Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 - "Some thoughts" by Paul Natton

1. I know this season is not last season, I know seven points from nine represents a massive improvement on what immediately preceded it and I know that there are reasonably sound explanations for our toothlessness. However, it's still really, really grim watching entire halves of football go by without a shot on target.

2. The clean sheet was encouraging though and if we're looking for positives to cling to then that's the one I'm opting for. Toure for one is (dare I say this out loud?) starting to look composed and consistent - almost a leader in this leaderless looking side; and Glen Johnson put in his most reassuring display in a long time serving up calm-headed and sure-footed football on back and front foot alike. Clearly there wasn't a huge amount to be intimidated by here, but a clean sheet is a clean sheet.

3. Lucas was MOTM for me, just ahead of Raheem, putting in another disciplined and effective display - which was a good job because I thought his partner and captain for the first two thirds of this match was mediocre. Still, Jordan Henderson has plenty of credit in the bank with me yet and I can live with a few below par showings as long as we see a resurgence in the second half of this season that renders his displays of the first soon forgotten.

4. But before I digress away from Sterling, let's just relish the pure ability this lad has while we can, eh? Because if we follow the pattern of the last twenty five years and remain the has-been/not quite/flash in the pan team we've been throughout that period then he'll be off at some point - and probably before he peaks too. A player producing runs like the two he showed yesterday at the age of 19 has a degree of potential that comes along once in ten years and it's a travesty that the absence of genuine attacking threat around him means we can't nurture his talent, so dire is our need for attacking quality. His strength and determination point to an attitude that will carry that talent to the very pinnacle of the game and I just hope we can enjoy a few more years watching him blossom before he's inevitably snaffled by whoever can offer him trophies at the highest level and a salary to match. What a player he's going to be.

5. The flip side of my pleasure in Sterling's showing was my frustration at Coutinho's. This lad has feet that are the equal of Raheem's in their use of the ball and his attitude is similarly determined. However, his match intelligence is lacking to an infuriating degree. I find his positioning the most rant-inducing fault as he insists on dropping deep and left in his own half to pick up the ball thereby leaving a gaping hole behind Lambert that leaves our sole striker isolated and us toothless. Furthermore, his insistence on taking two, three or even four touches when he receives a pass despite having the ability to play almost any ball first time is a key factor in our pedestrian tempo: he just slows everything down. I hope he's getting some serious ear bending about this stuff at Melwood because if his talent can be properly harnessed for the benefit of the team, he has top class potential.

6. Steven Gerrard is our best player. The end.

7. Alright, that wasn't the end - but only because I want to emphasise the way he completely transformed the tempo, threat, possession and movement from the moment he entered the field of play. That pass he pinged out to Coutinho (I think) on the right was the best ball I've seen played in, well, at least the last twelve months. He is definitely not finished. Boss.

8. Brendan's use of Lallana is doing my head in. He's his number one signing and yet he doesn't know how to get the best out of him. What were those comments in the week about him not having enough pace at times? If that's true, why the hell did you sign him then? For me, he has to play in the Coutinho position behind Lambert and stay there or else why have him at the club? Bizarre.

9. That might help get the best out of Lambert too. The lad clearly knows his job and is doing it to the best of his ability. However, our inability to get players in and around him to exploit the space he creates and the knock downs he wins is neglectful in the extreme. Lallana could deffo make hay from playing behind his old mate.

10. What was that new leave three up when defending a corner routine all about, by the way? Don't get me wrong - I'm all for giving opponents something to worry about. But one of them isn't the fastest player on the pitch? How can leaving Sterling (who's also the smallest player) back to defend the corner be sensible? And I also don't think it's wise to leave three up as it leaves us exposed on the edge of our own area and better teams than Sunderland will score from within the oceans of space we left there yesterday.

11. Basel and The Mancs next. Two wins would leave us flying but I fear that's not going to happen and that this slow improvement phase of the season will run on for a good while yet.

12. Still, based on the dire starting point, the improvements keep coming. So, come on you Reds!!!

Paul Natton

@OxtonSoulBoy