Liverpool v Everton. 28th Jan at 20.00.

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

When faced one on one Stones was never beat, always found himself in space on the wing too. However, he was caught out for both of Sturridges goals unfortunately. But, im putting more blame on Howard for their third. He's basically told Sturridge to lob him by coming off his line, so he did.

For such a young player, I thought he did well in a tough environment

He's a CB normally as well

 

[technojoe]

Clearly wasnt the point i made was it? Who i responded too is moaning about the likes of Jagielka, Barkley and Pienaar starting, when he would of quite clearly moaned had Hibbert and Osman started when the chances are, if they did the three mentioned would of been on the bench.

He played unfit players over more derby experienced fit players. That's why osman came on at half time. Bobby cocked up.

 

[markmarkmark]

Well i'm over it. I jsut see it as another defeat, one of THREE ffs so we can all stop thinking that this is the end of the world. It just so happened to be against our rivals and a 4-0 twotting...

Onwards and upwards.

 

[EFC78]

My ratings of the players:

Howard - Has been great this season, but was poor for at least two of the goals last night, especially that ridiculous charge out for Sturridge to casually lob it over him. Seeningly no communication in the entire defence, which is unforgivable!
-
Stones - A terrible performance, constantly caught out of position and targetted by the Liverpool strikers and couldn't handle it. Hopefully he'll learn from it and end up a better player for it. A huge learning curve.
Jagielka - Painful performance from somebody who looked less than half fit. Looked like Gazza tracking back when Suarez was cantering away for their fourth.
Alcaraz - Same as Jagielka. Awful.
Baines - Anonymous performance. Has been bog standard all season long.
-
Mirallas - Top performance, great effort and never stopped even after we went four down. Real good character from him.
Barkley - Not fit. No influence on game apart from one good effort on goal.
Barry - Game completely passed him by and another couple of soft fouls leading to a predictable yellow card.
McCarthy - Didn't notice him the whole game.
Pienaar - Painful to watch. Slow, cumbersome, looked like he couldn't be arsed which in reality was probably because he was nowhere near full fitness.
-
Lukaku - Can't really comment but so unlucky to be taken out by the useless Barry. Thanks for the memories son.

Subs:
Naismith - lol
Osman - No worse than any other of the central midfielders
McGeady - Had no chance to affect the game.

Manager:
Martinez - Looks to me like he picked far too many players who were nowhere near being fit. Jagielka, Alcaraz, Pienaar, Barkley. We were all made up with them playing, but had we known they were going to be so sluggish we'd have wanted them left out. You can't play half a team who can barely run as they're knackered and need to recover from injuries. Needs to decide whether to keep up the pretence that we have money to spend or come out and tell the fans what they already know which is we're broke and nobody is coming in.

A terrible night.

Agree with almost all of that but I thought after Mirallas, Osman was our best player. He came on and tried to make things happen. He was getting constantly fouled as well and even with that, he managed to keep the ball alot of the time. Everyone else is summed up well in your post.

 

[Partadam]

That hurt. I awoke this morning and for a split second I'd forgotten the score. What a horrible feeling.

If I'm honest, that wasn't the worst we've played across the park in the last ten years, I thought at times we looked decent, made them think and caused problems. However they were ace on the break, and caught us out when we were sloppy. They have the best forward in the league (who we actually contained for the most part) and another top striker. Although I thought, and forgive me for sounding a little crazy, that at times Kev was the best player on the pitch. As others have stated, match fitness was a problem and clearly some of the lads weren't 100%.

I did feel sorry for Stones, they doubled up on that side and it was tough for him, I still believe he'll go on to be one of our top players in the future.

Squad depth is a problem though, when your forward gets injured and you bring on Steven Naismtih to replace him (who isn't even a reckonised striker) you can forget forth.

It's depressing and somewhat typical the wheels came off THERE, but we're still having a good season, we're in the cup and I expect a reaction against the Villa on Saturday.

It could be worse, you could be dead.

 

[Allezfan]

Clearly wasnt the point i made was it? Who i responded too is moaning about the likes of Jagielka, Barkley and Pienaar starting, when he would of quite clearly moaned had Hibbert and Osman started when the chances are, if they did the three mentioned would of been on the bench.

We played a team that wasn't good enough and lost by 4 clear goals.

And at least part of the reason for that is we started with unfit injured players who weren't ready.

Yes, I agree entirely that the problem is that possible squad players he could have played instead aren't good enough either because of our financial situation. And I would have groaned if it was hibbert, naismith and osman starting, but you know, that doesn't mean playing players who can't run was a good idea, either. We lost 4-0.

 

[efcfanwirral]

isn't it ironic that after 10 years of needless damage control there, the time we ACTUALLY needed it we just keep on attacking and conceding on the counter attack. What was the defence doing on the half way line?!

 

[davek]

That game drove a stake through the heart of our season. 4-0 was bad enough, the humiliation of carrying that around until next autumn like sack cloth and ashes, but the Lukaku injury has pushed us beyond breaking point.

It's over for us, It's over because we KNOW there will be no reinforcements in the next few days.

Our objective now has to be to stop a bad spiral down beyond 7th....not easy when you see Spurs' revival, United signing Mata and God knows who else soon, and Newcastle strengthening now.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

So essentially.

-Half our team was unfit.
-The other half is injured and our bench was dire as a result.
-Bobby got the high line wrong, an unfit Jags and a snail paced Alcaraz against Suarez and Sturridge was suicidal.
-We let them play on the counter attack, which is really the only way they're effective.
-We need another CB, CM, Winger, and two Strikers.
-4th is off.

 

[hullefc]

Always a bad feeling to lose to that lot, still leaves a bad taste. But we will learn things about Martinez and how he responds to this. Too many players were not up to match fitness Jags, Alcaraz, Pienaar and Barry and McCarthy, who have played a lot of games looked knackered. The 2 elements of our game that we have built a foundation for attack on, the middle of the defence and central midfield floundered last night and couldn't handle the counter attacking tactic of Rodgers.

Stones will have learn a lot about the rough and tumble of the Prem and will be better for it.

 

[Allezfan]

That game drove a stake through the heart of our season. 4-0 was bad enough, the humiliation of carrying that around until next autumn like sack cloth and ashes, but the Lukaku injury has pushed us beyond breaking point.

It's over for us, It's over because we KNOW there will be no reinforcements in the next few days.

Our objective now has to be to stop a bad spiral down beyond 7th....not easy when you see Spurs' revival, United signing Mata and God knows who else soon, and Newcastle strengthening now.

Man U are 2 points behind us, and Spurs 1 point ahead. If we right the ship we're good enough to finish above both but if we go into a tailspin following that result they'll both leave us dead in the water.

 

[macdog]

Well, November 1982 was even worse and although we didn't know it at the time we were a few seasons away from greatness. This was just one of those days when everything goes tits up. I've had 'em, you've had 'em. The response in our next match is the important thing now; the season isn't over yet.

 

[mkrudden]

3 individual errors and a set piece cost us the 4 goals. I think about this in my darkest moments and it makes me feel 0.0000001% better as there is an element of misfortune in them occurring all in one game.

Question marks must be asked of McCarthys position on the front post for the first, but as know blues, a free header is a free header.

Where in gods name was Stones for the second? Further, why did Martinez - who was stood practically alongside him - not order him back when he came ambling up the right wing when there's a throw in a our half? Baffled.

For the third, it was just basic, basic defence mistakes. When that ball is played over, the two CBs were so square on when one of the two should have dropped in to cover. Both to blame there. Can't blame Howard for me, sturridge was one on one anyway.

The fourth was the most annoying for me. We know what Suarez is about, and for Jags to try tippy tappy with him on the prowl in that area of the pitch is suicide.

As many have commented, we had too many players who looked half fit.

I mentioned yesterday that Hibbert would have been a better bet at RB. I'm not here to say 'I told you so' because Stones needs to taste a derby at some stage, but we needed a bit more experience yesterday and I felt stones was just too naive.

Question is, had we played only a fully fit team, namely:

Howard

Hibbert Stones Heitinga Baines

Barry McCarthy

Kev Osman McGeady

Lukaku (swiftly replaced by Naismith, Vellios or McAleny)

....

Do you think it would have been a different result?

The more I think about it, with them two up front for them, the more I wonder why I was stupid enough to think we could go there and impose ourselves with the injuries we have:

Jags
Alcaraz
Distin
Coleman
Deulofeu
Barkley
Pienaar
Oviedo

I mean, there's very few teams, if any, that can go to a top 4 rival without 8 starters and get a result.

Still feel sick though!

 

[davek]

Man U are 2 points behind us, and Spurs 1 point ahead. If we right the ship we're good enough to finish above both but if we go into a tailspin following that result they'll both leave us dead in the water.

I just dont see us having anywhere near the level of performance in the second half of the season as the first; that's what kept us out in front of United, Spurs etc. We are weakened beyond toleration now with these injuries. I cant see Lukaku's contribution being replaced. Maybe Traore will surprise us all, but he'd have to fill a big pair of shoes in Lukaku's absence. I dont think people understand what Lukaku's contribution has been to us beyond the goals...they are about to find out. We have lost a major presence up top.

It's looking pretty hopeless for our EL chances right now.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Liverpool are getting pens for next to nothing do you think any there pens they have had we're pens I think not not one was genuine I wouldn't be suprised if they got beat at west brom and we tanked villa

This.

But our lack of striker (unless Traore really hits the ground running) will cost us and we'll drop to seventh and stay there.