Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool: In-game & post-match wake-up call

For those bashing our CBs, they are international defenders who are real fighters and are great great defenders; last season many of us thought they were the best partnership of the league or the second best. So they are now atrocious and need to be replaced? They are both formidable players but look at the spaces our CMs have left in between the lines! and compare it to Man Utd's shape when defending. Lucas has lost his superb form quite logically after his injuries and Gerrard hates defending(it's as if it was against his nature). Stop being harsh with them it's BR fault for forcing them to pass that way and keep the ball moving even at the back. The issue is that the midfield is not ready yet to play that way vs a team like ManU.

Hmm I remember the fact he didn't get any goals in the season they were relegated but I might be wrong, too angry to check wikipedia now though

fair enough, i just remember him scoring a very good goal against us and we won the game 4-1. I also remember him being the best player for the Boro's and i shamefully admit that i was impressed by him.

Not going to focus on the negative as I'm sure enough will. Good to see that Brendans got a second half plan and after 15 minutes of the second half whistle it paid off, all he has to do now is stop being so naive and put that plan into operation from the first whistle.

If we'd played the last half hour like we did the first hour I'd be here in full on attack mode but (again) we can see the seeds of growth and all we need now is owners with a desire to seed.

I love the comment about Downing and I think the same but about Hendo!? seriously, his passing was simple and he tried to create, at least he was much better than Allen. He has tried to have an impact as soon as possible and as well as he could, he had a more than fair game.

On 5:00 I told myself: how an we expect to win a game with Sterling and Downing as wingers!? It's shocking, fortunately we're ton the right track but BR! WTF!? Sell this utter sh*t Downing and get some another proper winger.

I hate to slate our players, but Downing really does irritate me with his lackadaisical/half-arsed style.  He is the direct opposite to Suarez, who harries, runs, kicks, bites, handballs, nutmegs, etc. his way through a game, with the utter belief that he can change things.  I'd accept the laid-back style in a Hoddle, a Le Tissier, or anybody else with the flair to compensate.  But, Downing, he drives me mental.  He needs to go.

Sturridge worked hard and looks to have a bit of belief and pace about him.  Johnson continued his excellent season. 

We look so short of muscle and creativity with Downing, Allen and Lucas in the same team.  Need to balance that out. 

A bit harsh to condemn Agger for the first goal, look at the replay again, it was a great ball played in with pace by Evra and a top notch finish by RVP. Not many defenders can stop that one.

What saddens me the most is the fact Lucas wasn't any good either. He's usually a beast against Man Utd...

Can't expect too much of a guy coming from 2 serious injuries though, but it is frustrating

I agree ,  he's not 100% yet. He's missed alot of time. Not the same player as before the injuries, but I do think he'll be back. He needs games.

Reina - 7.5
Johnson - 6 (lost his man for their 2nd goal, and never once got passed Valencia on the outside)
Agger - 5.5 (just doesn't look the same at the mo)
Skrtel - 6 (basic errors, too tight on times)
Wisdom - 7.5 (impressed with him, and was my motm)

Lucas - 5 (he's labouring at the moment, players are just going passed him and he's fouling to keep up)
Allen - 3.5 (oh my...sorry, he needs a massive break, or something)
Gerrard - 7 (solid, busy, but ultimately overrun in the fist half due to the combo of Lucas/Allen not performing)

Surarez - 6 (sloppy in the one game he should have been on fire, disappointed with him today)
Downing - 6 (didn't do much, but who did? whilst not bombing forward, he was no better or worse than others)
Sterling - 5 (his time is not now)

Borini - 6.5 (love him, hungry, never gives up, his movement must be a nightmare for defenders, and he links up really well)
Sturridge - 7 (dangerous, and Suarez will be a better player because of him)
Henderson - 6 (no real impact, not enough time)

Gaffer - 6 (you cannot play Lucas and Allen in the same midfield at the same time)

Webb - 8 (good game)
Linesman - 0.001 (missed the offside for their 2nd goal)

I'm going to come and say it, and if I'm wrong, I'm wrong and I'll be the first to admit it, I think Lucas is finished. That was one serious knee injury, and I think he's lost half a yard of pace, and in the position, where you have to hound and close down, it's critical.

Also, Joe Allen. Defended him yesterday, but after today's 'big' game, I don't think he is good enough at the top level.

Love Sturridge, and Borini is a very clever player and will be an asset to us long term.

Agger and Skrtel, I said they needed to have big games today, but Agger went missing. Said at the season's start, I'm not worried about us scoring goals, I'm more concerned with us not keeping them out.

Only one team in it second half, but you cannot give these scum a 2 goal head start and play for only 30 minutes.

We were so bad we made them look good, but they weren't.

All in all, fed up.

Wow, I guess we watched different games. Go back and see how many people said we were lucky to only be down 1 at half.  Anyone thinking we deserved to win that game needs their head examined.

Did I say we deserved to win? Try to read what people are actually saying.

And I don't give a sh*t what 'how many' said.

We lost. Poor first half. Better in 2nd. Should've equalised. Not ideal, more work to do sure, but not a result that deserves an overreaction.

Positive : Sterridge seem work very well with Suarez

Re Allen I'm start to unsure he can play any better in advance role midfield (and I'm disappointed as I hope much so far to see him be an effective box to box midfield) whereas he seem do better at dedicate defensive midfield. If so I think it's not too bad we have Lucas and Allen for specialist DM so we can concentrate to get a top quality CAM and team will look much better.

For those bashing our CBs, they are international defenders who are real fighters and are great great defenders; last season many of us thought they were the best partnership of the league or the second best. So they are now atrocious and need to be replaced? They are both formidable players but look at the spaces our CMs have left in between the lines! and compare it to Man Utd's shape when defending. Lucas has lost his superb form quite logically after his injuries and Gerrard hates defending(it's as if it was against his nature). Stop being harsh with them it's BR fault for forcing them to pass that way and keep the ball moving even at the back. The issue is that the midfield is not ready yet to play that way vs a team like ManU.

As for being "international defenders", so what... Denmark and Slovakia, so much competition!

And no one is saying they're atrocious. But they are not as good as most of us think. If people said they were the best partnership in the league then they're deluded. Time and time again they've shown their frailties.

Not closing down the most in form striker in the league inside the box has nothing to do with midfield. Ball watching is a huge mistake. Just the other day they were destroyed by Kenweyne Jones as well. 

He's not.

A poor player but not the worst.

Not the worst, but has one of the weakest mentalities...no fight, no belief. 

Second half performance much better had a real go Sturridge did really well.
Downing and Stirling ineffective, But in general terms was happy thought Gerrard did well but Allen should have come off instead of Lucas.

The fact remains that Rodgers lost us this game with his pursuance of playing under achievers over players that a blindman could see are far superior .He didn't start his strongest team against Manure and obviously doesn't know who his strongest team is .

rodgers cost us the win today .why wait till have time to change it we should have been 4 down by then

For those bashing our CBs, they are international defenders who are real fighters and are great great defenders;

...and were very poor today.

Am I the only one that thought Lucas was brilliant? If Agger had watched Van Persie better for the goal we would have been praising Lucas for how well he cut off any supply through the middle to him.

I wonder what Louis van Gaal would have done at halftime.

I wonder what Louis van Gaal would have done at halftime.

Got his cock out?

I wonder what Louis van Gaal would have done at halftime.

not waited till half time

He's not.

A poor player but not the worst.

Think Poulsen wins for me

Did I say we deserved to win? Try to read what people are actually saying.

And I don't give a sh*t what 'how many' said.

We lost. Poor first half. Better in 2nd. Should've equalised. Not ideal, more work to do sure, but not a result that deserves an overreaction.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

If you read many of my posts you'll find I'm far from somone prone to overreaction. You have a good day, not going to be drawn into a petty argument when I know what I saw.

I wonder what Louis van Gaal would have done at halftime.

Don't understand the point your trying to make as the boss actually made the change at half time that had a positive affect on the game.

Think I have to lay that at the feet of Rodgers to be honest, I questioned his decision not to start with Sturridge as soon as the team was announced and we looked %100 better the moment he stepped onto the pitch.

Seen some pleasant early signs that Borini, Suarez and Sturridge can form a tasty front 3, they just need a consistent run of games alongside each other now.