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My posts may have come across as a bit negative, but I like to say what I see.

I certainly have patience with the manager. I have been very impressed with Rodgers tactical acumen since he joined us and have been heartened by his bravery and flexibility in altering the teams shape to try and achieve positive results. His proactive use of subs is also a refreshing change to Kenny, Hodge Podge and rafa. This gives me confidence that he will get the balance right, certainly in terms of attacking fluidity.

He does however, have to demonstrate that he can get the defensive side of the game sorted out.

I appreciate it still very early to form concrete opinions, but I'm also concerned that the options of Balotelli, Borini and Lambert aren't up to the job in terms of partnering, but more specifically, covering for Sturridge.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 56 minutes ago
It's clear that BR is inexperienced with all this squad rotation and playing 2 games a week.

.................

Who on earth could have thought this could happen?
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We are still in the cup ahead of you in the league and 1 from 1 in Europe.

That true greatteams and what's frustrating is these mistakes have been going on for over a year meaning it's not simply a matter of personnel as many of our defenders who've played this year were not here a year ago so that suggests it's a system issue.

I do think studge and Allen coming back I. Will make a big difference studge for his movement and goals and Allen helps us keep the ball better

All we as fans can do is be patient, not be bíthcing and moaning about every litle error and allow th emanager and players time to develop
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I’d agree with all of that.
I’d say there’s some positives to be had from our start, even if we’re playing badly.

If you compare last night’s tie to the LC tie against Notts County last season (and Boro are a better side than they were), we needed more first-team players to get through that one than we needed this year....so that’s the value of strengthening the squad. (We relied heavily on Studge, Hendo and Gerrard to get through that one last year).

We’ve had new players to settle in, so our start is flaky, but the squad rotation is working ok, at the moment....we’re scraping by, but we’ve negotiated the first games of the 2 cup competitions, and in the league we’re only 1 point worse off than we got from the corresponding fixtures last year.

Lallana is looking good, Enrique showed he still has a lot to offer, and I’ve no doubt that Balo will add value, as he gets used to playing for us. My only reservation about all this is the defence....we seem to be sheite no matter who plays in it, and BR said he intended to fix that, this year.
Such cheap goals conceded.

“Our passing disappointed me," the Liverpool manager said. “We played more long passes than West Ham and that is something you have not seen from us in over the two years. We need to get back to doing what we do best. I look at the movement patterns in our team, our pressing in those patterns of pressure and, given the injuries, I need to retain a system for a longer period.

“The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well but it worked well with certain players and not at the weekend. Until I get all the players back that I know are multifunctional players, I’ll look at the strength of the players we do have fit. Hopefully that gives them confidence. Confidence has not been affected so far but if you don’t win games for too long it can be."


So there we have it from BR himself and to me it makes sense. Personally I think a fit Lallana and an in form Coutinho would make the world of difference - as will Allen in many ways. If people want to put a man on Gerrard then so be it cos Lallana, Sterling and an inform Coutinho will cause all kinds of problems with that extra space.

With regards to last night we clearly lack goals from midfield - this has to change especially if Sturridge is out. That's a worry as I can only see goals from Sterling and Lallana tbh buthaving Henderson and Allen will add a lot fo control and ergo confidence and a different range of passing. What I did think effected us last night was Boro's pace. They were quick all over the park and that effected players like Markovic (who should not be playing wide as that meant a lot of pressure on Manquillo who made 8 tackles - yes 8).

Balo and Studge will cause all kinds of problems together and it was telling against Spurs how close BR had them playing together. They both have a good touch and can recieve in tight areas and that bodes well.

The defence is mince, no two ways about it, and I do not believe it is the players and I tire of people scape goating. There is something fundamentally wrong when your CB's are continually getting isolated and crosses are continually getting to the oppo's man. The fact we either concede from a flank or two straight passes from central means it's an issue with player positions and that's the coaching set-up.

Conceding cheap goals especially from a set piece or an individual error is nothing new to us. It happened last season as well but simply due to our attacking qualities would often get overlooked which was fine when we were scoring at will. With Suarez gone and Sturridge injured we can't seem to find the net quickly enough in the first half which allows teams to sit back and soak up the pressure whereas with a quick goal they would be forced to come out a little more. Combined with having a lot of new players especially in the attacking third means it will take time but you have to have faith in Rodgers to get it right.

As an outsider it is easier for me to be objective. First of all, last season Liverpool were excellent but let's be totally frank - they overachieved - and this has just meant that expectations at Anfield and outside are far too high.

This is especially so as a major part of your success last season came from the mobility and threat of Suarez. Yes people will point to the Sterling - Suarez - Sturridge trident but as with all of these, there is always a senior player (at Barça it's Messi, Madrid Ronaldo) - there is always one player who when removed from the trident, is greatly missed.

The other problem you have is that you have bought a lot of numbers but apart from left-back you have not improved any area. Depth is OK but you need more substance. Looking at your defence last night, with your full backs playing as wingers, Kolo Toure and Sakho are not good enough - Toure was especially poor in all areas last night. Rodgers should have signed a top centre back.

You also needed a top quality box to box midfielder as you are light in the centre. Gerrard - great servant that he has been - is in decline but still your best midfielder by far.

I also think that BR will find a system to suit your best player - Sterling but I do think you will struggle to make the top 4 and I don't believe you with progress after the first knock out round of the Champions League (although that is just the luck of the draw really).

You had an opportunity spending so much money this summer to buy three or four top players but IMO you overpaid for a lot of players. Balotelli was a steal at 16m but not the type of striker to fill the system you play at present. It'll be interesting to see hopw things develop at Anfield.

Who are these top players?

xiuxiuejar, I agree with many of the criticisms you post.
However, like a lot of people citing our upcoming struggle to retain top four you completely overlook the fact that, even with losing Suarez, we are still better than our competitors for a CL place.

Whose gonna displace us - Everton, Spurs, Utd? Utd, maybe, the others = no chance. Liverpool are not struggling for early season form in isolation, it may have escaped your attention, but everyone bar Chelsea have so far struggled for consistency and performance level.