And people wonder why I defend Mario. He hasn't been playing well/running much but his hold up play has been good from the ~3 or so passes he has received. He's tried to shoot (shots seemed on target, blocked by defenders). Coutinho has been good, Sterling good too. Sterling needs to stop wasting the ball though - he isn't Messi and there are better options out there. Our defence? Don't even get me started. Has anyone told Johnson this is a home game? He's so far out of position that he's been seen running around the Bernabeu. Skrtel obviously going for the man instead of the ball and lo and behold he gets neither the man nor the ball. Our midfield are **** scared of possession and seem to love kicking it straight to their defenders instead of holding the ball (which we have done well with when we've had it). Agger would have done better than Lovren there. IMO take Johnson off and put Manquillo on, if he's on the bench. Take off Allen and play Can, take off Mario and play Markovic. Minimize the damage.
Based on what? That he apparently turned us down the summer before or that most players would (and do) choose Chelsea over us?
I'd do the same. Rodgers will leave it until the 65th minute as always and hope something changes for some reason before that.
Even balotelli at his best (which he is not) just simply will not fit with our team. Too slow. Too many touches. Too selfish. Too lazy. He could have set sterling clear and instead turned himself inside out trying to do a pot shot.
It's not just the defence our Midfield is a ****ing joke too. Gerrard is old and should have ****ing retired by now, Henderson's brain doesn't function when an opponent is within a 5meter radius and Allen should never be playing against a side like Madrid, he couldn't spell creativity. BR bust wasted close to 45 million on Lallana and Markovic, when we could have bought a top class midfielder for that money. What a monumental ****up! can only hope Sturridge's return changes our fortunes.
WOW ! You can say that your defending is appalling all you want, but there's nothing like Madrid in the PL - going forward they are just amazing. Don't think there's many teams who would be within touching distance on this performance really.
Yeh fair point. Re my criticism of Rodgers, he's going to play Gerrard we know that, but then Allen as well? Two weaknesses in a midfield you don't need Red imo
My half-time ratings (don't think I'll be here at full time - in work at 10pm) Migs: 5 Not at fault for the first two, but can't believe he come out with his feet for the third. Johnson: 5 Completely missed a clearance for the second. Being hosed at times by Ronaldo. Moreno:5 So many missed tackles. Acres of space on that left. Skrtel: 4 Their first goal was class - but a class defender could have stopped it. lovren 4: At fault with two goals, like Skrtel Allen 5: Game seems a little above his level, but decent shot though Gerrard: 5 Overrun, but still some ace passing. Hendo: 5 Not hiding, still everywhere, but some iffy touches. Coutinho: 7 Not out of place at this level, but being hindered having to defend. Sterling; 6 Only threat, but defensively pants, leaving Moreno on his own. balotteli: 2 No scapegoats, we're being fisted by a far superior team. But in such circumstances we can't carry passengers. Overall: 5 look, we knew we'd get beaten tonight, but we started off well without really creating a chance, and Sterling had their defence scared ****less. in the run-up to the first goal though, we just stopped harassing. No complaints that Real are not a class (or three ) above, and we see now how crucial that totally avoidable loss against Basel was, but we can't carry passengers in this, and the third goal was just Stoke/west ham like and totally avoidable. Just suck it up now and hope we can one goal and stop them scoring more - we can dream!
Some of the comments here by (obvious) non-Liverpool fans are ridiculous tbh. Rodgers' experience (or lack of) isn't costing us. What tactical blunder has he made tonight besides playing Mario? Even Johnson's been ok except for that second goal. Missing Suarez too is far too easy to claim, not sure he would have stopped those goals going in, nor scored four. We've been alright overall. Our defense has been ****e as usual and mistakes in our box has cost us. Madrid have been good but nothing special to warrant a 3-0 lead. That's about it really.
Whatever happens after this, BR needs to address our defence. Swallow his pride and get an expert defensive coach in because it's clear that his strengths lie elsewhere!!
