Ipswich were brought crashing down to earth by Liverpool at Portman Road today. It was a tight match, could have gone either way. But in the end the Scoucers just managed to sneak it by the odd six goals...

I suppose we were due a defeat, and if you're going to lose, you might as well do it in style! Any thoughts that Ipswich were safe and sound from relegation were wiped firmly from the mind as a fairly ordinary Liverpool went through the Ipswich defence like a knife through butter.

This is, as far as I can remember the worst home defeat in my lifetime, and it was fully deserved by the clinical visitors. They played a tactically perfect game, and without actually looking that impressive as a footballing team, cruised to victory without breaking into a sweat.

It's hard to know exactly where Town went wrong. Going behind didn't help. Once we were chasing the game, we never stood a chance. Liverpool always looked dangerous, and if the score flattened anyone, it was us.

There was no indication of the embarrassment that was too follow in the early exchanges. What was most annoying was that the first goal, the one that did the most damage. It was a weak goal that took a wicked deflection from an Abel Xavier shot after sixteen minutes. The writing was already on the wall, and although Liverpool didn't impose themselves much more in the first half, they didn't have too.

The second goal was another gift. A ball lost in midfield to Gerrard saw a long ball played to Emile Heskey. The big striker made no mistake as he fired in a left-foot shot past Marshall.

It seemed harsh to be 2-0 down at half time. Liverpool hadn't done much, but had taken two opportunities when handed them. The game was over, but we were foolishly hoping at this stage we could mount a comeback.

But all hope vanished when Hyypia powered home a header from a corner. With victory all but done and dusted, Pegguay Arphexad replaced Dudek, but he might as well stayed in the dug out, bearing in mind the amount of work he had to do.

The only surprise of the day was that Owen hadn't scored, but eventually he also got in on the act, clipping home a well-worked counter attack. How many is that? I've lost count- four, that's it, only a few left. He then scored another after being put through by Heskey.

If this were a boxing match, it would have been stopped long ago, but unfortunately we had endure ninety minutes. With a minute left, the rout was completed by Heskey, who fired home past the hapless Marshall.

That's about all the enthusiasm I can muster up about this game, the sooner it is forgotten the better. Hopefully this result will act as a wake up call. We're still in deep trouble at the foot of the table and need plenty of points to clamber to safety. Conceding six goals at home is disastrous, but at the end of the day we wouldn't have been any better off if we'd have lost 1-0. Ok, our goal difference has taken a battering, not to mention our pride, but we didn't lose any more points.

Good luck to Liverpool, a far better team outclassed us on the day, and we can't have any complaints. But after seeing them today, I'm convinced they won't win the league, although they're a good bet for a champion's league place. Despite ripping us apart on our own turf they still don't have the passing ability of Manchester United, and rely too much on playing on the break. It's also a pity their discraceful 'fans' let their club down by not being very silent in the minute of silence for Princess Margeret. What is it with them? Always the same.

As for us, it's a case of all hands on pumps in a bid to stay up.

From The Terrace