Rayvin

I actually don't think we would have lost that if we hadn't been playing a kid making his first league start and Williamson in defence. I also think that three first choice CBs being out is extraordinarily unlucky. Yes we offered little going forward (as we all know, and have discussed at length) but we had a higher level of quality in play, even if it didn't show through as much as it should have. Yes we suck, yes we have no ambition, but Sunderland suck harder and they DO have ambition. I think... I'm not actually sure Ellis Short is all that sane sometimes, but he at least seems to care. That can only make what's happening over there all the more painful though.

Yeah so, maybe they're still as jammy as they've always been. Ah well, on the plus side Stoke losing is probably more significant for us unless we suddenly find consistency.

Ah...Rooney saving them. Still though, nice to see them suffer a bit with the rest of us. Can't see their way into the top four though to be honest...

ManU 2-1 down at home to Stoke...

I find myself hoping that Arsenal can win the division this year... Although I suspect they'll lack the mental fortitude...

I know this goes without saying, but Crystal Palace are dire...

That was fucking brilliant XD

You watch us end up with Obertan in there somehow, after all this...

Did anyone notice that Harry Redknapp did an #askharry Q&A session today that was inundated with verbal abuse about his face/digs about tax evasion and heart broken teenage girls who thought the trend was for some kid from One Direction? http://www.fanatix.com/news/askharry-the-best-tweets-from-harry-redknapps-qa-on-twitter/158244/ I might just find it funny cos I can't stand the guy though, it's hard to tell.

Fair points, I was more playing devil's advocate than anything else. I very much hope we line up with an offensive mindset as this is, on paper, the most winnable away game of the season (derby sentiment aside). I also think that defeating Sunderland here would psychologically relegate them - Poyet would have to work very hard to overcome the effect on his team. Anyway, that aside I agree about Anita - seems to be improving as a player and is a reliable backup to Tiote. Does he have the physicality to replace him though? I know we all agree Tiote could be a little less physical, but even so...

Our defence, if Dummett and Williamson, is not what I would realistically consider PL quality. Both admirable players but one is young and inexperienced, and the other is Williamson. Yeah he's played well but he's a limited player, and I can recall him being culpable for conceding at least one goal so far (Cardiff?). Therefore, maybe a more defensively minded midfield (Anita + Tiote with Cabaye further up) offers more protection. Unless you think I'm being overly respectful of Sunderland's attacking prowess? Also, Pardew is more likely to want to avoid another 3-0 than he is to want to avenge it.

I vaguely remember Rossi - turned into a fantastic player, shame he never looked it here.

I wondered at that too, but assumed Dummett must have some history at CB - criticism from Hanson was harsh given that. Still looks good for the kid, really hope he can continue on like this.

I had this view as well, but wouldn't you know it, they actually put in a shift for once. Figures really.

I've had a look at RAWK before as well. It's a surreal police state of a forum. They live in fear of moderators and have to conform to all the social ideals espoused by Liverpool Football Club. It's almost like they're part of a cult. There's kowtowing and grovelling to moderators and everything. I don't think anyone is allowed to comment in their match threads even, they have a weird pseudo commentary...

I predict an absolute hammering followed by the press announcing that Liverpool are finally legitimate title contenders. If you look at the teams - I honestly don't think they're that much better than us - certainly not in midfield anyway (on paper). Still though, they always seem to destroy us these days.

I know what you're saying I think I just thought that we didn't look AS bad as we have done previously in one of our patented collapses. I agree that it looks a lot like the other times we've thrown games away, I think I'm just desperately scrambling for signs of improvement!

I'd argue that we only started doing that after they scored and became more assertive, but I'll defer to your presumably greater knowledge. Either way, I just made £60 out of this game so I'm happy to be wrong!

I don't think he did set us up for that, we came out strongly at the start of the second half. I honestly think we're just psychologically a bit weak and perhaps panic a bit. Something to work on probably, off the back of building confidence when we successfully do see the game out.

On the plus side, we're actually a fucking good team when we want to be. Some of our one touch passing was exceptional.

Thank fuck for that. Perhaps not as nervy as it could have been.

Where has he found 4 mins of stoppage time...

Yep, there goes Cabaye for Ben Arfa.

That would make sense, fair enough.

Removing Remy - about sums it up now. Fingers crossed I guess.