Hieronymus Bosch

Another supposedly reliable RAWK poster has this to say (apols if already posted): "Been told from a reliable source (part of the Bootle 'lot', if you get me drift) that a defender was coming in. Mascherano will get tied up and there is no 17m clause, that's just the agreed valuation. Momo's definitely off, and there'll be no moves up front."

Rushian says he is reliable

Balls

Torres Mascherano Gerrard

As am I (behind him 100%, that is). Not sure it'll do any good though. He has made his share of mistakes, and has a lot to learn, but there's no doubt in my mind that he should have the chance to do so. However, the way things are these days, I think he's on borrowed time. And it's f*cking depressing to think that.

Seen far worse - we were OK until we scored, then just stopped playing. It wasn't until they scored that things started to get really dire. With G&H f*cking it up so spectacularly at the top, Rafa and boys really need to be holding up their end. As it is, I can see financial ruin, Mascherano, Rafa and a couple of his top signings moving on and the return of Souness-era mediocrity.

We were doing a decent job until we scored and inexplicably took the foot off the pedal. Man Utd would have pressed home their advantage immediately, yet we just wait for the final whistle. The way we defended today, it's no surprise they equalised. We played even worse after their goal. Rafa swapped two passers for two "strikers", so we decide to waste the final moments lumping the ball up to no-one in particular. It really is sickening...

F*cking livid... again! The Americans will be made up. They can sack him now, pretend it's because of poor results, and some people will probably agree with them. It's all so f*cking depressing right now: the club's screwed and the team's screwed! Rafa will be replaced by a lesser manager, our best players will leave and G&H will bankrupt us! Let's hope we win the f*cking Champions League as something to remember us by!!!

Playing reasonably well, but have to get past 11 men each time we attack. Wigan using big forwards as a useful outlet - Heskey and Bent looking dangerous; Arbeloa and particularly Carra shaky. Ref poor; gave a free-kick to Wigan when Torres nudged Scharner to deny us a chance, refused to give us a pen when Scharner did the same on Torres. Brown's a tw*t and was going to get booked before Bennett for some reason changed his mind. Valencia's a diving cheat, but probably their best player of the half. Pennant looking lively; Kewell the opposite. Gerrard playing deeper than the formation suggests; Torres looking good, and just needs that chance.

Think they know the rumour's shyte and can't bear to praise him...

Got to really sign such players before they come to England. Benitez would doubtless have been well aware of both; Elano is a Brazilian international and Santa Cruz was at Bayern for years.

Petrov looks like he's going to have a heart attack after every break...

Have Watford played it since? I heard it at one game earlier this season...

Still a tasty player I (LFC) wouldn't mind having...

Perhaps Hicks should concentrate on off-the-field activity, namely selling his stake in the club. Yeah, if I was Benitez, I'd be made up at what great, supportive owners I have.

We've had three or four weak links in the side for the past few years, and still have - though both our better and weaker players are an improvement on those in previous years. The trouble is, while we make gradual, but definite, progress, the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea can afford to buy match-winners at will, thereby maintaining their superiority over us. Although I think we're only two or three world-class attacking players behind them (the odd weak link at full-back, for example, shouldn't really make a difference in the grand scheme of things), with funds likely to be at a premium from now on, we are probably going to have to do an Arsenal and buy players with the potential to be become £20m-plus, such as Babel. Benitez is likely to at least have the chance to do that, given that, unlike Houllier, he should be able to get a good return for Carson, Sissoko, Riise and Kuyt.

Don't think he has proved a hit yet, though...

Alonso Gerrard Torres (purely for the goal)

Really got out of jail today. It was one of those appalling performances we produce every now and again - the sort you'd never see from an off-colour Man Utd, Chelsea or even Arsenal. I just can't explain why, every so often, virtually the entire team forgets how to play football. We wouldn't have got away with passing and controlling the ball like that, and playing most of the second half with Riise at centre-half, against any other Premier League side.

Decent shout, that

I'm a fan of neither paper, but I'm glad the NOTW and Daily Mail published these stories. They may be sensationalist and contain inaccuracies, but it's about time the problems at board level came out into the open (and not just within these forums). G&H have had an easy ride of it so far. Their actions (primarily the loans issue) could have tremendous ramifications for the future of our club, yet the national press have up until now given the impression the Americans have had the best intentions of the club (not their wallets) at heart, and that Benitez has been the guilty party (speaking out of line, demanding millions for transfers) in their rift. I'm happy they've been so publicly exposed - it will certainly make G&H, Parry, potential bidders and all concerned with Liverpool take note.

Surely the crux is that with G&H clearly reluctant/unable to spend much money themselves, we're going to be saddled with considerable debt for years to come, which is bound to impact on Benitez's spending power in the transfer market. All it seems G&H are good for at present is getting these loans in the first place. I would be surprised if the situation is/turns out to be much rosier than this...

Glad to see Al Pacino has got himself an ambassadorial role with Inter. Being interviewed of Sky now. (Looks much taller in the movies.)

Pretty happy with that draw: Barcelona and Real Madrid are full of quality, Sevilla offer that Benfica factor (if such a thing exists) and AC Milan are still at their best in the Champions League. Made up with Man Utd's draw...

That made me more annoyed than anything tonight. Didn't see Arbeloa at it, but Carra ought to have a stern word with Hobbs after he made a complete bell of himself...