Vaj

I think he needs to be part of a two with the third player playing further forward to get the best out of him. We need Bruno to be the one picking the ball up from the centre backs but we also need someone back there who is more defence minded who has a bit of pace and athleticism. It is very concerning how pretty much every team we play now finds that gap between the defence and midfield that we could all see was a potential weakness, especially after the Villa game last year. I think it is just getting exposed more now because teams are bypassing our press so much easier than last season and then it is easy to find the gaps. I love Howe and hope it works long term with him, but I think he needs to be less stubborn and look to change his style a little bit because it isn't working at the moment.

After his disallowed goal I don’t remember him touching the ball again!

Still thought he was our best player even being slightly off it. Only one that looked like they were trying to do something

Watching us away from home is so draining. I have no belief that we can get anything here and it needs to be sorted out. Not good enough! Only glimmer of hope is Isak

One of my items has arrived and the other one has now been refunded so presumably they are not bothering sending it. What a shambles of a company they are!

Stream cut out a few times, what did he do? Thought he had a decent game without having much to do from what I saw which will hopefully increase his confidence

Would genuinely have him in my first choice starting eleven at the moment if everyone was fit. One goal and two assists, lots of defensive work, neat and tidy on the ball, looks creative. The complete package which potentially saves tens of millions of pounds to get someone in at that level if he continues this trajectory. Buzzing for him!

I would like to think we would have found a way without him but he was the reason for the victory today, he was magnificent.

Also, the referee needs to book Leno. I thought there was meant to be new rules on time wasting?

Almiron is doing my head in! So he will probably score a screamer

Most competent goalkeepers can play in a shit team and look good when you defend deep and just have to keep making saves as we used to be when Dubravka looked decent or in the past when Elliot, Krul etc. were probably our best players at times. Now that we are a decent team you really see who the elite keepers are. You are more likely to give up big chances and become exposed because you are more open. You see it with Pope who makes so many big saves and players like Allison who save Liverpool so many points with big one on one saves. Unfortunately, Dubravka is just not good enough, not at fault for either goal last night but elite goalkeepers like Pope potentially save them and you go on to win the game. Injuries really have fucked us.

Shouldn’t have taken him off, he had a brilliant game and the last few times I’ve seen Longstaff come off the bench he has been so poor. Just don’t think he is an impact player at all and always looks off the pace when he hasn’t started the game

He’s class! Being ignored again by Trippier and Miggy at times, we can fuck them on that right side with Leao not working, need to use him more!

Yeah 100%. As I said it’s nobodies fault, just making the point that although I don’t think Dúbravka was at fault, you could feel the drop off

Problem is Pope could well have saved that. Not Dubravka’s fault but the drop off will cost us points unfortunately. Injuries are just ridiculous!

Don’t think he was great for the first goal. It was quite central, not suggesting he should save it but he looked nowhere near it

Agree it is a bit concerning he didn’t come on. Trippier needs a rest and the obvious option would be Tino right back and Hall left back but can’t see that happening if Ritchie is coming on over him. Burn and Targett aren’t back for a long time so

I agree with this. The first time we passed the ball around it just looked so laboured and it rarely got better than that

I bet they made a lot of substitutions and also had a lot of games wrapped up early and could breeze through the rest of the game. How often do we win a game without putting much in it? The way we play is such a high intensity that it takes it out of the players.

Really fear for us this month unless we get some players back, that was so poor but can you blame them when the same eleven is having to play week in week out? Glad I won’t have to watch Everton’s horrible long ball football again for a long time.

Did anyone buy anything from the club shop Black Friday week and have actually received their stuff? Can’t wait to get rid of Castore, absolutely awful!

Hopefully there won’t be the week gap between fixtures some of you have mentioned…carabao cup semi final is midweek after Sunderland!

I did wonder, if we hadn’t blocked Maguire’s shot and it went in, if they would have given us a goal in the circumstances.

The main thing we will miss is Pope‘s sweeping (Liverpool last year aside). He’s better on the ball than Pope and is a solid shot stopper, albeit not as good as Pope. I have faith that he will see us through until Pope is back, but these injuries are ridiculous, half of them are so unlucky!

The main difference between us and Man Utd for me is the wingers. We have two that work their socks off, one of which always has quality at the other end and the other shows quality in bits. All there wingers are lazy and think they are better than they are. Doesn’t work in the modern era of football, our full backs had a field day because of that