If you actually watched the game live, you’d probably be saying that we played far too deep, for far too long.
Something I’d agree with at face value.
But my more overwhelming feeling is that we didn’t help ourselves as a team.
How many times were our players too easily dis-possessed by Liverpool players who were working at a great tempo and looking to get the ball back all the time?
Going one down after the first minute or two, when Milner found loads of space amid a slack defence didn’t help and we had to be careful, as they were creating chances all over the place. But only because we were allowing them too, by us being nowhere near sharp enough.
Ok, we only went in one down at half time, but it could easily have been way more, with Liverpool creating chances and finding acres of space at will.
You know we’re in trouble when Sinclair is playing most of his game helping out Hutton, who was constantly under the cosh.
So, basically we were facing an onslaught for the whole first half, but still went in one down.
We were lucky, although Gestede had a blinding chance, where he only had to shoot straight at the goal to have a decent chance of a goal. It went wide.
I’d have liked Traore on when we came back on, as I felt we needed to give them something to think about, but it didn’t happen and there were no changes.
And then they went two up with a very decent goal from Sturridge.
It seemed all over, only for us to actually get the ball out wide for once for Amavi to cross and Gestede, who hadn’t been involved and looked poor, scored.
A minute later though, Sturridge had a similar chance to Gestede’s first half one, one at a much wider angle.
Needless to say, he buried it.
3-1 then and again it looked all over, only for Gestede to score with a stonking header, that left Mignolet no chance.
And then after the subs that Sherwood made, we upped the pressure and started chasing the ball and pressing, as Pool had done previously.
And we got back into it, so much so that a 3-3 result wasn’t off the table.
But it was too little, too late.
So while the tactics were probably designed to try and stifle Pool in the first half, with the new lads coming on later (a tactic that did work to some extent, as Liverpool’s players tired), it was disappointing how the first half team couldn’t up the pace/sharpness when required.
So, a self-inflicted loss for me then, made more disappointing when you consider that Liverpool are poor in defence.
They look very beatable if you actually attack them and Rodgers’ dismissal has only been delayed in my opinion.
No sour grapes there though, they deserved to beat us easily.
As for us, it’s now beginning to become worrying.
There’s no doubt in my mind Gabby would have started today if he possibly could have, for example.
And he’d have offered less than Gestede, given that he doesn’t head the ball that well.
We need to start the likes of Ayew, Gana, Vertout and Traore everytime.
And play those that haven’t worked previously, after, if the new lads can’t do it.
Comments
71 responses to “Liverpool 3 – 2 Villa; The scoreline flattered us”
Sasa C,
Spot on mate.
This is a way better squad, whether you take them as a whole or indidually.
I don’t believe we’ll be relegated either.
Even if we don’t get much from the next 3 games (which we probably won’t although Stoke is a possibility imo).
Some of you need to keep the faith and give Sherwood a decent chance.
It’s totally unfair to write him and the NEW squad off already.
So much for the “yes, we’ll give him a few months at least” type comments I remember reading.
My opinion says we’ve played better than the points we’ve amassed and definitely way better than the crap we were watching last year.
And Oohah, same as usual, you must be joking.
Gabby could never make an attacking mid, as he has no football brain, can’t see a pass, has poor control/touch, can’t tackle and has rubbish movement.
Oh and he’s often lazy.
Apart from that, yes, good idea 😕
If we’re going to use him, it should be as an out and out striker, straight down the middle, with the ball coming over for him to run onto. It’s all he’s good at, imo.
I did say he’d need a brain for that role Badger. We are all for giving Sherwood a few months in fact he’s had a few months now already if you count last term and 2 months already this term with his own team. But giving him that time meant playing his own players not last years dross. The other thing we overlooked is that yes results would be erratic to start off with fair enough but even the biggest pessimists like myself expected more points from these fixtures. Even a point a game is not unreasonable for fans to expect but he hasnt even got that. Let’s face it our only win was lucky and except for Utd at home the other teams we played were winnable games or games we could easily draw.
RIGHT OR WRONG? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Words that are at the bottom of you postings, Oohahs not far of the mark in what he’s says, except for Abonglahor statement, Sherwood is not at the moment convincing many fans in his method of selected players, out of position, playing out of form players, and not playing a certain forward , so this is why some of us say what we think, I’m not happy with Sherwood because of things he’s doing, you will get fans posting anger at him for it, up till now we are heading for trouble the way he’s playing the team, OK ,I’ll give him till November,after that I’ll attack him as being useless and the reason Tottenham got rid of him.
And you’re fully entitled to your opinion Bill, no worries.
I just think you’re wrong.
Or at least I hope so.
So do I Badger, but you have to admit things are not Rosie at the minute, another grand plus this year from us and getting pissed off now.