Liverpool vs Real Madrid away (CL group match thread)

[danperkins]

Aye. Lucas having one of his better games in a red shirt, despite a couple of dodgy moments - another cheap foul...grrr

Allen anonymous really, Llallana looking a bit light weight but little up top for him to aim at. Markovic is turd.

A lot of positives though, 1-0 at the Bernabeu is not a bad HT score line. Plenty of energy and conviction in the play, Can especially looking good.

Most of our lads will make mistakes tonight against such strong opposition but it's a decent display. Markovic off and sterling on would be a welcome change.

[RichC]

If he had shown a bit more urgency in a couple of situations we could be in a much better position.

Sterling should come on for him. Allen has been anonymous as well but not sure I'd mess with the midfield.

I fancy a real turn of pace up top can worry Madrid

[McDermotX]

Scholes is a ****ing prick.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Getting completely out played & unlike last few games where the attack has been lacking and we've moaned, expectations are significantly lower to forgive zero attacking threat.

Really, it's a bit embarrassing considering last season we had a team that could have given them a game. Shows how far we've dropped. But we're not the team we were and we've had to change it up.

All things considered it's a good backs to the wall display. But we have been lucky. It could have been more.

I agree with this, we haven't offered anything. We have got into half decent positions but fail to make the transition into an actual attack and if it wasn't Madrid we'd be unhappy.

Our work rate has been the only real improvement I've noticed from any other game so far.

[Norbs]

Fairing far better than most expected. Hanging in there a bit and riding our luck but the players involved so far can hold their heads up.

We have a tangible lack of confidence going forward though. Our front men created a bit of space for themselves but Lallana and Allen seem frightened of giving the ball away and reluctant to take a risk with a couple of defence splitters that have been crying out to be hit

[calvoboy]

My half time ratings:

Mignolet - 7, a couple of crucial saves, no obvious mistakes
Manquillo - 5, crucially caught out of position for goal, otherwise has done OK
Toure - 7, has looked solid, carried the ball confidently when needed to
Skrtel - 6, one enormous mistake, otherwise OK
Moreno - 9, great first half, looked solid in defence and good going forward
Lucas - 7, composed and confident
Can - 8, very impressive given lack of experience. Solid and some crucial passes and interceptions
Allen - 6, wrong options at times when attacks were looking promising
Lallana - 6, too lightweight once or twice, some nice play at other times though
Markovic - 6, get some balls lad. Good runs at times, but still not looking anything like a £20m player yet.
Borini - 6, lots of good running but a thankless task with no support

May be a little harsh on Borini, given his level of talent he's doing as well as could be expected...

[RichC]

Decent half that, we are just lacking the bit of top quality upfront to get a goal. But we've got options on the bench. Kinda feels like we either get a draw here or they'll knock in a few more late on though, no inbetween.

Reminds me a little of Chelsea under Mourinho defend deep and try and break on the counter obviously our attacking options are nowhere near there's at present

[ChrisDR1968]

Who would have thought the Capital One cup side from last week would play this well?

That said I thought we were unlucky to be behind Swansea with 10 minutes left.

Lucas and Toure are playing well but they're bound to tire in the second half.

[DannyMan2006]

On Markovic, I have that down as his best display yet. Performing much stronger on the ball than usual. In many ways he's on a hiding to nothing. Runs forward into blind alleys for the most part, difficult to hold it up when you have 2/3 on you and you can't pass it back as the receiver will be under too much pressure. Same for Borini and Lallana.

[McDermotX]

Most of our lads will make mistakes tonight against such strong opposition but it's a decent display. Markovic off and sterling on would be a welcome change.

Sterling in place of Markovic would increase our chance of scoring at least 300%

[DeanoUK]

Most of our lads will make mistakes tonight against such strong opposition but it's a decent display. Markovic off and sterling on would be a welcome change.

Yeah I hear ya, you're right, I shouldn't grumble too much. Your other posts have been spot on too.

[meffin]

Lucas had been excellent. For me everyone has done well apart from markovic. Manquillo and lallana haven't been at their best but are working hard.

Lucas is still a complete liability and 1 heavy touch or missed timed tackle from giving away a goal

[Lecter]

Well that was a lot better than expected. Far more urgency in our pressing, far less panic at the back. Just missing a proper striker and better delivery. Can has been excellent in the middle and has really given us some drive.

Can has been our best player by a country mile, to me he should be playing every week

Markovic has looked a little brighter but he lacks a bit of confidence

Lallana is slow in possession but he does an awful lot of work in terms of pressing

[Norbs]

Getting completely out played

Except we're not

[DeanoUK]

Scholes is a ****ing prick.

Yes, yes he is.