BookableOffense

Interesting how much better Allen looked once we upped the tempo. Glad to see Sturridge & Suarez looking like a lively combination, as well as how much more dangerous Suarez looks playing with another striker. It would be nice if we could find the right midfield balance, whether that is bringing in someone big who can play in the slower, more muddled games, or another attacker. But fairly happy with the performance in the second half. Frustrating that we seem to either play wonderfully or totally hopelessly. It looks like it will take a long time and a lot of patience, but signs are that we can kick on if the owners and the management team add to the squad. Will be very worrying if we are done in the transfer market.

Looked a lot like a team hungover both mentally & physically from a disappointing Europa result. Not to mention players like Allen looking like all the minutes logged have taken their toll. Downing can see out his contract training with the reserves as far as I'm concerned. Pepe Reina takes a shot in the face because Downing can't hold off the physically-imposing Nathan Dyer. Says it all for me. Beyond shameful. Beyond that infuriating moment, it looked to be tired legs & minds, especially in the 2nd half. The movement in & around the box we saw Thursday was absent, the urgency wasn't there, the sharpness wasn't. Frustrating to watch, yes, but you can see the same frustration on the players' faces. It looks a lot like we'll need an impeccable performance in the January window to bring a few different dimensions to midfield, as well as up front. In short, we need a miracle window, which is unlikely under ideal conditions. There will be better days than this during the season, regardless of our performance in the transfer market, but it looks like the current squad is finally stretched as far as it can go. The onus is on the owners & the scouting team now.

Agger and Allen in particular looked assured, but Suarez takes it comfortably for me.

Allen Gerrard Sterling

1. Johnson 2. Suarez 3. Allen Thought Skrtel was excellent on balance. Sterling was bright. Borini & Coates were something of a question mark for me to start with--they both look like they will come good with time. Kelly also unlucky. For me, Glen Johnson was steady in defense, brought a great deal of energy in attack--must admit, I didn't think he would ever be such a stable part of the side. He makes great strides each season, and I thought his energy, composure and class shined at both ends of the pitch. Enrique coming on also had the (pleasantly) surprising effect of taking away a lot of space and joy for Tevez. Good substitution that. Worryingly, another week where we seemed not to be able to get a call in the attacking third. Absolutely comedic when K. Toure dragged back little Sterling & got the benefit of the call. Kompany also receives a talking to for blatant obstruction on Suarez (as in: no doubt the ref saw it). Laughable. Better refs, faster clearances in defense & no underhit back passes next week.

Right. Transfers. Are we really committed to not signing anyone? Suarez is (soon) back in the team, but we certainly seem to be lacking something that even he doesn't bring. What're the [vaguely] realistic options for changing our approach as a team? Do they involve Sterling & Suso, as we've heard rumblings of? Do they involve a player from the lower leagues brought in at the last minute (with or without a helicopter, the Sky Sports Understand fanfare, etc...). Particularly curious what will happen over the coming months.

Somebody get this man a beer. He's earned it.

Actually, that one's the other way around: the chances are 1/infinity, & therefore the odds are always increasing, sort of thing. 1/infinity acts as zero (though, always approaches it & never actually reaches it). Diame. I'd be happy with bringing him in for Lucas. Spend money on a finisher, or at the very least, someone to help score goals until the summertime when a more proper investment can be made. As Dave's recent match report said, there's not much wrong with the team at all other than scoring goals. Shame they're so important.

I reckon Charlie Adam had a fine game. That final pass was the sort of thing one imagined him coming to Liverpool to do. I was impressed with Lucas today, which is not to say I think he's not normally impressive. Also Henderson looked more assured than usual. Bellers was utterly mad & inspiring, as he always is. Suarez, of course, was a beautiful menace. Agger & Skrtel looked good. But above all, all these thousands of miles away & watching via television, the away supporters were all I could hear from kickoff, on. Beautiful thing, that.

Ah, the sweet, sweet taste of sanity. Well said.

Poor Abs. I've got a bit of sympathy for him given he can be a better poster on here than R****d was. Or others. His team (& its manager) are still moaning twats for the most part, mind.

This makes me feel sane & optimistic.

Perhaps it's a bit unfair to quote only this bit, as the rest of your post was really quite reasonable (I'd certainly like to see Turan here as well), but wanted to touch on the optimism bit. Assuming we have owners who will splash out a little cash with an eye towards the squad as opposed to 'net spend,' etc., and assuming that our good form & the good mood around the club will continue to grow, the team will continue to be as exciting to watch as it was in the last months of the season, I'm feeling very optimistic. I don't think that's naive, or wishful thinking. Am looking forward to next season. I'd like to see a little shoring up here & there (mostly knowing we have proper defensive cover for a long campaign), and if they brought in a particularly exciting player, it'd be icing on the cake, as they say. The academy has been improving steadily, the first team is looking promising again & the financial situation looks stable for the first time in a long while. Above of all else, the King is back, and it feels like LFC is being run like LFC again. Optimism justified, IMO.

Not to mention, how many wingers do the Mancs need? Obertan is supposed to be their next big thing, Nani and Valencia seem fairly well entrenched. That fella with great new hairplugs likes to play in the hole, if that's where they were thinking of Young. Essentially, they've gone and spunked out 20m on a centerback (their strongest position, probably) and will spend another 20 or so on a winger/forward? It smells like sweet, sweet panic to me. On the other hand, we seem to be spending & spending with purpose, with conviction, for the first time in a long time. Even the Ratface signing from Atletico saw us splash out cash, but with no guarantee of success, it felt like a huge risk. There was a sense that if he flopped and flailed about hopelessly, that there wasn't another 20m to buy someone else. What really excites me about the summer so far is that it doesn't feel like we're totally dependent on any one signing to have to pan out right away. Also Suarez exists. He delights my heart, brings joy to my loins.