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Couldn't face posting last night when I got back from the game. Bloody hell... Other than the total collapse, and I might be the only one who sees it like this, but other than #55, I'm still seeing many of the same issues which have existed since Gerrard came in. Obviously Gerrard oversaw a significant rebuild, but from then, until he left, there were issues which went unresolved and some are still there under Gio. And BTW, I'll forever be grateful for SG for delivering title 55, but with every passing match, his reputation as this perfect manager seems to be growing and growing. Let's not forget just how few trophies he won with us and the fact he left after a rubbish start to the season where he seemed unable to shake our players from some deep-seated lack of motivation and "can't be arsed". Some of these have been compounded by players ageing, not being replaced and some strange transfer oversights as well. But last night, it was like another "greatest hits" of these. McGregor's terrible distribution and being rooted to his line. Full backs' not tracking back and/or midfielders not dropping back to cover for them. Borna looked like he gave up on at least two occasions which resulted in a goal. Full backs who can get forward, but aren't necessarily great at the defensive side. Important in a modern day game or not? Its still costing us. Inability to defend set pieces, corners in particular. Certain players who seem to shit the bed in the really big games. Certain players seem to be undroppable - regardless of form; confidence. Balance in midfield has been an issue for as long as I can remember. I don't think Gio knows what system he wants us to play from game to game. He seems to rely on trial and error too much, sometimes with players being played out of position. Change the starting lineup, but system remains the same or not setup to play to the strength of those who've come in. Do we have a "plan b"? Why so slow and ponderous in some games, particularly in the league. We're also slow off the pitch when it comes to contracts - Kent and Morelos in to their last 8 months now? A presumably big contract for Goldson who is the most resilient player I've seen in a long time and great on his day, but at times is still very one-footed and prone to making poor decisions. Why so slow to make substitutions and react to what's going on? Some players, some of our most experienced players, seem unable to do the basics right. Especially in the bigger games. We still seem to be the unluckiest club around with injuries. See also going in to a Europa League final without a fit striker. See also, Ryan Jack. I love the guy, but how many times are we going to just keep persisting with him when every single season goes the same way? We also now look really unfit. So can't blame the injuries on over-training or the high-tempo system we play We still don't have a system where we can play two different, complimentary strikers occasionally. We still seem to have a midfield full of players who are too similar in their style of play and defensive leanings. Why are we still signing players for the squad when we now appear to have players coming through the ranks who are up to the job? Our transfer policy seems to have been poor at best. For a while, you could see that the quality of players we were signing was improving, but it seemed to plateau. Whether that's down to Ross Wilson, the management teams (who have gone on the record to say they're happy with the squad) or financial realities, we still seem to have ended up with a bloated, ageing squad with some players well past their best days. Some of the first team should have gone after 55. They should absolutely have gone after last season. So in short ?), that's why I was so pi$$ed-off last night, because its the same story I've seen play out time and time again for the last 3 or 4 years now.

I think Mrs Truss has a brighter future

Whatever the problem is he ain't the solution.

Playing at this level, we have to realise we'll be soundly beaten at times but it's the manner of the defeats, particularly in Amsterdam and last night, that are so frustrating. The CL is the pinnacle of football but some of our players don't look interested. Bizarre!

Last night was somewhat of a freak result (thanks Jurgen) but too many issues now remain prevalent and it appears increasingly obvious Gio cannot fix them. Is it the nuclear option to get rid now or the prudent one giving any new man a season to develop their own team/style? For many the answer will seem obvious but with an aging squad and apparently minimal cash to invest in it, can we really rely on wheeling and dealing to deliver success? Player trading model agreeable but who goes for big money in this current squad now? This shows the issues we have go beyond Gio. To allow three erstwhile key players/assets to move into their last year of contract is bad enough but no joined up thinking with regard to the squad's profile is stark (look at our midfield). Leadership seems missing throughout club. Finally it's fair not to overreact to a bad result. Just reaching the CL group stage was an achievement in a group many would find challenging. That's the only factor saving the manager right now and domestic improvement may be found. But, to me, he's a dead man walking. I'm genuinely not sure where we go from here. Someone has to be accountable for our inconsistent (at best) form this season, our team's lack of ability and awful squad planning. Board perhaps between a rock and a hard place but they cannot hide. This is THE key moment.

Ban them for what? Acting hard? Gesticulating? Walking towards opposition fans? Being a bit embarrassing? As much as it was a daft act, I don't think anyone should be banned for it. Hopefully they've noted the reaction and will be a bit less silly next time.

Repeatedly subbed off suggested an issue. Last night was his first full 90 minutes since the 15th of April. Who will be next ? Tav ?? He doesn't appear to be at 100% Playing through injuries is taking its toll. Longer periods out.

That backline would be the stuff of nightmares. Wouldn't be fair on King either. Saw a little of Mayo at Kilmarnock, not ready for us. Sands isn't a natural centre half. Both could be used if playing beside experience but all together, .... would work out badly.

Goldson will be a huge loss. Good opportunity for king though

To think we were famous for the iron curtain defence now its more like an old moth eaten bit of net curtain

“Haud me back” seems appropriate seeing this.

Humiliation has become common place under gio. Baffling team selections and the constant backing of under achievers and tactics that don't work are common place . We're a laughing stock now. It's heart breaking watching us now. A team without a spine.

Terrifying for Liverpool. Stewards and Police did a fantastic job. I hope there were dogs and horses on standby.

A wee reminder: wages aside ... we paid - 4,3m for Davies, who I would suggest will be playing most games - 3.6m for Ridvan, signed when Borna was essentially on the jump and people wanted him go anyway. Thankfully for Borna, he regained some form and good one at that. I for one wouldn't mind playing Ridvan in front of Borna, since he seems very adapt at attacking and defending too. - 2.7m for Matondo, who was meant to be the answer on the right wing, yet given not much game time to really settle in ... and, after all, he is a winger. - 2.25m for Colak, who made us forget Morelos ... but no matter whether it were those guys or someone else, or we had spent 20m more, we'd still be miles off from the teams we face in our group. Well, make that astronomical units. At this time, we also have 7 players out injured who could/would all contest as starting slot, and lost Goldson and Jack too. Obviously, you can ask for effort and all that, but you also have to keep in mind that the other teams, aside from their class, also can provide the same effort ... and them subs yesterday were clearly out to show Klopp that they should have been first choices. It is a very (football) Germany attitude to look primarily at oneself and not the opposition. Arrogance borne out of permanent success. Either "we" play good and deserve anything we get, or "we" played poorly. The opposition is always secondary. That is hardly objective and we shouldn't fall into that trap. Not least when the opposition is way above us. All the above doesn't mean that we just suck it up and be done with it. But as I noted in the previous post, we need to change and shift some personnel as well as use adequate tactics to develop as a team. We've come a long way from the 4th tier and as before, our way will never end. We're not driving in a Bentley like Liverpool as yet, but a fairly well equipped Rover. A decent Mercedes would be the next step, before we start thinking about Bentleys et al.

Thought he played very well first half but struggled in the second period. However, wasn't helped by a poor Barisic and no cover from midfield.

When was the last time Kent looked like one of our better players? I can't remember a MOTM performance from him or even a few games in a row where he's looked like one of our star players. He's either not as good as we suspected or has just been here too long and needs a new challenge (because of various different things).

I bet that this is really popular content on a Liverpool forum.

Agreed, generally poor recruitment, including some of the contract renewals. What got me was recruiting an injury prone centre half. Who if @craigis correct in saying he was brought in to replace Goldson (who looked to be leaving), means they must have been hoping for a Souttar/ Helander partnership. WTAF !!

Suppose the main thing you could say just now is the team would fail a M.O.T.

I don't think that our manager will change any time soon.

I agree, under Gerrard (and I think Gio initially benefitted from this) we played well above our weight. But now we can't even be a solid team anymore. We shouldn't be getting bowled over 7-1 at home to ANY team. Even Real Madrid or Barcelona.

How much we (dont) back our next manager. Who I have decided should be Allan McGregor. Give it Greigsy.

Agreed but it says a lot that we couldn't replace them. King has a bright future ahead of him and I was really disappointed by Tav's efforts to hep him through the game. And the decision to put Davis on - who really struggled last week at Anfield - was bizarre with Sands available who would at least be able to offer defensive cover.

Which one

Let’s be honest, many of us feared that was the case in the summer. Extending the contracts of older guys, hoping guys like Jack and Roofe could stay fit. Being relaxed about Kent and Morelos seeing out time. Holding on to Kamara when he clearly doesn’t want to be here. The goalkeeper situation. We are seeing it come to fruition in Europe. We have gotten by domestically but it’s a matter of time before it catches up with us given our schedule.

Yes but don’t put Kent on the other side

Goldson will be a big miss, it's lucky we have cover in Helander, that we bought Souttar, we have Balogun, have King to cover him effectively

Everybody wants King to play until one day, quite suddenly, something changes.

Couldn’t agree more. since returning to the premiership in 2016 we’ve won one title & one SC. That’s simply not good enough. Domestic success is what we need now. If our domestic form starts to deteriorate then yes the manager’s future maybe called into question. But not at the moment

But my points remain--still two points out and in both domestic cup races. CL groups achieved on top of that. His job is, and should be in no danger at this juncture. Now, that could easily change over the coming weeks...but that is management in general.

Goldson and Davies is our best partnership. King's time will come, but it doesnt need to be rushed

Barry Ferguson is the obvious candidate !

That's still quicker than getting Helander and Soutter back, potentially Goldson too

It's not 'either/or'. It should be 'And'. I want King to play because I think he's good enough, albeit young and flawed. If a team can't carry a few mistakes from a youngster, the team is sh*te.

Hope the club have got this clip and study it to find culprits and ban them,we do not need this childlike morons.

Win.

Rumours on Daily Record say severe thigh tear / months.

Don’t know about the current programme but my old mother and my big sister glued themselves to the screen for the old stuff. Our defenders wouldn’t get on. You had to be two footed plus know which one was which.

idiots

Probably popular on ScotNat forums too.

The board will give him the full season, unless things go completely tits up domestically (could happen).

Agreed...

I note our captain yet again failed to do the post match press after a big defeat. Arfield done the RTV post match. You can set your watch by him hiding from the press after a bad loss. Its a small thing but it annoys me.

A great example of a team 'ending its cycle', losing some world class players and being rejuvenated by some real top recruitment. Yes they have spent a few million here and there but I believe much less than Ajax and Liverpool in the summer. Some shewed loan moves but overall top operating. Heads up to @Rousseau who called it at the draw tbh.

Not sure that fixes anything. The board decided this squad had enough left in the tank to get by and invested large sums in off field projects. This might increase the value and operating cash of the club long term but perhaps these types of projects are best carried out from a position of strength on the park. We have a big squad turnover job in the summer and unless we can plant a magic money tree in Edmiston house that will be a bargain hunt style window. Two of our biggest assets of the last generation are about to walk out the door for nothing in a few months. We have had David Graham leave recently, Barry Scott, rumours of a takeover, Dave King constant noise, downsizing of the recruitment and coaching side. Who would want to come?

We are playing at our highest level in over a decade. Despite this you say that the manager, the squad and the director of football are all substandard. Classic over reaction to a bad result.

He’s been anonymous all season sadly. Bar a free kick at Livingston.

Rangers played a good half. When Goldson went down so did our field marshal. The team went adrift, and that is a very bad thing against a club like Liverpool.

Nothing against young Leon King but he simply isn’t ready yet. He needs to go out on loan first