Coates, Coates, the killer... Liverpool vs Man City: First half thoughts

First and foremost, the pitch is a joke.  It looks dodgy and the way the ball is moving and players are sliding, especially in the baseball 'infield area', it doesn't look very fun to play on.  Also, is it just me or does the pitch seem small, which is why seemingly 'normal' cross field passes are going out of bounds with frequency.  Now on to our players' performances.

Sebastián Coates is putting on a pre-season tour that may just make it all right to sell Agger to Barcelona, and he's appeared to save his best for this match so far.  He's dispossessed Dzeko and Jovetic with embarrassing ease and his shut-down coverage in the box along with some tricky clearances have all but neutralized any real City chances.  For the first time, at least in a long time, he's shown the competency and ability to wear the Liverpool shirt.

No one else has been that outstanding, but Coutinho has made some brilliant runs.  Had he found Sturridge on that run where he took on three City players with his brilliant Brazilian wizardry, world class sweat would have been oozing from his veins.  A far reached foot by a City defender saved that from possibly being the match highlight.

Toure and Kelly have played well also, though they have had their 'frantic' moments.  Every time Kolo clears the ball, I cringe a little, he just seems so unsure of what he's doing out there.  Kelly has had his hands full with Kolarev and though I wouldn't say he's winning the battle, he's certainly holding his own.

Gerrard has been solid, two plays come to mind.  First, we he did that immediate through-ball on a rebound supposedly to Sturridge, he had that look on his face as if he thought, 'Man, Torres or Suarez would have saw that coming.' Work with him, Stevie, he's all we got right now.  Also that ankle-breaking direction-changing dribble in the middle of his own third on Kolarev was simply brilliant, Allen Iverson would be proud.

As for the poor performances, Allen has been bottom, he seems so out-of-place and may be having his worst passing match ever, Hendo hasn't been much better.  Every time either of them try to .make something happen' they create a turnover.  Lambert has been okay, at best, but he needs to be better at creating chances for others and exert less energy doing so.  Would not be surprise to see him on the bench in the second half.  Speaking of which...