abc

How many times has Maxi come on as a sub this season? Probably a few but I can't actually think of any. In recent years we've had midfielders who had a nose for goal: Luis Garcia, Yossi, Maxi. Garcia especially was almost as instinctive as Fowler in following up shots. For his first (or second) goal in red he even followed up his own shot! Back to Maxi - that goal around 1.30 against us at the Kop end was just sublime. Proper player he used to be. Much more dynamic than currently but I'm guessing the knee injury did him in...

Didn't watch any football after yesterday. Didn't even bother looking at the table. Just did, and found it hilarious that we're only a few points behind Chelsea. Surely Spurs will have a proper dip in form in the coming months?

Think he's guilty of trying to create the perfect chance. Needs to just shoot on sight (and on target) and rely on teammates getting on the end of a rebound or deflection.

The gulf in class between Gerrard and the rest of our CMs currently available is stark. Love his ability to drive forward from deep, but here's the problem - he leaves gaps behind him. If Lucas was available then I'd say you risk it, but the rest of our CMs don't have the nous to cover. I think given our current state we need him as far up the pitch as possible... Hope he is able to stay injury free from here on. PS: There was a moment late in the second when Carroll was covering for Gerrard when Blackburn won the ball back, while Gerrard was chasing after the ball further up the pitch. I thought it was great: 1) showed good awareness from Andy and; 2) Stevie's "fresh" legs were used the right way.

Take Carroll off, bring on one of Kuyt, Bellamy, Gerrard or even Shelvey and we will see more movement. From there, we'll create better chances and put more pressure on them.

Johnson speaks decent Spanish apparently.

Enrique Skrtel Reina

And I think because we can't retrospectively report Evra for his alleged use of "sudaca" is the very reason why he volunteered that information. The FA though, have a moral obligation to pull this up and mete out similar punishment. Could that be why the decision still has not been made available to the club? Carefully wording the judgement so that they are not open to LFC questioning them for not charging Evra?

I think the key is Suarez did not hear it. Therefore his remark(s) was not in response to any provocation. "We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult." [edit: I see someone else had already pointed this out earlier...]

If he's playing on the right, he needs to practice placing his shots toward the far post from the edge of the box. About 100 a day. At least twice he looked like he made a bit of space and angle cutting in, but didn't have confidence to pull the trigger.

Le Tissier surprisingly very good on Sky...

This is the one which has convinced me that ferguson has the kind of corrupt influence the conspirators are claiming...

It's clear the delay from the FA was over the language of the verdict. They've done well here. Evra was also probably briefed about how he won't be charged for what he said because Suarez never heard it in the first instance, and therefore could admit to provoking a response but ultimately with no consequence as Luis in this instance was technically the first offender. Someone with legal background will have to correct me if I'm wrong but I think that gave them the ammunition required for the 8 match ban... The club's statement proved that the club is (now) a properly run organisation, top to bottom. I wholeheartedly trust the club to deal with this in the best interests of all concerning LFC, and that is comfort in itself given what's happened in the recent past.

I too am very very encouraged by the language. Tim Vickery mentioned that the word used was "Sudaca" - apparently information volunteered by Evra himself. If they end up banning him for 8 games as well, this injustice would only be a tiny bit easier to swallow.

Agree 100% on all points! But as mentioned earlier, the club's statement was very, very encouraging.

For me the club's statement is key. I am very heartened by the content and more importantly, the language used (the words incredible and extraordinary stand out)...

Goran Ivanisevic supports West Brom. For his sake I hope Hodgc*nt gets sacked soon... Great interview by the way, but if you want to hear about his allegiances to WBA go to around the 6 min mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2AUe0Ccqt4

Thinking aloud, but was he not one of the witnesses in this trial though? Would he not have been asked to verify that he did / did not say "don't touch me you South American"? If he says yes, and Suarez gets done anyway, is "South American" not a reference to one's racial/ethnic background too? I understand there will be a need for formal procedures but what would be his defence? But knowing ferguson he'd probably just tell evra to deny he ever said that...I also find it really hard to believe he said what was reported to the ref when he got the booking though.

One instance? Yes, it was made out that his crossing from a moving ball was very good at Sunderland, and he also put in some good deliveries off set pieces but have we seen much of it at Liverpool? Hence Earl's point that we've not seen much of it here yet. And if you ask me, I think it will stay that way given the style of play we seem to have adopted.

This is probably a very big factor...

That guy in the video has a bit of pace and agility...

For me the regression in Skrtel's game came at the start of 09/10 when Carra ploughed into him - didn't look the same player for a good year.

Thought he played well against Barca last weekend.

Interesting stats. First thing that springs to mind is Agger/Carragher shipped 4 against Arsenal in one freak game where three goals came directly from individual mistakes (Mascherano, Aurelio, Arbeloa). Percentages would be slightly different otherwise. Also surprised that Skrtel and Agger have started so many games together.

I don't think even his biggest fans could foresee him put in a performance of the level against Man City a few weekends back. He's a transformed player. He's not suddenly come good - had to develop physically for a year and a half - but from the 09/10 season the rise had well and truly begun.