Sunderland v Liverpool match thread

[Joe King]

I think people are disappointed by yesterday because this was really meant to be our year and we were meant to send out a statement to the rest of the Premiership especially Man U however our performance suggests otherwise. Yes, I know its one game however theres no better game than the first to really boost the confidence of the side and the fans and really psychologically thump future opposition. I mean, teams will now believe that at home if they play like Sunderland (closing down, higher lines, battering Torres) they can and will beat us.

[Rashid]

Anyway, back on track because im as guilty as ****ing this thread up as anyone. Rashid I apologise for the terrorist remark, truly I do. It was unnecessary and said with venom which has no place in a footy forum.

We are going to win the league this year!

[Sarb]

For all the Rashid bashing, he does make some good points.

At the end of the day, we're still playing poor football and still rely purely on moments of individual magic to win games far too often. We don't seem to attack as a unit or with a purpose, its all very fragmented. Even 5 years on if we were to lose Gerrard we'd be up **** creek because Rafa has not added enough quality where it counts. There will still be games this season where Rafa will try to rest Gerrard against a weak team only to have to bring him on in the second half to get us out of a sticky situation because the team does not function without him.

Rafa has spent a lot, but then he has had to play catch up, however he has blown a lot of cash on some severely mediocre players. He's achieved some magical results in Europe no doubt but I haven't witnessed an improvement in the football we play since he first arrived. Its still fairly one dimensional.

Our midfield sucks, it really does and for all of my pre season optimism, I think deep down I know that with this midfield we'll achieve little again this season.

Personally very worried about the positions Kuyt and Benayoun played in. For once I'm agreeing with Craig Burley, Babel must come in for either Kuyt or Benayoun. The wings are a definite problem area. There is no pace there to beat a man and both are continously cutting in all the time and there is no width to the play

Sad thing is we've had this problem for many years and it's stopping us winning the title. Teams will just start to pack the central midfield against us and we'll struggle like we did yesterday.

[Sarb]

You don't abuse people but you ask for it. Why don't you post when things are going fine ? Like yesterday's win, why don't you try to look for positives instead of going on about how this player or that player is **** ?

Why don't you take some of your own medicine that you're dishing out Mr Liverpool FC Fan

[dww]

I know this is going to be a less than widely held view but I wasn't that worried by yesterday. We were awful in the first half and seemed to have no confidence in one another and hence hoofed the ball long.

Personally I thought in some ways Plessis as the only person who seemed concerned with keeping possession in the first half was unlucky to go off but the introduction of Alonso had the desired effect and as such was the right decision. I thought we controlled the game well in the second half and at times our movement was good - even if we frequently lacked good execution and at times understanding in the final third. I have said elsewhere that I think it will take time for us to get used to playing with Keane and to create a cohesive attacking unit. I agree that the return of Babel will give us an added dimension but yesterday we say Kuyt certainly get in a number of good crosses and the problem seemed to be that both Torres and Keane made similar movements and therefore we were easy to defend against even when they weren't in one another's way.

The trouble is the second half was what we need to do in the first half (and build on in the second). We got the three pints though and from my point of view so long as we do that and gradually build on the things we did get right (and start trusting one another with short passes) then we will be in good shape.

We can't afford to start games so poorly though. Psychologically there appears to be something wrong at the minute and Rafa needs to deal with it and sharpish.

[Sarb]

I know this is going to be a less than widely held view but I wasn't that worried by yesterday. We were awful in the first half and seemed to have no confidence in one another and hence hoofed the ball long.

Personally I thought in some ways Plessis as the only person who seemed concerned with keeping possession in the first half was unlucky to go off but the introduction of Alonso had the desired effect and as such was the right decision. I thought we controlled the game well in the second half and at times our movement was good - even if we frequently lacked good execution and at times understanding in the final third. I have said elsewhere that I think it will take time for us to get used to playing with Keane and to create a cohesive attacking unit. I agree that the return of Babel will give us an added dimension but yesterday we say Kuyt certainly get in a number of good crosses and the problem seemed to be that both Torres and Keane made similar movements and therefore we were easy to defend against even when they weren't in one another's way.

The trouble is the second half was what we need to do in the first half (and build on in the second). We got the three pints though and from my point of view so long as we do that and gradually build on the things we did get right (and start trusting one another with short passes) then we will be in good shape.

We can't afford to start games so poorly though. Psychologically there appears to be something wrong at the minute and Rafa needs to deal with it and sharpish.

I still think we're a way off winning the title though to be honest. I can't help but think we need to get some natural width. We'd create so many more chances for the likes of Torres and Keane if we had players in the Yossi and Kuyt positions who could get past their man and put in some good crosses. They just come inside too much

[rage]

yesterday reminded me of the narrow through the middle mixed with hoof ball that houllier played.

we still lack creativity, too many players wanted to get rid of the ball far too quickly yesterday. that'd be fine if there was clever movement going on which was nowhere to be seen.

to make matters worse sunderland didn't line up playing for a draw, imagine how difficult it'll be to beat teams that line up for a draw.

benitez needs to sort his act out. the return of masch and babel will help but ffs we need to start playing football where the object isn't to get rid of the ball as fast as possible. this isn't about players exclusively anymore but about style - something we considerably still lack

[Sarb]

yesterday reminded me of the narrow through the middle mixed with hoof ball that houllier played.

we still lack creativity, too many players wanted to get rid of the ball far too quickly yesterday. that'd be fine if there was clever movement going on which was nowhere to be seen.

to make matters worse sunderland didn't line up playing for a draw, imagine how difficult it'll be to beat teams that line up for a draw.

benitez needs to sort his act out. the return of masch and babel will help but ffs we need to start playing football where the object isn't to get rid of the ball as fast as possible. this isn't about players exclusively anymore but about style - something we considerably still lack

I think if we were at home yesterday we would have struggled to win that game. The team isn't being allowed to express itself

[Rashid]

Spot on Sarb - we are winning games on the back of individual brilliance and strong organisation. I want Liverpool to play good football, learn to pass and move and be creative. We have a striker who plays on the wing and is known more for tracking back and hard work than for his goals or skill - which just about sums it up for me.

[G]

We won.
We won without playing well.
The scum weren't exactly quick out the blocks last season.
I'm not worried.

That is all

[Elvoz]

we are joint top of the league and still people moan

[Guest]

Ffs

[donpisci]

Just watched the game on LFC tv and it was nowhere near as bad as what some people have made out! I'm not saying it was a great performance, because it wasn't, but we controlled the game and not once did we look in danger.
We didn't create a great deal, but the signs are promising...we still had another 3/4 gears we could get in to!

[Craig_H]

We controlled the 2nd half but we didnt control the game. First 20 mins we never got out of the blocks and but for woeful finishing, Sunderland could've scored once or twice.

[Elvoz]

We controlled the 2nd half but we didnt control the game. First 20 mins we never got out of the blocks and but for woeful finishing, Sunderland could've scored once or twice.

murphy i think it was missed aheader he should of scored

we werent at the races 1st half

2nd a bit better but not great

but we won