Epic Swindle

Gerrard Torres Maxi

Reina 8 Johnson 8 Carra 7 Agger 8 Insua 7 Maxi 8 Gerrard 9 Masch 7 Babel 6 Torres 8 Kuyt 6

We've known this for a while now but Rafa will stick to his way, which is all about stopping the opposition first and controlling the game.

Comfortable win. I'd liked to have seen us be a bit more ruthless towards the end but can't complain.

Non stop digs from that Tyler today, the Sky puppet. Embarrasing that Dowd. Is he bored or something.

Gerrard off, sublime today.

Brilliant Babel lad, strength, power, drive - should have hit it though.

Big fat head ringing out loud and proud. Keep at it lads, chance to boost the GD.

3-0

Got to put these chances away.

The balance of the team looks knackered though.

It's the mentality. There's nothing wrong with being cautious away from home but Rafa worries so much about the opposition that it stifles our own creativity. Also we're at the stage of the season when he usually lets the team off the leash, mainly due to peak fitness.

Sell that Gerrard lad.

Got to score there, come on lads. This is the way it should be at home, teams should be in fear of us.

Get lost Dowd you spanner.

Heading practice tomorrow.

Oh yes. Keep it going lads.

Sitter that. Get your head on it Agger.

Gerrard and Maxi linking up really well. Should have had 4 here.

Great football. Total lack of cohesion

Get in.

Nervous. Come on Red men.

How many games have they started together? They can't be any less cohesive than Masch and Lucas.

We're going off topic here, but I'll just say I don't really have a problem with Johnson as he's young and secures that position for a while and will hopefully improve his defending, but whether Aqualini is class or not, he's been a poor buy. That's not even up for debate, surely? We sold our most influential midfielder who made that system work and replaced him with a player with serious injury issues who has still yet to feature reguarly with only 6 games of the season left despite being fully fit.

I don't mind that line up but Rafa baffles me at times. We've been crying out for Gerrard alongside Masch for a big part of the season, especially when Torres and Aqualini were out, now both are back and fit he changes it.