I'm not convinced that 'resting' Johnson and Balotelli should be included in complaints about fielding a weakened side. Johnson has been dire for longer than I can remember, and Balotelli is yet to really do anything to warrant a starting place.

My son and I both thought the game was similar to Chelsea v Shrewsbury last week - one team was clearly better and didn't really get out of 2nd gear but didn't play well and the plucky underdogs were happy to lose only by one goal.  The difference is that Shrewsbury actually went for it.  So there you have it, Liverpool accept that they are the plucky underdogs punching over their weight in the Champions League.  Ah well, at least it doesn't look like they'll have to worry about it next year.

I'm not convinced that 'resting' Johnson and Balotelli should be included in complaints about fielding a weakened side. Johnson has been dire for longer than I can remember, and Balotelli is yet to really do anything to warrant a starting place.

 

But Rodgers was happy to get shot of Borini this summer and it's only because he didn't want to move to Sunderland on a permanent deal that he is still at Liverpool.... So you can't say that in spite of Balotelli's indifferent form that Borini was Rodgers first choice to start against the current European Cup holders. 

 

Considering the money invested throughout the squad in the summer it's crazy that after almost 20 games played this season Rodgers is claiming he doesn't know what his best side is. 

I will admit that I think they played far better than I thought they would when I saw the line-up so good on the players that played. And honestly if the game was still 0-0 in the second half I can see why Rodgers didn't want to roll the dice and go for it. However, that wasn't the case. He was down 1 and needed a result. Why not throw some attackers on and see what happens? Why not break out from the defensive shape and have a go? That is what teams that park the bus do. They don't just sit behind the bus crying into their hands hoping it won't get worse. I honestly don't get it. When we went to Barcelona in 2012 we set up a defensive game and when we went down 1 we worked a counter attacking opportunity into a goal. Honestly, I saw no interest in making a chance from any of the Liverpool players and I think that has a lot to do with the initial squad selection which just screamed, "Please don't hurt us!"

It's laughable that the team who can't manage two games in four days expected us to play two big semi finals in the space of 48hrs.

Jesus, Arsenal Mania still uses Mysql 4

Well I use WD40.

I think Rogers is close to cracking.  Last season was a big chance for Liverpool.  They ran about with their chests puffed out proclaiming this was them back, this was them title contenders again and rightfully back in the CL.  Fast forward to the summer, and Rogers spends 120 million basically raiding Southampton.  Now, into the actual season, Southampton are, in a twist of beautiful irony, above them in the table, and Liverpool are being exposed that their good run last season in the Premiership was down to (git) Suarez, and the fact that they didn't have to play 2-3 games every week.

 

They're being exposed, and I think the sooner they're shot of Brendan the better for them... or keep him about, and we'll get a good laugh like we do with Wenger and Arsenal.

 

I can't help but think back to the pre-Liverpool conferences when Jose was being asked about "Liverpool deserving to win" the premiership, and "would it be good for football" and then one pillock asking about if they should win because of the Hillsborough anniversary....Jesus wept.  Anyway, I wonder if Jose will in the lead up to the Liverpool game, make comment about Liverpool not being able to handle the extra games?

I think Rogers is close to cracking.  Last season was a big chance for Liverpool.  They ran about with their chests puffed out proclaiming this was them back, this was them title contenders again and rightfully back in the CL.  Fast forward to the summer, and Rogers spends 120 million basically raiding Southampton.  Now, into the actual season, Southampton are, in a twist of beautiful irony, above them in the table, and Liverpool are being exposed that their good run last season in the Premiership was down to (git) Suarez, and the fact that they didn't have to play 2-3 games every week.

 

They're being exposed, and I think the sooner they're shot of Brendan the better for them... or keep him about, and we'll get a good laugh like we do with Wenger and Arsenal.

 

I can't help but think back to the pre-Liverpool conferences when Jose was being asked about "Liverpool deserving to win" the premiership, and "would it be good for football" and then one pillock asking about if they should win because of the Hillsborough anniversary....Jesus wept.  Anyway, I wonder if Jose will in the lead up to the Liverpool game, make comment about Liverpool not being able to handle the extra games?

 

Jose said it on more than one occasion that a big reason Liverpool were doing so well in the league was because they didn't have to play 2 games a week and that Rodgers didn't have to worry about managing the fitness of his squad so could pick his best team every week. 

 

It was mostly dismissed as Jose making excuses for his own short fallings in the league last season but on reflection he was right. 

 

He said that if he could sign the couple of players he needed, mainly forwards, then he would say he had no excuses for challenging for the title this season. 

 

So far he's been right about both. 

I think that, almost by default, Rodgers may have stumbled across a promising line up. I don't honestly know how committed RM were last night but (with that caveat) the scousers defended better than in recent PL games and had pace on the wings and in midfield. They were definately better without Gerrard; they seemed to have more options rather than everything seeming to go through Gerrard, when he plays.

Glen Johnson was not missed either.

Despite the loss, there was a zip about LFC that's been absent this season.

In dropping/resting established players, Rodgers was able to see what the squad members who are not getting PL games can bring to LFC. I don't reckon that this means much for LFC this season but, if Rodgers has the balls to drop players who are not performing, the squad might respond. What's he got to lose by trying?

Edited November 5, 201411 yr by Spudulike

Suarez bitching about our tactics against Liverpool last season...ha ha...nice to know it still hurts...wonder what he thought if his old teams tactics last night

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/luis-suarez-claims-chelsea-player-feared-being-dropped-by-jose-mourinho-over-chelsea-timewasting-against-liverpool-9841924.html

BREAKING: Grandma-face Warnock has been fined £9,000 and warned about his future conduct by the FA after the comments he made after Palace's game with us.

Jose said it on more than one occasion that a big reason Liverpool were doing so well in the league was because they didn't have to play 2 games a week and that Rodgers didn't have to worry about managing the fitness of his squad so could pick his best team every week. 

 

It was mostly dismissed as Jose making excuses for his own short fallings in the league last season but on reflection he was right. 

 

He said that if he could sign the couple of players he needed, mainly forwards, then he would say he had no excuses for challenging for the title this season. 

 

So far he's been right about both. 

 

Exactly, and I hope that Jose gets a chance to prove himself right (and Rogers wrong) in the upcoming press conferences.  However, I suspect he'll rise above it and let the table speak for itself 

 

actually...on second thoughts, I'm sure something will be brought up about Liverpool resting players ahead of our game with them, so expect some comments to be made (and then blown out of proportion) 

Edited November 5, 201411 yr by mad_mac

Just reading some of Rodgers interviews from last year. Love this gem "Look at Tottenham, you spend over £100-odd million you'd expect to be challenging for the league." A bit ironic!

 

He also said that if they didn't win the league last year they would mount an even stronger challenge the next season and only get stronger. That's gone well as well...   

Just reading some of Rodgers interviews from last year. Love this gem "Look at Tottenham, you spend over £100-odd million you'd expect to be challenging for the league." A bit ironic!

 

He also said that if they didn't win the league last year they would mount an even stronger challenge the next season and only get stronger. That's gone well as well...   

 

I wish someone would quote Rodgers in an interview and ask him about this quote from last season. He would probably just squirm and dodge the question

What is it with Manchester City in Europe?

What is it with Manchester City in Europe?

Them sheiks can't be happy - down to nine men and another CL campaign going down the river.

City - 2 points from 4 games, bottom of the group. They just cannot get to grips with Europe.

Manchester City have been knocked out of the Champions League.

 

http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=307433

Manchester City have been knocked out of the Champions League.

 

 

No they haven;'t

i don't think pelligroani will last much longer and i think he knows it!

i don't think pelligroani will last much longer and i think he knows it!

Yep. You can see it in he's face

Mourinho "I don't want to talk about Liverpool" (Walks away)

 

Mourinho "I don't want to talk about Liverpool" (Walks away)

 

 

Well he's the one who had a dig at them yesterday and then his teamed performed even worse, so if he doesn't want to, shouldn't have got involved.

Well that's City practically out of Europe.

 

I reckon that if they're well out of the title race by Christmas they'll sack Pellegrini, can bank on it.