John Smiths post match verdict

Painful viewing today indeed. I have had time to think over what has happened today and will give my views on key moments in the game and who can actually come out of today's game with a little bit of self respect intact.

All in all I have to congratulate Liverpool, I don't think I have quite seen a 20 minute spell like that. The key at Anfield is simple: Stay tight and compact and see out a quick start and quieten the fans. Gerrards delivery all game was on point and technically the first goal killed us.

I think the weakest member of our team is Mikel Arteta, and once the score was 2-0 our midfielders had an obvious urge to be more expressive which left many holes between midfield and defence. Mikel arteta has not got the positional ability and this left us exposed as Coutinho had a free role in that area.

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it but Mertesacker, our most reliable man all season had a shocker today. I rewatched a few clips and I do not understand why we played such a high line against 3 fast forwards. Whenever the ball went in behind Mert showed no courage to run back, the obvious example being Sterlings second goal.


I think we have looked way too arrogant recently, expecting to turn up and win is not how it works quite frankly and I would rather us get this out of our system and put in a performance against United. I think Shez couldn't have done anything today, the back 4 were poor, Wilshere actually showed fight along with AOC, Arteta had a shocker (mentioned already, but just incase you forgot), Ozil was in awe during his 'first game at anfield road', passing to Giroud was like passing to a brick wall, and Santi could not hack the defensive side of the game and was made to look poor by flanagan,

Lastly, Wenger has to take a lot of criticism today as his tactics are easy to mitigate against good teams. It is no coincidence we have a bad record against City, United and Chelsea, as Wenger only has one way of playing football. I really want to see Gibbs reinstated at left back.

Let's all hope the boys get it out of their system ASAP as our season could end in travesty within 10 days.