Topic: Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Sheffield United

[Father Ted]

Like attack v defence training after that initial two minute burst from Sheff United at the start. Nice finish with the gonads from Darwin.

Apart from that it’s been a bit laboured. Need the second goal otherwise it could get a bit nervy.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Inept in the final third

8 back passes … sorry I mean shots from outside the box …. 8

Does that include the goal? 

[The Test]

Bit nervy for our fans at 1-0. But that goal will be Infuriating for our rivals. Makes it twice as enjoyable. I keep getting images of that woman in the matrix saying "not like this". Thats the arsenal / city fans right now.

[Anthony]

I don't know if it's my imagination or if Sheffield United are doubling up on him but Mo doesn't seem in it much this half.

You just know when Gomez does score, though, it's going to be a worldie...

[smicer07]

These are awful but one goal never enough for us. Like playing a League One team in the cup, they're well up for it and throwing themselves at everything, of course we don't get the team who let Arsenal walk all over them.

Poor half creatively. Reduced to potshots. Too much going through Gomez all the time.

Arsenal played quickly around them.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Not even getting out of first gear, let alone second. Need a couple of goals early second half and then save some legs.

[thaddeus]

Steady enough from us.

Where are the Sheff Utd that tried to attack and shipped about 30 goals in a month?   

[Cafe De Paris]

Amazing how these teams who are appalling all season come to Anfield and play like it’s their World Cup final.

[killer-heels]

Need to stop trying to score the perfect goal…


SHOOT ON SITE

Elliott and Jones would make a difference…

Diaz need to run their right back right to the goal line.

Too much shooting on sight. Gravenberch should have passed the ball.

[Draex]

Get some studs in Gravenberch ffs.

[Gnurglan]

We are ahead. After their chances right at the beginning we have been in control. That said I think we have been too slow and we were lucky to get that mistake from their goalie. Expect us to play faster in the second half.

[JackWard33]

I’m not against players taking long shots, but taking long shots when other players are better placed is infuriating.

That Gravenberch one was the worst, could have easily slid Nunez in.

I am against it .. and yeah a big part of the reason is there are so many situations where they can slide in an attacker
Nunez is wasted at the moment.. we could have prime original Ronaldo up there the way they’re playing 
Create overloads, use runners, hit the byline and cut it back - too easy?

[lindylou100]

Need to watch the Nunez goal again, looked like the ball struck his nads before going in the net.

[OkieRedman]

Not good enough. Should be 1-1 with our goal being very fortune.

I have no clue what people see in Gomez. He is very versatile and plays a loads of positions and that is great, but he does my head in more than any other player. What should have been a goal for them was because he decided to come forward leaving the man behind him completely unmarked. Those in the match thread said he was doing great because he was on the ball loads. They are letting him get on the ball for a reason. Put him at CDM and push Macca forward. He is the only one who can pass between the lines. 

[jepovic]

These are awful but one goal never enough for us. Like playing a League One team in the cup, they're well up for it and throwing themselves at everything, of course we don't get the team who let Arsenal walk all over them.

Poor half creatively. Reduced to potshots. Too much going through Gomez all the time.

lol, they gifted us a goal and missed an open goal - what more do you expect?
Game looks like a freeze frame, so easy to defend

[chromed]

Not hard to see why these lot are bottom of the league is it?

Utterly dominant first half with the scoreline non reflective of the performance.

Not worried as I'm certain we'll score again, just can't allow a mistake to let these back in.

[danm77]

Frustrating that we aren’t creating many clear cut chances. Want an early second goal which I think will kill the game. Don’t want a nervy last 10mins with it at 1-0.

Oh and I wish we could all comment on the match thread mid game!

[TheShanklyGates]

Amazing how these teams who are appalling all season come to Anfield and play like it’s their World Cup final.

They literally gave us a free goal. We haven't been good enough, it's got nothing to do with how Sheff Utd are playing.

[Nick110581]

Amazing how these teams who are appalling all season come to Anfield and play like it’s their World Cup final.

Are people watching different matches to me ?

[jillcwhomever]

Frustrating, was hoping wed close the gap on goal difference. We need Jota back badly.

We're not being ruthless enough at the moment to get a big score.

[KevLFC]

xG for that half was 0.6 to 0.53. We have to take it up a gear or two.

Am I the only one that gets fed up with XG stats?

[smicer07]

Amazing how these teams who are appalling all season come to Anfield and play like it’s their World Cup final.

It's because we're not playing well enough. Nothing to do with the opposition.

[SMASHerano]

Good chance to close the goal difference gap.

Can't see us scoring loads of goals today though especially with our very laboured performance.

[stockdam]

Cracking half from Gomez.

Nunez did well to close down but the goal was quite lucky as it could have gone anywhere.

We need to do more in their penalty area and at just one nil then we need to score. I don’t think Gravenberch is having his best game and I’d change him for Elliott who is much livelier around the box.

Should be further ahead but then again we didn’t create many chances. Comfortable but not effective. Up the tempo in the 2nd half and score several quick goals.

[kingmonkey007]

Frustrating that we aren’t creating many clear cut chances. Want an early second goal which I think will kill the game. Don’t want a nervy last 10mins with it at 1-0.

Oh and I wish we could all comment on the match thread mid game!

Reading some of the comments in this HT thread i'm glad we can't!.

[smicer07]

Frustrating that we aren’t creating many clear cut chances. Want an early second goal which I think will kill the game. Don’t want a nervy last 10mins with it at 1-0.

Oh and I wish we could all comment on the match thread mid game!

Used to be able to but there was too many fannies in there.

[jillcwhomever]

Amazing how these teams who are appalling all season come to Anfield and play like it’s their World Cup final.

It's not as if they are playing brilliantly. We just have to control the ball better in the final third.

[CS111]

These are the teams i wish we had the tactics/players to create more than we normally do.
Def need another, 1-0's are always v risky as they throw more forward looking for a 'smash and grab'

[DangerScouse]

Fucking hell. Miserable batards most of you.

[Robinred]

Joe G has seen more of the ball than most, but his final 3rd passing is like his shooting - erratic. We’ve got 3 right footers constantly on the ball on our left flank, and it’s cramping our style.

They’re desperate to keep the game alive with a low block back 5, so as ever, we’re struggling to break it down. Unfortunately we’ve become very predictable and ponderous. They have created 2 decent chances on the break - the second one because Mo - as has happened too often recently - has given up possession.

[Cruiser]

Need to stop pissing around and kill them off or they'll bite us in the arse. Lacking that killer instinct right now.

[RedBlakey]

We really do struggle to break down these flat back 7's don't we.

[Funky_Gibbons]

I am against it .. and yeah a big part of the reason is there are so many situations where they can slide in an attacker
Nunez is wasted at the moment.. we could have prime original Ronaldo up there the way they’re playing 
Create overloads, use runners, hit the byline and cut it back - too easy?

I swear Salah is the only player who tries to play Nunez in when he makes a run. Everyone else shirks the responsibility.

[JackWard33]

Am I the only one that gets fed up with XG stats?

Yes.. you’re literally the only one .., everyone loves them and most of us prefer them to watching the game .. update your life boomer

[Fitzy.]

Steady while United are being dragged around Stamford Bridge.

Season management means we’re not going to go at it like lunatics.

Expect a second half of control and a goal or two.

[crewlove]

These are awful but one goal never enough for us. Like playing a League One team in the cup, they're well up for it and throwing themselves at everything, of course we don't get the team who let Arsenal walk all over them.

Poor half creatively. Reduced to potshots. Too much going through Gomez all the time.

It is nothing new for us though. Arsenal are way more faster and fluid with passing around than us. The whole set-up today is a little bit weird, only a few bodies in their box during attack. Weirdly narrow as well what makes it even easier for Sheffield.

[Tonyh8su]

I get it, we’ve a packed fixture list and have been bitten by injuries and squeezed through but, 1-0 not enough. We’ve seen this game before they smash and grab and we’re all panicking looking for a 90 odd minute winner. The north london divers put 6 past these in their home ground.

We’re too ponderous and it’s all too samey. Grav is well off it and Gomez passing is mad. I’m sitting right above pretty much every minute of that half in my seat in U2, Harv 2nd half for a 21st birthday goal for him please. But also please just score another Reds then you can play like that

[Fromola]

xG for that half was 0.6 to 0.53. We have to take it up a gear or two.

They've matched Brighton's XG from Sunday in one half and they've barely had a kick. That bit easier to play through without Endo but you also lose what Mac offers when freed up.

We need more goals.

[gemofabird]

Gravenberch and Szobo need to be offering more.

[Felch Aid]

Frustrating first half but story of the season.

More movement up front and a lot quicker passing please.