As I said before, Liverpool season might only start after Hull game.

4 goals in 10 matches is not a bad statistic.

Apart Torres and Gerrard, without refer back the real statistic, I think none has the ratio 4/10.

Seriously, Liverpool has been struggling for goals lately, the only proper goal I can remember in the last 5-10 matches is one goal only ie. kuyt goal against Spurs (penalty doesn't count), if there is a striker with 4/10 ratio, please play him.

Liverpool only play good football after leading 2-0, or leading time. At 0-0, most of the time, play poorly, it might be due to nervious, confidence issue.
Had seen many many times, after leading or leading comfortably only dare to play some football.

The opening 20 mins, or so, I taught will lose this match as well.

Frankly speaking, it was a tight game. Both team have fair share of goal scoring opportunites, especially Bolton in first half.
Kuyt's goal, match commentator said it was mishit as well, I don't know, even replay can't show properly, but Bolton defender mis-kick (miss the easy kick/clearance due to spinning ball something like that), but credit to Kuyt, he was/is and always the one the poaching the goal mouth for GK's mistake, rebound, knock down etc. There why he is above the rest of pack when Torres is not in the team. Kuyt best position is striker or behind striker to do the dirty job, not RM.

Second goal, Insua shot is way off target based on trajectory but Davies deflected into own goal, but not taking away the credit, it was a thunderous strike from Insua, and also cross from Insua to Aqualani which set up the Kuyt goal.

Defence is shakly throughout the match before leading 2-0. Even Skrtel header goes backward one time in clearance, always give some scare to viewer. Skrtel is not as solid like last year since after head clash with Carra since early this season.
Insua is susceptible to pacy winger, and a lot of time leave big gap when try or overlapping to support attack. Also Insua won't win you much header, so set-piece time, opponent 6ft+ central-half like his zonal area.


Premier league title?
Arsenal, yes.
Liverpool, very odd chance.
Spurs has better chance for premier league title than Liverpool.

Sometimes, need to be realistic, altough mathematically yes, anything is possible, but we have to see on field match performance to say whether got chance or not. When in most match, you can win easily against most team and especially against lower league table team, then yes, add a little bit of luck then everything is possible.

But right now, for Liverpool, almost every match is struggling, battle hard, need to ride on luck, opponent mis-firing to win some matches one. Very few match, and almost none, that we saw Liverpool plays some good game which has easy/walkway match like the big 3 teams against lower and bottom league table team.

Jan transfer dateline not already ended meh?

Lucas is ok as DM or holding up midfield, but the problem is that holding up too long sometimes, which opportunities for quick counter attack gone.
Apart holding up role, attack wise nothing much, Mascherano could be better in spraying passes lately, eg. the diagonal long range pass to Gerrard in Bolton game.

Liverpool needs goal currently, holding up and having possession with short passes around won't win you games, but goal can.
Liverpool need some midfield that can create goal opportunites. Like Aqualani who created both goal for Kuyt in Bolton game and Spurs.

My opinion though.

Insua did make a vital mistake during second half, that he slipped when man-marked Everton striker just outside penalty box, which let Everton striker free room to shoot, which luckily Agger covered back fast enough which block off/deflected/tamed the shot/cross which Reina manage to scoop off.

Not meant to pick bone from egg, but it did make a scary moment for Liverpool supporters. May be down to inexperience.

Overall, Insua and all defenders are doing a good job and we see glimse of determination in the match, which is lacking for months, I see some old Gerrad back.

The match is more like battle instead of football. In this match, we see some determination and battling performance, which is good, but still we don't see a lot good football, but a lot of time derby match is like that.

With 10 men, and only Kuyt is only one Liverpool player in front of goal or six yard box, Kuyt still manage to score despite lacking height which I think Moyes will be furious about it, somemore Tim Howard should claim the ball as well. My view only.
It is actually a surprise goal, come with nowhere with lot of Everton player to defend the goal and lacking Liverpool players to attack the corner.

Ngog at least know how to position himself and time the run to avoid offside trap, can see from replay, he bent his run a few time to stay inside and create space for others to pass for goal opportunity.

I don't share the optimism, Liverpool has poor record against Arsenal, while although get 17 points out of 21, away form is still very questionable. Remember Liverpool away match record is quite poor as well.

Yes, when I first time heard match commentator said, I was surprised as well. Seem like each match play poorly, need to battle hard, win scrappy here and there, lucky goal etc. No good perforamance etc.
But for last 7 matches, Liverpool only conceded once only. Kind of unbelieveable if not looking back the stats.
But mostly against not in-form team generally, not yet against big 3 teams.

The problem is that, you cannot rely solely on ugly football all the time to win the league or have good league position. A few games against tougher side, may be, but not on some lower bottom club and whole season.

Although Liverpool managed to grab 17 points out of 21, undeniable football is still ugly generally. How far Liverpool can rely on ugly football?

Arsenal GK is quite shaky lately.
Cannot rule out this possibility.

But having said that, Liverpool often being undone by slick passing team one. Have really poor record against Arsenal, especially in away match.

If Fabregas and Arshavin doesn't feature, then may be got chance to win.

I don't share the optimistic that Liverpool can win. Please prove me wrong

It is a worry sign the Liverpool can't get any goal lately.

Apart from Kuyt and with the absence Torres, nobody can score a goal.

Other team at least once awhile, midfielder, fullback can score goal, while Liverpool midfield rarely score goals (one of Macherano's goal is deflected one, so doesn't count).

So for opponent team, as long as the ball is not with Kuyt or Torres, then they are pretty safe.

Another poor and ugly game.

5th is considered failure and will cost lot of $ opportunities lost even tranfer kitty ability, 6th is considered a disastrous season.

Some more 8th??

The remaining games, still need to face ManCity, MU, Chelsea, Portsmouth.
Yes, I included Portsmouth because Liverpool lose 2-0 to them.

Actually sometimes, sometimes, the way the team plays will make a player look worst. There is little support for the front, except Kuyt and Gerrard.

If you consistently play 2 DM and non-advantorous fullback (like Carra) and lone striker, any ordinary striker apart from really good one like Torres, surely it makes their job tougher and look worst.

Even Torres looks poor when playing lone striker, keep on being bullied, tackled, brought down by opponent defence.

If a team is playing good football, like Arsenal, MU, Chelsea, throwing ordinary player to fit into the team, they will be looked better or at least a class or 2 above his real ability.

If throwing Ngog and Babel into MU or Arsenal team, then they might not looked as worst as most people view.

My opinion, I might be wrong.

Rafa like player that work hard and make no mistake and play according to the instruction given <--- the 'not to lose' mentality.

But make no error doesn't mean play good or can score goal.

There is difference mentality between Liverpool and the rest big 3 teams, they will go for win in every match, then try to score goal first, then shut the door or play ugly to shut down opponent or whatever. Liverpool shut the door first then rely some magic or brilliant play from 1 or 2 players to score goal.

So when there is no magic from Torres or Gerrard, then only can rely some lucky moment, opponent mistake to nick a goal. At least this is what I observed lately few months performance.

My basic critics is simple i.e. you don't play 2 DM against some team you expect to get a win one, especially for some teams that are struggling at bottom half of table one.
You go all out for win, then only after scored goal, only shut the door using 2DM, also not too late.

My opinion, Rafa gave too much instruction during the match, you can see Fergie, JM, Ancelloti, Wenger seldom give instruction to the players when they are playing.
But Rafa keep on sending instruction most of the time, even when the team scored and celebrating time.

Let the players express themselves, any error or those non-crucial issue which need to rectified or improved one, can be done via post match, or during video replay time.

I don't watch the match, but for replay/highlight, Diaby got a totally free header, implied it is CB fault, as no matter how, when the ball cross to central area in penalty box, CB should at least challenge for the ball.
Although fullback failing to prevent crosses also the reason, which leave Rosicky free on the left hand side.

I don't share the same view.
Now the only target is 4th place.

Even winning Europa cup is meaningless if finish outside 4th in league.

No offence to anyone, why must target specific player everytime.

Last time, Babel, Lucas now Ngog.

Ngog is not Torres quality, no doubt, but he is not totally poor, at least he is the person score 6 goals for the team until now with most come as subs, and start not more than 15 matches if not mistaken. At least he is a squad player can do an average/ok job for you. Apart from Torres, Kuyt, Gerrard and Benny, no other player score more than 5 goals.

I find it is a bit harsh to target him alone. I am not fancy him a lot as main striker as well in the first team until now, but as subs and squad player, I do think he is about average. Put him into an average team, he might able a first team player week in week out as well.

Striker job is to score goal, how to score, not actually very important (as long as those are meant toward goals, not like deflection etc). As even with tab in, you must able to be at the right place at the right time, this is striker instinct. It is about finding space to shoot and score. You cannot rely 30 yard screamer every match, you must have a player know how to position himself, get away defender, available for passes etc.
For eg. Owen is particular good at doing this, Owen shooting is actually quite weak and not powerful one, you rarely see him to score with thunderbolt, but he can score a lot of goal with good positioning and placing the ball into the net.

I am not saying Ngog is good in this area, but Liverpool is lacking player to score goal currently.

I blame the whole team when they are not playing well and possibly manager tactic.

As if the team is playing well, even a particular player is poor, it won't affect the whole team too much.

It is always a collective and team effort.

When the team not playing well, the one we should criticise is the team, the manager set up the tactic and only finally individual player.