25 Sept 2013

Confirmed LFC line-up vs. Man Utd: New signing playing out of position again....

As expected, Reds striker Luis Suarez returns for this evening's League Cup clash with Manchester United.

For once, my prediction for the team actually turned out to be correct (!):

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Toure, Sakho, Skrtel, Enrique, Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Moses, Suarez, Sturridge

SUBS: Jones, Alberto, Aspas, Sterling, Ibe, Kelly, Wisdom

MAN UTD: De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Buttner, Nani, Jones, Giggs, Kagawa, Rooney, Hernandez

SUBS: Amos, Fabio, Anderson, Carrick, Zaha, Januzaj, Welbeck

Based on the personnel, it seems likely that Kolo Toure is once again playing at right back, which inecitably means Liverpool will lose some attacking thrust down the right.

Why doesn't Rodgers just play Kelly?! If he's on the bench, then he's fit to play, and if he's not fully match-fit, how is he supposed to achieve that on the sidelines?

Toure is a quality player, but playing him out of position is not the answer (IMO)

It's good to see that Agger is being rested, though after his performance on Saturday, even if was fit, he'd deserve to be on the bench (IMO)

In my earlier team prediction, I argued that Henderson should play deeper in midfield, with Gerrard playing higher up the field. As such, I hope to see this:

----------------- Mignolet

Toure ------- Skrtel --- Sakho --- Enrique

------------- Lucas ----- Hendo

----------------- Gerrard

----------- Suarez ----- Moses

----------------- Sturridge

I doubt this will happen, but you never know. Maybe Rodgers will surprise us...?

FULL TIME: Man Utd 1-0 LFC

* Not a great start to Sakho's LFC career: 3 games, no wins. Before he started playing, LFC were winning every game (!)

* As I illustrated a few days ago, having Suarez in the team is no guarantee of success. Last season, LFC failed to win 21 of the 33 league games he started, and tonight, he couldn't make the difference (although he played okay)

* Lucas/Gerrard needs to be dismantled. Totally ineffective as a midfield partnership.

* There are positives to take from the game, despite the defeat, but I'll save those for another post.



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


204 comments:

  1. Looks like you got it right ;)

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  2. wishing all the best

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  3. Well, once every few months I get something right ;-)

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  4. You got it amazingly right lol :D If BR fields the formation that you posted then its clear that he's visiting your site ;)

    That team can win against ManUre, hopefully we beat them. I want them to beat em so bad.

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  5. A nice change of pace indeed aha.

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  6. Looks alright - Toure isn't a bad option for RB, better than Wisdom in both attacking and defending - can't say anything about Kelly, is he that good?. Maybe Toure's defensive abilities will come in handy. Either way, I think we'll win. 3-2 is my prediction - good thing RVP is out.

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  7. Obviously BR prefers the voice of experience on the field. Am sure MANY players get their place because of their presence on the field and not their ability. I mean, his presence will definitely enhance other player's performances around him, right?

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  8. Why is it that IBE is not having his chance to prove his ability? He has really impressed during the pre-season matches...

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  9. Then again, Aspas impressed during the pre-season matches as well...

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  10. When Kelly is healthy, he can be a formidable player for us.


    Though I envision him as more of a CB than a RB. But he's flexible enough skill-wise to play both positions.

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  11. Liverpool playing three at the back. Why experiment like this in such a high profile game?

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  12. Lets see what happens, after all BR takes all decisions for LFC's good.

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  13. Because it's in an unimportant competition. And it's not an experiment, they've used the formation plenty of times under Rodgers, to good effect, as you know perfectly well.

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  14. Enrique, defensively, is having a crackin game. He has really stepped up IMHO. Sakho is showing that he is really willing to trust his team-mates but Jesus, he applies some pressure on them. Toure? Maybe he has been a llittle over-rated. Right-back is definitely NOT his position. Having said all that, I really cant wait for Johnson to come back, him and Enrique are TOP TOP full-backs. Again, IMHO.

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  15. Plenty of times? That is a major exaggeration. From my count, less than 5 times last season, and even fewer times effectively. Plus, the current 11 have never played 5 at the back together prior to this game.

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  16. Good first half, but all first halves this season have been good. Second half is where things have gone pear-shaped, so hopefully LFC will buck the trend this time.

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  17. ..well...they didn't last long

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  18. This is why Hernandez always scares me. He's a little shit. Always finds a way to score yet never gets played.

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  19. are lucas and gerrard playing

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  20. We are boringly predictable and deserve to lose - Send Rodgers to Germany TO LEARN

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  21. Hooray...finally lucas is off, about bloody time!! I'd also bring on sterling or ibe for moses.

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  22. if it's a draw, do we go to extra time, or straight to the anfield replay?

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  23. we simply dont have a clue how to score - SO PREDICTABLE -They shoot we stall and stall and stall

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  24. we're lacking that last killer touch/pass!

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  25. have we got a striker who can shoot first time

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  26. We need a dribbler with pace and have done for 20 bloody years- HOPELESS

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  27. 2nd half groan...

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  28. NO EXCUSES - WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND SUNDERLAND WILL BEAT US TOO

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  29. Enough of this whinging. I'm off.

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  30. we had a dribbler but we shipped him to stock

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  31. you're being ridiculous.

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  32. thats another route into europe gone...historically king kennys tenur will go down a lot more successful than people think...well struggle for top 6 so that leaves the fa cup as the next route into europe

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  33. urgh enrique like in my previous argument defensive liability

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  34. go home RAY your drunk

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  35. Really? On the whole we probably were the better team with the better chances. Poor finishing again. And their goal was criminal defending by Enrique. The sky ain't falling, even if it seems you want it to.

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  36. Give me a break. LFC had to beat Cardiff City on penalties. Hardly a glorious victory. Dalglish's second spell will go down in history for what it was: A financially disastrous period of mediocrity.

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  37. we are good enough you are not

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  38. Seriously, why does Europa league matter so much? Is it going to give all the benefits of the champions league?

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  39. jose was head and shoulders the man of the match ...no one else did f*ck all...moses suarez and sturridge just tripped over there feet....lucas and gerrard where anoonymoues

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  40. Spot on mate. It's sad but it's spot on.

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  41. Agree. Second half was better than most this season. Even if Enrique lost his man, though, why didn 't anyone else react? Hernandez had all the time in the world to bury that shot.

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  42. its cause of dalglish were still in this position

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  43. I was watching the match on shitty live internet streams, and from what I saw, Liverpool were better most of the time I saw the match. I didn't see the goal. Every time we got in a good position however, we started tripping over ourselves and mis-timing everything.

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  44. Jesus Ray, it was 1-0, not 3-0.

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  45. I think you're the dribbler...

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  46. He was at fault for the goal, which negates all of that, how hard is it to follow your marker? Criminal...

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  47. yea.. and then hernandez scored /:

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  48. we are finding different ways to concede from the corner.on the whole we were better today

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  49. the thing about winning cups jamie is you first have to get in the final something we wont be doing any time soon

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  50. Unfortunate yes but for me, Enrique was Man of the Match.

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  51. Overall, while the result stinks, I didn't think it was a bad game.


    Neither team deserved to lose. Both teams got their bounces for and against them... Unfortunately one theirs went in and none of ours did.


    Onward and Upward to the weekend.

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  52. Who cares about winning the Capital friggin' cup?! The league is what matters, and getting back into the CL. Back in the day, the League Cup had some weight; now, it's just whored out to advertisers, and has nothing really to do with football. Needless distraction.

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  53. true but did u see how he lost chicharito he was all over him then for no reason whatsoever he just stops he always does this nonsense lapses in concentration urgh so frustrating aly cissokho please come back please we need u

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  54. Why did Rodgers not play Henderson in the midfield against lower opposition/preseason, and then experiment with him at Old Trafford. Henderson should be groomed to become our box-to-box midfielder.. he has all the traits and the work ethic.

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  55. jose was our only threat....but i know its cool to knock him and not the other 10 who did nothing

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  56. maybe but there where 3 other centre backs in that box

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  57. STURRIDGE NEEDS to learn to be quick with the ball.. you can't score if you can't shoot

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  58. wake up and smell the coffee jamie we wont be in the running for top 4 ..the cups are our best route into silverware and europe

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  59. ever since fergie retired, i'm going to start finding these defeats to utd a bit more bearable.

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  60. Threat...? How many of his passes or shots were accurate around the goal? What Enrique is really poor in is his end product and it really lets him down, generally he's great at most other things.

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  61. Ray, it was against Man Utd, it was a tough game, stop talking shite!!!

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  62. but he was marking him it was his man i understand u defending enrique i like the guy to he is great at times and then at other times he switches off which makes him a DEFENSIVE LIABILITY which needs to be replaced can't fault gerrard or lucas today what were there jobs to keep the midfield ticking and they did the front three u can fault they were meant to score no one did imo moses is um not quite there but early days still the back four are meant to defend sakho and skrtel (another defensive liability) did well kolo toure heads and shoulders my mom man oozes passion kelly in now hopefully we can have a better back four

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  63. Yeah who have their own duties and if I'm not mistaken expect their fellow defenders to do their job too...

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  64. its all irrelavant anyway ...utds second string have put us out

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  65. My gripe is with BR and his tactics. Poor Poor Poor.

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  66. just what we need in the trenches a guy who goes off injured tieing his laces

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  67. yes okay....but cups are not our route into the real f**king europe that everyone cares about! For God's sake. You moan about not making the top 4, yet your solution is to prioritise the cup competitions! If we do that...we'll never make the top 4! You're basically trying to concede the club to mediocrity and low standards for the foreseeable future. Stupid logic.

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  68. Agree Jose was responsible for the goal. But also Toure for giving away soft corner.


    As for Moses, he was lost in the free role. And why did Alberto not get on as a sub?

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  69. What on earth were you talking about? We made some very good chances. The only thing predictable was that we'd not capitalise!

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  70. well we will have plenty of time mid week to rest players

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  71. The 3-5-2 formation will suit Liverpool, if executed properly. But BR is hopeless, so how are the player meant to know what to do.

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  72. hes a left back m8 what was moses doing apart fron f*ck all

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  73. are we using tactics ...because having just watched the game i couldnt work out who was where or what

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  74. Where are you going with this?

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  75. eh true true what will u do still early days for our squad just gotta keep the faith and remember at the end of the day goal is cl so although i'm dissapointed at least this wasn't a leauge game

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  76. UTD were not that good, that is what has made me so miff about this loss.


    Again inconsistency makes it's way into the back door. Man for man we had the better team but lacked the killer instinct.

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  77. um right i don't recall that i recall a tackle or something but ok cool

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  78. im just saying with no europe and one less cup competition we will have a lot of time on our hands so rogers has no f*cking excuse about squad size or tired player when some teams are up to there bollocks in games

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  79. can't-take-it-anymore...10:02 pm, September 25, 2013

    And there goes European football down the toilet.
    Moses and Sturridge were poor but of course we have nothing to show for it. I guess Aspas and Alberto were bought just to look cool. Pathetic midfield. The team looks like it's going to break any second and all our chances seems to involve luck. But i guess Rodgers is happy because he has a great friend in Moyes that he can laugh with himself with. Alberto can score, Henderson can't. Why didn't he play. He can pass comfortably. 
The game was up for grabs for us. United were week and played their second choice line up. Great job Rodgers in the transfer window. He probably wouldn't understand we lost European football until his 90 or something.
    Moses just ain't good enough. His completely limited. He should have played Sterling and Alberto from start who can lead attacks.
    Pathetic proformance. Rodgers home. He can dream there about his jokes with un-intrested Moyes at his face. Moyes looked like he wanted to win more when he probably is going to coach a team in European competitions next year.
    We've seen enough. We get use to this sh!te which worries most - it's to much.

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  80. can't-take-it-anymore...10:04 pm, September 25, 2013

    I rather give Dalglish unlimited chances then continuing to give it to spaced out Rodgers.

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  81. rogers changing his system suggest he doesnt know how to fit all his players in...he has to play sako but he knows toure and agger are his best centre backs...its laughable how fickle he is

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  82. whatdoesitmatter....10:05 pm, September 25, 2013

    Rodgers home.

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  83. Sturridge had a bad game but Rodgers doesn't play his own transfer window dealings. He got nothing to show. Next please.

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  84. two cup final medicrity....just out of curiosity jamie what rogers spent up to know

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  85. can't-take-it-anymore...10:10 pm, September 25, 2013

    We need European football next year which United is much much much more likely to get. They played they're secong line-up. No excuses. Stop with the softening. We look bad for 7 games now since the season started. I would start looking for a new manager tomorrow if i was the owners. We played like losers.

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  86. Agree with most of above. Problem is different formations suit different players. Moses/Sterling are at their best when they are one-on-one taking on defenders. They are not suited to playing a central midfield or #10 role which is what they were asked to play today, and at which they were hopeful.


    This leads me to my gripe about BR. If he wants to play 3-5-2 why did he not buy Erikson. He would have been perfect for this, as either cover or together with Cortinho.


    Additionally, if you play 3-5-2, three central defenders stay back, and BOTH wing backs bomb forward to make space on the outside, and by inference spreading the play and allow more space for the central 3. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TODAY.


    All down to BR. Awful manager.

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  87. you tight twat hahah i watched ii on stream to hahaha

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  88. Moses limited. Not good enough to a starter for LFC. Poor transfer buisness by spaced out Rodgers.

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  89. thats why they call him buck rogers

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  90. A hell of a lot less than Dalglish, and with much more success.

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  91. can't-take-it-anymore...10:14 pm, September 25, 2013

    Great words. Pathetic that BR didn't threw Alberto, Sterling, Ibe in sooner and didn't play Kelly from start. Another Chicken match that we didn't get lucky enough to win this time.

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  92. what success we have won nothing....

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  93. Success in terms of buying better players, at infinitely better value. Winning the Carling Cup against lower-league opposition *on penalties* is not success; it's an embarrassment.

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  94. You are right. It some times reminds me about playground football. Kick the ball and watch the herd follow it.

    What does BR do in training???

    We had more corners today than Man U, but not once did we look threatening. Why is that?? What do the boys practice?

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  95. Not a Deluded fan no more.10:16 pm, September 25, 2013

    Rodgers home. Go dream about your chat with Moyes, it's all you did today. I hope Sunderland beat us so the deluded can see once again.

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  96. Criticise by all means, but don't be deliberately disingenuous just to further your negativity. Rodgers' tactics were blatantly obvious: 352 etc. It may not have yielded a win, but there were positives in the game too, and for some stretches of the game, the team was quite tactically disciplined.

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  97. allen and borini are top draw ill give you that ...tino is on fire this year...and alberto and aspas have golden boot written all over them ...and sako when he doesnt pass the ball to the opposing attackers looks like a wall at the back

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  98. going into this game with a 352 formation stinks of a manager who is trying to fit 12 players into 11 places

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  99. Here here.. I've been calling for BR to replaced since he is way out of his depth. Self obsessed apologist.


    Still don't know why we did not consider Rafa. Did OK at Chelsea, and doing OK at Napoli.

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  100. Whatever. It's still obvious what the tactical plan was, and although I'm not a fan of that formation, it worked okay for the most part.

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  101. he has everything apart from shooting.

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  102. how it worked is irrelevant to me its why he picked the formation which bothers me...with luck we may well have won and on the same note we may have lost 3 nil...its blatent that he is putting individuals over the team

















    it

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  103. can't-take-it-anymore...10:24 pm, September 25, 2013

    Sterling can create chances for OTHERS way better then limited Moses, he would have suited this game much better. It wasn't that much of an intense game - Alberto should have been in from start for he can pass creativly and fluently. So why did Rodgers get him and Aspas. Stturidge was OUT. Rodgers didn't changed this in half time. Why not play Aspas who is eegear to score and that he himself Rodgers bought.
    And BR, he's just too full of him self and a way too un proven couch to lead this team at this time. And wayyy too spaced out.

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  104. What does Rodgers being polite to Moyes have to do with anything? Nothing. You're just latching onto that to give yourself another excuse to spout bile. Also, stop posting under multiple IDs. Yes, I can spot it via the disqus dashboard.

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  105. When I look at how Hiddink, Mourinho, Rafa, Ancellotti set up their teams and prep for the game, why is it so hard for BR not to do the same..?


    Ah sorry, dumb question, cos BR is inept.

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  106. Not a Deluded fan no more.10:29 pm, September 25, 2013

    Such an un ambitious fan and such deluded things to say. No one says don't run for top 4. But in REALITY European football is a must if LFC doesn't want to stay midtable and to attracts players, and more to keep the best players she has. Rodgers himself declared that LFC this year want go light headed to any match and would do her best in this tournament .

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  107. A few points.

    1. Agree Dalglish overspent and bought poorly
    2, Agree BR spending less
    3. Agree Dalglish success did not improve league standing
    4. Disagree on BR buying better value. He is simply spending less money, but still buy junk and average players. (Cortinho is the one major exception)
    5. BR has NO clue about tactics and no PLAN B to change things mid-game.

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  108. What does it matter when we don't manage fluent football for 7 games in a row. Who cares about those small observations right now. Chicken matches and pathetic loses under smile Rodgers. LFC needs reforms. Send those deluded owners and management packing.

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  109. We have no chance of top 6 at this rate. Problem is, will the owners move BR on, or wait until June?

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  110. Not a bad dress rehearsal for the important games to come. Suarez played well all things considered, might have wasted some chances, but all set up some really nice chances - which were wasted. Sturridge decided he would try for assists today - which is welcome, but he probably should have shot when he did so.



    Not a terrible result, good game for the players the get used to each other again. The creativity is back. There was always going to be some wrinkles to iron out in this game, and United were the favorites.


    Henderson lost it at the end - usually he keeps his cool.

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  111. Smile to Moyes and lose10:35 pm, September 25, 2013

    Ya did two but he squeezed the chances somehow.

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  112. It is blatantly obvious that we need one central midfielder that can dictate play and another that can score goals. I love Lucas but finally I have realised that we will not win the league with him. If we are going to play Gerrard then it must be further forward or not at all.

    Come January Rodgers has to go sign an influential central midfielder.

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  113. I actually like the 3-5-2 if played/used properly. But it was not.


    As for "the most part" this had less to do with us, and more to do with Man U being worse than us.



    To play 3-5-2 you need your central 3 to play tic-a-tac football, eg Arsenal or Barcelona.. We cant play that way since our players dont have the touch, close control or short pass/move game to make it work. Alberto should have played.


    Better still, had we bought Erikson, he should have played. But BR chose not to buy Erikson.

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  114. Not a Deluded fan no more.10:46 pm, September 25, 2013

    One of the best I've heard. Only one i won't hurry ti judge is Alberto who who knows the heel why didn;t play today. O maybe it's because Henderson can run which is pretty amazing and Gerrard can pass backwards which is very helpful. Sorry but i thought Gerrard should have started feeling the bench since he got picked over Benayoun and never passed him when played together under Benitez'es last season in-charge, while he was very very poor that whole season and Benayoun was top class every chance he got. Wonder why Torres wanted to leave then and why Suarez wanted to leave last month.

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  115. Probably see more of the same nutmegs, one-twos, and constant movement with the return of Suarez along with Sturridge, Moses and Coutinho. Won't always come off and isn't necessarily tidy as well as players may look out of place at times but definitely moves the opposition defence and centre midfield about. Just got to hope we don't over do it. Probably my favorite part of Suarez's game, which is the way he unsettles the opposition with his on/off-the-ball movement.

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  116. Chelsea were not struggling when Rafa managed them last season plus they have a top team.


    Napoli finished 2nd last season so they were not struggling either.


    What makes you think Rafa would have gotten us out of the hole he left us in?

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  117. I would go with 3 midfielders at least. Even though i lean towards having another manager making it happen. But FSG probably think that in football today means we won the game.

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  118. Please can we have a vote on whether we will ever win anything with BR?

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  119. Been saying this for a few years now, just dont understand what is holding us back from getting a solid DM. Lucas has never been the answer and gerrard needs to play in a more advanced role.

    Moses is ok but again see him as a squad player. Need to give sterling or ibe a start soon as albert or aspas are nothing special. Good to see suarez back and our keeper made some great saves.

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  120. Not a Deluded fan no more.10:57 pm, September 25, 2013

    Should have gotten Pelagrini when we had our chances. He would have suited LFC very well i believe. But FSG are jokers surely so don't expect anything. LFC is such a great club which for now i'm hopeless for.

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  121. Did nyoneone else think that Gerrard had yet another quiet/poor game? He's lost his mojo. Time for a rest. I also think Sakho is poor - he is rash.

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  122. Why not do one with a title: "Rodgers jogs his way down to spaced outd defeat".

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  123. My player ratings:


    Mignolet - 5. Did OK with a number of saves from Rooney. Again average distribution.
    Jose - 6. At blame for the goal. At least acted like a wing-back going up and down the left wing. Poor crossing into the box, but made a number of good recovery tackles when tracking back.
    Sakho - 4. Poor, Should not have been picked. Needs to be introduced gently into English football. Very much left foot only. Got into trouble in the first minute dribbing out of the back. Too many side passes, since majority for forward passes missed. Has potential.
    Skrtel - 6. Did his job as well as he could. Still our 3rd best CH.
    Toure - 5. At fault for the corner that led to the goal. Did not feel comfortable in his role. Better in his partnership with Agger in 442.
    Henderson - 5. Played at right wing back. Tracked back where necessary. Did not contribute much as an attacking threat. Failed to hit target with side foot effort. Similar player to Ramsey @ Arsenal. Just that at the moment, Ramsey has scored 7 times this season.
    Lucas - 6. Did what was asked of him. Got booking number 4 in 7 games, and soon will be banned.
    Gerrard - 4. Lethargical performance. Delivery from set play was below average. Did not link up with attackers. Mistimed jump at near post which led to goal. However, performance may have more to do with BR tactics (more later).
    Moses - 4. Poor in #10 role. Did not create chances for other, was not involved in attacking play. Lost the ball too often. Did not make runs to make space for others. Performance most likely due to being played out of position. Only positive nearly scored from header.

    Suarez - 6. Did reasonably well. Was our only threat, and was obvious Man U defenders were worried when he was on the ball. A bit rusty, and was unable to combine well with his team mates. Nearly scored from free-kick.
    Sturridge - 4. Poor. First touch let him down. No right foot. Was in on goal 2-3 times on his right side, and checked back to his left foot giving time for the defense to close him down.
    Subs:
    Kelly (4) Poor. No contribution. Again down to playing unfamiliar wing back role.

    Sterling (4). Poor. Awful first touch. No close control. Easily shoved off the ball. Again played out of position.
    Rogers - 1. Awful. OK choice of formation. Inept execution, playing players out of position, and complete lack of understanding of 352. Why not bring on Alberto who has good close control and short passing, and scored a hatrick in midweek??

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  124. It looks bad. And why not be a good democrat here? We want our team to play football again one day don't we?

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  125. (4) Sturridge average, ? did you have a few points, or a few pints, ?

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  126. 10 did nothing, what game were you watching.
    It certainly was not the game I saw, LFC were the better team by far, they scored a goal when Enrique failed to do his job, and it cost us the game. But I seen a very good performance from the team tonight.

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  127. Yep thats why Chelsea are unbeaten this year, they have won every game they played.

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  128. Without trying to open up the whole Rafa thing once more, the hole you refer to, may have more to do with the fact that we made a profit on a number of successive transfer windows. His choice of Keene and Aquilani did not help, but please remember a couple of points.


    1. He got us to #2 in the league, #1 rated in Europe, 2 Champion League finals with regular European nights at Anfield. With a bit of luck we could have won the league that year (it all went wrong after the Alonso debacle). Since he's gone, I don't see us getting back in Europe anytime soon.


    2. A lot of the youth players we have coming through are down to him.


    Rafa has many faults (I don't have rose tinted Rafa glasses), but without doubt, he's the best technically astute manager we've had in the PL years.

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  129. Fair enough for Enrique. Toure has to take some responsibility. The way he turned a guaranteed throw in into a corner was remarkable

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  130. Sturridge has scored many goals I give you that. And he may even at times be the best English striker. However, and here's the big but. If you had a choice of the top strikers, eg Van Persie, Aguero, etc, would you pick Sturridge above them.



    He's done well for Liverpool. But for every good game he has more off days like today. He is too left footed and does not contribute to the play when he's out of the game or not scoring.

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  131. Rafa was dumped years ago, he is not coming back, live with it.

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  132. I think you should take over the team, while you still know it all.

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  133. Would love to :-)

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  134. Rodgers complaining about a lack of depth on the bench. Maybe if he did not loan out Borini, Assaidi and Suso who is twice the player Alberto will ever be, we may have some depth.

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  135. We can't play that way?
    OH REALLY?
    Don't tell Glen Hoddle, he had England set up that way in the World Cup back in 1997
    Maybe they were all ringers.

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  136. lol, right. I thought you were putting it forward as some kind of advantage in playing in cup competitions....

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  137. Did we really lose that much being knocked out of that Cup competition? Not in my book. Yeah, if we win it it's a nice day out, but did winning it a couple of years ago make any top players want to play for us? Hardly.
    it would have been nice to have seen Moyes under even more pressure. But as for being out of the League Cup- can't say I'm bothered in the slightest. Wigan, Birmingham and Swansea have done that recently.
    We've got bigger fish to fry. I wouldn't swap our 3 points v Utd for a League cup win......

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  138. Yep. Ineffective again. Sakho will improve

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  139. Seen much of Alberto have you?

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  140. yeah why bother with the PL
    We can be the next Wigan or Swansea

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  141. Suso proved his abilities, Alberto wasn't needed. Alberto was on the bench and if Rodgers says the bench lacks depth then no one is going to see much of Alberto...

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  142. 3-5-2 may suit 11 players but it certainly doesn't suit the squad. Moses is not comfortable in the middle and in this formation people like Ibe and Sterling don't have a role to play.


    I think it could work if Moses was replaced in the middle with Henderson and Kelly is at RWB.


    I'm disappointed that United had Giggs and Jones in midfield and we were not able to dominate it.

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  143. It occurs to me that the game is almost a reverse of the league match that we won. We scored a goal from some average set piece defending and then had to endure some second half pressure but United were ultimately unable to manufacture anything decent. This time around they score a goal from set piece and we try for some second half pressure but can't really make any clear cut chances. I'd say it shows that as a pair of teams we're probably quite close at the moment and both of us have room for improvement. The league result, for me, is far more important so it's good to have that in the bank.

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  144. Sakho looks a very good player. Toure was one of our best attacking players against Southampton (really!) BUT the big issue is with Gerrard in his new deep role, there is simply not enough pace and ingenuity in midfield to break down defences. The loss of Coutinho is key. We need somebody else to provide that thrust.

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  145. Some fans are really deluded. They don't mind getting out of Capital one cup, fair enough. But the team that played for Liverpool was our best available 11 and we didn't take it lightly. Man Utd were without number of key players and a 40 year old player, they took it lightly and yet won.


    This is where we stand, no chance of taking 3 points at OT in the League as well, possibly will get thrashed 4-0 with the team they might have that day.


    We are going downwards, we just don't know yet.

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  146. Gotta agree with you on that, at least now we can concentrate more on the League and hopefully we will have less players that get injured by the bruisers from the teams in the lower leagues. I thought we could've won only if we hadn't lost those opportunities that could've been converted into goals.

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  147. seriously, Liverpool lack of creativity and defensive in midfield..Gerrard and lucas? they can't even get the ball from man utd players..and Gerrard seems to be lazy in recent game nowadays..in midfield areas, Liverpool got many mistake though

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  148. I think so too and of course it's Always nice to beat them but maybe we'll get a rematch in the FA Cup. A trophy actually worth winning.

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  149. Lets hope we can convert those chances and the team really needs to work on the finishing now, they've been very wasteful in front of the goal. Suarez for unlucky with the FK, he had converted into goals for Uruguay and I thought he could do it again, but the bars came into action time and again.

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  150. I think most of the Rodgers signings will do a Hendo come next season bar one or two. Lets give those lads sometime, eh? Too early to get on their backs just yet.

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  151. I think both team played really well yesterday! Especially Mignolet and Suarez! A draw should be a fair result! Sakho doing it just fine, give him sometime to settle down! YNWA

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  152. Oh well, didn't happen did it. Liverpool honeymoon period is over, you wont win the league so another trophyless season for you

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  153. To be fair, Liverpool did dominate a lot, more than i would have liked but overall, Liverpool had 51% possession. Also in the league game at Anfield, I think United dominated in the second half and was unfortunate not to get something out of the game

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  154. I was also thinking since Sakho is on the field, we never won once! He's not a bad player, in fact I remember Skrtel's first few matches as CB and he was horrible. It's just the fengshui or jinx thing, like hitting the cross bar 32 times 2 seasons ago. When will OUR season come?

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  155. That's always the way with these games isn't it? It's the same against Everton. Tight games which you can not plan for tactically. I remember when we won through Danny Murphy's free kick in 2000 (I think it was). That was pretty much the only shot at goal we got that match. Or when we lost to an o'Shea goal somewhere around the 85th minute after we'd dominated the game for the 84 before that. They're always nervewrecking games. You won't get that against the London clubs or citeh.

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  156. Totally forgot he will be 40 soon. Didn't play like it

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  157. For his age, he is incredibly fit.

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  158. If you're a ManUre fan there's nothing for you as well this year under Moo-yeah.

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  159. Infinite monkey theory :-)

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  160. But you were wrong no? Wasn't the starting positions three at the back?

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  161. That bit about Sakho? God I can't be bothered with a long discussion about the difference between correlation and causation again. Come on Jaimie give the new lad a break.

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  162. We beat Cardiff in the final, but they were not the only team we beat to win the cup though tbf

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  163. From what I can remember, Toure partnered Campbell at centre-back back then and Lauren was the right back back then...

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  164. I've been saying it for ages and glad to see others are picking up on it now; just not the man whose opinion actually matters.


    I would much rather have a lazy/tired attacking midfielder, than a lazy/tired defensive midfielder. Failure to press the ball effectively in the opposition third is a lot less costly than Gerrard's tendency to fail to track runners/challenge opposition in our own defensive third...

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  165. Yea, we were winning games before, but very lucky to do so on pretty much every occasion.


    There was little learnt from the game for me other than that the £16m spent on Aspas and Alberto was a complete waste, following on from the wreckless wasting of +£35m on Borini, Allen and Sahin last year.


    If a manager can't even trust two £8m signings to start in the 3rd round of the League Cup, then as far as I'm concerned, the manager shouldn't have been spending that kind of money on them in the first place (I'm only leaving Ilori out of this as there are so many available players in his position that also require game-time)

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  166. Correct, we played 3 at the back, Hendo and Enrique as wing backs and Moses played in the "hole" behind the 2 strikers. I think that is why Moses struggled last night.

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  167. I don't think Manu took the game lightly. They wanted a win. At least, Moyes did. However, for great lengths of the game, we were outplaying them.

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  168. Yes we have supposedly outplayed most of the teams in last 3 years, you can say that to yourself and be happy with the season. For me, outplay means dominating team by scoring goals and not play like toothless attack.

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  169. After yesterday's performance/result, can anyone actually say we have a chance at a top 4 finish. My heart as always wants to believe, but unfortunately my head is saying no chance.

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  170. Especially with BR at the helm.

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  171. If we have Coutinho and Glen (and everyone else) healthy, I think 4th place is within reach.


    I don't think the difference between the teams from 3rd through 6th is that great from a talent perspective.


    The biggest difference will be games like last weekend and this weekend... games that we absolutely need to win (because we should). We can't drop points to bottom half teams.

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  172. Perfectly stated.

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  173. No one is claiming that we did not "try and win every game".


    All we're saying is that we want to win, but if we lose, we're not going to miss out on any sleep because of it.


    I lost more sleep because of Southampton this past weekend than I did because of ManU yesterday.

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  174. Plus yesterday there was only half a Suarez on the pitch, wait till he's kicked off the dust.
    Both Arsenal and Tottenham can drop points this weekend. Sunderland and Crystal palace should be easy, then it's back to the top.
    International break will be good useful, in that it will stall the amount of games Couthinho and Johnson are out, plus it will improve fitness for others.
    On the bright side yesterday, Liverpool were creating, shooting, and dominating possession for 90min. Something that hasn't happened much this year.

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  175. Yeah I think Moses prefers to have space to run in to but he did well turning with the ball to turn possession in to attack. I think he did that well on occasion and I imagine that is the kind of role that we would have had Mhykitarian doing had we signed him.

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  176. Five at the back? Only when defending. If you are going to experiment then is the league cup not the best place to do it? I thought we were infinitely better than the game on Saturday. It is also a help to have more options for Mignolet to pass to. You could see that they wanted to press high up straight away in that game to do what Southampton had done to us, but it didn't work as they were not going to commit so many players that would cover all three at the back rather than the two. I think this shows that Rodgers has seen the frailty of our play and how it can be jumped upon and used a formation he has used many times to do it. We could have won that game its not like we were outclassed.

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  177. Suarez & Co made Phil Jones look like the poor holding mid he is. His positioning in that role is poor. One thing to be defensively good in defence but another to be defensively good in a holding mid role. Hence, my doubts about people's suggestions for Sakho to be played in the holding mid role.

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  178. The swap of Henderson and Lucas was a good idea and perhaps that can continue as a starting position. Then we can have Lucas as a sub to help hold a lead.

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  179. But Alberto, Borini and Aspas combined did not cost as much as the lump Carrol.

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  180. Sorry £35m on those three? Where on earth are you getting that bizarre figure? Sahin for £10m? That didn't happen mate. Ever consider why we were so keen to get rid? According to the most recent reports on the subject we didn't pay much in loan fee just wages.

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  181. No Courthino is the reason for results not Sahko, nobody mentioned it wasn't a corner but a foul or how did Giggs stay on the field Ferguson's phone call repaid.

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  182. am sick of all the moaning on here rogers is doing a brill job at the moment the new players are trying to adjust to there new team m8s I think sakho only speaks French give these lads a chance am sure it will come good with the injuries this early in the season did not help we never said we where going to win the title this season even looking at the two defeats against Southampton and munure I still think where gonna come good keep the faith ynwa

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  183. 100% agree except for the dominating possession part.


    We definitely held our own, but ManU did their part as well.


    Overall, I felt yesterday was a well played match by both sides. Just a shame someone had to lose and an even bigger shame it was us.

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  184. Sorry, I may have been slightly off - the most commonly quoted figures were £15m for Allen, £12m for Borini and £6m for Sahin.


    So a waste of £33m in total on those named alone.
    Doesn't look too much better though tbh

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  185. I'm not saying it was good business by a long shot but I am quite sure we never ended up paying that much for Sahin. I also thought Borini was £11m but might be wrong there.


    I still have hopes that Allen can turn his LFC career around but we certainly overpaid. Not a Carrol over payment but still twice what we should have if at all.

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  186. I very much agree with this! Though his form in the last two games was bad (still a bit injured? not quite fit?) He gives a lot more than just scoring. But bloody hell what does Van Persie do other than score? Less than Sturridge!

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  187. A bit early to e saying that Alberto has failed to deliver isn't it? Cearly and as Rodgers has said he is a player for the future and has some qualities that could make him good. Aspas has not looked good yet fair enough but to right Alberto off is absurd.

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  188. Hmmm the Kenny signings were the only ones who did well hey? Interesting. Oh wait no what I meant was bollox. Enrique had a good game but he has started this season poorly. Until last night I was wondering if he had forgot how to pass. Henderson too was no more in the game than Moses.

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  189. do your maths mate we go 15m back plus a 2m loan fee that means carroll cost 18m...borini on his own cost 11m

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  190. What like coming closest to scoring than any other pool player?

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  191. Those center backs were marking people. People who didn't score.

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  192. Do your mathhs right we paid £35m for Caroll and got £15m plus £2m for the loan and the rest is add ons that at his injury rate we will never get. That is still a loss of £28m Now we got a £2m loan fee for Borin that means he has cost £9m up to now and if we were to sell those players we will not be making an £18m loss.

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  193. We made a loss of £18m on Carrol, we will not make a loss that big on these players. Who's maths is wrong mate?


    Either way you look at it Carrol was more expensive. Either in outright payment or in loss.

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  194. its always an idea for your best defenders to mark the player who is most likely to score

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  195. Hi Renny hes right. Fans should start dealing with the truth sooner then later. FSG don't care about football in reality. BR is a decent person and a manager but not good enough - especially lacks critical criticizing senses. He didn't do well with 100m he spent by now, take off 2 and a half good deals. It is worrying when fans are accepting this constant mediocrity and less occasionally. The team looks like it is about to collapse threw lengthy moments every each game.
    Instead of watching our downfall we need to start taking masseurs. With all the love. . . Good football is exiting, Borini not much so.

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  196. So if we drop points on either of this two matches would this be a wake up call? Or if we squeeze one goal and fold back for the rest of the match? Not being cynical, but truly interested.

    Plus love your belief in Suarez, very refreshing.

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