I was recently on a trip to Las Vegas for work and attended the Consumer Electronic show (CES). As always when I travel for work and Liverpool are playing I always hunt down the a pub that is showing the match. Finding the Crown and Anchor in Vegas was not hard as I been there a few times in years past, the most memorable of which was Liverpool's League Cup Victory over United. Unfortunately this visit was not as memorable. Joined by a few reds from Wigan we settled in to watch what was Liverpoolâ..s' worst performance of the season.

With Alonso missing, most of our creative virtues in the middle of the park were also lost. Almost every single player under performed in this match with only Hyypia proving that he could pick his game up when everyone else seemed to be suffering. Liverpool had two good chances to score in the first 20 minutes but they both fell to Kuyt so the chances were not converted.

Stoke gradually found the stride and while they are an awful team to watch you can't fault their organization or tactics. They hit the post, after three of their players were offside and then scored an offside goal which the linesman actually got right. That was probably one of the only decisions they got right all day.

Liverpool hit the post twice in the last 5 minutes from the otherwise anonymous Steven Gerrard. Had they gone on and won this game it would have been the mark of a championship side but would also have been very cruel on Stoke. How we didn't throw both Keane and Torres on is just baffling. Either Lucas or Mascherano should have been sacrificed and Gerrard should have dropped back to the middle of the park but Rafa was cautious and settled for the point.

This point would have been only disappointing but probably wouldn't have felt as bad as it did because of Rafa's composed attack on Ferguson the day prior. I agree 100% with what Rafa had to say and probably any other sane person (except United supporters) would also have to agree. Ferguson has been bullying the FA and ref's for years only to get away with it. I have no problem with what Rafa said I just have a problem with when he said it. I don't understand the logic behind it. For a man that is so calculated and aware of psychology I just don't understand what he thought he would accomplish from his rant. The results backfired on us this weekend and now everyone will point to his rant as the reason why we didn't win.

I would rather he presented those facts last year when we were out of the title race.. This puts more pressure on us with the two derby matches approaching.

As everyone knows I feel that Rafa is the best man for the job and I have had a few sleepless nights over his new contract but this is the first time I have questioned his timing when it comes to dealing with the press. I hope the players can back up his words because based on the Stoke performance they can't.