Spot on.
1) We played poorly in the first half but scored from a well-executed set piece.
2) In the second half we did nothing to protect Baines and Coleman from being pegged back deep and therefore they both ceased to be factors in the attacking play. Moyes had seen this unfold in the first half and did nothing to correct it.
3) Heitinga, Osman and Gibson offered NOTHING in attack. In fact, they couldn't even maintain possession and move the ball upfield. Heitinga starting in midfield was a tactical mistake and although I can't fault his defensive work it doesn't mean it was the right choice to play him in that position. Hitzlspreger should have come on.
4) I agreed with Barkley coming off, but he should have been replaced with Oviedo instead of Jelavic. We needed Someone in front of Baines to afford him some protection AND to give him the freedom to bomb forward occasionally. Oviedo was the correct choice because he can cover LB and his pace MIGHT have forced the Angry bird back a bit. But instead, we carried on with LM effectively vacant.
5) Second goal was beautiful. Mirallas is going to be big for us, but for me he has to play at 10 (assuming the 451 / 4231 we normally play). Playing him in a free-ish role higher up the field, forcing defenders to respect his pace, will create space for others. And we can play people in front of Baines and Coleman who are more willing to cover back and cover those two when they move forward.
6) Utterly sick of watching Jags and Distin HOOFING. If we don't have a CM who will offer himself for a short pass, and can play the ball forward himself, then why is Hitz not getting a game?
Gutted we couldn't hold the lead, but considering the tactics we employed and the fact that Barkley, Osman and Gibson all had AWFUL games, I'm surprised we had the lead to start with. We just sat there for 75 minutes booting the ball away and shouting "have another go" at them. They were there for the taking, and we didn't go for it. Liverpool dropped points and we failed to take advantage.
