Liverpool FC Forum

[Fo Dne]

GK - 6 - Reina: Dropped a few and wasnt at his best but didn't really need to be.

RB - 6 - Carragher: Solid as ever and contributed going forward, nothing special but didn't put a foot wrong, was possibly party to blame for Newcastles goal.

CB - 7 - Hyypia: Quality again from Sami. Solid at the back, used the ball well scored a peach and could have had another. Largely untroubled through out the game.

CB - 7 - Agger: Again largely untroubled but played well. Shown composure and good ability on the ball and done what he needed to defensively.

LB - 7 - Insua: Again showing he's got the quality to make the position his own. Comfortable on the ball and aggressive defensively. Doesn't give the ball away much and looks to pass and move where possible. For me, our best option at full back.

RM - 7 - Bennayoun: These last few games he's looked alot better. Passing, moving and defending and showing some nice link up play. Played well again for me and should probably go on to make that position his own for the remainder of the season. Played a great ball for Gerrard to open the scoring after making a good run.

CM - 7 - Mascherano: Done really well today and made the first goal with determination and a well weighted pass which found a superb run from Bennayoun.

CM - 8 - Lucas: Yes, Lucas gets an 8. Unbelievable. Why he doesn't play like this on a regular basis is beyond me. He moved superbly, linked play and the assist for Gerrard's goal was a fantastic peice of play, firstly winning the header, spinning and asking for the return then the weight of the through ball for Gerrard to score. Alround passed well, harried well and had a good game. Shown an awful lot of qualities today which he didn't appear to have in any of his previous games for the club. Was also unlucky not to score at least one header. If the lad plays like that once every two games he wouldn't get half the flack he does.

LM - 5 - Babel: Still a complete waster. Scored a goal but to be honest done nothing else. Didn't try, didn't cause Newcastle problems, didn't look interested.

CF - 9 - Gerrard: What can you say? Absoloutely world class. Out of position, two goals and ran the show.

CF - 5 - Kuyt: Worked hard. And played one good throughball for Gerrard but everything else up because he's . One of the worst players in the squad.

Subs:

CM - 7 - Alonso: Came on an settled right into the game helping us keep control.

Ngog and Skertyl can't really be rated due to lack of time on the day.

For me "the boss" got very lucky today in the way that at 1-0 they had a perfectly good goal disallowed and the way his gamble of a team selection payed off. Certain players didn't deserve the chance they had today, luckily one of them actually took it and to be quite honest I don't think he could have failed against what I think is the worst opposition we've faced all season.

Lets make no mistake, they were woeful. To our credit though did take full advantage. The thing that worries me though is now "the boss" will feel justified in doing this more often and this sort of gamble doesn't work regularly which is why we find ourselves in the position we have done so many times in the past.

[GYBS]

would agree with most of the ratings bar kuyt who created two glaring chances for gerrard as well as one of his own . Played the high man up front on his own very well . Closed down the defenders , held up the ball , brought gerrard and midfielders into the game , won numerous headers and flick ons so would give him a 7 . At the end of the day his selection worked , it wasnt lucky as the players battered newcastle , yes they were poor but a lot of that was down to the way we played . We won 5 - 1 and could of been lots more if it wasnt for given , players like keane reira xabi and gerrard were able to be given a good rest and skittles got a run out . All in all a great days work at the office . And the players rafa brought in rewarded rafas faith in them , well bar babel who i will admit needs to step up sharpish .

[ConnO'var]

Agree with that but I'd probably drop Reina down to 5 as he really didn't play well at all..... misjudged the 2 Geremi shots which crashed he bar and dropped a couple of relatively simple balls.

I'd give Babel a 4 as he was far below average..... as said earlier, he doesn't deserve to wear the red of Liverpool.

Kuyt had a decent game I thought.... nothing spectacular but didn't do too much wrong either. Did his job reasonably well and deserved a 6 in my book. Else, I pretty much agree with the rest of your post.

[7_Kewell]

I thought Babel looked better today...still isn't good enough though and hope Real Madrid buy him in an act of desperation in the transfer window.

[Fo Dne]

Agree with that but I'd probably drop Reina down to 5 as he really didn't play well at all..... misjudged the 2 Geremi shots which crashed he bar and dropped a couple of relatively simple balls.

I'd give Babel a 4 as he was far below average..... as said earlier, he doesn't deserve to wear the red of Liverpool.

Kuyt had a decent game I thought.... nothing spectacular but didn't do too much wrong either. Did his job reasonably well and deserved a 6 in my book. Else, I pretty much agree with the rest of your post.

I disagree with Kuyt playing well Con, did you see the one two Gerrard tried to play with him which he messed up?

The lads just rubbish mate. Much like Babel. Lucas is aswell, but today had a good game, which has never before happened in a red shirt.

Lets be honest though, how poor were Newcastle? No-one harrying the ball, no shape, massive gaps all over the team, no closing down, no organisation, no players even passing the ball to their own team mates... I really don't think we'll play a side worse than that again this season. They put up no fight and to honest, had it not been for Given it could have been a major embarresment.

Still, we took advantage of the fact they were so bad and didn't do badly ourselves, makes ya wonder though, had we had Keane and Riera in for Kuyt and Babel what could have been...

[GYBS]

what about the two chances that kuyt laid on for gerrard thou ? Or the two flicks that gerrard messed up himself ?and everything you say newcastle didnt have ie fight harassing, closing down etc is everything kuyt did today plus more

[roberto green]

Reina 6.
Carra 6.
Hyppia 8.
Agger 7.
Isua 7.
Mascha 7.
Benayoun 7.
Lucas 8.
Gerrard 9.
Kuyt 6.
Babel 6.

[ConnO'var]

I disagree with Kuyt playing well Con, did you see the one two Gerrard tried to play with him which he messed up?

The lads just rubbish mate. Much like Babel. Lucas is aswell, but today had a good game, which has never before happened in a red shirt.

Lets be honest though, how poor were Newcastle? No-one harrying the ball, no shape, massive gaps all over the team, no closing down, no organisation, no players even passing the ball to their own team mates... I really don't think we'll play a side worse than that again this season. They put up no fight and to honest, had it not been for Given it could have been a major embarresment.

Still, we took advantage of the fact they were so bad and didn't do badly ourselves, makes ya wonder though, had we had Keane and Riera in for Kuyt and Babel what could have been...

I did see that but on the whole I thought he was ok. I can never figure out why he's never dropped or "rested" though. He must have the stamina of a horse. On ability though, we'd do better with Keane.... absolutely agree.

Absolutely agree with you on Babel..... Waste of space.

I think that if you watch him for a bit, Lucas may change your mind, Stu. He's got a bit about him that I've always liked and he may be suffering from a lack of confidence but is slowly working his head around it. I know you're loathe to do it but give him time mate. This boy may well surprise you.

Newcastle were horrendous but you know the old adage.... you can only beat what's in front of you.... Rafa gambled and it paid off... Gave  Riera a breather and watching him, he certainly seems to need it.... fitness doesn't seem to be quite there. Alonso got a nice break as well so it did work out this time. I hope he doesn't take this instant as a license to carry on with this "selectorial silliness" though. It could cost us a decent shot at the title.

The one downside to today's victory was the omission of Keane. The lad had scored 3 times in 2 consecutive games and a game like today would have done his confidence a world of good. I just cannot understand why Rafa did it....

Still, all in all, a good last 10 days to the year.

[Fo Dne]

I disagree with Kuyt playing well Con, did you see the one two Gerrard tried to play with him which he messed up?

The lads just rubbish mate. Much like Babel. Lucas is aswell, but today had a good game, which has never before happened in a red shirt.

Lets be honest though, how poor were Newcastle? No-one harrying the ball, no shape, massive gaps all over the team, no closing down, no organisation, no players even passing the ball to their own team mates... I really don't think we'll play a side worse than that again this season. They put up no fight and to honest, had it not been for Given it could have been a major embarresment.

Still, we took advantage of the fact they were so bad and didn't do badly ourselves, makes ya wonder though, had we had Keane and Riera in for Kuyt and Babel what could have been...

I did see that but on the whole I thought he was ok. I can never figure out why he's never dropped or "rested" though. He must have the stamina of a horse. On ability though, we'd do better with Keane.... absolutely agree.

Absolutely agree with you on Babel..... Waste of space.

I think that if you watch him for a bit, Lucas may change your mind, Stu. He's got a bit about him that I've always liked and he may be suffering from a lack of confidence but is slowly working his head around it. I know you're loathe to do it but give him time mate. This boy may well surprise you.

Newcastle were horrendous but you know the old adage.... you can only beat what's in front of you.... Rafa gambled and it paid off... Gave  Riera a breather and watching him, he certainly seems to need it.... fitness doesn't seem to be quite there. Alonso got a nice break as well so it did work out this time. I hope he doesn't take this instant as a license to carry on with this "selectorial silliness" though. It could cost us a decent shot at the title.

The one downside to today's victory was the omission of Keane. The lad had scored 3 times in 2 consecutive games and a game like today would have done his confidence a world of good. I just cannot understand why Rafa did it....

Still, all in all, a good last 10 days to the year.

I give up on Lucas a long time ago if I'm honest. The player I saw today, was what I thought we had in the first place when he first signed and the one he'd settle into being. For me though, by now he's used his chances up.

His next five games in a red shirt have to be of that standard to prove this wasn't simply him playing well against a team that never turned up and they have to be commanding performances. He done things today that I've never seen him do, demand the ball, tried to make play and move into good attacking positions. He could have scored a header on a few occassions too. I really hope I'm wrong about him, but on the evidence of what I've seen I know what sort of player he is (always have) I just don't have the faith he has the quality to play at this club, at that level consistently. Its not like he's not been given a chance before today is it?

I too do worry about Rafa's thinking when things like this happen. I sometimes wonder is it better to lose games like this to teach "the boss" a lesson (not that he's ever learnt in the past anyway) but I just worry that next time he chooses this gamble it won't pay off.

[ConnO'var]

I give up on Lucas a long time ago if I'm honest. The player I saw today, was what I thought we had in the first place when he first signed and the one he'd settle into being. For me though, by now he's used his chances up.

His next five games in a red shirt have to be of that standard to prove this wasn't simply him playing well against a team that never turned up and they have to be commanding performances.

He has taken a long time to settle in (if he has at all) hasn't he... We can only afford to carry him till the end of the season..... If he hasn't come good by then, it's probably better for the club AND the player himself to move on. Here's hoping anyway.

[Igor Zidane]

GK - 6 - Reina: Dropped a few and wasnt at his best but didn't really need to be.

RB - 6 - Carragher: Solid as ever and contributed going forward, nothing special but didn't put a foot wrong, was possibly party to blame for Newcastles goal.

CB - 7 - Hyypia: Quality again from Sami. Solid at the back, used the ball well scored a peach and could have had another. Largely untroubled through out the game.

CB - 7 - Agger: Again largely untroubled but played well. Shown composure and good ability on the ball and done what he needed to defensively.

LB - 7 - Insua: Again showing he's got the quality to make the position his own. Comfortable on the ball and aggressive defensively. Doesn't give the ball away much and looks to pass and move where possible. For me, our best option at full back.

RM - 7 - Bennayoun: These last few games he's looked alot better. Passing, moving and defending and showing some nice link up play. Played well again for me and should probably go on to make that position his own for the remainder of the season. Played a great ball for Gerrard to open the scoring after making a good run.

CM - 7 - Mascherano: Done really well today and made the first goal with determination and a well weighted pass which found a superb run from Bennayoun.

CM - 8 - Lucas: Yes, Lucas gets an 8. Unbelievable. Why he doesn't play like this on a regular basis is beyond me. He moved superbly, linked play and the assist for Gerrard's goal was a fantastic peice of play, firstly winning the header, spinning and asking for the return then the weight of the through ball for Gerrard to score. Alround passed well, harried well and had a good game. Shown an awful lot of qualities today which he didn't appear to have in any of his previous games for the club. Was also unlucky not to score at least one header. If the lad plays like that once every two games he wouldn't get half the flack he does.

LM - 5 - Babel: Still a complete waster. Scored a goal but to be honest done nothing else. Didn't try, didn't cause Newcastle problems, didn't look interested.

CF - 9 - Gerrard: What can you say? Absoloutely world class. Out of position, two goals and ran the show.

CF - 5 - Kuyt: Worked hard. And played one good throughball for Gerrard but everything else up because he's . One of the worst players in the squad.

Subs:

CM - 7 - Alonso: Came on an settled right into the game helping us keep control.

Ngog and Skertyl can't really be rated due to lack of time on the day.

For me "the boss" got very lucky today in the way that at 1-0 they had a perfectly good goal disallowed and the way his gamble of a team selection payed off. Certain players didn't deserve the chance they had today, luckily one of them actually took it and to be quite honest I don't think he could have failed against what I think is the worst opposition we've faced all season.

Lets make no mistake, they were woeful. To our credit though did take full advantage. The thing that worries me though is now "the boss" will feel justified in doing this more often and this sort of gamble doesn't work regularly which is why we find ourselves in the position we have done so many times in the past.

I think that is a very very fair assesment , well in stu , Balanced and fair post . Wouldn't argue with any of that.

[Bretc]

Agree with the ratings. Good performance overall though the fact that Newcastle were rubbish also helped. I'm also puzzled why was Keane dropped from the staring line-up. What must he do to convince Rafa? Must he run all day long like Rafa's godson Kuyt? If that's the case, Rafa should go out and buy a horse instead of a top class player like Keane.

Dun mean to be negative especially after a great win but me and my sis were laughing and cursing away at Kuyt's touches and technique throughout the match. And we do that in every match - Kuyt plays in every match. It's a shame I know, as Liverpool fans but we just couldn't comprehend how on earth can such an average player be chosen ahead of Robbie Keane or even Benayoun?! Sorry, dun mean to turn this into an anti-Kuyt thread but I just couldn't help myself.

Anyway, it was a great win and all the more sweeter since Chelsea dropped 2 points at Fulham. 

[metalhead]

I think its a good idea starting Match rating threads after each game and discuss who did well and who didn't show up.

[ste123lfc]

I'm really pleased the way Lucas and Insua are playing lately. Rafa has bought alot of these so called squad players only for him to off load them before they really get a chance in the team. These 2 lads have taken the chance and made it difficult for Rafa to leave them out. Lets hope they improve and become valuble members of the team. With Torres and Skertyl to come back into the team anytime soon, things are looking good.

[DanAn]

I'd have Carra lower, thought he contributed nothing going forward. Simply held the ball up before passing back to Hyypia and then there was the goal- 5 for me

I'd liked Kuyt, comepletely disagree with your assessment on him - 7 for me

Benayoun was Brilliant in the first half and pretty good before he was subbed- 8 for me.

Hyypia was strong in defence and unbelievable at corners. got a goal, was resposible for Babel's one if I am not mistaken and unlucky to not to have 1 or 2 more- 8 for me.

I thought Lucas and Gerrard were both 9's. Lucas' game was very very good,