Liverpool sunk at the last by the Yellow Submarines

Unlucky? Not in my book.  We fell into the trap of believing Villarreal to be a special team because they currently lie fourth in La Liga.

If Villarreal hadn’t scored at the last Klopp in some eyes would have been vindicated in leaving his best striker in Sturridge on the bench.

Even the much denigrated Christian Benteke got some minutes ahead of him.

At the break with Coutinho feeling unwell, Klopp replaced him with the disappointing Jordon Ibe.  By then Liverpool were in relatively control and the game was there to win.

Why not move Firmino into the Coutino role and put Sturridge up top?

The formation was a defensive move from the off designed to sneak an advantage or come away with a draw.

It’s only a one-nil loss in the first leg, but it feels like an opportunity lost.

For some reason I equate this to Rafa Benitez second Champions League Final against AC Milan. Knowing Milan’s fear of Peter Crouch he refused to start him.  By the time he brought him on the match was over, even though he had an immediate impact in helping to get a goal back.

Okay, it’s not that bad.  But I hate hiding in the shadows when you have the ammunition to hand.

Personally, I’m tired of the criticism of Daniel Sturridge.  He scored a goal in each of his last three games and it was still not enough to get him on the pitch.  There have been masses of column inches pointing the finger at the striker’s lack of heart and his ability to lead the pressing game, but it’s nonsense.

Liverpool required a presence in the box. Time and again, Moreno and Clyne on the overlap delivered balls into the box with a lack of bodies on the end it.  It didn’t make sense?  Sturridge wouldn’t be human if he didn’t feel slighted and was thinking about his future at the club because it appears the manager sees him more of an impact player.

Should he decide to leave there would be no shortage of takers in the Premier League and abroad, but then they say a week is long time in football.

Liverpool had a clear chance in the fifth minute when Joe Allen arrived late in the box on the end of the Adam Lallana’s cross, hit his shot straight at the keeper.  Either side of Asenjo would have seen us grab an early lead.  Lack of goals from our midfielders has been a major bugbear this season.

Granted, Firmino hit the post after a sweeping move, but that was as good as it got in front of goal.

Stung with almost the last kick of the ball, it felt like a kick in the teeth. A superb diagonal ball floated tantalisingly over the head of Toure, who had been superb all night and as slow as he was to turn, Moreno as the manager acknowledged in his post-match interview, was out of position allowing Denis Suarez to roll the ball unsolicited across the face of goal for substitute Adrian Lopez to tap home.

It’s far from over, but it could and should have been so much better.

Man of the match: Kolo Toure – found wanting for the goal, but if Moreno hadn’t wandered up field the potential for a chance would have been snuffed out.  His positional play was exceptional and up until the goal Liverpool hadn’t missed a beat defensively.

Moreno instantly threw away all his recent good work.  With the match petering out into a draw he vacated his position to leave Suarez unaccompanied.  Criminal defending and one wonders whether his attacking nature is a part of his game we’ll just have to accept.

What was the point of playing two full-backs so high up the pitch to deliver balls into the box for a non-existent goal threat?

Daniel Sturridge’s absence suggested a smash ‘n’ grab mind set from Klopp and the refusal to bring on his premier striker gives one the feeling that he sees him as a luxury player and not to be trusted in the heat of battle.

Nathaniel Clyne’s final ball is too often found wanting.  He fails to pick out either a final pass or deliver a quality cross and while he has the pace to subdue opposing threats, Liverpool formation depends on him as a creative outlet on the right and for the amount of crosses he sends in he appears not to lift his head to find a target.  Disappointing.

Early days, but Jordon Ibe is too predictable and must learn to go on the outside of the defenders, particularly if he’s playing on the left.  He did so once and had some success.

The Villarreal fans just as Borussia Dortmund’s fans had before them showed a touch of class unveiling a banner which said ‘96 You Will Never Walk Alone’.  In an emotional week which saw the conclusion to the inquest of the Hillsborough Disaster in which the 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed, it was a beautiful moment.  YNWA.