Vs Manchester City (A): Post Match Thread

[Phoenix07]

The thing with Gerrard is that whilst he made some great passes last night, he looked very leggy when getting into position during the second half. The space between defence and midfield was getting bigger, and Allen/Henderson were already advanced further up the pitch.

I was delighted with Moreno's debut. He showed what he was capable bar the error.

Sturridge looked isolated for periods of the game too. Maybe it was because of us wanting to be more compact, and Henderson is only developing the side of him where he is pushing forward.

[RichC]

I thought for the most part we were decent enough last night but the game against Cit came a little too early for us especially with bedding in two new defenders.

First goal was a mess between Lovren who through not coming across created the issue and obviously Moreno being on his heels, the 2nd goal was dreadful from Henderson, didn't track his man at all and the 3rd Mig got caught far too high in his box which when the quick ball to Aguero came he couldn't get set into the correct position.

I'm sure we'll learn from these mistakes and issues but we need to iron them out quickly with Spurs this weekend.

[kingfunk]

https://vine.co/v/MlqKXxJnrKO

[ronanm]

The thing with Gerrard is that whilst he made some great passes last night, he looked very leggy when getting into position during the second half. The space between defence and midfield was getting bigger, and Allen/Henderson were already advanced further up the pitch.

I was delighted with Moreno's debut. He showed what he was capable bar the error.

Sturridge looked isolated for periods of the game too. Maybe it was because of us wanting to be more compact, and Henderson is only developing the side of him where he is pushing forward.

Yes - he seemed to take ages to do anything when he was on the ball. So slow but then maybe that's exaggerated when he is surrounded by such speed. Moreno and Markovic were very fast!!

Early days so am not too disappointed. We have a £25m player yet to play and Balotelli. Whilst I think we'll score loads this season the defence is a bit of a worry but I'm going to give BR the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he's doing there.

We have so many new players it will take time - a few more games at least. This is very much BR's team though so he needs to lead. Oddly, I think 4th would be a very good achievement but anything less and I'd be annoyed.

[CAD]

Some positives, but totally toothless in attack which is not like us at all. Everytime we got the ball we slowed the play down and just started passing it around in front of the city players... far too slow and easy for them.

Sterling was too deep for lots of the game.
Coutinho struggled to find anyone willing to make runs in to space for them killer passes. Johnson needs putting down, should never start a game again imho.
Henderson was chasing shadows for most of the game.
What the **** Mignolet was doing for Agueros goal I dont know.
Still dont like Gerrard so deep his defensive qualities are pretty ****.

Allen had a good game overall.
Moreno looks very promising.
Lovren looked strong (even though he got left standing my Aguero).
Whole team looked pretty composed on the ball.
Markovic looks a tricky little customer cant wait to see more.

Not the end of the world, hopfully Rogers will use it to motivate the players because we havent got in to top gear once in the first 2 games.

There you go. Agree with all of it. I think we did OK considering the venue. I dont think they will lose a single game at home this season!

Lovren is pure class and he does most things right defensively and he has to be the boss in the back 4. This means that when he pushes up the backline has to push with him. Failure to do so cost us against Saints and again on the 2nd goal against City. Getting to the Tassotti-Baresi-Costacurta-Maldini stage will take some time. Baresi just had to pass a wee fart and they would all take 5 steps forward. Johnson and Skertel looks oblivious when Lovren makes the push up field. That has to change and will solve a lot of issues defensively.

Guess who lost the tracking on Silva on goal number one....we are going nowhere without a bona fide HM. Gerrard is completely lost when we are off the ball. The engine room is empty.

I hope we will make top 4. There is a chance with Scum hibernating

[RichC]

Who was at fault for the 2nd goal with no tracking ?? No mention of that as it wasn't Gerrard.

Tiresome as ever

[Exiled_red]

Who was at fault for the 2nd goal with no tracking ?? No mention of that as it wasn't Gerrard.

Tiresome as ever

I was trying to figure that out as well, all the replays I have seen start too late to tell.

[CAD]

Who was at fault for the 2nd goal with no tracking ?? No mention of that as it wasn't Gerrard.

Tiresome as ever

The point isn't Gerrard bashing.

Henderson lost the tracking and Gerrard was pushing up to the city player on the ball passing to Jovetic. We have a major issue at HM and it's probably the biggest one we have disregarding the obvious back4 problem. We have little structure defensively and the solution starts with a HM that can connect the dots. This is not Gerrards fault. How could you expect him to learn how to play that position at 33?

If you read the thread I'm not the only one here who says so.

[RichC]

I was trying to figure that out as well, all the replays I have seen start too late to tell.

Have a look here

http://www.timesoccer.com/video/104/11-liverpool-vs-manchester-city-live-highlights.html

[CAD]

Have a look here

http://www.timesoccer.com/video/104/...ighlights.html

I just wrote it was Hendersen. You are missing the point though IMO...

[I, Ravel Morrison]

We have so many new players it will take time - a few more games at least. This is very much BR's team though so he needs to lead. Oddly, I think 4th would be a very good achievement but anything less and I'd be annoyed.

Agree. The first real test comes against an in-form Spurs on Sun, one of our rivals for a CL place. A draw would be a decent get but a win would be a great boost.

The only player I'd consider dropping is Coutinho who hasn't been quite the brains of this outfit. Probably for Lazar who impressed in his cameo.

[Pablo]

Need to bounce back with a win now.

If we can beat Spurs that will be 6 points out of 9. Two points per game.

That would be an excellent outcome given a very tough start to the season.

Lose or draw against Spurs and we will be chasing already, which is less than ideal.

[RichC]

I just wrote it was Hendersen. You are missing the point though IMO...

The way we play will always leave us open to quick counter attacks due to Rodgers playing an attacking style of football with the fullbacks bombing on and the two central midfielders pushing on to support the front three, this leaves Gerrard and 2 CBs holding the defensive duties for when and if the move breaks down, if it breaks down and a counter is launched quickly there's a lot of ground to potentially cover this is where having high energy fullbacks and centre midfielders are essential as they have the ability to get back and help cover off the threats.

Remember this style of play with a much thinner squad reached 2nd last year and we're very close to winning the title; the system works for us and looking at who we've brought in I.e. Lallana, Can, Manquillo & Moreno appears to me that we're looking to add more quality and options to play the same system.

[meffin]

https://vine.co/v/MlqKXxJnrKO

I shouldn't, but

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Lack of movement in the final 3rd was a massive problem for us, that coupled with us taking too long on the ball which was probably a result of the poor movement. City's flicks had purpose ours seemed to be more in hope than anything else really.

Basically every time Johnson got the ball going forwards the move broke down and he was then in a race to get back into position.

Allen was really good and basically ran himself into the ground like Henderson did last week, but it made me think its a tactic for us to have just one CM doing all the pressing because Henderson was much more disciplined this week. (I'm thinking to protect Gerrard? But its understandable to have 2 deep vs City)

Markovic looked lively when he came on, no idea why we stopped giving him the ball because he was causing them all kinds of trouble and looked to have a decent understanding with Moreno which is encouraging.

One of my mates was saying that you can't have Coutinho in a set up like that and expect to get the most out of him but for me he was giving the ball away far too easily, sometimes in deep positions in 5-10 yards of space and ****ing up a sideways pass under little to no pressure. 2 games in a row he's been poor now, Southampton marshalled him well but I'm afraid last night was just plain awful.

Oh and Mignolet, saved us last week but what the ****ing hell was he doing for the Aguero goal?????