Topic: Liverpool - 2 Arsenal - 2 - Full TIme

[The G in Gerrard]

he threw the ball away.
I've never not seen a ref give a booking for that, it's a nailed on yellow card every time.

He was correct though. It was our throwing.

[Art Vandelay]

Getting the point in the end is great, but it's liable to paper over the fact that we couldn't beat an Arsenal side that was utterly inept, in fact I think the Arsenal side at our place last season actually played better than that.  They were woeful and we still nearly gift wrapped them 3 points.

And I think there are huge question marks over the managers substitutions.  Markovic was close to being our best player yet he gets hauled off and we end up with our brightest attacking talent having to play the last 30 minutes as a fucking left back?!  We picked Sterling up front because he's our best chance of scoring goals, yet when we chase the game we stick him there?  Genius.

[Chakan]

That the keeper saved

Oh right! Yeah sorry read that wrong...

[Kingstopic]

Will people stop assuming that top four is no longer possible? It's not gone until it's mathematically impossible.

I think we're improving with every game, and if we do well in the transfer window, and the second half of the season is a good one, we'll not be finishing tenth. Maybe we'll get into the top four, maybe we'll miss out and end up fifth, sixth or even seventh, but this team with a few additions and Sturridge back are capable of better than finishing tenth.

Stop dreaming.

[Kopenhagen]

we drew, the gap is the same between us and Arsenal.
unless you think west ham are finishing 4th?

OptaJoe ‏@OptaJoe  34s34 seconds ago
22 - Liverpool have 22 points from 17 games this season. No PL team has ever finished higher than 6th with that record at this stage. Europa

[Red-Soldier]

We do need another GK and CB. Jones is not a premier league goalie. 

As bad as Mig can be he's light years ahead of Jones.

[fefs]

There isn't a grave big enough for that.

Thats our manager you are slagging off btw

[rushyman]

Brad Jones is not a Liverpool player.

Why?

[Bincey]

Debuchy's header actually looks like it comes off the back of Skrtel's head slightly.

[Butter Keks]

No, what's boring is dominating a football match and making the same mistakes over and over again.

Simple solution to it all mate. Fuck off and go and support somebody else then because the only thing you do on here is moan like some miserable old bastard who throws his toys out of his pram if we don't smash teams 10-0.

Do us all a favour and get yourself to fucking bed.

[rawKBottom]

We are starting to see glimpses of last season's style of play. Rodgers needs about 2/3 players to get us playing that free-flowing football. We need a DM, mobile striker and we should be back to something approaching last season's game. I've been encouraged since Raheem has played upfront, it has changed our game. He is not the answer, in that he is not a finisher, but Timbo was not far off, just a bit of pace, some darting runs, stretch play, and all of a sudden the rest of the side starts functioning. Contrast that to Lambert/Balotelli playing upfront and what that did to our free-flowing fluid attack? Encouraged.

Can't agree more.

[The G in Gerrard]

The gap is getting larger not smaller.

West Ham will finish above us?

[kennedy81]

He was correct though. It was our throwing.

he was, but it doesn't matter.
throwing the ball away isn't going to change the lino's mind.

[tea_tree]

Take off your red glasses. Flamini red would have been soft whereas Borini was lucky it was not straight red. Borini acted like a mad dog for his 5 minutes on the pitch.

What a load of nonsense. Flamini was wild and reckless in the 2nd half and committed 2 bookable offences. Same as Borini and frankly anyone who cannot see that Flamini should have also been sent off is clueless about football and basic consistency and fairness

[Blarf]

He slipped, Sanchez that is. Watch a replay. Gerrard doesn't even fucking touch him, the thigh exposing London loving little diving diva c*nt.

Yes he does.

[peachybum]

Well don't watch the league games then. 9 pts behind 4th isn't Everest.

Yeah but how likely is it that we find such better form than the several teams above us? It doesn't happen. In Brendans first season after we got knocked out of Europe and brought Sturridge and Coutinho we went on a brilliant run of form and it was still only good enough for reach 7th.

[SwordInYourGut]

Can't believe the reaction in here. We outpassed, outclassed and dominated one of the best technical teams in the country. Jones played because he was fantastic with the ball at his feet. Well in, Brendan. Fuck off moaners. Especially the ones that were happy after the qpr win

[LondonRapLondon]

Brad Jones is not a Liverpool player.

Well he is ahead of Mig so are you saying we need to new keepers s both aren't Liverpool standard?

[LFC_2005]

what a performance...........incredible.....and wid 10 men to get back the one point....superb effort.....much more confident about the next fixtures...

[Kopenhagen]

Take off your red glasses. Flamini red would have been soft whereas Borini was lucky it was not straight red. Borini acted like a mad dog for his 5 minutes on the pitch.

Nah, French Lee Cattermole should have been off in the first.

[supaerheraw]

No 4th is out of sight, had to win today imo. I would be happy with a good charge in the europa league and hopefully a cup win.

Not so sure, I believe favourites for 4th is between Arsenal and United currently. The thing is, they are as kack as us and are dropping points almost at the same rate. A good run and we're in it I think.

[Kenny's Jacket]

yes other posters are going to think I,m off my rocker but blow the budget on  quality centre back, as the very first January signing,

We've already spent  about 48 million on the defence under Brendan.  If he spent more we'd still be shit. 

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Skrtel scoring, making everybody forget about his terrible mistakes

Why on earth do we assign blame for goals to one person here ---- especially after years of people posting the complexity of how mistakes occur...  At halftime, we have people calling Skrtel the worst CB to start so many games at Liverpool.... 

As if

1.  Gerrard's foul was smart
2.  Or that touch-tight lunge by Sakho was under control
3.  Or that the second header could not have been won/contended better
4.  Or that Jones' starting position could have covered more of the near post

Yeahh..... lets motherfuck Skrtel, who has given his blood, sweat and resiliency for to this club...

I get tired of the reactionaries here....  Now, I know why PoP left....

[Adeemo]

I'm neutral and watched the game and even I have to say you are bang out of order with that absolutely pathetic comment.

Really? Arsenal were better in both boxes, we dominated so much, yet created only 2 or 3 clear cut chances and gifted them both goals. Apart from Skrtel's equaliser, which was a bit of a free run at the ball and a great header, I just don't see any of our players actually fighting for the ball in either box.

[DonkeyWan]

I don't get some people. A good performance and a late goal to draw when you are down to ten men. How can you not see the positives in that? Great fight, great spirit. Think about all those sides that just go through the motions when they are 2-1 down in the final minute.

[Melbred]

Brad Jones is not a Liverpool player.

Why's that then? What makes him less of a Liverpool player, then say, the likes of Skrtel, Lovren.. Borini?

You watch the first goal we concede, and can see it comes off Skrtel's head catching Jones off guard, the second one was smashed at him and went through his legs.

[QC]

we drew, the gap is the same between us and Arsenal.
unless you think west ham are finishing 4th?

They have the points, and we don't. Pretty simple really.

[farawayred]

2 should be enough to win games. It has to be enough against top sides like Arsenal.

We do need to put more chances away, no doubt, but that wasn't the problem today IMO. It was the softness of the defence.

I'd say it's both; they go hand in hand. You can build a team around a very solid defense like Mourinho during his first stint winning 1-0 all the time, or scoring freely like us last season, winning 4-3. The only reason why we didn't talk about the defense last season was because Suarez was here. We knew it was bad, but we weren't too arsed about it.

[Kingstopic]

OptaJoe ‏@OptaJoe  34s34 seconds ago
22 - Liverpool have 22 points from 17 games this season. No PL team has ever finished higher than 6th with that record at this stage. Europa

Makes sense, would need title winning form for top 4, its not happening.

[Keita Success]

Said pre-game that it's a must not lose, so not too fussed that it's a draw. However, conceding so soon after scoring is pathetic. We need to sort out our defence, and fast. Why is employing a decent defensive coach so much work, when we effectively throw money on other unnecessary shit.

[Red-Soldier]

OptaJoe ‏@OptaJoe  34s34 seconds ago
22 - Liverpool have 22 points from 17 games this season. No PL team has ever finished higher than 6th with that record at this stage. Europa

Records are there to be broken. We nearly won the league conceeding over 50 goals last year.

We do need to be more clinical if we are to do it but we still can.

[Michel]

West Ham will finish above us?

You never know.

[LFCsupporter]

Will people stop assuming that top four is no longer possible? It's not gone until it's mathematically impossible.

I think we're improving with every game, and if we do well in the transfer window, and the second half of the season is a good one, we'll not be finishing tenth. Maybe we'll get into the top four, maybe we'll miss out and end up fifth, sixth or even seventh, but this team with a few additions and Sturridge back are capable of better than finishing tenth.

Unfortunately I think Arsenal will start to improve in the new year and will keep the gap between us. I hope I'm wrong but it looks like we'll finish 'bout 6th in the league. 5th at a push.

[B0151?]

Toothless is the right word, we bite bite bite but no real damage. I know we're missing Sturridge and Suarez and it's killing us right now.

I guess I just tend to think of 'toothless' as the same as not creating enough clearcut chances, not being penetrative enough. If your definition is we had enough chances to score but finishing let us down, fully agreed. Still don't think it's why we never won the game though.

[goalrushatgoodison]

Take off your red glasses. Flamini red would have been soft whereas Borini was lucky it was not straight red. Borini acted like a mad dog for his 5 minutes on the pitch.

How would it have been soft?

[Chakan]

Brad Jones is not a Liverpool player.

Curious as to why you think he's any less of a player than anyone else on the pitch.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

So many things to talk about in this game.

Coutinho could have won it by himself for us, scuffed 2 chances that he should have at least got on target, still not ready enough to shoulder the ultimate responsibility, think the pressure got to him a bit as he was majestic before that, but you can understand that a bit, still young.

Borini....we've all been there. Doesn't excuse it, but know that feeling. Don't know how that works now between him and Rodgers.

Our defensive work...yeah, near every post is going to talk about that.

Sterling...just one thing. Don't run him into injury. Enough. If he goes the way of Michael Owen, that's on the club and Rodgers.

Lucas was quality. Tired for the last 15 - 20, think that will get better if he becomes a regular, but well played, hits some superb vertical. low passes too, takes out 3 / 4 of their players through the centre - 20 - 30 yards, wonderful purchase on the passes.

With this way of playing, we'll get a few more wins compared to our previous setup, but overall, I simply don't see a team that is showing the necessary growth in other areas, and that is worrying. Ok we will get back to last season's football, and a quality striker who fits the game will help a lot, but is that going to be our ceiling? Play fantastic possession football, win, but always have a soft underbelly? I want a bit more balance in the team.

Sakho - boss.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

West Ham will finish above us?

They can defend and have an identity in attack with Carroll, Downing and Sakho. We cannot defend, we don't know what our best XI is and even when playing well struggle to convert chances. I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

[Solomon Grundy]

Top 4 trophy is gone.

Has it? Really? You honestly don't think we can match and catch THAT Arsenal side. Honestly I am absolutely baffled that people think our chance of catching and over taking them is 0%

[The G in Gerrard]

Oh right! Yeah sorry read that wrong...

Got good eyesight mate