Topic: Half time: Fulham 1-0 Liverpool

[mattD]

Just awful. A few signs that we were getting better with the 50/50s towards the end which I hope signifies something better but the passing was awful particularly from the midfield three who ware usually so reliable.

Fulham have been fantastic and us woeful in equal measures. Shake it up lads come on.

[Oldmanmick]

Hate playing newly promoted sides early on in the season, especially on their own patch. They're fully fired up & will run non-stop. We need to match their intensity & show our class in the 2nd half.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Reasonable enough. Without the careless offside and a bit of more luck on not hitting the woodwork and the foul on Henderson being given, we'd be OK

I think Fulham have worked really hard and took their goal really well. Think the ref has been pretty decent as well so far.

Just keep working and hopefully we'll get a bit of space.

Good opening game. Fulham giving it a good go.

[Nick110581]

They can’t keep that pace up surely.

But we can’t play much slower.

[kingmonkey007]

No decent midfield options on the bench. But of course we don't need a midfielder.

zzzzZZZZZ

[StevoHimself]

Apparently we've played the newly promoted champions for 4 seasons running. I'd like to see the odds on that.

Yeah, saw a lot of people on Twitter implying this was some sort of conspiracy, as if you wouldn't usually prefer to avoid promoted sides (particularly if you're away from home).

[Shepnois]

Love Bobby but just he's just floating around adding nothing to our attacking play, get Nunez on and go more direct we need a goal threat on. You'd be looking at brining in Harvey/Carvalho soon too. Shocking half from us.

[Zimagic]

A bit slow to get going.

That was a foul on Hendo though.

And on TAA by Mitrovic but the first wasn't so clearcut to stop play & the second is practically never given (climbing).

I'd be more annoyed if Fulham weren't obviously the better team here. We've not had a shot on target.

[vicar]

Fulham very up for it and very aggressive, a lot of poor challenges that Madley needs to keep on top of despite shite from the crowd and the diving from the fulham players. But Fulham have worked hard.

First 10 we were very poor, which encouraged them. We have recovered a bit and have shown how we can score against them. Diaz should keep running at that right back, he can't deal with him, just not enough 1 on 1s. Our passing has been really off it, need to be much quicker and move the ball around their press and put them under more pressure.

Better second half please.

[Adeemo]

This game’s crying out for Elliott and Nunez on for Hendo and Bobby.

[ac]

Started the game like we were waiting for Fulham to blow themselves out which never happened. Trent attempt to defend on the goal sums the teams lethargy - only Diaz has looked up for it.  We will do well to draw this game let alone win. The stage is set for Nunez to be a hero

[tubby]

Trent was far too weak for their goal. He basically didn’t challenge.

It's the one thing he really does struggle with defensively, awareness of someone coming in behind and then aggressiveness to deal with it.  Robertson doesn't ever really get caught out like that.

But really the whole team has been garbage.

[Syntexity]

Well that was a let down. Second best today, not at it or up for it it looks like. Fought off and runned down, we didnt look ready. Well, we are not ready, but we have looked clueless in parts. Ref fucked up as Hendo should have had a clear freekick, was not even hard to see. Our midfield looks a bit old and slow.

We just need to be better, it is as it always is, you cant afford to lose points in such games. If we cant better Fulham, then its going to be a long season.

Hopefully we can be more ourselves next half and score a few to start the season well. YNWA!!!

[BarryCrocker]

No mane worries me a lot after watching that first half

Mane couldn't have done anymore with that contribution from midfield. Diaz has been excellent.

Felt like we were playing a dead rubber. No mongrel. So far.

[dirkster]

Looked laboured there in the first half. Salah and Firmino have been quiet so far, but expect they will come into it more second half.

[jillcwhomever]

A bit slow to get going.

That was a foul on Hendo though.

The game should have been stopped, you can't say they don't deserve to be leading though.

[Suareznumber7]

Not good at all that. 

[HeartAndSoul]

Just can't see the thinking behind Firmino and Henderson as our furthest forward two central players most of time - neither are sharp enough to get us cutting through sides anymore.

Would sub them both for Nunez and Elliott.

It’s crazy that Henderson is still starting week in week out in this team. He’s been awful playing this furthest forward midfielder for a while but is picked week in week out. The fact we’ve not signed a midfielder either is criminal. We’ve been bulled like this plenty of times last season

[kasperoff]

Jump, Trent.

[UntouchableLuis]

Hate playing newly promoted sides early on in the season, especially on their own patch. They're fully fired up & will run non-stop. We need to match their intensity & show our class in the 2nd half.

True but this is the easier opening day fixture between us and City - we need to be rising to these challenges.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Couldn’t string half a dozen passes together but can’t see Fulham being able to keep that pressure up.

Font three looks a little toothless though.

[rushyman]

And on TAA by Mitrovic but the first wasn't so clearcut to stop play & the second is practically never given (climbing).

I'd be more annoyed if Fulham weren't obviously the better team here. We've not had a shot on target.

No chance a fk on Trent

He’s got the run on him, Trent needs to stop that run in stead of trying to win it which he’s never going to. Robbo needs to do more to stop the cross aswell

[Andy @ Allerton!]

What is it with ex-Manc players. Is it mandatory that they are diving, whining, crying, unsportsmanlike c*nts?

[RyanBabel19]

Well done Diaz, everyone else pretty laughable. Kicking the ball straight off, losing the ball by tripping over their own feet and passing to no one.

Trents so good but his awareness sometimes is so poor, you cant be ballwatching at the back post like that.

[Chakan]

No mane worries me a lot after watching that first half

Oh come on, Diaz has been the only forward worth his salt that half. Mane' wouldn't have done anything different, the problems were in midfield and defense.

[Red46]

McManaman: Its only a coming together fletch

As jacky Kennedy has JFK's brain in her lap. The fucking shaggy looking rat.

Once a blue always a blue.
Our players seem to be running in treacle, we are second to everything, get Nunez on as Bobby is a passenger these days.

[sminp]

Abysmal so far, still feel like we will win this though. Just need that half time kick up the arse and maybe Nunez too. Fulham have played very well so far in fairness to them.

[Nick110581]

It’s crazy that Henderson is still starting week in week out in this team. He’s been awful playing this furthest forward midfielder for a while but is picked week in week out. The fact we’ve not signed a midfielder either is criminal. We’ve been bulled like this plenty of times last season

Assume this isn’t a serious post?

We haven’t lost in 2022 in the PL.

[glewis93]

Disjointed is probably the word to describe that.

Need to really up the tempo early in the second half and get a bit of sustained pressure on them.

[Chris~]

It's the one thing he really does struggle with defensively, awareness of someone coming in behind and then aggressiveness to deal with it.  Robertson doesn't ever really get caught out like that.

But really the whole team has been garbage.

He's puts Mitrovic off enough and it's a pretty weak header straight at Alisson. Not like he's getting beaten too easily by a tiny winger

[StL-Dono]

Ouch...

We haven't been great obviously, but I have a hard time believing Fulham will be this good... ever again.  That might turn out to be their best half of the remaining 75 this season.  It's helped them that every bounce of the ball has found their feet in stride. 

TAA especially poor.  Hendo right behind him.  Maybe Salah too, though it's hard to say since he hasn't touched the ball yet. 

Still expect 1-1 or 1-2 before it's over.  JK will wake them up I think.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Stinking half, both application and attitude.  Nunez on at half time.

[J-Mc-]

Tell you one thing, if Palinha keeps putting in performances like today, he won’t be at Fulham long.

[redmark]

Lacking sharpness, clearly.

Interesting (though not particularly pleasant) in how it manifests in different players. Firmino dropping into a congested midfield against aggressive pressing, when his touch and lay offs are off the pace, is dangerous. Trent off the pace always looks off the pace; on the other flank, Robertson gets a bit headless and tries to run through people. Touch and controlled passing is missing throughout the midfield; not just Henderson, who gets the abuse on twitter for his lower completion rate, but he's playing further forward and playing the riskier passes (and he's played the best single pass of the game, for us at least).

An obvious call, but Darwin for Firmino might keep Fulham more honest and give us a bit more space in central areas. Diaz looks the most dangerous Long way to go.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

I've missed all the abject baby crying from our fans though

Whaaa Whaaaa whaaaa! Luckily our team are made of sterner stuff.

[S]

The Mane shouts are weird considering Diaz has been the only one who looks awake out there.

[AndyMuller]

Big Dog might have to put the call in to the Reeds to get us to sign him this window.

[Clint Eastwood]

It was a foul, but only after he'd treated the ball like a hot potato for the umpteenth time. He's just not technically proficient enough to play that advanced role.

Yep. Terrible on the ball.

[tubby]

Tell you one thing, if Palinha keeps putting in performances like today, he won’t be at Fulham long.

He's been putting it about, but that's it.  Not seen any real quality from him, just non-stop hounding of our midfielders.

[Mister Flip Flop]

I see the standard of refereeing is as bad as ever in this league. Okay to kick and stand on our players but as much as fart near the opposition and free kick.