Guz

We were awful I thought. It was gonna happen eventually but I'm dissapointed at how muddled and uncohesive we were in midfield and attack

Did Lawro say it was Rosenthaal playing at the back for Newcastle???

Thought we were f***ing shambolic for many periods of the game to be honest. 433 was fair enough but we lacked nautral width for the whole game and played too narrow as a result of it.

Smokescreen

Given Aurelio's injury record - basically Arbeloa and Finnan for the full back positions and a kid who plays for the reserves? As frustrating as Riise is, we need a replacement if he is sold because Aurelio cannot be trusted to stay fit.

This content is not viewable to guests.

I hope they t*** Arsenal tommorow night

Not much evidence for that (Hobbs good enough for 4th choice) is there though? He's had a couple of games beforehand and now almost a full half of premiership football against a team that looked dead and buried. Not knocking the lad, he's just come onto the scene and has time on his side. Even if we do sign someone in January who can play CB, I hope Hobbs gets more time on the bench. Even if he gets 20 minutes here and there at Anfield, being around the first team will do him some good too. Think he'll eventually (maybe next season) have to go on loan elsewhere though to show he can be 4th choice (or better) once Sami retires.

Yup. Brum and Spurs at home were most annoying. Still - Level on points and above the champions at the start of December, we havent been here for a while. A much better feeling than being 10+ points behind

As soon as it happened I thought of the 1-0 away to Sunderland in 2002. Perfect long through ball by Gerrard, taken by Owen in his stride who just clipped it past the keeper.

It's refreshing to see that we have players who the opposition are visibly afraid of. Gerrard is the obvious one and now Torres has settled in very quickly. Babel looks very raw but he attracts defenders and isn't afraid to run with the ball. It means players like Crouch and Benayoun (Kuyt, Voronin too) will find more space and time on the ball. Nice to be talking about the positive aspects of our football aswell with goals flying in.

More goals in this for us. Lets f***in t*** em.

There seems to be a general acceptance, however, that Rafa (in varying degrees) and Eduardo Macia are keenly involved in negotiations with the club/agents. I dont think that's a huge part of the manager's job and ever has been. The management team identify a player, give his name to the money men who go and sort it out with the club who may allow the player to talk to the club (agent with the money men, player with the manager). If Rafa and his personal team have been involved in the middle section of sorting out £££ then I can understand why the owners would be so wary and willing to clip his wings. At the same time, the alternative is Parry and from that point of view it's maybe clear why Rafa feels he has to do things himself.

No he doesn't. He's played in every attacking position (plus right back in Istanbul) under Rafa because he is willing to do so for the team. he is that f***ing good and because Rafa trusts him to do it above any other player he has worked with at Liverpool. As far as I'm concerned, if Rafa decides to play him through the middle it's because he's much happier with what Pennant, Babel and Benayoun can offer. Personally I think his future lies starting from a wide position (or a free role in a 433) and if there's any one player over the last 20 years I'd compare him to it would be Pavel Nedved. Nedved was capable of covering every blade of grass on the pitch and also had the ability to play in a variety of formations but ultimately his best work always came in the final third of the pitch.

Or maybe they're just incompetent and unable to get every decision correct?

Who gives a s*** what happens to that fat walrus. Hopefully they stick 6 past Arsenal (and conceed less than 6)

Has there been a title winning side recently that hasn't been full of horrible snidy c****? I'm not condoning it, just wondering if the actions talked about in this thread are a manifestation of the sheer arrogance and self belief running through top, title winning, players..

Rafa said they communicate by email and phone.

Do you really think that happened? Who at the club at the time had anywhere near the authority to do such a thing anyway? Owen and Gerrard at best, maybe Sami. I'm sure they had a couple of conversations but I cant see them telling the club who to sign as manager and it certainly wouldn't explain Gerrard's exceptional performance for Houllier in that final season. That Valencia game (1-0 at home) was only October also. Most people seem to think it was around Feburary/March that the wheels were set in motion for a change in manager. Might be wrong on that though. Rafa's situation at Valencia was complicated, and Mourinho was making noises at the time too. As far as I'm concerned, the removal of Houllier and the courting of Benitez couldn't have been done better and that's a reflection of the directors, including Parry and the lawyers that must've been working round the clock to get it done and all above board too.

Possibly because there was something that happened, is still lingering and won't be sorted out one way or another till December 16th. Pretty much says he won't be sacked but would've sounded so much better had it came from a direct quote of Hicks although you'd think it wouldn't be included in the article at all if it hadn't been mentioned during the interview.

2 goals from corners by Stevie too - what's the world coming to!

Viva Benitez

Voronin isn't gash. But I think he thrives on the movement and intelligent play of the players around him - and Babel, Benayoun and Gerrard didnt offer that tonight. Torres is f***ing amazing but if we're going to challenge on all fronts this season then rest assured all four strikers + Babel and Kewell will have a big role to play.

He's f***ing brilliant. Like Gerrard, opposition players are scared s***less of him. He strikes fear into the eyes of opposition defenders. He adds a whole new dimension to our play and is perfect to the way we play. Brilliant and will get better.

I'm sure there will be songs about the players too, especially after we get the early goal we all crave. Dont worry, the players won't be letting us down tonight.