October 14th & its all over bar the shouting

[Morph]

Have done on occasion, but it depends on how it's done and what place you have to tell your boss what you think of his/her ideas. it's irrelevant as far as yesterday goes because I'm sure Gerrard had no complaints playing in the middle. But let's see how many times has Gerrard played on the left, twice? First time was worth a try, second time was maybe ill advised but that depends on if Gerrard was doing what Rafa wanted him to. Aside from that he's played on the right in pretty much every game apart from the other occasion in midfield when he also pretty poor. So I fail to see your point thus far, if Gerrard was played out of position to accommodate Pennant again then I'd maybe question it, but then it would depend on Pennants performance.

So while you might be right in what you say, I think it would be foolish for anyone to say anything to their boss, that early in the season.

[LFCman]

Rotation isn't the problem and I am sick of people blaming that.

In each game we have been in positions and had chances to win the games. The difference is class and quality. The difference between bottom teams and top teams is that the top teams have match winners and quality players that put that 1 chance away to win games.

While we have a good squad, we lack true attacking quality. Give us a Thierry Henry and we'd be up there. We need some creativity and imagination. IMO far too much of our play is too predictable. How many times have we had the ball out wide and you just knew we'd play it in the box from deep?! Doing that all too often is too predictable and easy for defences to defend against.

[JCase]

Good yet depressing post mate.

I'm too depressed to muster up the energy to post a thoughtful reply. We've just got to win at the soulless theatre of delusions next week. Got to.

Pessimistically I would say, our title challeng is well and truly over if we don't get 3 pts at Old Toilet

[Parm]

Good yet depressing post mate.

I'm too depressed to muster up the energy to post a thoughtful reply. We've just got to win at the soulless theatre of delusions next week. Got to.

share you're views too mate, just all a bit depressing. I do wonder where we are heading at the moment.

[Shaggy]

RAFA BENITEZ has called on his established stars to raise their game to re-ignite Liverpool's season.

The Liverpool boss rejects suggestions it's the failings of his summer recruits which have contributed to a slow start to the season.

And he's adamant that once the usually reliable elements of his side find their form, the Reds' campaign will radically improve.

"It's clear some of our more established players need to be at the top of their game," said Benitez today. "I said I thought it would be November before we were at our best because of a number of reasons.

"If you look at our formation for the game, we had the same back four, with Xabi in front of the defence, that has done so well for us last season.

"We had the same players there, but we need to get the balance right when we are attacking because, likethe Galatasaraygame, we were vulnerable to counter-attacks.


"Saturday was disappointing again, but for 30 minutes of the second half we played much better football, we attacked well and the crowd was really behind us.


"The problem is we are onlyplaying likethis for30 minutes now when we know we must do this for 90. "But there were positives from the weekend.


It was good for Craig to score and at times we played better.


"It's been difficult, but we will improve. I have confidence because we know we have good players who will start to play better.


"Maybe we will have to be more patient. It will take time, but I'm sure we will do it."


The Reds may have to travel to France tomorrow without several key men.


"I'm more optimistic Kuyt, Agger and Fowler will be fit, but they're still doubtful at this stage," said Benitez. "Momo is the biggest worry of all because he's still having treatment on his ankle."


Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy's first Premiership goal for Liverpool failed to hide the striker's discontent with the start to his Anfield career.


The Welshman has enjoyed a good week personally, with consecutive strikes for club and country.


It seemed inevitable he'd break his league duck against his former club, but the 27-year-old says he expects far more from himself than he's delivered so far.


"I'm delighted to get the goal because I needed it, desperately," said Bellamy after scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn.


"I'm not especially goal orientated but it had started to affect my performance and I'm disappointed I'd let that happen.


"Now I hope this is going to settle me down and Ican start playing from here.


"It has been playing on my mind. You have one or two good performances, then you miss a chance.


"I still feel I can play a lot better than I am, but that's where I get the buzz from.


"I want to keep improving."

[Depth_Charge]

The thing that annoys me most is that before the season started everyone in the squad was talking about the importance of starting well - how we couldn't allow Chelsea or Utd to get a head start. Looking at the squad we had built I was confident that we would set of at a pace, but it didn't take long for reality to set in - It's fine to talk the talk - much harder to walk the walk.

A bit more fighting spirit is required - just having a good team isn't enough, we're not the battle hardened unit that Rafa controlled at Valencia and since we can't win matches when we are on top questions will be asked about rotation, playing players out of position etc. - the fact of the matter is that whilst we look good at times we are simply not taking our chances.

We lack urgency and determination and overall the team gives the impression that they believe they are better than the opposition whilst seemingly ignoring the fact that this alone does not determine the outcome of a match. We may have been unlucky on occasion, but on the pitch we look like we are still getting to grips with the new season - we need to wake up soon.