Liverpool Vs Wigan

[redeagle]

If we perform like we did against man city we will win comfortably.

Hopefully sami or agger are fit to return...arbeloa makes me nervous at cb.


2 nil.


no idea what the team will be like :D

[The Chanter]

2-0 at home to Wigan would be nice.

That would be 10 points from possible 12 over the christmas and I think that's about what I expected. Lets hope we get the 3 without any upsets.

[sean]

10 points from possible 12 over the christmas

That would be a great return from a run of games that come thick and fast. Lets hope Wigan don't park the team bus in front of goal in the same way as Man City did yesterday.

[Jockser]

5-0

[redeagle]

2-0 at home to Wigan would be nice.

That would be 10 points from possible 12 over the christmas and I think that's about what I expected. Lets hope we get the 3 without any upsets.

its a pretty good return in fairness.

i'd love to see babel start. Did well when he came on yesterday

[fermoyred80]

just set up site today so be gentle..

Think we should take Wigan handy enough. Feeling that Harry could get on the score sheet and boost his confidence.. 3-0

[nsmithie]

wigan have been on a decent run of late so i think it could be tricky enough. Also we've had a little bit of trouble against steve bruce's sides lately. I hope we put out all the big lads again and maybe use the cup game on saturday to rest a few legs. I'd have settled for ten points over Christmas so a win would be job done. At least we wouldn't have lost any more ground on the leaders.

[Alex Raisbeck]

Lads this one on the telly?
I assumed it was, but just checked Satfootball there and it says that the Bolton v Derby game is on Sky Sports.

[sean]

Lads this one on the telly?
I assumed it was, but just checked Satfootball there and it says that the Bolton v Derby game is on Sky Sports.

Unless you have access to Turkish channels, it looks like a trip to the pub for this one.

[Alex Raisbeck]

Stinker.

[YNWA]

Fulham just gone one up, maybe things are going our way!

[Aido82]

Fulham just gone one up, maybe things are going our way!


Good old danny boy

Hope they can hold on, then hopefully utd and arsenal drop points also

[sean]

hopefully utd and arsenal drop points also

A quick glance at the fixtures for the next month, its hard to see the mancs dropping too many points. Hopefully Arsenal will get caught out by the African Nations. At the end of the day though I guess it doesn't matter if they win, lose or draw if we don't do the business in the first place!

[mypost]

Lads this one on the telly?
I assumed it was, but just checked Satfootball there and it says that the Bolton v Derby game is on Sky Sports.

:confused: :confused:

There are 4 games on tomorrow night, and as we're at home to Wigan, our game isn't a draw for the broadcasters.

[marathonman]

Top 3 winning again and a blue nose victory means we have to win tomorrow or it is definately over.Unfortunately I reckon we can only afford to drop 9 to 12 points in the 2nd half of the season at the very maximum.Very tall order.

[Westlake]

I hope Alonso and Agger get their game tomorrow, ease them back into things.

[Alan80]

i think we should win handy tomorrow. although i have a feeling gerrard or torres will be sitting this one out that could make it a bit harder for us. Fat head went home with a point earlier in the season when birmingham put 11 behind the ball at anfield so i expect him to take the same approach tomorrow.

[weecorey]

we had better win tomorrow! I'll be there for the 1st time :D

[sean]

There are 4 games on tomorrow night, and as we're at home to Wigan, our game isn't a draw for the broadcasters.

How Bolton v Derby would be a bigger draw for the broadcasters I have no idea. When you consider that Sky aired this corresponding fixture last year I'm not quiet sure why you'd be so confused at someone questioning why this game ain't being broadcast.

[Alex Raisbeck]

The Bolton Derby match was always supposed to be on this day.
Our match got switched when they decided to televise the city game, thus allowing us enough rest time.
There is an agreement in the contract for tv schedules which means every club is broadcast a minimum number of times, this game is probably taking these clubs in as a double hit.

[YNWA]

Also Wigan have no fans.

[Fowler's God]

Must win game as well as the West Ham game in hand at home which could happen the week the of the Carling Cup Semi 1st Legs, if we don't who knows what is around the corner.

[mypost]

How Bolton v Derby would be a bigger draw for the broadcasters I have no idea. When you consider that Sky aired this corresponding fixture last year I'm not quiet sure why you'd be so confused at someone questioning why this game ain't being broadcast.

Sky didn't show the corresponding game last year. They did in 2005.

As Bolton-Derby is more likely to be a genuine contest, it's more attractive for them. We should win this one comfortably, but unfortunately, with the title gone for another year, it's meaningless. The cup game on Sunday will be a bigger test, and is more important.

[Paul]

Sky didn't show the corresponding game last year. They did in 2005.

As Bolton-Derby is more likely to be a genuine contest, it's more attractive for them. We should win this one comfortably, but unfortunately, with the title gone for another year, it's meaningless. The cup game on Sunday will be a bigger test, and is more important.

A bit soon to be saying that next Sundays cup game is bigger than tonights league game.

[YNWA]

A bit soon to be saying that next Sundays cup game is bigger than tonights league game.

I don't think so either, i would see next Sunday as a much more promising choice of getting some silverware.

[irishroey]

hopefully 3-0 up at halftime and all over.

[redeagle]

afael Benitez wants Liverpool to signal their intent for the new year by beating Wigan on Wednesday night and keeping up their fight for the Premier League title.
The Reds are currently 13 points behind league leaders Arsenal but Benitez's side have two games in hand.

While the manager was frustrated with the draw at Manchester City on Sunday he was happy with the overall performance from his team.

"If you look at the City game then it is clear that we were the better side," said Benitez.

"After the first 15 minutes we controlled the game, played really well and created lots of opportunities and I'm sure that if we play like that again tonight then we will win.

"It is important that we do win also because if we are to stay near to the top of the table then we must win these games."

The Reds boss is boosted by the return from suspension of Peter Crouch and the manager hinted he could have a part to play.

"It is good to have Peter back because we have just played three games in a short period of time so it is positive to be able to choose another player," said Benitez.

"I think that players know when they have made a mistake and when they come back they want to do well and I'm sure Peter will work hard for the team if he is picked."

Benitez will also make a late check on the fitness of centre halves Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, to see if they will be available to make a comeback against the Latics. If they fail to make it then the manager said he will have no hesitation in playing Alavaro Arbeloa alongside Jamie Carragher at the back after his display at Manchester City.

"Arbeloa was a little bit nervous in the first few minutes but after that he settled down and played really well along with Carra," added the boss.

"It can be difficult when you play in an unfamiliar position but I have confidence in Arbeloa and if he is needed at centre-back again I am sure he will do well."


interesting to see if dagger and sami would be fit!!

*taken from .tv

[harrybosch]

any ideas what Setanta are showing now the old firm has been cancelled???

[Yoko]

Say what you want about whether we can win the league or not but if we don't beat Wigan at home and the like we can kiss next yrs CL goodbye

[mypost]

*taken from .tv

Once again, Beni believes that having most of the possession and creating many chances counts, as controlling the game. If there were championships going for "game control" we would win it every season. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, City, like their neighbours weeks ago, controlled the game. They put 10 men behind the ball, and we couldn't break them down, therefore their plan to get a result worked, and ours didn't.

[YNWA]

"Dirk Kuyt drops to the bench for Liverpool, who start with a five-man midfield that comprises Jermaine Pennant, Harry Kewell, Xavi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard, who is expected to support Fernando Torres up front. Emile Heskey returns for Wigan after missing the festive programme with a sprained ankle."

[Yoko]

:eek:

good lord.......... hope this works...

[Elnino_the_kid]

is the match on any programme ??????????? sky or setanta etc

[Malzheimer]

no its not on tv. I've been searching for a live stream but to no avail. Anyone else have a live link to the game?

Pennant back? Thats good news, thought he had a few weeks before returning yet. Hopefully this formation works better than the one against Birmingham did, in breaking down an ultra-defensive Bruce side, at Anfield again.

[Elnino_the_kid]

usually u hear of players working there way back

i heard nothing till now and boom he's back

[Malzheimer]

I know same here...

All this talk of Agger about to come back and not a mention of JP. Still no Dagger tonight??

[paddypower111]

you can see the game on myp2p.eu go to the forum and go to weekdays and there a link to see the match and its in english

[redeagle]

great line up.

pennant will offer us some great width on the right..something we really need.

Hope arbeloa has a quite one along with pepe.


hard to call it though....maybe 2 nil. to us

[stevieg]

Good to see Pennant back - thought he had been generally playing well towards the end of last season/start of this,however good/bad he plays tonight he will only improve from it.

[Elnino_the_kid]

that link sucks dcik

[The Chanter]

it's on Star Sports if you have TVU player installed and you don't mind P2P. Aurelio and Kewell linking up well on the left. Torres looking good as usual. Masca looking good. Pennant has been shoved off the ball a few times but his pace gives us something. A lot of frustation from the crowd still 0-0 at 45mns gone.

[Yoko]

I watched it here

http://4.livefooty.doctor-serv.com/wed2.1/Liverpool_Wigan.html

click extra

[paddypower111]

it looks like beny could be coming on in the second half. torres was unlucky with that offside decision. but i think if we get 1. we will slaughter them praying. and that falla brown 4 them he,s been a ????? hope he gets a kickin in the second half :D

[Alan80]

i reckon it won't be long till we see crouchie, he gives us a different option going forward. i can't remember the last team that came to anfield and tried to beat us, it's always 10 or 11 behind the ball pisses me off. and yeah that brown is a twat.

[Yoko]

we're playing like Crouchie's on already, trying to hit the front man all the time

[Aido82]

1-0 torres

[vodkacolly]

YES YES YES, cmon you Reds!!

[paddypower111]

feck sake missed the goal was it good 1

[Aido82]

dunno - watchin ssn :(

[Elnino_the_kid]

did torres score ???????????

gwan ye spanish marble ye

[vodkacolly]

Torres scored, nice move, hopefully it will open up a bit more foir us now.

[Elnino_the_kid]

hes something else that lad isnt he

[vodkacolly]

Benny on, Harry off.
Torres playing a blinder; movement, passing, workrate all superb.

[paddypower111]

**** sake

[vodkacolly]

1-1,s**t!

[redeagle]

...ugh............ i give up at this stage..


in fairness

[JOE]

You're having a laugh...Titus Bramble!!!

[paddypower111]

have to rely on gerrard to save us 1s again

[Elnino_the_kid]

bolloxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[redeagle]

have to rely on gerrard to save us 1s again

his fault for the goal.

[rev]

Never understand how we go 1 up & never seem to be able to get the second goal

[Trevinem]

f**king usual crap, were the laughing stock of the premier league. Load of b***ocks

[Yoko]

so who's it today then, the fall guys.... can't blame kuyt, sissoko or Riise.

Shockingly bad team performance, knew that that team formation would hurt us

[vodkacolly]

Disaster, absolute disaster. We couldnt afford to drop another 2 points, not against a team like Wigan. Thats the first time theyve taken a point off a top 4 team. We shouldve killed them off early. Im sick!

[marathonman]

Definite end to our title hopes.Have to aim to stay in top four and hopefully do well in the cups.

[Trevinem]

bring on the champions league cos we can forget the premier league. were not even one of the top 4 teams in england

[Alan80]

Titus ****ing Bramble though. this has to be a wind up

[redeagle]

We are well and truly out of it now unless we go on an amazing run of games winning.

Much like last season its been dotted with highs and lows.. and more lows than anything.

Again we fail to beat a team struggling in the lower depths of the league.

we had chances.. but we fail to score.

bad passing...

with the form of everton and man city and even pompey we might be lucky to get 4th place.

highly annoyed now.


be interesting to see how this effects the americans giving cash to rafa..

will they even be thinking of axing him. Im sure hicks wouldn't mind looking for an excuse.

Lots of interesting dynamics after this game.. very poor.

[Yoko]

shher, sheer, panic in the lads play practically from the off. Nobody out there capable of a bit of composure

[Trevinem]

al u sure u want to go to the sunderland game now!!!!

[RedMurph08]

Titus ****ing Bramble though. this has to be a wind up

Unfortunately not!! :(:(:(

[redeagle]

don't think the usual, "we had chances and controlled the game" talk from rafa will cut the mustard this time.

[The Chanter]

8 pts from 12 :(

Torres - great goal, started the move and finished it in style.
Kewell - looked good on both wings during the game.

Very frustrating game, went ahead but never closed the game out and paid the price in the end.

[Beglin's Peg]

Too defensive as usual even when we went one up. Never went for the throat to finish the game off. The last 10 minutes were shocking, never threatened when Crouch came on, except for a Gerrard shot and follow up well saved by Kirkland, just lumping the ball forward after that. We'll hear the usual from Rafa about "contolling the game" after the match. No good unless you get the goals I'm afraid.

[Trevinem]

i agree with you redeagle...we couldnt control our bladders never mind a football game...load of shit

[paddypower111]

great start to 2008 ****in eejits . there should be a few players showin the door not in the summer. this month. ****in city back up above us . thats title race over again i think and were only in january ****in eejits

[stevieg]

We shouldn't be starting with 1 upfront at home to Wigan in a must win game.

[irishroey]

what a load of bull,wigan with the likes of bramble and the donkey kilbane go to anfield and take a point home,really bad day and the gap is edging futher and futher away,bull**it.

[sean]

Could be worse, could be Newcastle fans - they lost again tonight, at home. Some going for Steve Bruce to come to Anfield twice this year and come away with a result. Rafa looked well peeved at the end, I'm well peeved after watching it and have to be up way too early in the morning to help my mood in any way whatsoever. Roll on Sunday.

[paddypower111]

the thing is we did,nt control the game the first half we were playing poor football. 1 goal in the second half and we left wigan back into the game after that. so if rafa starts saying we controlled the game. who is he trying to cod. were no fools rafa just be honest to the fans 4 1s

[JOE]

12 off top and embarassingly 5th behind City...god I hope we don't have to go through the rigmarole of chasing them for fourth spot at the end of the season...

[snacs]

Another unpredictable team, another poor display and another disastrous result. league season over 2 jan!!!
PS we've only taken a couple more points than wigan off the 4 teams above us

[Yoko]

Thing is I for the first time cannot, truly cannnot understand what the tactics were supposed to be? Where was SG supposed to be playing?

[carramagic]

We are nowhere near good enough. One top class forward at the club and we rely on him far too often. Every year we think we are closer and then realise more and more players need replacing

[redeagle]

I find it hard to comprehend how a team which played so well has played so badly less than 3 days later against an even worse team..and at home.

its absolute madness.

[Beglin's Peg]

As said already can't understand why we played just one up front, with 3 central midfielders against a bottom of the table side. Was Rafa concerned by that deadly duo of Bent and Heskey.:mad:

[Aido82]

Rafa seriously has to look at his decisions now. I have always supported him and will continue to do so, but it is now time for him to admit his mistakes.

PLaying a 4-5-1 at home to a bottom 5 side, and only drawing -- disgraceful

[snacs]

was just looking at league table to see the impossible task we've left ourselves and (correct me if i'm wrong) but are everton, pompey and villa the only teams in the top ten we've managed to beat this season???

[Aido82]

out of the league now 12 off top (dont care about game in hand, its at home so we will prob draw it). Time to focus on top 4 finish and Champions League

[maloneavic]

why did he start just 1 upfront against a team like wigan? the formation he played was almost an away like team set up.
even only at 1-0 he should have brought crouch or kuyt on, 6 and 8 mins is not enough.

we where still to defensive minded tonight and again the wrong team etc was picked, well done rafa, once again you did it.
the man will be gone end of jan if u ask me and hopefully not a day later.

[Beglin's Peg]

Wonder why Babel wasn't even on the bench tonight. Would have been ideal to bring him on with 25 minutes to go. He's done well when brought on in the last few months. Can't understand how Pennant was left on so long 86 minutes when he's been out injured for so long. He was pretty anonymous for the last half hour.

[REDHEART]

is in it just torture being a liverpool fan.we had a chance on sun to gain 3 points on utd,we gain 1,in a game that was clearly there for the taking.then tonite at home we drop another 2.so with utd losing 1 over the crimbo they still come out with more points than us over the festive period.and t o make things worse the wigan manager is an x manc,and thats the second draw he's got at anfeild this season.fecking kills me.

hard enought to get over the city game and up for this 1,now we must do it all again.did'nt see the game tonite but you have got to question the formation.something to do with the fact bruce already got a draw at anfeild i geuss.great start to the new year.thks rafa happy new year to u tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo:mad:

[billiesboots]

same old story, time for a change, time for someone new?

[mypost]

1-1 Fn' laughable...:D...only the joke is on us. :mad:

Just get rid of him asap, before he does even more damage.

[Gerry]

I am gutted after tonight but some of the shouts in here would make you cringe, some people listen to the media too much but you are all entitled to your opinion but i will personally choose to keeep supporting our team and manager as i think he will get it right !

[Yoko]

Rafa:

"We need to do almost everything perfect now but if you lose points like this it makes it more difficult.
"When you have chances you need to take them and finish the game.

"Now we need to think about the FA Cup against Luton, you cannot look at the whole season it is too long."

[billiesboots]

how much longer do you think we should wait? 1, 5, 10 years of there is always next year

[mypost]

Rafa: "Now we need to think about the FA Cup against Luton, you cannot look at the whole season it is too long."

I don't look at the whole season mate, just the league table.

But if you want to look at it your way, it could be a May Day shootout at home to City for 4th place.

[weecorey]

well this was my first visit to anfield, what an anti climax! It was shit, never seen the team play with as little heart, we were pressing forward and torres seemed to be on a differnt planet on a few ocassions, he wasn't even looking in the direction of the ball? I can't belive we droped points to WIGAN. It makes me so angry that the fans pay so much money to support and we dont seem to get any thanks? Season over big time.

[mypost]

People get up early to wait forever on phone lines to get tickets, are subject to whenever a tv producer wants to play the match at, and pay a couple of hundred €'s every other week, to watch that muck. (4-5-1 at home to Wigan tonight with not one, but 2 defensive midfielders playing). They're the people I feel sorry for.

We haven't won the league in 18 years, and it'll be another 18 at this rate. Next season, 4th won't even get us into the CLQ. And some people reckon we're making progress??

[byrnetred]

very disapointing but below is where the real problem lies


knicked these stats from otk
Todays starting eleven

Finnan 135 Premier Games 1 Goal
Arbeloa 26-1
Carra 344-3
Aurelio 24-0
Pennant 44-1
Alonso 99-11
Mascherano 20-0
Kewell 91-12

Thats 783 games, 29 goals
AN AVERAGE OF ONE GOAL EVERY 27 GAMES


Torres 10-18
Gerrard 51-286

or a goal every 4 1/2 games.

Stop Torres or Gerrard and you stop Liverpool Football Club

[rev]

chasing them for fourth spot at the end of the season...

That means uefa cup for us:mad:

[REDHEART]

People get up early to wait forever on phone lines to get tickets, are subject to whenever a tv producer wants to play the match at, and pay a couple of hundred €'s every other week, to watch that muck. (4-5-1 at home to Wigan tonight with not one, but 2 defensive midfielders playing). They're the people I feel sorry for.

We haven't won the league in 18 years, and it'll be another 18 at this rate. Next season, 4th won't even get us into the CLQ. And some people reckon we're making progress??

negative progress.lol

[StevieGisMyIdol]

Agreed!We havent the top class players that other teams have.
Carra,Masch,Gerrard,Alonso,Torres.Thats it.We rely on them too much.United have Evra,Ferdinand,Ronaldo,Nani/Anderson,Tevez and Rooney and Giggs

[Aido82]

very disapointing but below is where the real problem lies


knicked these stats from otk
Todays starting eleven

Finnan 135 Premier Games 1 Goal
Arbeloa 26-1
Carra 344-3
Aurelio 24-0
Pennant 44-1
Alonso 99-11
Mascherano 20-0
Kewell 91-12

Thats 783 games, 29 goals
AN AVERAGE OF ONE GOAL EVERY 27 GAMES


Torres 10-18
Gerrard 51-286

or a goal every 4 1/2 games.

Stop Torres or Gerrard and you stop Liverpool Football Club

Spot on mate, spot on

[weecorey]

People get up early to wait forever on phone lines to get tickets, are subject to whenever a tv producer wants to play the match at, and pay a couple of hundred €'s every other week, to watch that muck. (4-5-1 at home to Wigan tonight with not one, but 2 defensive midfielders playing). They're the people I feel sorry for.

We haven't won the league in 18 years, and it'll be another 18 at this rate. Next season, 4th won't even get us into the CLQ. And some people reckon we're making progress??


As some of you know, I payed £210 sterling for my 2 tickets alone!! £110 flights & £150 hotel. Well I'm not going to let my wife down the way I feel LFC let us down, so I'm off to bed ;)

[YNWA]

As some of you know, I payed £210 sterling for my 2 tickets alone!! £110 flights & £150 hotel. Well I'm not going to let my wife down the way I feel LFC let us down, so I'm off to bed ;)

Start supporting Irish football, round 15 yoyos for a ticket, petrol money, or if possible, you can walk, and you don't have the threat of sitting down or getting kicked out! ;)

[Jockser]

well that was an absolute farce.......yet again

[REDHEART]

very disapointing but below is where the real problem lies


knicked these stats from otk
Todays starting eleven

Finnan 135 Premier Games 1 Goal
Arbeloa 26-1
Carra 344-3
Aurelio 24-0
Pennant 44-1
Alonso 99-11
Mascherano 20-0
Kewell 91-12

Thats 783 games, 29 goals
AN AVERAGE OF ONE GOAL EVERY 27 GAMES


Torres 10-18
Gerrard 51-286

or a goal every 4 1/2 games.

Stop Torres or Gerrard and you stop Liverpool Football Club

lads that problem has existed for many years now with liverpool,with the exception maybe of the year we won the 3 cups.that year we had gerrard,murphy and mac'callister with 10 goals a peice from midfeild.and fowler with i think 17 and owen with more.

we just never seem to have enough match winners.1 r 2 each season.this clearly is not enough.utd always seem to have 4/5.this season we have as ppl have pointed out torres and gerrard.yossi's got a few aswell(wonder how many were match winners tho)and babel has got a few.we neede the goals spread out more.agger will get some but he is injured,so we have missed him.:o

[The Chanter]

Fulham Home 2-0
Newcastle United Away 3-0
Bolton Wanderers Home 4-0

9 points from 9 in the league, we beat Besiktas 8 nil and Porto 4-1 during this period and there was obvious reason for optimism.


Reading Away 1-3
Manchester United Home 0-1
Portsmouth Home 4-1
Derby County Away 2-1
Manchester City Away 0-0
Wigan Athletic Home 1-1

We've dropped 10 points since the beginning of December - Not good. :(

Rafa was visibly frustrated with them last night.

I reckon Pennant should have come off rather than Kewell (Kewell was keeping possession well forcing corners, shooting, Pennant was annonymous in 2nd half)

Well done Torres for winning Young Player of the Year - He was excellent again last night. I felt sorry for him, MOTM performance and then to have to walk into that dressing room must have felt like a defeat.

We are really missing Agger, after they scored, 10 mins to go, and our center backs were launching the ball up into their keepers hands!!!

That said, I still support RAFA and think he will get it right given time and support. Number 6 would ease the pain.

[Badman]

lads that problem has existed for many years now with liverpool,with the exception maybe of the year we won the 3 cups.that year we had gerrard,murphy and mac'callister with 10 goals a peice from midfeild.and fowler with i think 17 and owen with more.

we just never seem to have enough match winners.1 r 2 each season.this clearly is not enough.utd always seem to have 4/5.this season we have as ppl have pointed out torres and gerrard.yossi's got a few aswell(wonder how many were match winners tho)and babel has got a few.we neede the goals spread out more.agger will get some but he is injured,so we have missed him.:o

Have to agree with that - the 4-5-1 lineup agains a crap side like wigan is embarrassing - and with two defensive /holding midfielders as well to curb the awesome roaming talents of landzaat, heskey and bent!! Leaving crouch out, considering he was the freshest outfield player we had was again bizarre - and then leaving it til the 88th minute to bring him on. I know this will start the anti-rafa/pro-rafa debate agian ad nauseum, but even rafas most vocal supporters must agree that was disgrace. Fergie and wenger now know unequivocally that l'pool are out of the title race again at christmas - and must believe that he doesnt seem to b getting any closer either.
The main reasons we trail in the race are 1) negative tactics agains crap sides, 2) 0-0 draws with pompey, blackburn, b'ham and man city - and also 1-1 draws with chelsea, arse, wigan (and nearly derby) having lead in all those games. Very poor return really. And 3) players like riise, aurelio, kewell, yossi, sissoko, kuyt, voronin et al - just nowhere near good enough 4 a team challenging for honours. I actually fear for our ability to get 4th this season.
We do need to strengthen _and i dont mean muntari and wayne bridge fro christs sake - BUT I FEAR THE YANKS WONT GIVE HIM A BEAN.
Its yet another disastrous league campaign, adnother season without a title and i just dont know does rafa have what it takes to bring home the holy grail!!
I only wish things were improving - but they certainly aint

[hotelformule1]

I thought Kewell was absolutely disgraceful last night - consistently losing possession and pulling out of challenges. I know he has lost a yard of pace due to the injuries, but i cant remember the last time i saw him taking on a defender with any sort of conviction. The only thing in his favour is that he gives us balance on the left. A new left winger is a must as babel doesnt seem too comfortable out there.

[Pimboli]

This is the problem with all the people clambering for Masch to be signed, we have too many central midfielders. Individually you cannot drop Stevie, Alonso or Masch but you cant play them all either. You cant stick Stevie out on the wing as he is proven to be at his best centrally and neither of the other two can play wide.

So what does Rafa do? This is why I said last month we will be mad to pay £17m for masher, for that money he has to play every week so do we drop Alonso, that everyone was counting the days until he is fit as our midfield had become a shambles without him.

Rafa 4-5-1 at home to muck like Wigan and then not beat them when we absolutely have to is digging his own grave.

For the die hard Rafa supporters who constantly shout 'In Rafa we trust' have to look at things like this and know they could have put out a better team.

Brady a few weeks ago before the Porto game said about Rafa that his decisions on team selection and formation boarder on madness at times but seems to work out and judge him at the end of the season, its quite obvious now the league is gone again, in Europe Inter are not exactly going to be an easy prospect because of the mess we made of the early group stage. Whatever luck Rafa had his first season seems to have run out and his bonkers tactics now seems to be just be getting seen as just that.

[callyno3]

As some of you know, I payed £210 sterling for my 2 tickets alone!! £110 flights & £150 hotel. Well I'm not going to let my wife down the way I feel LFC let us down, so I'm off to bed ;)
:eek:£210 for 2 tickets are ya mad???

Really gutted with the result last night, To be honest we are just not consistent enough this season to challenge for premier league even though we have only been beaten once in the league all season. I will however continue to support the Team as I always have, We as liverpool fans want..... demand that Liverpool win the league every season and its not materialised season after season. Yet as true fans we continue to support the Team through Thick and thin, Thats what Fans do!! We are all gutted and we all like a moan sometimes but we just have to get on with it, starting with Luton at weekend

[stunnedmullet]

I thought Kewell was absolutely disgraceful last night - consistently losing possession and pulling out of challenges. I know he has lost a yard of pace due to the injuries, but i cant remember the last time i saw him taking on a defender with any sort of conviction. The only thing in his favour is that he gives us balance on the left. A new left winger is a must as babel doesnt seem too comfortable out there.

I disagree with 95% of this. The 5% is with regard to challenges, yes he is at times soft in the tackle.

I counted at least 3 occasions in the 1st half where he got behind his fullback and put a good ball in - but there was no one in the box to capitalise. Crouch, anyone? :(

Also part of an excellent one-touch move down the left in the 1st half where a goal-bound shot blocked by last-ditch defence

And the saddest of all, 10 min or so into the 2nd half, he skinned his defender again and was in perfect position to cross, but to again find no-one in the box, so he shoots from a tight angle (he wasn't far away).

I think he has been very, very impressive since his return and seems to be the only player at the club capable of delivering good service from the flanks. Of course it's of no use if there's no-one in the box to capitalise... (torres lone striker at home to wigan is, unquestionably, a laugh. WTF)

[Liverpool-law]

Managers make the decisions and choose the tactics and that's fair enough but after three games in the previous ten days, there was one forward, Crouch who was suspended and therefore fresh for last night. I cannot for the life of me understand why he didn't play him up front with Torres. Some of the lacklustre performance of the team could possibly be put down to tiredness and Rafa always talks about rotating to keep players fresh but still he doesn't play his freshest forward until there are 5 minutes left. I just can't understand it... At home, at Anfield, against Wigan... one striker, someone explain it for me please?? :confused:

[sean]

:eek:£210 for 2 tickets are ya mad???

Really gutted with the result last night, To be honest we are just not consistent enough this season to challenge for premier league even though we have only been beaten once in the league all season. I will however continue to support the Team as I always have, We as liverpool fans want..... demand that Liverpool win the league every season and its not materialised season after season. Yet as true fans we continue to support the Team through Thick and thin, Thats what Fans do!! We are all gutted and we all like a moan sometimes but we just have to get on with it, starting with Luton at weekend

I wonder who will be pedantic enough to point out that its actually twice we've been beaten in the league this year. Oh go on so I will ;):D

Totally agree with your post though, as true fans we do continue to give our full support through thick and thin. Its putting up with the bad times that make the good times even better again. Though I'd be hesitant enough to put our current plight down as the bad times - there has been alot worse.

Onwards and upwards from here, starting next Sunday

[irishroey]

Managers make the decisions and choose the tactics and that's fair enough but after three games in the previous ten days, there was one forward, Crouch who was suspended and therefore fresh for last night. I cannot for the life of me understand why he didn't play him up front with Torres. Some of the lacklustre performance of the team could possibly be put down to tiredness and Rafa always talks about rotating to keep players fresh but still he doesn't play his freshest forward until there are 5 minutes left. I just can't understand it... At home, at Anfield, against Wigan... one striker, someone explain it for me please?? :confused:

CRAZY

[callyno3]

I wonder who will be pedantic enough to point out that its actually twice we've been beaten in the league this year. Oh go on so I will ;):D




:p My mistake, Isuccesfully manged to push reading defeat out my head , convinced myself twas a bad dream :D

[jaws2]

Very poor result last night. Although we should be beating Wigan at a canter i think it's fair to say we didn't have much luck. We dominated the entire game, created numerous chances and only good goalkeeping and a freak goal prevented a comfortable win.

However i think it's fair to say that looking at the team last night we're well short of being able to compete with Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea and without Gerrard and Torres we'd be lucky to get a Uefa cup spot.

In my opinion we need 5 quality players before we can think about winning the league - 2 attacking full backs, 2 wingers and a striker. And i mean genuine proven top quality players.

Looking at what we have now i think our best team is:
Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio
Gerrard Alonso Masch Babel
Crouch Torres

Kewell, Kuyt, Voronin, Sissoko, Riise just aren't good enough and Benayoun, Arbeloa, Lucas and Pennant are squad players at best.

[mypost]

we didn't have much luck. We dominated the entire game, created numerous chances and only good goalkeeping and a freak goal prevented a comfortable win.

Of course we were going to dominate the game, and create chances, as we're playing Wigan at home. They had a record of 0/60 points against the Top 4 since they came up. It's now 1/63. :o

[scousedub]

Just arrived back home after last nights game, and i definetly noticed a change in the locals and genuine reds attitude to Rafa. Where i was sitting there were a fair few calls for his head and also questioning his tactics/team selection. This is the fourth game i have been over for this season and it was the third draw,not good enough! On the drive home i was listening to the phone in show on BBC merseyside and most of the callers also seemed to be looking for a change in management. One interesting point brought up by a caller was to ask how many of the Liverpool team would get into the manc or Arsenal teams....probably only Gerrard,Torres and Carragher.
As for myself i will always support the team and would never boo like some of the crowd at the end of the game last night, but, with the league out of sight yet again so early in the season you can understand their frustration.I'm not sure whether the answer is to get rid of Rafa or not but he has to improve on his transfers as the majority have not been good enough.

[Pimboli]

Of course we were going to dominate the game, and create chances, as we're playing Wigan at home. They had a record of 0/60 points against the Top 4 since they came up. It's now 1/63. :o

And Reading had never beaten a top 4 side since promotion until this season and they met us

[weecorey]

Just arrived back home after last nights game, and i definetly noticed a change in the locals and genuine reds attitude to Rafa. Where i was sitting there were a fair few calls for his head and also questioning his tactics/team selection. This is the fourth game i have been over for this season and it was the third draw,not good enough! On the drive home i was listening to the phone in show on BBC merseyside and most of the callers also seemed to be looking for a change in management. One interesting point brought up by a caller was to ask how many of the Liverpool team would get into the manc or Arsenal teams....probably only Gerrard,Torres and Carragher.
As for myself i will always support the team and would never boo like some of the crowd at the end of the game last night, but, with the league out of sight yet again so early in the season you can understand their frustration.I'm not sure whether the answer is to get rid of Rafa or not but he has to improve on his transfers as the majority have not been good enough.


Was there myself, dissapointed but thats football, I think the team needs a fair over hall, torres needs a partener with the same pace and like minded.

[marathonman]

Just arrived back home after last nights game, and i definetly noticed a change in the locals and genuine reds attitude to Rafa. Where i was sitting there were a fair few calls for his head and also questioning his tactics/team selection. This is the fourth game i have been over for this season and it was the third draw,not good enough! On the drive home i was listening to the phone in show on BBC merseyside and most of the callers also seemed to be looking for a change in management. One interesting point brought up by a caller was to ask how many of the Liverpool team would get into the manc or Arsenal teams....probably only Gerrard,Torres and Carragher.
As for myself i will always support the team and would never boo like some of the crowd at the end of the game last night, but, with the league out of sight yet again so early in the season you can understand their frustration.I'm not sure whether the answer is to get rid of Rafa or not but he has to improve on his transfers as the majority have not been good enough.

Again the proof is in the pudding.3 from Liverpool,4 arsenal,4 mancs =11.I don't see the point of this argument.Also who is better than Reina.IMO LEAVES 4 REDS AND 7 FROM mANCS AND ARSENAL