Andy

I celebrated his goal like we'd taken the lead in a cup final. Been desperate for him to score

Striking it like Luuk De Jong used to today.

I'm surprised that wasn't a handball since it leads to a goal, no idea how that rule works now though

This is definitely the kind of game where Tonali should be starting. These are quite happy to concede possession so we're likely to control the game, it's the ideal game for him.

I think he's still playing within himself when he's on the ball, as if he doesn't feel he belongs yet. There's a real player in him if he can find that self belief and start grabbing games by the scruff of the neck.

Great result, but there are issues that need addressing with the huge gaps in our midfield and the lack of any fluidity in our attacking play, which aren't problems isolated to this performance.

Disappointed by the lack of intensity again, this Milan team would've crumbled under a bit pressure imo.

His set pieces are annoying but not the biggest issue at the moment. As mentioned in the match thread, he isn't getting up and down the pitch in the way we'd expect from him; I wouldn't be shocked if he's made less overlaps this season in total than he did in an a lot of individual games last season. I noticed against Liverpool that he spent a lot of time behind the ball, and it was evident again today. This in turn stifles Almiron as he relies on that run, either as an outlet or as a diversion. I'm not sure if this is a tactical instruction as it seems to have coincided with us also trying to emulate the "centre half steps into midfield" thing that is popular at the moment. His passing was also extremely sloppy today, but that's less concerning.

Can't remember him ever looking great in the centre last season, he occasionally "did a job" there, but for me it stifles his game as he tries to be more positionally-disciplined when he's in that role. Playing on the left gives him the freedom to just charge about and hunt people down, as well as allowing him to make those runs in behind which he's good at due to his physicality. At the moment it feels like we're trying to shoehorn Gordon into the team at Joelinton's expense. This is a big problem that Eddie needs to solve.

Losing is fine. The manner of the last two defeats, however, is worthy of criticism. We have been extremely ponderous on the ball, and have lacked intensity and aggression off it. It's clear that there's a lot of work to be done in the international break.

He's been sitting noticeably deeper in every match this season IMO, including Villa. His overlaps have been a lot less frequent.

Has Trippier crossed the half way line today? His marauding runs have been noticeably absent so far this season.

He would've came on today if that was the intention. The defence will be as it is now, if Botman is still out.

Pope has to save that

At least we've got Longstaff, Barnes and Wilson to look forward to in 5 minutes

Big Joe always looked better to me last season on the left, interchanging with Willock. Can't remember him ever having a good game in the middle, we were crying out for Longstaff when he was in a midfield three towards the end of the season.

The lack of intensity we've shown in the last few matches is concerning, especially against teams where intensity is crucial. Joelinton looks a shadow of himself, if he's not fit enough to press he shouldn't be on the pitch.

Agree with this. Isak was very quiet yesterday, but that's often when players like him are at their most dangerous, especially as the game goes into the later stages and legs start to tire.

Gordon didn't look tired to me, like. Every time he had the ball in the second half he was tearing Trent up. I don't believe for one second that he can't play more than an hour of a match, especially in a game that he was clearly so fired up for.

To be fair, the gameplan was working until they went down to 10 and were forced to sit back. It's not so much the calibre of opposition that was the problem, it was breaking down a low block - an issue carried over from last season. Even if you take away their sucker-punch goals and the game had finished 1-0, it would've been evident that the issues with breaking teams down are still there. Howe needs to suss this out quickly, as there'll be plenty of teams that'll employee these tactics this season.

Can't wrap my head around his subs today, Longstaff for Tonali made no sense - in a game you want to control, Longstaff is not the man to bring on. And Barnes for Gordon, baffling... Handed Trent a massive get out of jail card, since Barnes won't run at his man but instead looks for one-twos. It's not as if Gordon looked tired, he had the bit between his teeth. Really strange. Our game management was awful too, we can't control a game passing side to side slowly, it isn't in our DNA. There was none of our usual intensity or tempo in the second half.

Really poor game management, awful subs in particular, Gordon and Tonali off made no sense at all.

My girlfriend's a Southampton fan so I've watched a lot of him. For me, he has talent but allows the game to go around him sometimes; he often doesn't impose himself and can go missing. May be better suited to West Ham with better midfielders surrounding him though.

Don't really agree that he should've kept quiet tbh, and I was a bit disappointed to see he deleted it. Players should be able to speak their mind openly, just as anybody else would if they felt they or their friends were being unfairly criticised. I find it weird that we expect these 20-odd year old lads to not have human reactions.

Ridiculous that it took so long tbh, was a blatant penalty by the rules. Pure theatre.