Another quick start, but unlike the Scum game, we kept it going and continued to attack, created lots of good chances and managed to get the breathing space of a second before half time.
My worries come with what we saw in the second half. Why take our foot of the accelerator? When dominating a game we should get everything we can, remember the Gooners needing 2 goals at Anfield, we may need the goals at the end of season for 4th place. Missing the chance to get 4,5,6 maybe even 7, could be a big mistake.
Maybe we shouldn’t have have taken off Gerrard and Torres and we could have got those extra goals. The problem is, we should be able take them off and still pass and move and create clear chances. As soon as they left the field, we looked rushed and untidy, maybe even trying too hard.
I still think we have personal playing in the wrong positions, if they were not, when we make changes, the balance of the team will not be affected as bad as it is when changes are made at the moment. Maybe we should now even think of playing three up, Babel, Torres and Kuyt, let them all have freedom to roam, as they all seem to do that anyway. Having them three making runs for Gerrard would be like watching Rush, Barns, Beardsley and McMahon, or Fowler, Collymore, Mcmanaman and Redknapp!
mimimi
Be happy for God’s sake. We won, woot.
I think it’s a great match and the 4-4-2 worked very well. That’s what we can do with this team, and it’s quite good for now.
Get Benítez some pounds and you’ll see what he can do with 4 or 5 players more like Torres and Glen Johnson.
Hiya Steve. I’m not convinced we always gave our all in each game this season. The first 45 minutes showed what Liverpool are actually capable of against a side which is usually very tight and which drew 2-2 at Old Trafford a few months ago. It’s evident the Reds lifted their foot of the accelerator in the second half after going flat out in the first, but it is also true that for the first 15 minutes Sunderland looked alightly better but it was an overwhelming win and a bright spot in a otherwise drab season.
4-4-2 may be ‘old fashioned’ nowadays, but it still remains the most effective system. And then, Torres was on fire today……
I think after the first half performance the second was never going to be as dominating or exciting, I am personally delighted with todays performance their was players with smiles back on faces and great freeflowing football, Theres no doubt theres changes still needed in the summer but I am proud of everyone of them tonight
I meant James…sorry mate! :-)))
hey, I suspect rafa was more concerned with keeping a clean sheet than notchiung up goals..something that may be of more benefit for rest of league. Anyway; we could have easily been 5 up at half time.
We started hoping to challenge for the PL and also a good CL campaign. We find ourselves out of the PL title race, our of the CL at group stage, out of the FA and Carling Cups too. All the above is disappointing especially after last years promising end of season. I am sure however that if we do clinch 4th spot and win the Europa League Cup….we would still all be happy bunnies….of this I am sure.
Im a sceptic, we’ve seen this and been here before, I just can’t help feeling Rafa will try to prove he is the master technician again and…… I’m just going to enjoy the day .
Andy. I agree with you. It was a rare enjoyable performance from the Reds which we must savour. The problems remain unfortuneately, on and off the field.
I have a gut feeling there will be some fundamental changes this summer…with or without money!
Seriously? I think they were trying to get more. We just didn’t finish, a few players could of gotte at least a brace today. Give them a break we could of gotten 10 today with a little luck
With you all the way andy…. It’ll be square pegs in round holes again next match. After yet more Rafa contridiction… Aqualani will be important for the rest of the season…. so I’ll start him on the bench…nice one!!!
Andy, we won the match though only led by our master technician (sic!), so give the man a break. Be patient till our master tactician comes back. :D
I hope Rafa combines his systems and not depend on one 4-3-2-1. Play 4-3-2-1 when facing ManU, Chealsea, and other big teams, and play 4-4-2 when facing smaller ones or when we need to break stubborn defense, especially at home.
We have a massive tie coming up on Thursday so clearly wanted to keep his options injury free and rested, it would have been nice to have gone all out second half and get plenty of goals, but let’s enjoy the fact the team seemed to be enjoying themselves and aging creatively! It’s been a while since the team looked happy on the pitch! He will revert to the old formation next game because it’s an away tie and hopefully play a similar position for the home game. We completly shut Sunderland out yesterday and looked solid at the back and flowing going forward, surely the results are what counts at the end of the day.
Thought our first half display was some of the best football played in the league all year – fast, crisp passing and really good player movement – why has it taken to the end of the season to see this type of football?
Yes, we took the foot of the gas in the second half but that wasn’t a major surprise as Sunderland were never going to score and I guess Rafa had one eye on Thursday Europa League match.
That said, I think it just shows the lack of real quality we have on the bench – without players like Stevie and Torres, we can look average – come on Yanks dig deep or ship out. Other than that my only other gripe would be that I would have preferred to have seen Pacheco on the pitch instead of Ngog but I’m hoping his time will come.
All round a very good performance and one I hope we see a lot more of in the coming games.
Hey guys, would 4th place and winning the europa league represent a successful season to you? I’m made up with the win but as soon as stevie and torres come off we struggle. I’m only interested in the 4th spot to be honest. I cant see us beating chelsea unless he picks an attacking formation but I suspect it will be Lucas and mascherano back in the starting xi.