fred

Babel could've been that player. Shame really...

FWIW, Pranjic has made the Eeredivisie team of the year: Guardian

2014, after a successful management career in the Bundesliga

There is IMO. If he's got a problem with Benitez, the thing to do is to tell him, not imply that there may be communication issues in interviews to the press. I also think the suggestion that he should get playing time because he might leave otherwise is ludicrous - if you think he's a better player than Skrtel or Carragher then fair enough, that's your opinion, but picking him 'cos he'll strop otherwise? It's just as ludicrous though to suggest that neither Skrtel nor Carragher deserve to be dropped because it "wouldn't be fair", if Benitez thinks bringing Agger in is the right move, then "fair" doesn't come into it.

It's in the Guardian too and probably all over the media. Where's GWistooshort for the summing up...

I'd keep him for at least 1 more season even if we did get Barry in the summer. He got a stealth promotion from 4th choice CM to 3rd with Gerrard moving further forward and he may not be ready for that yet. I agree that the likes of Mascherano and Alonso were closer to being the finished article than he is at the same age, but he is still young enough IMO to develop. Don't know if my armchair perspective is wrong, but it seems to me that there is one thing he does that Alonso and Mascherano don't: he gets into the box more. If it wasn't for the deflection off Yossi, he'd have had a tap in against Fulham...

I have a lot of time for Markus Babbel. If his coaching career goes well, I wouldn't mind seeing him in the dugout in our new stadium some day....

I didn't see the game so can't comment, but Alonso got MOTM from the Liverpoolfc.tv journos...

David Pleat suggested the tactic in the Guardian pre match, says it all IMO

Seconded.

Looks like Chelsea without Essien are better than we are without Gerrard...

eTog?

This is football, not business. Couldn't put it better myself.

No it isn't. But even if we don't win anything this season, IMO it's still a big improvement.

Heck yes - that was enough to convince everyone that Aurelio can play CM. I'm not saying he should play there on a regular basis, but whoever the opposition, he showed that he can play there if we really need him to.

I think we now know that he can.

That's one thing he can do.

Well in fairness Rafa could've changed like for like and brought Babel on. Not that I disagree with the sub, I don't think we lose much from an attacking point of view putting Lucas in midfield and pushing Gerrard up.

Surprised no one had a go at Rafa for treating Michael Owen like a dog yet...

Hyypiä is 35, played 90 minutes and had his head stitched on Saturday. Not saying playing him and Carra at right back would've been wrong, but neither is this.

Apparently Darby and Agger are injured. Also apparently, nobody seems to have told Steve Hunter or Alan Kennedy on the official website.

Both our senior right backs are injured, so is their reserve understudy apparently, Sami played on Saturday so resting him today is fair enough, I think in the circumstances Mascherano at RB is not the worst option. He's quick, he can tackle - not sure how much he'll be able to contribute to our forward play but we should have enough to beat Sunderland without a major contribution from RB.

Gerrard getting ready....

Anyone else have the feeling we might see Stevie G for Torres at some point?

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