We`re off :)

[Cully]

Off to a good start anyways boys :)
I thought the team looked sharp.
Missed chances is a bit worrying but im hoping that will improve with games.
Stevie G was back to his best today i feel.

Overall im happy enough :)

[redeagle]

yea still loads to improve on.

Buts its looking much better than last year. Tolouse (to win more likely) and then chelski.

2 nil both games.. CHAMPIONEE

[BornaRedLass]

Thought Jamie was amazing as ever & Stevie G too. Quite a few misses but thats to be expected. The main thing is that we created so many chances and things will only get better :D

[harrybosch]

Stevie G was back to his best today i feel.



Im not too sure, i thought he was a little of the pace and non existant for long periods of the ame, great free kick at the end though,

Great start to the season anyways....

[Fowler's God]

good solid start. penalty was harsh on us and here we go again. what a free-kick that was.

the torres/kuyt partnership looks very good. link play between the two and gerrard cause villa a lot of problems. babel looked lively when he came on.

finnan did well to contain ashley young, he was villa's best player in the trickery and pace in a abundance.

the toulouse game is live on setanta sports 1 on wednesday guys.

[SOC]

Good win for us, impressed with Babel's cameo for 15 minutes could prove a great player this season for us. Torres will be suited right down to the ground with the Premier League. On Toulouse, they just beat Lyon 1-0 at home in Ligue 1 so they will have their backs up midweek for sure.

[here comes 19]

great to get the win,i thought torres and kuyt linked up well together and babbel looked sharp when he came,they look up for it this season,a lot of positives to be taken from the game:)

[JOE]

Babel was sharp, once again we left ourselves in a situation that was only too reminiscant of last season, point being, we need to finish off sides without leaving them lingering with the posibility of snatching a point...I think this is the only difference between us and top spot, the ability to kill the game...the mancs have mastered it, and god knows so has Frankie Lampard with those deflected late strikes...i just don't know why we can't...we can certainly do it at home when we want, it's away where the improvement's needed...

[pam]

Its goin to take time for new players to settle over all good - excellent 3 points deserved - we broke the bad start to the season not winning the first game, hopefully its on and up from now on happy days.
well impressed with Torres, me thinks a new shirt with a new name is coming for me

[9Torres]

You gotta be happy with the 3 points, the opening fixture has been won after years of failing to. It can only be a positive for the team and for the supporters. Its only the 1st game but its far better than dropping points. Hopefully the momentum can build up for us now. I'm raging I missed the game, but I'll be glued to match choice on Sky sports tonight.

Bring on the next victims!!!:)

[Yoko]

Liked the look of Babel. Though Agger and Riise were shaky. Pennant should not be near the team until his attitude improves. Kuyt and Torres worked well. Not a vintage showing but very encouraging.

Was please with Rafas substitutes in making positive moves until Momo came on

[dubit10]

Overall im happy with the result and the performance.Very excited with the way torres played.He has the ability to rip defences apart.Pace to burn,skill and he can head the ball well.Finnan,carra,agger all brilliant like usual.Im a bit worried by alonso and the way he played.Dont know what it is with him last season and today??Poor distribution and in my eyes anyways not the player of two seasons ago.Hope this improves but like i said it looks bad.Pennant......If we get some money for him before the market closes all the better.Useless today and hopefully babel and kewell can get in the team before him.We will need to be sharper againest toulouse midweek and more clinical.There no mugs and we just cant afford to be complacent.What was the story with macherano today.Injured or what.3 points and were on our way:D

[dave78]

good win.. Villa were poor.. will need to improve.. what a free kick from captain fantastic.. we will only get better

[Garrett]

Yea

good to get the 3 points in the bag, though when we come up against tougher competition we'll need to be in a little better shape though that should happen automatically when the new lads gel etc.

[marko]

Really important win! we needed a good start,what a goal by stevie g.

[SUPERFAN]

Stevie G was back to his best today i feel.



he has the ability to be World Footballer of the Year in my opinion,he's coveted by every Club in England and abroad and Lpool are blessed to have him.
if he keeps up yesterday's form he'll at least win Player of the Year and hopefully number 19......

[Cully]

As mentiomned i too am concerned with Alonso and Pennant.
Both have amazing ability in their respective roles but just dont do enough for me.
I am a huge alonso fan,i adore his ability to pass but last year he just wasnt near his own standards :(
I really hope he comes good again,its early days however,come on Xabi show us what we know you can do.

[megager]

I must say while 3 points were achieved, the performance was very poor. To be honest I thought we were only marginally better against them than same fixture lasy year. Remember they are a very poor side, even at home. We need to finish teams like that off. Not only did we show mercy in front of goal but then we gifted them a goal , when to me they showed no signs of creativity.

I agree with the sentiments re alonso. He better find form soon. I dont think he and stevie would be solid enough for games against an opposition with any quality (BArry aside) in midfield. Babel looked lively, Torres will be a success but might not score enough. How would crouch have done I wonder?

[YNWA]

Well, 3 points is great, but it just reminded me of seasons gone by, oh we're ahead, only just, miss a lot of chances, and then they sneak one back, and of course Stevie pops up and saves us again!

There was alot of positives, but the money was spent to get goals really, to be more attacking, and it didn't happen yesterday. Early days yet, hope we can do it!

[Fowler's God]

3 points and utd drop points nice weekend all round

[BornaRedLass]

Yeah was pretty nervy after the sending off and the free kicks outside the box. Fair play to Reading :)

[phil]

WAHAY. We're above Utd already:D:D

[SOC]

Nani was no great shakes when he came on, wasteful to say the least at times. Easy strutting it against Glentoran, the Premier League is a different story.

[sean]

Nani was no great shakes when he came on, wasteful to say the least at times. Easy strutting it against Glentoran, the Premier League is a different story.

I'd hold judgement on him for another while. Remember all the abuse Ronaldo got for being a complete waster when he first signed for them? 21 months later he gets player of the year.

[James]

I thought we played very well considering our away form last season. We controlled the game and created good chances. Id rather see us miss chances than not have any at all.

Babel looked very lively and I thought Torres and Gerrard were quality.

[Xabi]

Absolutely delighted. I was at the match (in the Villa end mind you) and thought we had thrown it away but up steps the main man and he does what he is paid to do and didn't he do it well. What a Free What a Free! Half the Trinity Rd upper section seemed to be thrown out as Liverpool fans just couldn't resist jumping with delight. Brilliant and the "Best Midfield in the World" song seems to be the new favourite. It's quality too... Toulose won't be easy Wednesday though......

[stamullenredmen]

sick of the papers and all going on about stevie to the rescue again.is that not what he paid for

[Conor]

sick of the papers and all going on about stevie to the rescue again.is that not what he paid for

Could not agree more. The press make out that we are not entitled to rely on Steven Gerrard or that he has no right to perform the way he does. He is the highest payed player we have in the team and craves responsibility. He would have it no other way if you ask me.

And I really don't know where the criticism of Alonso and Pennant comes from, Alonso in particular.. He was extremely disciplined yesterday and really worked hard without being spectacular. He played a role that let Stevie do his thing. He controlled Reo Coker and Petrov impressively and gave them no space. As for pennant I don't know what people expect of Jermaine Pennant. He gets the ball, finds space and puts balls into the box. He does this consistently and does it well.. He did well to set up Stevie who should have scored. He is different to Babel who just came on and is completely attracted to goal which is a good thing because we need someone to be selfish and direct.. He offers a lot to the team and I thought Finnan was too tied up with Young to go forward and support effectively. It's the first game everyone and I think it's a little too early to be worried about the form of some of our players considering we did something that we have failed to do in the last 4 years which was to get three points on the first day of the season against a team who will do well this year. Look at the other big four. All struggled against poorer opposition at home.. I don't see what all the doom and gloom is about.

[Fowler's God]

Lads in good time this season lets hope we take more of our chances.

The penalty was harsh as was the free kick in fairness but what a quality free kick. We're been labeled this one team due to us not putting teams away at crucial periods of the game and then we let it slip but for stevie to come up with the goods.

[JimmyCase]

As has been said, good 3 points but much to improve on.

Villa were terrible for a team playing their first game of the season at home. If we dont take our chances against tougher opposition, we'll be punished big time.

Allowing for the fact that the Toulose game is on Wednesday, you have to give Rafa the benefit of the doubt in not even bringing Crouch or Benayoun to the game.

I thought all ambitions were on the League this year given the vibes from the players in interviews. I know qualification for the CL is a financial must, but I hope we dont get into the 2 team syndrome.

Keep your eyes on the prize Rafa

[stamullenredmen]

agger was pretty solid too.though i reckon riise is finished.says a lot that rafa would rather play a right back at left back than use him.couldve easily started with riise and babbel on the left.arbeloa is solid though

[Yoko]

sick of the papers and all going on about stevie to the rescue again.is that not what he paid for

exactly. Take away Ronaldo or Drogba's goals and see where Utd and Chelsea are. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[paddypower111]

great win but room for improvement. torres played ok id say got a bit tired after 60mins. and babel did ok 4 his debut 2. i still think we need to kill of teams when we are 1 up. otherwise excellent win:)