They say the league isnt won until after X'mas...i think there is a shift...a clearer pic will come some time in Jan & Feb. Not going to comment on early days n stuff, but if we are to lose, i'd rather lose during early part of the season. Most top teams peak towards the latter stages, and tbh, I felt its too good to be true to have 3 wins and 1 draw...still remember last season when Arsenal lose match after match, but pick themself up later. And who can forget how WBA was touted as a contender for top 4, only to pattered off later into the season...would rather we play shitty now than later

Dont wish to dwell too much into the tactical part, as there are many experts here who give many professional opinions already...but personally as i observe the match, it wasnt piss poor but just bad performance...in fact Soton hit us during a corner....

yes we definitely guilty of lacking penetration, and i felt we could perhaps exploit more of the right wing when attacking the kop end...delivery from Sterling was dissapointing...delivery during corner was dissapointing too...even when all our 'powerful' CB went up during corner, the delivery from SG and Hendo is pain in the ass....to say the least

The pairing of Lucas and SG in the middle, hardly protects the back four...Soton was having a field day cutting thru the middle...we protect our flanks better in last night match, but cant say the same for the centre...i tot henderson work himself into the team, his cover on the right flanks frustrate the Saints...so much that Saints attack was concentrated on left flank...

Anyway, eventho I dont wish for this, but the injury to Coutinho could be a blessing, as i felt we became more and more reliant on Coutinho...kinda tired that we alwayz need to rely on 'key' players...

I must agree with the comment, that system overides individual play...never comfortable with Houllier drumming up Heskey/Owen nor Rafa with SG and Torres...I tot BR tried to implement possession, pressing and attacking brand of football..but the last 3 games theres hardly any to show...unlike barca, their blueprint is based on Dutch, total football - where the team play is emphasize, and individual skill is value added enhancement...even if the team lack quality, the Dutch can still play fluent attacking football...still felt BR is trying hard to implement it...worth noting that Barca fired Rijkaard after 2-3 seasons of shambolic football, before hiring Pep....too bad Rijkaard being the implementor, was unable to reap the reward that he sowed...

I think BR will be mindful of injuries, no matter which opponent we are facing, eventho SScum is an arch rival...but we can ill afford another 1 or 2 injuries as we are wearing thin in personnel...personally, I think they will come at us, as such, envisage a counter attacking game..if Suarez is playing, then I expect Aspas to play as well, lets see if they can complement each other better....

Havent seen any display of tiki taka football in this new season..wonder whether is it gone, or the pressure to deliver have seen Rodger revert to a more defensive play...as for the team, there are quite a few players that need to be rested or drop, i.e Lucas, SG, but i dont see BR being capable of dropping them...as they are elevated to the status of untouchables....lucas maybe not, but i dont see BR leaving out SG, no matter how bad he perform...same case as Roy Evans with J.Redknap, Houlier with Heskey, Rafa with Torres...At the moment, there are some passengers in the squad...but i dont see anyone being drop, except juniors such as Sterling or Aspas

there's no way u want tiki-taka with combination of gerrard-lucas-hendo

plus if wanna tiki taka we shuld start with new talent with suso,alberto,teixera.. this is the player that can tiki taka

Spot on!..we dont have the players for tiki taka, not with gerard, not with leaden-foot lucas, henderson - i m not sure, he has some skill tho and is very industrious, which is one of the characteristic of hard-core possession football ....We probably need someone to bite the bullet, drop non-performer, no matter SG or Agger...but of course managers hardly drop their captain, eventho they perform shit example - terry during moaninho former reign....but we can ill afford sentimentality...have had enough of drumming up players ability, whose decline is evident...

Roughly details our decline since 1991 but also the progress made off the pitch where the race which doesn't involve a shiny silver trophy needs to be own, and we're playing catchup - Good read,

but it is already well known amongst Red supporters...we had one calamity too many...from Souness infathomable decision to sell Beardsley and brought in Saunders, and other stupid signings i.e Paul Stewart & Bjorneby....btw, Souness is the last manager with the sort of buying power and financial muscle to revamp our players, he's got budget to do it and he blewn it..BIG TIME!! Think of Julian Dicks, and you'd think Souness is a d***...couple with boardroom incapability to Morse selling us short to H&G instead of DIC....there are too many variables that were self-inflicted...

Rick Perry is another frog in the well....i think too contented being a 'jaguh kampong'...never really looking to expand the brand, otherwise, we could've been a bigger global brand. Then its Christian pUrslow, which doesnt have a good review and left things much to be desired..

Dont get me started on our player scouting... a club with such pedigree, we contrive to lose out to Arse, SPurs and Mancs on talented players thru the years..and now we are talking about improving our scouting network...its all cold porridge...

Yes Roy Evans actually gave us a good shot, but the man himself was never given his due credits...prbably too much lifestyle excesses, which i heard, but we consistently challenge top tier of the table..all in all, Liverpl have its own strange way of shooting himself on the foot....even the stadium expension is a fiasco that drags and drags for so many years...stanley park or anfield - boom the Emirates was built...then boom the new Wembley...but we still having to resolve a few run down houses around anfiled...

A Sunderland win, it should be an expected result if we are serious about staying close at the top....altho every match in the BPL wont be an easy ride, but looking at the current situation, a draw would be a travesty by BR....Looking at Sunderland, they are rather disjointed atm...managed to caught a glimpse of their play against crystal palace..i must say, their attack is abysmal...lack of direction, no target man and no attacking thrust....the only positive about Sunderland is their ability to retain possesion albeit clumsy at times...defensively they are vulnerable in the middle...not to mention their gk Keiren Westwood is overrated, nothing to suggest he got potential to be a top keeper...with Suarez returning, i'd say no chance Sunderland....

Liverpool always pride itself having fans who knows about football, knowledgable and passionate...there sure are many passionate lads, but knowledgable, is kinda subjective. The win against Sunderland is not vintage, but was done in efficient and effective manner...I know the midfield is not dominating to the level of oppressing the opponents...but the fact remains how many chances did Sunderland create -inside the box? None...we were troubled only from freekicks and Sunderland got their consolation from an initial long range and follow-up...of course our defenders should react faster, but the goal can be concede by any team be it Barca, RM..even chelski...there is some odd blunder here and there..poor touches now and then - from SG and Lucas, but i dont think their performance is SHIT...

As for Henderson, yes his crosses is hopeless during the match, but its not his natural position on the right, but subsequently he was reverted to the centre and theres when he flourished...and why moses was played in the centre, you'd have to ask BR...I can only conclude that BR is tinkering with the structure and positioning, allowing players to adapt to playing across the line and be able to interchange. I tot bringing on Sterling is a tactical move to exploit the right flanks... All in all, i thot we play a textbook game, of getting early goals and subsequently hitting with counter attacks...ohh..and i heard someone said we are not playing counter attack...just playing long balls from defences up to the striker...unless football is played in different shape, form and manner...i thot we score goals no 2 and 3 via counter attacks...

In terms of formation: 352 or 532, if played in fluid interchange means control...control attack and control defense...the trick is always to get the balance right...the meeting between the eagles and reds actually pit 2 teams that I supported as kid...but I am still sane enough to think that its a 3 pointer for us to lose...nothing to shout about against a bottom 2 team, but my admiration goes to SG for his gracefulness while converting the penalty, shows his humbling side...which I think is a soft penalty to be given away in the first place...tho i expect Sterling to stretch Palace on the flank but it never happen and his telling contribution, the dubious penalty from his all too easy tumble to the ground..

Agree that Moses offer something different, attacking thrust and penetrative run...sigh.. if only Aspas can do the same...but again, they are both of different price tag....Henderson's performance as DM doesn't really surprise, at least me...he posses the stamina to cover the grass, and possess that lil but of height to win headers in the centre circle...the ability to tackle or shadow is something that can hone from playing more consistently...I personally don't think we need DM, as I felt Henderson and Allen can be effectively utilize on rotation basis...

With the international fixture coming up, I tot its kinda favorable to Liverpool, as we are performing and getting result without playing with much fluidity...what worse can international break do to us...except 2 boring weeks

I tend to agree, that this season, we have a good squad with solid standby in the bench...just to begin with, our strike force is one of the deadliest...comparable to what Arses, Chelski, Mnure, City...defensively, i felt they could only get better...eventho Agger is amongst the subs -still we have one of the top defensive stats...and we still have Johnson, Kelly to come back....the midfield is looking good with Moses...and coutinho still to come back..altho some did highlight the deficiency in midfield - specifically a DM, but the adaptability of henderson actually made it less acute the need for a CM/DM. Moving on, really wish we can reinforce attacking personnel, would be good to add some ball-players, specifically, those who are comfortable holding the ball and probe for opening, as right now we have only Moses, Coutinho..Suarez and Sturridge, all who are comfortable and in-control of the ball, wish i could add Sterling into the category, but still he is unconvincing when on the ball...still i felt that we are just 1-2 good players away from being a serious contender...

I remember when i play for my school, i always like to play midfield, as I have the passing range long and short, i can shoot and can take set pieces, i can see the channel to pick a pass, but..my actual position is between the post...yes i am the keeper...the thing is, i can play ball but dont have the stamina and tackling ability to be position in the middle, i cant rough it up in the middle of the park - which is crucial, that's why its the engine room - the attack starts from midfield and the defending too...and due to my lack of stamina, my tracking back is sometimes none existence, especially if our attack breaks down deep in the opposition half....as opposition launch their counter attacks, chasing back is all but futile...and due to this stamina issue especially the midfielders, its a delicate balance between whether to attack in the 1st half or wait for 2nd half..attack 1st, would drain your energy for 2nd half and vice versa. It is also the reason why makelele was such a revered midfielder, given his age, his stamina is unbelievable...a trait which unfortunately not god given to SG...altho hendo do look like an energizer bunny, but his lack of experience is why BR tend to hold him back..but since hendo and allen are both young lads, so too is lucas...once they mature in the next 1-2 years time, our midfield will become a forte again...and if, we could hold on to Suarez by then, we potentially could challenge for title, as the defense is looking good too...its a team i could see having 70% of the spine need to be a top top team in england, probably another 30% for game changers, we are as good as anyone...at least this is my evaluation of the team...

Never have i seen in any thread, where fans target one of their own, like monkeys biting on the back...i mean, no matter how bad players in other team performed, they'd just ask to bench or loan..but in liverpool, we resort to name calling, slating and whatever crude description u can possibly think of...as if their family massacred and burned beyond recognition. Have gone thru manure's thread when ass young perform hopelessly shitty, but he was not treated with vengeful venom and spit with blood...yada yaddaa..i already expected to be labelled 'fanboy' or whatever mean intent statement..who cares, i standby not attacking our own if its due to performance and not for the lack of trying..ohh and ya..even fellow fans is under attack for speaking on the bright side...still its a forum, I am entitle to my 1 cent worth.