Decided to go full masochism and watch the match on replay. Watched it with a different eye obviously.
First 15 minutes I think we looked fine. True, attempts were 6-1 in favor of Liverpool at that point, but Barkley's was at least as dangerous as anything they manufactured to that point.
Sterling's chance on 19 minutes was the first sign that our back four might be in trouble. No one picked up the run and Sturridge had all the time in the world to pick him out. Took 3 touches without a tackle coming in. Very good save on that attempt by Howard.
1st Liverpool goal: Stones did well to block Suarez's first attempt, but from the corner it was a clusterfucktastrophe. Barkley and Barry get in each others way and Gerrard runs away from him, Barry slips and wrecks Lukaku. Don't think you can blame Alcaraz, he was marking his man. McCarthy on the line got a touch, but nothing else he could do.
Sturridge had his first opportunity when he struck the curler from outside the box. McCarthy at fault there for not closing him down.
We then played quite well for the next 10 minutes and had several good chances. 29th minute Jags had a good opportunity when he slipped in the box, but got off a good shot that was well saved by Mignolet. On the rebound the angle was against Barry but he picked the wrong option and missed everything.
31st minute Mirallas had a very good effort go inches wide.
To be fair to us, either of those could have gone in and the whole game would have completely changed, but straight from Mirallas' attempt Liverpool went and scored number 2
2nd goal: This was the turning point in the game where we fell apart. We had managed to recover from the 1st goal and loss of Lukaku, but lost the plot after this. Watched this a couple times and have to say this one rests pretty much with Barry who played a terrible ball towards Baines who never had a chance of getting there. Liverpool broke immediately, Stones had been pushing up, true, but I don't think you can say he was out of position. Alcaraz and Jagielka didn't see Sturridge running off them and allowed him in. Could Howard have done better to close the angle? Maybe, but don't think you can blame him. Calamitous defending in front of him.
3rd goal: We hadn't even registered the second before we were 3 behind. Jags and Alcaraz completely caught out, not sure what they were watching but it wasn't the ball and it wasn't the man. Sturridge just jogged past them to play the lob. What was Howard doing rushing out for that, got nowhere near it. If he'd stayed on his line the D would have been back and Sturridge still had plenty to do.
4th goal:Stones played ball back to Jags who just miscontrolled then lost the chance to stop Suarez. Needed to foul him immediately, but let him run away.
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After the 4th goal we actually started to get a foothold back in the game, of course, by then Liverpool were simply holding the lead and looking to run through gaps.
Pretty clear that we had a few players that weren't match fit. Gerrard was able to match Barkley throughout the match and I counted at least 3 blocks he put in. Pienaar was a mixed bag, certainly gave the ball away more than he should have, but once he came off we lost all attacking intent on the left side.
Neither of our CBs were fit, but 1 on 1 I actually think Stones did really well and to me he looked a good deal quick than Jags or Alacaraz. Hindsight of course, but I think maybe he should have been in the middle alongside whichever of the two CBs was more fit.
Did Barkley make a few poor choices, no question, but he still looked miles better than anyone else on the ball save Mirallas.
Mirallas, apart from his rash challenge on Toure, was MotM again.
Don't think Naismith did anything positive of note, might have had his goal, but I think that's the only time he even displayed attacking intent. His 1 touch passing is especially horrendous, always playing hospital balls and into touch unnecessarily. Vellios must be completely fucking the dog not to get a look in ahead of him. Hindsight again, but should have been Osman or McGeady on for Lukaku with Mirallas through the middle.
Baines was anonymous, maybe one good cross, his corners were poor for me and while he wasn't exposed defensively we certainly needed him attacking with the defensive minded Stones on the other side.
McCarthy for me was decent, had a chance or two that he could have done better with, but he was the only one in the middle of the park with energy.
Striker is being generous. Probably best bit of business the Shite have done this decade was offloading him
