Liverpool played much better against Lyon than they did against Sunderland on Saturday but the outcome was still the same as it was been in the last four games; ending in defeat. This is the first time in 22 years that we have lost four games on the trot. As the song goes, this is the wind and the rain portion of following our club.

It is amazing to me how many emails I get from you so called supporters criticizing Rafa. People have short memories, or perhaps they have only started supporting Liverpool after those six minutes in 2005, but we were a very poor side and didn't expect to qualify for the knock out stages of the Champions League every season.

Rafa has raised expectations so greatly it is difficult to match them. He has made some decisions in the transfer market that have not worked out, see Ryan Babel and Dossena but in my opinion he is still the main man. If we can just stick behind him and this crop of players I think we can turn it around.

Let's not forget what our total spend was this off-season. In a summer where our owners had the ability to go for throat of our rivals we decided to actually make money in the transfer market, which is hardly the sign of a team going for it. Rafa's squad looks poor this year and we look tired. I would argue that the line up against Sunderland was missing our four best players from last year: Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard and Torres. Even United would struggle if they were missing their four best players.

I just can't see us beating United on Sunday, even a draw would be a welcome result. We need stop the rot somehow and get players fit.

Finally, apparently according to big fat head Steve Bruce I'm a "saddo" because soon as the ball hit the balloon I said it should be a drop ball. How our players didn't react more is beyond me. Shame on them for not understanding the rules and I just can't understand how a professional ref didn't know either.

Missing a decision is one thing but to clearly not understand a law of the game is another. There is no grey area here... If the ball hits an outside object it's a drop ball. I might go to the United game on Sunday... run on to the pitch... knock the ball in the United goal and see if the ref can screw up that decision as well.

Also, fair play to the lad who was in our end supporting our team but when he is leaving the house is he saying, got me lunch, me lemonade, me jacket, oh, wait forgot me beach ball? Leave the jester hats and the beach balls at home son.

Finally, for any San Francisco Bay Area Reds, Des Whelan of the Stephens Green pub in Mountain View CA is an Irish Red. The "Green" is having its 10th year anniversary and he is organizing a golf outing with all the proceeds going to the Marina Daglish Cancer Appeal. If interested please contact him at crory1972@yahoo.com. The golf is on 11/8/09 at 10am in Sunnyvale. It's a great pub and for a great cause.