Sunderland, hosted over 42,000 paying audience this evening, where they lost to Liverpool, and that’s a lot of money indeed.

In comparison, Liverpool’s game against Braga saw over 37,000 spectators, while the victory against Manchester saw over 44,000 spectators.

So do you think Liverpool needs a new Stadium, nostalgics and traditions aside?

Back to the game.

Sunderland have been playing pretty and positive football, as always has been any team that’s under the tutelage of Steve Bruce, and they certainly didn’t deserve to go behind through a penalty, which wasn’t really a penalty, technically speaking.

But at this point of the season, any events that brings the momentum of 3 points towards Anfield, I’ll grab em with open arms, cos Mensah does have a choice of not tackling Jay Spearing, someone who’s had to score his senior goal yet and being hounded by Bramble too.

Kuyt made no mistake from the spot, and it’s 1-0 to Liverpool in the 34th minute.

Though I was impressed with Kuyt’s composure, I’m even more impressed with little Jay Spearing’s darting performance throughout the game.

He’s had a good game, hasn’t he? Perhaps, just as good as Suarez’s?

Was Suarez’ goal in the 77th minute, Liverpool’s second, deserving?

Thoroughly, and what a goal it was from an acute angle, as it took the pressure off Liverpool’s players and slowed the tempo a little bit.

Then again, any real pressure was lifted with Mensah’s sending off, who wasn’t quick enough in tracking Suarez’ run behind him.

A little unfortunate for the defender, but in this league, you pay for even the slightest of mistake.

Where the match kicked off with a raucous bang, especially from the homeside, it ended with much tepidity, just like Liverpool’s exit from the Europa league.

In any case, below image shows how the table currently look like, and, realistically speaking, while it’s calling it too much to ask for us to overtake Chelsea or Man City (who face each other as of time of writing), it’s been a really heartwarming end to an otherwise calamitous early season.

If propose to me mid-season, that if I’d take 45 points and 6th position at the end of May, I’ll not just take it with fervent arms, I’ll even kiss you for that and perhaps even buy you lunch for a whole month.

And that’s just how much I appreciate the ‘Dalglish effect’, and I hope you too.

Oh, and if anyone actually noticed how ‘pitiful’ the subs bench looked like for us, then you’re not alone.

We need reinforcements, quality reinforcements, and we need em quick.

It’s a red thing.

You know that Manchester United isn’t having a good day when all Reina has to do for 92 minutes is to run around his 6 yard box, covering his angles.

And pick up the ball, once at the 93rd minute, from the back of his net.

Liverpool played really well, in particular Suarez, and I fully agree to Andy Townshend comments of ‘Suarez showed more presence and hunger in 85 mins than the person he replaced did in 25 games this season.’

That person is Torres, but Torres who?

Okay, so despite the convincing right of boasting for Reds (Merseyside) all over the world, I thought I saw an unpleasant nature of the business, as Carragher lunged at Nani’s knee.

I’m pretty sure Carragher doesn’t have what it takes to be a surgeon, but it looked as if he was ready to change the bone structure of the Portuguese winger, who unfortunately did himself no favour by getting back up and retaliating back at Carra, before deciding to shed a couple bucket of tears for the Anfield groundsmen to wash away.

As a fellow footballer, it’s disconcerting to see tackles flying in like that, and despite his antics, I hope Nani recovers well.

Evidently, Carra didn’t deserve to stay on, but he did, and all his toned down tackles afterwards showed how bad he must have felt, because with 2 goals up, it was a needless challenge, high up on the pitch.

And then there was the Rafael issue, who decided to take matters into his own hand, after Maxi’s boot grazed his thigh, lounging two-footed at a tumbling Lucas.

It’s as if the already retired Gary Neville has instructed the young italian well on his duties for a Liverpool-Man U game.

It’s unfortunate that a few good goals were overshadowed by the ugly side, but let’s hope that these ‘professionals’ realise that it’s still just a game after all.

3-1 to Liverpool, after Kuyt bagged his first hattrick since 2005 and Giggs crossed for Chicarito to head home a consolatory goal.

That Suarez walked the pitch as if he’s Tevez possessed, that Carroll received his introduction, that the Anfield crowd sang to their hearts content, it seems that brighter days are destined for this once dominating, but still illustrious club.

Still fighting strong for the last stretch of games, as always and still a chance for that Champions League spot lingers on, but I have a feeling that it’s ours to win, than for the top 4 to lose.

It’s a Red thing, and I’m back people.

–

Apologies to any readers who’ve been disappointed by the lack of updates to this site. Now that Roy Hodgson and the owners the gloom doom has been evicted, my personal boycott has ended, and I’m back writing. Thank you Dalglish, for giving me back the inspiration. Heh, it’s a red thing.

And of course I believed that a win was on the cards for us, but I also believe that the owner won’t be too pleased with the manner of our conceded goal by ex-Liverpoolman, El-Hadji Diouf.

You gotta give it to Roy Hodgson for having the cheeks and guts to claim the owner’s inevitable elation, oh really?

Thanks to Rover’s lack of pressing by it’s midfielders, Liverpool received plenty of invitation to test their makeshift defence, and they were sparred the horror of a thrashing only by the nearly impressive Robinson.

Also nearly impressive, yet again, was Joe Cole and Meireles’ constant running and prodding, as well as Jamie Carragher’s and Kyrgiakos’ forays into Rover’s penalty box.

You could say that the Liverpool backline was never really tested by the lone Kalinic, and the isolated Benjani, and yet we managed to concede the softest of soft goals.

The ball trickling towards the center of the penalty area, before Diouf’s shot was blocked and deflected into the goal for the equaliser, despite Reina’s palm getting a little bit of action along the way.

And before you know it, Torres drifts away from his makeshift marker, and cooly slots it past a helpless Robinson for his first goal in many, many games.

Funny, I actually couldn’t recall when his last few goals for the club were~

Ahhhh, finally a decent attacking performance as that winning sensation creeps back and you could never really argue when it’s 3 points in the bag.

Then again, with the tough-tackling, physically demanding team in the shape of Bolton next, you wonder if enough is being done here, and if we’ll slip back into our shells?

Hmmm, I can’t help but wonder why we didn’t exactly tore Rovers apart.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt — will somebody please mention that to Roy, please?

Please?

Especially after an abject performance (personnel-ly and tactically yet again) and a titanic loss of two goals to nothing against Everton, sworn enemies by pious supporters who sit on either side of the fence.

Dear affable Roy, how can a loss to your derby rivals be branded as “best performance“?

Dear amusive Roy. how can a return of 6 points out of a possible 24 be quipped as “I don’t feel it to be a crisis” ?

Dear readers, it is just not right anymore, isn’t it – at least not for supporters of Liverpool FC and definitely not for the new American owners, who decided to sit in a week earlier than planned, only to witness a massacre and a crisis in the making.

That’s right, a crisis indeed, and I hope Roy is reading this (Hmmm, why I do get the feeling that even if he ever did, he’ll probably brush it off with ‘The team is performing really well and I won’t get too excited nor lose sleep over the situation. I’m disappointed, but we did well.’ ?)

Lightweightpool, I mean Liverpool were easily brushed aside for both of Everton’s well taken goals, but Roy had other muses “I refuse to accept that we were in any way outplayed or inferior.” and if this is not a clear sign of a man who’s both in denial and isolation, then what is?

It was disheartening to see Lucas and Meireles getting decked by a plundering Yakubu or a scintillating run by Cahill.

Gone are the days when going past a Liverpool player meant getting hacked down or getting stolen off the ball, where a certain Mascherano would harass you, or a certain Alonso/Hamman most definitely professionally-fouled you, or a certain Riise/Hyppia that was simply just impassable.

What is this Schadenfreude that Roy and Co are basking in, and are they undercover agents, Evertonians in disguise, because by the weight (or lack of it) of their performance, this IS how a relegation contender looks like.

Goals by Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta shed light on Liverpool’s misery and false dawn, after an exhausting (and still lingering) acrimonious takeover, but it’s good to note that both goals were conceded after a poor headed clearance.

Did you take note Roy, because I remember Rafa loved taking down notes — that’s what good students do right? Good or bad, who knows, but at the very least, we see action being taken, and they don’t wait until the 71st (Ngog for Lucas), 79th (Babel for Cole) and 84th (Jovanovic for Maxi) minutes to be taken.

If we can’t defend (13 goals conceded in 8 games!), then why aren’t we attacking with intent, and this much I’ll bargain with you, that offence is the best defence, that if you play to Torres and Gerrard’s strength, they’ll win you games.

Worry less about losing and care more about winning, that’s all I can ask for as a Liverpudlian.

Let me quickly share with you the theory of denial that consists of the stages:
1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Depressedly, I have reached acceptance that this team is not as good as it should be, and that there are utmost priorities to be taken care of (like having an attacking manager for once, and there’s one who happens to actually idle within the Liverpool youth setup~).

Most people are unprepared for grief, since tragedy strikes without warning, but this is a case where the tip of the iceberg is glaringly staring you in the face, and yet little is done to change the course of this Red ship.

Oh Dear Roy, if perhaps you’re thinking that the ship won’t sink, then may I remind you that Denial is indeed not just a river in Egypt.

John W Henry is the poster boy of New England Sports Ventures, or NESV, and let not the inclusion of ‘England’ in the name fool you into thinking that it’s an English company, but this wiki article should satisfy all your questions on the man himeself.

However I’ll tell you this much, that this news of LFC’s agreed sale to NESV is damnedly the best news I’ve heard in weeks, it’s like free music in my ears, like bad-boy Napster (before it became good-boy Napster).

So what if Roy Hodgson and his ‘small club’ mentality is staying on, the Texan tumour has been operated on and removed, and while we recuperate, perhaps there’s more time for the manager to weave his magic.

But the best piece of news that I’ve read of John Henry, is that he is a big sports fan, and he’s a 1 club sports fan, which means he truly undestands what it means to be a supporter of a great club.

And from a sports fan to another sports fan, cheers~

On another note, it seems Martin Broughton and Christian Purslow ain’t so bad after all, although I’m still bitter at the way they handled Rafa Benitez’s exit.

Anyway, can’t stay grumpy for now. Gotta celebrate the exodus of the Texan Tumours.

Aww, he shouldn’t have, but kudos for having the guts to even talk about it.

What form of apology have we heard from Roy Hodgson for these past 3 months huh?

Diabolically lazy and insipidly uninspiring, Liverpool’s first half was best forgotten.

Losing Torres to a 10th minute injury, is not a reason for another lost, as he’s yet to hit any semblance of a goal-scoring machine this season.

I wonder if he spent his time on the field pondering on his fortunes had he chose to jump ship pre-season.

Glen Johnson’s lazy defending meant Varney was allowed to sneak towards the middle, fouling him in the process, conceding the penalty, which Reina guessed correctly and nearly saved yet again.

When it rains, it pours, as Charlie Adam mammothly scored against a backdrop of stunned, and possibly angry, Kopites.

Just when you thought Blackpool had done enough to weather the storm until half-time, Varney’s unchecked run through the middle doubled their lead, as the half ended seconds later with boos ringing around anfield.

In the build up to that goal, Liverpool’s ambling midfielders and defenders ambled nonchalantly.

Last season at Fulham, you’d see players diving and blocking at every opportunity, so what’s the story, eh?

The boos were starting to get as common as Liverpool’s resurgence after the break.

Liverpool responded well and gave Blackpool, whom were now retreating into their less attacking mode, a few scares.

Ian Holloway may acknowledge that his team’s defending frailties needs no suggestion from the maulings received at the hands of Arsenal and Chelsea, but against a toothless Liverpool attack, they shined.

When Ngog sent his header wide and Kyrgiakos powered a bullet into the back of the net on 53 minutes, you’d think that Liverpool was well on their way towards another comeback.

It’s a cause for concern when your center-back is arguably your most potent attacking option.

It’s also a major cause for concern when you put the club’s most trusted centerback on the left, considering that you have a certain Martin Kelly on the bench.

Liverpool may have gained ascendancy from the goal, but I’ve lost count of the number of wasted chances, mistimed passes and the fortunate occasions where Blackpool failed to grab their thrid goal, not undeservingly of course.

I wonder if Ian Holloway will apologise for his team’s poor conversion of chances now?

Wait, who’s the one who played attacking midfielders as wingers, centerbacks as leftbacks, and brought in defensive players when the team is crying for that 1 single potent goalscoring machine or goals-assisting toy?

Who’s the one that decides on a 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation when the team is clearly in dire need for goals?

Who’s the one that sits in the press conference room on a cushy chair within an air-conditioned room, lashing out at the media claiming “maybe six points isn’t so bad after all.“?

Being a Red’s fan myself, I’ll hold my heads up high, still, when we walk through the storm.

Wait, this is not a storm at all, it’s a catastrophe, but it’s okay, no apologies required Roy, and though I offer no knee-jerk reaction (like changing managers and such) to this result, I have to say that I do miss a certain Spaniard’s battling and unrelenting enthusisam.

But it’s okay Roy, it’s okay Hicks and Gillett, it’s okay.

Just walk on..

If there’s one sure thing to Liverpool’s game these days it’s how consistent they’ve become, and how lucky they are to get even a point.

Let’s not talk about how consistent the boardroom/ownership drama is getting shall we?

As always they start brightly, concede domination after 20minutes to the opposing team, allow a few scary moments in our own penalty box, and be really poor with our final ball to the strikers to make them look like they’re struggling to come back to match fitness and end the half abjectly.

So many times did Meireles, as did Joe Cole after receiving the ball in a good area, hopelessly flick it off or lay it to Torres neither with conviction nor direction, and both performed direly.

So many times did Liverpool’s midfielders dribble, dribble, and dribble for far too long when a simple lay off to a teammate, followed by a lung busting off-the-ball run in the hope of getting a return through-ball, was really all that was required.

On paper, and in the first 15minutes, Liverpool were a force to be reckoned, and I say this not just historically or via paper rounds, as FC Utrecht trotted onfield likened to a bunch of groupies in their idol’s presence.

But the magical dust from Liverpool’s players soon wore off, FC Utrecht played as brilliantly as they could, and Liverpool were subjects of a disallowed goal, a veritable (Carragher-induced) penalty claim and a showcase of football that plays to the tune of “The team’s only as strong as it’s weakest link”.

FC Utrecht’s attacking intent grew with every shot that’s denied by the visitors and their weakest link was probably the first few minutes of mesmerization, while Liverpool’s laboured and clueless gameplan was exhibited excessively by individual unforced errors, the proverbial weak link of the night.

If this was a game of Chess, Liverpool seemed intent on playing their pieces like a game of Checkers and if this was a University lecture they’d be working extra hard accomodating Murphy’s law over and over again — nearly everything was horrendously wrong.

Still Roy probably got the formation right, but alas, the personnel was a little bit off, as yet again the players don’t seem to really know when the other is making the runs or simply where they are.

It was too easy for me to name Dirk Kuyt as Liverpool’s outstanding player of the night for his extremely efficient possession play, positional runs into the channels and constant harrassing, as nearly the rest of the squad were as if they were on autopilot, devoid even of the basic space opening maneuver of a simple pass-return-pass play.

That Torres is still finding his feet on his own in a team where it’s midfielders are determined not to get the ball to his feet, and instead hellbent on either dribling the ball on their own before unleashing a weak longshot or attempting a half-hearted, meek layoff for the striker to chase wildly.

Liverpool would have to consider themselves as miraculously lucky if they were to get the opening goal, while Utrecht would have to consider themselves terribly unlucky to not get their first goal against an English opposition on an European night.

It wasn’t so much as 2 points lost by the so called superior visitors, but rather a fortuitous 1 point fetched, snatching 2 points away from the ambitious home team, led by the composed and immensely potential Wolfswinkle at the front, who really reminded me of a certain young Spaniard whom was made captain of Atletico Madrid when he was barely in his early 20s.

I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see the young man getting snapped by the likes of Bayern, Milan or Chelsea in time to come, because he is that good, where I reckon he’s possibly worth as much as 15 to 20 Million?

Laudable pricetag indeed, but his performance definitely warranted such a pricetag and Hodgson’s earlier interest on his head as his movements and teamplay was near perfect on the night, but having said that, Utrecht’s teamplay was near perfect for the night.

Teamplay, a vocabulary that’s probably missing from Liverpool’s training camp, and if this woe continues, even if it’s 1 point and it’s against newly promoted Blackpool next week, I’ll gladly take em with open arms.

European nights are often enjoyable nights for any travelling Reds fan, and it’s somewhat given that Liverpool FC enjoys their European trips more than anything.

Make no mistake, this is a very important game, not just in terms of footballing and financial reasons but also in terms of personal vindication for Liverpool’s modest manager and modest attacking frontline.

Well, maybe mostly the manager’s.

12 games on, 6 victories, 3 draws and 3 defeats is an ordinary record for any manager to have on their CV for the first 6 weeks.

Indeed, it’s a slipshod indication that Roy Hodgson is turning out to be an ordinary manager after all.

In fact, he’s turning out to be an extraordinarily ordinary, with an extraordinary team that’s made to perform ordinarily.

Ton Du Chatinier mentioned that he’s not afraid, as any respectable manager would and I’d expect Roy to feel the same, but something about his previous’ intent on sticking to a defensive line-up in away games tells me that I shouldn’t be too optimistic for a 4-3-3 line-up that boasts of Babel, Torres and Kuyt upfront.

I’m probably dreaming if I ever see them three in a 4-3-3 forward line-up.

A dream that I’d long for, but one that FC Utrecht wouldn’t want to see.

Sure Celtic were disposed off clinically, but we’re talking about Liverpool here. Then again, if Northampton can do it (so what if it’s a second team then), then anyone can do it, and FC Utrecht will need no other motivation to do well in front of their 25,000  home fans and in their first ever European encounter with an English team.

As for Liverpool FC, I don’t know what motivates the team anymore.

It don’t seem to be the manager, it’s definitely not the owner, and it’s disappointingly not the new signings as well.

Oh heck, for the club’s sake, I just wish that the players will simply start enjoying the beautiful game itself, that is to pass smoothly, play with each other and simply run for each other.

It’s been a while since they’re seen enjoying a string of decent passes, running around their opponent’s camp.

That’s right, stop trying too hard, and instead enjoy your football tonight, dear Reds.

It’s an European night after all.

Last year at the stadium of light, a beachball knocked Red’s lights out, so I guess we’ll have to be thankful that Beachball Boy didn’t bring along his toys home this time around eh — Or should I? At least back then there was the beach ball to lay blame on, and I’m far more comfortable with that actually.

Earlier in the year, last season in the same fixture, Liverpool ran rampant at Anfield with a resounding 3-0 victory as they chased for the 4th spot, but what happened in this recent game huh? Especially when you mildly notice that the players fielded were largely similar.

Hmmm… Let’s compare:

MARCH 2010: Liverpool 3 – Sunderland 0
Reina
Johnson – Carragher – Agger – Insua
Maxi Rodriguez – Mascherano – Gerrard – Babel
Kuyt – Torres

SEPTEMBER 2010: Liverpool 2 – Sunderland 2
Reina
Johnson – Carragher – Skrtel – Konchesky
Kuyt – Poulsen – Gerrard – Cole
Meireles – Torres

Okay, on paper, the recent game’s line-up seemed much more stronger but seriously, how did 3-0 turned to 2-2 in less than a year? I know I’m merely correlating when I say that Liverpool’s performance is depreciating with every passing week. Well isn’t that the truth and isn’t that how it all really feels?

Correct me please but have Hoy been training the boys to return the ball to the opposition with a wayward pass at every single feeble attacking intent or what? Or has he instructed the flanks to never try cross from the flanks, and instead pass it backwards or try to work from the middle, which usually leads to another stray ball and another counter attack form the gleefully marauding Black Cats? Joe Cole and Meireles tried too hard, Torres claimed petulance and Carragher and Skrtel couldn’t find a better time to put their heads together to resolve Liverpool’s aeriel fragility at the back.

In a game that’s beginning to gain notoriety for freakish goals, perhaps the referee, Attwell, were a little bit generous in allowing the opening goal to stand, and the incident was, but one of the few contentious decisions made in the game. The Black Cats thoroughly deserved their equalizer and lead, both a testament to the quality that is the enigma, Darren Bent. Why did he have to turn it on during Liverpool’s game, just like what a certain Bulgarian did last weekend, huh?

May I point out that I’d prefer to see Agger, who has yet to start a league game ever since his concussion, over Skrtel, who actually did well to (almost Agger-like) dribble-cum-shot some time in the second half. I have a hunch that Carragher is much more comfortable with Agger beside him, but Hoy’s the boss and it’s his team, so when Bent steals in for the lead, we really can’t blame Carra+Skrtel who again displayed Liverpool’s deficiency in the air, at the back. We saw it against Birmingham, Man Utd and now, Sunderland.

I’ll keep this simple: Restore. Agger. Please.

For long periods of the game, it seemed as if Liverpool were the visiting team, as Sunderland pressed well and exhibited plenty of confidence whenever they surged forward, a sign of a team that’s been nurtured to play with extreme discipline and to attack fearlessly. Thanks to Steve Bruce’s combative tenure, a loyal disciple of the effervescent Sir Alex.

Thankfully, Gerrard adjusted himself extremely well to head home the equalizer, but still you could never be sure of what would happen next as Liverpool were made to chase the game right to the dying seconds of the game, and not surprising so. Steve Bruce’s men never stopped harrying and running, while Hodgson’s men continuously huffed and puffed at a brick wall.

Yet another scrappy Liverpool performance, yet another game where the ageing Captain is made to work extra hard, and yet another week that goes by where Reds fans everywhere just can’t seem to allay the stormy clouds in the horizon. It’s getting dark, the tunnel is constricting and the current mood isn’t any better than last weekend’s.

Nevertheless, Gerrard’s inspirational form has definitely been encouraging. Ah, there’s light at the end of the tunnel after all…

Wait a minute, or is that light really just the incoming RBS train?

This post is a replica of Author’s blogpost at MySoccerPlace.

What happened Liverpool? Sure you were consistent — in making stray passes, in failing to block crosses, and in failing to create any telling opportunities in United’s half that is. We were bad, just awful, and at this moment I’m not sure if it’s the players’ fault or the manager’s pickings that should be blamed. Or the looming boardroom implications even.

It was a bit of a shock really to see Liverpool pull off a comeback to level the game at 2-2. Liverpool were extremely languid and placid, while Man Utd were all over the pitch, eager to spray anything towards Reina’s goal at every single opportunity, as they magnificiently raced into a two goals lead. Two really well taken goals, both sublime and majestic finishes from Berbatov. Man Utd were enjoying and bossing the game, at least until Gerard pulled a goal back via a penalty.

Gerrard’s second set piece goal, following Torres’ fouling just outside the area, was fortuitous, in the sense that the wall refused to jump and block, as the ball leaked through into the back of the net. It seemed like another fairytale comeback, of which Liverpool have fallen synonymous with during recent years, and this ironically during a game where forward runs and taking shots at goal were the last thing on Liverpool’s collective minds.

Oh heck, even defending properly were the last thing on Liverpool’s mind too, and not until Agger came in for Konchesky did we see Reina’s front four trying to get physical with Man Utd’s forwards, but it’s all a little too late huh? I couldn’t recall a cross being blocked, apart from a Johnson chase-down of Giggs attempted cross late in the game, but other than that, it seemed as if the flanks were intent to let their central defence handle everything — a move that would be little cause for alarm if a certain Bulgarian wasn’t in his man-of-the-match mood, but oh how in the mood he was.

In all honesty, Man Utd didn’t deserve to lose two points, and Berbatov’s exquisite form was deserving of a victory, although you may have a case if you brought to the table, Nani’s theatrics and O’Shea’s Irish luck when he was the last man to foul Torres just outside the area. Guess what? It was O’Shea’s cross that found Berbatov’s winner and you can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he was given his marching orders. Perhaps Howard Webb wasn’t about to face the music if he had sent the defender off, especially after having the audacity to call for a penalty moments earlier.

The scoreline may have flattered Liverpool more than they deserved and with boardroom shake-ups on the horizon, this result may well be the last thing on Liverpudlians’ mind as well. Three points in the bag for the team that badly wanted to win it, and I’m here wondering if it could possibly be the new signings’ lack of appreciation and motivation in this ‘Daddy of Derby’, as coined by Sir Alex.

Post is a replica of blogpost on MySoccerPlace.Net’s from Author.