18 Mar 2016 03:18:38
ed001 could I please have another one of your match reviews for those of us who had to work tonight, always enjoy your thoughts on these matters, sad to hear about the crowd trouble, but I cannot help feeling uefa should have took action after the 1st leg. what a way for countinho to score his 1st goal vs man utd by the way. Cheers pal.

{Ed001's Note - It was not a vintage performance, we were really poor for long periods of the first half, and allowed them to put us under pressure until United got a penalty and converted it. Then the pressure was really on and I feared for us, though we had been creating chances, De Gea looked in top form again and our passing was awful. Then Couts produced a moment of magic. A slice of pure genius and United crumbled. They completely lost heart and gradually we took charge. That is the most concerning thing, as regard United, the way they just gave up once we equalised. For us, the worry is how much the pressure was telling until Coutinho popped up to turn Varela inside out. Have to say, it was shockingly bad defending by Smalling, once more, his positional sense is woeful.

Mignolet - didn't really get called upon, other than for the pen, except for kicking a few clearances. Sadly he did his usual job on them and made a mess of them. No blame for him on the goal conceded, he never really had much else to test him, apart from one cross which saw him rooted to his goal line and the defence stood around watching looking for an offside.

Clyne - what can I say? Could have got himself sent off very easily. He was utterly hopeless. This is what happens when someone is able to get at him. He can not handle someone who is bigger, stronger and faster than him. He doesn't know how to position himself, he just keeps trying to use his pace and strength to cope, rather than changing his game. Awful game for him. Hopefully this time he will learn from it and not concede needless penalties. The worry is that he will now get targeted for the rest of the season.

Lovren - solid and, while less obviously good than Sakho, he was very good. Made one mistake when he played a bad pass after moving out with the ball around the edge of our box, other than that he was very good. All of the successful United attacks came down the flanks for a reason.

Sakho - he and Lovren are beginning to show real signs of a partnership developing. They were excellent. They really need help from their fullbacks now, as they were able to break up anything that came at them through the centre. He did take a few chances in possession, which is always going to be a risk, but the results tend to be worth it, as he opens up space ahead of him when the opposition are drawn to him. Some really good incisive passing from him at times as well.

Milner - struggled positionally at times, allowing too much space and time. Other than that, he was good. To be honest, I think fullback should have been his position all along, but it might be too late for him to learn the positioning now.

Henderson - looked good early on, but clearly faded in the second half and was struggling to keep up with the game. Broke up the play, got involved in attacks, but then gradually became less and less involved as the first half wore on. The second half he was really struggling and it was no surprised he came off early.

Can - excellent, grew as the game went on to dominate the whole United midfield almost singlehandedly. Not faultless, there were still a few errors, but his overall play makes up for it completely. It is looking a real partnership in there with Hendo. Our spine is really beginning to take shape.

Lallana - showed some incredible bits of skill, but still needs to add end product to his game. Very rarely do his twists and turns create a shooting chance. He did have a good game though it is something he needs to look at.

Coutinho - what can I say? He was sensational, unplayable, brilliant on the ball. He was running through the centre of their side like they were just training cones at times. The goal was world class. Truly world class. Only the very best can produce that finish at the end of a run like that. While it did help that Smalling did not come over to help out the full back, he destroyed that lad so badly that LVG took him off at half time.

Firmino - once again he was everywhere, chasing back, racing forward, breaking up play in midfield, skipping past players in attack. If he mans up he will be special. Bravery is the weakest part of his game. His touch is sublime at times though.

Sturridge - really looks short of confidence. He is taking too many touches constantly, looking for options and then not making up his mind which to pick. It will come, he just needs a run of games. At one point he was the one racing back into our right back area to cover for Clyne, tackled the ball back, played some good passing and then popped up in their half in the same move. The signs are there that the lad still has the quality, he just needs to get his confidence back.

Allen - ran around a lot but did not really achieve anything. He has been excellent when coming on as a sub ahead of the midfield, looked lost when playing in the centre of it once more. Still, it was a necessary sub as Hendo was looking done at that point.

Origi - offered more directness and sharpness when he replaced Sturridge. Created himself a couple of good shooting opportunities. If he can start putting some away there will be no stopping him.

Benteke - didn't have long and showed some good hold up play but he still is not doing enough. Both times Origi shot the ball was spilled by De Gea and he was stood watching on the edge of the box. If he was alert and sniffing, like a goalscorer should be, he would have had a chance of getting to the ball. Says it all that Allen was the only one closing it down the second time.

The important thing is that we are through and they aren't. That is what matters most. Klopp's really beginning to make us into a team.

Sorry this took a while!}

1.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 06:51:06
Spot on Ed. And the fact they didn't create anything despite going for it presses me. Good team back bone.

{Ed001's Note - the only thing they created, really, was knots in Clyne's legs as he twisted himself inside out.

One thing I have to say, what on earth does Fellaini have to do to see red? He throws one arm up and out, so it can't be for leverage, as is claimed, or both arms would go up and then be swung down, not out. The fact he is just throwing out the one at an opponent tells you it is deliberate and intentionally malicious. The guy is a vile thug who is going to hurt someone badly one day.}

2.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 07:08:26
First half was terrible. Got so nervous, made me think we'd throw it away. Realized at half-time that aside from Coutinhos sublime goal Sturridge hit the woodwork, De Gea made a great save on Couts shot and Hendo blasten over when he should have scored. Suddenly felt a lot better knowing we can play a crap half and still have the quality players to do some damage. Nice to see the lads basically control the game in 2nd half aswell. They are learning how to play "european" games, step by step. Can horrible first 15-20, then MOTM for me.

3.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 07:08:43
UTD did create couple of good scoring opportunities which went begging. Milner leaving lingard free header inside the box. Marcus Rojo missing a sitter.
Coutinho is world class. More than the goal. His
Run from the middle dribbling 4 players to set up Sturridge was simply outstanding.

4.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 08:22:12
If I'm thinking of the same incident is argue that it was lallanas fault that Lovren have the ball away, have him a horrifically awkward pass under pressure.

5.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 08:45:36
Totally agree edd with your breakdown of the game. I do find coutinhio very frustrating though with possession and in front of goal. He does all the hard things easily and struggles with the easy chances or passes. He has the potential to become the leagues best though. A point on sakho aswell, his passing in general is superb probably the best I've seen this year from his position, really gets us on the front foot. Can has the potential do captain this side for years, he's staring to boss the middle.

6.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 10:18:16
Could not agree more with that ed. and fellaini. crikey, this guy is actually vile. He is a tad worse than Diego Costa in my opinion. Costa has a really hot temper and is reactionary (most of the time) . Fellaini is calculated and malicious. What kind of human being thinks it's okay to needlessly elbow people in the face during a football match? The guy is a complete s***stain, and it's a disgrace that UEFA didn't ban this runt, and it's also a disgrace that this guy hardly gets red cards for his cowardly efforts.

7.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 10:32:37
Sturridge is lacking confidence. The fact that in a team where behind him is 3 players who will get on the ball and link play he needs to stop dropping back trying to be coutinho, firmino and lallanna. He looked most dangerous running in behind. He should be told to stay doing figure of eights between the centre backs. Ed it looks to me like he doesn't trust the rest of the lads to get the ball to him?

{Ed001's Note - it is just the way he plays, he likes to mix it up, especially when a team is playing deep, like United were. No space to run in behind them, so he dropped off into space.}

8.) 18 Mar 2016
18 Mar 2016 10:59:35
Flanno on right, Smith on left for next game.