. Also switching in a game to a complete new formation that our team is comfortable with could potentially through the opposition into chaos
3 at the back leaves space in behind the wing backs & if the opposition exploit this, then one of the 3 CB's get pulled out wide leaving potential space in the centre. No English team has ever done well with this system & imo there's a reason for that i.e. that it's just not suited to the English game. Mankini became obsessed with trying to implement it at the start of last season & failed miserably. However, I think your point about versatility is right & having players who are comfortable with a number of different systems could be of benefit in the longer term.
