West Brom - Post Match

[Lee]

Johnson can defend. Very well, too.

[Rich]

A couple of years ago I didn't think Johnson was a decent defender. He is now because he's cut out virtually all the silly stuff he used to get up to.

Players change as do opinions. I'd have picked Kelly above Johnson 18 months ago, I wouldn't now.

[Chazza]

Steven Gerrard has called on the senior players in the Liverpool squad to lead by example and ensure that there is no panic after Saturday's defeat to West Brom.

The skipper admitted he was shocked with how events unfolded at the Hawthorns on the opening day of the new Barclays Premier League campaign as Daniel Agger was red carded and the Reds conceded two penalties before losing 3-0 to Steve Clarke's side.

However, the 32-year-old insists the squad must look to put the disappointment of the weekend firmly behind them and focus on an important week which will see them travel to Hearts and then face league champions Manchester City at Anfield.

"The feeling after Saturday was one of total shock. It was never a 3-0 game," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo. "I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out that way.

"In football you can be left feeling hard done by. After a 3-0 defeat everyone is going to be concerned. It's important that the likes of myself and the other experienced players take responsibility for a poor defeat.

"It took us five minutes to settle down but after that we controlled the game until they scored against the run of play just before half-time. In the second half quite a few things didn't go our way at big times.

"It's not the start we wanted but it's no time for panic. It's only the first game and it was one bad day at the office. We've got to look at the bigger picture. There's been so much hope around the place and rightly so.

"We have to put it behind us. We've got to dust ourselves down and bounce back against Hearts on Thursday night. We have to react in the right manner and look to put things right in the coming games."

Gerrard was keen to criticise his own performance at the weekend, insisting: "I made a mistake which led to (Agger's) sending off. I gave the ball away in the first place and that led to Daniel being put in trouble. I take full responsibility for that.

"We were already 1-0 down and losing him made getting back into the game very difficult. Being down to 10 men was the reason why they went on to get a couple more goals."

"We were unlucky with the second penalty as well. It was hard for the team to take. It was one of those days for us - a day to forget. But if there is any finger pointing to be done then I want to make sure that some fingers come my way."

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/stevie-s-call-to-senior-players

[Maxiedge]

I like what Stevie had to say for himself. Fair play. I think we'll do well this season but the next 2 games will be tough (Man City and Arsenal).

[James P]

I want to make sure that some fingers come my way

Good to see that years of media training haven't remove the Finbar Saunders element from Gerrard's post match comments.

[Fosterbloke]

I missed the bit where he forfeit his wages for such a weak performance.

[Daniel 7]

It didn't go very well, but there are more games to come this season where we might do well. As time goes by, players will become more familiar with the new manager's system and results will improve.

We will also recruit players specifically suited to the new manager's system and results should improve.

If they don't, the new manager will be sacked and we will get another new manager who should improve our results with his new system and vision for the club

[Muddled]

New system, innit.

[Buzzo]

I've not logged on until today and can only imagine the pandemonium on here on Saturday!!!

I only watched the highlights on Motd - but it looked like same old same old. We should have been a couple up by half time, ended up going in 1 nil down, WBA grew in encouragement as the game went on and we ended up getting pumped.

One thing I couldn't work out was how did Downing and Borini play. Suarez looked a bit isolated up front...?

Shocker of a start really, and the games and about as tricky a home game as we could have asked for. Hopefully the boys can put in a performance against City and give the club a bit of a lift.

[elrichio86]

This team needs massive investment still. We need better players, **** reputations and sentiment we need better than we have.

Slow rot, and getting worse each season.

How can you say not panic. Where do we go from here. Terrible. I think we will finish in bottom half

Joke of a football club.

at this rate everton will trash us... we need a striker who can put in the goals and fast!

[Mr Kipling]

"I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out that way"

Oh dear. If he honestly thought that, then he's an idiot.

[the rev leeroy brown]

hopefully we get a striker in before close of window because new season but same old suarez. he looke dynamite in his first 5 months with us but his finishing is pretty shocking now. i love the guy and think he's an amazing talent but as the main striker i worry he will have another season like last year and we cant afford that. His open goal header 2nd half summed his game up.

allen i can see why rodgers wanted him but it was quite clear again 2nd half that the rest of the players arent on his wavelength yet. too many times (granted with 10 men) he was isolated with no out ball.

the 2 "penalties" were anything but and who knows the otucome of the game had dowd the big fat arsehole not ruined the game but i feel the same as hopefully most fans do - it wasnt a bad overall performance and never a 3-0 defeat. still confident the style will pay dividends come mid septemebr time.

[Nick77]

"I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out that way"

Oh dear. If he honestly thought that, then he's an idiot.

I think 99.9% of LFC fans thought that - I mean on paper, player for player ours were MILES better than their's!

[McDermotX]

Asked whether he would contest the red card Agger said: "Of course. I've seen it again on television and there is no contact.

Astonishing.....take the beating like men FFS.

[dom9]

I'm watching for the first time on LFCTV now. The first 20 minutes are reasonably impressive.

There is s lot of passing. Really a lot, as we'd expect. Not a lot of sign of successfully hunting the ball down when not in posession. Onus on individuals to win tackles rather then getting into a hard to beat shape.