MC11

Fuck off, everyone wanted alcaraz in before tonight. The one thing about alcaraz that I've noticed is it looks like it doesn't hurt him as much as Jags when he ducks up. He has a kind of smerk on his face all the time. Might be nothing but it gets to me a bit. I wanna see them crying when they fuck up.

Jagielka + Alcaraz = no pace. See fourth goal. There wasn't much else we could have done tonight. But that partnership is a recipient for disaster.

Jagielka was absolutely shocking, it's always been the same if he hasn't got pace covering him he gets exposed.

If I'm honest I'm starting to see cracks in Martinez thinking - on the transfer front.

We sell Jelavic without a viable replacement and then "loan" an injured player in.

Tonight Heitinga would have been a better option but he's on his way.

I thought he had a nightmare tbh. But I agree about McCarthy. I'm baffled by those saying he had a decent game, I barely noticed him.

It's was far from Barry's best game. But at least he was involved.

His performance tonight was Germany-esque. Sad to see after hes been so good for us.

I think Barry is getting too much stick for his performance. His passing was frustrating aswell as being woeful. But he was always available for the ball. If anything it was McCarthy who offered little tonight.

 

Probably applies to about half the RBs in the league.

 

We knew he wasn't going to bomb up and down the wing. We don't know why he was pushing up; presumably the 19 year old makeshift RB wasn't doing that on his own, which leaves RMs instructions. If he's done what he was told and is caught out by teammates poor decisions/passing that's hardly his fault. I suspect RM wanted him to stretch the pitch and try to drag a Liverpool midfielder over. It didn't work, but not much we did today worked. Think Stones is the wrong target for our frustration.

Unfortunately I think him and Jagielka were the weak link tonight.

The lad was well out of position. There is a difference between being told to push up and pushing up whilst leaving huge space and an opponent in it.

If Coleman was playing tonight that second Goal most certainly wouldn't have came about. It highlighted that Coleman is an absolutely fantastic player and John Stones is not a modern day Full Back. He had no idea going forward.

I wasn't expecting wonders. But what I was expecting is positional sense. He had none.

 

Probably applies to about half the RBs in the league.

 

We knew he wasn't going to bomb up and down the wing. We don't know why he was pushing up; presumably the 19 year old makeshift RB wasn't doing that on his own, which leaves RMs instructions. If he's done what he was told and is caught out by teammates poor decisions/passing that's hardly his fault. I suspect RM wanted him to stretch the pitch and try to drag a Liverpool midfielder over. It didn't work, but not much we did today worked. Think Stones is the wrong target for our frustration.

Unfortunately I think him and Jagielka were the weak link tonight.

The lad was well out of position. There is a difference between being told to push up and pushing up whilst leaving huge space and an opponent in it.

If Coleman was playing tonight that second Goal most certainly wouldn't have came about. It highlighted that Coleman is an absolutely fantastic player and John Stones is not a modern day Full Back. He had no idea going forward.

I wasn't expecting wonders. But what I was expecting is positional sense. He had none.

I don't think it's depth we lack, it's quality: actual, game-changing talent. Like Liverpool do have with Suarez and Sturridge and Coutinho to a lesser extent perhaps. A centre forward and a winger at least. After this game I'd say an upgrade on Barry might be a good idea too, though that might be a bit of a knee-jerk reaction given his fine season so far.

 

Just cos they were off target doesnt stop it being a chance. Does that mean Sturridge's penalty miss wasn't a chance?

Honestly mate, I've only been on this forum a week but some of you're views are way off the Mark. We did not create anywhere near enough clear cut chances. There was 2 in the whole game. Mirallas drive and McCarthy. Everything else is not even worth mentioning.

What else are we going to do?

 

Everyone was moaning to high heaven that we changed the way we played against WBA. We go back to our more typical style of play and then we should have changed it up.

 

Even if we had Usain Bolt in defence some of them goals would still have been conceded.

 

Tactically, Liverpool got it spot on and the way the game developed played right into their hands given the pace and versatility of their attack. They pressed us really well and we got caught in no mans land too often when we lost the ball.

 

We played in the same style at home, but the difference in that game was the high energy and tempo which we didn't have today especially in defence. When we pressed them as a unit we caused them problems and turned the ball over quickly, but we got spooked early and dropped off and gave them too much time and space in general, which couple with our errors in possession or marking led to silly goals being conceded.

The difference was lack of pace at centre back and John Stones well out of position for the second. He had an absolute shocker and certainly isn't a good RB. He hasn't a clue once he reaches their 18 yard box.

Yes we did. Mirallas had a couple of good chances, Jags had one, Stones free header, the McCarthy/Naismith. Nothing as guilt edged as the Liverpool chances obviously but on another day we could have scored a couple (and on another day they could have scored 5 or 6)

Stones free header.... You're including that lmao.

Yes we did. Mirallas had a couple of good chances, Jags had one, Stones free header, the McCarthy/Naismith. Nothing as guilt edged as the Liverpool chances obviously but on another day we could have scored a couple (and on another day they could have scored 5 or 6)

Bloody hell mate. About 1/10th of our chances were even close and they were off target.

they had 20 shots to our 18, the 3-0 under moyes seen 15 vs 5....

Of those 18 chances we didn't make The keeper work at all. 18 shots makes it look as those their goal was under severe pressure. It wasn't.

Whats the big love in with stones.... He exposed Jags twice on the right and was so ineffective when in there half. He's not a right back

You're right mate. I thought he was bad. He's a centre half.

Kept having a go at them at 4-0 down, don't think I seen us have a go at them at 0-0 under Moyes.I've said before I would sooner get battered having a go at playing football and attacking than playing the shite Moyes had us doing and losing 1-0.

You're being a little over optimistic for me. We created very very little.

In a strange way I'm quite encouraged to a degree, this has been character building, Liverpool have been completely devastating on the break when we messed up... But not once have we changed our principles, we haven't dropped our heads and in all honesty we have had some near misses...

I dunno I'm shedding some light.

Sometimes you can't look at positives.

This has highlighted a few things. Liverpool have a much better strike force than us. Clinical.

Jagielka is very suspect without a centre half with pace next to him. (Always been the same)

Steven Pienaar has bottled yet another Anfield derby. I have yet to see him play half decent in one.

In the world of current football. You need attacking Fullbacks and John Stones is very limited in that area. Along with Tony Hibbert. Needs to be assessed.

Yeah... Well, there are a handful of right backs who can do what Coleman does going forward. So, it's sufficient cover.

He can play there but he doesn't benefit the team going forward.

Well, one positive is that Stones can cover at right back just fine. Another, Mirallas still looking like he wants it. That's encouraging going forward.

He's not good enough at right back. Very limited in the final third. I say this because we are used to such a good attacking RB. He hasn't made one decent cross or beat the left back.

We are getting battered. Shows how important Distin and Coleman are in the back four. Jagielka has been absolutely shite.

Has Barry completed a pass tonight.

Jagielka has been shocking!

But his role is too push up to allow a pass out from midfield, like the RB does every week. If we dont lose the ball between Baines/Barry we dont concede, simple as that.

Wholeheartedly disagree.

If Barry turns to his right instead of playing the ball back to Baines, Stones is in space for the pass as he is meant to be.

You're right but he was way way out of position. It's not even questionable.

I think its more that we are getting caught on the break (3rd goal aside).

 

Just looking at the 2nd goal, Barry plays a silly ball into Baines who miscontrols it. I think its harsh to blame Stones for that one, because we were in possession and in a good area before we turned the ball over.

Stones is playing RB not RM. if not all his fault he was definitely a massive contributer to it.

Damage limitation now. Can't see us getting any points we would do well getting our goal difference back down.

P.S there is not enough Kevin Mirallas's in the team. Again looking a class above our other frontmen.

There is a lot of poor performances. I'm looking mainly at Jagielka and Pienaar. The latter has been shocking.

Take him off for Mcgeady.

Stones was at fault for the second - too far up the pitch.

All in all they are ripping our back Four apart. Mainly down the right side. (Stones and Jagielka)

Barkley is not fit.