Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool: In game and Post Match debate

F***ing puzzled how West ham can land Payet and Place can land Cabaye and we our midfield still weak and nothing changed.

The front four diamond (Benteke Coutinho Adam and Ibe) is too spread out. The jammed the middle so none of us could get the ball to Benteke or strike from distance. It's the way we approach, not individual players who are useless. Think!

Have you seen our fixtures, we don't have 12 games for the lads to settle, I think we need 2 strikers today.

a very good point imo. we need to hit groumd runnimg. our fixture is harsh, if we struggle to win hard games that we have, then we will be playing catching up whole season.

To me it seems like Stoke are way too heavy in their own half when we get the chance to attack... There needs to be more options to pass to, the play could be closer and there'd be no harm in smashing it at the keeper from outside the box.

This is Stoke, it's always going to be a weird game.

There was a lovely chip to Benteke, that was nice play! I reckon we'll grab two or three goals in the second half!

Benteke could be like Owen at times - remember those games where he never did much but popped up with a winner. I think he could do that.

I'd like to think that the defence is a bit more assured now with the two new fullbacks there, these guys don't look as erratic as Johnson or Moreno (who I think will still come good by the way) - hopefully that's cause for optimism.

Pretty poor 1st half, no efforts on goal, short of ideas and slow tempo. Seems like we playing on the moment with no pre conceived ideas of a game plan.
Only obvious tactical change is migs hitting it long instead of short.
Stoke away or what, didn't expect s lack lustre first half like this.
Firming I and can on for Hendo and Lallana. Bit mor bottle and a bit more finesse.
Only shining light first 45 is Ibe.
And for all the doubters, Lovren hasn't been bad !

Here is hope, Pieters subbed off, on Wollscheid.

Wollscheid is a liability from what i've seen from Stoke's games.

We need to apply pressure and he'll make a mistake eventually.

77 days ago, against the same team, we were 5-0 down at half time.

Don't know about you lot, but I'm just relieved we're still in the game after that mauling.

Lallana off, not turned up today, Coutinho needs to do more, I'd throw on Firmino for Adam, put Ings up next to Benteke and go with a 4-3-3, might stick on Can around the hour, obviously a bit rusty but doing ok without being flattering,

Still seeing us bagging the 3pts,

C'mon Redmen

YNWA

77 days ago, against the same team, we were 5-0 down at half time.

Don't know about you lot, but I'm just relieved we're still in the game after that mauling.

Absolutely. I'm OK with starting this one off cautiously. Plus, we've only won 1 (just one!) Prem game at Stoke in like 7-8 years.

i was hoping for change but it didnt happen. fingera crossed for 65th min, and not when its too late.

Hit the ball next time Christian lad. Ta.

We lack tempo, bring on Firmino. The sooner, the better.

better movement so far in the second half

Oh f**k, I was worried Lovren might have gotten sent off there. Yellow is correct, though.

Press Wollscheid more, he's shaky, he will be doing a mistake eventually.

Loren come on! That was reckless

Lovren you're having a good game, don't F**k it up.

Agreed in a 3 they could work pressing on, I still think they'd lack the creativity but right now, as you say, they're just sitting back together far too much. Like having 2 marathon runners and entering them in the sprint just a really poor fit right now. To be fair to them both we haven't had enough possession up top for them to move forward too much.

Very disjointed and needs fixing now or I can see us losing.

I think Brendan has set the team out similarly to how Rafa used to with both Henderson and Milner sitting and leaving the attacking to the 4 forward players. Benteke looks a little isolated at the moment and needs someone to get closer and support him.

Stoke complaining about elbowing. Irony...

Lovren you bellend. What was that for.

Lovren should of been sent off there

Let's not dwell on the elbow for god's sake!