Leicester V Liverpool post match thread (Sponsored by the Hedgehog Gutter Brush)

[cream]

Bony is a fat lump and would be as wasteful of our cash as Balotelli was

Nope. Bony scores goals.

[ChrisDR1968]

Anyone know what this Jackson Martinez is like as a scorer?

We seem to keep getting linked with him as a possible January signing.

[Gibbo]

The problem with Jackson Martinez is that he's just turned 28 and will probably cost £30-40m, if he doesn't settle and can't transfer his goals across, we will struggle to resell a 29 year old that can't score at a higher level.

I dont think it's a risk the club will take.

[danperkins]

nobody has scored more in 2014 think i heard at the weekend, he would be a massive upgrade on Lambert.....but we dont need 2 of these sort of plyers

Bony may not be as technical and flashy as many like but he is a very effective striker & he scores goals. Is he what we need? At the start of the season i would have said our fast paced counter attacking style wouldn't suit his game.. but sure it seems we don't play like that anymore. He is big,strong, very quick & is a clinical finisher... I would maybe rather have Higuain as my first choice & Martinez will cost huge money and is 28.. but I wouldn't say no to Bony...he's only 25 too.

Strange to think he failed on a trial at LFC when he was younger.

[danperkins]

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9590386/F365-Says

Praising Liverpool's character has been the default setting for Brendan Rodgers in recent weeks. Defeat (Real Madrid), draw (Ludogorets) and victory (Stoke), all have been treated with a praising of his side's fight or resilience. These were attributes certainly present during the 3-1 victory at the King Power Stadium, as Liverpool took points after conceding the opening goal for the first time this season.

The recent suspicion surrounding Liverpool is that "We showed great character and spirit" is actually a euphemism for a lack of quality both in attack and defence, but it might be that the only way for them to address their poor start is to resort to mere determination. The attacking verve of last season just isn't available.

Liverpool were fortunate at times, Leicester offering their hosts a series of early festive gifts. Wes Morgan was sent off for bring down Rickie Lambert after an hour before Kasper Schmeichel sealed the fate of his own side, but Rodgers will care not a jot. This was only the second time his team have won consecutive league games this season and only their third away win of the campaign.

Leicester's Thai owners made the bizarre decision to fly in a group of Buddhist monks this week in order to try and solve a run of eight matches without victory, but there was to be no zen-like calm on the face of Nigel Pearson, who must be deeply concerned for his short-term future. What's the opposite of nirvana? Oh, I give up.

Pearson's side took the lead largely through the persistence of Leonardo Ulloa, who chose not to settle for a corner, cutting back onto his left foot and striking the ball against the near post. It then rebounded off the head of Simon Mignolet and into the goal. The Belgian may feel that the world is currently against him, but he should have been punished for another sorry mistake even before that misfortune. A casual clearance found Esteban Cambiasso thirty yards from goal, who somehow stroked the ball wide.

Rodgers had chosen to drop Joe Allen in favour of a return for Steven Gerrard, and it was the captain who gave Liverpool the lead in the second half following Adam Lallana's equaliser. Gerrard was operating as the most advanced central midfielder - has the experiment as 'quarterback' now been abandoned?

Gerrard's goal was met with an extraordinary reaction from the commentators. Michael Owen proclaimed that "this is why you write him off at your peril", as if Liverpool's captain had been tossed aside by Rodgers rather than on the bench for one home league game. Owen also gave Gerrard his man of the match award despite Raheem Sterling being easily more effective. Presumably you just can't write a script like that; Hollywood producers are tingling in anticipation.

One result of Gerrard's move back up the field is the re-introduction of Lucas Leiva into a holding role. One wouldn't have been surprised had Lucas showed signs of frostbite such has been the length of his spell out in the cold, but the Brazilian adds a bite that no other fit Liverpool player can. He is at least a round peg in round hole.

Lucas made three more tackles than any other player on the field, and no Liverpool player made more interceptions. He also won back possession on 12 occasions, again more than any other player on the pitch. Finally, he committed double the fouls of any of his team mates and yet was not booked. It may be an exercise in gamesmanship, but Liverpool have missed that kind of cynicism. Theirs is a defence that needs protecting, and Lucas does it better than anyone else at Anfield.

A fortnight ago, Lucas' agent was publicly discussing a January move to Napoli, but the midfielder's only likely move is a shift higher up in his manager's estimations. "Lucas is aggressive but can also attack," Rodgers said in the build up to Tuesday's match. "Ludogorets, Stoke - he's been excellent. It's been a great credit to him and his professionalism. I'm very happy with his performances. I think his contribution has been vital in the last two games."

If Liverpool are going to be gritty rather that glittery as they look to find their feet, Lucas will be a vital part of Rodgers' plans. Liverpool's record in matches this season in which he has played a part reads: P10, W7, D1, L2. They've won two of 11 games without him. The only wonder is that it has taken this long.

Proclaiming Liverpool's resurgence on the evidence of this victory would be both drastic and foolhardy - Leicester had more shots, shots on target and corners despite playing for a third of the match with ten men.

However, the ability to withstand meaningful second half pressure before punishing their opponents is a pleasant experience for supporters accustomed to defensive uncertainty. It should come as no coincidence that it was achieved by playing a specialist defensive midfielder in that position rather than shoehorning in your ageing captain. A lesson learned for Rodgers.

absolutely spot on article.

[DannyMan2006]

Anyone can be a genius and say things retrospectively.

I think we have issues & I don't think a few personnel changes have made them go away. If anything it's making a poor summer spending spree seem even worse. We've signed three CB's since letting go of Carra and it's the free transfer in the side whilst £40m sits on the sidelines. In the summer we signed Two strikers, one who was supposedly going to be a bench player. He's the one starting games and more alarmingly, performing by far the better of the two.

Then despite spending £120m in the summer, the player back in the side is one who couldn't get a kick in the second half of last season - Lucas. You couldn't make it up..... Especially when Lucas was off to Napoli had they managed to get to the group stages of the CL. We've also spent the best part of who knows how many years chasing a LB, whilst our RB who is no doubt on the way out, keeps getting selected ahead of them all there.

I absolutely want Rodgers to be a success and I hope he proves the doubters wrong and starts next season as manager. But whilst he's been badly let down in the transfer market, his use of the players he has is almost to the point of being ridiculous. I can only imagine some of our players are hopeless in training whilst certain ones look like world beaters.

[DannyMan2006]

Btw, I can't comment on the game as I was working.

[Muddled]

Good win that! I see the usual pricks are spamming the match thread with utter drivel. Gerrard is god.

Yup.

We didn't play well but 3 points is all that matters.

Yup.

Lee Mason should be reffing in the conference this weekend. Absolutely terrible.

Yup.

Lots of negativity here. We ****ing won you miserable cunts.

Thought Sterling was excellent as was Lucas. Gerrard much better second half, happy with that! Need to keep solid and keep moving forward. Lovren needs to stay away from that ****ing team.

Yup.

Big win but we were so poor when they went down to 10 men. They could easily have made it 2-2.

Think we are being too negative atm. Too hard trying to keep it tight at the back. Performances not good enough. Results papering over the cracks I feel

May I refer you to:

In performance terms we simply are not going to turn back into a flowing, exciting side over night. Right now we need more than anything else to grind out wins and stop making it so easy for everyone to score against us. At least we've started getting the first bit of that right. The rest will hopefully come later, but despite looking disjointed and obviously missing something in midfield & attack we got 3 points, scored 3 and had the most stonewall pen/red card I've seen in ages denied. That'll do.

You could see when the third went in that a weight had been lifted off a number of players. They feel the pressure as much as we do and all that matters is the three points. The performances will develop with confidence, something our team is currently lacking.

[Phoenix07]

Look, we were missing a spark, but there were encouraging signs last night. The players put in a shift, and were looking to close down players and try to be organised defensively.

We've gone back to basics with corners, keeping everyone back to make sure we're covered.

Of course, Gerrard was good after a rest and pushed forward. He had a lot more energy, and Rodgers' post match comments suggests he realises this. As long as he doesn't play every game, and is managed properly, he'll have a solid contribution to make.

Lucas is exactly what we've needed in the defensive midfield areas too.

[kop-al-74]

A welcome 3 points. It was a very welcome back to basics kind of performance albeit our goalkeeper did his best to cock things up!

[Bender]

wow two wins in a row,still things to sort out

[kev776]

A welcome 3 points. It was a very welcome back to basics kind of performance albeit our goalkeeper did his best to cock things up!

I disagree totally, very unfair on the Midge.

He can **** things up much much better than he did last night.

[The_weatherman]

One thing that bugs me.

We are improving, Rodgers finally addressed what was wrong and things look a little better. BUT, it annoys me that Gerrard has one decent game and it's "don't write him off", "Gerrard is god" and "he's so important for this team".

This sort of thinking keeps him on that untouchable pedestal. Yes, he had a good game, at least in the second halfm although our pressing wasn't very dynamic around him. He should play only in an advanced position but this is hyperbole to suggest he's back or he's still a god etc. etc.

Keep him around but he needs to be rested and managed to keep his impact high.

[Norbs]

The crowd/fans on Saturday singing his song when he's not on the field sends a clear message to the management.

Look at Lampard at City and how he's riling the Chelsea fans. Don't want to see Gerrard doing something similar. He should be honoured with a 2 year deal to stop him going anywhere else as I'm pretty sure he doesnt want to hang his boots up for another 3 years

[The_weatherman]

The crowd/fans on Saturday singing his song when he's not on the field sends a clear message to the management.

Look at Lampard at City and how he's riling the Chelsea fans. Don't want to see Gerrard doing something similar. He should be honoured with a 2 year deal to stop him going anywhere else as I'm pretty sure he doesnt want to hang his boots up for another 3 years

Fine to offer him a deal but not on the same terms and he needs to accept a bit part role IMO, he's playing more than Lampard, Scholes and Giggs did at this age and he is only just recently retired from England. To keep his form up he needs to be rested.