El Rojo

Mascherano doesn't exactly refrain from shithousery either, judging by his Busquetsesque antics against Real.

Handicrafts.

That's an atrocious elbow from Fellaini on Allen in that Wales/Belgium vine - I'd never seen that clip before. It makes Allen shaking his hand after yet another foul on Sunday all the more depressing.

How long can we carry a player like Kovacic?

Ray Kennedy at 29 seems extremely low. Five league titles, three European Cups and a UEFA Cup. I also remember a quote from Bob Paisley to the effect that he was the player the club was most approached about by other clubs when he was manager.

I wouldn't criticise Skrtel for that photo, it's actually a subtle enough dig by footballer standards. He's been fantastic this season. He'll be a bigger loss than Gerrard over the three games.

My criticism is aimed at all our players yesterday, not just Allen. Even Sakho and Skrtel were far too understanding when Rooney pretended he didn't mean to kick Mignolet.

Rodgers should have brought up Rooney's kick on Mignolet when questioned about the Skrtel incident yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't really a day where anybody from the club stood up for themselves.

We need to make Lee Cattermole and Xavi mate.

I actually saw that and despaired. We were bullied all over the place in every possible way. At least Lucas should be fit for the Arsenal game. He's hardly Jimmy Case, but at least he stands up for himself and his team-mates.

Harsh but true enough. Fine lines and all that. A win at Arsenal would put a very different complexion on things, though.

Be that as it may, our players put absolutely zero pressure on him throughout the game, and such behaviour is pretty much a necessity when playing them or Chelsea. No reaction from our players when Jones clattered Lallana. No reaction when Jones took out Henderson (apart from a polite Coutinho intervention). No real reaction when Rooney kicked Mignolet. Compare with their reactions to the Gerrard and Skrtel incidents.

One positive about yesterday is the full two weeks we have to debate the game on here before we see action again. \O/

Great finish from Suarez. And some shithouse diving from Mascherano (and most other players on the field).

So you don't think us trailing at home to them after an abysmal, gutless first half showing might have added a bit of extra grit to his brief showing? He could well have been sent off in the first half if he'd played, but he could as easily have dragged a far better performance out of his team mates. All conjecture at this stage.

Nightcat is Ian Ayre.

What he did was stupid, but it's fair to assume he would have been a little more level headed at 0-0 and with 90 minutes to play. I thought we were better against Swansea when he came on too.

By the way, fair play to the two lads in the stand who held Mario back when he was going postal at Smalling for no reason. Possibly saved him a second yellow.

I thought we lacked intensity and aggression more than pace for much of today. The loudest roar today was for Gerrard's first challenge. Things like that set a certain tone, especially at home.

Quite a lot in this fixture over several years. We missed his leadership today.

Gerrard's down the list on players we should hear an apology from today. At the risk of being cruel, he was probably more effective than Lallana and Moreno today over his 40 seconds.

I'd give Mig credit for the penalty save and some effective - if scary - footwork when under serious pressure.

Got it wrong today starting Lallana over Gerrard, assuming Stevie wouldn't have been quite so hyped up at 0-0 with 90 minutes ahead of him. He's gotten most things right over the last three months, but today is a big blow in looking for a top four spot.

Mig, Skrtel and Sakho aside, we were below par absolutely all over the park.

I wish I was a drunk baby.