Manchester Utd 1-0 Liverpool: In-game and Post Match Thoughts

Saw a definate improvement in the player's attitude today. We didn't roll over despite nothing going our way, the pen was a joke, why didn't he ask the linesman?? The gerrard tackle was reckless but there was no intent to hurt carrick, who made a meal of it IMO.

Great to see positive attacking subs come on, with time to actually make an impact.
Thought Maxi and Lucas strugled to get into the game, Torres was given little room to turn, but all other players impressed me with their workrate.

Overall happy with everything but the result and the constant choice of Man u's personal ref for these games.

Just got back, even though the result was bad I enjoyed my day out

How I love Liverpool FC

Well we can at least look forward to their visit to Anfield 

Well we can at least look forward to their visit to Anfield 

Why is that a bad thing? I can't wait.

One word: REVENGE

There is a return leg? o.0

There is a return leg? o.0

No, when they play at Anfield in the league.

Getting a tune out of Fernando Torres is Kenny Dalglish's biggest task
Liverpool's returning manager showed strength of character in substituting the Spaniard after he went awol again



Unlike his predecessor Kenny Dalglish did not shirk the decision to replace Fernando Torres after another poor performance. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The same is true whether the Liverpool manager is a figure for idolatry or ridicule – unless Fernando Torres is coaxed back to the form that made him one of the world's finest strikers in an increasingly distant past, their finest chance of resurrecting a torturous season will instead develop into their greatest source of frustration.

As events at Old Trafford proved, and in contrast to the mood at Anfield, the transformation will not occur overnight. With 13 minutes remaining and Liverpool's last hope of a domestic trophy slipping away against Manchester United, the club's record signing was withdrawn for the £1.5m forward David Ngog.

That substitution distinguished Kenny Dalglish from his predecessor Roy Hodgson who, no matter how starved of service or disillusioned Torres has been this term, always appeared conscious of reputation and was incredibly patient in his handling of the Spain international.

Yet Dalglish's decision was not about showing who is boss. It was taken out of necessity, with Torres failing to make an impact even while Liverpool had 11 men on the pitch and then drifting to the margins of a showpiece FA Cup tie by the time his number came up. Getting inside the Spaniard's head is a matter of urgency for the old/new Liverpool manager, and that process had begun before the Kenny coat made its reappearance after a 19-year absence.

Hodgson erred in his treatment of Torres, both in terms of isolating the striker with a long-ball game lacking direction earlier in the season and then frequently revealing that he thought the forward's lack of confidence was the team's major hindrance. That is not to absolve the player himself from responsibility for how this season has been allowed to drift with his form.

Dalglish turned today's regular Sunday newspaper column into a psychological exercise, stressing how he still regards the No9 as one of the finest in Europe and claiming Torres would be salivating at the prospect of tormenting Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford once again. But Vidic was absent and so, to all intents and purposes, was Torreshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jan/09/kenny-dalglish-fernando-torres-liverpool

You know Howard Webb has gave man u a penalty at old toilet 4 out of the last 6 times. biased!!!!! Hate him now. Anyway time to forget about it and move on.

Would also like to say, the fans sounded F***ing immense all game. Best fans in the world.

Would also like to say, the fans sounded F***ing immense all game. Best fans in the world.

Lucas' Twitter page (his official one)

Thanks for all messages. It isn't the best birthday but let's to be positive and move forward !#YNWA you are the best !
21 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry

I have no doubts you are the best supporters in the world!!
16 minutes ago via Twitter for iPad

Welcome back Kenny.

A pleasure to be there today we the supporters were outstanding.
10 men against 12 was tough but the lads stuck at it.
Kelly was superb well done kid. Torres was the one exception going
thru the motions again!
If you want out son say so & go.

Bring on Blackpool & the blue bitters now looking forward to it.

Getting a tune out of Fernando Torres is Kenny Dalglish's biggest task
Liverpool's returning manager showed strength of character in substituting the Spaniard after he went awol again



Unlike his predecessor Kenny Dalglish did not shirk the decision to replace Fernando Torres after another poor performance. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The same is true whether the Liverpool manager is a figure for idolatry or ridicule – unless Fernando Torres is coaxed back to the form that made him one of the world's finest strikers in an increasingly distant past, their finest chance of resurrecting a torturous season will instead develop into their greatest source of frustration.

As events at Old Trafford proved, and in contrast to the mood at Anfield, the transformation will not occur overnight. With 13 minutes remaining and Liverpool's last hope of a domestic trophy slipping away against Manchester United, the club's record signing was withdrawn for the £1.5m forward David Ngog.

That substitution distinguished Kenny Dalglish from his predecessor Roy Hodgson who, no matter how starved of service or disillusioned Torres has been this term, always appeared conscious of reputation and was incredibly patient in his handling of the Spain international.

Yet Dalglish's decision was not about showing who is boss. It was taken out of necessity, with Torres failing to make an impact even while Liverpool had 11 men on the pitch and then drifting to the margins of a showpiece FA Cup tie by the time his number came up. Getting inside the Spaniard's head is a matter of urgency for the old/new Liverpool manager, and that process had begun before the Kenny coat made its reappearance after a 19-year absence.

Hodgson erred in his treatment of Torres, both in terms of isolating the striker with a long-ball game lacking direction earlier in the season and then frequently revealing that he thought the forward's lack of confidence was the team's major hindrance. That is not to absolve the player himself from responsibility for how this season has been allowed to drift with his form.

Dalglish turned today's regular Sunday newspaper column into a psychological exercise, stressing how he still regards the No9 as one of the finest in Europe and claiming Torres would be salivating at the prospect of tormenting Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford once again. But Vidic was absent and so, to all intents and purposes, was Torreshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jan/09/kenny-dalglish-fernando-torres-liverpool

Exactly...the rest of the team were carrying him again, and the biggest cheer I let out all day was him being taken off...shame we only have N'Gog to replace him, cause watching Nando throughout the game left me not wanting to see him in the shirt again...I have calmed down since, and I know he is still the worlds best, but when is he going to look like it.

I have nothing to add to whats already been said about the match...webb is a w**ker...or a cheat...the lads stepped up the performance and looked good. I am happy, despite being robbed.

L ots of positives to be taken from this match grit and determination confidance creeping back in we would not get that with RH ,i know kenny is not a miracle worker but he will bring stability to the club and inject confidence back into not just the players but the supporters as well.

Kenny post match.

http://bcove.me/ltsdsl80

Disappointing result to start Kennys term. Once SG was sent off thought it sealed things, made a bit of a bollox of the game as a contest which was a pity.
Didn't think we played all that well, though the lads showed more effort and worked hard down to 10 men.
My stream was rubbish, went down for a few minutes and went it came back SG was off !! Still haven't seen the tackle. Listening to a few radio stations, said it was 50/50 for a straight red.
Not too disappointed, probably just getting a bit to used to the feeling

Really hoping Kenny can restore some pride. If he can't, not sure who will as he's someone both fans and players respect. Be really interested who he appoints no.2, think it's an important choice. And would be great if he could get one or two guys in the Jan window - watching as much of the game as he does, he might have ideas.
Read in the paper today that Konch's mother had posted 'scouse scum' or something like that on her facebook page, hadn't heard that before, and with Konch not in the squad today, might be the last we've seen of him (though thought Fabio had a ropey day at fullback today).

Didn't think we played all that well, though the lads showed more effort and worked hard down to 10 men.

Thats bull, except in the last 20 mins of the game they didnt really have a chance. Seeming as we were down to 10, 30 mins in think we did more than ok.

Kuyt was poor, Nando wasnt really much either but if stevie hadnt been rash we would won, away.

Makes a change from Woys away games. Prob best away game all season in my opinion.

Bit harsh to have a pop at Torres so much.

It's very difficult to be upfront on your own at Old Trafford and even worse when our roaming playmaker is sent off. He had F**k all support. Maybe could have put in a bit more of a shift but Kenny was happy with him.

I do agree though, one of Kenny's first jobs is to get Torres into more of our games.

I thought it was 100% improved performance to what we have seen so far this season.  Howard Webb is Mike Riley.

Was a much better performance the team looked more confident, probably because the tactics suited them.
Was in a strangely good mood after the game

Read in the paper today that Konch's mother had posted 'scouse scum' or something like that on her facebook page, hadn't heard that before

Fairly old news that now.  Disagree with your assessment on Torres, but hey that's what football opinions are all about. 

Missed this game on TV completely as in work.

Listened to the 2nd half via 5Live and Lawro's points of view. (Wrong as usual)

I know we have lost, to a "pen", but at least we tried today. You could here the Liverpool fans a lot more than the scums.

Waiting for the highlights now.

Managed to catch a bit of Kenny's post match interview, well Hodgson, that is how to praise your team even after a loss. No If's or But's, but straight to the point.. calling the pen "a joke"! Spot on.

Now 3 days to the Blackpool game, bring it on.

Much better performance. We seemed to have more resilience than for a long time and good to see that SG was not played in central midfield.

Webb is a national disgrace and clearly on the Toilet payroll... he has history on this and the FA should investigate.

Never a penalty and never a sending off.

Curious that we should put on such a good performance with ten men and the scum never even looked like they'd have broken us down unless Webb had intervened on their behalf.

Good to see Kenny telling it as it is. Just a quick point to be made here that if Rafa had said that he'd be roasted by S*n owning Murdoch's press, the old toilet rabble and quite a few so called fans who obviously prefer to keep a lower profile these days.

Keep it up Kenny there's a long way to go but it does us good to see you back.

I'm actually looking forward to the next game.