Dismal first half performance by LFC prompts another defeat - Man Utd 2 Liverpool 1

The pre-match talk was of the shootout between the top two strikers in the country Van Persie and our sorcerer Suarez and also the disrespectful statement by Alex Ferguson stating "Suarez is laden with controversy"

I would have used the latter as a further incentive for the team just before kickoff. when the team was announced I was very disappointed to hear that Sturridge had been left on the subs bench and also the out of form Joe Allen had again been picked ahead of Henderson.

The opening segment of the game we showed none of our usual energy and possession football, this was not a problem as long as we kept compact and limited any balls into Van Persie's feet from their midfield.

The surprising part of the first half as it went along was how easily the Utd midfield of Carrick and Cleverley dominated our three man midfield of Lucas/Gerrard and Allen.

The action was mainly in our half with Suarez isolated up front as if the rest of the players were not on the same planet!

With no attempts made by us on goal after the first 18 mins it was inevitable that Van Persie would get a chance. His excellent movement deceived Agger which he put away giving Reina no chance.

For the rest of the first half Utd easily controlled the game and we didn't look a threat at all, just before we got to half time United nearly doubled their lead when a disastrous wayward pass from Joe Allen gave Welbeck a chance of a shot but it was blocked brilliantly by Agger.

Shortly Cleverley volleyed just wide and not long after in a massive goalmouth scramble inside our six yard box which culminated in Skrtel hacking Van Persie's flick off the line to stop us from going in at the half time break two goals down.

My pre match concerns about the weakness of Joe Allen in big games had again come to fruition in a match situation which we now hoped that Rodgers would remedy at half time. We also prayed that Sturridge would be given a deserved run out after his impressive cameo versus Mansfield in the Cup last weekend.

Rodgers elected to bring on Sturridge to replace Lucas to give us more attacking thrust but surprisingly left on the ineffectual Allen for the start of the second half.

The substitution had an early effect when we saw the normally busy but today very subdued Suarez tee up Wisdom who shot well wide.

The very poor Allen then gave away the free kick from which Utd doubled their lead when poor defending by Glen Johnson enabled Vidic to inadvertently deflect in Evra's header from Van Persie's free kick.

We then delivered the perfect response to Utd's second goal when our new striker Sturridge reacted quickest to tap into the back of the net after Gerrard powered past a tackle like Gerrard of old before drilling a superb shot which De Gea was unable to hold.

After three months out of the side there was a welcome return to first team football for Borini in place of Sterling as we desperately searched for the equaliser.

The relentless pressure almost told with Sturridge twice coming close to getting us the draw our spirited second half performance deserved.

Utd held on for the points and are now an embarrassing 24 points ahead of us!

Kop-Post Man of the Match - Daniel Sturridge - come on for the second half and showed again the potential and skill in his game linking up very impressively with Suarez, following up well for his goal, tracking back when he lost the ball and generally being a nuisance to the opposition. He needs to develop his composure in front of goal as he needs to realise hitting a shot across a keeper has more benefits nine times out of ten with Suarez more than capable of feeding on the tap-ins from those types of shots.

Positives - Second half display forced Utd back and had worried them enough that Ferguson made two defensive subs towards the end of the game.

Negatives - Rodgers team selection in the big games has been found wanting and has cost us dear in all our big games so far.

Sterling and Downing were both ineffective when we needed both to be on top of their games today. Sterling's dip in form is down to playing so many games at such a young age without being given a rest,  for Downing there is no such excuse and his continued poor performances emanating in him being picked every game by Rodgers baffles me.

The central midfield struggles fall totally at Brendan Rodgers' feet, his decision to play Joe Allen in place of Jordan Henderson verges on criminal considering the form the two have been in, which couldn't be more opposite. 

There will soon be cries of nepotism if this continues because barring illness or injury Allen plays ahead of Henderson. In this game Allen looked lost and frankly out of his depth and with Lucas off colour and Steven Gerrard less disciplined, our midfield was totally at sea. 

That we looked better in the second half with only Gerrard and Allen is something I believe is more attributable to United sitting deeper and us showing more attacking intent than an indication that Lucas is the weak link. 

Far from it, as moving forward from this Henderson or Shelvey should now be the first options in the team to play alongside Gerrard with Lucas being the defensive midfielder with Allen now the reluctant back up to Lucas because Allen does not having any attacking impetus to assist us in the attacking side of our game.

It will be interesting to see Rodgers next team selection for the home game vs Norwich.

LFC - Team vs Man Utd
Reina, Wisdom, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas Leiva, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez, Sterling

Subs:-Jones, Carragher, Robinson, Henderson, Shelvey, Borini, Sturridge

Attendance - 75,501