What Was Ferguson Thinking!

Liverpool 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Liverpool: Gerrard (68)
Manchester United: Hernandez (81)


Team: De Gea, Rio, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Jones (Hernandez 76), Fletcher, Park (Rooney 69), Young (Nani 69), Giggs, Welbeck

Sometimes I have no idea what the fuck is on Ferguson's mind. There were some serious changes made to the team and most were just mindboggling. I can understand keeping Rooney away from the spotlight after the whole silly sending off while playing for England, but to keep players like Anderson, Nani, Hernandez from the bench is bewildering at best. Not to mention, Berbatov wasn't even on the bench, not that he would have made a difference after the kind of performance we put up.

There were times during the game I felt that we were trying our best to bore Liverpool to death, then sneak in a spoon to scoop the remains. We could hardly get past the last third of the pitch. Welbeck was left buried under a ton of Liverpool pressure whenever he ventured near the Liverpool box. Young was at his putrid worst, unable to shake off Kelly and Giggs really showed his age. If anything, Park was the only player who could stand toe to toe to his Liverpool defender, but his lack of creativity resulted in nothing everytime he had the ball.

The Jones and Fletcher midfield pairing left a huge yolk on Ferguson's face. For all the plundits on Jone's great touch, dribbling and passing, it was too soon and too huge a game to throw him into the deep end for his first outing in an unfamilar position. Damnit, even Carrick might have been less tentative in the position. And for all the praises I've been singing at Fletcher in the past, today was the game I take it all back. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt here. He hasn't really played many games the past year or so, so it's going to take time for him to come to grips with the game at the top level, but today he was just simply awful.

There is a reason why De Gea ranks ranks right up there for the keeper who makes the most saves in the Premiership. Our defense just can't keep anyone from taking potshots. With names like Rio, Evra and Smalling, you would think we'd have a really good defense, yet game after game, we allow our opponents to take a ridiculous number of shots. And only thru the great stops by De Gea that we manage to keep the scores in our favour.

Long story short, Liverpool scored via a freekick that Rio needlessly gave away. Giggs inexplicably stepped away from the wall and Gerrard's kick arrowed past the gap and into the net. Ferguson sent on Rooney and Nani, and subsequently Hernandez, before Hernandez scored an instintive header from a corner.

While we were all waiting for the patented United comeback, De Gea was called into action with two incredible saves from Kuyt and Henderson. Liverpool finished the stronger and, as much as I hate to say this, deserved to have the 3 points.

This definitely counts as a loss in my book. Liverpool were so there for the taking, but Ferguson decided to play possum.

Lesson of the day, if Ferguson refuses to play our best players, we don't deserve to win. And if Shitty pips us to the title to the tune of 2 points, then we must look back to games like this where we gave it away right from kickoff.

Debbie Downer out.