Liverpool v Birmingham Post Match Thread

[DannyMan2006]

Their second was just a beast of a shot, but the first was a header from 3 yards out. Not much the keeper could do. Reina hasn't conceeded too many long rangers, teams seem to be able to find shooting chances in our 6 yard box all too often.

The majority of which are from set pieces. We need to sort them out.

[DannyMan2006]

Last night was just plain bad luck IMO. How many times you see Cameron Jerome scoring goals like this? Have you seen his control, it was perfect, and his lob ....

That's easily the best goal he's ever scored. But that's football. We should have closed him down then he wouldn't have been able to shoot from there. If you see the replay of the goal you see Reina back peddling before the shot so he obviously saw the danger. The defence should have seen it too.

[Exiled_red]

It's just too ****ing easy to score against us. We could have 95% possession and 50 shots but it wouldn't matter if the opposition have one shot, as it's likely to go in. Birdman touched on it earlier - although Reina is undoubtedly world class, he doesn't half let a lot of shots in.Maybe he doesn't stand a chance with 'em but the goals to shots ratio against us must be incredibly high. Last night reminded me of the 4-4 v Arsenal.

Part of the reason Pepe is such a good keeper is that he prevents alot of shots coming in by being quick off his line and playing the 'sweeper-keeper' role, this reduces the number of shots the opposition have but doesn't tend to be counted as 'saves'. I think this could affect the stats somewhat.

Also I can't think of a single one of the goals we've conceded this season which has been Reina's fault

[red g]

That's easily the best goal he's ever scored. But that's football. We should have closed him down then he wouldn't have been able to shoot from there. If you see the replay of the goal you see Reina back peddling before the shot so he obviously saw the danger. The defence should have seen it too.

cant remember but it did come from a typical hoofball from skrtel.

Tell you what i am praying agger stays injury free, he just looks so comfortable on the ball.

Skrtel and carra at centre back is hoofball central!!

[red g]

It's just too ****ing easy to score against us. We could have 95% possession and 50 shots but it wouldn't matter if the opposition have one shot, as it's likely to go in. Birdman touched on it earlier - although Reina is undoubtedly world class, he doesn't half let a lot of shots in. Maybe he doesn't stand a chance with 'em but the goals to shots ratio against us must be incredibly high. Last night reminded me of the 4-4 v Arsenal.

it oges down to the fact that players tend to save there goal of the season for us

reina is one of the best keepers in the world fact, the last place we should be looking at issues is goalie!!

[Exiled_red]

The majority of which are from set pieces. We need to sort them out.

I think part of the problem with that is we have a few more small players in Mascherano, Lucas and Insua all playing regularly, which makes it more difficult to clear set pieces than it had been in the past

[red g]

I think part of the problem with that is we have a few more small players in Mascherano, Lucas and Insua all playing regularly, which makes it more difficult to clear set pieces than it had been in the past

houillers team wasnt very good, but it was a team of giants allright!!

[Exiled_red]

houillers team wasnt very good, but it was a team of giants allright!!

I was suggesting that the increase in goals conceded from set pieces this year was higher than previously because we have more small players who are targeted by the opposition than we did last season. The problem with the Houllier team was something different

[red g]

I was suggesting that the increase in goals conceded from set pieces this year was higher than previously because we have more small players who are targeted by the opposition than we did last season. The problem with the Houllier team was something different

I agree, was just mentioning houillers team in passing

aquiliani is a 6 footer, riera is not small either they will help!!

[DannyMan2006]

I think part of the problem with that is we have a few more small players in Mascherano, Lucas and Insua all playing regularly, which makes it more difficult to clear set pieces than it had been in the past

Is it a great deal smaller from last year though? We weren't this bad last year.

[Joe King]

I noticed most teams over the weekend had poppies on their shirts. Anyone know why we didn't? Is it simply due to the red on red? Did Birmingham have them, I can't remember?

Save us the phoney poppy apoplexy

[Exiled_red]

Is it a great deal smaller from last year though? We weren't this bad last year.

We've effectively replaced Alonso 6' 0" with Lucas 5' 8"; Riera 6' 1.5" with Benayoun 5' 8"; and Aurelio 5' 8" with Insua 5' 8" (no change in height there but Aurelio seems better in the air); Arbeloa 6' 0.5" with Johnson 6' 0" (no noticable change in height there).

That's a couple of players where we've lost a bit of height ~4inches each add to that Mascherano 5' 7" and we're not the tallest of teams

* all heights form wikipedia so don't blame me if they're wrong

[DannyMan2006]

Save us the phoney poppy apoplexy

Parts of that article I agree with, but a premiership game is a great way to highlight the cause and remind younger members of society that the only reason they are living in such a free civilised manner is down to the older generation who sacrificed all for a chance at peace.

I'm not disgusted we did not follow suit with 15 other clubs, but it is a chance missed IMO.

[DannyMan2006]

We've effectively replaced Alonso 6' 0" with Lucas 5' 8"; Riera 6' 1.5" with Benayoun 5' 8"; and Aurelio 5' 8" with Insua 5' 8" (no change in height there but Aurelio seems better in the air); Arbeloa 6' 0.5" with Johnson 6' 0" (no noticable change in height there).

That's a couple of players where we've lost a bit of height ~4inches each add to that Mascherano 5' 7" and we're not the tallest of teams

* all heights form wikipedia so don't blame me if they're wrong

Yossi was playing ahead of Riera during our good run of form though. Really it's just Lucas where we're missing out.

[Lecter]

one issue that bugs me about tonight is that Rafa changed the formation to accommodate SG once riera got injured. We were destroying them with 4-4-2 and I think the main reason for that was Benayoun's movement to create space for Johnson on the right. Gerrard could have done the same thing or even more damage from the left flank once he replaced Riera.

Gerrard is arguably the world's best off the striker - but that striker is Torres, who he is on the same wavelength with, not a younger, less experienced Ngog. Rafa should have kept 442 as Masher and Lucas were running all over them in the middle and allowed Gerrard & Yossi to roam from either flank - exactly like it was for the first 40 mins and IMO we would have won the game.

Just think it was inflexible thinking from Rafa to change a dominant position to accomodate a half fit SG without Torres. He could have left it 442 for 15-20 mins of the 2nd half IMO

I don't wanna sack Rafa and I am not blaming him for not winning - this is juat a personal observation before it all kicks off

I dont think we changed the system / formation at all personally

It was 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 whatever way you want to look at it