21 Feb 2013

Confirmed LFC XI vs. Zenit: BR bottles it and goes defensive. Mistake...?

Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers has named an arguably defensive line-up for tonight's must-win clash with Zenit St. Petersburg.

The Reds start with FOUR central midfielders in the team:

FULL TEAM: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Carragher, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Suarez.

SUBS: Gulacsi, Coates, Wisdom, Shelvey, Assaidi, Suso, Sterling

With the greatest respect, Rodgers has (IMO) bottled it. Liverpool are playing at home and need to win, yet he's gone for the overly defensive Lucas-Allen midfield partnership, which suggests he's afraid of conceding a goal.

That's understandable given the team's defensive woes this season, but sometimes, the best form of defence is attack, and the XI he's put out is severely lacking in genuine pace.

In my view, it would've been better to start Sterling. Go for throat, and then shore things up later with the introduction Allen.

Still, despite the slightly more defensive line-up, Liverpool should still have enough to win the game. Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes the the Reds can capitalise on Zenit's dodgy defence. He told the Liverpool Echo:

"It’s going to be really tough and we have to keep a clean sheet. If we can get an early goal then it will be game on. But if we concede then the tie is basically over as to score four goals against Zenit would be a massive ask.

"What gives me hope is that I thought their defence looked vulnerable in the first leg. We should have been a couple of goals up at half-time but didn’t have our shooting boots as some great chances went begging".




NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


257 comments:

  1. Agree that we could do with another striker tonight, but Morgan or Ngoo? Don't think they would excel on the European stage right now.

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  2. Barca lost 2-0 the other day. Let's not play like them tonight.

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  3. I believe that the manager and coaches, who watch Assaidi every day in training, see enough of him to know whether he should start tonight or not. Unlike me, and probably you.

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  4. And you are never cautious, but negative most of the time.

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  5. So far we are forcing them into mistakes.

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  6. I'm just hoping Stevie G can support Saurez!

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  7. Oh Carra. Probably your last European game as well.

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  8. Assist for Carragher. Zenit go a goal up and immediately start wasting time. Ah, European football.

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  9. Legend carra, reina is just watching, my tv is off, goodnight

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  10. Proof why carragher is retiring, Henderson is absolute garbage, does Reina ever save anything anymore? and we need a complete new defence.

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  11. Check the skill out on Agger, nice but pity about your defending this season though mate.

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  12. with this manager we are going to go backwards fast >> first season our of europe ( not even europa which KK got us last year ) , next season top players will be sold and mid table and he will say we lost top players soo we preforming badly and then whos knows .....the deapths we will fall to .....

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  13. Saurez=World class!

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  14. I can see a few Russians sent off tonight. Really bad to concede a goal as the Russians were figuratively shitting themselves, and still seem to do so.

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  15. That would have been a lovely goal from Danny, after that ball from Hulk.

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  16. carra mistake but wot sort of goalkeeping was that???? as normal he makes no effort and drops to his knees

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  17. Allen must be on his knees in traing then

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  18. dont worry anteater we can win it 4 -1 its all part of the plan

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  19. are you watching the same game as me

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  20. we could afford to lose allen, so morgan would be a gamble worth while..........for me!!

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  21. haha I take that back lol.....................egg on my face..............love it!!!!

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  22. Certainly wasn't on his knees just now :)

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  23. joe allen has scored ...and they say miracles dont happen ...another two and where home and dry

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  24. was thinking the same, they don't like it up em!!!

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  25. Hulk does look menacing on the break but my fear is that Saurez will be isolated! I was just abt to say I hope Allen shows some bravery & push up, that certainly shut me up! Two more to go lads. COME ON!

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  26. Not bad a goal for a player that allegedly is absolutely useless. And another Russian fatally injured. How those weak lads have won the world war. Funny to watch how the guy goes down, jumps up again and goes down as if he got shot again.

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  27. he must drop to his knees in front of Br to keep getting picked

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  28. rodgers needs sacking no matter the result allen and lucas hes taking the piss allen scored so what hes f"cking sh1te get him off we can win this but not with him and lucas on the pitch rodgers is clueless ,come on you reds

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  29. In the Hodgeson/Kenny season we didnt get europe for last year. And we still finished 8th without the midweek games!

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  30. Good first half, really. Rodgers didn't bottle it at all. If anybody bottled it then Carra, who was entirely caught in two minds. Anything can happen the way we have had the Russians on their back-foot all match. That bearded defender should have been sent of for kicking out at Suarez.

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  31. In the match I have watched so far we weren't cautious and we weren't negative. Will you now give some credit to the lads?

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  32. no kenny we just had two cup finals

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  33. well done Joe Allen youve had a good game so far! some nice passes and interceptions and tackles! Keep it up!


    Ive never seen this team with so many players in the box! thats been our problem all season but suddenly suarez henderson gerrard downing all committing themselves forward. We've been very good although the first 20 minutes were classic liverpool: almost all possesion but no goals and a sloppy mistake.

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  34. Lol this game is tense,If we get a goal in the first 10 mins in the second half,the Russians could very well crumble,as for Carras error,Sh1t happens

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  35. rodgers bottled it big style he played his boyfriend so what if he scored imagine what we coud do with 11 men on the pitch

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  36. Def touch from henderson and well done allen....come on boyz, we can do this!! Carra thanks for ur service over the years but right time to hang up ur boots.

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  37. even fowler has just said about reina on the telly big game he always costs us

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  38. you must be watching a different game to me take him off put gerrard up front 

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  39. Interesting how you assess the quality of a football player. You certainly chose your girls simply on footballing skills then.

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  40. Is that how you are allowed access to the internet? You seem to speak out of experience.

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  41. Reina surely needs to speak to the club psychologist, or the other way round. He seems to give up on every ball that comes his direction.

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  42. f"ck pepe would you have started with allen and lucas 

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  43. I don't worry, I'm just a bit edgy.

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  44. You missed an entertaining half of football.

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  45. Bottled it?! We're attacking all over and scoring goals. Including the 'defensive' 'boyfriend' Allen who's having a great game.
    You really are a deluded hate filled person aren't you?

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  46. jumped up pretty quick when the cross came in!! then remembered he had been shot. tbf Suarez did give him a little tickle.

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  47. I'll remind you how important the Milk Cup is should we win it under Rodgers.

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  48. They actually say that miracles do happen, in the positive thinkers club.

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  49. anfield electric, how id love to be there tonight, the effort from all the players, right or wrong to be playing has been a lot lot better, cant remember seeing such urgency.
    same again second half its in the bag and it will go down as one of our greatest comebacks in recent times.
    sterling on in the 60th minute on tired legs could be key 

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  50. So you are suggesting that Allen and Rodgers are homosexual, right? And you mean that as an insult, correct? I found your comments recently a lot improved, but you return to you immature pattern of insulting.

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  51. am i dreaming or are we playing europa tonite ...oh yes kk didnt get us europa it was Rogers ...thanks for correcting me ........

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  52. Probably not as I'm watching Liverpool vs. Zenit.

    Big mistake just right now with a Russian defender handling the ball in the box. Ref making a mistake, too, though by not spotting it.

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  53. lol your a funny guy tommy.....goodfellas

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  54. no i just say what i see, I dont make my mind up before the game and repeat myself. Allen has had a lot of good touches, and fired some good forward passes like gerrard usually does. Plus... he scored. 

    you want gerrard up front??? why?? his best attributes are his distribution, shooting and drive. What good would he do with his back to goal?? 

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  55. am i dreaming or did i specifically say the hodgeson/kenny season? oh yep i did its right up there. thanks for correcting me.. oh wait no you were totally wrong. xx

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  56. papa anteater was a good teacher

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  57. another goal from the average suarez ...honest i dont know why we dont just sell him

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  58. I'll say it again, Saurez=World class!!!!!
    By the way ignore Imraan & Jason they still have their lips firmly embedded on KK's buttocks!

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  59. haha, I think he was aiming towards the corner flag with that curla !!!
    right idea from shelvey trying to put hulk out of the game................and the stadium lol

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  60. That bearded defender should have been sent off for more than two bookable offences. Act now, Ref.

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  61. Neto his Name. Wanted to write the same!!

    Strange to see assaidi on the pitch btw

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  62. Assaidi has looked tidy

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  63. WTF are liverpool doing in defense clear the f*cking ball

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  64. Now thats the best strike of the night!!

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  65. Just don't get those two, we've had very little cheer this season, so why the negativity?

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  66. just lost legs and belief last ten mins. salvaged some pride. well played boys

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  67. Well played Brendan. Just got back in the game and playing well... perfect time to make a double change.

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  68. Rodgers formation worked, but it wasnt to be, credit to the players they gave there all.

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  69. Well done boys, great performance. On a slightly negative note, Shelvey looked rubbish again, Henderson was much better!

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  70. there also positives to take from this game, were still a wonderfull fighting team, the future is bright for us!!

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  71. yeeeah Jason with is intelligent input! You're intelligence is unrivaled... great points jason great points. If only you were a manager... 

    How many titles have you won in FM? Must be loads!

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  72. Hmm strange substitutions, in hindsight.

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  73. Cant help but feel the substitutions were poor tonight: a double change to take off 2 center mids changed our shape too much at once and let them get back into it. Sterling looked his age.

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  74. And that Ladies and Gentlemen is why Carragher is retiring at the end of the season 

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  75. Im not one to usually blame referees but One Neto SHOULD have been sent off,no question about it,and we had at least one clear cut penalty,If Allens hand ball against west ham is a penalty why wasn't their two handballs? Disgraceful 

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  76. lol so true.. perfect summary.. the great Alan Carr speaks again

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  77. and with that Rogers makes ur wet dreams cum true ....No Carling Cup < No FA Cup < No 4th and Now NO EUROPA and maybe nomore europe ....sorry mate my standards higher than yrs

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  78. bottled it did he? gotta say - i dont even mind they went out (Lets not forget they came from the champions league). That was a phenominal game. Also we did that without Sturridge. What a game.

    Assaidi got some minutes too! nice. Cant really fault anyone tonight.

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  79. If Assaidi can keep up that standard, also in training, I am sure we will see much more of him.

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  80. lololololol your so accurate... words of wisdom here

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  81. I don't think the Russians 'won' the war in any conventional sense, considering their massive, massive casualties.

    War is bad guys, yeah? Big lesson right here. All humans yada yada, brotherhood of man etc.

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  82. If I was to teach you something it definitely wouldn't have to do anything with going down on you knees. I doubt that you would make a good pupil for the things I could teach (how about learning German, gilstrap).

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  83. To talk in Jason's terms, are you two boyfriends?

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  84. If Allen is Rodgers' boyfriend, then Brendan deserves our respect for punching above his weight with a millionaire, 22 year old athlete.

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  85. I seem to get it now. You are sarcastic, right.

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  86. WE LOST BECAUSE CARRAGHER MESSED IT UP IT'S THAT SIMPLE HAD HE CLEARED HIS LINES OR HOOFED IT WE GO THROUGH. SORRY BUT HE'S RETIRING AT THE CORRECT TIME.

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  87. we went 3 1 up and he makes changes right away poor decision its all about timing and rodgers your timing was crap.the two subs should have been 75 mins not 60 mins when the same team that started got us back in the match and sterling what is the point!!

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  88. Nice use of punctuation.

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  89. Taking off Allen and bringing on Shelvey obviously didn't work out right.

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  90. You should have kept that comment in rhyme.

    It would have been sublime.

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  91. He has always had this kind of mistake in him. Based on that he should have retired 20 years ago. But there are other aspects to his game, too.

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  92. LOL@CHARLIE DON'T START HIM OFF HE'LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT AND DAY!..JASON YOUR THE SMARTEST PERSON ON HERE AND ALWAYS CORRECT... NEVER ARGUE WITH A FOOL

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  93. On the plus side - a good win, showed character, Assaidi played, Suarez was magnificent, Allen did a good job for the first time in a while, Henderson played fairly well.

    On the bad side - We're out of all competitions now, and Sterling and Shelvey did not impress me, and the subtitutions were very weird to me since the team on the pitch have just scored 3 goals after being 1 down. Oh, and Carra has now joined the costly error making center backs we have.

    Was a good match to watch, and gave me a lot of belief for the future, even though BR need to get his match management skills together. He is the complete opposite of Rafa, for better and worse.

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  94. True, but still we went out of Europe with our head held high.

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  95. shelvey was poor when he came on...looked clumsy...but i thought assadi looked good ...not impressed with the defence at all ...jose is better up front than at the back....gerrard was superb as was luis....we really missed sturridge up front ...we just couldnt hold the ball up front

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  96. Yep, this was a galling decision. I think it lost us the tie to be honest.

    Assaidi was tidy when he came on, though Shelvey doesn't have the mentality to play on an occasion like this (or to play to level football, I feel).

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  97. What are you on man? Stevie had one of his least effective performances tonight! Some of the "analysis" that you come out with beggars belief.

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  98. Lets say I like him as much as Rodgers likes Carroll. His views and understanding of the game is only second to a donkey

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  99. LFC1892-Rafas Last Game10:19 pm, February 21, 2013

    if our scouts were at the match they must surely put Hulks name forward for our next signing,he would be perfect for the premiership and would work in tandem with Suarez and sturridge.I would cash in on Shelvey and use that money to pay for the Hulk.

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  100.  Ant, he was a great defender but he should not be starting games this season Skertel even with mistakes is a better defender RIGHT NOW than Carragher. I for once wish Carragher had just done his usual HOOF

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  101. boll2cks he made one miss kick all night .what about the effort by reina for the goal now he really should hang his boots and gloves up. for sale a pair of pepe reina goalkeeping gloves £20 hardly used!!!

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  102. Yeah thats true,The players Genuinely gave 100%,It was a cracking game to watch too,but seriously how is pulling the shirt off a lad not a yellow card?Its plain wrong that nothing was given

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  103.  Hold up did Shelby cause the Zenit goal ?...Criticize Carragher his mistake his fault end of

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  104. He doesn't know what he talking about half the time ;-)

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  105. Looks really good on the ball.. Impressed how easily he can skip past defenders. 

    The day Shelvey and Agger start to hit the target we'll have about 20 more goals

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  106. not gonna happen why would he come ? His on more money and he's expensive,had Dalglish been less Xenophobic he could have got Hulk instead of Carroll.

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  107. I think we can take pride in this loss (aggregate). The team showed fight and this is the best we've played without Sturridge for a while. Suarez showed his undeniable class and really delivered when it mattered. It is a shame that some of his team-mates weren't able to attain his level.

    Two sour notes on a night which has left me feeling surprisingly upbeat. The first is that Carra's great career has basically ended in ignominy, with his final important contribution being a mistake. I'd still play him ahead of Skrtel right now, though.

    The second is Rodgers' frankly baffling decision to make the double sub when he did. I think it lost us the tie. I was initially underwhelmed by his selection, but in the end, judging by our play and our alternatives, he got it right. What possessed him to destroy his own good work, I'll never know.

    Good to see the lads salvage pride though. Usually I care as much if we lose 1-0 as 10-0, but I think this fight back will have wider influence on our season and will have a positive effect for the players. It could be a bit of a watershed for the Rodgers era.

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  108. You do realise Zenit paid £45 million for him? AND his team mates had arguments with him because of his wages,now Im pretty sure his team mates would be on close 100k a week,So £45 with probably a 150-200k wages...Not a chance m8,not a chance

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  109. no he needs to talk to easyjet and get a oneway ticket back to spain

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  110. My thoughts exactly.

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  111. The Press at the end of the season will be in a Feeding Frenzy with Suarez going to every club in the champions league. Just heard Houghton sticking the boot into Suarez saying that he looked like he was leaving at end, another Kenny pom pom waver.
    How these Ex Liverpool Pundits get a gig is amazing

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  112. I can now recall one particular comment you've made where you mentioned the word "brick".

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  113. yes we are; wanna threesome?

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  114.  @ac77f14a3eecbef9c94812bbe1008bd8:disqus  yeah we looked world beaters with Adam & Carroll ..there pulling up Trees since they left.

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  115. And that punctuation wasn't intended to mean something, but now as you point it out.

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  116.  Half the time? All the time!!! I'm sure he's a ManUre fan in disguise. I've never seen such anti LFC talk from any LFC fan before. Up north we'd call this fella a gobshite.

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  117.  yes, we got three goals from it!!! Stick to FM on your laptop - you'd still lose!

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  118.  One we lost and the other we needed pens to beat a Championship team. What a memorable season - it'll go down in history that one!

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  119. Shelvey's energy and "harassing" of the opponents are useful assets, if only he could add some quality football to it.

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  120. Very proud of the boys today and especially Suarez. Going a goal down I thought about calling it a night until visions of istanbul came flashing back and we almost did it! I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to knock BR on those substitutions. We were really taking the game to them and had them on the back foot because of our closing down off the ball and winning headers in the air. Assaidi and Shelvey came on a did ok in attack but we lost that defensive solidity that had Zenit trapped in their own half. I dont think either player won one header since they got on the field and I've always said shelvey looks lazy and confused on the defensive side of the ball and it was clearly on display today. Nontheless, it was a great game to watch and the fans were magnificent. With Spurs and Chelsea sneaking in at the end of their respective games, I think it shows that we just need to work on a few things in the summer in order to gain that winning mentality we're sorely missing this season. YNWA!

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  121. They just bought Hulk recently for a big transfer fee as well as big wages. Hulk's yearly wages probably amount to Shelvey's current value. Nah, Hulk's wages aren't that low... ;)

    On to something more sensible and with all due respect, onto a man that you are fond of, I see Rafa's Chelsea struggled to overcome a average side at home tonight. What say ye? A team that won the CL final last season and now has them struggling to beat half-decent teams at home. Oh I'm talking about now at Chelsea, not Inter, even though the circumstances aren't that different but of course, Chelsea improved the first XI with Hazard and Oscar for big bucks.

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  122. Carra has been really good in the past few games. Skrtel on the other hand has returned to his normal self after one outstanding season.

    To be honest, I never thought that Carra was such a great defender. His footballing skills are pretty limited and, during his entire career, he's looked like a Sunday league player at times. His commitment though can not be questioned at all and he's had a great career with us.

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  123. We can't change it anymore. When the Ref gave that yellow card ahead of the first free-kick Luis scored from, I had high hopes that he had the balls to get a few Russians sent off, but maybe someone has had a few words with him at half-time.

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  124. Was that a stamp by Suarez?

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  125. You're right about carra i thought him and agger played well, such a shame just one mistake and its punished. Reina did make a good save in the second half, he is good at those types, but its the one on ones he doesnt gamble on way or the other.

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  126. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and with the advantage of hindsight I agree with your points. Ahead of the match people were slating Rodgers for starting Allen. 

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  127. Sorry Charlie; didn't you know? Jason is an unequalled intellectual giant. His knowledge and repartee is unrivalled the world over. King of FM and the most hardened armchair fair-weather fan in the world. I've never known such a staunch, true LFC fan in all my years supporting this club.
    Jason; we're not worthy .....no really; we're not. Why not go a support Man City - they're on the rise? Or pick another club? How about you lick your finger, stick it in the air and see which way the wind blows. That'll determine your next club eh?

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  128. I agree with your comment until you mention Rafa. I'm to tired now to list all the odd/too late/too early/wrong substitutions he's made, very costly one's, too.

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  129. so for once he never cleared his lines ? hes been the best defender at the club for the last ten years including this season u might not have much football knowleadge but have some respect .and i would be over the moon ( thats a football term) if he signed a 12 month contract

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  130. It was a very bad decision. It seemed like a bad decision from the start, whereas his starting line up imo wasnt dreadful. I think shelvey could have a role to play tbh, needs to work on his attitude and skill a lot out on loan. He shouldve done better with his shot, if its on target it had a good chance of going in.

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  131. Yes, it was one of those one-off games where it can become tactically reckless but it was nice to see Allen doing well in a more attack-minded role/mindset and show people what he has in his locker. Needs to do more of that in games where we aren't going out all attack to get 4 goals.

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  132. LFC1892-Rafas Last Game10:48 pm, February 21, 2013

    Suarez recently gave an interview in which he was asked about leaving,I think he slipped up, not by saying he has a contract until 2018,but when he said yes he would look at it at the end of the season or the end of the 2014 season.I, reading between the lines think he will only be able to leave for a certain amount at the end of the 2014 season if we dont get CL football,yet he got muddled up and backtracked and said  he would look at where we are at the end of this season,now i think LFC have told him not to mention any agreements so when he stays at the end of this season which he has to as surely if lFc trebled his wages and he signed a new contract extension until 2018 they will want reassurances, which he signed.With all the spin these days the club have told him to keep any agreements secret so when he stays next season it would look fantastic for the club as though theyve persuaded him to see BRs and LFCs vision and the fans would be taken in by this charade,and suddenly everything would look fantastic at the start next season with him still here whereas if it came out now he was satying until end of 2014 everyone would take it for granted and if we dont get anyone in for next season the fans would be despondent before a ball was kicked.

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  133. 'You are sarcastic, right.'

    This looks like a question to me bro, you gotta make that statement an interrogative with one of these dudes > ?

    Woo. Grammar.

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  134. Yes for once he never cleared his lines and cost us a GOAL FACT. Oh and BTW accusation of Carragher being the ' best  defender at the club for the last ten years' WRONG SAMI HYPIA was.

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  135. Well, I surely am not a Kenny pom pom waver, but had the same feeling about Suarez at the end. But I'm not a mind reader or exceptionally good at making psychological evaluations from what I've seen on the screen. We'll have to wait for the summer to see what happens.

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  136. im all ears...but we get plenty of rain in merseyside and there are no german chippies so ill have to pass you up on it

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  137. I don't even think he works that hard though. I think he just fouls people. I'd rather have kept Allen or Hendo on personally.

    I used to have more time for Shelvey, but now I can see him being no more than a squad player. Nothing against him personally, just don't think he is up to it.

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  138. and your still postin crap!

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  139. I've seen it again. Stamp. Deliberate. 

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  140.  that works for me

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  141. LFC1892-Rafas Last Game10:53 pm, February 21, 2013

    No way was that a stamp,Suarez was completely off balance had no were to go except over the player and he did it in such a way he hardly touched the player,i think Andy Townsend was a disgrace at what he said,and he must have been told as much by his producer as the commentaters both went quiet for a minute after Townsends reckless and wrong comments.

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  142.  when you say that billy, it means so much more

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  143. So you wouldn't want to learn something for the sake of adding knowledge to your mind. There is enough precipitation where I live and no British chippies, still speak English a bit.

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  144. If Rafa was still in charge you wouldn't be too tired. You'd be full of energy and the world would be a magical place.

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  145. a bit like your posts 

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  146. It was a stamp, a deliberate one, in my opinion. You could see his eyes and the movement. That wasn't accidental. He eyes give it away.

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  147. shame, we're just about to wrap up here!

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  148. Ah, so it's only the question-mark that is missing, right?

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  149. Glad others know it!

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  150. I know; why haven't we used him this season as much as we should have? It's been a waste of talent/potential - especially as we don;t have much strength in depth.

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  151. Lol  thats one of the funniests posts i have read

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  152. Hard to say. I though it was at first, but on the replay, he isn't looking at him which suggests it wasn't intentional.

    I don't think it was a big deal either way. If it was on purpose, he shouldn't be doing it, but by the same token, it doesn't make him the antichrist. I think it was more symptomatic of frustration and eagerness (intentional or no) than nastiness.

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  153. You could put it in quotation marks for double sarcasm.

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  154. I would be to tired, too. No energy left today, sorry and the world is a magical place with or without Rafa.

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  155.  oKAY CHAN WE GET THE DRIFT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A STAMP...NO NEED TO REPEAT YOURSELF

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  156. Enrique is in fantastic attacking form, loved his one two with henderson. 

    Suarez was great, his work rate is what makes him. But remember if he had played better in russia it couldve been totally different. Every time im disappointed in him  he does something incredible, so many wasted free kicks this year i always doubt him but then he scores. hes scored 4 fks all at important times this season so deserves to take them. Then he treds on their player near the end... why??? I just dont see the need for it, he looks down and steps on his back. may not have meant it but still its so galling!

    I think the starting line up was good, only change couldve been wisdom for allen. but BR's motto is that you cant score if you dont have the ball, and with allen the extra man in midfield he has more insurance to keep possession. You could see the benefit with our non stop waves of attack.
       It also allowed johnson and enrique to both get forward because of the lucas/allen insurance, which added width. Having said that, width seems pointless for us because our crosses are so poor and we have noone to score headers bar sturridge (suarez can do it but he is a little short).

    The substitutions definitely changed the game away from us.. we had 30 mins, plenty of time to score, but the game suddenly became more open and we never took control like we had before. taking out both allen and hendo at the same time was a bad move.  and downing for sterling was also bad as downing had experience of needing 4 goals in europa with middlesborough and he was their talisman. Sterling was lost

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  157. Compared to you I am Pele when it comes to posts.

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  158.  why not go for 4 stamps chan ...then jk will get involved LOL

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  159. you forgot to mention the stamp

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  160. The world is a magical place, eh?

    I assume you're referring to Chelsea's heroic fightback against Sparta Prague.

    It took all of Rafa's knowhow to fell those giants.

    You're right, the world is magical wherever Rafa is.

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  161. You are "sarcastic", right? Better? I'll now admit that I never was a great student when it came to learning grammar rules. Always relied on my feeling for a language. And I'm still willing to improve, so thanks for your help! And good night.

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  162. Perhaps,but it annoys me just thinking about it

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  163. he goes he goes he stays he stays ...the same for eveyone...dont knock yourseld anteater you would make a great pom pom waver

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  164. How do you know that?

    Carroll cost £10mil less and was probably on a third of the wages. Plus we still weren't in Europe.

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  165. Yeah youre right we've kinda been looking for someone in that role all season, hendo shelvey suso sterling enrique have all played there. Why not an established pro in his best position?

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  166.  lol ....end of kid

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  167. I agree second to gilstrap.

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  168. I dunno, we still went out. I agree this match was great fun and we were on top against a decent side and gave it a right go, but over two legs i feel like we shouldve won. didnt see much of the first leg but it seemed we shouldve come back with more. Its a sign of a young team though.

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  169. I feel guilty for taking the piss now.

    Also, I can't read this post as I type it, because the comment box is so small.

    Your grammar is fine. Ignore my jokey post.

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  170. Nah, apparently me and JK are the one and same, so he doesn't need any further encouragement to start a stamp article ;)

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  171. You have trouble getting them up?

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  172.  the wonder of the web von anteater is i may be a street busker or aa acrobat ....gilstrap is my football alterego he bears little to my lifestyle 

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  173. sami went 5 years ago a very good centre half a close 2nd to carra FACT and  the 2nd FACT is your wrong

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  174. Got nothing to do with Allen. You have mentioned the S word quite a bit in this thread, I thought I was the only one ;)

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  175.  Half the time?!?!? Try all the time!!!!

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  176. Mines a female, Charlie is really Charlotte; she's got massive t*ts and sucks a c0ck like she's been poisoned and it's got the antidote in it. You really missed a trick tonight fella!!!

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  177. what, that's how you pick a club, or are we talking about ripping Jason?

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  178. Sorry, do you not realise that building something from scratch takes time? Did you thing that Shank's won something in his first season? He didn't! Houllier didn't either. But watching the Swansea game, the Man City game, tonight's game etc; I realise that we're watching something in the making here. It will take time; much more than one season - but if you truly support it all the way it could take us to new heights and leave a legacy which can continue! Let the new players embed themselves and the youth continue to grow - add to that quality players and we can go somewhere!!! Can you see someone else can play football as good as we did tonight with Shelvey, Downing and Henderson in their team? If you think that; they speak to a Villa fan!

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  179. good reply!

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  180. Is it just me or is this insistence on the slow build up from the back after costing us that match. How many times did we lose momentum at crucial times in the second half.

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  181. it certainly looked that way, allen in all fairness got better as the game went on and that goal took a monkey off his back.
    shelvey looks like hes constantly sulking now, good talent but lacks the right mentality.
    thought lucas was brilliant, getting back to his best

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  182. Hypia by a country mile !! Not only the best defender of the last 10 years but 30 years ..

    Carras been great.. love the guy and all that.. but seriously it's not even a discussion..  

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  183. Important thing about the substitutions: they can only be as good as the people coming on. Maybe it shows the lack of depth in our squad and this is why we lost? Still.. why change something that's working? especially if the players coming on arent too special.

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  184. hate to state the obvious, but why oh why is that effort not there every week, regardless of burn out, half our team are nippers so shouldn't be as much of a prob.
    and we showed great courage with the pass and move and beating players one on one, we beat a decent team with big talent.
    Johnson was disappointing in the second half just lacked his flair and imagination, to reserved.
    IF only we had got sturridge at the start....................................slate me I know!!!!
    suarez............just cant get enough!!!
    kicked all over the pitch, what a player. naughty with the studs, maybe refs should be protecting him more ie like Ronaldo etc.
    poor carra...........always a legend, played well enough

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  185. Nice effort with the win but that's the problem with this team - only bother to show up when things get almost impossible. Struggles to go for the jugular from the 'start'. Just no real winner's mentality.

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  186. In my opinion, what possessed BR to destroy his own good work was probably his ego. He probably wanted to show that he could make changes and make a working idea work even better.

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  187. You could be right, but I can't see that being the case.

    That said, I can't come up with a more compelling line of reasoning.

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  188. I think if we can bring in another DM just for midfield depth, We could loan shelvey out next season and basically give him a sink or swim season.

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  189. Actually Imraan, I prefer what BR is doing, the quality of players KK sanctioned last year is proportional to the content of your posts-a small clue, Varying Shades of brown & very smelly! Coutinho vs Adam, Sturridge vs Caroll. Hendo & Downing are showing some promise but to say they are value for money is still a step too far!

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