Anyway, I see the team sheet and there are two things I disagreed with! Firstly as I have always said I would play Clichy over Kolarov every time at left back. As although he has improved significantly (especially at centre back) Kolarov always has a mistake in him, like against Spurs away. Then the game starts and they look well up for it pressuring us constantly and then from that pressure what happens what a surprise Kolarov makes not one mistake but two and they are in the lead! Who would have thought that might happen hey! The new revitalised Kolarov is still a utility player at best, not a starter for a big away game if everyone else is fit and even if you were to start him, only start him at centre back!
Secondly, I disagreed with starting Sterling here, as I don't think he has the composure for the hatred! If you look at his character he is nervous and insecure in front of goal and very much a fragile confidence player, he is not someone who can block it all out regardless and for that reason don't play him. Something again I was proven right by as the crowd and his counterpart Milner kept him on a tight leash - A player I use to love and feel sorry for in equal measures that I now hate and wish no good for in equal measures! As for me he had a lot of supporters at City who he should have just acted with a bit of decorum with! I wish we still had him and if you look up my really old post I always said he would make a great holding midfielder or fullback, for how much better is he than Kolarov! More fool us but like I say just a shame he acted like a bit of a little baby when it all played out, I guess he is a Yorkshireman though!!!!!!
Back to the game anyway! Liverpool continue to press us for all the first half and we never looked comfortable on the ball. Apart from the two selection mistakes mentioned above the rest of the team was how I would have had it, but then the next main problem was 'Kev' just didn't turn up for there was nothing royal about his performance. Indeed when he first came to us and hit the ground running I remember someone saying that his only downfall is he is known for going missing in away games and this was definitely the case here! Unable to stamp any authority on the game he was eventually marginalised to the wing in favour of Silva. With the only other question I ask myself here being if Yaya hadn't apologised and we had no other choice would we be better off with both Kev and Silva in the middle supported by Fernandhinio and then have two out and out wingers in Navas and Nolito for this match. My mind says maybe!
However at half time, like the Arsenal game I still had belief as Liverpool would definitely tire for no one can play at that tempo, and tire they did! Indeed I have also heard Klopp's teams do this in games and seasons as he eventually runs them out of energy with his tactics. Unfortunately though we are in a little bit of a funk and we couldn't capitalise on this or our pressure/possession and their tired legs were able to just hang on to their goal.
In conclusion not the best, but not the end of the world as yet and definitely fixable, but then you hear the witch hunt in the media and again I am drawn to the poison that surrounds us as a club from the outside. Hopefully though that just makes the strong get closer, hunker down and work harder together!
Finally, great to see Vinney in the crowd!
The couch, my house.
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