"You'll Never Walk Alone" - de Official Liverpool thread

[Bakes]

Just to add:  That pass by Gerrard to Sturridge was world class.  Yes, he's playing in a deeper role, but he will just get the opportunity to showcase his repertoire of passes.

The technique necessary to pull that off is stunning... simple as it looks.  He hit that with the outside of his right foot, with english on it to both deaden the ball and put it into Sturridge's path.  Say nothing of putting the right weight on it, and direction sufficient to split the defense.

[asylumseeker]

Just watching the volley again.  How the hell did Suarez generate that sort of power with that little backlift?

Yuh see Balo's goal versus Bologna? World-class. Reminds me of a comment made by Avram Grant about Nico Anelka.

[Bitter]

I was about to write this game off after 5 minutes, but all of a sudden a football game broke out.

[Bitter]

I trying to leave the house, but this game just keeps getting better.
Skrtel finally get ketch pulling somebody down in the box.

[elan]

The hypocrisy of the footballing world.



'Problems' have made Suarez better



Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez insists that Luis Suarez’s controversial Premier League career has made him one of the world’s best players.

Liverpool striker Suarez has been involved in numerous incidents during his time in the English top-flight. In 2011, he was handed an eight-game ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra.

In April 2013, Suarez was given another suspension -- this time for ten matches -- after he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a 2-2 draw at Anfield before the 27-year-old attempted to engineer a move away from Liverpool last summer.

However, Tabarez believes that the incidents have only made Suarez a better player -- and he indicated the striker will show it in England’s 2014 World Cup group game against Uruguay on June 19.

“Suarez has always been a major part of Uruguay since he started in the under-20s,” Tabarez said in the Mirror.

“He made the breakthrough in 2007 into the senior squad. He’s developed and evolved a lot obviously in the time since -- especially in his attitude and his competitive spirit as well as his skills.

“I put that down to what’s happened to him in England. Maybe it’s partly, or mainly down to all the problems he has had. He’s come through difficult times. He’s kept going when it was difficult. He has a strong head.

“He will be ready for England and so will Uruguay. We’re looking forward to it, and to our other group games against Italy and Costa Rica.

“For us Suarez is a really important player, of course. I don’t want to tell you any more than that because we don’t put any extra responsibility on him for the team’s success. It is a collective thing.

“The contribution he gives us is very important but we don’t need to ask for anything extra from him or from any of the other important players.

“We’re more focused on making sure we have the right feeling in the team. The World Cup is a team competition and great individual players like Suarez always need a team that can help them.”

On Friday, Suarez stated he was determined to help Liverpool earn a Champions League place for next season.

[elan]

5 subs, 2 goals and an injury stoppage = 3 minutes added on time only?

[Bakes]

Two stunning assists on Sturridge's goals... first Sterling's inch-perfect, outside of the boot curler around the back of the Swansea defense, followed by Suarez equally-accurate dime onto Sturridge's head, between two defenders.  Shelvey's response was stunning.  Swansea's other two goals were sketchy.  The free-kick (and yellow card) that never was, resulting in the jumbie deflection off Skrtel's shoulder.  The penalty I didn't see (functioning on 4 hours sleep after feting all night), but from the one replay and reports, it was soft... especially with a tank like Bony.  But considering what Skrtel has gotten away with this season, I guess that was always coming.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Avin3dew8I" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/9Avin3dew8I</a>

[Tallman]

The penalty I didn't see (functioning on 4 hours sleep after feting all night), but from the one replay and reports, it was soft... especially with a tank like Bony.  But considering what Skrtel has gotten away with this season, I guess that was always coming.

At first I thought it was ah soft penalty, but with de benefit of de replay ah would say de ref was correct. Skrtel didn't even have tuh raff Bony like dat.

[Bakes]

At first I thought it was ah soft penalty, but with de benefit of de replay ah would say de ref was correct. Skrtel didn't even have tuh raff Bony like dat.

Yeah I should change what I said (having not seen it) to say that reports are that it was soft... this replay is one of the only looks I get of it and it not clear enough for me to say what went on.  Skrtel has been playing with fire too often to not get burn... fair or not.  Good game for the neutral fan though... I literally try to ketch some sleep at halftime, wake up three minutes in and Swansea did done score.  LFC need to tighten up their defense... but the attack, man!  Hodgson must be rubbing his hands with glee at Sterling's emergence... that pass was incredible, perfect curve, perfect weight, perfect technique.

[Tenorsaw]

At first I thought it was ah soft penalty, but with de benefit of de replay ah would say de ref was correct. Skrtel didn't even have tuh raff Bony like dat.

Yeah I should change what I said (having not seen it) to say that reports are that it was soft... this replay is one of the only looks I get of it and it not clear enough for me to say what went on.  Skrtel has been playing with fire too often to not get burn... fair or not.  Good game for the neutral fan though... I literally try to ketch some sleep at halftime, wake up three minutes in and Swansea did done score.  LFC need to tighten up their defense... but the attack, man!  Hodgson must be rubbing his hands with glee at Sterling's emergence... that pass was incredible, perfect curve, perfect weight, perfect technique.

Rodgers sound like he losing patience with that backline.  I could see him buying two CBs again this summer:  let Toure ride off into the sunset, Let Skrtel go Napoli or whereever; give Llori a run in preseason and see how he does.  Gotta keep Sakho because he needs to be given more time, and he has done farily well, since joining.  But yesterday was the first time I really hear Rodgers really let his defenders know how he was feeling - at least publicly.

[elan]

Sturridge rel doing it.  Should be getting a bit more shine.

[Tenorsaw]

Sturridge rel doing it.  Should be getting a bit more shine.

People noticing....it is splashed all over the news.  In some ripping form right now.  Talent was always there, but he was never really nurtured in the right way.   Plus, he was at two clubs that are flush with cash to buy the best.

[kaliman2006]

Another huge win for the reds today in a game where Southampton had Liverpool's back four on their heels for the majority of the first half and the first ten minutes of the second.

That Sterling substitution definitely made the difference as Liverpool began dominating more in the midfield play.

Now into second.

There's a lot of football left to be played, but it is heartening to see Liverpool win games such as this, where the club was outplayed for such a significant portion of the match.

In past seasons, these games would have been draws or losses.

[Tenorsaw]

Another huge win for the reds today in a game where Southampton had Liverpool's back four on their heels for the majority of the first half and the first ten minutes of the second.

That Sterling substitution definitely made the difference as Liverpool began dominating more in the midfield play.

Now into second.

There's a lot of football left to be played, but it is heartening to see Liverpool win games such as this, where the club was outplayed for such a significant portion of the match.

In past seasons, these games would have been draws or losses.

couldn't have said it better.  We just have to take it one game at a time.  Not our most fluent display, but this team has typically neutralized our style.

[Bakes]

To say that we were outplayed by any significant degree is an exaggeration.  We dominated the first 10 mins, Southampton dominated the rest of the half.  They had the first 10 mins or so until we settled into a stalemate with them... then Suarez found Sturridge.  I wouldn't say that the substitution changed everything, but what it did was that it put pace right at the heart of the Soton midfield.  The real key was that Gerrard started playing tighter to Lallana who more or less disappeared in the second half after pulling strings all over the field for the Southampton attack in the first.  Good to see Suarez back on the scoresheet though... as Sturridge's streak ends at 8.

[Tenorsaw]

Been tooting Lallana's horn all season: Soton's best player and he deserves to go to Brazil ahead of men like Lampard.  Hope 'Pool put in a bid for him this summer.  Real upside potential for this fella.

[Bakes]

Been tooting Lallana's horn all season: Soton's best player and he deserves to go to Brazil ahead of men like Lampard.  Hope 'Pool put in a bid for him this summer.  Real upside potential for this fella.

Him and Luke Shaw are their two best young players... and that's saying a lot with the likes of Clyne, Schneiderlin and Ramirez on the roster.  Can't believe Shaw is only 18.  Agree with you that Lallana has earned a spot on the WC roster... as has Hodgson, apparently.

[Tenorsaw]

Doh forget England internationals Lambert and Jay Rodriguez....Soton been churning out these types of players for years, but had to sell when big teams came in, due to no Prem league football to offer:  Walcott, Ox Chamberlain, Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge...

[FF]

Doh forget England internationals Lambert and Jay Rodriguez....Soton been churning out these types of players for years, but had to sell when big teams came in, due to no Prem league football to offer:  Walcott, Ox Chamberlain, Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge...

Kenwyne Jones 

[asylumseeker]

Been tooting Lallana's horn all season: Soton's best player and he deserves to go to Brazil ahead of men like Lampard.  Hope 'Pool put in a bid for him this summer.  Real upside potential for this fella.

Frankly, I thought he should have put away one of those chances (the dummy that he seemed to hit tamely).  Aside from today's performance, in light of KC's passing, poignant that you mentioned him because he had arrythmia.

[asylumseeker]

Yow, Soton balled today ... until Sterling scored. (Was that his first touch of the match?)

[Tenorsaw]

Yow, Soton balled today ... until Sterling scored. (Was that his first touch of the match?)

If not his first, then his second.  Another fella that is growing in stature.  Imagine, Rodgers took off Coutinho, and put Sterling in the hole.  He's no longer a speedy, one-dimensional winger anymore; his passing and tactical acumen are developing well.

[Bitter]

I normaly like Tim Howard as a commentator, but he talking too much today.

[Bitter]

Raphael = Idiot

[Bitter]

Jones trying to make sure Raphael don't feel bad.

Game done.

[D.H.W]

This mudder c**t Moyes

[Bitter]

This mudder c**t Moyes

Moyes making them foul and handle the ball in the box?

[kaliman2006]

Gerrard has really been so clinical from the spot this season.

He really should be England's designated penalty taker for the world cup in Brazil.

[futbolfan]

I normaly like Tim Howard as a commentator, but he talking too much today.

My volume was turned down in the first ten minutes. Sounding like he had too much Starbucks this morning.

[D.H.W]

This mudder c**t Moyes

Moyes making them foul and handle the ball in the box?

Is always Moyes fault!