Plan B

The brutal truth of the matter is that we don’t have enough outstanding players - when the likes of Naismith and Osman who are both honest enough triers are in and around the first team then we will not be at the level required to achieve our aims, moreover when the squad is stretched as it is at the moment we see in full view the lack of depth. Some players will improve and some due to age will decline - but without the necessary proper investment in the squad we will continue to struggle to do ourselves justice.

How about something simple like a flat back 4 lying much deeper to prevent lightning counters when we look susceptible?

Is it really rocket science? Plan B sorted. Don’t compress the pitch, and use the possession game to effect by holding the ball and minimizing the opponents chances if they can hurt us.

Hindsight is a glorious thing admittedly....

As we do play open football at some point we will get ripped apart and unfortunately for us it was last night. Stones had an awful game getting exposed for poor positioning for 2 of the goals. Jags gave the ball to the rat and then should have fouled him 40 yards out. Barry lost his man for the 1st goal and injured our only striker in the process.

It will be interesting to see how we react over the next few weeks hopefully Barkley and Deulofeu will make a big difference. I don’t want to see too much of a change when we have the ball. When we haven’t got the ball I want to see more closing down and urgency last night was the worst we have played off the ball all season.

Mike. Dead right. Our deep slow build-up allowed 7 red shirts to pack their box throughout the game.

Everton out of the hunt.

I guess RM would argue that he's aware of this and that given time he'll get the right players in and get them doing the things they're not doing in time.

We were all surprised at how well we've done so far and so a slump (?) was always going to look worse than it really is.

The thing is we didn't play that bad!! The defense was shocking fair enough it happens, But the most concerning thing for me was that despite dominating the whole of the second we never carved open a single chance of note.

For me we need a proper number 10, someone who can play that killer pass when defenses sit back. But all is not lost, few players back and hopefully we can push on.

I say this with caution - as an outsider as I can not begin to relate to the atmosphere in and around the city of Liverpool... someone mentioned on another thread to not say this but...

It’s one game. I know it’s that game. But "out of the hunt" is just a bit too drastic for me at this point. There’s still a third of the season to play.

The manager was out-maneuvered. I personally love RM. But fair is fair and I think he was as shocked as the rest of us.

It’s the injuries and squad depth that will hurt us moving forward. RM will get it right, but the quality and bodies are dropping like flies.

All that being said I don’t believe we are out of the hunt yet.

The sun shines brightest after the rain. Let’s just hope it’s a quick shower and not a storm.

We would still have been 3-0 down and then had to play over a third of the game down to 10 men whilst chasing the game. Would have ended up being 5 or 6 at least, with a suspension to boot.

I thought Stones was horribly out of position for Sturridge's first, but not sure which other you think he could/ should have prevented.

The game was over at 3-0 but if you are going to commit a professional foul it would be better 40 yards out with your fellow centre half alongside saving the straight red rather than letting a player have a free run at goal.

Fatigue and lack of match fitness was almost certainly a factor in us not closing them down but I am not sure who else he could have selected looking at the bench.

Lets see how we react on Saturday

Last night was a write-off, but judge us when we are full strength.

The players have to take some blame but Martinez should have adjusted the tactics accordingly.

You can see it at The Bridge. Jose, is trying to emulate this style - no more flying wing backs and untold passing. It's all quite direct and pacey, but not hoofball.

This takes quick, skillfull, smart thinking players, with an eye for a good pass.

Maybe football's moving on already, and we're still wearing flares ?

In frequent camera shots he could be seen urging our players to drive ever more forward a point picked up on by the match commentators.

In the matter of captaincy it was equally clear that Gerrard had full control of himself and total command of his team mates. Jags could barely do his own job let alone influence his team mates or the game.

We had 61% possession of the ball but most of it was brain dead unmarked completely pointless rubbish against a side that had little or no intention from the start of competing in the midfield.

Effective passing and control is good to see yet infuriatingly boring when it is for no reason.

Until Martinez discovers a way, plan B or call it what you will, that prevails over a retreating defence I cannot see us finishing higher than 8th.

I do believe they were playing to the manager's instructions of not getting stuck on a greasy pitch in case they were easily booked and sent off.

When playing against Liverpool these days, they are drilled to go down as soon as they are touched. Under those circumstances, who would like to be a defender against those type of players?

Against Villa, Everton will be more like themselves, with not having to worry too much with a home crowd on their side (unlike the cauldron of hate shown by Liverpool fans on Tuesday night) about being booked because the opposition are feining fouls.

They are fast on the break, something that caught us out, too often on Tuesday, So it's going to be a nail chewer, unless we have learnt from our mistakes, & show much more bite up front,