Feckless is the perfect way to describe it. Liverpool pressed us all game and whenever we got the ball we were forced backwards, and whenever we did actually find some space we wasted it with either poor passing or daft long shots. When we pressed them they almost unerringly played it past us and then once it was past the half way line then it was all wide open space. They overloaded us out wide with their full-backs and we were unable to counter them down the wings and force them to stay home. We couldn't pass it out and our only chance came from long balls and from winning the ball around the halfway line. We seemed mentally and physically tired throughout, which can be the cost of not rotating the squad to keep everyone fresh. Look at the impact Diame had for West Ham against Chelsea. When we needed to keep it simple and get control of the game, we failed to do the simple things right and could never string anything meaningful together, Gaston was culpable frequently, he needs to learn to balance his game when he's not in the final third. Reading game will be pretty huge. Hopefully United give them a good rolling over.
It's frankly ludicrous that Mayuka wasn't brought on today. Really don't know why Adkins didn't go for it in the last 15 mins.
Agreed on all counts. It is starting to get concerning that Mayuka is a bit of an afterthought...I really like his skillset as a counterpoint to the close-quarters stuff we have working down the left.
People have to remember Gaston was out for a long time and 3games in 6 days was going to be hard for him. I wouldn't have played him or Puncheon as both looked knackered. So did most of the team tbh, glad I have the warmth of the hotel now instead of the long travel home.
Schneiderlin mentioned they were tired in the pre-match interview...mustn't underestimate the mental strain of playing in the PL three times in a week. We have a starting eleven, but they will never last the whole season. It's good that there is a break before the Reading game. The FA Cup draw is tomorrow...Nigel will difinitely play second stringers in that. Shame, but the league is everything.
Guessing it largely owed to the defensive responsibilities of this game; Lallana has improved in that respect, and Puncheon tracks back well, which gave us more of a fighting chance against their overlapping play than if we'd stuck Mayuka and Rodriguez out there alongside Rickie, with Lambert in the middle. Still, would have made for some fun, reckless counterattacking.
Crikey, looking at the table... 18th with the team above and below us both having two games in hand. And we play both of them. Huuuuge games, and we really need results of games against them to go our way. They don't get much more 'must win' than these games.
Was slightly disappointed with Cork and Schneiderlin today. Tired legs, perhaps? Ramirez made a couple of bad passes and it wasn't his best game but I thought he was okay. The bad passes were at least on the opposition side and he was looking to create. He seemed like the only one capable of receiving the ball in Saints' half and getting over the center stripe. Hopefully he'll be better next time out. I think he will be. Shaw was overmatched at times, but considering his youth and inexperience and the opposition, I though he did okay. Overall not too upset. Was not expecting anything from Liverpool away. We know the midfield is capable, at least against lesser sides. It's been the defense, and all things considered the defense was okay. It's the matches against Reading and Sutherland that are the big ones and Saints still look capable of winning both of those. Don't see the need for any lineup changes after this. Just keep the morale and confidence up, and maybe a small word with the midfield about retaining possession.
Always find its best to wear glasses with wipers on them when talking to Scousers. High amount of speech spittle.
Have you seen Sunderland's December fixtures it's crazy. Hopefully we can get a few more points them this month.
