micmij

1. Dossena 2. Gerrard 3. Alonso

1. Mascherano 2. Alonso 3. Kuyt

1. Carra 2. Reina 3. Keane

Don't you mean the new JAR? It's plainly obvious that some people have made their minds up about Alonso not being good enough and nothing will change that. With respect to his performance yesterday, he was solid enough and was involved in a couple of our more dangerous moments (e.g. his deflected shot). He's been practicing his dead balls, too, as they were generally very good yesterday. As for only playing the ball sideways or backward, some people would say that's more positive than forcing the ball upfield when no-one's available. Masch started off very slowly and only really got into the game in the last half hour. His passing was a bit off, although the ball to get Keane away was superb. Am surprised that someone was questioning his fitness - to my eyes he finished more full of running than anyone on the park. A point at Villa Park (considering the 120 mins midweek, Gerrard out, Torres coming off, and Villa coming off a loss) is a good result in my eyes.

I was watching on TV and didn't notice them at all...

1. Skrtel 2. Carragher 3. Torres

1. Alonso 2. Torres 3. Gerrard

That article says that Real were negotiating a fee for Xabi, but there's a BIG difference between 2 clubs agreeing a fee and the player actually going to said club. Personally, I'd be very surprised if Xabi went to Real (....but I've been very surprised before). Hope he doesn't go anywhere though, that quote about him making the team play better is SO true (even when he's not particularly on song).

1. Torres 2. Gerrard 3. Lucas

1. Kuyt 2. Alonso 3. Mascherano

1. Mascherano 2. Lucas 3. Pennant

Well, no. I did say from what I've seen of him - mostly for Croatia. He's been highly rated for a little while, certainly before the last World Cup, and I haven't seen in those games that he would be a commanding figure at a big club - which is what I hope Liverpool are (or are at least aiming at!), that's all. I'm just commenting on the fact that the article sees him as coming in to take the playmaking role over Gerrard. I'd be fine with him coming in as a squad player, but 15m is a bit steep.

Nothing I've ever seen of him gives me the indication that he will make it at a big club. Decent enough squad player, but I'd certainly hope for someone better in the playmaker role. Also, a bit lightweight for the Premier League. Next!

1. Kuyt 2. Skrtel 3. Hyypia

It won't matter how many we concede!

Same here.

Ditto

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

There was no real problem with Carra & Skrtel on Sunday. Both had decent games. There were a couple of quality balls that exposed our lack of pace in the centre of defence, but not many teams would be able to deal with balls like that (forwards tend to be quicker than centre halves and if you get the ball just right....) The real problems were that Reina had an up & down game and we had our heart ripped out before we could work our way back into it. That said, our fullbacks don't instill me with a great deal of confidence defensively. But I'd hardly rate Evra and Brown much better defensively. Would you?

The other aspect to this point is that they brought in a rule (i.e. an injured player must leave the field of play) to try to discourage feigning injury. Yet all it does is penalise a side where a player has a genuine injury. It hasn't had much, if any, influence on the issue it was aimed at sorting out.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

1. Kuyt 2. Torres 3. Alonso

1. Carragher 2. Skrtel 3. Mascherano

1. Mascherano 2. Reina 3. Skrtel

1. Gerrard 2. Alonso 3. Torres