Davvo

Absolutely, he's getting better and better. The way he makes time for himself is a joy to watch, and we really do have some very talented footballers in the squad now.

Was it 3? Not sure I can remember 3, and only one that was a major error where Lovren came across for the header. Not sure if that was because he felt Sakho wasn't quite as pro-active as he likes to be, or whether it's his natural urge to attack the point of danger, rather than sit off. In general I thought he looked no different playing right side. I think if they get a few games together they could be superb.

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Agreed, they looked like a great unit, well organised and got better and better I thought. One crazy moment from Lovren, and some poor passing first half from Sakho, but much preferred the way the two CB's seemed to play as a pair. Fullback's excellent.

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Our bench on Sunday is going to be the strongest for sometime. With Lallana and Balotelli coming into the squad, Johnson likely ruled out, I imagine it's either Kolo or Lambert to miss out from Monday's 18, depending on whether we're happy having Hendo/Can being 2nd/3rd cover defender.

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Wouldn't surprise me at all, well, apart from the fact someone thought that Madrid might want/need him.

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Madness this, he's already our best defender. I'd love to know if we've been trying Lovren or Sakho as RCB at all in training, well Lovren at least, and whether playing the two of them is being considered. If not, I think we have an issue. Also, following on from the Carra/Neville analysis last night, I wonder if that also explains the goals against coming from our left. As in, balls coming in from our right are being covered better by LCB/LB. I don't know, but the evidence put forward by those 2 recently retired top class defenders, is more convincing to me than amateur opinions without substance, my own included. I don't know how many saw the analysis, but I'd be interested to hear anyone backing Skrtel/slating Lovren, debunk that analysis. I thought he played well, but the sooner we get to a point where one of Coutinho or Lallana are considered 3rd midfielder, like last season, the better.

Carra and Neville were breaking this down post-game last night. Their conclusion was Skrtel was holding his position too much instead of closing the gap between himself and Lovren, when there was danger on our left. They showed some clips of Kompany doing what they felt Skrtel wasn't, anticipating the imminent danger and looking to close it off. It's what's been said repeatedly I guess, Skrtel is sometimes excellent at scrambling and blocking, but not so much at anticipating, which is what generally marks out the very best defenders.

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The personal element of that comment aside, we'd just scored, and gone close to pulling it back to 3-2 with 10 to go. Johnson going off put us down to 10 men and stopped our momentum dead in it's tracks. If that was the best moment of the game, well.

Much prefer him one position deeper., where he was for much of the 2nd half of last season. He can get the ball earlier, see things developing infront of him, and carry/play the ball accordingly. He's better than Allen at that.

Agree with this. Lots of positives, good passing, good chances, just beaten by their clinical finishing as much as anything, which is obviously what the game's all about. Like Moreno and Markovic, Mario and Lallana to come.

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And that my friends, goes down as an 'assist'.

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