The bottom line is, on the day, Rafa Benitez got it wrong. Domination counts for nothing. Possession doesn’t show up on the score sheet. Scoring goals - that’s all that matters. And that is where Liverpool lost it yesterday. Chances created, but not taken, and against United you are not going to get too much.

Well done Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson. You played your cards perfectly, and the win at Anfield was definitely worth more than three points for sure. United came with a plan to sit back and counter attack, and it paid off handsomely. Ferguson abandoned the “Gung ho” approach,  and for good reason. Rafa’s players seemed jaded at times, some feeling the effects of the midweek win-at-all-costs Champions league encounter.

And this is where the problems start for managers and coaches in the modern game, especially a rotating coach like Benitez. Does he stick with a winning team, or does he ring the changes. Either way, the media are going to go for the kill. Now that Rafa was beaten with an unchanged team, does that mean the press will give Rafa a break with regards to his rotation policy ? Of course they won't.

'One thing you can’t take away from Jon Arne Riise and Dirk Kuyt, is their consistency. The are consistently playing badly, and seem to have mastered the art'


Let's analyse some of the flops on the day. Liverpool fans were looking for a big performance from Steven Gerrard against United, and sadly he was almost hiding from the ball. Sitting deep, it was weird seeing Javier Mascherano pushing up and Stevie G sitting deep. What was that all about? He seemed tired and uninspired.

Another player 'Pool fans were looking to was Fernando Torres. He seemed to be wearing Dirk Kuyt’s boots as he inherited the Dutchman's poor first touch, and was off the mark in every sense of the word. The header that fell his way after Harry Kewell's shot was saved on the line, should have been put away, no question about that.

One thing you can’t take away from Jon Arne Riise and Kuyt, is their consistency. They are consistently playing badly, and seem to have mastered the art. It is as clear as daylight that they are not worth in the Liverpool team.  But they seem to escape Rafa’s scorn. How can he not see how poor they are? Why isn't Kuyt allowed to go to somewhere like Derby County on loan?

Harry Kewell seems to lack big match temperament. He somehow manages to take fans to a high, just enough to think he is getting back to the kind of form he produced in his days at Leeds United. But he seems content to just to trudge around sometimes. If he was tired post Marseille, then he should have been man enough to discuss this with Benitez. Imagine 70 minutes of Ryan Babel instead. He was mesmerising for the time he was on, and almost secured a draw with his late effort.

Yossi Benayoun also had a quiet game and will be remembered in this match as the one who kept Carlos Tevez onside for the one and only goal. For corners, a man on the post is essential, but once the ball was drilled towards Wayne Rooney on the edge of the penalty area, Benayoun should have come off the line. His usual quick feet just weren't quick enough on the day.

And that typifies Liverpool’s performance as a whole – just not quick enough to the ball, not quick enough to score, just not quick enough to ring the changes. In this match-up, our reaction time in all aspects was proportionate to the turning circle of an 18-wheeler truck.

The best news for Liverpool came after the game. George Gillet and Tom Hicks had the opportunity to see first hand that Liverpool are clearly lacking depth and quality in certain departments. And from the statement released by the club, some new brooms will be bought to sweep up the mess.

The winning mentality, it seems, plays the biggest role in winning titles. And Liverpool have got to get up and move on, and remember that believing is achieving. “C’mon you Reds!”