It was a game that we should of and could of won. However, we failed to get all three points and this can be seen as nothing else but a failure, our third in one week. It is these matches that we need to win if we are to mount a serious challenge for the Scudetto. Livorno are not a strong side, they will be fighting off relegation until the end of the season so there is no excuse why we are not six points behind Inter now rather than eight points.

On another day we may have got all three points. We created enough chances to score that is for sure and overall our play was good enough with some impressive periods. Ronaldinho was again our main creative force whilst Beckham did what he does best, whipping in a number of dangerous crosses, one in which we scored our solitary goal from.

With enough chances created it simply was because of some poor finishing that we did not score more goals and secure the win. Borriello was virtually non-existent in the first half before injury forced him off at half time. On come Huntelaar as his replacement and with a real opportunity to show his worth. Unfortunately, the Dutchman failed to make the most of his chance as he repeatedly shot off target and for this Huntelaar must hold much responsibility for our inability to win this match.

In the opening stages of the second half, Huntelaar promised much. He got an early shot on goal as he looked eager to make a good impression. But, things did not go according to plan for the Dutchman as he went on to miss a number of chances.

All season long I have been a avid supporter of Klaas. Yet, I cannot help but think that we would have come away with a victory had he converted one of his numerous chances. What is worse is that not only did he fail to score but on most occasions he even failed to find the target. Huntelaar has much to answer following this disappointing draw as I must confess my patience with the Dutchman is starting to wane.

On a more positive note it was good to see Ronaldinho get back to form despite his dramatic drop in the final stages of the match likely due to an increasing frustration that we were headed for a draw. David Beckham also was in fine form. We seemed to show a greater reliance on the Englishman’s talents than ever before. For at times in attack we seemed a little loss for ideas and the solution, it seemed, was to pass to Beckham and get a cross in. Not the most innovative of attacking schemes, however, Beckham’s crossing ability is second to none and we did score our one goal from one of his crosses as well as create numerous other goal-scoring chances.

In midfield, without the presence of Pirlo I thought we would struggle. I am not a big fan of Flamini but I have to say that it was one of the better performances I have seen from the Frenchman in a Milan shirt. He was tenacious, energetic and more important than anything else, effective both defensively and offensively. The same can be said for Ambrosini.

As for Seedorf, he was completely ineffective. Deployed in the hole behind our three man attack, the Dutchman has little if no defensive responsibility at all. Therefore, he should be offering more in attack which against Livorno he failed to do. When Pirlo returns to the team Seedorf should be relegated to the bench.

I continue to be mystified how, with Bonera back in action, we are still fielding Nonno Favalli alongside Thiago at centre back. Though he did not have a bad game, for his standards, he is still a major liability to the team and it was his poor clearance that Livorno capitalised on to score. The January transfer market is closed so there is no possibility of a new signing to come in at centre back. What we can hope for is for Bonera to work is way into contention to be first back up at centre back instead of Favalli and even Onyewu, when he returns from injury to come good.

Though we played our usual game for the best part of the match, it was as the match slowly drew to a close that we seemed to lose the plot. We became to rely too much on Beckham’s crosses and other speculative balls instead of playing our way through with the ball on the ground.

The team as a whole clearly became frustrated at their inability to score and regain the lead. This is where the captain is meant to keep heads cool so that the team can focus on doing what they must and that was to score. Ronaldinho in particular became very frustrated and was constantly complaining about decisions made by the referee instead of concentrating on his game. As a result, his own play became very sloppy towards the end of the match as he made a number of amateurish mistakes.

Seven days is a long time in football as the last week has shown. Before the derby we were storming our way up the table, knocking in goals for fun and playing some beautiful and effective football. But after only a week, we are a semblance of that same team. It is time for the players to regroup and find some form.

In other news, it has just been reported that Amantino Mancini has signed with Milan for the rest of the season on loan. Not a bad signing I suppose but not one that fills me with excitement considering his poor form for the Nerazzurri. I will reflect on this transfer in more detail later today.