Liverpool 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[saintant]

We were rolled over in the second half. Fitness issues again part of the problem. Players who can't last 90 minutes.

[miserableoldgit]

A better performance.......enough to give Juric more time? Probably not........

[Andy Hill]

Just didn’t show up in the 2nd half - mentality expecting the inevitable to happen. What a detestable person Nunez is ??

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, adrian lord said:

Have the ‘taters mentioned “a European hangover” yet to excuse Liverpool not playing as to the script?

Post match interview on 5 live did just that 🙂

"Did the exertions of midweek result in the first half performance we saw today?"

[Toussaint]

42 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

You have to laugh. 

Haha. HTH?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

11 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Our press isn’t a press - one player sits back and then gets by-passed. Rinse repeat. Liverpool players on the other hand press as a unit of at least three and invariably win the ball back or force an error. Big difference and result.

 

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

We were rolled over in the second half. Fitness issues again part of the problem. Players who can't last 90 minutes.

I'd look at fitness after I looked at cluelessness. As CaM says, we don;t press as a unit. Extending that, we do nothing as a unit. Balls forward happen at random, as if blessed fro the heavens, and we try to stumble forward with it. There's no idea of how to impose ourselves on a game. No idea of moving into attacking shapes. We had instances from Sule, Dibling and Fernandes when they had space in front of them to run into. But no one to pass it to ahead of them, no nearby support and no plan of where anyone should be. So, back it went.

Sule was there to be our outlet. Just like the Selles tactic. But under Selles, Alcaraz roamed a certain area where people knew he'd be to receive it. Sule did what he could when he could get it. TP and especially Archer should have been on the end of at least one of his efforts. Lack of direction and planning means that no one was near any of them.

We had a few glimpses in the first half when you could see Will receive, look forward and pass. But that's us occasionally doing it right in at a slower pace, with a compact set up. We fall apart in attack, when that's tested.

A good 45 minutes, to do some defensive basics. Will did well for the goal. But miles off being an effective unit across the team.

[bugenhagen]

7 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

 

I'd look at fitness after I looked at cluelessness. As CaM says, we don;t press as a unit. Extending that, we do nothing as a unit. Balls forward happen at random, as if blessed fro the heavens, and we try to stumble forward with it. There's no idea of how to impose ourselves on a game. No idea of moving into attacking shapes. We had instances from Sule, Dibling and Fernandes when they had space in front of them to run into. But no one to pass it to ahead of them, no nearby support and no plan of where anyone should be. So, back it went.

Sule was there to be our outlet. Just like the Selles tactic. But under Selles, Alcaraz roamed a certain area where people knew he'd be to receive it. Sule did what he could when he could get it. TP and especially Archer should have been on the end of at least one of his efforts. Lack of direction and planning means that no one was near any of them.

We had a few glimpses in the first half when you could see Will receive, look forward and pass. But that's us occasionally doing it right in at a slower pace, with a compact set up. We fall apart in attack, when that's tested.

A good 45 minutes, to do some defensive basics. Will did well for the goal. But miles off being an effective unit across the team.

I agree. They could all be as fit as Nathan Jones - it still wouldn't help much if we don't use it right.

Also they could do with some mental help. The way they collapsed between 1-1 and 2-1 is neither because of fitness nor tactics...

[Mixedkebab]

First half display showed this rancid bunch are capable of getting the 3 points they need to avoid the ultimate humiliation, maybe against Wolves or Leicester 

Can see weird selections or formations undoing us again though, or certain players deciding they can’t be bothered.

Once again Fernandes and Ramsdale miles ahead of everyone else today 

[stknowle]

6 minutes ago, Mixedkebab said:

First half display showed this rancid bunch are capable of getting the 3 points they need to avoid the ultimate humiliation, maybe against Wolves or Leicester 

Can see weird selections or formations undoing us again though, or certain players deciding they can’t be bothered.

Once again Fernandes and Ramsdale miles ahead of everyone else today 

If we are capable of playing as well as we did in that first half against arguably the best team in the world we should be capable of getting 3 more points this season. If we are wedded to the 3 CBs I can see ABK THB and Janny B, Downes and Les in the middle in front of them being solid enough. Surely to fuck that would be enough for ONE more win and/or 3 more draws…….SURELY……PLEASE!!!!!? 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Checked the score at half time and saw we were winning.

In any previous season in this scenario I would have been listening/watching/regularly checking the score to see if we could snatch a rare win at Anfield. Today I just wasn't fussed. Have just checked the score a couple of minutes ago and think it's the least surprised I've ever been by a team coming from behind to win.

Sigh ...

[Vancouver Saint]

So can't be bothered any more. Even when we play moderately okay you just know we will contrive a way to lose. When we were 1-0 up at half time my Arsenal friend texted me 'Come on you Saints!'...I texted back 1-4 to Liverpool final score...so I was out by a goal - but real reality for us is so predictable.

If we were a horse we'd have been shot by now...can't wait for this misery of a season to be over. Vultures have been circling for weeks. We have the joy of watching our best players be bought from under us and being left with crap and a total rebuild in the Championship next year.

Juric has to go, but SR will probably bottle that. Rohl a glimmer of hope if he gets hired early, after we've been relegated so it's not on his record, with enough time and money to rebuild over the summer.

[trousers]

1 hour ago, danjosaint said:

Who would have thought a better formation that suits our shit players wouldn't forfeit the midfield,  maybe if he tried it in other games we could've been more competitive, 

 

This is it in a nutshell. Both our managers' stubborness has cost us points this season. Yes, the players aren't great, but when you don't have  great players you don't make things worse by asking them to play a way that they aren't suited to. I've always said a more flexible manager would squeeze more juice out of these players, and today's game highlighted that. 

[Chez]

I do wonder how we would have done if we'd played four at the back all season instead if five, along with plenty of bodies in the central midfield area. Too late now.

Edited Saturday at 19:02 by Chez

[Osvaldorama]

5 minutes ago, Chez said:

I so wonder how we would have  done if we'd played four at the back all season instead if five, along with plenty of bodies in the central midfield area. Too late now.

I still think this squad, as bad as it is, could be in touching distance of staying up with a manager that wasn’t completely useless. Martin was a joke and now Juric is even more ridiculous. 
 

I still dont think we’ve seen our actual best xi on the pitch once. 

[saintant]

Just watched the highlights - Nunez should have been sent off for serious foul play. He then goes on to score and win a penalty which should not have been given because Smallbone didn't touch him. Still, they are Liverpool so have to be given these decisions.

[Jack]

A performance that completely sums up our season. Looked good in spells, got ahead then collapsed as soon as we conceded, aided by more shit decisions from the referee. Even if it wasn’t a penalty (which it wasn’t IMO) it’s a stupid challenge for Smallbone to make and give the ref the opportunity to give it. And then finding new and creative ways to concede again. 
 

Again people will say we played well and gave them a game, but it’s about the 20th time we’ve played ok and still conceded 3. 
 

4 at the back is the way forward, and always was, with some covering defensive midfielders. Far too late. 

[Pamplemousse]

Did anyone else get accosted by an Everton fan outside the away end asking to hand out his contact details to get a ticket for the last game at Goodison?

£150 he was offering, I reckon someone would have offered for free tbh.

[Convict Colony]

So can someone give me an a.i summary of how we played, who was shit, who was good and who our respective levels of sick of this shit  we are at for the next match.

Thank you

[SaintsBarry74]

FU Derby its only a matter of time

[Roo1976]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Just watched the highlights - Nunez should have been sent off for serious foul play. He then goes on to score and win a penalty which should not have been given because Smallbone didn't touch him. Still, they are Liverpool so have to be given these decisions.

im sure all the officials bottled it today given the gravitas of the club and current situation(likely to win the title),but that said he should have seen red. The senior ref would have given red im sure ,and on ref watch with Dermott on Monday he will be sympathetic to our plight, but the result stands and the decision was wrong IMO. If one of ours did the exact same it would have been red of that im certain given our plight. Stil hanging on to the faint hope of beating Derbys pathetic points haul,but wait, what if we dont just imagine the embarrassment for a very very long time,im not sure anyone else would be so incapable of such a low points total.

[macca155]

Started nervously then realised they could actually play and the first half was surprisingly decent. 

For once the midfield wasn't completely overrun. That made a huge difference and they seemed to have more space and time.

2nd half it fell apart a bit, but I'm not too despondent, that's been a feature of the season, so no surprise it happened against Liverpool. 

We'll be relegated in 2 or 3 games, so at this stage avoiding a drubbing is about as good as it gets.

Edited Saturday at 22:53 by macca155

[Appy]

4 hours ago, miserableoldgit said:

A better performance.......enough to give Juric more time? Probably not........

Hopefully not 

[64saint]

Opening game on Match of the Day !!! That's a first for some time.  We're normally the after thought at the end.

Edited Saturday at 22:44 by 64saint

[danjosaint]

My god smallbone is shit 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

 

9 minutes ago, 64saint said:

Opening game on Match of the Day !!! That's a first for some time.  Were normally the after thought at the end.

Lineker hates us.

Even during peak Koeman we were never on first unless we lost.

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

Just watched the highlights - Nunez should have been sent off for serious foul play. He then goes on to score and win a penalty which should not have been given because Smallbone didn't touch him. Still, they are Liverpool so have to be given these decisions.

Ever since that referee got caught on camera slagging Liverpool off, they've had POGMOL in their pocket.

I'm convinced someone there has serious shit on Webb because ever since that, they've been getting some inexplicable decisions. 

[warsash saint]

17 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

My god smallbone is shit 

TBF he was one of the best performers today!!

[Whitey Grandad]

34 minutes ago, 64saint said:

Opening game on Match of the Day !!! That's a first for some time.  We're normally the after thought at the end.

Liverpool innit.

[austsaint]

2 hours ago, Roo1976 said:

im sure all the officials bottled it today given the gravitas of the club and current situation(likely to win the title),but that said he should have seen red. The senior ref would have given red im sure ,and on ref watch with Dermott on Monday he will be sympathetic to our plight, but the result stands and the decision was wrong IMO. If one of ours did the exact same it would have been red of that im certain given our plight. Stil hanging on to the faint hope of beating Derbys pathetic points haul,but wait, what if we dont just imagine the embarrassment for a very very long time,im not sure anyone else would be so incapable of such a low points total.

Thought it should of been a red card - just for the absolute cynicism and disrespect Nunes showed to KWP.

 

[saintant]

10 minutes ago, austsaint said:

Thought it should of been a red card - just for the absolute cynicism and disrespect Nunes showed to KWP.

 

It wasn't an attempted tackle just a thug hacking at an opponent and KWP could easily have suffered a bad injury. Should have been a red card and would have been if one of our players did the same on a Liverpool 'star'.

[bugenhagen]

18 minutes ago, austsaint said:

Thought it should of been a red card - just for the absolute cynicism and disrespect Nunes showed to KWP.

 

Or just...

[Saint Gifford]

 

We will do a Stoke, or like a number of teams if we aren’t careful.  Too long in the Championship, and it almost becomes impossible to get back I think. 

I don’t follow the academy like I used to. But surely there are some nuggets in there we can now chuck in and let them get minutes in readiness for next season. 
 

If not what’s the point, someone with more knowledge than me on the youngsters I guess will know. 
 

 

 

 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 hours ago, danjosaint said:

My god smallbone is shit 

My God Sugawara is shit too.

[benjii]

But don't gently pull someone's hair.

 

 

[Long Shot]

8 hours ago, macca155 said:

Started nervously then realised they could actually play and the first half was surprisingly decent. 

For once the midfield wasn't completely overrun. That made a huge difference and they seemed to have more space and time.

2nd half it fell apart a bit, but I'm not too despondent, that's been a feature of the season, so no surprise it happened against Liverpool. 

We'll be relegated in 2 or 3 games, so at this stage avoiding a drubbing is about as good as it gets.

This is the worry. We are all being slowly programmed to accept garbage as the norm. 

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

My God Sugawara is shit too.

Isn’t that the third penalty he has given away for handball this season?

[Whitey Grandad]

35 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Isn’t that the third penalty he has given away for handball this season?

There’s something wrong psychologically there.

Probably best to keep him out of the penalty area as much as possible. Play him upfield on the wing or better still keep him on the bench.

[Sarnia Cherie]

12 hours ago, saintant said:

Just watched the highlights - Nunez should have been sent off for serious foul play. He then goes on to score and win a penalty which should not have been given because Smallbone didn't touch him. Still, they are Liverpool so have to be given these decisions.

Smallbone should have held back instead of making a clumsy attempt at tackling Nunez because he collapses to the pitch at the slightest touch, especially in the penalty box. Left to his own devices, Nunez would have missed the net anyway. I think I saw stats that has Nunez as the most wasteful for goalscoring attempts. 

Liverpool have had a charmed season. No injuries to their significant players and the teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Spurs and City, that Liverpool would expect to have breathing down their neck for the League title, have all had a poor season. Let's see where they are next season if Salah, Alexander-Arnold & Van Dijk don't sign new contracts.

[saintant]

34 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

Smallbone should have held back instead of making a clumsy attempt at tackling Nunez because he collapses to the pitch at the slightest touch, especially in the penalty box. Left to his own devices, Nunez would have missed the net anyway. I think I saw stats that has Nunez as the most wasteful for goalscoring attempts. 

Liverpool have had a charmed season. No injuries to their significant players and the teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Spurs and City, that Liverpool would expect to have breathing down their neck for the League title, have all had a poor season. Let's see where they are next season if Salah, Alexander-Arnold & Van Dijk don't sign new contracts.

Replays made it clear that 9 stone Smallbone did not touch the aggressive fouling machine known as Nunez and it should have been clear to the VAR when watching numerous replays. But hey, it's Liverpool at Anfield so anything goes as long as it's in their favour. Does anyone seriously think if that had been Van Dyke on Fernandes a penalty would have been given? Of course it wouldn't, the referee would have been waving his arms to signal play on

[egg]

51 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

Smallbone should have held back instead of making a clumsy attempt at tackling Nunez because he collapses to the pitch at the slightest touch, especially in the penalty box. Left to his own devices, Nunez would have missed the net anyway. I think I saw stats that has Nunez as the most wasteful for goalscoring attempts. 

Liverpool have had a charmed season. No injuries to their significant players and the teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Spurs and City, that Liverpool would expect to have breathing down their neck for the League title, have all had a poor season. Let's see where they are next season if Salah, Alexander-Arnold & Van Dijk don't sign new contracts.

Agreed. I'm more annoyed that he didn't get booked as that messed up my accumulator. 

[Sarnia Cherie]

13 minutes ago, saintant said:

Replays made it clear that 9 stone Smallbone did not touch the aggressive fouling machine known as Nunez and it should have been clear to the VAR when watching numerous replays. But hey, it's Liverpool at Anfield so anything goes as long as it's in their favour. Does anyone seriously think if that had been Van Dyke on Fernandes a penalty would have been given? Of course it wouldn't, the referee would have been waving his arms to signal play on

Absolutely, so Smallbone should have used his loaf and given Nunez even more room to miss the net. There would have been no need for VAR, maybe, just maybe, Nunez would have been shown a second yellow for diving and there would have been no call for a penalty.  

[gio1saints]

Just now, egg said:

Agreed. I'm more annoyed that he didn't get booked as that messed up my accumulator. 

I cannot get annoyed at defeats either . I was miffed though like you that I Lost my nap bet on Will being carded - but more than made up for it by having him down for 2+ fouls.
 

NB First time in my life I ever placed a bet on total minutes penalties ( buying) with Spreadex. Had a feeling that Saints would succumb / concede a pen to those cheating scousers at Anfield and was proven right. Getting two was a surprise bonus. Priced at 19-22 and closed at 143 - so that was something of a touch. 

Extra NB : Do not gamble on football. It’s ultimately a bad idea and you will lose. If you persist in being an idiot Stop when it’s not fun and absolutely do not stake more than you can afford or can treat as an entertainment expense. Watching Saints no longer qualifies as an entertainment expense so one could say they’ve driven me to gambling in a sense! 
 

[egg]

4 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I cannot get annoyed at defeats either . I was miffed though like you that I Lost my nap bet on Will being carded - but more than made up for it by having him down for 2+ fouls.
 

NB First time in my life I ever placed a bet on total minutes penalties ( buying) with Spreadex. Had a feeling that Saints would succumb / concede a pen to those cheating scousers at Anfield and was proven right. Getting two was a surprise bonus. Priced at 19-22 and closed at 143 - so that was something of a touch. 

Extra NB : Do not gamble on football. It’s ultimately a bad idea and you will lose. If you persist in being an idiot Stop when it’s not fun and absolutely do not stake more than you can afford or can treat as an entertainment expense. Watching Saints no longer qualifies as an entertainment expense so one could say they’ve driven me to gambling in a sense! 
 

Nice alternatives! Betting against Saints is something I never usually do, but a defeat was inevitable and Smallbone as a DM had yellow card written all over it. Or so I thought. 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Isn’t that the third penalty he has given away for handball this season?

A spot in the Japanese volleyball team for 2028 awaits. 

[IFHP]

On 07/03/2025 at 21:42, Charlie Wayman said:

Ah! A new whipping boy at last.

I see the “new whipping boy” fucked up yesterday. Again. 

Edited yesterday at 10:13 by IFHP

[Football Special]

15 hours ago, saintant said:

Just watched the highlights - Nunez should have been sent off for serious foul play. He then goes on to score and win a penalty which should not have been given because Smallbone didn't touch him. Still, they are Liverpool so have to be given these decisions.

Frustrating isn't it, we're up against it enough as it is without the need for the Liverpool bias 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Frustrating isn't it, we're up against it enough as it is without the need for the Liverpool bias 

A lot of the refs not from major conurbations I always suspect are closet Liverpool and Man U plastics. 

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Frustrating isn't it, we're up against it enough as it is without the need for the Liverpool bias 

It’s not just Liverpool, “poor me” (us in this case), isn’t a position I normally would take, but we have been shafted in a number of games this season. Who knows, had we got a few of the decisions that should have gone our way we may still be in the mix. Confidence is a huge factor, had we still been in touch in the January transfer window SR may have been tempted to splash the cash. I’m not saying we would have stayed up but we’d probably have given it a much better go, which is all most of us were asking for. 

[Badger]

13 hours ago, austsaint said:

Thought it should of been a red card - just for the absolute cynicism and disrespect Nunes showed to KWP.

 

Red card for taking to the field with his hair in a bun, top knot or whatever it’s called. 

[Badger]

14 hours ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

 

Lineker hates us.

Even during peak Koeman we were never on first unless we lost.

I think the 8-0 v Sunderland was. 
 

Yes, jug eared cunt doesn’t really like us, but feeling is mutual