ICF's Liverpool match report

[It's Character Forming 1,211]

At times like these I remember why I picked my user name for this forum (after many years of following the City). FWIW here goes.

So anfield, first visit for me. There was a layer of snow outside but the pitch looked in good shape.

Team was Bunn, back 4 Garrido Turner R Bennet R Martin. Midfield B Johnson, Tettey, j Howson, Snoddy, E Bennet, and Holt up front.

Now Bassong hoolahan and Holt have been our 3 key players this season IMO so it was a concern to have 2 of them out. Hoolahan on the bench so that was tactical, basso must be injured.

The game opened with liverpool having lots of possession znd city dropping too deep for my liking. Suarez looking quick and effective and falling over a lot, just as you''d expect. Liverpool created some openings but didn''t really threaten. /at the other end a foul on holt led to a good delivery into the box but a tame header at the keeper. Holt was winning everything in the air but we didn''t seem to be able to create anything from it.

After 20 mins we seemed to be containing them better. But a few minutes later, as often happens, they scored a goal from nothing - a couple of challenges where we failed to clear the ball and it fell for Henderson of all people to tonk it from just outside the box into the corner of the goal. Which is always the risk when you''re defending deep.

A few minutes later a through ball slipped past one of our defenders and Suarez latched on and comfortably finished one on one.

The trouble now is that Liverpool love to play it around and could afford to feel very relaxed. At the other end we were struggling to create.

At the start of the second half we looked more positive and Tettey hit a shot wide from outside the box which looked like it would fall perfectly forHolt but he couldn''t reach it. It was a chance we needed to take.

At the half wore on Liverpool were looking more comfortable and the third goal was the killer. At the far end a through ball for Sturridge I think and he was able to put it past Bunn from a very narrow angle. At the far end so I couldn''t see if he was at fault.

City kept trying to play it through but you couldn''t see a way back. Gerard was left alone with too much time and drilled the ball into the corner like we''ve seen before and that was 4.

The game tailed off with City lacking conviction that we could get even a consolation and no surprise when they got a fifth really.

Kudos to the city fans who, like at Fulham kept showing their support to the end, while the home fans made no noise except just after they had scored and at a couple of points where they do the "applause at x minutes in" thing.

So would Basso have made a difference? I think so. Not saying we''d have got a result necessarily, but we''d have had a much better chance.

Sad for Elliott Bennett that he got his chance in a game like this.

The only positive really is that we''re midway through the transfer window, and no one has any excuse if we don''t strengthen.

Next away trip is qpr which is looking more important than we were hoping a month ago. I''ll be there and hope to be able to do a less depressing report.

[Stig 0]

Good report ICF, just a shame it''s one that most of us don''t really want to read I''m afraid! I look forward to one that we''ve won so I can really enjoy it! We''re all over there arguing amongst ourselves at the moment, care to come and join us? ;]

[It's Character Forming 1,211]

Cheers Stig. I''m on the train back. Think I''ll log off now and read a Jack Reacher thriller tbh!

[Sussexyellow 55]

Just posting to express my appreciation of your report ICF. Enjoyed as much as was possible given the gloomy subject matter.

 

Looking forward to reading your reports on happier occasions.

 

Keep the faith.