0 voters
Unused subs: Kelleher, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Origi, R Williams, Phillips, N Williams
76’ Curtis JONES on Xherdan SHAQIRI
85’ Divock ORIGI on Roberto FIRMINO off
89’ James MILNER on Gini WIJNALDUM off
Meh.
Our friends from Salford arrived at Anfield top of the table and talking of the title. Anyone who has watched the Mancs objectively this season will know that their lofty position is down to one thing only: the generosity of the football authorities. Although United have had some fine sides over the years, this is not one of them; instead, this is a mid-table side with an erratic goalkeeper, a dodgy defence, a pedestrian midfield and inconsistent forwards being propelled to success by the officials.
Jürgen made just the one change from the team that surrendered meekly to Southampton in our last league game, with the lesser-spotted Shaqiri coming into the attacking midfield role in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain. This meant that the Henderson-Fabinho partnership continued at the heart of the defence, stripping our midfield of two valuable assets. Fortunately, Thiago made his first home start since joining from Bayern last summer.
A cagey start from both sides, with Robbo’s wild shot, which ended up in the car park, in the 14th minute the only thing of note early doors; Bobby shot wide from the edge of the box a few minutes later. Bobby had another shot blocked; Mo fired high, wide and not so handsome; Shaq curled over.
Fernandes hit a free kick over before Bobby shot tamely straight at De Gea; the half petered out to a very humdrum and disappointing end. Things might have been different had Mané slotted home as he raced through in stoppage time… but the ref blew five seconds early to make sure we didn’t take the lead.
As the players trudged off for their halftime oranges, the biggest concern for the home side was that they had spurned so many chances; on another day, we could have been two or three goals to the good. And, of course, we weren’t just facing the eleven men (well, nine plus those big girls Pogba and Fernandes) of the opposition but also the referee.
The second half wasn’t much better and it wasn’t until the 62nd minute, when Salah’s close-range poke goalwards was deflected wide for a corner, that anything noteworthy occurred. Fernandes shot straight at Alisson- the visitors’ first shot on target finally arrived in the 65th minute.
Our bearded Brazilian made a far better save with fifteen minutes left to play, sharply denying Fernandes with his feet, before Thiago tested De Gea with a 25-yarder; another effort a couple of minutes later from the same player drifted harmlessly wide.
Alisson thwarted Pogba in the 83rd minute, the Frenchman’s shot sweetly struck but straight at the ‘keeper. Big Div replaced the ineffectual Bobby soon afterwards; it was the Belgian’s 150th appearance for the Tricky Reds.
Next up is the visit of Burnley on Thursday evening, before we travel to the toilet to face today’s opponents again in the FA Cup in a week’s time. Three points against the struggling Clarets are a must- we spurned the opportunity to go back to the top of the table today and need to get a run going now.
MOTM: the late, great, Bernard Matthews. The other half was feeling all nostalgic when we ordered our weekly shop, so decided to get some Mini Kievs. Not only are they bloody tasty but, following further accusations of snobbery and elitism, they are something which can be enjoyed by the common man. Bootiful.
Should have won that.
You typed all that in two seconds?
Citeh probably laughing their arse off watching this. Did that Palace game actually happen? Mad to think this is the same side.
Anyway fuck this season, it’s all shite.
Well shit bugger, what do we say…
Dang. Disappointed.
Jota is a more important injury recovery than VVD atm. The front three are in the combined shittest form of their Liverpool careers.
Fuck me, they really aren’t good. Pace on the counter, otherwise total average.
Our front line needs to sort out whatever their funk is because its starting to right piss me off. Over 300mins without a goal in the league is just shit, and irrespective of issues behind them they’ve all had more than enough chances.
Bobby I love you, but you are a liability at the moment.
Alisson huge.
I said we needed Becker on his game and today he was.
Would have taken a draw before the game but was disappointed 
at half time we were not ahead but in the end a draw was probably a fair result. Onwards and upwards.
Three matches without a goal. Need to find a way to pull ourselves out of this funk or we’ll keep drifting further away.
Don’t understand Klopp and his subs. We obviously needed to make a change in the second half, and he waits until Shaq gasses himself at over 70 mins, then finally subs Bobby off for bastard Origi. Minamino must be wondering what the hell he has to do.
All is not lost yet, but the signs are very worrying.
Got a point.
Alcantara shaquiri alisson brilliant.
Fab and hendo did well.
Rest were shit.
Time to go for a striker in market.
Bobby’s time is up.
I’m not upset cause we didn’t lose. I’m disappointed as I think this title is in City’s hands. Definitely need Haaland or something next year cause I’d fancy myself infront of goal over Bobby at this rate. Also get a new centre back cause Matip is a joke
Origi did more than bobby in his little cameo
Haaland will go to city.
Replaces aguero
Alli got us a point out of it. Desperate to get Jota back. The front three are not clicking at all. Fab and Henderson did a good job at the back and Thiago looked good but the rest were bang average. Let’s hope we’ll get back on the goal trail against Burnley.
Feels like a missed opportunity with United being so toothless even on the counter. We retained the ball and pressed so well, Pogba and Fernandes were on the periphery for most of the game. I was much more concerned about them than I needed to be. Couple of decent chances but still didn’t feel like our final ball was great, either.
Couple of big saves from Ali at the end to keep a point. De Gea’s on Thiago was OK but seemed a bit of a camera save. Then again, he does love a good camera save.
Honestly was pretty convinced that they were gonna win a jammy 1-0, so in that sense I’ll take the point. Three points adrift of United vs. six points adrift is a big difference, and halfway through the season we’ve had our wobble, are still in the mix, and have now played all the big six.
“If you can’t win, don’t lose.”