Absolutely gutted: LFC legends slam disappointing draw & horrendous Toure error. As is usually the case when LFCs rivals slip-up, the Reds have once again failed to capitalise on a superb opportunity to consolidate the clubs position in the top four, and with Arsenal to come next week, dropping two points today against West Brom could prove to be very costly. All is not lost, though, and the club is still right where it needs to be at this stage of the season. Post-match reaction: Brendan Rodgers Kolo is a wonderful player. He probably shouldnt have received the ball in the first place but I will never criticise any player, especially a defender. John Aldridge Im absolute gutted. We were in control of the game, and lose a goal in that way, it rips your insides out. Such a terrible goal to concede. A horrendous mistake. Raheem Sterling The whole team is disappointed with the result. Its one of those games where we just lacked a bit of concentration, and they got back into the game Simon Mignolet Conceding is always disappointing, but we just have to move on. A point in the Premier League is always good. now we have a week to prepare for he massive game next week Twitter reaction: Dietmar Hamann Disappointing result for LFC against a struggling WBA. If they want to finish in the top 4 they have to start winning games when playing badly. It was disappointing that we didnt have more of a go after West Brom scored. Daniel Sturridge Gutted. Thanks to God for allowing me to score 50 prem goals.. Hopefully many more of those to come in an LFC shirt Neil Mellor 2 points dropped for Liverpool.Never really got going today but credit to west brom they responded 2nd half and deserved the point. Some observations: * Nice to see Rodgers basically absolve Toure of blame here. Yes, he made a mistake, but hes been pretty solid all season, and every other LFC defender has also made mistakes. One-off mistakes like this happen. For example: Steven Gerrard has been caught out by dodgy back-passes three times in his career, and Jamie Carragher scored SEVEN own goals (!) Toure doesnt often making glaring mistakes like this, and he should be given a pass for it (IMO). * I also love the irony of Rodgers comment above. He indirectly criticises Simon Mignolet for playing Toure into trouble, but then says hell never criticise any player :-) * Cissokho had his best game in a Liverpool shirt. Got forward well, and solid defensively. His final ball is still pretty poor, though. Several times he was in great positions to cross, and failed to deliver a single decent ball into the box. * Another great defensive performance from Martin Skrtel. Solid as a rock. Couldnt do anything about the goal LFC conceded. He really inspires confidence at the back these days. * Mignolet also seems to be regaining his confidence. He made several fantastic saves, one of which basically won Liverpool a point. * Raheem Sterling continues to go from strength to strength. His dribbling skills, particularly, seem to have improved this season, and during the game, he repeatedly ghosted past West Broms defenders. Like Cissokho, though, his final ball is not consistently up to scratch. * Jon Flanagan had a decent game, but (IMO) he got caught out of position far too often. At times, his lack of positional awareness (or being caught up the field) invited pressure onto the Reds defence, which may explain why he got subbed off. * Martin Kelly had a nightmare when he came on. All he seemed to do is givee the ball away, misplace passes and conceded silly fouls. * Sturridge is wasted playing out wide. He scored his customary goal, but was pretty anonymous for most of the game due to being stuck out on the flank, and being forced to drop back and defend. At one point, he was alongside Skrtel covering Cissokho. This is not the way to get the best out of Sturridge ! A master goalscorer should not be defending the 18-yard line, or constantly tracking back to the half-way line; Sturridge should be as high up the field as possible, in a central role, which is where hes most effective. * If one of the strikers has to play out wide, let Suarez do it. The Uruguayan is considerably more effective in that role, and will always effect the game way more than Sturridge. Plus, Suarez is built for for defending/tracking back. Hes as strong as an ox, but Sturridge gets injured very quickly, and ifs tackling regularly during a game, it increase the chances of yet another injury. * In my view, Rodgers disappointing decision to replace Coutinho with Allen basically handed the initiative to West Brom. The Baggies players were probably relieved to see one of LFCs main goal threats leave the field, and be replaced by player who offers absolutely zero goal threat. Coutinho didnt have his best game, but like Sturridge and Suarez, he can create a goal out of nothing. It was a massively negative move by Rodgers, and possibly cost the Reds three points. * Ive raised this issue many times, and I will continue to do so: what is the point in spending £15m on Alberto and Aspas if they never play?! Alberto shouldve replaced Coutinho; if not, why not? Its a like-for-like change; Liverpool needed a goal, and if the Spaniard is not going to play in such circumstances, then it is a tacit admission of transfer failure by Rodgers. * Games like today are when the strength of the squad should come to bear, but due to Rodgers abject waste of money last summer, the squad doesnt have any real depth. When the team is struggling, and the usual suspects arent getting it done, squad players need to come in and make a difference. That wont happen with LFC as the squad players are just not up to it, and today proved that again. An attacking players comes off, and with Liverpool desperate for a goal, Rodgers ignores THREE attacking players he brought in over the summer. That says it all. Overall, its a disappointing result, but, the club is still right where it needs to be: in the top four. Considering thats the ultimate goal for this season, the Reds are doing well, and slip-ups like this wont matter one iota if LFC finish in the top four at the end of the year. Its another lost battle, but Liverpool are winning the war, and victory is still very much on
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 21:05:19 +0000
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