saintsmike25

We look very ordinary, the lack of confidence is clear we are taking far too long to make decisions and be decisive, Redmond has been bright in places but awful at the same time, Sims looks bright but struggling to get into the game, our midfield looks tired, especially Davis. In defence Yoshida can't pass tonight, Bertrand has been average and Austin was having a poor game before he came off. We miss Tadic, there's just no fluency to our team and I can't see where a goal will come from. I'd take a 0-0, whatever it takes to get the job done, but Puel needs to improve performances as we're flat.

Biggest issue is the lack of urgency to cross the ball, we need to take Austin off he looks so off the pace and bring on Long

Lol, meltdown time. One of those games where our heads completely go, silly errors, now time to show character and get at Palace. Bring on Sims.

Tight game so far, Palace going for the hoof up to Benteke and we're just easing our way in, JWP/Boufal look sharp.

When the players are fully motivated we're a real force, I wonder whether the air miles and journeys led to lacklustre performances against the Isreali side and Prague, but this was a great selection by Puel, he's using fast players on the counter, Boufal has looked superb tonight. He won't always make the right decision but he runs and commits players and has fantastic ball control and tricks up his sleeve and he's becoming more confident too, and also working back as well. Reed has been excellent and taking his chance jumping into tackles and that has also free'd up more of Davis and Clasie who are roaming far more and it makes us look braver and more dangerous when we break, unlike our midfield three who only sit in. When defending Yoshida has been solid as has VVD tonight, Bertrand has been a force down the left and Martina seems to be doing OK, and Shane Long has been causing the Arsenal defence headaches with his off-ball movement. What may be an issue is Xhaka is starting to get Arsenal in gear and looks like he needs to be closed down early and Iwobi has caused some issues but Arsenal haven't threatened and we've looked comfortable, I said there was another goal in this for us and I think it will end up 3-1 to us as we're dangerous on the counter, I think Boufal will score a screamer his confidence is sky high.

Two assists for Boufal, loving our attacking swagger this match.

So far very good, McQueen, Long and Boufal all looking very pacy on the counter. There could be another goal in this.

Well, Puel works closely with coaches at youth level and especially the U23 team, which is essentially the pathway for the first team. Looking at the Prague game we lacked pace and confidence, this lad has both in abundance and is in form. It made sense to play him, Boufal is very talented but not quite adapting as we hoped just yet, he will eventually. What it shows me is that we should be glad of Puel throwing players like Sims in, Jake Hesketh also performed brilliantly against Crystal Palace earlier in the season, lets not put too much pressure on the lad, he won't produce games like that every week, but we should get behind what the club is trying to do instead of certain posters berating Puel for giving youth a chance. Sims was excellent and has a great future ahead of him, and there will be more players in that U23 team thrown in, and I expect Jack Stephens to also have more game time soon instead of Yoshida, the one disappointing player from the U23 was Afamola (sp) the striker, he looked like a League One player, lacked a bit of raw strength and ability.

I wish we could drop Martina, Clasie, JWP (on that performance), Long, Jay Rod, Holjberg didn't play well but I know he can play ALOT better than that. Simply put these players had a chance to put themselves in Puels mind, only McQueen came away with any credit, it was really one of the most abject Saints performance, Sparta aren't good they're a defensive side but we're simply woeful at breaking down teams..

Fairly awful performance no spark, creativity, desire. Honestly the last three games we have looked flat, Puel needs to change things especially in the attacking third, it makes you realise HOW important Tadic is for us creating chances. Shane Long was awful, Jay Rod awful, JWP had a shocker, Clasie was barely there, Martina was woeful he had an absolute mare, even VVD had a shocker!, Redmond looked clueless on the ball, the only player coming away with any credit is Sam McQueen - Puel please buy a striker or another attacking midfielder in January.

Biggest issues are JWP, Holjberg, Clasie - they need to work on attacking, all three just sit in none of these players wants to make an incisive run or play the ball to the strikers feet Redmond, McQueen and Jay Rod are making runs but we're too scared to even try the ball. McQueen is our best player at the mo, but if Puel was brave he'd take off Clasie for Boufal, stick Boufal in the free role behind the strikers and watch Sparta struggle.

Great player, first season in English football and just 21-years-old playing in one of the toughest leagues and is in my opinion better than Davis and more athletic and technically able than Romeu. Has fantastic energy, a burst of pace, can spot a pass, good technique, just lacks a bit of strength in the tackle and should shoot more - but he will be BETTER than Morgan. Honestly he's got the potential to be sold for around £30m in a couple of seasons. Don't understand the negativity.

I'm happy so far, honestly we have stifled Liverpool my main issue is we miss Tadic and Boufal/Redmond are too isolated when they break forward and Austin looks so leggy and off the pace. Personally I think we need someone like Shane Long to get in behind and get us further up the pitch as Austin isn't likely to score today. Very pleased with the two CM's Holjberg and Romeu and VVD is having a cracking game. Games like this we just need to keep our heads and we will get a chance to score, I'd like us to win more set pieces as that's where we WILL trouble Liverpool, all in all 0-0 at the break against a VERY good Liverpool side, I'll take that. COYR

That's what I call awful concentration and coasting.

I wonder whether our fans realise a game is over 90 mins, and sometimes the better team can go behind. We just miss cutting edge apart from that we are class.

I said we would equalise, now here comes the pressure on Inter.. I think we will nick this game.

Second half still all to play for, I think we'll get a goal back and then fail to score and they might get a red... Then we will have to win both our other games, I still have faith as we can improve. My issue is we are not being direct enough, we should be testing them far more. We played better at the San Siro.

Alpine in overreaction horror. Yes Chelsea always "go forwards" they have a mountain of money to spend and world-class players - some that can't even get in their match day squad. Can you explain how we are supposed to compete with that on a long-term basis? - Simply put we can't and although Leicester had a stunning season last season, it will be very much a "flash in the pan" as the top sides quickly regain their foothold on the PL and we will battle it out to be the best of the rest. I don't know why we tamper our expectations so high, Europa League is the best we can hope for barring a miracle, we are a very good side but we have to be exceptional to beat sides like Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham etc - today we just weren't.

Don't know what to make of this performance, the biggest issue is neither Reed or JWP want to pass the ball forward, meaning it's often left to Yoshida to do! or Fonte, both want to act as sitting CM's and Holjberg isn't attacking enough either meaning we lack movement. Someone needs to swap one of those two, as this clearly isn't working. As for Boufal, he's clearly not fit, but shows some nice touches and has a turn of pace on him. But he's barely receiving the ball.

Time for the team to get over that, I have faith there were some good signs in that game, we just lack a confident striker. The Europa League will be a welcome distraction for Puel to properly assess what other options he has and what players can come into the team. Long looks off the pace at the mo as does Jay Rod, it is worrying that our three striking options just don't look to be properly fit or in form, Tadic once again the creator. What this team need is confidence and a win, we've had two of our toughest games and did well despite losing against Man Utd and Arsenal, it's the fact we were toothless against Watford and Sunderland which worry me. It will come but I expect a tough season and a midtable finish. It's a shame but Puel has to look at the January window as a golden chance to replace and enhance our options we are desperate for a pacy striker who can play off the shoulder and run in behind, hopefully we'll get one. Also Cedric was awful once more! Bring Cuco back, or even one of the academy lads, Cedric looks so uninterested at the moment, good to see Bertrand back, hopefully Jay Rod will become fit again but it's a long way off yet.

Happy with the half, we had some good spells it is improving with each game, I'd like to see us take more shots especially Redmond and Tadic.

So we lose at Old Trafford and the moaners expect us to win this match - given that they have THAT team, Ibra, Rooney, Pogba, Martial, etc! Get real we're doing well, but hard to compete against this type of quality.

Only upfront, we're okay midfield wise.

One player costs virtually more than our whole team - that's what we're up against. Yet our boys will make this close. Already seeing some improvements from the start we had against Watford.

Against Man Utd I worry we will be bullied, they're far physically stronger than we are and given that Deeney looked good at times against us I worry what an in-form Zlatan would do to Yoshida, any idea why Fonte didn't play? As for the formation it's going to take time for instant results but there were signs, however Long was isolated at times so our key players will be Redmond and Tadic, both can create and shoot - if they play well we will play well. It's the first game of the season so I'm glass half full, we showed spirit to come back into the game we had more shots, some chances just need to be brighter in the final third, this is where Puel now needs to look seriously, we need a pacy striker to create competition for places as I fear Jay Rod won't ever be the same again. I'm sure we're working on a signing behind the scenes, even if it's just a loanee we could attract a world-class name if we play it right.