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First-half pluses: Downing looking adequate as an attacking fullback. Shelvey looking increasingly comfortable in Brendan's midfield. Minuses: Suarez, his touch and decision-making. No cutting edge in the final third (same old).

It's official -- Carroll is on loan with West Ham. Would rather he was sold outright if he wasn't in the manager's plans, but if this frees up wages/squad space for a striker Brendan wants.

Where is Henderson playing? Seems to be operating on the left.

As in his touch has been a tad heavy, even during the Man City game.

Suarez looks leggy, has been since the Man City game.

Dani Pacheo in tracksuit in the stands. Available for Arsenal I suppose. It does. He doesn't have the same pressure to beat a opposition player one to one, which he normally just shats out of.

Morgan needs to curb his enthusiasm a bit. Downing excellent so far.

Downing looking potent coming from deep.

Great move all round by Brendan. Downing has basically been told he's a s*** winger, and if he wants games as one, he needs to clear out. Then again, if he's staying, for the paycheck or if he has some fight in him, this could be the making of him as a player. Interesting to behold.

Brendan will be awesome for Sterling and the other youths cos he came through the ranks as a youth coach.

We did. http://www.liverpool...00252-28647584/ After his good showing in that glorious first six months with the King. Good call in hindsight too, since the contract can net us a higher value for him.

Maybe the answer is already within our ranks: Why not shunt Suarez to the side and play Borini centrally? (A point raised by several others already.) Shades of Forlan about the lad, in his off the ball movement especially.

How much more suited would Huntelaar be in our set-up than Carroll? The obvious is that the former is a proven goal-getter; the latter is still getting there. Huntelaar also seems the more natural poacher; Carroll tends to muscle them in. Other than YouTube and the odd match I've seen him in, I haven't seen him much, so my view of his value is limited. But with his age and lack of pace, there's a whiff of the Morientes about him. Though Huntelaar appears to be able to handle himself physically.

Haven't enjoyed a Liverpool match this much in a while! So many positives. Brendan's gutsy first team selection, Shelvey's encouraging progress, Allen's awesomeness, Sterling's showing, the team embracing Brendan's philosophy. List just goes on.

Not necessarily the Daniel Sturridge. Someone in the mould.

Would be genuinely shocked to see Huntelaar holding the scarf aloft come this Friday. While a proven goal-poacher in the right system, don't think he's the right poacher in our system. Reckon a Daniel Sturridge or a Loic Remy, pacy forwards who can beat a man and with goals in them, are more suited.

We look so... clumsy.

the defense looking in sixes and sevens

Encouraging run on the right from Downing.

Think Allen will slot in seamlessly in midfield and allow Gerrard to push up more. Borini will definitely stretch the defense with his Kuyt-like workrate and movement. Somehow expecting Downing to have a huge game today.

Didi looking good commentating for Setanta.

re having CL as a deal-breaker: I believe it's a fine line for us because we are a big club, one of the original and still-relevant big ones with a truly global fan base. When we really lack is someone who can sell that vision to prospective players. With Mourinho and Alonso both having his ear, all it needed for was someone not named Ian Ayre to over go and seal the deal. A proper, widely respected DOF (or equivalent) type, or failing that, a more charismatic Comoli.

It is. If we weren't having the usual late late show in the transfer window, especially the nail-biting Agger-gate that keeps building, we'd be celebrating this fact more.

Agree. He can't do any worse than last season (well, he could try). Think he would thrive under Rodgers' tutelage and man-management; he's the type of player that needs clear tactical guidance and an encouraging arm round the shoulder.

Maybe in a front three Gerrard could figure as a false nine, like Fabregas for Spain, with Borini and Suarez pushed out wide. He has the right instincts in front of goal to do so.