The OFFICIAL Liverpool Supporters thread

J70 · January 19, 2009, 10:23:39 PM

I don't think the Torres substitution had much to do with it at all. He was only gone for the last five minutes and his absence had no impact on the goal. It was a stupid tackle and terrible defending, end of story. The fact that they created f**k all in the rest of the game left them vulnerable to such a f**k up, but Torres was on for 85 minutes and Keane didn't even touch the ball.

stiffler · January 19, 2009, 10:26:43 PM

Howard Webb- the self proclaimed best referee in the world

GalwayBayBoy · January 19, 2009, 10:28:48 PM

Quote from: Armamike on January 19, 2009, 10:16:43 PM
1-0 up and Benitez takes Torres off.

I think they were worried about his fitness as he hasn't played a full game yet since coming back. Probably thought they would see the game out without him. Commentators said he gave them the thumbs up though so he probably wanted to carry on.

Benny and Lucas were bought on and all they did was give away free-kicks. Lucas gave one away about 10 seconds after coming on. Why was he on ahead of Mascherano anyway? Just conceded too many silly free-kicks allowing Everton to lump balls into our penalty area.

Not sure what happened with Cahill. Sami seemed to be pointing at him for someone to pick him up and Skrtel was nearest him but didn't follow him. Not sure if Skrtel was keeping an eye on someone else or what?

Completely went into our shells after going ahead and let Everton have the ball when for the 30 minutes before that they couldn't get it off us.

Keane barely had a touch all night. Kuyt not much better. Gerrard had a quiet first half but again came up with some magic in the second half. Torres played well but not quite match sharp yet. Thought we looked a bit wobbly at the back though. Skrtel was unusually indecisive and Carra playing right-full is not ideal.

Howard Webb was very poor. If that is the best ref they have they are in trouble.

new devil · January 19, 2009, 10:30:47 PM

Only seen second half was he poor to both teams or just liverpool?? didnt think he was to bad

bridgegael · January 19, 2009, 10:34:59 PM

this stupid zonal marking was the cause of the goal, skertle looked at cahill at least twice before the free came in, he stayed were he wwas and let cahill go.
silly free to give away in the first place. to many draws at home and thats what will be the difference come may.

GalwayBayBoy · January 19, 2009, 10:36:02 PM

Plus Craig Burley must be the most annoying commentator working in television today.

J70 · January 19, 2009, 10:36:27 PM

Zonal marking doesn't mean you just stand there and let someone have two yards of space in front of goal!

EC Unique · January 19, 2009, 10:37:07 PM

Now that Liverpool have started to slip I wonder where they will end up? Need to get out of the draw habit or could fall out of the top 4 very quick

ONeill · January 19, 2009, 10:43:32 PM

As much as i'd like to see Liverpool win it (if Arsenal can't), there's something cowardly about Benitez's tactics that ruins title ambitions (esp at home) but often works in Europe.

I bet he wished he'd never opened his mouth a couple of weeks ago.

Armamike · January 19, 2009, 10:46:30 PM

Torres faded a bit near the end but i just think you had the other team a bit of momentum when you take your most dangerous forward off

Mayo4Sam · January 19, 2009, 11:38:35 PM

Benayoun was a disaster, gave away 2 frees out on that wing, hes a fuckin waste of space

J70 · January 20, 2009, 12:01:12 AM

I'd say we'll be seeing that boom-bust graph whipped out any day now by our resident gloaters!

Hoof Hearted · January 20, 2009, 12:37:39 AM

not a Liverpool fan, nor a united one either for that matter, but i would just like to add my tuppenceworth.
rafa may quit the mind games, the only one who could compete with fergie in this aspect was Mourinho.

If Martin O'Neill or David Moyes was in charge of that Liverpool team they would win the league. The reason being is if all players at Villa and Everton were 100% fit, Moyes and O'Neill would still play the best XI week in week out, none of this rotation shit.

Dirk Kuyt continually plays 90 minutes and the man is useless. Full Stop.

Carmen Stateside · January 20, 2009, 12:49:13 AM

Gave up on Kuyt long time ago!!
Benayouns tackle was pub league stuff , surely now Rafa can see he needs someone on the right, maybe its time to move Gerrard out wide and pair Masch and Alonso in the middle!

Hound · January 20, 2009, 07:13:18 AM

I put this two points lost firmly down to Benitez.

Some people blaming Benny. Poor chap doing his very best. The idiot manager had him playing right back for the last 10 minutes. He made 4 tackles in that position, won 2 and gave away 2 free kicks. That's far better than I thought he'd do. He's a light attacking player for chrissakes. Why play him that deep and push Carragher inside a bit, I do not know. But if you make that decision, then Kuyt was the man to put at right back, not feckin Benny. Or better still how about taking Dirk useless hole off (I thought he was worse than Keane) and bring on the right back who's sitting on the bench (Arbeloa) ??

I thought it was the right decision to take a tired Torres off, but when I saw Lucas coming on I knew we were gone. Bringing on Lucas meant we were inviting pressure, bringing on Babel would have been relieving pressure. The one thing Babel is consistently good at is playing up top when we're ahead, he's a super outlet. And when Benitez decided to be negative and be scared, why the hell he decided on Lucas ahead of Mascho is pure mystery!!

Great free kick by Arteta. Alonso had literally run rings around him for 90 minutes, but he came up trumps there. Defensively I would blame Reina and Riera most as the two who could have done more to stop it. But the execution did make it difficult to defend.