Sunderland post match

[dww]

Think we need to accept he's going to get turned inside out regularly, bit too late to change now. As long as he makes up for it going forward, ill be happy.

I think that he should still be young enough to make some improvements defensively (look at how much Bramble has come on in the last couple of years). He's 25 which is not that old for a defender, admittedly later than most of them learn to defend.

[little dave hedgehog]

Ah Rafa, What Could`ve Been...?
Posted 28/03/10 18:25


OK, own up - what have you done with the real Liverpool?

Something fishy is afoot, because there's no way the eleven confident, slick, skilful and incisive players were the same Liverpool that have tentatively shambled their way to scrabbling around for the consolation of a Champions League place, when this time last year they were still in the title race.

Liverpool were superb against Sunderland. Johnson and Insua bombed forward with abandon. Gerrard flicked and tricked with a confidence we haven't seen in months. Agger found himself in the attacking third a startling number of times. Kuyt buzzed around like a cross between Teddy Sheringham and a dragonfly. Hell, even Maxi Rodriguez looked like a professional footballer.

They were positive, attacking, free-flowing - basically everything they were not in games like the pathetic 1-0 defeat to Wigan, or the limp 0-0 draw with Wolves.

Yes, this was 'only' Sunderland, but let us not forget that this Sunderland side have already beaten Liverpool once this season, and were unbeaten in the five before travelling to Anfield, a run in which they've taken points from two of the other Champions League pretenders.

The scoreline did not do Liverpool's performance justice - this was perhaps the most comfortable 3-0 you will see this season, and yet it should still have caused the 40,000 or so in Anfield some pain.

For this was what might have been. If only they'd played like this in at least some of the dreadful games that have characterised their season. If only they'd kept up this standard for more of the season. What would they have achieved?

While no team is this attacking in every game, it showed that when they want to be, Liverpool can be as slick and as powerful as anyone in the Premier League. So why aren't they more often?

Rafa Benitez said after the game that they have been doing the same things all season, and perhaps it was just one of those occasions when everything clicked into place - a mystical aligning of the stars that managers so often talk about.

And yet, Benitez's natural caution may work some of the time, but it's infuriating as often as it's successful. A little more intent in some of the games mentioned above, a little more positivity, more ambition, and perhaps the gap between themselves and Manchester United would be less than 18 points.

The encouraging thing for Liverpool fans is that, with the Other Three inconsistent and with much tougher run-ins, even two or three performances along the lines of that displayed on Sunday just might be enough to secure that fourth place.

We here at F365 Towers still reckon they are just about favourites to take it, and displays like that show exactly why.

Nick Miller

[anfieldanfield]

Agree about Agger - it really helps the team when he moves the ball out from deep.

It bring us 20 yards higher up the pitch.

All that lad needs to do is stay fit and he'll be one of the best center backs in the world.

[TartanTerror]

Agger Love the distribution and the forays with the ball.
Insua had some clever touches today. Maxi, Gerrard, Kuyt, and Johnson really moved the ball well between them. Zendan and Reina appear to be good mates.

[anfieldanfield]

Still think Insua is a weak link in our side.

[dww]

It bring us 20 yards higher up the pitch.

All that lad needs to do is stay fit and he'll be one of the best center backs in the world.

[RichC]

Still think Insua is a weak link in our side.

Enjoy the win, the boy did well today!

He's been over played through necessity and in team that for most of the season has struggled all over the pitch.

[Rich]

Insua was better today, and the worst defensive display in the LFC shirt was Johnson.

[rodo]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/5187792/

[TheElephantMan]

Nothing negative to say. Even Babel moved about a bit. Torres is just sublime, that first goal must be a contender for goal of the season and such a cool finish for the second. If Agger can stay fit he can easily be the best defender in the Premiership - such confidence and ability. If we continue playing this way then we will destroy any team put before us, it's a pity we were so cagey against United. I think/hope Rafa's going to deliver on his guarantee of fourth place.

[Shaggy]

My only negative would be our profligacy. We aren't nearly as ruthless as we ought to be. You see United sometimes shade games and win 4-0. We absolutely destroyed them at times today and six or seven wouldn't have flattered us.

[Mattshark]

Still think Insua is a weak link in our side.

That happens with young defenders though, he is very good for his age and will continue to improve.

[andrewces38]

That was brilliant to watch today , The shackles are off and they played with high tempo maxi had his best game and i like the new babel ( pity it came too late) and Agger is just pure quality to watch on this form Gerrard was awesome playing from cm and if we can continue this form torres still might reach 30 goals for the season which IMO will be an unbeleivable achievment

[wiw]

Bring on MOTD2 tonight

[Exiled_red]

That was the best performance of the season, could and should have woon by more, but the football was fantastic, the win should give us a great boost for the run in!