I agree with Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson that the 3-0 scoreline against Manchester City was harsh on the Merseysiders. Apart from the goals, Pepe Reina had very little to do and in fact the Reds had just as many attempts on goal as City. There is no hiding away from the fact though that Liverpool were poor last night. Poor defensively as well as a lack of penetration in the final third, Roy has a lot of work to do on the training pitch. Roy said as much after the game:
“They scored the goals at the right time. The second goal from the corner kick in the second half made it an uphill task for us. We stuck at it and we were a bit unlucky not to get one back when (Joe) Hart made an incredible double save. We lacked a cutting edge and the organisation I would have liked.”
Certainly the controversy surrounding Javier Mascherano didn’t help but the standard of the display was pretty abject. Some of this maybe down to the formation and the players that Roy decided to use in it. While Man City picked three defensive midfield players in a five man midfield, Roy went with only Lucas and Steven Gerrard. It seemed a pretty positive decision at the start of the match with both David Ngog and Fernando Torres picked to start at front but the two strikers hardly got a sniff of the ball.
This wasn’t down to a lack of possession, the Reds did pretty well keeping the ball for large portions of the match, it was the lack of speed and general penetration in their attacking moves that was really evident last night. The big reason for this I believe is the lack of pace on the wings or the absence of a genuine winger. If you choose to play 4-4-2 as Roy chose to last night, you have to ensure you have players on the wings who can go past defenders with pace. In Jovanovic and Kuyt this is certainly not the case. This is no dig at either the Serbian or the Dutch international, they are converted strikers who can play wide, but they are a lot happier in a 4-3-3 where they can play narrower and can link up with a lone front man. Both Kuyt and Jovanovic will tend to cut in field to get involved in play rather than take on the opposition full back. Roy had Duff and Davies at Fulham, the Reds’ wide players are not similar in any sense.
The worst part of the performance though was the defensive display, and Daniel Agger was cruelly exposed by Adam Johnson as being a make shift full back. Time after time both Johnson and Milner got the best of Agger; it is situation that must be rectified by signing a new full back and moving the Dane back into the centre of defence alongside Jamie Carragher where he is more comfortable. For the first goal, both Kuyt and Gerrard were caught out of position with Barry and Milner allowed free runs into the box, while Agger was out jumped by Micah Richards for the second. Skrtel’s rash challenge for the penalty summed up the Reds defensive display.
They are all individual errors though, and something which can be corrected in time by Roy having enough time on the training pitch to instil his system and organisation. He will have learned a lot about his players last night. The big lessons will be that he does need reinforcements, at left back and in the wing department if he wants to play 4-4-2 again. He says he is concerned about buying the “wrong players” before he has had time to fully assess his squad, but the obvious deficiencies in last night’s match should surely suggest to him that certain areas of the pitch need strengthening before the end of the transfer window.
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apart from the 3 goals, pepe reina had very little to do??????? oh well that’s alright then, at least he didn’t have to prevent any more!!!!
its all relative, its who you come up against, agger out of postion and in a new set up, against a top winger in a top team, i dread to think what would have happened if insua was playing.
Woy has ditche Rafas zonal marking and look what happens? We can’t defend set pieces any more.
For obvious reasons last night gave me a lot to be hopeful for as City attempt to plot a course to some success. I felt we actually looked like a real contender in that we looked so comfortable on the ball in almost all positions, although I still think we will see different full backs as soon as Boateng and Kolarov are fit.
I guess I`m commenting here on your site for the simple reason that I hope and pray your club can shift the liability owners you are currently shouldered with, and also to vent a little disgust at the Mascherano situation.
Throughout my entire lifetime (42years young), Liverpool have been an absolutely magnificent club. Every trophy has been fully deserved, and the football played down the years has rightfully attracted millions of admirers.
What the hell Mascherano is thinking both disgraceful and really worrying in equal measure. I thought Rednapp junior summed it up better than I could in questioning how anyone could be in the wrong frame of mind to pull on a Liverpool shirt, and also labelling the Argentinian “not a good man”. Much kinder words than I would use.
I just can not believe the immaturity Mascherano is currently displaying whilst on a lucrative contract many would give anything for. The worry is that the assurances he has perhaps sought have left him totally disillusioned, and in all honesty your performance last night goes some way to backing up that theory.
I know you don`t need an outsider to tell you unless those useless yanks sell and do one your future looks decidedly rocky, and I sincerely hope something happens for you soon before some of your clubs magic wears off permanently, because that would be an outright bloody travesty.
I wish you guys luck this season and beyond, and if your owners bother gauging feedback from sites such as this I urge them to move on now. As stated, I`m a Manchester City supporter, but like most true lovers of the game I have a deep respect for Liverpool football club.
Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett, clearly you had some plan in mind when buying in to Anfield. Equally clearly you have been found to lack any affinity to both the game, and the great club you are now running down. Please, please just leave the club to attempt to rectify the damage you have caused before it`s too late.
i agree that agger was totally outplayed by AJ…not taking anything away from agger, he would have managed better with lesser opponents..also its true DK and MJ are not the speediest of wingers..MRod would have done better on either flank…DN does not complement FT since he tries to mirrors FT’s game…even if DK was played upfront with FT, DK does not strike the necessarry fear on defenders to man mark him unlike FT…a strike partner is needed to draw defenders to him giving the midfield more space and allowing FT to make runs at defenders..i would like to have RH try to use MRod and DK or MJ on the flanks and have SG and MP play the middle with JC attacking as the HOLE striker playing of FT…until we can get another striker who will complement FT…oh and yes the leftback position needs to filled ASAP…as much as it hurts to see LFC lose by any scoreline, YNWA…i will remain a faithful RED!!!!
Well that’s true. Reina didn’t make a single save. City had 3 shots on target all night, and all 3 went in. Pool had 5 and all were stopped. Well, it happens sometimes, what are you gonna do? None of the goals was Reina’s fault though.
I don’t think a player influx is as essential as people make it out to be though. Our squad is good. On another day, perhaps with another formation, we could beat City just like we’ve always been doing. Sure they’ve beefed up their squad with pure hard cash and they simply outplayed us this time. That doesn’t make Liverpool suddenly the whipping boys of the league.
One quality signing, maybe two. That’d be enough. The rest is down to confidence. When the players are happy, they can be rampant, we know that. There’s no denying that the likes of Gerrard, Torres, Cole, Johnson, Kuyt, Rodriguez can pick apart any defence on their day.
Bill you have got a short memory about the failings of Rafa’s zonal marking.
I enjoyed last nights game probably more than 80% of last seasons. At least there is a positive attitude about the way we played and more system. Sure there was very little penetration, but that will come. Roy has been very astute and like the article says these were largely individual errors and if these can be eradicated we will be heading in the right direction.
This is the set up I would like to see for our next game (forgive the spelling)
********Reina**************
Caragher*****Agger****Skyrtl****Aurelio
***************Lucas******************
Johnson*******Poulson************Babel
***************Gerard****************
****************Torres****************
Cole for Poulson when he returns, Cole and Gerard interchangable during the game. And play forward, lets get men in the box
I love Kuyt’s effort but his lack of skill is hurting us, Jovanovic is a similar player, can’t have both on at once.
this proves that Hogdson is not that good. Sending Aquilani on loan when we clearly need a creative player and then bringing in the player who was rejected at Juventus. Asking Gerrard to play more central role is another big mistakes he made. Last 2 seasons Gerrard & Torres was the most deadliest strikeforce in the country netting more than 50 goals between them. Mr Hogdson, i really hope you do yourself a favor by resigning as soon as possible. In Rafa We Trust
So much talking from Lfc – re transfers – ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS AND FOR GODS SAKE BUY A DECENT WINGER
we learnt the same thing that we should have learnt from our previous games and that I can saying on every message board – our wingers are crap and will never allow our club to make the step up. Our backup strikers are as good as/better than our first choice wingers. As such, new wingers have to be a priority if Liverpool want to move forwards
aside from what has already been mentioned (re. Agger, Aquilani, Skrtel’s idiocy making him a liability) Lucas also looked well out of his depth trying to play against Yaya Toure, again reaffirming my belief that our team needs to get bigger and more athletic
i think that playing Agger as a left-back is destroying him.he struggled too much yesterday against adam johnson(who was in many chances VERY lucky).that scoreline was surely unfair as city didnt play that good.jovanovic made me a little angry also and in my opinion,if Roy wanted to play 4-4-2 at least play a Torres-Babel partnership.Babel when came in,brought a lot of pace.i liked the thing that pacheco had minutes,but where is maxi??the guy is very good and should be playing.My line up:
Reina
Jonhson Carragher Agger Aurelio(if we buy Salcido,then Salcido)
Maxi Gerrard Lucas Kuyt
Babel Torres
Please make some transfers if we are to sell mascherano!!!
Liverpool lost and its not only Aggers fault,Lucas lacks many qualities to play in the premiership..the Liverpool team lacked pace..Ngog thinks that a few goals makes him a superstar.he did not pass or looked like passing anyone..he never tackles he loses the ball and expects the Captain to clean up his mess..the Truth is LFC needs to clean house…get rid of Lucas,Ngog..in essence get rid of the rubbish that Rafa bought during his reigh of terror..I looked at Man C and how they worked the ball,looked for spaces,trust each other and they are fit..for god sake we allowed Gareth Barry to score..I am so angry with the state of affairs at Liverpool..I am getting accustomed to losing and that scares me.its noabout the superstars we buy but how Roy H males the team gel..
The team is low on confidence,unfit and they are NOT a Team.
respect cityfan
Dear fellow Reds
I am still upset about last night. Seriously, not the scoreline but what was there to see.
A new manager would need to carry out a full analyses of the team before he takes over/or once he takes over. It means looking for what went wrong last season. lets see, NO playmaker, no wingers, no back up strikers (minimum that was required last year to reach the top 4)
so, Roy has not rectified any of them. On top of it all, he sold Insua, Riera, Benayoun, and sends Aquilani on loan. we never give that guy a chance. Never did/
So, we start our season now without a left back, without left wing players (Babel thinks he is a striker)and without a single midfielder for big games, apart from Gerrard who should be partnering Torres!
Uncle Roy knows. Do you think he will rectify the problems of last season? lets see, 6 days left till the transfer window shuts.
on to last night, Why is Ngog starting? why play 4 4 2 without a recognisable left back and not what you call a powerful midfield?
Ok, everyone makes mistakes. half time, Uncle Roy is a wise man. 62 year old wise. he will change it. what does he do? Nothing and the game was still to be played…..
I am upset and worried for the future of the club. I would like to believe Roy is the best manager on earth and we just found him, however, that would make me delusional.
To those who say, give him time. HE needs to find time. By getting results. No results, no time can be allowed.
Rant over
Why are we lamenting? This is what happens when u have only one midfielder with flair and creativty(gerard) in a so called top team. Hope we learn fast.
Our target this season is to get back into the top four. I don’t think one loss to Man City is the end of our hopes.
You can’t expect Roy to turn things around in a couple of weeks. He’s a manager not a magician.
I sat in silence and watched my team being ripped apart. As soon as I saw the tactical !!! decision to field Ngog with Torres I had a sinking feeling.
Kuyt for all his hard work gave the ball away 78% of the time, Lucas is not even worthy of our reserve team and 94% of his passes are pathetic side passes often underhit. He cant tackle properly and is tactically totally unaware. City are a pyhsical side now so why oh why didnt we start with four in midfield with Stevie in a attacking midfield role and Babel and Maxi in starting line up. Lucas must not play, nor should Ngog who is just woeful. Johnson should be moved to a right wing position with Carra covering right back until we can sign someone. Aurelio should be at left with Skrtel and Agger in central. Babel should be on the left.
Maxi should be central (until Cole returns) and Poulson in a holding role (until we buy a world class replacement for Malvinas Mascherano).
We looked solid against Arsenal but like a sunday team of amateurs against City. Roy you have to get the tactics right and I reckon I could have fielded a better line up and approach to this game. We are the biggest club why are we so scared to play like it !!
I, like other reds fans was keen to give hodgson the benefit of the doubt. This weeks game totally destroyed my confidence in his ability as a manager. David Ngog is NOT as good of a striker as ryan babel would be if given the same chances (both last year and this year) Not saying Babel is perfect but he has power and pace and as much trickery as ngog. Lucas Leiva is not a player I hate but he is just not GREAT at anything he is OKAY at everything. Not good enough for liverpools first team as evidenced by yaya toure outplaying him in every facet of the game on his freaking DEBUT! Lucas has played consistantly for liverpool for ages and is still invisible. For me he will only ever be a HALF decent holding midfielder.
Now for everyone who watched the game against city , you cannot tell me that aquilani instead of NGOG would have been worse. It is so obvious it makes me sick. Aquilani is amazing at opening the game up in behind the striker just as Cole can and just as Benayoun SHOULD have been played by Rafa, the moment Alonso left. Why would he go on loan, cole has an injury reputation and so does aquilani. One, chances are, would be injured throughout the season so the other one covers there. Gerrard should NOT be played behind torres until we have someone who is as good as him deeper in the midfield.
I think the article is bollocks in saying that we were unlucky. We got outplayed convincingly in EVERY aspect of the game by better players and a better team. For me the sad thing is that I do believe that liverpools squad could have beaten city if it was as follows
……………Reina…………….
Johnson…Carra…..Agger……Aurelio
………..Lucas….Gerrard………
…..Babel….Aqualani…..Jovonovic.
…………..Torres……………..
This would have been a better line up if Woy hadn’t shipped off aqualani so damn fast. Apparently he was amazing in preseason??!?!?! Even dani pacheco would have been a better option with torres than NGOG for the simple fact that playing two number nines together DOESN’T work. Especially if torres is one of them. look at villa and torres. Torres is too inteligent and plays for the team so if he sees NGOG taking a higher line he will drop deeper to try and be a number ten and provide for him. WOY…4-4-2 is a formation of the nineties get up with the play!!! unless you have phenomenal wingers, a phenomeneal holding midfielder, a phenomenal creative midfielder, a phenomenal number ten, and a phenomenal number nine, then it looks out of depth.
Sorry for the negativity of this for anyone who reads it but that defeat really hurt! Just want to see us playing the beautiful game right, even if that means we don’t win at first, at least the points will follow. YNWA
I dont think the score properly reflected the game but the lack of a left back and an extra quality striker were evident.
A little bit of pace out wide would not hurt and i think Pacheco may be needed if Kuyt goes, also Jova was quiet needs time to settle.
Good idea….
let’s sell the only guy other than Reina, who actually puts in a shift… Makes sense!
Every player wearing a red shirt looked average against city… Including kuyt…
11 players having an off day?
I think Roy thinks we already have crouch in our side, the way we were hoofing the ball up the field!
4-5-1 at home and 4-4-2 away?
Made his first change after we were 3-0 down?
Still playing agger out of position when aurilo was available?
Aqualani loaned out without giving him a chance… As if we have loads of creative players?
Previously cole takes pen while torres is on the pitch.?
We can blame the players…
But under rafa we never lost 3-0 like that… It was shameful!
Roy is Not the man for the job…
His school boy errors already have shown this…
He is only a yes man!