Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14 Mod warning post#7005

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Yes let's not hide behind Howard and his bad decisions Liverpool had enough chances today to win 3 games but again conceded 2 goals against an ordinary attack. You cannot rely on the attackers to score 2/3 goals every day in order to win games. Agger returned today and was no improvement on kolo. The forwards are going to have off days but the defense has to be better than they have been recently.

Quiet...there's no place for sensible posting in this thread

Agger really hates when an attacker is in his face. Absolutely great footballer but seems to hate when things get physical.

I dont think its fair when a poster makes a post and gets abuse for posting. Especially a good poster who has contributed to this thread thousands of times.

Also, thought Flanagan was shown up today. Hopefully it was a once off but he was poor. He really needs to start working on his crosses, thats at least 2 I can remember he put over the crossbar from a good position. I'd give him a rest next weekend if Johnson is back.

careca wrote: »

Missed post match interviews, did Rodgers say anything about Webb?

Criticised decision not to give penalty for Oxlade-Chamberlain foul, backed up decision not to give Gerrard second yellow.

Bit of a sickener over the Peno but other than that we had our chances and we didn't take any of them. We had better chances and looked more likely but must learn from that. Arsenal also timewasted and closed the game out well and that is ALSO something to learn from (not having a go at them for that every good team should be able to do that).

As Chelsea showed yesterday it is extremly difficult to be 100% in a short succession of time against a big rival and we just lacked that attacking in swarms like we did at Anfield. That said once we conceded it was all Liverpool for large parts of the game.

Talking about tactics ... Anyone notice in yesterdays game City v Chelsea, City played with Milner basically on top of Hazard for the whole game? Soon as Hazard got on the ball be was attacked by 2-3 players all willing to foul him. Stop Hazard and you stop Chelsea per se. Check todays game and Arsenal did that with Coutinho, Flamini and Arteta were in front and behind him and we found it increasingly difficult to get him into the game especially in the second half. How many times were we forced to try a long ball from the backline that was swallowed up by the Arsenal defence? Hats off to Wenger for that had them well up for that challenge. (Not that Coutinho didn't make a few good 1 on 1's for us that we didn't score from somehow BUT as the game went on he had a rake of intercepted passes).

Counter to that, BR made an error imo, he switched to a back 3 to accomodate Allen/Hendo/Coutinho/Gerard all on the field at the same time. It was a massive error. We lost the width of Flannagan and Cissoko (Who actually did ok in possession today) and basically had Sterling playing right back for a large portion. Not where you would want him. ALSO, we couldn't get out of our own half cos they blocked Agger from ever receiving the ball short and allowed Skrtel to take it - we know how that ends. Poor from Brendan there.

Anyway ... obviously denied a stonewaller and we did create more than enough to at least draw that game. We played well enough not to lose the game but just lacking a little at times. Don't think too many are that dissapointed though cos we are all focussed on the league.

Vinz Mesrine wrote: »

My opinion that he shows up a hell of a lot more often when we lose than when we win is wrong? Really?

It is wrong, yup.

All the crying from Arsenal fans about Liverpool fans being bad winners is really coming round to bite them in the hole today.

I thought we played really well today...away to Arsenal....where we got played off the park before Christmas. Thought we looked like the home team most of the match to be honest but if you don't take your chances you don't deserve to win I guess.

And to add to the 'no excuses' line being trotted out.....I don't think this time will offer up any excuses. We are playing a some brilliant stuff and are genuinely a team that no other team wants to play. I think we will continue this the rest of the season and will run it close to the end. If we don't make it then I don't think there will be any excuses trotted out...you make it on merit.