26 Sept 2013

'It's down to him': Carra slams €8m LFC star. What about Gerrard's mistake...?

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has blamed Jose Enrique for the Reds' 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last night.

In his post-match analysis on Sky Sports, a clearly irate Carra scathed:

"After the goal, he [Enrique] throws his arms up, and I hope he’s throwing them up at himself, and not trying to blame someone else.

"It’s down to him, end of story, and he’d already been caught out a couple of time in that position earlier"


Enrique - who cost Liverpool €8m in 2011 - lost his man, so he is mainly to blame, but why did no one else in the box react to a Man Utd player clearly peeling away into space?

Additionally, Steven Gerrard must surely take some responsibility. In my view, he barely left the ground when going for the initial header, and if he'd jumped *higher*, he would've got to the ball and headed it away. It looks to me like he misjudged the height of the ball:



Rather unsurprisingly, Carra completely ignored Gerrard's half-hearted leap, but seriously, watch the video! Are we to believe that Gerrard couldn't jump any higher than that?

It's concerning that Liverpool are still losing games as a result of set-piece goals, and it's something that's plagued the club for a while. Indeed, after the opening game of the season, Reds legend John Aldridge highlighted issue, and warned that it could become a problem. He told the Liverpool Echo:

"Liverpool still have a major problem defending set pieces, with the lack of height in the side a flaw that will be exposed time and again. Every time Stoke got a free-kick or a corner, Liverpool looked as if they might concede and that issue needs to be resolved if this team are to take the strides forward we all want".

Prophetic words indeed, but with no more midweek Carling Cup games to worry about, Brendan Rodgers will have plenty of time to work through the issue on the training ground.

As for Enrique - mistake aside, he had a great game, and created several gilt-edged chances, including the game-saving chance for Victor Moses, which should've been a goal. For once, the Spaniard's end product in the final third seemed to improve, and hopefully that will continue.



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


75 comments:

  1. Jaimie I totally agree with you in asmuch as we may want to blame Jose, the Captain, who seems untouchable despite not so good recent performances was equally if not sorely to blame

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  2. To say Stevie jump was half hearted and was to blame for the goal is absolutely ridiculous, IMO Jaimie. The video shows clearly shows him jumping for the ball, he may have misjudged the trajectory slightly but I hardly think you could say it was half hearted. Players regularly jump and miss the ball, I think you are seeing something that isn't there.


    That aside, Stevie was crap and should have been subbed.

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  3. what was enrique doing?????

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  4. it was really poor marking from Enrique, but hernandez' movement in the box is outstanding (must admit i was too p*ssed to notice gerrard's defending!). The real plus from last night was what that game will give Suarez in terms of match sharpness, so hopefully that will help us get back on track on Sunday against sunderland. One thing i'm not clear on though - is Sturridge still carrying a thigh injury and if so why the hell was he playing last night?

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  5. it is half-hearted IMO. Does it look like full-blooded attempt to get the ball to you? Gerrard barely left the ground. He misjudged the ball, and should've went all out to clear with the first header. Why he didn't is anyone's guess, but it is clear from the video that Gerrard did not make a great effort with the header.

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  6. I disagree, and I also question your ability to judge the heartedness of said jump?


    If you say its clear but I don't see it, then maybe its not as clear as you think?

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  7. That's why I said 'IMO'. I don't speak for anyone else; it's how I personally perceive it.

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  8. Fair enough. I think when Enrique threw his hands up in the air, it was in general disappointment rather than blaming anyone. Not sure what he was doing though, looks like he was standing round ready for a cuppa or something.

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  9. Just to clarify: re the 'half-heartedness' - I don't think that was deliberate. it's just the way it appears. What LFC needed right then was someone to command the box, and get a powerful header away. Given the flight of the ball, I think Gerrard could've got to it if he'd jumped a little higher.

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  10. Perhaps it's just paper talk. Wait for TalkS**t to confirm it, then you know it's bollocks.

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  11. Good point, he should have headed it clear and I think Enrique assumed he was going to do so hence his failure to follow his man. Obviously Enrique was wrong to assume and is rightly criticized for not doing so.

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  12. Jealousy is a wonderful thing.

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  13. He's Been fantastic for us making 49 appearances last season and started very well this season. No chance we would sell to you. And why would he take a step backwards??

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  14. Why would he want to step down to LFC, he's just starting to get settled at Spurs?

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  15. Gerrards' 'jump' is no excuse for Enriques' crap defending, i think if Enrique goes with his man = no goal simple as. What really let us down was the final pass in the last third, it was either too early, too late, over hit or too short. Now Manure have the upper hand over us, specially now our first team lost to their second string.

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  16. Never mind Jose -what were our forwards doing ? NOTHING AT ALL

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  17. Can't see there being much mileage in this. Swansea have'nt missed him and it's no loss he did'nt go to Anfield. He's doing ok at Spurs, got a couple the other day. Good luck to him,

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  18. Point is not whom should be blame. Is the overall method of our play. From pre-season we were gel together as a planned team.


    Suddenly we injected new blood in sabotage the whole preparation?
    Allen seem picking up form from pre-season but out of sudden he were dropped. Good or bad?
    Every match we shuffle player like hendo to fit it good or not?
    The buy like aspas or alberto just for decoration is good or not? or should we sum up both and buy a permanent fix?
    Board say we buy for future but without NOW there are no future right?
    If 4-3-3 (tiki taka) is not suit the player like gerrard lucas hendo (operating machine), should we change system instead?

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  19. Did he "reject" Liverpool? Or did Liverpool not meet the money he wanted? I am pretty sure that it was the latter!

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  20. Enrique was at fault, his job was to mark Hernandez, and he didn't do it properly.
    If you look at the way Gerrard jumped for it, he is pushing off of one foot, so didn't get a great push off.
    I thought we played ok during the game, and I think the result could have gone either way really, and was only going to be won by a fine margin.

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  21. i dont have problem with jose...
    he was doing great job keeping nani till moyes forces him to change side at 2nd half....he beat kagawa as well....
    sahko n sktel well monitor on rooney....
    the dead point is all the midfielder...
    as well i concern our midfielder too panic then alway back pass and forced our keeper long kick/give back the ball to opponent....

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  22. With all the excuses attributed to playing 'too many games' and changes needing time to embed, surely the early exit from the League Cup and lack of European games has us on track to win the Prem this year!?

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  23. There's no way AVB will sell Siggy. He's becoming a really important player for us this season and looks to be the main one benefitting from Bale leaving. I wasn't massively impressed with him last season but he's fast becoming a fan's favourite this year. By the way I hope you's lot get top four this year along with us and push two of the other four out of the Champions League. I hope that Arsenal and Man Utd miss out - that'd be perfect for both our teams.

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  24. How is the player who is meant to be marking the goal scorer not to blame?

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  25. I was saying this last night. Gerard should have done better in my opinion but Enrique should have too. We can't let this continue. If I was Rodgers I would have them in first thing today to practice st pieces.

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  26. Enrique is to blame, but it's possible he thought Gerrard would win the header, and that's a reasonable thought to have considering the ball was heading directly to him. Doesn't excuse the failure to track Hernandez, but Gerrard is equally culpable (IMO)

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  27. Your right he never made it at spurs.midtable is about we're hes at.

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  28. It's from the Echo, which worries me more than anything else

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  29. The weird thing about Enrique is that he seems to be able to pass better when Suarez is on the pitch. There are lots of examples of great passes for Suarez in particular yet he has been pretty bad up until that game this season. Odd coincidence but just something I have noticed.

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  30. If we had to choose a bad player for this match....i vote for 15....anyone???

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  31. I personally don't think he is equally to blame as he shifts the wrong way just as its coming to him, that is a mistake that left him too much to the right of the ball as it was coming in witch could explain why the jump seems a bit weak. Not sticking with your man is much worse than having a bad starting position.

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  32. Yeah didn't have a great game again and made some bad decisions. He looks tired and I would consider leaving him out of the starting 11 against Sunderland. Lucas too.

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  33. Who took the corner? Maybe he's to blame to for kicking the ball higher than Gerrard's head. Lose your marker, you're to blame. Enrique is a very weak defender and everyone knows it. That's why we needed a left back in the summer. Not sure if the one we got will be the answer but we'll see. And lack of height? Sakho is 6ft2 and Skrtel is 6ft3..

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  34. I don't agree, I think Enrique is solely to blame. You don't leave a striker on his own in the middle of the 6 yard box, especially when they are well known for scoring goals in that position.
    Yes Gerrards attempt wasn't great, but he clearly misjudged it and didn't get a great jump.

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  35. Perhaps you can debate without being tediously flippant? You defend as a team; it's not just one player's responsibility, especially when there are other players in positions to make a difference. Gerrard was the first line of defence; he should've got to the ball.

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  36. I thought he was very meh at best last season, though recall him getting the equalizer in the game against Chelsea but even though we're barely into the new season, he has done well. Seems to be faring better than fellow "squad" player Holtby. Not easy to find your flow when your in and out of the side, that goes for both of them but got to make the most of what you can get. Not fussed about missing out on him and don't want him but some of our current players are hardly much better, at least in terms of form, such is the state of the squad.

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  37. Enrique isn't a weak defender, maybe corners aren't his best spot, but weak? I don't think so, throughout most of the game he had Nani in his pocket, and completely out muscled him.

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  38. He didnt defend
    He didnt attack
    He didnt chase much
    Lose lot ball from his shaky feet
    Only felt down and complaint here and there were tremendous A LOT !!!!!!!! If we were good at set piece then he do a good job but we were fu ck at that so better concentrate on his penetration long shoot...


    ps: those is just my opinion on him this match...

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  39. He didn't do much in attack and lost the ball too often trying to e clever but defending is not part of his game. Or not the biggest part.

    I am not sure what "Only felt down and complaint here and there were tremendous A LOT" means sorry.

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  40. He didn't make the bench and has only just come back from a strain of some sort so that may be why Allen is not playing.

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  41. What a poorly researched and biased article. Please see reasoning below.
    1. Whilst in your opinion he may not have been key to Swansea's play, he scored more goals than the players mentioned in point 1 and for all the good football if there is no one to score the goals, you'll never win a game!
    2. All transfers are a risk, whether they have 6 months or six years experience.
    3. Past reputation is no indicator for the future performance and as Spurs qualified for Europe last season, missing out n CL by 1 point, it appears he made the right decision.
    4. As per 2 above.
    5. With LFC's lack of depth, and poor goalscoring from the midfield areas he would have been a valuable addition to your squad. In addition, if Rodgers is now interested in going back for the player, this would indicate that he made a mistake in not getting him last year, as he will only cost more now.
    6. Bellamy & Maxi are no longer at your club and last season he scored more goals from midfield that any LFC player.
    7. As per 6 above.
    8. His individual impact was his goals, which last I checked was pretty important in football.
    9. You mentioned he scored against Spurs, who finished higher than Liverpool and Newcastle, thereby making your point invalid. In addition he also scored at Chelsea last year, coming on as a sub.
    10. 6-8 assists per season for a midfielder, who is not a playmaker or winger are excellent stats. Look across the Prem and closer to home at LFC players and you'll agree.
    11.If another team who are considered a better bet to win trophies and qualify for CL offers a bigger salary, then chances are you would go to the team paying higher wages and more chance of success. Incidently, the LFC annual wage bill is a lot higher than Spur's, and they have finished above you for the last 5 years, which by your logic would indicate a higher number of mercenaries at LFC.
    Siggurdson took a while to settle at Spurs, but still scored and assisted better than most if not all of LFC's midfielders (as did Dempsey), hardly justification for being called a flop, especially when you compare that LFC spent £15m in Joe Allen, who according to you was integral to Swansea's play, but sits on your bench every week.

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  42. Hernandez is my favourite Utd player, but by far he's also the most bloody annoying player in the team!

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  43. Totally agree that Gerrard's attempt to clear the ball at the near post was half-hearted. It was characteristic of his performance throughout the game. If anyone has watched the match again, you will note several instances of lethargic play.

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  44. Seriously? Enrique is one of the quickest players in the Liverpool squad his pace made him breeze past Nani a few times, and he is no slouch.

    He wasn't slow off the mark when Hernandez scored, he wasn't even moving.

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  45. There's a difference between "half-hearted" attempt and "misjudging" the height of the ball.


    One implies a lack of effort.


    The other implies simply miscalculating.


    You can't have it both ways.


    In my view, how anyone could question his effort after all this time is absurd, especially in a game against a rival like ManU, is absurd.


    It implies that Stevie doesn't want to win, which couldn't be further from the truth.

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  46. Enrique took his eye off the player, so it's mostly his fault. SG could have jumped higher, so some blame there. But nobody is willing to criticize him, one of the pundits immidiately removed blame from SG saying he would have needed a 4ft vertical jump to stop that ball - more like another 4 inches over the 4 inches he jumped.
    SG is the elephant in the room, not that he's bad, he's still very good, but he doesn't have the stamina he used too. Last season I brought this up and was slated for it, but it's true. I think he probably knows it, and it is effecting his game, a self fulfilling prophecy, if you will. This needs to be rectified, but being the loyal servant he is, and having performed well over the years, I don't think anyone wants to address it, for fear that it will effect his self esteem or whatever.
    The sooner this is addressed the better, I'm not saying not use him, but it should be made clear that he will not be guaranteed 90mins (like last season, attempting to play every minute of every game). He and the club should establish a threshold of how long he can go at 100% intensity, and then sub him off for say Allen or Henderson, who can then come on and play at 100% intensity. Some risk managment for some games too, I'm sure he can sit out one of the upcoming fixtures, and not harm the team. Suarez can take free kicks and corners just fine.
    SG is going through a transition period, he's starting to slow down a bit, it comes with age. If he wants to prolong his career and usefulness then it's time to sit out a bit.

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  47. It's true. Certain players have certain connections, and will have their go to guy for the pass. For Enrique it's Suarez, for Johnson it's sturridge - my observation. I guess it comes from confidence that said player receiving the pass will be able to do something with it.

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  48. It would certainly help to not have him playing 3 games in 7 days, one of which is the League Cup.


    The only good thing that comes out of yesterday's loss is that we don't have to worry about putting our players through another grind of a game while we try to qualify for CL.

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  49. I think, the mistake was made before the jump. Stevie, for some reason, made 4-5 movements towards the corner. He was caught in motion, so he couldn't jump high.

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  50. Good point. Perhaps Suarez takes up positions that Enrique knows without having to think about too much. Get one or two of those and confidence is high.

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  51. thats two goals now cuz of gerrard if we include the southampton goal too .....in both cases rubbish clearance

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  52. can someone explain to me why sturridge keeps dropping so much in the midfield instead of leading the line ? many a times when moses , suarez and henderson had no one to pass to.........and our attack improved like hell when kelly was at RB henderson in lucas place and gerrard actually higher up the pitch we really should try our next match with Aleen(if not injured) and henderson at the back and gerrad in rw/cam

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  53. Let's be honest, it was a tough draw for an early cup round, and he had to play key players against United - against a weaker squad, I'm sure some of the key players would be left out. Oh well, now to concentrate on the league, the next few fixtures are easier, should be some momentum growing.

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  54. Yep, against Man United, might be more a case of needing to play key players as its a game against auld rivals, rather than a general pattern of picking key players against weak opposition in domestic cups. But generally, he has no problems playing the likes of Suarez and Sturridge against the likes of Mansfield and Oldham. But then again, the quality of depth in the squad isn't good in some areas of the team and maybe necessary to deploy Sturridge/Suarez. Hence my 'if' in the previous comment as I am not sure as it isn't clear cut as to how Rodgers regards domestic cups in terms of team selection.

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  55. I think Rodgers looks at the cup from a political point of view.


    One of the justifications for the "Keep King Kenny Brigade" was that he won a cup and got to the FA Cup final... all this despite a dismal second half league performance.


    People say cup victories (more specifically League Cup victories) don't matter. To managers, they absolutely do when they aren't vying for the league or europe title as when they fail in the league, they can always point to that cup success.

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  56. The fact that the League Cup mattered so much to Dalglish is probably one of the reasons he's no longer LFC manager. He should've prioritised the league, not some third-rate domestic cup with zero prestige, point, or discernible benefit.

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  57. really didnt work out ......he needs to go back to his first two games positioning the tip of the spear we have suarez to be the hilt

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  58. 100% agreed.


    I think he looked at is as a fail-safe of sorts to say "hey, look I still had some success this year".


    A trophy is nice. But success in the league and qualifying for the Champions League is nicer.


    I still do love the FA Cup though. I understand it doesn't have the allure that it used to, but to me it's still a special tournament.


    But again, i'd take Champions League Qualification over an FA Cup.

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  59. well at least we agree on something JK

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  60. I think its something that is going to happen more now as I reckon Sturridge and Suarez will interchange (as well as possibly Moses andCoutinho). Can be sloppy that kind of interchanging and on-the-move attack but it has its benefits too, especially when done right. If we can't get it right after a run of games, than maybe a switch back to a more orthodox way would be sensible.

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  61. he looks like hes wearing diver boots

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  62. hes no option ..he has to play key players .....the bench is about as much use as a glass hammer

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  63. i take it you dont rate this trophy then JK

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  64. sg is certainly going through a transition period .....hes going from someone who could play to someone who cant play...and hes passing the test with flying colours

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  65. stevie is untouchable at liverpool. even in such a game where he has contributed nothing close to what we expect of stevie. This deep lying role is not bringing the best out of stevie, especially if coutinho out. stevie has to be up the field, he doesn't have the movement in the midfield to tick things over like I'm sure BR wants. he is the closest thing we have to a player being bigger than the club. I maintain we should have sold him when chelsea first wanted him. he is the last remnant of old liverpool that we need to clear to move forward

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  66. i don't know about this one. seems like the very list of what we should be discussing.

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  67. Any ball in the air in the centre of the 6 yard box should belong to the goalkeeper. The keeper has the advantage of an extra 2 feet or more in height (his arms) and where he has a clear path to the ball should be making that ball his. Mignolet has proved his worth in every game but on this occasion I blame him !

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  68. jus jump at where the ball drop to??? why do we have need to chase all over at the penalty box at these opponents. I can't understand that as there is one ball and it will drop at one place rather all over the field.

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  69. It's clearly a problem we have and most everyone in the team has made a mistake at one time or another. People used to slate Rafa for his zonal marking system but when it worked it was pretty damn effective. I think Rodgers has some work to do and unfortunately it seems like, as a team, we're still growing and learning and some distance away from our competitive best. This is one example, although I wouldn't put it past us to now go a few consecutive games without conceding from a set piece.

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  70. How can Enrique be solely to blame when Gerrad's misjudgment of the ball's flight also provided Hernandez with the chance. He stepped forward to head it and it just flew over him. If he were standing still os stepped back he would have easily nicked it away.

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  71. Because it was Enrique's job to mark him and he failed miserably. By your logic you can blame anyone, Lucas who was running back, and near Gerrard, Mignolet for not saving it etc...
    If Enrique was marking Hernandez properly, Gerrards 'role' in it would be moot.

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  72. Isn't it possible that Enrique reasonably believed that Gerrard would win the header, and that possibly threw him? He still should've gone with hernandez, but from Enrique's vantage point, you would've bet the mortgage that Gerrard would win that header.

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  73. Well we all know what happens when you assume something. ;-P

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  74. I have a freeze frame of the point where it goes past Gerrard, and he is quite high in the air, and the ball appears to be a foot or more above that.
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/mikeaitch/gerrardjump_zpsa07bfb3d.jpg

    Maybe mistimed is a better way to describe it. But by that time Enrique was MILES behind his man and moving in the wrong direction

    And Gerrard WAS crap that game. But LE was to blame for the goal 90%

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  75. jamie was a great tackler could read the game too...but he had faults to could not run past a player or overlap ..run wiyh the ball without passing back...he hoofed more than he passed, enrique has more skill than him twice as fast..as well and can score goals and make them too its well known carra does not like enrique... now hehas left liverpool carra is in danger of becomming another tv mouth...as good as he was ...he made mistakes too...

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