Liverpool vs Aston Villa Match Thread

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Zonal marking, end of

Maybe it is. Set pieces is definitely one of our big weaknesses and needs sorting out quickly.

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The problem with that is that we don't know how he'll adapt. He could turn out to be useless in the EPl. In Italy he's classed as soft.

Well if he doesn't work out, we are ****ed.

[Roberto Bobbolino]

Luckily for us we have 4 easy games coming up in the league, before we play Chelsea. Four wins out of four and we'll all be doing better.

That's us ****ed then.

[1 True Red]

Lucas is so over-rated by some of our fans, its unbelievable.

Not by me he's ****e

Its ok people sayin he's young blah blah blah but, he's to inconsistent in his mistakes to say he will improve with age, ffs, he'll be still making them when he's 30 i've no faith in him what so ever

My opinion only folks

[FatTony]

I love it how after we won everyone was saying that Lucas was good and that he just needs time and now we lose and he's the worst footballer on the face of the planet. I'm not exactly a Lucas fan, I don't think he's horrendous he's just a solid footballer in my eyes but seriously the way people go on with him is a bit ridiculous at times. Reminds me a bit of Sissoko who played very well here for most of his time then had a bad half a season and everyone crucified him.

Also, I like the fact that after 3 games people are making such strong predictions. If later in the season we're really going well and making a push at finishing top then all of this will be forgotten. 2 losses is a bitch, but overall it's too early to pass any strong judgement although it must be said we do look quite wank in present.

Sissoko is ****. The worst technique I've ever seen at LFC.

Lucas isn't poor, but he is pretty average. The problem is that we're playing the same way as we were last season, where Alonso was the conductor. Rafa has slotted Lucas straight in and left Gerrard to carry on up front with Torres, expecting Lucas to create the majority of our play and he simply doesn't have the game. Gerrard needs to move back now, there is no other solution. Torres needs to have time building a new partnership with someone else, Ngog, Kuyt or even Voronin.

If Gerrard continues to play up front, leaving this lack of creativity and intelligence in Midfield, the season WILL be over by Xmas.

[Roberto Bobbolino]

Got to be Gerrard and Masch in midfield, even if we lose a bit of defensive solidity.

[Hustler]

Like the mancs at Burnley?

Good one.

Maybe it is. Set pieces is definitely one of our big weaknesses and needs sorting out quickly.

We also need to note that one of our central defenders was playing with 12 stitches in his head and the other was playing with a fractured jaw. Did bode well for high balls into the box....

[DannyMan2006]

I love it how after we won everyone was saying that Lucas was good and that he just needs time and now we lose and he's the worst footballer on the face of the planet. I'm not exactly a Lucas fan, I don't think he's horrendous he's just a solid footballer in my eyes but seriously the way people go on with him is a bit ridiculous at times. Reminds me a bit of Sissoko who played very well here for most of his time then had a bad half a season and everyone crucified him.

Also, I like the fact that after 3 games people are making such strong predictions. If later in the season we're really going well and making a push at finishing top then all of this will be forgotten. 2 losses is a bitch, but overall it's too early to pass any strong judgement although it must be said we do look quite wank in present.

When you are at a top club you are there to be shot at. Big expectations and big pressures. A player either deals with it and thrives or needs to leave the club.

Personally I think Lucas is to young to have people saying if he will make it or not, but he is not to young for people to say whether he is good enough for the present.

My judgement remains the one it has been for a while. Good enough to fill in, but not good enough to be a regular starter in the role Benitez has given him. He's not a playmaker and that is what is being expected of him at present. His inability to do that job is making Mascherano attempt things he is no good at, and also making Gerrard drop out of position, which in turn isolates Torres.

When we had Alonso, Mascherano would give him the ball and allow him to plan forward moves. Gerrard would sit and wait and be a partner to Torres. So in this way the lack of a capable player in the playmaker position is effecting three of our best players and limiting their own impact.

When Lucas came in last season our opponents were not able to plan ahead knowing Alonso would be out. Teams did not know of what is now an obvious weakness. So Lucas could come in, do a job and he could get away with a lack of ability.

This may seem like a big dig at Lucas, but it's really not. He is a decent player and will be a good one IMO. But he will never be a deep lying playmaker.

[Exiled_red]

Hustler, I could say the same about Liverpool. Man Utd have lost their best player and will suffer because of it. But that has **** all to do with Liverpool. All the teams competing have huge question marks over them, but what is likely is that a team will need to win around the 90 point mark to win the title. And Liverpool look a long way off that.

I have to agree ...unfortunately

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We also need to note that one of our central defenders was playing with 12 stitches in his head and the other was playing with a fractured jaw. Did bode well for high balls into the box....

Sorry but we've been **** at defending set pieces for a long time now. How many conceded from set pieces so far this season?

[DannyMan2006]

Lucas isn't poor, but he is pretty average. The problem is that we're playing the same way as we were last season, where Alonso was the conductor. Rafa has slotted Lucas straight in and left Gerrard to carry on up front with Torres, expecting Lucas to create the majority of our play and he simply doesn't have the game. Gerrard needs to move back now, there is no other solution. Torres needs to have time building a new partnership with someone else, Ngog, Kuyt or even Voronin.

If Gerrard continues to play up front, leaving this lack of creativity and intelligence in Midfield, the season WILL be over by Xmas.

I agree with all that. I've been saying the same since the Spurs game. Prior to that I was hoping Lucas could tough it out and the team adapt until Aquilani was ready to come in.

But my guess is we'll stay the same and will have to continue hoping we will still be in a title race by the time Aquilani is ready.

On the subject of Aquilani, the lad will be a star. He will not be a great ball winner, but that's what we have Mascherano for. He would have been perfect tonight and would have helped ripped the Villa defense to shreds.

[DannyMan2006]

Sorry but we've been **** at defending set pieces for a long time now. How many conceded from set pieces so far this season?

I think you'll find that's down to who is out on the pitch though. Are team in comparison to a lot of teams in the prem is quite short.

[Zapater]

Going off topic, but I'd say that Sissoko's first season and a half at Liverpool was very good. Since he's left he's been excellent (although injury prone) at Juve. He's definitely not ****, that kind of logic really is the kind of comments I was talking about. Technically he's miles ahead of the likes of Diao for an easy example of a much worse player.

I wasn't making the point about Lucas from a tactical standpoint as it's obvious that he's no Alonso in style or quality. I'm just saying that there's no other real options at the moment and that he's not horrific. I even said myself that I don't particularly rate him highly but he's what we have so he might as well start. The dropping Gerrard back call doesn't do it for me because instead of Lucas it will be some other player like Voronin, Ngog or Babel getting the criticism.

Best case scenario Aquilani slots into the first team well and he makes the place his own, leaving Lucas to a squad role which will suite all involved. Whilst Aquilani is not fit I don't really see any other options but to play him.

[JohnDoe]

We've conceded 5 goals.

Three from free kicks. One was a screamer so can't fault us there. Two headers. Another header from a corner, and a penalty.

So three goals out of five are down to failing to mark an opposition player.

[1 True Red]

We've conceded 5 goals.

Three from free kicks. One was a screamer so can't fault us there. Two headers. Another header from a corner, and a penalty.

So three goals out of five are down to failing to mark an opposition player.

Zonal marking my friend