Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0 (Jan 17 2021)

I suppose we should be grateful we didn’t lose. We could have. Probably should have. They had the two best chances of the game even if we had most of the ball.

It was just a continuation of what we’ve seen over the past four games. West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton and now this. Very little difference as far as I can see. Klopp says differently and I'm sure there were things he seen that I didn't. Goals and chances were not among them though, I know that much.

I’m struggling with it. Not being able to go the game is really having an effect on me now. I hate this. It’s not enjoyable at all and it’s not just because we’re shite at the moment. Not having fans in the stadium is hurting us more than anyone and this game brought it home to me more than ever before.

The lads are in a bad run of form and you can see their confidence is at rock bottom. They need us. This is exactly the kind of occasion when the fans would normally get them through it. A packed Anfield, giving the team that extra push and boost of confidence to go and get the result.

They badly need us right now but there’s nothing we can do for them. They’re on their own. We just have to sit and watch on telly as a team that blitzed the league last season somehow finds itself not only behind both Manchester clubs and Leicester, but could quite easily be below fucking Everton if they win their game in hand.

It’s hard to process it and I don't know how we got here so quickly. This shouldn’t be happening but it is and unless the players come to terms with it and sort this shit out, things are going to get worse. 

I stressed all week about this game and I had absolutely no belief that we’d win it. Usually that’s a good thing. Any time I’d doubted this team they’d responded. The wins over the likes of Leicester, Spurs, Wolves etc this season were a big ‘fuck you, we've still got it’ to the doubters. This was different though. I knew it was going to be.

I had no confidence at all because of a) how we’ve been playing and b) because it clearly wasn’t just a case of us having a couple of bad games and knowing we’d just click back into gear. The game for that to happen was Southampton last week and it didn’t. That was a red flag and hinted at deeper problems.

We’d drawn with West Brom and Newcastle and ordinarily there’d have been a response to that. That’s what this team has done consistently these past few years. That response didn’t come though. We lost.  So there was absolutely nothing to suggest we’d get it right against United, especially with no fans there to will a result and performance from the players.

That’s why I say we should be grateful that at least we didn’t get beat. I half expected we would, so avoiding the loss is a small crumb of comfort to cling to, especially as the incredible unbeaten home record was extended for another game. It’s the only thing we can take from this really. 

What else is there? Nothing. It was the same old shit we’ve seen for probably half the games under lockdown. Loads of possession, hardly any chances and the opposition actually having the clearer opportunities. Rinse and repeat. This seems to be who we are this season. We’re a completely different team in an empty stadium.

I don’t know how we get out of this either. That’s the most depressing thing. The fans aren’t back any time soon and neither are the centre backs, which in turn weakens the midfield, impacts the balance of the whole team and has rendered us virtually impotent on attacking set plays. 

But the big thing, once again, was the lack of potency up front. We’re about as threatening as Sheffield United these days. That forward line is staler than a loaf of bread that’s been sat in the sun for six months. Opponents know how to stop them and, quite frankly, it isn’t even that difficult for them anymore. 

It’s depressing. I’ve got the biggest downer on that front three right now, so much so that I’d gladly sell two of them in the summer and rebuild it. I’m pissed off at Mo for that interview he did and for bitching about Trent being captain. He’s been dogshit ever since.

I’m pissed off at Bobby for only having about half a dozen good games in 12 months. I thought he was back in form but then he plays like this. Shite. Minamino should probably start the next game but he’s not the answer. I'd pick him just to let Firmino know he needs to step the fuck up. I’m not as pissed off at Sadio, it’s more guilt by association in his case. Can’t moan about the other two and give him a free ride as he’s not scoring either. It's all of them.

I’m not handling this well and I know that I’m over reacting due to circumstances. It’s hard not to though. I’d be more rational about it if I was actually going to the games and felt like I was a part of it all. But I'm not. We're stuck in this fucking living nightmare where we can’t do anything other than sit at home doing fuck all, waiting for the next match to come around because there's nothing else going on.

I used to hate going the supermarket but now it’s the highlight of the day as at least it gets me out of the house. The only distraction from all this shit is the football, and frankly the football fucking sucks. Even when we win it’s not the same. Instead of being a welcome distraction, something to lift the gloom, it’s making things worse and it’s turning me into an irrational, entitled, spoilt cunt who is lashing out at players who have given us some of the best moments of our lifetimes. 

Like I say, I know it’s irrational but I’m floundering here. For years we had shit thrown at us by rival fans. “Have you ever seen he scousers win the league?” “You’re not famous anymore” “He slipped on his fucking arse” and so on. 

Then when we finally end the curse not only do we not get to celebrate it, but we don’t get to rub everyone’s noses in it. This should have been our day. The opportunity to pay United's fans back for all the years of shit they've given us. Back on our perch, letting them know it. Instead we're sat at home, helpless, our moment of vindication stolen away.

It’s not fair. We went through so much shit over the years and we earned that right to stick it to everyone. But we can’t, and by the time stadiums are full again it’s looking like we won’t even be Champions anymore unless we get our shit together fairly sharpish. 

Even worse, the likelihood is that one of the Manc teams will be taking it off us. It’s almost like we didn’t even win it. Of course we did win it and everyone knows it, but it’s like the tree falling down in the forest. Does it make a sound if no-one can hear it? That’s us with this title.

So all of these things are making me completely irrational about it and it’s turned me into the kind of fan I’ve always frowned upon. For example, I’m starting to actively dislike Salah and - to a lesser extent because he keeps a lower profile - Firmino. I dislike myself even more for feeling that way though, so at least I’m aware that I’m being a twat even if I can't change it.

The one thing I will never do is take to social media to lay into them. Doing it in these reports is one thing. It’s my job, you’re paying to read my take on things so I’ll do that honestly and from the heart. Venting on twitter is another thing entirely. Ordinarily I hate that but I also understand that not everyone has the luxury of expressing their frustrations in a match report on their own website. So currently I don't blame anyone for expressing their frustrations however they can (just don't be tagging players in when you do, coz that makes you a cunt).

Nothing is going our way and it’s also becoming really difficult not to start throwing conspiracy theories around about the officiating. I’m not blind to the failings of our team currently and I’m not looking for excuses. It’s possible to point out the bullshit officiating without using it as a crutch. 

We didn’t beat United because we didn’t create anywhere near enough chances. I know that, I’m not in denial about it. The officiating was terrible once again though. Paul Tierney was fucking woeful. He kept his bias under the radar by not giving them a penalty (not that he had an opportunity even if he wanted to) but some of the things he did were dodgy as fuck.

Blowing the half time whistle six seconds early when Mané looked like he might be clean through. What’s that about? That never happens, so why now? I don’t want to sound like a Blue banging on about Clive Thomas, but that incident told me all I needed to know about this ref and his intentions. Blatant cheating. Ask yourself this, would he have done the same thing if it was Rashford going clear?

And what’s with the offside thing? The lino wasn’t putting his flag up when United attacked but as soon as we got it back he signalled for offside and then Tierney inexplicably blew the whistle when we had the ball. At least twice that stopped us as we tried to mount a counter attack. Why would you not play the advantage? It’s bizarre. No flag until they lose the ball and then you blow the whistle??

The free kick count was once again well distorted too. Every week we have 75% possession but somehow concede twice as many free-kicks as we’re awarded. I don’t know how this can happen and it’s high time Klopp pointed it out, or if he wants to be clever about it, has a journalist point it out at a press conference and then he can act surprised and say he doesn’t know the answer. Get it out there, let these cunts know we’re onto them.

I’m fully aware of the problems we have ourselves and I’m not blaming the officials for our front three being shite. But I see things like that early whistle from Tierney and can’t help wonder what the fuck is going on. As I said the other week, it’s like there’s an unofficial handicap system to keep the league interesting.

Let’s hope the penny drops and they realise we don’t need a handicap as we aren’t the team that won 26 of the first 27 games last season. It’d be nice if we had a level playing field for once. It’s hard enough when we’re playing like this, but when we’re up against the officials every week too what chance do we have?

Officiating bias aside, there’s clearly something wrong with this team and I don’t know how it can be fixed. I don’t know if Klopp does either, which is a lot more worrying. He spoke after Southampton about having all this time to prepare and play 11v11 in training to figure it out. Not sure what they did in those sessions because this basically looked pretty much the same as Southampton (and Newcastle for that matter) to me. 

One goal in four games is fucking disgusting for a team that has as much possession in the opposition half as we do. It’s understandable if you’re Sheffield United or Burnley, who spend most games on the back foot defending their own box and whose forwards feed on scraps. We spend 80% of every game in the opposition half, usually with the ball (except when we play City), yet our forwards are doing absolutely fuck all with it.

I’ve said this before, quite a lot in fact, but yeah, I blame the front three for pretty much all that is going wrong right now. Other than the scandalous officiating, they’re the big problem as far as I can see. There are other things you can point to but to me they’re all just a trickle down effect from the front three being fucking shit and playing like strangers.

It’s more a collective failing than an individual one. By that I mean it’s not a case of saying “drop one of them and we’ll be fine”. Firstly, with Jota still out injured there is no-one worth bringing in anyway. Secondly, it’s not really an individual issue. It’s easy to single out Bobby as more often than not he’s been a problem, but it’s not just him. Its the three as a unit.

Mo has loads of games where he does fuck all and even Sadio isn’t doing much at the moment. But it’s not really about their individual performances, it’s their collective ones. As a combination, they’re fucking crap now. Sorry, but they are. One of them might score, occasionally two of them might, but those are individual moments. The link up between them, the understanding they used to have, the dazzling interplay, the fun, the chemistry… where is it??

Watching them is making me miserable now. Honestly, when the clock hit the hour mark in this game I was absolutely certain we weren’t scoring and the only thing to be determined was whether we would get done on the break or hold out for a 0-0. I knew we weren’t scoring. Even Stevie Wonder could see it.

In fact, Stevie Wonder would have given us more of a goal threat. United had Mo under absolute, total control from first minute to last. They know how to defend him. I know he got that breakaway goal last year, but every time he plays these he does absolutely fuck all and whoever is marking him (be it Luke Shaw or Ashley Young) looks like prime Maldini.

He worked hard. He didn’t hide. There was nothing wrong with his application. He just offered fuck all. The one chance he had he fucked up by taking ten touches instead of two. The only other opportunity he had was in the first half when instead of going on the outside onto his left foot, he cut in, ran into traffic and was fortunate the ball fell to Bobby (who predictably scuffed his shot straight at De Gea).

Sadio didn’t do anything either. He’s in a rut. He still has the odd flash of something where he’ll skin his marker and get to the line, but usually he pulls it back straight to a defender. I cut him more slack than the other two because - and this might just be me playing favourites - at least he gives me some hope that he might do something. 

I don’t have that with Bobby or Mo. When they get the ball I just expect them to give it away and they usually do. Bobby with crap passing and Mo running down blind alleys. Sadio hasn’t fallen quite as far as the others, but he’s not himself either.

If you want to tell me I’m wrong and that he’s as guilty as the other two, I won’t argue with you. It’s not a hill I’m prepared to die on as all three of them are letting us down currently, and as I say it’s more of a collective issue than an individual one. 

It’s doing my head in. We’re playing without all of our centre halves but we aren’t conceding many goals because lads are filling in admirably. Fabinho has been amazing back there and Hendo is capable of doing a good job. I’m not too worried about the defence, despite the absentees. 

I am worried that it has weakened our midfield and I also think the lack of threat from corners is hurting us more than anyone seems to be mentioning. Virg was good for half a dozen goals a season, not to mention how his presence leads to chances for others. 

But by and large we’re defending well and the loss of Van Dijk hasn’t been as significant as most predicted it would be, at least defensively. 

I’ve seen it suggested that we can’t defend as high without Van Dijk and Gomez, and that maybe the full backs aren’t attacking as much because they don’t want to leave us exposed. This is being used as an explanation for the massive drop off in our attacking play, but I just don’t see it. I feel that’s just letting the forwards off the hook and looking for reasons to explain their shitness.

We aren’t defending deeper. We’re still on the halfway line virtually all the time so nothing has changed there. Neither Phillips nor Williams are being selected for that very reason. And to my naked eye at least, the full backs are still going forward the same as they always do. Robbo definitely. Trent’s role has changed this season but Klopp told us that even before the injuries the Virg and Gomez.

We miss Virgil’s long passing from the back and his presence on attacking set plays, but in terms of the attacking side of the game that’s the only difference I see. 

The loss of Jota has fucked us massively. Having to rely on “that much vaunted front three” (© every BT Sport pundit) without any other alternative is killing us. Put it this way, when I watch us there doesn’t seem to be too much difference to how we usually play. Until we get in the final third that is, when it all turns to shit. The rest of our game is pretty good. 

We control possession, we push teams back, we move the ball around well. Then we get to the final third and nothing happens. Much is being made of the full backs not producing as they were, but why is that? It could be that they’ve lost the ability to cross. Or it could be that the forwards aren’t getting on the end of anything. I know which one is more plausible to me.

Watching us at the moment is horrible. I’m sat there constantly saying “oh fuck off Bobby” “what the hell is that Mo??” “the fucking state of that Trent” etc and I hate myself for it. I’m becoming the kind of fan I’ve always loathed. The moaning cunt ripping on players all the time. 

I don’t rip on Sadio as much, probably because he’s my favourite of the three but possibly because he’s just not as frustrating as the other two. But it’s just hard work sitting through these games and watching us fire more blanks than Boycey. It wouldn’t be like this is we were still going the game. But this lockdown is making it all unbearable really. 

This game really brought that home to me. All week I’d been dreading it and the day of the game was awful. I just had this feeling of impending doom from when I woke up until the final whistle went. I had no confidence, only trepidation and dread. 

I know for a 100% fact that I wouldn’t have been like that if I knew I was headed to a packed Anfield to watch. I’d have been full of confidence that we’d win the game and although there’s no way to prove this, I’m certain we would have won it. 

This is just shit though. No fans, bent refs, no Virgil, both manc teams at the top of the league and the fucking blueshite about to go above us too. Where are the null and void cunts now, when we actually need them?

I’ve said virtually nothing about the game because what is there to say? It was the same old story. We did well right up until we reached the box and then it generally stalled. On the odd occasion it didn’t and we forced an opening, Firmino’s shit finishing put paid to it. 

He blasted one wildly off target when he could have rolled Robbo clean through. He put another one weakly at De Gea and he had a third chance disappointingly blocked by Lindelof.

And other than that I don’t think we created anything in the first half despite completely dominating the game. After the break we weren’t as good. We still had most of the ball but other than a Thiago shot from 25 yards and a piss poor effort from Mo I can’t remember us doing anything. Robbo wasted a couple of really good situations too, although he did put in a beautiful ball that Bobby somehow failed to convert.

At the other end we needed Alisson to make two important saves and we needed Fabinho to show his quality on a couple of occasions. First when he got back to block a Fernandez shot, and then when he did a great job staying with Rashford and dispossessing him when it looked like they were going to do us on the break.

0-0 was a fair result overall. United aren’t that good and it sticks in the throat that we never looked like beating them. They’re better than West Brom and Newcastle though and we never looked like beating them either, so it’s hardly surprising.

The bottom line for me right now is that I just don’t have any belief in our front three. I expect them to be better than they are currently but the days of them striking fear into everyone we play are long gone and won’t be returning. It needs breaking up and come the summer. In the short term, the sooner Jota is back the happier I’ll be.

So we’re now fourth, potentially fifth (if, God forbid, Everton win). We’re three points behind United and most likely to be four behind City soon, and I’m not handling it well. I heard Hendo talking about there being a lot of positives to take from this and I also heard Klopp praising the performance. I don’t see it. What positives? We can’t fucking score!! 

You can see what we’re going to do before we even do it. It’s so fucking predictable and there’s virtually nothing that looks ‘off the cuff’ anymore. I’m hoping it’s just a confidence thing and it will only take one game to get going again, but it just feels like it’s a more serious problem.

It’s Burnley next and as much as I’d like to say we’ll get back on track with a few goals, I’d be lying if I said I was confident about it. I think we’ll win but I wouldn’t be betting on it and I expect it to be a tense, scrappy one. That’s probably what we’ll need. You don’t tend to get out of these runs with a massive scoreline, it’s usually a tense, battling 1-0 or a 2-1. 

Burnley will be looking at how we’re playing and licking their chops. They’ll sit in, make it difficult, double up on Salah and Mané, force us to sling crosses into a packed box and hope to take advantage of any set-pieces they get. 

Our options for change are limited. You can see that when you look at the bench in this game. Shaq being in the starting line up greatly reduces the impact we can have from the bench. He started well but faded before he was replaced by Jones. I’d have preferred Shaq coming on for the last twenty other than going off for them. 

Probably should have started Milner in hindsight, although I did like the positivity of picking Shaq. I wouldn’t be starting him against Burnley though as we need his ability to change a game from the bench. We have no-one else who can do that.

We surely need to make some changes though as this isn’t working. Nat Phillips would be one of the first names on my team sheet for Burnley as it’s an opponent that plays to his strengths. He’s not getting ran past by Wood or Barnes and he’ll be up for the aerial duel. He might even give us a threat from set-pieces too. 

But most importantly of all, him being back there frees up Hendo to go back in midfield. And if Matip is fit (long shot, I know) I’d be tempted to get Fabinho back in the middle too, just to see if that gets us firing again.

There’s a lot of games left for us to get back on track and under normal circumstances I’d still be hopeful (confident even) that we could go on a title winning run of form. These aren’t normal circumstances though and not having fans in the stadiums has completely fucked our title defence, which frankly is becoming an embarrassment at this point.

Sorry if I’ve made you feel even worse about things! My glass isn’t half empty, it’s bone dry and in a thousand pieces, shattered on the floor after being hit by an errant Firmino shot.

Star man is Fabinho with honourable mentions to Alisson and Hendo. Thiago too I guess. He did some good things but his influence waned the longer it went on.

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson; Thiago, Wijnaldum (Milner), Shaqiri (Jones); Salah, Firmino (Origi), Mané: