Dear oh F***ing dear. If a bird fu**ed you over as many times as Liverpool have done, then you'd of jibbed her off years ago. Yet, you can't with this club. They constantly leave you disappointed and we constantly flock back for more. We're a glutton for punishment at Liverpool.
We didn't play by any stretch, Sunderland allowed us to knock the ball about but, as per usual, the end product was lacking the real sort of quality Liverpool Football Club needs. Defensively we had very little to do and what we did have to do, we failed to. If Sunderland wanted to, they could of won the match. If they had that little bit of belief, they'd of got al three. Instead it was their game plan to slap 10 men behind the ball and then expect Defoe to get on the end of some aimlessly hit ball forward.
And even against that tactic, we only got a draw.
Without the manager there, it was back to watching Pascoe and Marsh on the bench. Brain and Pep are hardly the most vocal on the sidelines are they? I suppose that's just one of many things we gloss over because of who the manager is though.
Overall, the standard of this squad is at an all time low and we still perform below it far too often. And yet this "group" could still emulate the 2001 treble winning side - which as far as I'm concerned was the best squad I've seen at Liverpool. That's actually staggering.
Mignolet - another howler. Some goals that aren't his fault getting thrown at him because of his past cock ups. Then goals like this one, almost justify it because he makes so many errors. And like most errors keepers make, they are costly. It wasn't even that difficult a save to make for the first goal. His confidence is shot but it's a double ended sword, he has no confidence in his defence (justifiably) while his defence has no confidence no him (justifiably)
Clyne - again didn't make too many major errors but didn't have that good a game either. He gets forward with little success. Kharzi didn't really trouble him mind, so defensively he was ok. Was nowhere near Van Aanholt when he had the chance to get Sunderland a goal.
Lovren - wasn't asked to do a lot leading up to the injury. One stretch from a ball over the top and he's out injured again. Is he a major loss? I wouldn't of thought so really. But it probably is as he is our second best fit centre half, behind the fella who was sat on the bench and replaced him.
Sakho - he's F***ing useless. Ship him off in the summer for whatever price we can con a club out of. I've had plenty of arguments about him on here for the past two and a half years, people telling me I was wrong to not rate him. Now, if anything, they seem to be his most vocal critics. It's the Lallana effect.
Moreno - was gallivanting up and down the left hand side and was nowhere near his left back position for the majority of the game. Left hand side of the defence is clearly our weakest and it's a surprise more teams don't try and exploit it. And when he does get forward his decision making is worse than David Cameron's.
Can't - again sh*te. Give it 18 months, he'll get the treatment Lallana and Sakho are receiving now.
Henderson - played some nice passes, kept the ball more often than not but didn't hurt his old club once. All easy passes, nothing of note. Stats wise he'll look boss, actual quality it was lacking.
Allen - more than deserved his start and while he wasn't outstanding, he was doing alright till the injury. That injury probably means more starts for Emre Can though.
Milner - another huffing and puffing with no quality performance. The ball in for Firmino's goal was a belter though.
Lallana - for me had one of his better games because, in the main, he got it and give it. No poncing about for hours on end doing his daft drag backs and dropping the shoulder, while actually getting nowhere. Took his goal very well.
Firmino - was anonymous for most of the game but when he came alive, he showed real class. Very well taken header for the first, great determination to close down for the second and having the awareness around him to square it to Lallana. One or two other nice pieces of work. Will get man of the match undoubtedly for those glimpses of quality.
Toure - it's amazing to think that I consider this man our best centre half right now. Another solid enough performance.
Ibe - I can't recall Jordon touching the ball bar one shot. Another disappointing showing from Ibe.
Lucas - five minutes on the pitch and didn't do a lot. Can't really comment on his performance.
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