Liverpool 2-0 Bolton -- Post match

[Redspin]

Yep Lucas was good when he came on, far better than Aquilani who worryingly still looks a fish out of water. His passing was atrocious. He needs some confidence sharpish.

Yes, Aquilani did look very much off the pace. In fairness, he needs games to get on the same wavelength as his team-mates, so I'm sure he'll improve.

But I dread to think what the anti-Lucas muppets would have said if Lucas had started and turned in a performance as shaky as Aquilani did. He would have been absolutely slaughtered

[Leyton388]

Fantastic result today. Just what we needed and glad to see spurs draw. Like has been said we have not lost in 6 games and only let in 1 goal. Kryiagkos is looking solid and i hope he keeps it up. £1.5m is a steal for the guy.

We may not be putting in great performances but we are starting to get our act together and we can build on this and go on. Its just a shame that city have a few games in hand over us.

Fair play to Rafa as he looks like he is starting to sort it out and get us out of this terrible run of form. I also have to give him credit for not coming out and moaning about lack of money from the owners and use that as an excuse. He has got on with it even though a lot has been said about him and lfc in the press.

I have been one of Rafa's strongest critics in the past which i am sure some people on here will know. At one point i did want him out but i will admit i was wrong and i want the gaffer to stay here as he is the best man for the job IMO.

Things are slowly getting better.

[Shaggy]

But I dread to think what the anti-Lucas muppets would have said if Lucas had started and turned in a performance as shaky as Aquilani did. He would have been absolutely slaughtered

Said similar earlier. Absolutely no doubt about that.

[Marky]

He hardly ever posts after a win, and always comes up with some lame excuse when pulled up on it. He's miles from being the only one - there are tons of posters who only get going when we lose - but it's a bit transparent isn't it.

You're taking bollocks, i post after most of our matches - win, lose or draw.

I work on a saturday so i miss the whole match day experience.
All the build up to the match, the search about for streams, coming to terms with Rafa's team selection, the game itself and all that jazz.
So overall i feel a little in the dark as to how we played, who played well, who didn't play well etc etc hence my post match comments on 3pm saturday kick off maybe aren't really worth it.

[nbryan1764]

You're taking bollocks, i post after most of our matches - win, lose or draw.

I work on a saturday so i miss the whole match day experience.
All the build up to the match, the search about for streams, coming to terms with Rafa's team selection, the game itself and all that jazz.
So overall i feel a little in the dark as to how we played, who played well, who didn't play well etc etc hence my post match comments on 3pm saturday kick off maybe aren't really worth it.

if that statement was made with a sense of irony then it would be genius

[Charly]

I also think Aquilani is looking woeful in possession.

His passing reminds me of Salif Diao at the moment. He sort of pings it in the right general direction. But its always seems to get interecepted. It doesnt even appear to me as if its really that overambitious. He is just not passing well.

I have to say, I have never seen him play before he joined, so I cant comment on his usual passing range. But he really needs to improve because I would take Lucas over him any day of the week on current showing. If he cant show what he is capable of, then he needs to be moved on, and I dont think Rafa can afford another transfer failure of that stature, so fair play for dropping him when he could have been more stubborn.

[Exiled_red]

I also think Aquilani is looking woeful in possession.

His passing reminds me of Salif Diao at the moment. He sort of pings it in the right general direction. But its always seems to get interecepted. It doesnt even appear to me as if its really that overambitious. He is just not passing well.

I have to say, I have never seen him play before he joined, so I cant comment on his usual passing range. But he really needs to improve because I would take Lucas over him any day of the week on current showing. If he cant show what he is capable of, then he needs to be moved on, and I dont think Rafa can afford another transfer failure of that stature, so fair play for dropping him when he could have been more stubborn.

Give the guy a chance, he's recovering from a long term injury and hasn't played more than a handful of games for us yet

[Guest]

Kyriagos looks a beast! He won basically every long ball thrown at our defence and Kevin Davies didn't have a sniff. Absolute bargain for that price, as he's bringing to our defence some experience and a little bit of Sami's presence with his aerial ability. I reckon he can score a lot of goals if we get our corners right.

[Craig_H]

Decent today, in the pressure-cooker circumstances.

Started fairly well, then dropped off a bit before the goal. Lucky not to have conceded in the first half, as the one proper chance Bolton created, should've resulted in a goal but for Kyrgiakos' goal line clearance.

Started a little slow in the 2nd period too but gradually picked it up as the half went on.

The tension and nerves were still there while it was 1-0 but once the 2nd went in, you got a sense of the enormous pressure that was lifted from the players' shoulders - we started passing it better, showing more rhythm and pressing better.

Kyrgiakos was very good, he's exceptionally solid and i dont worry when he's required to do some defending - the only area he'd worry me in, is if he gets into a race with anyone, because he'll lose. Other than being slow, he's a shrewd signing. His experience and assured presence is very reassuring. The goal line clearance obviously doesnt do any harm.

Insua was very positive too today, got high up the park and offered a very good attacking option the flank. Played a big part in Kuyt's goal and obviously in the own goal too.

A word for N'Gog, who put in a very gutsy display against bruising opposition. Never stopped running and working, linked the play effortlessly at times and was a great outlet throughout. Always willing to put in a shift and shows good intelligence too. Everything Babel should be, but isnt. Thoroughly deserved standing ovation when he came off.

Also thought Riera's contribution was good today. I cant quite put my finger on it, but whenever he plays, we seem to look better.

Whether it's balance, a natural instinct to stay wide, or his ability to put in good delivery, he's a very useful option for us, especially at home.

All in all, a solid display which turned into a pretty good final 20 odd minutes.

Definitely worthy of the 2-0 win and hopefully this 4th clean sheet on the bounce should help lift confidence.

Rafa mentioned in his programme notes about the importance of being solid at the back and the confidence this can give us in the other half of the park - and it's very true.

If we're composed and not panicking at the back, it helps the whole side.

[Guest]

I agree about Ngog, he was very good. He worked his socks off trying to close defenders down and he's clearly someone who is promising. Needs to be a bit more composed in front of goal rather than rushing at his opportunities, but it's understandable under the pressure the team is.

[Craig_H]

Yes, Aquilani did look very much off the pace. In fairness, he needs games to get on the same wavelength as his team-mates, so I'm sure he'll improve.

But I dread to think what the anti-Lucas muppets would have said if Lucas had started and turned in a performance as shaky as Aquilani did. He would have been absolutely slaughtered

I'm pretty sure Lucas did put in a few dodgy performances when he'd just arrived into the side too.

I think in Aquilani's case, a player who's still coming to terms with a new league, after a very long spell out injured, is entitled to a little bit of leeway.

[Armchairkopite]

Aquilianis assist for Dirk was brilliant, the Italian oozes class imo its just a mtter of time before he settles in.

Look at Malouda at the Chavs and how long hes taken to settle in properly. I'm not saying it will take Aquiliani that long but I do think we have to be clever about this and not swallow the media diatribe. Anyone even thinking about moving a player on thats played only a handful of games already needs their head tested imo.

[Craig_H]

I'd go along with that. There's no way Aquilani's a poor player. He may not adjust to english football, but he's a class act either way. It's certainly far too soon to be forming a judgement and i've said all along, we wont see the best of him until next season (assuming he stays injury free and has a proper preseason under his belt).

[Armchairkopite]

Riera is a super player as well, we need to keep him fit.

[Craig_H]

Agreed on that too, he's classy and intelligent.

If he had proper pace and the ability to drive at defenders, he'd be a world class winger.