A fighting spirit

29th August - Bolton Vs Liverpool (Premiership)

Steven Gerrard’s ears have clearly been ringing since Monday, all too aware of the criticism directed at him from his manager. It appears that Benitez could do with berating the entire team prior to every game, which seems to be the catalyst that revitalised the engine room of Liverpool.

By no means was this a seamless team performance, with defensive errors contributing to the two Bolton goals. It wasn’t quite a Greek tragedy for Kyrgiakos on his debut, who looked unease at times but the mentality of “we’ll score more than you”, echoing the start to last season’s campaign, makes for exciting, entertaining football.

Obviously understanding between players, especially in the heart of defence, needs time to nurture, and I’m adamant Rafa wouldn’t have signed Kyrgiakos if he wasn’t a competent and able player, and look forward to seeing more of him.

Despite the question mark over the performance, Liverpool’s points tally has doubled, and the team showed resolve and determination twice coming from behind to leave Horwich victorious.
Glen Johnson seems to be continuing his claim for player of the season, I know its four games in, but the tricky right-back has been outstanding. After creating chances for his team mates, Johnson took it upon himself to open the scoring for the Reds, finishing forcefully with his left foot, after neatly cutting inside.

Neat interplay between Gerrard and Kuyt led to Torres’ deadly finish, and it was down to the captain to power home a trademark strike, late in the game, reminding fans of the technical ability and composure he possess.

As diving has been discussed at great length this week, due to the recent antics of Eduardo, it did displease me some what to witness Lucas harassing the referee following the accidental trip he suffered from the feet of Sean Davis. Davis' foul didnt' merit his second yellow card, which led to his sending off. It was heart-warming to see Gerrard's act of sportsmanship, as he curbed his team mate's protests to the official. Ultimately, it was this decision that gave Liverpool's captain the freedom and space with which to take control of the game, and ensure victory which now sees a two-week break before Premiership action begins again.

Mid-table mediocrity

24^th August - Liverpool Vs Aston Villa (Premiership)

Unlike most ‘football fans’, I’m not one who enjoys being negative about their team, stood round in pubs sipping on pints of bitter, spouting off about the manager and players. I just don’t get it, berating players 10 minutes into a game, why don’t they just switch the radio on at home, and save us all from their outbursts.

Despite this, I feel that some of the cynical vibes from the aging Liverpool ‘faithful’, in the pub where I watched last nights game, have been soaked up by myself. For this reason I decided to sleep on last night’s game, and consider the abject performance after a good nights sleep.

It’s no doubt that we were poor last night, and to lose an unbeaten home record that dates back to December 2007 is disappointing. What’s more disappointing is the nature with which we lost, lacking creativity in the final third, squandering possession, and a genuine attacking purpose.

Benayoun looked more feather weight than usual, while Torres seemed to be pleading with the referee at every opportunity for protection, rather than fighting for the ball. This petulance from the number 9 needs eradicating, starting at the Reebok on Saturday. The schoolboy tackle Gerrard made on Reo-Cocker, just after we’d got back into the game, was reckless at best.

Gerrard played as if his mind was on other issues, namely the civil case being made against him. Distractions like this can not jeopardise performances and focus is needed from the entire squad. While Lucas’ head clearly dropped following his own goal, but his replacement Voronin hardly did anything to stack his claim for inclusion.

I thought the attacking quality of the two full backs was starved in the first half, meaning to much of the play was through the middle, with an over reliance on Mascherano and Lucas, which is not where they are most effective. Insua’s threat was apparent later on, as he created the goal for Torres that got us back in the game, while Johnson continued his positive start for the club with probing runs down the right flank.

Two loses from the three games, both against teams challenging for the holy grail of the top four, is not a good start to the season, not even the most optimistic of Liverpool fan would admit that. But it’s important to remember that it is only the start, 35 more games to go, amounting to a possible 105 points. Keep the faith.

The Ship has settled

19^th August – Liverpool Vs Stoke (Premiership)

No need for penalty decisions, a comfortable home victory, 4 goals, a clean sheet, and more importantly 3 points and a response from Sunday lacklustre performance. But lets not get carried away; we should be playing like this at home, especially against opposition of Stoke’s quality.

The inclusion of Benayoun, for Babel, was a change greeted with no great surprise, and the little Isralien, was instrumental for Liverpool earlier on, coming in from the left hand flank, asking questions of the Stoke defenders. While the goal for Torres gives him the confidence he needs, and his lethal relationship with Gerrard seems to be rekindling the fires from last season.

A home Premiership debut for Johnson was the stand-out point this evening. Going forward he’s such an exciting proposition, twisted and turning defenders ragged. What I like about this crafty, stylish wing-back is that he’s just as confident cutting inside and shooting, or whipping a ball in with his right foot, a ploy used to set Ngog up for the fourth goal.

I was dubious of Johnson’s £17m price tag, but if he continues in this vein of form, creating goals and scoring scissor kicks(!) I’ll be a happy man. Insua, on the other flank, is another attacking full-back, who adds an extra dimension to the teams attacking options, who should have opened his Liverpool account himself as Stoke.

Its always nice watching games like this, never feeling tense or on edge. Stoke failed to test Reina regularly, who looks as solid as ever between the sticks. I simply lapped up the goals and the skills on offer. For raw technique, the build up to Kuyt’s goal stands out.

The manner in which the England midfielder span 360 degrees to beat his man, while controlling the ball, was simply stunning. Gerrard displayed a pirouette of such grace and pose that any East European gymnast at the height of her career, would turn green with envy of. He then kept his composure to feed Kuyt for a simple tap in.

It's a fickle old game

16th August - Tottenham Vs Liverpool (Premiership)

After a summer of anticipation, the Premiership is underway, it’s just a shame that Liverpool decided not to join the rest of us a White Hart Lane today. The reds appeared jet-lagged from their frolics in Asia, while the collision between the two Liverpool centre-halves, Carragher and Skrtel, seemed to resonate through the rest of the team. Reina kept his side in the game early on, but even he couldn’t stop the thunderbolt from Tottenham’s left-back Assou-Ekotto.

When a football team’s best chances come from penalty appeals, you know that they’ve not done enough in the final third to create chances. My pre-match optimism seems like clouded judgement considering the performance is witnessed, while Alan Hansen’s comments, that Liverpool will be crowned champions in May, appear wayward and ill-advised based on today’s display.

For me it was Glenn Hoddle, part of Sky’s team, who summed up Liverpool’s problems. Hoddle made the observation that Liverpool’s squad lacks depth, while a quick glance at Liverpool’s bench today would suggest Hoddle is right. Chelsea Arsenal, Man United and now, Man City all have strengthen and depth that speaks volumes, when compared to Liverpool.

This flaw was apparent today when Voronin made his 15 minute substitute appearance. My childhood Anfield hero, John Barnes, wore no. 10 while he was on Merseyside. It pains me to see the current no. 10, Voronin, whose inept footballing capabilities fail to justify the shirt he wears, as the man Benitez turns to for David Fairclough like performances.

I, like most Liverpool fans, expected Benitez to sign a big money goal-machine during the summer to work alongside Torres, someone like Villa, and while the transfer window is open till the end of the month, there’s not been much talk of any big signings. I can’t see Voronin contributing much to the Liverpool goal tally this season, but wait, and hope, to be proved wrong. I only hope today acts as a warning that further attacking reinforcements are required.

16th August - Tottenham (Away, Premiership)

Confidence, excitement and expectation, 3 moods I’m feeling today ahead of Liverpool’s start to the premiership. It’s not that the team has been particularly revamped since May, only Glen Johnson being the new player in the starting XI, but there’s something about the start of a football season that fans look forward to, I mean, we wouldn’t be anticipating it otherwise. In the gym this morning I felt invigorated and energised as I imagine 4pm approaching, while I pushed myself on the cross-trainer. The assortment of sporting events in full flow at this time of year gives sports fans plenty of fuel for their addictions. The pure beauty and elegance of the athletes in Berlin, while the concentration and restraint showcased by the cricketers, are perfect examples of competitors at the peak of their sporting prowess. I just hope that Liverpool’s millionaires have not been burnt out from their tour of Asia, and are raring to go come 4pm.