Topic: Round Table LFC 1-0 Man Utd. chortle.

[Hinesy]

As I'm currently typing up an Eye Witness for RAWK, I've asked others to start up the Round Table for a great day all round.
See below.

[Corkboy]

That was extremely pleasant, at the remove of half a day. At the time, it was excruciating. I mean, if you can imagine the least comfortable win against anyone, not to mind that lot, it would be a 1-0 early goal scenario. 86 minutes and change we went through, against a team with Robin Van Persie.

Usually, they have someone like Vidic or O'Shea to pop up and ruin our day, and indeed the Elder Ferdinand on one occasion but this time the short lived Star Wars character was the benefactor, taking the decision to only mark Agger in principle and thus allowing our cheeky Dane stoop to conquer. Now, this writer has access to alternate universes and can therefore reveal that without Sturridge's intervention, Cleverley would indeed have cleared the ball, possibly unwittingly. He must be a commentator's nightmare, by the way. Imagine having to go through an entire game, saying to yourself, don't say anyone does anything cleverly.

So we are on top, and thereafter it was a story of not quite hanging on, but certainly being the less dominant force in the game. And while the visitors won the stats war, the home side were less discomfited than one might suppose, especially with the loss of a right back. A stonking display from Agger and Skrtel was summed up in the little exchange just before half time when both expressed their feelings towards Van Persie in an open and forthright manner, as befits gentlemen of Liverpool Football Club. Johnson and Enrique left bruises on their opponents, and Wisdom was impressive when he came in, one mazy run catching the eye.

At this stage, I should admit that I'm not sure what Iago Aspas is for. He seems to be a wasp with no sting. He was begging for a persistent foul yellow before he did then get one for what seemed like backchat. Is he an upgrade on Borini? Small Phil was in and out of the game, but showed his tasty side in some measure against Jones. The defender had to go off, and it seemed our little Brazilian left a little in the tackle. Henderson was magnificent, always showing and always the player who made the pass out of trouble.

Gerrard and Lucas were fighting a rearguard action but both were excellent, Lucas in particular snarling into tackles. Finally, if Sturridge was carrying an injury today, it didn't show. On current form, he is a Rolls Royce 4x4, capable of mixing it in the box, and also drifting out wide and dictating the tempo of the play in the last third. Some of his hold up play was verging on arrogant today. The lad has belief.

Now, my little Rawkins. Tell me all the things that were good about this day.

[Mr Dilkington]

Wasn't one for the purists that, but often this fixture isn't. What matters, as always, is the result; and we scored one more than they did. The early goal set the tone for the rest of the match I felt. When we got it, United had to change their initial gameplan, and we adjusted to deal with it. There was sparing quality from either side (in terms of attack). For us; Coutinho was trying to force things, Sturridge was nowhere near fit, and the pace of the game proved too much for Aspas. Van Persie didn't get a sniff for them, and their wide boys collectively had an absolute stinker. Giggs is showing clear signs of rapid decline, and Ashley Young, in between showing some nice touches and dribbles, did bugger all.

The team Moyes went for set the tone for United I thought. For me, not selecting Valencia (who despite only playing for an hour was United's man of the match by far) gave us a real boost. He's pretty much the only player that Enrique hasn't been able to muscle out of a game since he joined us 2 years back. In fact, Valencia is the only player I've ever seen knock Enrique over in a 50/50. I think David Moyes was one of the few men in Anfield that thought not starting Valencia was a good idea. It makes zero sense to me why a player who has had the beating of an opposition player in every game for the last 2 years doesn't play. I would've loved to be a fly on the Ferguson living room wall when those team sheets were announced. When he did come on, I thought Valencia was a real difference. He made them go from stuttering in 2nd gear, to 3rd and looking dangerous very quickly. His pace and direct running moved the rest of his teammates up the pitch, and in turn put us on the backfoot. You can't close him down easily because he's so quick, and when you do get bodies around him, he usually emerges like Jonah Lumu on roids leaving everyone in his wake like a tropical thunderstorm. Guaranteed when we play them at Old Trafford Valencia is the first name on the team sheet.

Whilst I'm on United... and Moyes' bizarre decision making; why no Kagawa? There's murmurs about a move to PSG, so maybe that explains it; if not, then I have no idea what Moyes was thinking by excluding him from the squad.

To the winners of the day... best to start at the front. Mignolet was brilliant I thought. Apart from the Nani save, which itself was routine, he just oozed calmness and quality. There were a few awkward bobblers that could've caught inferior keepers out, but big Mig never looked anything but assured. Had a couple of outstanding punches too.

Glen Johnson was the best player on the pitch I thought. He had one of those games that reminds you just how good he is. It's easy to forget, but today he didn't put a foot wrong. Until he did.

Skrtel and Agger were solid, and I was delighted to see them both respond to a fair bit of criticism by keeping the League's best striker quiet all day long. I'm not Skrtel's biggest fan, but he was really good today. Still... I think some are missing the point re: today being a reason not to sell. I personally wouldn't mind either way, because on the one hand we might get good money for him, but on the other it'll be good to have 4 top centre backs competing together and hopefully pushing each other on too.  But anyway... games like today aren't the problem with Skrtel. We've seen him have games like that before. The problem is he isn't the type of defender Rodgers is looking for. What the club have to decide is whether it's worth keeping him around for games like today, because otherwise he isn't going to impact. Agger was brilliant. Not only an assist, but his defensive game in general was fantastic. Today should put to bed the theory that was gathering pace that he needs Toure beside him to hold his hand. He's a great centre back in his own right, and we're damn lucky to have him.

Lucas and Gerrard did their thing. Pressed like buggery and showed calm heads when others weren't. Was great to see Stevie giving Van Persie a bit of needle I thought. Just gave a sharp reminder to some of our new boys how big the game was. "You ain't coming to our place and calling the shots you grey haired Dutch fanny."

Henderson... really good, but... I can't help but feel he's a tactical necessity more than anything else. That's not to say he's not a good player, because he is, and he's come on a lot, but... I think should we get top 4, he'll be upgraded. Perhaps that's harsh, but I genuinely think in an ideal world, Rodgers wants someone with a bit more quality in that role. But then you could say that about every position I suppose? I'm sure he'd take Thiago Silva ahead of Agger, or Ribery instead of Coutinho, but it's not an ideal World, so we may never find out! Anyway... great running and work rate from Hendo today - he's solidifying his spot more and more every week.

Delighted to start the season with three 1-0 wins. There'll come a point in the season when these opening games come in handy. The whole squad knows we can do it now. Still, I expect things to become more fluent attack wise after the International break.

Oh, and a belated happy birthday Shanks. I hope you enjoyed that. It all wouldn't be possible without you. None of it.

[Col]

One little point - at one point, the commentator said "...and suchabody gives the ball away to Lucas."

It made me chuckle - his positioning, awareness, and understanding of exactly when to add personal pressure is superb. You hear it all the time. It's not that they're giving the ball away to him, it's that he's in exactly the right place to take it off their touch without the need for a physical battle.

He's getting back to his best.

In fact, he's getting up towards Didi Hamann's best... and praise does not come any higher than that.

[Garstonite]

One little point - at one point, the commentator said "...and suchabody gives the ball away to Lucas."

It made me chuckle - his positioning, awareness, and understanding of exactly when to add personal pressure is superb. You hear it all the time. It's not that they're giving the ball away to him, it's that he's in exactly the right place to take it off their touch without the need for a physical battle.

He's getting back to his best.

In fact, he's getting up towards Didi Hamann's best... and praise does not come any higher than that.

Agree with this. He's as much a key to us as Sturridge at the moment. Fingers crossed he stays fit because our midfield is all at sea without him.

[Phil M]

Agree with this. He's as much a key to us as Sturridge at the moment. Fingers crossed he stays fit because our midfield is all at sea without him.

I thought this little rating paragraph from the Telgraph summed him up nicely

 "Often goes unnoticed, but the defensive midfielder was crucial in denying United the space to create for Robin van Persie. Liverpool’s top four hopes depend on keeping Lucas fit."

[Gnurglan]

We did well to deny them chances. For me, that was the best thing with our approach yesterday. Felt like they had the ball for the entire 2nd half, but we kept them away. With relative ease it seemed. It's kind of strange the way we've started the season. Not that we've won all three, but that we have won all games 1-0. Our attack has not produced more than a single goal/game, but we are yet to concede. I expected us to score, but also leak goals. Like last season. Would like us to add more threat, but I reckon that will come. It's these games, where we win 1-0 instead of getting a draw, that will make a real difference in the end.

I thought this little rating paragraph from the Telgraph summed him up nicely

 "Often goes unnoticed, but the defensive midfielder was crucial in denying United the space to create for Robin van Persie. Liverpool’s top four hopes depend on keeping Lucas fit."

It's unfortunate for Lucas that he doesn't do things in this spectacular manner. It looks natural. It's only when he isn't there that we tend to notice him.

Would agree that we are highly dependent on his fitness, but with the additions of Ilori and Sakho, I think it seems PoP was correct - Toure is our primary backup for Lucas. That's how our signings make sense (in particular if Skrtel is still here after the window closes). Even so, Lucas is a key player for us. We need him to stay fit.

[Aristotle]

What a strange game that was.

Before the game, conversing with the dark side, I said this.

Q15: Finally your predictions for the match?
2-1 either way. The side to score first will shut up shop, lose momentum and lose the game.

I was only a quarter wrong. I had the win by 1 goal, the side to shut up shop and losing momentum. However I think we won this game only as much as they lost it. As MD mentions leaving out Valencia was an unbelievable decision and one that left me feeling a lot easier at heart come kick-off time. Ditto Kagawa whom I can't for the life of me understand why he isn't starting. I think it played perfectly into our hands.Valencia has been the only player Enrique has legitimately struggled every single time they've faced each other. Similarly had Kagawa been on the bench he would've given Wisdom more problems with his movement and energy.

But let's not take anything away from our team. We played superbly for a team that should've been on the back foot. As Corkboy mentioned there is no win more uncomfortable than against them after getting an early lead. But I never really felt threatened. Lucas, Agger and Skrtel were on van Persie like a conversative government on public spending. Giggs was showing clear signs of decline and has no chance against Enrique, even Coutinho took him on defensively and came up victorious. Ashley Young had no chance against Johnson and in the end just gave up really. Welbeck was like Dirk Kuyt on LSD. He made a lot of strange runs, got into the right positions but then spaced out. Evra I thought was their most direct and attacking player, bar Valencia but with no crosses (bar that strange dropped ball that resulted in van Persie shooting over the bar) hitting their players, when your most feared opposition was the full backs who didn't cross to anyone, you had a good day. Similarly we were very strong on the corners and didn't look like conceding on them throughout the game. In a way that's a sign of a Moyes side is it not? Ferguson, no matter your opinions on him, had an incredible ability for getting goals from crosses into the box. Be it striking fear into the opposition, taking off a full back and a midfielder and throwing both his strikers from the bench on or his mentality of having his players believe that if a ball drops in the box, they'll score.
I never got that yesterday though. I didn't fear a late Man Utd goal like I always have. They were more fearful of us scoring on the counter than they were going for that equaliser. Even when Hernandez came on I thought "so what?". Did he touch the ball once inside our box?

An old Dutch coach I had the pleasure of talking with on a few occasions said that nothing builds character like a 1-0 win (although for years I only remembered it because he prounounced it drills karate). He said Capello's Milan were the absolute pinnacle of football because if you can win 1-0 every season, year after year, you know that you are good enough and your team knows it too. You can trust each other to deliver at both ends of the pitch and come out as champions.
And I'm starting to think he might have a point. If you look at the players and bench after all our games this season there is an inerent sense of camaraderie. Of course it would be nicer to win every game by 3 or 4 goals but until then this is great for team building. The strikers are doing enough, the midfielders are keeping solid and the defence and goalkeeper are shutting them out. Sturridge and Mignolet run to each other to celebrate because they've had a role to play in the win.

Every member of that team now looks to the man next him, after the 4th on the trot (6th if you include Fulham and QPR) and not only thinks they couldn't have done it without each other. They now believe it too.


But that's all trivial really. Nothing really sums up winning the Mancs as much as this

[Gnurglan]

I didn't fear a late Man Utd goal like I always have. They were more fearful of us scoring on the counter than they were going for that equaliser. Even when Hernandez came on I thought "so what?". Did he touch the ball once inside our box?

Thought the same about them. They had the ball, but I never got the impression they threw everything overboard to get the goal. You'd expect Hernandez to fire a couple of shots. The best they created was that RvP chance from an angle. It was a good one, but Mignolet made it very difficult for him, even if he had managed to get the shot on target. Maybe it was us defending well, maybe it was them who lacked the attacking edge, maybe a bit of both. It could be that I have this false image of Utd as a team that always managed to create lots of chances near the end. It's an image everyone seems to have about Ferguson's team. That they'd always get the late goal. More or less in every game. But perhaps that's just not true. And now, with Moyes in charge, everyone thinks it's a big difference. But the difference is only in our minds. I don't know, but it's a good thing either way. When teams start to think "they're good at this, they always score late goals", then it happens. Hopefully, things will be different under Moyes, hopefully teams will see them differently.

to be honest, I didn't expect us to score either. Thought we struggled to get upfield in the 2nd. And when Sterling couldn't carry the ball forward and be a threat that way, on his own, there was no way for us. Henderson could have done it, but we had to play him in a more defensive role.

[Phil M]

Thought the same about them. They had the ball, but I never got the impression they threw everything overboard to get the goal. You'd expect Hernandez to fire a couple of shots. The best they created was that RvP chance from an angle. It was a good one, but Mignolet made it very difficult for him, even if he had managed to get the shot on target. Maybe it was us defending well, maybe it was them who lacked the attacking edge, maybe a bit of both.

The substitutions were interesting, I think if anything we would have enjoyed more possession with Jones on the field than off it. Valencia assumed that wide right position and immediately they were switching flanks and using the width. I though Jose Enrique did quite well to limit his impact but the combinations of Evra & Young and Valencia & Cleverley/Wellbeck gave us a lot of work to do to close the space and keep their opportunities from set pieces to a minimum.
Young was quite one dimensional, he didn't try to beat Johnson for pace or with skill and preferred to cut in and try that zipped in right foot early cross which he's very good at, with only RVP really the only target our CB's dealt with the aerial threat quite admirably.

Mignolet didn't have to come for many catches as most of United's crossing, bar from their corners, was 12 yards+ away from goal.

Giggs whilst industrious and calm in possession did little of note and it was only really when Nani replaced Young that they upped their game somewhat and there was that shot which Mignolet parried away well and the later sliced shot wide from Van Persie.

I said in the post match thread I was concerned by our propensity to hoof it away at all costs at the end, the players have to keep the confidence in themselves to still move and create space in order to keep possession when needed most rather than relying on keeping it in the corner or simply hoofing it as far as possible. This is something that is second nature to the mancs and why they are or indeed were such a good side who don't panic and stay focused on the next goal or defending a lead.

If Fellaini is all they end up with by this time tomorrow I would certainly expect most United fans to be rather displeased and I can see a lot of pessimism creeping in especially if Arsenal land someone like Ozil. Spurs got Lamela and Eriksen and Chelsea secured, for me one of the signings of the summer in Samuel Eto'o.

Roll on the League Cup.

[Zeb]

Enjoying thinking back to how Lucas performed. It's the additional man stepping up and putting that last little bit of pressure on - the toe to the ball 25 yards from the opposition's goal. He just reads the game so well. And that pressure on Manchester United's central defensive 4 was key to disrupting them. Is that where Aspas comes in too? That constant pressure to never allow Carrick time on the ball? Aspas still looks a little too easy to be brushed off the ball at the moment, so hopefully that will come with time. And you can't help wondering what Suarez will do there.

For a man playing through pain, Sturridge doesn't half put in a real shift for the team. The anticipation for the goal is exceptional, the dodge back, and around and the duck to try and glance it over Cleverley... Probably a good job he had a headed chance if he's right about barely being able to kick the ball at the moment! Rodgers' faith in him is paying off and being repaid as we watch him maturing into England's best striker. Can see the appreciation building up for him amongst the support too.

Not sure what to make of the Mancs under Moyes. They're a shadow form of how Ferguson had them - van Persie exploding seemed to be as much about 2 hours of football where he grafts for not a lot as it was Skrtel monstering him. You could see it in the ill-discipline with which they began to play towards the half hour mark as a team - Giggs going in two footed on Coutinho, and a few others which earned them yellow cards or should have done. Another referee may well have been looking for red as their heads seemed to have gone leading up to half time. They look threatening down the wings, and they had a couple of balls through into the box where a toe would have had it in our net, but not a lot else. They look fitter than I've ever seen them at this stage of the season, but they were still second to a lot of balls and looked unsure of just what they were meant to be doing. A good time to catch them perhaps, with the Moyes blueprint set out against Chelsea, and an early goal meaning we could pin the two halves of their team into their own halves. They got in behind us only the once when the ritual has been them bombing forward from all over when behind at the end. I've seen ten man Manchester United teams look more threatening. Maybe that's a reflection of how we're playing too in part - the team and also the crowd willing to accept substance over form when required.

Johnson did a lot of good work, and I feel for him that another good tackle has caused him an injury. Hope it's not a bad one. His cover of the central defensive pair was excellent.

But for another match I can't see the individual stand-out performance yesterday. Skrtel got man of the match, and rightly so perhaps as he's had so little football recently and was thrown straight into the deep end, but Gerrard has been consistently excellent this season and Mignolet has stepped up every time he's had to answer a question. There's a team developing here and it's genuinely exciting to see it being reflected in the performances.

It's nice to beat the red Mancs. And I'm saving up the pennies to get to Old Trafford for the League Cup rematch - would be rude not to go. But it's just the three points and it's a long, long season ahead. Rodgers is getting results, and we know that there's a hell of a lot more to come from this team as we've seen it already in spells. Small steps towards getting things right. Determined just to enjoy it.

[micksmith]

Just gotta say I loved the verbal ear bashing Gerrard gave Van Persie. It was amazing to see on camera and at the time fucking hilarious. You could quite clearly make out what Gerrard was saying at the time and a brilliant bit of mind games from the skipper trying to get van Persie sent off.

Keep it Gerrard, boss that lad.

[stoa]

There's a team developing here and it's genuinely exciting to see it being reflected in the performances.

That's the main thing for me. There is something developing right now and I really like the look of it. For the first time in a long period we're looking like a team again. Players standing up for each other, fighting and generally being on the same page when they're on the pitch. We shouldn't get carried away with how the season has started, but those first games should give us the confidence we need to get back into the top 4. It's way to early to make any predictions about where we'll finish, but things are looking really positive right now. Especially, as we've done a pretty good job in terms of transfers. I'll admit that I was a bit sceptical about signing Toure. Looking back, it seems a shrewd kind of business, because we got a short-term solution while also getting some long-term options.

And again, I have to say I love Lucas. The lad is just sooooo good...

[stockdam]

Ok after the thrill of winning comes the cold factual (well no so factual) analysis.

We are sitting on top of the table but there is still work to be done.

Let's start with the positives.

Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson bossed the midfield for the first half. Sturridge's goal was a real striker's goal and was really well taken.

Mignolet kept his concentration throughout the game.

We defended corners well........however we did give a lot of them away.

Johnston had a good game -  Evra did out-jump him at times though which isn't good.

Skrtel was superb, coming in cold and kept RVP quiet. Agger had a solid game also and it was nice to see him get in ahead of their defence for the goal.

Sterling was determined and dogged when he came on. He bounced off a few tackles but he kept on trying and was always a menace.
Wisdom came on and didn't put a foot wrong.......I was impressed how he slotted in so well.

Utd had a lot of the ball in the 2nd half but did almost nothing with it. Our defence was firm and snuffed out most of their play.
Overall we were stronger, especially in the first half. Utd looked good in the stats but had no real ideas when RVP was snuffed out. We kept their wingers quiet also (Sterling did well when he came on).

We fought as a team.

Now for the things that I think need to be improved (we're now a top table club so we need to look at the little things that will help).

Aspas.........he was too light weight and ineffective. At times I thought he didn't track back enough. He needs to beef up against good defenders.
Coutinho started ok but he faded as the game went on. I thought Gerrard faded also (not surprising).
As we tired, I thought we sat further and further back and let them come onto us.
Alberto looked a bit lost but it's unfair to comment as he is still finding his feet and will do better against a weaker team than Utd.
Mignolet's distribution needs to improve.
Skrtel is great at marking but his distribution is not as good as Rodgers wants..........there's nothing wrong with Skrtel's ability to defend and if he goes he will be a big loss. Rodgers wants ball carrying defenders who have pace and that's not Martin's strengths. He's more of a last ditch defender (like Carra was).
When we tired we found it hard to move the ball around and we started to give the ball away too much.
I thought we lacked a bit of bite in central midfield when SG tired. We could do with a fresh pair of legs and a player who can dominate midfield physically.

Sorry, that sounds negative but as our expectations rise then so will the criticism/analysis.........that's actually a good thing. We need to push on and get better but let's sit back and gloat at Utd for a while.

P.S. I think I saw a smile on Suarez's face as if to say "can't wait to get back"

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

Think that is three games in a row where we have simply wanted it more. Can not underestimate the power of commitment and a positive start to the season.

[Barney_Rubble]

Just gotta say I loved the verbal ear bashing Gerrard gave Van Persie. It was amazing to see on camera and at the time fucking hilarious. You could quite clearly make out what Gerrard was saying at the time and a brilliant bit of mind games from the skipper trying to get van Persie sent off.

Keep it Gerrard, boss that lad.

[God's Left Peg]

  

Would love to know what Lucas is saying to placate the ref.

[Klopp-A-Delphia]

I have a quick question...

I meant to post this in the reaction thread, but that's locked so I guess I'll post it here.

To all those who watched the match on the television, (as I did because I live in America) was there a slight delay in the audio during the first half broadcast?

I say this because in America there certainly was an out-of-sync delay in the first half and I would just like to know if it was the international broadcast's fault or was it typical NBC technical incompetence. I'm thinking it is the latter.

Anyway...thanks. It was a great match and one of the best days I think we have had in a while. To know that since January that we have won more points than the champions..... It just seems incredible after everything we have been through since Rafa. I love the way the team plays under Rodgers. Something really does feel different...

Also, Moyes does look completely out of his element. It's funny, but he seems to show too much negative emotion out on the touch line. Watching him cry about every foul, or hold his head in his hands at every missed chance, he looked like he got bullied, like the "top 4" hoodoo really got inside his head. He looked like he was managing Everton, not Newton Heath....It's interesting to see how he is acting now that he is actually expected to win. As a manager his team is expected to dominate every match, and he just doesn't seem to have that type of personality. He's the perennial over-achiever.

[Black Bull Nova]

Think that is three games in a row where we have simply wanted it more. Can not underestimate the power of commitment and a positive start to the season.

Not sure when Steve Peter's actually started, round about the end of November 2011 but before December 2011 we averaged 1.1 points per game and after that it's 2.1. You can do a lot with your head, you can see the self-belief in some players , especially Lucas, Sturridge and Johnson and, indeed, the Manager. Gerrard is massive on the pitch now and is part of the team effort which sometimes he did not seem to be.

[Tony19:6]

Great result, but not such great performance, but we will get better....

Long may the winning run continue 

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

 

Would love to know what Lucas is saying to placate the ref.

You look more Brazilian than me...

[johnsmithlfc]

Well this season so far,  has us doing things we've been unable to do for some time now
Holding onto 1-0 Leads & Seeing games out...Getting decisions in our favour and also that little bit of luck needed in games sometimes.
All things we've lacked in the past, all things that have cost us massively in the past.

We also have a dilemma when Suarez returns... unless he just slots in on the left/right, because there is no way Sturridge should be playing anywhere other than centrally.
I know we interchange and have attacking fluidity anyway, but I just feel his best position is centrally, much like Coutinho.

Also Henderson... His work rate both defensively and offensively is aabsolutely immense and I don't think we have another player who does the running he does and who is so tireless, Lucas comes a close second I suppose and the fullbacks certainly put a shift in, But the reason we beat Man Utd yesterday, was Henderson and his running.
Yes it was a team effort, yes Sturridge scored the goal, Yes Lucas mopped up a fair amount but Henderson was incredible and broke up so much play, stifled them so much and pressed so well and tackled back numerous times, for me, he was the difference.

I don't see anyone else bringing that level of athleticism and desire to the squad.

He is essential this season for us, certainly against the bigger teams.


Coutinho is just sublime to watch, As I said just before we signed him, He will be as important a signing (and eventually player) as Luis Suarez.
People didn't agree and thought that it was hyperbole.... I think not, he is different class.
His vision and movement gives defenders and opposition players such a headache and he's one of a handful in our squad who can literally create something out of nothing.


What better example and incentive could we have given our new signings sat in the stands?

After that I bet they were gagging to join...!!

Obviously we weren't perfect and there are some negatives but hey, I can't be arsed..... we beat Man U 1-0.

That is all.


Oh and of course, 3 wins, 3 clean sheets.... top of the league.

[Danny_]

There was a different feel about this fixture  this time .  It was like a huge weight had been lifted.  Gone was the red faced old tyrant on the sideline who had for so long somehow managed to control everything and everyone around him.  In his place, there was a gaunt worn out looking figure staring listlessly out of those sunken eyes from the dugout as his team faltered.  The contrast was quite stark and while it is still too early to write Moyes off, United are definitely a far less intimidating prospect under his tenure.

But, that doesn't take anything away from the victory.  We managed to grind out another 1-0 win with a half fit Sturridge and missing a key defender and the most satisfying thing was the mental strength we showed to do this.  As BR said, it wasn't our most fluid display but we got through it.

That is something in the early days when United were taking over from us that they managed to do time and time again - not play their best but get the 1-0 win.   It marks a big change from last season when we had a million shots on target but none them went in and we ended up losing or drawing the game. 
I don't know how many shots we had against United but it can't have been very many.   

So we have come out of the blocs like greyhounds but we need to keep things in perspective.  We've made a good start, that's all.  It sure is a lot more fun than making a poor start but we have only played 3/38 games.  Hopefully, we can keep the 100 percent record for as long as possible as we probably need the head start in this race.

But, you cannot have watched us over the last 3 games and not be excited by what you have seen.  We are trying to play the right way.  I hate to use a cliche but it really is pass and move back again.  It seems that every time we start saying that, things go to shit.  But, this time really does look different.  We are all beginning to see the vision BR is trying to implement and it is working.  During the game, he was screaming at his players "Keep the ball, keep the ball".  If we can do that, then who knows where he can take us.  I'd settle for 4th right now if it was offered to me but we are obviously aiming a lot higher.

[TheMissionary]

Interesting to see how the Mancs didn't get the benefit of decisions yesterday like they did when the other feller was manager,  The penalty that wasn't given yesterday was exactly the same as the one last year that was given (dive between defenders, throw out one leg to tangle with defender, throw arms in the air) and they seemed to have a confused look throughout when they were penalized for things they used to be allowed to do.  They're going to have to adapt to playing without the bulbous nosed one's influence on games, could be interesting.

Incidentally, the Mancs have 4 points from 3 games.....if they maintain that return through the season they'll be safe from relegation.  Phew!  Good news eh?

[farawayred]

I have a quick question...

I meant to post this in the reaction thread, but that's locked so I guess I'll post it here.

To all those who watched the match on the television, (as I did because I live in America) was there a slight delay in the audio during the first half broadcast?

I say this because in America there certainly was an out-of-sync delay in the first half and I would just like to know if it was the international broadcast's fault or was it typical NBC technical incompetence. I'm thinking it is the latter.

There was no delay on DirecTV in SoCal. I don't think that particular element was of NBC's doing, but they lose signal and now and then, way too many times during the previous game.

[farawayred]

Interesting to see how the Mancs didn't get the benefit of decisions yesterday like they did when the other feller was manager,  The penalty that wasn't given yesterday was exactly the same as the one last year that was given (dive between defenders, throw out one leg to tangle with defender, throw arms in the air) and they seemed to have a confused look throughout when they were penalized for things they used to be allowed to do.  They're going to have to adapt to playing without the bulbous nosed one's influence on games, could be interesting.

Incidentally, the Mancs have 4 points from 3 games.....if they maintain that return through the season they'll be safe from relegation.  Phew!  Good news eh?

I actually think the ref had spared two red cards (2nd yellows), especially to van Persie at the end of the first half (Cleverly in the second). That penalty dive was a yellow too. So they still get decisions, it's the inertia of the FA. 

[Corkboy]

Just gotta say I loved the verbal ear bashing Gerrard gave Van Persie. It was amazing to see on camera and at the time fucking hilarious. You could quite clearly make out what Gerrard was saying at the time

I think I got "ya fuckin prick"?

[didi shamone]

Very patchy game with some really bad football at times but another brilliant result. We were probably playing better football this time last year and ending up with nothing. I said to a mate at half time that with Suarez we'd have gotten a second goal and finished them off. I'm sticking to that. He's the best player in the premier league bar none for me despite his flaws. That said Sturridge has to play through the middle. It would be a crime to play him wide.
Highlights for me besides the goal were Gerrards immense tackle.[cant remember on who now] someone who was less nervous can remind me. Lucas looking like Lucas again . Henderson continuing to rub peoples face in it. Fans of other clubs still think he's shite. Also the fact that we defended set pieces better than them.
All that said we were lucky that shrek didn't play and that Kagawa was overlooked. It made them pretty devoid of creativity. Nani also had a stormer for us. He was outstanding. We'll play better teams than man u this year.
On Aspas I think he's struggling a little to cope with English football. I'd be inclined to lay off him and give him time. His workrate was excellent. Not everyone settles in quickly.  Coutinho was a little off the pace and the Moses transfer looks like imminently sensible business.

I have no expectations this year except improvement on last year. We may not be ready for top four but we won't be out of the race very quickly. The return of the mad chipmunk will make us a lot better.

[SweetSilverSevens]

For a man playing through pain, Sturridge doesn't half put in a real shift for the team. The anticipation for the goal is exceptional, the dodge back, and around and the duck to try and glance it over Cleverley... Probably a good job he had a headed chance if he's right about barely being able to kick the ball at the moment! Rodgers' faith in him is paying off and being repaid as we watch him maturing into England's best striker. Can see the appreciation building up for him amongst the support too.

Even not being able to shoot a ball properly isn't gonna hinder his goalscoring exploits! 

Not sure what to make of the Mancs under Moyes. They're a shadow form of how Ferguson had them - van Persie exploding seemed to be as much about 2 hours of football where he grafts for not a lot as it was Skrtel monstering him. You could see it in the ill-discipline with which they began to play towards the half hour mark as a team - Giggs going in two footed on Coutinho, and a few others which earned them yellow cards or should have done. Another referee may well have been looking for red as their heads seemed to have gone leading up to half time.

In that game, we saw a similar sense of ill-discipline that we see from Moyes' Everton during Mersyside derbies. It's alright being aggressive, but it should be about having controlled aggression like the way Liverpool had. Losing your heads in games like that won't do you any favours.

[Magz50]

I think a lot of us forget most of our starting 11 played 120 minutes midweek. Seeing them tire in the second half was to be expected, especially Gerrard, Agger etc. Very proud of how well we defended!

[1892tillforever]

I was without net access for 4 days but saw the game and was stressed the entire time as I was convinced that the fuckers would get at least an equaliser. But yet again, our boys stood firm, kept another clean sheet, took home the points and ended a rather pleasant weekend on a high note. The game itself was shocking for the neutral. 2 games in a row now that Moyes' United have been involved in a real stinker. That would be fine for them only for the fact they took just 1 point from those matches.

From our point of view, I was a little concerned that we couldn't hold the ball for any length of time or launch any really meaningful counter attacks. Yet United did the sum of fuck all with their possession and 'domination'. Indeed, I can't remember too many occasions when a United team had so much of a game and created hardly anything. They grafted really well and I was impressed with their workrate but is it coming at the expense of real creativity?

Anyhow, we have brought in 3 new faces, have some more squad depth and 9 points going into the break and not many of us expected that to be honest.

[Austin Powers]

I think I got "ya fuckin prick"?

I thought Van Persie made a  at him so Gerrard said "You wanking me off you fucking prick"
Looks it to me, anyway.

[Gnurglan]

I think a lot of us forget most of our starting 11 played 120 minutes midweek. Seeing them tire in the second half was to be expected, especially Gerrard, Agger etc. Very proud of how well we defended!

Good point about the fitness. That's one reason why I think it's so important that we are solid at the back. Sometimes we'll be tired, sometimes the ball won't bounce our way, we won't have the momentum etc and then we will need to be able to rely on our defence. It's not our number one option, but it's still a very important aspect if we want to be successful. If we can keep the Mancs this quiet, with so much possession for them, then we are definitely doing something right in defence.

[B0151?]

What was clear to me was that our 2nd half was similar to vs Villa. Prepared to concede possession more easily than usual if it meant keeping our shape and (deep) defensive line so we could cope with them on the counter. We've played well against Man Utd too many times recently and not ended up getting the win. It's fantastic to see how much Rodgers has learnt in one season. Thank fuck we got that early goal as you could see Sturridge wasn't quite in shape and Aspas didn't have the best of days offensively. Think if we had Suarez and Sturridge at 100% we would have done a lot better in the second half and been much more threatening when we were in possession - though Man Utd still would have had the majority of the attacks as per the game plan - and the fact they are bloody Man Utd like. There is no denying that we didn't have the best days with the ball, but the way we are set up meant it didn't matter. We had a top keeper, a defence that knew what to do (including Gerrard and Lucas in this), willing runners and a clinical striker. That's how you win games against top sides.

I queried whether we'd be able to let them attack us as I wasn't too sure whether we'd be able to keep Van Persie quiet. The fact is - we bloody did, (he had one clear chance and it wasn't even that good a chance really) and this fact alone fills me with confidence, especially given that none of our defensive recruitments of the summer even featured today.

It's amazing that two 1-0s with nerve racking second halves have actually filled me with more confidence than say the 5-0 vs Newcastle. Rodgers fucking knows what he is doing, I reckon. Spurs can have their 7 international signings, think Bren is building a bit of a machine here. I said that I was prepared to give him time because it's clear as day that he'd be learning on the job - and, you know what, he is learning, he has learnt. You can stick this in the other thread too - we have improved. We've gained 6 points that we didn't get last season already. Still 35 games to go but if we keep winning against the teams we struggled against last season...

Listen, I'm obviously very chuffed. If anyone wants to call me deluded for being positive about the fact that since we lost to Man Utd in January, we've gained 1 more point than they have, they're welcome to. I think an oft-repeated Rodgers phrase would describe that as 'progress'... Well, it is, isn't it?

[Almo]

I think I got "ya fuckin prick"?

Followed by either wanker or twat.....Great moment, Van Persie was so fuckin riled after being marked out of the game. We dealt with him perfectly and he couldn't handle it!

Weird game that, whilst i was sick with nerves for nearly all of it, it's amazing how little they managed to create and that is testament to our fantastic organisation and work rate. Best defensive display I can think of under Rogers. Great to see that this team is adaptable. Let's have a 5 - niler next against swansea!

A lot has been said about Henderson, and he was superb, I think this is going to be a big year for him. I love the balance created between him and Coutinho, such different players but compliment each other well.

Johnson also stood out for me, both going forward and defensively. Strong, robust and creative, I don't remember him putting a foot wrong, hope he can stay fit and keep up the fantastic start he's had to the season.

[NHRed]

The difference watching this versus watching other big matches over the last few seasons is the difference between nervous tension and a sense of impending doom.  A match like this, last year, I'd be waiting for when things went pear shaped -- fearing it, hating it...but expecting it.

The 2nd half was nerve-wracking, willing the lads to hold on, keep focus - but never really expecting they would fail at it.  The 3 other top 4 sides are good...we're not going to stroll it against them, even at Anfield, but it's different than last year.

[Sangria]

Gerrard and Lucas were fighting a rearguard action but both were excellent, Lucas in particular snarling into tackles.

There was a hilarious moment when a Man Utd player received the ball, realised Lucas was coming for him at some speed, panicked, and fell over before Lucas reached him.

[Evans]

I haven’t chipped in on the round table before, but here goes:

That was possibly, already now, the most painful experience I’ll have all season. But in a good way. As was said in one of the first posts, defending a one-nil lead for a whole game against Man Utd, against van Persie, isn’t gonna be enjoyable in any way.

It’s a long time ago now, but all I thought of during half time was the ’99 FA cup loss against Utd. Owen put us in the lead at the start of that game as well, and the rest of it was spent in defense. I was ten years old; I was naïve and optimistic; I thought we could do it. We kept at it for almost 90 minutes, but lost 2-1. Of course, I’ve always thought of that game later – I’ve gone cynical before my time.

Almost fifteen years later, at half time, I had very little faith that this could be done. At 90min+4 I started breathing a bit easier, thinking we’d at least get the draw. I didn’t allow myself to hope before Sterling went for goal and got us that corner. When the whistle actually went, it was the biggest relief I’ve had in ages.

There’s clearly a difference between Utd with and without old rednose. It’s not just banter against Moyes. (As I type, they’re even seemingly messing up this transfer window completely.)

But, what’s more important here, there are good (small so far, but promising) signs of a difference between us now and us during the last few years as well. We didn’t have a good second half. (I can’t believe we’ve had four games in a row with a poor second half; and I really can’t believe that we’ve still won all of them.) But we did defend well. We kept our concentration in front our own goal, on set pieces, and in our general pressure. As Rodgers put it, “a winning mentality”.

As far as our passing game is concerned, the first half had its spells, while the second half wasn’t much to look at. But as far as our fight, our spirit, is concerned, it was there all the way. Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Sturridge were all putting in such great shifts. Enrique was okay for me, as were the substitutes, while Coutinho and Aspas were less of defensive contributors. But most importantly aren’t the individual players, but the team as a whole. And what I saw on Sunday was a team.

Mignolet will get a paragraph for himself from me here, because this was the game that really made me confident that he was our man back there. Yes, he saved us in the dying minutes of the first two matches; but this, keeping steady for 90 minutes against Utd, even with less direct action than “should’ve” been considering how much pressure we were put under, keeping his concentration and keeping the clean sheet and keeping steady, is a mark of real top keeper. Promising. And I’m hoping he can keep his empty net for still a few more games now.

But back to the team. I’m not convinced about our all round quality yet, we’ve still only had a couple of good half games so far this season. But I am convinced that we have a real team and that we have a real manager (and, as an aside, judging from the Suarez saga, a strong club leadership), and that gives me great hopes for this season. Yes, we’re gonna stumble in a few games time – yes, we’re gonna have our issues here and there later on this year, it always happens – but we seem strong enough, as a group, to deal with them right now. This was a match that really cheered me up.

[gregorio]

I thought Van Persie made a  at him so Gerrard said "You wanking me off you fucking prick"
Looks it to me, anyway.

This is the in depth analysis that RAWK is famous for

[GrkStav]

I think I got "ya fuckin prick"?

Twice.

He added "Wanker!" before concluding with a perfectly delivered dismissive scouse "Fuck off!" complete with a tilt and turn of the head pointing "away".

It was a masterful performance.