Liverpool v Sunderland post match thread

[BobTheCharmer]

They'll need to integrate and learn quickly, and we also need Gerrard back sharpish. We had no drive from midfield at all.

I would have taken Lucas off second half as his legs had gone and put Spearing on. He would have given us the bite and energy in the middle. Lucas & Adam in a two worry me. Lucas does a lot right and first half there were glimpses of the kind of player he could be for us with the reigns removed, yet he game isn't about energy and harrassing. With Adam the playmaker but not being the quickest about the pitch you need someone to do his running. ponders..........

[Exiled_red]

Also Carroll's disallowed goal was a great finish to be fair.

[Shaggy]

Yep, no argument whatsoever. It took all of five minutes of the new season for us to get a raw deal.

Imagine if that had been at Old Trafford? He'd have got two red cards FFS.

[Exiled_red]

I'm not wanting to make excuses but the referee got the two big calls wrong. For the penalty Richardson should have been sent off, it was a clear goal scoring opportunity, Suarez was in control of the ball and half way around the keeper. The referee's suggestion that he was going away from goal while accurate shouldn't be a consideration, as pointed out on MOTD he had 2 options, either to chip the keeper (which was difficult as the keeper stayed big for a long time) or to take it around the keeper, which at some point meant he would have to go away from goal.

Carroll's goal, as I said at the time there was nothing in it, the defender mis-read the flight of the ball felt a slight touch and through himself to the ground, the goal should have stood.

Both poor decisions

[Shaggy]

Although he punted it long to Carroll a few too many times I couldn't really have been more impressed. Played most of the 2nd half right in front of me so got to watch him at very close quarters and he is super-impressive. I always thought he was quite small - he seems hunched somehow - but he's big, strong, quick, good on the ball, positionally switched on and very calm under pressure. Superb signing I reckon

[JHP]

AnfieldIndex Anfield Index by paul_tomkins
Enrique Stats: 70 (76% accurate) passes | 100% aerial duels won | 100% ground duels won | 100% tackles won | 3 Interceptions

Pretty impressive for a first game.

[Shaggy]

Yep, I was looking around that pitch yesterday and it felt like a completely new team, bar those four. I counted the Rafa signings - three - and it felt kinda strange. We've always had a knack of driving on and scoring late goals, but I knew it wouldn't happen yesterday as have we had so many newcomers yesterday and most don't really know yet what playing for LFC is truly all about.

They'll need to integrate and learn quickly, and we also need Gerrard back sharpish. We had no drive from midfield at all.

[JHP]

I assume this is a fact:

iainmacintosh Iain Macintosh by paul_tomkins
Take Reina, Agger, Carra and Lucas out of that team and the other seven had 24 LFC starts between them.

Lack of experience together/ understanding shows more in tougher games e.g. when Sunderland began to play better (in the 2nd half). Let's hope the new signings are quick learners.

[Shaggy]

Very disappointing.

Amazing given all that money we've spent on midfielders and for 45 minutes in the 2nd half we couldn't keep the ball for 10 seconds.

Felt a bit sorry for Henderson. His inclination to drift way infield left huge spaces down our right side. Don't get him yet and I'd expect Kuyt to come back in at Arsenal.

Very impressed with Enrique.

Agger had a fantastic game, Lucas had a marvellous first half before falling away spectacularly - similarly Downing with a good first half and a completely anonymous 2nd.

WTF was all that swapping about in the 2nd half? I can accept him playing down the right sometimes but through the middle? Couldn't work that out.

Adam looks a good player and will fit in, but there were times when we really needed some drive from midfield and he doesn't provide it.

I predicted Maxi would be an outcast this season and him not being able to make the bench suggests I might be right. I can't for the life of me work out how he can't even make the bench for us. We couldn't keep the ball to save our lives and he's nowherre to be seen? His ball retention is excellent, can play left or right and IMO has to be in the matchday squads.

Carroll needs to work on his heading.

[little dave hedgehog]

that's strange. i seem to remember several posts about both adam and downing's corner delivery today.

[Fosterbloke]

I haven't read anything about the improvement on our set pieces. Stop ****ing whinging and look forward to the next match.

[dom9]

Because, as i already said, i consider it to be much harder to defend a ball when facing your own goal, compared to when you have your back to your goal and the ball comes into the box, in front of you.

If you dont agree, fair enough.

Maybe, maybe not. But he was clearly signed to feed Carroll early. I think that's a good thing, if Carroll gets his act together more regularl, like for his disallowed goal.

I haven't read the whole thread btw.

[Craig_H]

Why? If a cross goes in and is dangerous, it does not have to be from the byline. Beckham built a career around that.

If you have Carroll anticipating those (big if at the moment), then it could cause real havoc.

Because, as i already said, i consider it to be much harder to defend a ball when facing your own goal, compared to when you have your back to your goal and the ball comes into the box, in front of you.

If you dont agree, fair enough.

[dom9]

Some decent balls into the box, yeah. Needs to get to (or close to) the byline and cross more often from there, so that the defenders are having to defend it facing their own goal, which is infinitely more difficult to do.

Why? If a cross goes in and is dangerous, it does not have to be from the byline. Beckham built a career around that.

If you have Carroll anticipating those (big if at the moment), then it could cause real havoc.

[little dave hedgehog]

Some decent balls into the box, yeah. Needs to get to (or close to) the byline and cross more often from there, so that the defenders are having to defend it facing their own goal, which is infinitely more difficult to do.

this is incorrect. it is exactly 7 more difficult.