From my seat: Liverpool (A)

In a game where we could have lost 5-0 it was just a solitary goal that divided us at the end and the irony was that we gave it to them. Our first half, from an attacking perspective, could be summed up in one sentence. First minute strike by Arteta comfortably held by Reina. The rest of the half was about them attacking, Babel and Kuyt mised sitters, Gerrard hit a post.

But wouldn't you just know it while they couldn't score we did it for them. We had cleared a Gerrard corner only for Yak to dawdle on the ball and have it nicked off him and with our defence streaming out Kuyt found Torres in acres and the ball nestled in the net.

We really did look like a team out of form with Pienaar and Neville suffering most. H/T and I wasn't alone in expecting changes but the same eleven took to the field and,just like the first half, we created just one chance, Osman headed wide from an Arteta free kick. Liverpool continued to attack Kuyt put a volley wide, Gerrard brought a fine save from Howard and on the final whistle it has to be said Liverpool were comfortable throughout. That sticks in the throat.

So the post match pint and inquest: What is going wrong?

My thought is that our lack of quality depth has caught up with us, especially in midfield. To have three out of four strikers unavailable is unusual and unlucky but these things happen also not having cover for the Cahill role is proving crucial with strikers out. Comparing the two benches today spoke volumes.

When the manager made his changes taking off Pienaar and Neville and replacing with Manny and Baines there was a visible lift given to the team in terms of mental energy and in Manny's case someone who could get around and actually pick a pass, I thought it was Manny's best display to date.

A quick look at the squads printed in the proey shows us having around thirty players but the reallity is we have only about seventeen that could be called the first team squad and, with injuries and illness biting, I feel it leaves us short for the business end of this season; no scope for freshening up, especially in the positions where players have lost form.

I don't think it is physical tiredness as today all the players put in a lot of energy but without any semblence of touch, nous or pass and move.

I thought the manager did well today in moving around what he had to try and get some fluency and with the back five performing pretty well it was from midfield forward that lacked the mental sharpness that was well illustrated in there being only TWO attempts on goal all match. Feed the Yak and he will score we sing but today they put him on starvation rations.

They say form is temporary, well I hope ours picks up over the coming six games,as well as better news on the striker front.

Can we hold on to fifth slot? Who knows,but with the way football is so unpredictable a position from fourth to seventh could be achieved.

It's never nice losing but losing to them is that bit harder but if it galvanises the board to look at serious money and the manager to be able to identify and get the quality needed to go a whole season competing well on all fronts then the next step will be that bit nearer and I will have greater confidence that we are a club on the up and up.

Derby next in what is a must win game and to that end will the true Everton please turn up. UP THE BLUES

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