Playing the 'Pool away was always going to be challenging, particularly remembering last season. But to find yourself disappointed to have come away with a draw says something about the team this season. However seeing the difference the substitutions made, I find myself wondering whether Arsene could or should have gone to 4-4-2 earlier, or even from the start. It's always a tricky balance because we know the Scousers have a strong midfield and having essentially a five man midfield does offer them the respect they deserve. Trouble is it didn't stop them scoring early and we didn't equalise until we had gone to 4-4-2. Don't know if you noticed, but Kuyt made a very clever move in the wall which meant Cesc had to go the long way round and thus opened up the space for Stevie G. Can't really complain as it wasn't illegal, just too damn clever.

Speaking of too damn clever, surely Carragher has to be caught at some point and give a penalty away. That's the second time he's tried the karate throw in the penalty area and got away with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to start moaning about gamesmanship or anything, the game was a great advertisement for the English Prem, regardless of how many French, Spanish and other assorted countries were represented. It's the sort of game that players join Prem teams to play.

However the fact remains that we missed two sitters. OK, one sitter and a possible cannon off Cesc into the corner pocket. I mentioned Eboue's shooting before, can someone please tell him power isn't everything. He obviously has the power to spare and a few tricks as well, but let's try and improve the accuracy huh? I am sure there is nothing to the rumour he is trying out for the National Ballet either, but his dying swan routine needs a lot of work on it. Trouble is you get a rep for that sort of thing and you tend not to get the decision even when you are fouled. Anyways, if there is a missed sitter culprit, Bendtner is it. I truly hope he has been brought back down to earth a bit by that. If he wants to be thought of outside his head as well as he is thought of in it, he's going to have to learn to think a lot quicker. Here's hoping. I reckon a Careless Cup outing should give some clues.

So honours even and a massi-i-i-i-ive game next weekend. I reckon we have more than a chance of getting three points out of it, but our forwards are going to have to step up. We need the good Ade to turn up and make the perfect nuisance of himself we know he can. If the bad Ade turns up, the midfield are going to have a lot of pressure put on them. Whether to play Theo? I'm still a bit concerned he's not quite ready, but I may just be being over-protective. His speed could give the mancs defence a few problems for sure. Just remember, it may only be 8 weeks to Christmas, but it's still another 40 games to set a new record. Just kidding, sort of.