Where has the passion gone?

Grateful thanks to fellow posters on the Supporters internet site for succinctly summing up a lifeless performance devoid of ambition from the "mighty" Liverpool on Saturday.

I was also asked in the pub after the game to comment on Liverpool's negative approach. As this coincided with my thoughts exactly, I am more than happy to do so.

With the talent at their disposal, is it really necessary to content themselves with packing 10 men behind the ball? With hoping to catch the opposition out by punting a long ball over the top to Michael Owen?

Saturday's game showed that Mystic Meg need have no fears whatsoever about being usurped by yours truly.

Last week I predicted a high scoring feast of free flowing football. Exactly the opposition proved the reality during a first half where both sides seemed to be trying to outdo each other by seeing who could sit back the deepest.

I know that some regard the opening 45 minutes as a fascinating tactical battle.

I disagreed at the time and having studied the match video since am even more convinced that it was a case of both sides paying each other a little too much respect. I was reminded of the positions of the pieces on a chess board at the start of a game with neither side willing to make the opening move.

I thought the second half was far better as a spectacle entirely due to Rovers finally carrying the game to the still comatose Reds. Tugay ran the show in midfield, eclipsing Gerrard.

Flitcroft was equally influential in a more defensive capacity. Only after he went off and Murphy came on for Liverpool did the Reds manage any meaningful possession in the Rovers half of the pitch.

I suppose it's a great compliment to us that potential Premiership and European Champions come to Ewood with such a safety first approach. Yet again we can draw great satisfaction from the fact that we have more than matched and looked every bit as good as one of the so-called big clubs.

After another very good team performance, my only quibble concerned our formation. Whilst I know many feel Souey got the tactics exactly right on the day, personally I never like playing with a lone striker except in the most exceptional circumstances.

You put an intolerable burden on the man up front, possession is too easily lost and the ball is always coming straight back at you. Matt Jansen is not a target man.

Despite this he has battled to good effect with no little skill and without much support over the last couple of games. However, even Shearer was far more effective with Newell or Sutton in support.

I feel at home at least we are good enough not to have to play against anyone with only one up front. I also think last year's reasonably successful partnership of Jansen and Bent deserve an extended run out as I feel this may prove to be the most effective combination out of the current playing staff.

On Saturday at Chelsea we will face a similar sort of problem to the one posed by Owen. Stop the lethal Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and you're halfway there.

In the past Chelsea have wavered from brilliance to abject mediocrity and you never really know what you'll get on the day.

However, in what could be a far more open game than Saturday's I'm backing us to confirm our excellent form against the more fancied sides and return to Lancashire with at least a point.