Judging by Mourinho's face at the end of the match I think he was actually relieved to have lost. I suspect he is happy to be rid of the burden of constant speculation about whether they could remain unbeaten all season. Of course that speculation started ridiculously early. Several other teams have managed to avoid defeat in their first 14 games without such speculation.

Agreed. When United went undefeated until February in 10/11 season I don't remember it being so discussed to the point of Chelsea's this season (and it's only December this time!)

Edited December 7, 201410 yr by Dobbo

Agreed. When United went undefeated until February in 10/11 season I don't remember it being so discussed to the point of Chelsea's this season (and it's only December this time!)

 

That United team was pretty poor looking at it objectively, it seemed like a matter of time before they were beaten (think it was Wolves that beat them, which says it all!)

 

Chelsea this season seem the best team in the league and with Jose as manager, people had more reason to believe they'd go unbeaten. His record against the big teams in unmatched, so it was likely to be one of the other teams that would beat them.

Man Utd I just don't know about. I've not really watched them enough, but Di Maria aside I think their attacking options are massively overrated. Van Persie is really struggling, and their defence and midfield is still awful. I think they will miss out again personally, they've still too many cracks in their team.

 

Even so, they managed to quite convincingly defeat Liverpool today!

Even so, they managed to quite convincingly defeat Liverpool today!

 

If you call that a convincing performance then we must be watching a different game!

 

Both teams are utterly useless. Difference was Man Utd didn't make awful defensive mistakes, had a great goalkeeper and crucially, took their (gifted) chances. When you play without a striker you have to be clinical, which Liverpool were anything but. Makes me cry how we have gone from being splendid to shite in 6 months. For that I blame the manager.

People say Rodgers should be given time, but he's had a good few months now to at least show that we're improving. Since August, I can probably only count 1 or 2 games where we have actually performed to a good standard

 

I don't buy the media spin that the buys in the summer were poor either. We probably would have been better off going out and spending the money on a Di Maria or a Sanchez, but another manager would be getting more out of the players we currently have

People say Rodgers should be given time, but he's had a good few months now to at least show that we're improving. Since August, I can probably only count 1 or 2 games where we have actually performed to a good standard

 

I don't buy the media spin that the buys in the summer were poor either. We probably would have been better off going out and spending the money on a Di Maria or a Sanchez, but another manager would be getting more out of the players we currently have

Exactly. He's not shown himself to be able to get the best out of players like Markovic, let alone Balotelli.

 

Has Carrick actually retired from international football? If not then he surely must be in the next squad.

People say Rodgers should be given time, but he's had a good few months now to at least show that we're improving. Since August, I can probably only count 1 or 2 games where we have actually performed to a good standard

 

I don't buy the media spin that the buys in the summer were poor either. We probably would have been better off going out and spending the money on a Di Maria or a Sanchez, but another manager would be getting more out of the players we currently have

 

The thing is though everyone can see the problem - defensive issues (mainly individual errors), and we have no striker with pace who can push the defenders back 10 yards. All our flair players need space, and they've not been given any. Sacking Rodgers is ok, but who do we get? Klopp maybe just to piss Arsenal fans off :D

The same things have happened the last two times Liverpool have finished second. In 2002 and 2009, they finished second and all the fans deluded themselves that they'd push on. Both times they made bad signings (e.g. Diouf, Diao, Aquilani) and regressed back to normal. In 2002/2003 and 2009/2010 they were knocked out in the Champions League group stage and failed to quafily for the Champions League. Parrells to this season, no!?

 

Funny how the same things keep happening to Liverpool, amusing for the neutral though :lol:

Edited December 16, 201410 yr by ML Hammer95

The same things have happened the last two times Liverpool have finished second. In 2002 and 2009, they finished second and all the fans deluded themselves that they'd push on. Both times they made bad signings (e.g. Diouf, Diao, Aquilani) and regressed back to normal. In 2002/2003 and 2009/2010 they were knocked out in the Champions League group stage and failed to quafily for the Champions League. Parrells to this season, no!?

 

Funny how the same things keep happening to Liverpool, amusing for the neutral though :lol:

 

Disagree that they're bad signings, they're just not the right ones. At least half of them are prospects for the future, and will in time become good players. Just you play them when the team's playing badly and they regress. The key issue is the ones that were meant to be first teamers (Lovren/Balotelli mainly) have just not worked out. Add that to the defence losing faith in the keeper it's a recipe for disaster. Truthfully we never bought a replacement for Suarez. I never expected us to challenge for the league again this season, but the least I would have hoped for is to finish in Top 4 again. Still a long time to go, but really need to pick up form ASAP.

I'm hoping Liverpool stick with Rodgers, I still think had Sturridge been available for Liverpool they would at least be 10 points better off.

Disagree that they're bad signings, they're just not the right ones. At least half of them are prospects for the future, and will in time become good players. Just you play them when the team's playing badly and they regress. The key issue is the ones that were meant to be first teamers (Lovren/Balotelli mainly) have just not worked out. Add that to the defence losing faith in the keeper it's a recipe for disaster. Truthfully we never bought a replacement for Suarez. I never expected us to challenge for the league again this season, but the least I would have hoped for is to finish in Top 4 again. Still a long time to go, but really need to pick up form ASAP.

 

You have a point, Dalglish's much criticised transfers in summer 2011 had many flops like Adam and Downing. He did sign Henderson too and he's come good. Obviously some of the younger ones will come good eventually, but a player isn't immune from being a bad signing just because he's young!

 

When I saw Liverpool play at Upton Park this season, I wasn't impressed at all and Sterling seemed the only player with something about him. They deserved to lose to us and the alarm bells should have been ringing then.

 

I'm hoping Liverpool stick with Rodgers, I still think had Sturridge been available for Liverpool they would at least be 10 points better off.

 

Easily, some of the 0-0 games we've had we would have probably scored. We miss him dearly, but him coming back won't solve all the problems.

 

You have a point, Dalglish's much criticised transfers in summer 2011 had many flops like Adam and Downing. He did sign Henderson too and he's come good. Obviously some of the younger ones will come good eventually, but a player isn't immune from being a bad signing just because he's young!

 

When I saw Liverpool play at Upton Park this season, I wasn't impressed at all and Sterling seemed the only player with something about him. They deserved to lose to us and the alarm bells should have been ringing then.

 

We were played off the park at Upton Park that day, and we weren't expecting it. I don't think we've ever recovered from that horrific first 7 minutes. Shame really, but I've no doubt we will find our feet again soon.

This is a good piece by a Croatian journalist on Lovren, and why he's been an unsuccessful signing so far.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2294024...of-dejan-lovren

 

I think Rodgers has spectacularly failed this season, his team selections, tactics and just some of the stuff he says. There's so much that's coming to backfire as well too, and it's alright saying they should've spent more on less, better signings, have they not been rejected by Sanchez, Mkhitaryan, Fabregas etc.?

 

I can quite easily see whatever team he puts out tomorrow getting knocked out at Bournemouth.

Edited December 16, 201410 yr by RabbitFurCoat

We were played off the park at Upton Park that day, and we weren't expecting it. I don't think we've ever recovered from that horrific first 7 minutes. Shame really, but I've no doubt we will find our feet again soon.

 

Nobody at West Ham expected it either :lol:

 

Its provided a real springboard for us this season though, by contrast to Liverpool.

 

That Bournemouth Liverpool match is gonna be very interesting, upset waiting to happen it seems.

 

This is a good piece by a Croatian journalist on Lovren, and why he's been an unsuccessful signing so far.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2294024...of-dejan-lovren

 

I think Rodgers has spectacularly failed this season, his team selections, tactics and just some of the stuff he says. There's so much that's coming to backfire as well too, and it's alright saying they should've spent more on less, better signings, have they not been rejected by Sanchez, Mkhitaryan, Fabregas etc.?

 

I can quite easily see whatever team he puts out tomorrow getting knocked out at Bournemouth.

 

To be honest I think there's more than meets the eyes. Lots coming out in the press, obviously being leaked by Rodgers people about the transfer committee. Obviously te official line is we were rejected by some players, but seems like for a few cases we messed around, and other teams just came and swooped in.

 

I think we will beat Bournemouth. Cups will be our bred & butter this season.

Am I alone in thinking Liverpool will somehow stumble through the Europa League and end up winning the thing? If they do, they qualify for the Champions League.

Am I alone in thinking Liverpool will somehow stumble through the Europa League and end up winning the thing? If they do, they qualify for the Champions League.

 

Well it's what we should be concentrating on now, but I'm not sure Rodgers has the tactical know-how to play in Europe. Not that I'm going to criticise him for it, will probably take him a few more seasons yet.

The thing is though everyone can see the problem - defensive issues (mainly individual errors), and we have no striker with pace who can push the defenders back 10 yards. All our flair players need space, and they've not been given any. Sacking Rodgers is ok, but who do we get? Klopp maybe just to piss Arsenal fans off :D

Have we not always had defensive issues under Rodgers though? I'm not convinced he knows how to set up a team defensively and once the goals dry up, that is a major flaw

 

Klopp please for the amusement factor

Manchester City really chucked away a great opportunity yesterday against Burnley!