Liverpool FC Forum

congrats to celtic, that was their reserve side but they still managed to secure the win. their young lads ran their blood to water and threw themselves in front of everything. thought toure had a decent game at the back but wisdom looked a bit shakey.
gerrard looked like he`d aged overnight, he was second to everything and a midfield of him, lucas and allen is way too pedestrian. coutinho has got to play central imo.
nice to see sturridge back, considering that was his first competative run out since the end of last season he looked very sharp.
overall it`s been a decent pre season, now onto stoke next week.

Wisdom had a nightmare and Enrique and Gerrard were very poor. On the plus side Coutinho, Sturridge, Toure and Ibe looked good. Game highlighted that we are still relying on too few players in the squad to score and create goals regularly. Would prefer to see Alberto given the opportunity in the number 10 position rather than Allen and Henderson. Played some decent football to be fair but we need more goal scorers.

The game highlighted that a lot of our problems from last season are still there - the cb's being bullied by a physical striker , struggling with set pieces , an inbalance within the midfield three with Allen looking lost, too many small light forwards that can be easily manoeuvred away from the danger areas, Aspas just easily outmuscled.

Definitely some bright areas - Coutinho is a gem , Ibe looks electric and when he matures will be top class , Sturridge gives us something different and regardless of what people say Downing provides the energy on the right and was involved in most of the good stuff.

Definitely missing two crucial players maybe even three - a strong commanding CB , someone different for the midfield ( powerful player ) and again up front another power player.

Really looking forward to watching Ibe develop.

Benny The Noon » Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:36 pm wrote:The game highlighted that a lot of our problems from last season are still there - the cb's being bullied by a physical striker , struggling with set pieces , an inbalance within the midfield three with Allen looking lost, too many small light forwards that can be easily manoeuvred away from the danger areas, Aspas just easily outmuscled.

Definitely some bright areas - Coutinho is a gem , Ibe looks electric and when he matures will be top class , Sturridge gives us something different and regardless of what people say Downing provides the energy on the right and was involved in most of the good stuff.

Definitely missing two crucial players maybe even three - a strong commanding CB , someone different for the midfield ( powerful player ) and again up front another power player.

Really looking forward to watching Ibe develop.

Yawn...

bunglemark2 » Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:12 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:36 pm wrote:The game highlighted that a lot of our problems from last season are still there - the cb's being bullied by a physical striker , struggling with set pieces , an inbalance within the midfield three with Allen looking lost, too many small light forwards that can be easily manoeuvred away from the danger areas, Aspas just easily outmuscled.

Definitely some bright areas - Coutinho is a gem , Ibe looks electric and when he matures will be top class , Sturridge gives us something different and regardless of what people say Downing provides the energy on the right and was involved in most of the good stuff.

Definitely missing two crucial players maybe even three - a strong commanding CB , someone different for the midfield ( powerful player ) and again up front another power player.

Really looking forward to watching Ibe develop.

Yawn...

The game tire you out ?

What did you think of it

A good workout for the lads ,Celtic's game plan worked perfectly and they provided a stern test of our credentials ..Not too worried
though ,Sturridge will need a few more games and a few more training sessions  before he's match fit ,but his link up play with
Coutinho was encouraging.

I thought the stand out performers were Toure and Henderson when he was introduced ,it was also particularly refreshing to see Allen
getting forward so readily. All in all it was a game were we dominated possession ,but lacked a cutting edge with Aspas looking decidedly
jaded.....Would have liked to see Alberto play today ,and maybe Assaidi ,but Ibe looks a really exciting prospect for the new season.


Atmosphere in Dublin was like a European game with both sets of supporters in fine voice.

sometimes it`s no bad thing to lose your last pre season game, especially when you`ve been on a good run of results, it`s reminds you that if you are not right on your game or if you are complacent in any shape or form then chances are at this level you will get bitten on the @rse.

As with the other pre season games the result doesn't really matter but hopefully with it being against stronger opposition it gives the manager a better idea of areas that need improving.

Celtic must be the best team in Europe defending as a unit and they did a number on Barcelona twice
lets not forget.

Open up a bit like they get trounced but at that smash and grab game they are masters and imposed that
on us today.

Even in defeat I thought we looked terrific on the ball and moved like a quality team, but between now
and the window need 2 or 3 in to take us from being a tidy eye pleasing outfit into a winning machine.

even though we lost we still controlled play and had more than enough opportunities to win it.
i read that rodgers has organised a behind closed door friendly for midweek.

Benny The Noon » Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:13 pm wrote:

bunglemark2 » Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:12 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:36 pm wrote:The game highlighted that a lot of our problems from last season are still there - the cb's being bullied by a physical striker , struggling with set pieces , an inbalance within the midfield three with Allen looking lost, too many small light forwards that can be easily manoeuvred away from the danger areas, Aspas just easily outmuscled.

Definitely some bright areas - Coutinho is a gem , Ibe looks electric and when he matures will be top class , Sturridge gives us something different and regardless of what people say Downing provides the energy on the right and was involved in most of the good stuff.

Definitely missing two crucial players maybe even three - a strong commanding CB , someone different for the midfield ( powerful player ) and again up front another power player.

Really looking forward to watching Ibe develop.

Yawn...

The game tire you out ?

What did you think of it

Your fookin' monologues tire me out.
*****.

parchpea » Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:54 pm wrote:Celtic must be the best team in Europe defending as a unit and they did a number on Barcelona twice
lets not forget.

Open up a bit like they get trounced but at that smash and grab game they are masters and imposed that
on us today.

Even in defeat I thought we looked terrific on the ball and moved like a quality team, but between now
and the window need 2 or 3 in to take us from being a tidy eye pleasing outfit into a winning machine.

Hmm...It wasn't about Celtic it was ,again ,about our players suffering from acute allergies to scoring...we could have trashed them.

Bit unlucky. Lot's of positives to be taken from that performance.

Downing played some reasonable stuff as well as playing the ball through to Celtic for them to score. Hey ho.... Most defenders would be muscled off the ball against a 6'5" giant !! Wisdom is young and he will learn.

PC looked very special. Ibe could be a future star. Danny was unlucky not to score.

It's a shame Downing only puts in a decent shift when it's rumoured he's off. You watch, if he's here after the transfer window he'll become a passenger again. But he did have a lively (for him) first half, shame his only assist was for Balde    Wisdom can take some blame on that one too, he had a ropey afternoon.

Toure, again impressed me and he still has a turn of pace which many said he'd lost. Gerrard was woeful, Allen decent, Lucas okay. I preferred this trio today because when Henderson came on he was shunted out left and in my opinion looked pretty hopeless - Henderson should have slotted in for Gerrard. That said, Henderson out wide allowed Countinho to move in more centrally, where he'll be more effective.

Good to see Sturridge back, should have scored with that lob though, he also needs to look up more IMO.

Celtic are no mugs and they have a solid defense, it was a very good game to watch and a good work out for our lads.

Can't wait for Stoke.

on the telly it looked like we had 3 sides of the stadium and there was a big block of red in the celtic part too, just like to say well done to our irish support, not many teams in the world could play celtic in dublin and have two thirds of the stadium.
superb effort lads.