Liverpool Banter Archive August 09 2015

09 Aug 2015 21:40:57
One major improvement today was our resilience and defensive organisation. Down to O'Driscoll it appears. That could be the difference this season besides Firmino's trickery, the experience of Milner, Coutinho's skill and Benteke's ability to link up play and score. Today was more about getting the result. If we can be as resilient consistently then top four is possible.

10 Aug 2015 00:19:19
Thought they looked a little shaky myself, they needed Can or lucas in front.
The new full backs where an improvement though.

09 Aug 2015 20:44:57
High points from today:

clyne's and Gomez's defensive.positioning and ability to read the play are great and a significant improvement over last season. Not to mention that we can rely on them to sit back during corners which will let our larger CBs to attempt (unsuccessfully no doubt) to score headers. Plus I don't think anyone would argue they'd rather see clyne and Gomez manage a break away than the rashness of skrtel.

Can. Should be a starter.

Firminio, though had little opportunity to contribute, looked lively and creative. Should bring some of that Suarez work ethic and trickery.

Ibe didn't have to defend as much

Benteke worked to make runs, and regularly muscled defenders. Could see the beginning of understanding between Henderson, coutinho and Ibe

The clean sheet. This is possibly equal to or more important than the goal. 1-0 wins and clean sheets may make all the difference in may

Low points:

lallana. We were much better after he was subbed. Partially due to Can's influence, partially because lallana is one dimensional. He dribbles at players and either loses the ball or looks for the pass outside. He has a great work ethic but I don't rate him any more than I did kuyt. He should definitely be moved to the bench and brought on when we look lethargic and need a boost of energy or want to pressure defenders high up the field, but he provides little else.

Lovren. Look miles better than last season but far from being worthy of a start. He continually drifts to the left touch line creating space that either allows forwards to run into, or pulls Henderson deeper which renders our midfield useless.

Mignolet. Had some fair saves but his distribution and the quickness with which he gets the ball back into play leaves much to be desired. There was one point where benteke wanted the ball quickly for a counter and migs held it and you could see him shaking his head. I can't help but feel this should be an easy fix.

The partnership of Henderson and milner. Still early days but didn't seem to work together well. And were mostly nonexistent.

Coutinho's shot that surely poses a threat to the international space station.

All in all wins like this may be what gets us 4th (or more) this season. And with the option s we had to bring off the bench I can't help but feel we're vastly improved over last season. And this was without Lucas, Sturridge, or Flanagan. A lot to look forward to this year

09 Aug 2015 21:34:51
Agreed mate we looked better after the change Clyne looked impressive Gomez held his own against a strong player.

Milner sound Benteke jury out

09 Aug 2015 21:35:41
Top post mate.
I am afraid but can't see Lucas in BR's plans.
Markovic is a very talented and only WINGER.
Play him if you want to play a winger.

09 Aug 2015 21:37:34
I can't see can getting many starts when sturridge returns because both him and benteke will start and milner and henderson won't be benched

09 Aug 2015 21:52:33
A gree in part. Milner an Hendo were shackled all game long because Hendo was playing the DM or DLP position which does not work. Can came on and that changed the game because it allowed Milner and Hendo to press further up the pitch and win the ball there hence, providing Benteke with more options in the box which put them on the back foot. Skrtel as usual, had heart in mouth errors again selling Mingo short which almost cost us. BR needs to learn quickly from this because we will struggle if he doesn't. Play Can or Lucas at DM and unleash Milner and Hendo to press up the pitch. Benteke ran his socks off and worked hard for the team all game. I'm happy with the effort he showed. All in all, I'll take the points because I admit, I would have taken a draw.

09 Aug 2015 23:10:09
Harry, were you not banging the drum about Markovic not being a winger and Ibe as the only winger? Or is that dependant on the day it is?

10 Aug 2015 00:42:26
@redohio I don't get why you are just pointing out one mistake Skrtel made. Lovren made similar one while trying to clear the ball after we scored. You also forgot to mention how Skrtel cleared the ball that was bound for goal. I personally think Skrtel is our second best defender, behind Sakho.

10 Aug 2015 01:29:27
Anyone catch the reactions of players when Migs held on to the ball too long rather than distributing effectively? Rather telling as I see it.

10 Aug 2015 05:53:58
Irish

Markovic is not an out and out winger like Ibe. But his biggest weapon is lethal pace and could certainly do a better job than Lallana on the flanks.

10 Aug 2015 08:46:44
Kio that certainly wasn't skrtel's only mistake.

btw agree Irish EG just tends to throw any old thing out and then contradict himself a month or so down the line.

10 Aug 2015 09:11:48
So after all the Markovic playing thru the middle, behind the forward, he can now play on the wing? You change your mind soo many times! You are not a woman by any chance?

09 Aug 2015 20:39:02
Great result today, clean sheet. Back 4 transformed as I predicted and Firmino is the key to unlock stubborn defences.
Played like champions, 37 to go!

09 Aug 2015 21:21:33
Good result, but saying that the defence is transformed on the back of one match, Stoke at that, is a bit OTT fella

09 Aug 2015 21:31:44
Played like Champions? Good grief. Mind you, still better than Chelsea yesterday

09 Aug 2015 21:48:20
After one game u are pulling out the "as u predicted card"?

Your defence is transformed? From what into what?

09 Aug 2015 21:56:58
Firmino showed some life when he came on. Can changed the game for me because as soon as he came on, it freed up Hendo and Milner to press up the pitch Snd pin them back which it did. This game showed that plaing Hendo at DM or DLP will NOT work because he is shackled there Can or Lucas should play there and allow Hendo and Milner to press up the pitch which will only help Benteke and provide him with some help in the box. Still not sold on the CB situation because Skrtel made errors again and that can't be overlooked. Must do better in this area

09 Aug 2015 22:11:42
I never ever go OTT mate :-)

09 Aug 2015 23:28:42
Lighten up lads?
Anyway, champions stay tight when the team is struggling to break down the opponents. We ground out a win and kept a clean sheet, Chelsea did that a few times last season.

09 Aug 2015 23:41:31
What did you predict exactly?

10 Aug 2015 07:25:18
Lovren would be a "colossus" this season
Firmino would be the "jack in the box" to unlock defences
We will finish top 3 (also predicted champions)

10 Aug 2015 08:47:46
^^^lol

09 Aug 2015 20:22:46
Chelsea drew at home, arsenal lost, Spurs lost, utd scraped a home win. We scraped an away win at stoke and people moaning.

I think Can to start is a must (over Lucas because he needs a good run to improve - even if he makes the odd mistake). Hendo is guaranteed. Milners energy and experience is going to make him a starter a high percentage of the time. Benteke/ sturridge is guaranteed - so that leaves 2 spots from a high number of players. So everyone shouting the odds over so and so not starting needs to be realistic that not everyone's going to get game time.

Happy with the win and interested to see if BR has learnt anything from last season in terms of managing his squad as the season unfolds.

Also a positive that no one has mentioned is Can was actually played in his favoured position and not at right back ;)

09 Aug 2015 21:29:22
I think Milner must have been guaranteed playing time as I can't see him being dropped.at any time under any circumstances.

I think Brendan will play it safe through the tough opening games to develop a winning mentality albeit in an ugly fashion. I believe we've got the players to win like that and I would expect to see us push on once some consistency and points have been achieved, which in turn would allow thenplayers and team to express themselves later on in the season.

These first games are so important, and something clicked today that our manager is a little more cautious in his approach, which indicates yo me that he might be learning, and because of his age anyway, why wouldn't he?

09 Aug 2015 22:01:21
And Can was outstanding which only proved that he IS a midfielder so to those saying he can't or shouldn't play there should go watch the game again or keep quiet because his app arrival changed the game because Hendo pressed Stoke and they coughed up the ball every time we pressed them. He or Lucas should be starting, for sure. Here's to hoping BR has learnt or he'll be out of a job if he does not.

10 Aug 2015 06:31:17
Agree Davey just posted a reply further up the page saying something similar. Our next game/team selection will tell us a lot. If Can starts it shows BR is learning. He's a young manager with no past experience, if he learns from his mistakes and grows then he's proved already that he can put a team out to play very very good football. Fingers crossed!!!!!!!

09 Aug 2015 20:13:23
Need to slap a big fat"not for sale" on Coutinho

Bet Barca/Madrid come in for him next summer unfortunately

09 Aug 2015 20:52:53
Possible. A perfect replacement for Inesta in the long term.

09 Aug 2015 20:56:24
If they come he will go

09 Aug 2015 21:01:57
That'll have to come via an astronomical buyout clause.

09 Aug 2015 22:03:01
If we wanna keep him or any of our other players, CL qualification every season is a MUST or he will go and there be nothing we can do about it.

09 Aug 2015 23:30:02
Meh, we've sold better players than coutinho before and we're still standing

10 Aug 2015 06:33:21
Ron

We ain't standing. In reality we are a Southampton to some other teams.

09 Aug 2015 19:58:48
Well. Fairly happy with the way that went.
Thought Lovren looked good which is a massive bonus for us. Gomez looked good. A little green at times but that's to be expected.
Ibe was full of flair and was doubled up on most of the game. He and clyne could build up a nice partnership on the right.
Lallana was quiet and Benteke seemed a little isolated but I won't judge after one game away to stoke.
Great to start the season with a win.

09 Aug 2015 20:34:35
It was a decent performance.
I agree that young Gomez looked a little out of place at times. Walters certainly looked to out muscle him and the lad got caught wrong side a few times but overall did OK.
The only thing i felt was that Benteke needs to up his work-rate. Defend from the front.
I felt he let the centre back walk it out far too often, so I think he needs to change his style slightly.
But at the end of the day, going away to Stoke and getting the 3 points was a good days work.

09 Aug 2015 22:10:47
We had a snooze fest of a first half. It was Can's arrival that changed the game IMO because it allowed Milner and Hendo to press them high and that pinned them back. Disagree on Benteke. I thought his work rate was commendable. He pressed, harried and bullied every opponent he faced and won almost every header. He can get better with time but he showed good effort and in a game like that, you need your CF to be among the wars and he was.

09 Aug 2015 19:32:16
Good result. I am not concerned about the performance just yet. Solid debuts for Gomez, Milner, Clyne and Benteke; Firmino looked good when he came on too.

I have been very critical of Lovren, but I thought he was good today, dealt with most of what came his way and was focused throughout the game. I don't want to be panegyric just yet though, as it is only one game.

Man of the match?

Nathaniel Clyne. Good positioning, supported Ibe well, and kept things simple. He will need to improve his passing, but I was impressed by him. I thought Milner and Lovren ran him close for the MoM. Mignolet's kicking is not great, but I thought he was decisive and had a good game. Lallana and Ibe will have better games.

Overall satisfied. You could see the nervousness in the manager and the players going into this game, and this result would have done wonders for their self confidence.

09 Aug 2015 21:08:57
Agree mostly AG. Biggest plus for me? The back four looked organised. Maybe our best signings this season may prove to be the new back room staff. Perhaps defence can be coached after all.

09 Aug 2015 22:15:33
Special mention for Emre Can. His arrival changed the game, IMO.

09 Aug 2015 18:53:06
When will everyone just be happy with us winning? Sick of all the haters.

09 Aug 2015 18:58:45
September 12th when we beat UTD .

09 Aug 2015 19:30:48
Well i'm happy! 1-0 away to Stoke? Great result! As usual i will leave it to the "experts" to tell us who should be playing and where and what formation. All i know is we didn't concede 6 and the wee magician scored a cracker.

09 Aug 2015 20:19:56
Haha. I like! :)

09 Aug 2015 21:09:21
I'll be happy when we finish in the top 4 again and win a cup and play well.

Not playing badly vs stoke,requiring a screamer from coutinho because we lacked so much going forward,because we were so worried about conceding.

Thankfully a lot of our close rivals have dropped the ball this weekend too.

Gomez had an ok debut,thos clamouring for MOTM need shooting,Walters had his number for a lot of the game just like he had skrtels. it was an ok debut but it was so far off a motm performance.

Muniesa was the stand out player in the game.

09 Aug 2015 23:31:05
Some people don't like admitting they were wrong

09 Aug 2015 18:43:17
A win away at Stoke is always a good result, so first of all well done to the boys.

However, my first point is regarding Benteke. Everyone knows I'm one who is in full support of Rodgers, but he really has no idea how to utilise a big man up top. I know we went for a more defensive approach, but Benteke was a spectator. When you play a big man like him you need to play off him. You need runners around him and you need balls coming into the box from wide. Ings would have been a better fit to the way we set up today. He would have closed down the opposition and ran onto through balls.

Secondly, I touched on this during the game, but Milner and Hendo playing the holding role is a waste of their talent. That bursting run Hendo made was the move of the match for me, and if he started on the right of the attacking three we would have seen a lot more of those penetrating runs. Same with Milner he is much better playing an attacking role than he is when restricted to a holding role. But we have only ONE holding midfielder at the club, and he didn't even make the bench today. If Lucas is injured then fair enough, but why haven't we brought in a holding midfielder this summer?

To get the best out of these players we need to play 4123. Firmino and Milner either side of Benteke, Coutinho and Hendo behind them with Lucas holding.

Red Rum

09 Aug 2015 19:00:30
I agree with most of that. I want us to go 442 albeit ed 2 says it leaves too much room in the middle agree with Lucas in the holding role

09 Aug 2015 19:12:36
The only problem with that line up mate is you are leaving Can on the bench which to me is madness

09 Aug 2015 20:15:32
We kept a clean sheet and got the points. I would start with the team that finished the game. It's all about getting the points.

09 Aug 2015 20:32:09
Can you see Rodgers dropping one of Hendo or Milner though Chris, because I can't.

Red Rum

09 Aug 2015 20:42:54
agree with you Chris , Can has to start , pushing others further up were they can support our striker .

09 Aug 2015 20:53:24
Can, Hendo and Milner should be our midfield all day of the week

09 Aug 2015 22:27:56
Can or Lucas must start so Milner and Hendo can press up the pitch and provide Benteke some help.

09 Aug 2015 22:37:38
I'm not sure he will mate and that's why I think he's got a major problem. I don't think he's got the style, charisma or respect to keep players happy when they aren't playing

09 Aug 2015 18:37:27
Well I am a happy man.

Gomez looked at home and does not shy from anything, Llanna was tricky, Firmino a firm starter for me - love this guy already, defence has improved and Lovren looked composed and what a goal.

Britannia a hard place to go any season, but we kicked them like they always used to to visiting teams.

First game, a win away from home and lots more to come. We will have ups and downs. But Gunners lost at home to a rampant West Ham!!

Cheers LFC to the season ahead, this is going to be mental!!

09 Aug 2015 18:47:49
Firmino looked good in his cameo

09 Aug 2015 19:29:09
lallana is totalling ineffective when played out wide - how long will it take for brendan to realise this!

09 Aug 2015 20:57:24
There is no other place for him to occupy.

09 Aug 2015 21:27:14
Problem is al & PC run in the same channels. AL will lose his place.

09 Aug 2015 22:36:07
I am beginning to think that Lallana may not cut it here, I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong because like EG said, if not out wide, I don't know where he can play, tbh.

10 Aug 2015 08:20:32
AL showed some flair and some good skill, but agree this is not much use on the Hal way line and needs to be on the 18 yard. He and Cout are the same type of player and Firmino should be starter on the wing over AL. Ibe had a good game and is a solid attacker, Benteke didn't have much to do but I know that will change as the season goes on - but if not it is a worry as last season and this one we are not making use of the striker in tactics as that's all I can it could be!!

09 Aug 2015 18:32:18
Team looked so much better with Can in the holding position and Milner and Henderson pushing forward. Kept the pressure on and looked a lot more attack minded. I thought Firminho looked good in limited minutes.

09 Aug 2015 20:49:06
yes we looked so much more balanced with Can playing there , let's hope BR saw that too , special mention to Joe Gomez , who was brilliant today , yes very young and will be briliant for us for years to come .

09 Aug 2015 22:39:11
Can changed the game IMO and to those saying he can't play in midfield, eat some crow.

09 Aug 2015 18:23:26
Wow betty calling me a troll huh. I am touched thanks . Great moment. 🙌
Apparently you can't even give an opinion here without being hounded by the all's good or the all's gloom brigade 😢

09 Aug 2015 18:50:35
lols. step into my shoes Reet. I have been called everything except my own name.

09 Aug 2015 19:02:01
So slagging off a youngster whos finding his feet isn't trolling after i said he looked good. Dry your eyes mate il even send u the kleenex opinions are fine but would u do any better i prefer constructive criticism myself not just bs remarks with no substance

09 Aug 2015 19:08:27
What is your own name? We all call you Harry but you get a new username every month.

09 Aug 2015 19:25:19
Maybe if you didn't keeping your name every week like a flake, people would call your name, Harry. BTW, Harry is not even your real name, is it?

09 Aug 2015 19:58:50
I'll be waiting for it buddy.

09 Aug 2015 20:13:39
his real name is harry trotter

09 Aug 2015 20:58:43
Get a grip and move on mates, there are better post down.

AG
You could call me Harry.

09 Aug 2015 18:20:26
What's with all the negative posts. Stoke is a hard place to go always very solid at the back hard to break down. On the plus for us we actually didn't look to bad at the back. Had a lot of young players against a physical Stoke. Would take any 3 points play poor or not.

09 Aug 2015 18:37:17
We didn't look shakey at the back,because we had nothing going forward,we lumped it up to benteke and forced hendo and milner to both sit too deep.and didn't utilise both wings,only one.

09 Aug 2015 18:51:18
Coz your fav player was on the other side bob.

09 Aug 2015 19:02:40
Lallana certainly isn't my favourite player,I just don't have an obsession about wingers needing pace and lallana being bad on the wing like you EG.
Lallana was constantly free on the left,but because we were so wary of gomez vs walters we didn't play it to him,we also just decided not to play footballa nd lump it to benteke hoping he'd hold up the play till couts joined him,milner and hendo kept deep far too much. There was abstolutely no invention to our pay up top.

09 Aug 2015 19:04:39
Also EG if you're agreeing with me that we only used one sie,how can you say lallana did poorly,when he barely received the ball,because we were so predictably going down the right hand side. So either he got the ball and was shit,or he didn't get the ball and we didn't utilise him. (It's the latter that happened today incase your brain can't comprehend it) either way you invalidated your own argument

09 Aug 2015 19:12:10
His new fave now Allen is injured. Is Lalana welsh aswell Bob?

09 Aug 2015 21:02:54
no reply there then eg?

09 Aug 2015 18:19:24
Jaime Carragher's right, no points or a draw from today and we're well under pressure. As it is, our tails are up.
After the game you could see how much it meant to all the lads. They were all made up! All 'in it together'. Good to see!
Over to you, Sterling - and your fellow Citeh journeymen! C'mon West Brom.

09 Aug 2015 18:05:37
Positives:

Wonder goal from Coutinho lifts the performance above the distinctly average.

Joe Gomez has an excellent competitive debut: Moreno has serious competition.

Defence in general looked, more or less, solid.


Negatives:

Lack of creativity.

Benteke's movement was nil - a lethargic, lazy performance in which he neither created space nor pressurised Stoke when they had the ball - must do better.

Lallana very peripheral.

09 Aug 2015 18:16:57
Don't normally say this to other posters, but what a nonsensical statement about benteke.

He spent the whole game coming short, moving into space asking for the ball. He can play around the box under pressure, I don't know why other players weren't trusting him to.

09 Aug 2015 18:17:20
Lallana was shocking today. If not for his price tag, there would be an uproar why he was included in the match day squad at Markovic's expense. Looking like a bad buy with every passing game.

09 Aug 2015 18:22:37
A thought he just didn't get the ball quick enough. Made plenty runs. Some1 of his size won't chase the play all game that's y he has 5 midfielders behind him

09 Aug 2015 18:23:42
Agree completely, Forza. He was very isolated. Feeding on scraps. But the team dug deep.
God, a hard-fought victory like that tastes sweet!
Please lads, let's just enjoy it and be positive.

09 Aug 2015 18:25:45
Benteke got no support from the flanks as we never used the width at all. I have said it many times, there won't be any tactical change to suit Benteke, we will continue to play through the middle and that's it.

09 Aug 2015 18:27:57
Not trusting themselves. Neither Llana nor Ibe looked comfortable with the cross. Both wanted to cut in with ball and take off towards the goal eliminating the space that Benteke needs for his game. Ibe still had good performance but Llana looked out of place playing wide and would have been better slotted in behind Benteke.

09 Aug 2015 18:31:57
He is not suited out wide and I got bucket of abuses 24 hours ago. And I might still get some.
BR has his fav players and they would be in the team regardless.

09 Aug 2015 18:43:18
EG we don't need to play from the flanks, Benteke won headers and came short, that's fine, if there's runners in the gaps he makes and onto the headers he wins. Ibe stayed wide, that's fine, that's his role, but other midfielders had to break the line, and hendo and Milner can't do that as a midfield two.

09 Aug 2015 18:46:48
Firmino has to take lallana place in teM and I suspect he will. Lallana does nothing! Absolutely nothing all game every game!

09 Aug 2015 19:17:25
fencey

I am sorry but you need to stretch the opposition by using width which ll open up the space in the middle for countnho and Henderson to burst in.
If you play narrow you would get cramp for room in the middle and no place for the runners to get inside the defenders. That's exactly Suarez and sturridge did two season ago drawing players out wide making space for Sterling to run at people.
but now we have to use your full backs and wide players to do it.

09 Aug 2015 20:31:44
E G ,We won the game mate. It's the 1st game of the season at a ground were not many sides come away the points.No pleasing some fans.

10 Aug 2015 04:10:57
Sorry but Benteke was lazy from start to end yesterday - there was no pressing at all from him when we didn't have possession and no movement up front from him when we did. This is just laziness and nothing more - everybody, except Benteke, pulled their weight yesterday - it is laughable that he is being defended 'he was isolated' 'you can't expect a big man to run around all game' what?? Top strikers work tirelessly to create space, run opponents ragged and forge chances - Benteke did none of those things. And he is certainly capable of pressing the ball, he chose not to.

{Ed001's Note - sorry who was pressing? Where do people get this crap from? The team as a whole were not pressing, so why would Benteke press? I am no fan of his, but yesterday his lacklustre performance was purely down to the lack of service he got. You do not press on your own, you press in packs, so no way should anyone be blaming Benteke for not pressing.}

09 Aug 2015 18:01:07
Lovren was my MOTM. Good in the air and cool and composed on the ball. Well done keep it up and prove the moaner wrong.

Tell you what might be first game of the season by if I was BR. 32million or not if benteke refuses to press like did to day I would drop him. Wouldn't even help out in injury time to seal the win.

09 Aug 2015 18:03:54
Bris it is the attitude he has carried for three seasons mate

09 Aug 2015 18:07:31
Sorry mate, but you are wrong about Benteke. He did his bit defensively, and to be honest, he won almost every header that came near him. People keep expecting another Suarez, but that isn't possible, unless we resign him ofcourse

09 Aug 2015 18:07:34
Get a grip, we bought him a week ago for what, drop?

09 Aug 2015 18:07:41
I agree about lovren playing well but I totally disagree about benteke plus he has hardly had any time to play with the team

09 Aug 2015 18:07:41
Lovren decent though not MOTM, though Gomez was - tireless, positionally excellent and dealt very well with the thug Walters. For a young age his composure was excellent.

09 Aug 2015 18:17:22
Skrtel and Lallana were awful. Lovren and Clyne were most impressive for me

09 Aug 2015 18:41:34
I respect the people on here who say Skrtel is poor and I see it sometimes but I didn't see anything wrong with his performance today.

09 Aug 2015 18:46:42
Benteke had no support, he would have just been running between the centre backs, at least he moved when we had the ball and tried the link up. He passed backwards a lot, but that's okay for me, it's better than misplacing passes or not wanting the bakl

09 Aug 2015 18:49:09
Positives today were, Clyne, Gomez and Lovren at the back. I thought Lovren actually led the defence well. Benteke did well considering he has only been with us a week, thought his movement was good, he was always looking to receive the ball.
Personally I thought we were better after Can came on I think 3 in the middle or diamond is the way to go. Skrtel was average to poor, terrible back passes putting pressure on Migs at least 3 times. Hopefully Lovren and Sahko will be given a chance together

09 Aug 2015 22:53:47
Bristhe, go watch the game again and come back and say Benteke did not work hard, press high, bully every opponent on him and win almost every header. Poor post

09 Aug 2015 17:59:17
Thought loveren had his best game today ,solid at the back won Everyin in the air ,can made a difference when he came on

09 Aug 2015 17:57:46
Even game decided by a bit of PC magic, lovren and Gomez done fine,3 pts is fantastic

09 Aug 2015 17:56:11
What i was going to say before Coutinho's wonder goal was that we looked solid if a little unspectacular. Just a little rusty.

But we have those match winners in the squad, like coutinho who can provide that moment of the magic! perfect start.

To my untrained eye Lovren didn't look too bad.

09 Aug 2015 17:52:11
Not great but just enough. Well done boys.

09 Aug 2015 17:57:39
Not great muscat!? We won away at stoke, first game of season!! We fought them and dug deep. i'm hoarse but I'm delighted absolutely delighted!! Not great me a***!!!
Well done lads!!!! Take a bow!

09 Aug 2015 17:59:44
Lo and behold we put 3 into misfield with Can coming on and we gain some traction in the game and create some chances. Not impressed with the performance, it veered between boring slow passed along the back or some Van Gaal hoof and chase. Bloody glad for 3 points

09 Aug 2015 18:14:20
Phew that was hard work, an awful game lit up by a wonder goal. We were much better when Can came on which gave Hendo more scope to make forward runs. Firmino looks good, really looking forward to seeing him play. Not pleasing on the eye, but in the context of what happened in May, that's a fantastic result, a great 3 points.

09 Aug 2015 17:48:16
Not feeling so negative now anyone think our Brendan will get manager of year award

09 Aug 2015 17:52:34
^you taking the piss? Did you watch the game?

09 Aug 2015 17:59:18
On the up side its 3 points we didn't get last season

09 Aug 2015 17:45:16
Coutinhooooooooo 🙌

09 Aug 2015 17:39:13
I hate to ask, but do we all think this will be another transition year? Is only one game, but we have shown nothing above last year as far as my eyes could see. Maybe the manager was the problem after all?

09 Aug 2015 18:06:01
Transition is only a excuse for teams poor performance, Southampton didn't use it last season and they had massive changes, hopefully we will not hear about transition this season.

09 Aug 2015 18:20:57
Not sure there is really any maybe about it.

09 Aug 2015 18:28:56
Coop, to quote you 'is only one game'. Don't draw conclusions yest, be satisfied with three points and look to the next game.

09 Aug 2015 17:30:02
surely our 30 million pound signing will get j to the game?

09 Aug 2015 17:23:04
seems strange to have a new CF and then to keep wanging balls up to him for him to win headers with no-one feeding off him. how can he be waiting for chances if he's winning headers for everyone else?

09 Aug 2015 17:13:41
Is Lalalana the new Joe Allen? Not needed but Brendas Fave. There is no width on the left at all. Gomes gets the ball and no one to pass to.

09 Aug 2015 17:34:46
Been impressed with Lovren today

09 Aug 2015 17:48:14
Lallana has been poor for some time now. Can't remember a decent performance from him since swansea at home. We have looked better with Can on.

09 Aug 2015 17:52:26
The ball was played constantly to the right,hence ibe had 3 men round him all day

09 Aug 2015 18:00:43
Because there was no one on the left. My Nanna has more strength than Lallana.

09 Aug 2015 18:07:58
marco no,lallana was crying out for it.next time watch yeah!

09 Aug 2015 16:59:55
Henderson and Milner both in holding midfield is a waste of their talent. If this 442 is how we are going to play Hendo and Milner should be competing for one of the three attacking midfield positions. They aren't programmed to play the holding role.

Red Rum

09 Aug 2015 17:11:53
We tried to say this all summer Red and got nothing but abuse. BR ll not drop Milner / Lallana for Lucas.

09 Aug 2015 17:19:07
4231 I was meant to say.

Red Rum

09 Aug 2015 18:01:21
You didn't get abuse, you were saying dlp, that wasn't the problem today. We just restrained them both, has to be milner OR hendo for me

09 Aug 2015 16:54:09
Looking very reminiscent to last season first half. Blunt and out of ideas! Need some creative spark from somewhere 2nd half.

Hope this is just first game rust and doesn't become story of the season.

09 Aug 2015 17:04:20
Our set up is totally wrong. Midfield isn't creative enough to carry the ball forward. Countinho dropping deep making it easy for them to mark him out.
BR got it wrong in the team selection.

09 Aug 2015 16:51:03
Look like we're more concerned with not conceding than we do about winning. Which is understandable I guess, but frustrating.

09 Aug 2015 16:44:29
Big 2nd half. Struggling so far. Come on lads!

09 Aug 2015 16:33:08
All a bit grim so far

09 Aug 2015 16:46:56
Milner and henderson are bland together in midfield. Can can make q run though midfield and open up space and create problems. Milner and henderson aren't going to play teams away. Get can in and take milner off

09 Aug 2015 16:52:15
If Stoke had their shooting boots on they'd be two-up (and Johnson would have a goal!) Been depressing viewing so far - don't seem to be able to get any of our attacking players into the game. At least we have some options from the bench this season though to hopefully change things (Firminio, Ings).

09 Aug 2015 16:24:15
Any good place to stream the match?

09 Aug 2015 16:42:57
Cr7 always has some good streams

09 Aug 2015 16:50:03
Firstrowsports soccer is pretty good

09 Aug 2015 15:51:47
Just regarding Sakho, you do know his wife only gave birth this week and he hasn't trained right?
He was never starting today or even being added to the bench

09 Aug 2015 15:56:09
I think he was spotted doing some light stuff but nothing more according to a few

09 Aug 2015 15:27:10
Would have preferred to see Lucas in DM to allow Henderson/Milner more freedom to press and attack. Knew Sakho wouldn't be given fair shout. He'll leave and I couldn't blame him. Arsene may even approach. Benteke with a partner with Counts playing behind in a 4-4-2 diamond I find very appealing. Chelsea, Arsenal slipping up already, we need 3 points. Fingers crossed.

09 Aug 2015 15:10:38
So Lucas the casualty, fitting Lallana into the team.

Well done BR. very well done.

09 Aug 2015 15:21:57
No Lucas and Sakho??? Shows what a muppet Brendan is. Never seen such a clueless manager who is hell bent on destroying the club's reputation from every angle.

09 Aug 2015 15:23:19
I was trying to be optomistic about the season. We have a squad that's good enough for the top 4, we have plenty of cover, plenty of attacking talent, so we can have a good season. And then I see the team sheet with two attack minded players in the middle and no protection for our notoriously shaky defence.

Maybe Milner & Hendo will prove me wrong and do their defensive duty. Maybe we'll dominate the game to the point where it doesn't matter. I certainly hope so, because we have enough talent in this team to easily beat Stoke. But I just get the feeling looking at the starting XI that Rodgers has learned nothing from last season.

Even Lucas' biggest detractors cannot deny how much worse we were last season without him than with him (well they can, but they'd be wrong). But he's not even on the bench today. If BR doesn't rate Lucas, and let's face it, he clearly doesn't, then he should have sold him and replaced him with a DM he does rate. But no.

09 Aug 2015 15:28:37
I think its a decent team except i would have sakho in centre back. No Shawross for Stoke so hopefully Benteke will run riot up front

09 Aug 2015 15:30:17
Lucas played against Stoke last time. We lost 6-1, he was outrun in the midfield and played terribly. The midfield today has lots of energy, the same won't happen. I feel we need a new CDM, just not Lucas

09 Aug 2015 15:37:37
He cannot pick a proper team ever. Lallana has to play but where?

09 Aug 2015 15:40:09
Norfol

Mate how would it matter if you have another DM, who is getting drop to the bench?

09 Aug 2015 15:41:52
@ NORFO - You don't see a problem with having two big, slow, CBs and no DM, or even a deep lying playmaker, in front of them? Oh, and we usually push our fullbacks on too just to leave Lovren and Skrtel even more exposed. Energy or not, Milner and Hendo are two players who's first instinct is to get forward and no footballer can be in two places at once.

Has it occurred to you that maybe Lucas was overran there last season because he was alone in terms of keeping his position in the middle? Do you think that having no one at all keep their positional discipline is better?

Unless Miler & Hendo are far more disciplined than they would normally be, we are in serious trouble if we don't dominate the ball. Even if we do dominate the ball, we will still be really vunerable to the counter-attack.

09 Aug 2015 15:06:37
Regardless of whether you agree with the starting 11 at least the bench looks decent this year too, pleased for Ibe and Gomez they've earned it
YNWA

09 Aug 2015 15:11:25
Two attack minded midfielders asked to hold the line and Lucas away to stoke not even making the bench.

09 Aug 2015 15:16:15
I'm happy enough with the 11, would of rather seen firmino over lallana.

Sakho must be injured or being sold :/

09 Aug 2015 15:50:44
Sakhos wife gave birth this week ;)

09 Aug 2015 15:04:53
Is Lucas injured? Please tell
Me that Rodgers hasn't dropped him for the game? I thought he had learned his lesson.

09 Aug 2015 15:10:46
Astonishing team selection once again, this guy will never learn i'm afraid. 4231 be prepared to see us overrun in midfield and the defence with zero protection

09 Aug 2015 15:21:40
for the first time ever I agree with Essex 😄

09 Aug 2015 15:29:23
Carra was talking on Sky earlier about how it is imperative to play with a DM particularly away from home and especially with our defensive record.

09 Aug 2015 15:44:39
Lucas started in that 6-1 defeat. I like the lad but he was awful in that last game against Stoke, why would he be our saviour this time?

09 Aug 2015 16:51:45
Stoke have barely played the midfield. What the f are you guys on about? They've skipped it altogether,with Walters playing on skrtel they've done it several times a simply ball over the top either that or Gomez vs diouf.

09 Aug 2015 14:32:01
I do not take seriously the football results whilst the cricket season is on.

A sort of football silly season.

The nitty gritty begins in the second half of September.

09 Aug 2015 14:43:26
A good start is good mate, when Chelsea win the league they usually start really strong and no one catches them!

While not the be all is can be very effective to start strong!

We started strong 2 years ago and nearly won it.

09 Aug 2015 15:04:51
I said Aresenal would be vulnerable this season didn't I, didn't I say it didn't I, I told you all and you all laughed well look who's right and who's wrong, I told you all didn't I. But I'm not taking any credit for it, but I'm just so knowledgeable about football!!😉

09 Aug 2015 15:13:43
Thought you only come on here to slag the owners off waro?

09 Aug 2015 15:34:59
No, I make an exception for you OG Ronnie boy & daveylad.

09 Aug 2015 15:51:13
Thanks for clarifying, I'll be sure to think about what I'm writing from now on :/

09 Aug 2015 16:05:46
I'm only here to help OG. 😉

09 Aug 2015 13:46:51
Lovren to start. here comes loss #1. unless we can score 3 today

09 Aug 2015 13:55:52
Nice to see optimism is alive and well.

09 Aug 2015 13:56:44
Embarrassing 😢

09 Aug 2015 14:41:24
Look lovren has ability but his confidence is at a dire level. Skrtl and mignolet do us no favours not a confident struck lovren. If lovren was playing with john terry I'm sure he would regain form and confidence. Defence was not rectified by Rodgers so don't blame lovren for the defensive weaknesses alone

09 Aug 2015 14:41:40
ffs give the man a chance , let him play bad at least or make a mistake before you slate him , love him to get man of the match , eat your words comes to mind , if he has a bad game then by all means lay into him but make sure you also give the rest of the players who play bad down the banks , great start to the season for you though already looking at defeat ,

09 Aug 2015 15:08:53
I'm hopeful of a good performance & maybe coming away with a win, but where is Lucas?

09 Aug 2015 15:09:35
No Lucas, and Milner & Hendo playing central midfield. BR hasn't even make a token effort at having a DM by playing Can.

Now, whilst it's possible that Milner and Hendo will dovetail excellently and operate a "one goes forward, one stays back" system perfectly, not many midfielders can do that. And even less do it in their first competitive game together.

So I suspect our defence will badly exposed and Lovren will struggle. So will Skrtel. So would Sakho, Illori & Toure if they were starting. So would Hyypia & Carragher at their peaks.

09 Aug 2015 15:14:51
I agree with Big Al but would add that we've yet to see what Lovren looks like with a decent LB outside him to cover in behind. That could be different today.

And if you don't think covering in behind is important read what Jockey says about Stevie Nicol. "Where have you been all my life".

09 Aug 2015 13:30:18
Hope sturridge gets back fit and in form soon enough. He's our best player when he's on form. hope he stays fit and kicks on this season

09 Aug 2015 13:02:48
Hi Eds,
I'm still a bit perplexed at our transfer & youth policies. When the transfer window opened I thought to myself ok we need a quality attacker (good we got Bentake), a quality keeper to challenge/replace Mingolet (Begovic was obvious candidate) and quality midfielder (I'd hoped for Kovacic). I just didn't see the point in buying Clyne (Wisdom gone on loan again must surely assume he's no future with us) or Origi/Ings as Sinclair now finds himself as fifth striker and will also likely leave. I hoped Brad Smith would have got a run of games at LB after debuting at Chelsea but he's left (I think?) and why let Suso go for nothing and then pay 25M for Llana? I just hope Llori gets a chance to impress (he did in the U21) . This policy, if it is a policy, of buying young players, loaning them and then them leaving, sometimes for free, is detrimental to all concerned and surely has to be re-thought. I don't mean, don't loan, I just mean do it in a structured and progressive way, it feels like a scatter-gun approach youth policy. Anyway, the best bit of business this window is surely Joe Gomez for 3.5M and straight into the first 11. Predict we win 2-0 today. Thanks.

09 Aug 2015 13:19:15
Spot on, Brak! We have NO youth policy or transfer strategy. All we seem to do is buy lots of players with no idea what to do with them then just see what sticks. That is not a strategy. That is stupidity and it must stop or we will crush the dreams of young men like Suso, Sinclair, Wisdom and God knows how many more.

09 Aug 2015 11:23:33
With Chelsea and Everton (Baines injury) needing a left back I hope Rodgers doesn't ask for more than £10m when they come calling for Enrique :op

09 Aug 2015 12:25:18
time to take garbutt for fantasy i'd say?

{Ed001's Note - Garbutt is on loan mate.}

09 Aug 2015 12:50:14
And also out injured for 6 weeks!

09 Aug 2015 13:19:46
At Fulham

09 Aug 2015 10:48:31
Finally the wait is over can't wait for kick off. Bring it on

09 Aug 2015 10:14:12
Ed001 sorry if this has been asked before but couldn't find anything. I'm watching some YouTube clips of Torres back in the day (like creeping on an ex on Facebook I know). Was wondering if you could shed any light with how is form just dropped so remarkably? Was it just confidence? I always suspected he suffered with depression his whole demeanour seemed to just change and looked like he gave up. Sorry if it's been done to death. Cheers

{Ed001's Note - there were a lot of issues. Injuries robbed him of his acceleration though, which was the main factor. Without that he was unable to create the time and space he once had, which made the lack of confidence a bigger factor.}

09 Aug 2015 10:34:45
Amazing that we managed to get so much money for him really because, as the OP says, it was quite obvious from his demeanour when he played. Poor scouting from Chelsea there I'd say.

09 Aug 2015 10:42:41
Keeping side his injuries, Torres had that charisma to bring the fans to him and to the game. His goals, celebrations and he himself became a face of the club.
There ain't any better sight than Torres scoring goal in front of the home supporters, trust me only Suarez and Gerrard matched it.
That pushed roman to pump 50 mill on him.

{Ed001's Note - that and the face like a smacked arse was put down to him having a fall out with Carragher and Gerrard, as they didn't see eye to eye. Torres did not like getting involved in lad's nights out, in the form of team bonding, as he preferred to stay at home with his family.}

09 Aug 2015 10:55:33
Ed01, you kidding me, did he fell out with Gerrard? Omg. Now that's news to me.

{Ed001's Note - they disagreed over team bonding. Players fall out with each other all the time, it is very rare it is anything major, even then players can play together without needing to like each other.}

09 Aug 2015 10:57:33
He went crap when he didn't have stevie behind him

09 Aug 2015 11:30:59
He still says stevie was the best ever

{Ed001's Note - exactly, it was a nothing falling out, just a bit of a squabble. It certainly didn't help at the time, but it was not the reason for his catastrophic loss of ability.}

09 Aug 2015 12:42:03
Thanks for the reply Ed. Hadn't realised he and Gerrard didn't exactly get on. You'd never think it they linked up brilliantly. Just find it fascinating how a players form can just drop so dramatically. Still got a soft spot for the lad tho!

{Ed001's Note - I am not sure it was as bad as they didn't get on, they just didn't agree on some things.}

09 Aug 2015 13:04:28
Tbf, if Torres didn't want to go out and drink, but instead get an early night and stay with his family, that's shouldn't have been an issue

09 Aug 2015 13:23:27
It shouldn't be, Fencey but strangely enuff, it was. It was nothing to me in the end. His ability was shot due to injuries and a complete loss of desire to become the best afterwards., IMO.

09 Aug 2015 13:40:39
It didn't help Chelsea didn't play the type of football Torres thrived from whilst also having Drogba there.Watching it at times it was infuriating. He'd run front post for a header (his bread and butter at liverpool)and they'd cross it backpost,as droga tended to pull away back wards off his man they'd play it square onto him like they would didier when he clearly wanted it between the lines to run onto. I really don't think having Drogba there at the same time helped him in any way transition to the club.

He lost his acceleration, that was clear to all to see,but for me he still had a fair bit to offer,Chelsea wasted him and his style of football

09 Aug 2015 07:54:22
Here we go again, best of luck to all the squad foor the season, top 4 and hopefully capture a trophy along the way! YNWA

09 Aug 2015 05:58:52
Good luck to the boys today. I cannot help but feel optimistic and excited for the new season.

09 Aug 2015 10:19:41
Agreed AG,

I always think of you can't have a sense of optimism at the start of a new season then what's the point?!

09 Aug 2015 13:26:14
I'm always optimistic before a season because regardless of how we feel bout issues with our club, before kick off, there's always hop we will carry the day because in the end, we all want LFC to win. Go Reds!

09 Aug 2015 00:23:51
I don't post very often but read the site a lot. Thanks to all the Eds for the hard work.
I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve tonight. 1st away game of the season, no better place to start than the Britannia to banish the demons of last season!
Hopefully a good performance and 3 points for the Redmen!
YNWA

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate and fingers crossed!!}