Liverpool Vs Portsmouth/Wolves 19th/26th December
A reaction to a dismay display on the south-coast was followed on Boxing Day with a much needed 3 points even though the performance lacked some zest. The tiredness of Aquilani and Torres is understandable considering the lack of games the two have played, but it was promising that the latter lasted the full 90, while the former got 84 minutes under his belt.
The game began and we were positive, pressing Wolves and playing our football in their final third.
But the response from the opposition came, and we failed to handle it at time, their confidence grew, and while they didn’t create any clear cut chances of merit, the longer the score remained 0-0, as the nervous inside Anfield jangled.
It’s frustrating that come Xmas, the team has not had the opportunity to gel like we hoped. The spine of Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani has simply not had the fitness, confidence, form and playing time, while other players have not been shining.
It’s a lot to expect players to work in unison so quickly, in fact, it’s unrealistic.
Aquilani looked off the pace, he was shattered when he departed the field, but it’s positive that he’s playing now, while Torres seemed petulant and frustrated throughout. Gerrard’s sub-standard season continued, but hopefully his goal will give him, and his teammates a much needed boost.
A response to the shambolic display at Portsmouth was imperative, and with two top four contenders to next play in the league, another 6 points would be most welcome.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Friday, 18 December 2009
The Turning…? Perhaps
Liverpool Vs Wigan 16th December (Premiership)
Two goals from our two strikers enabled us to keep up the pace with the Premiership big boys, while making ground on Man City and Arsenal.
This game was all about positivity and attacking play throughout. The all important second goal took far too long to come, but it did, and that’s the salient factor.
Scotland’s strike against the bar at 1-0 was the good fortune we craved, and as late Wigan onslaught rattled us, our confidence was suspect, but we held our nerve.
Holding on at home against Wigan is hardly something to be happy about (no offence Latics) but it’s better than dropping points in injury-time, the tale of the season in Europe so far.
Unlike the arsenal game we stated the second half with positivity and confidence, picking up where the first half had finished, and looked to add to our first half tally.
61 goals from your first 100 games in English football; has anyone had quite the immediate impact El Nino has had? And some thought it was a risk for Benitez to shed £20m on Torres, how wrong they were.
Bear in mind that some of these games include substitute appearances. If he’d been fully fit more often, think how many more he might have scored! A strike rate of 0.75, 0.9, 1.25!! Ok, maybe I’m getting over zealous, but it’s truly an incredible scoring record, up there with the greats, Fowler, Rush and Hunt.
Are there any other centre-halves in the Premiership who have the skill to dribble a ball through the midfield like Daniel Agger? His quick feet, close control and strengthen means he can launch attacks with his mazy runs, and his use of the 1-2, a classic football move, is a joy to watch.
Such attacks catch the opposition of guard, as he makes a huge amount of ground in a matter of seconds, such an exciting move to watch.
Praise surely goes to Rafa who undoubtedly encourages Agger to express himself, and include such elements to his game.
I’m running out of adjectives to describe the titanic efforts of Mascherano, working hard, winning balls, distributing well. While the relationship between Aurelio and Insua is another dimension of the team that is flourishing.
At the start of the season I wondered how both would fit into the same XI, but Aurelio provides real protection for the young Argentine, and they bring each other into play well.
Let’s keep the momentum going with 3 points and more goals on Saturday, and go 2 points off 3rd place, if for only for a few hours.
Two goals from our two strikers enabled us to keep up the pace with the Premiership big boys, while making ground on Man City and Arsenal.
This game was all about positivity and attacking play throughout. The all important second goal took far too long to come, but it did, and that’s the salient factor.
Scotland’s strike against the bar at 1-0 was the good fortune we craved, and as late Wigan onslaught rattled us, our confidence was suspect, but we held our nerve.
Holding on at home against Wigan is hardly something to be happy about (no offence Latics) but it’s better than dropping points in injury-time, the tale of the season in Europe so far.
Unlike the arsenal game we stated the second half with positivity and confidence, picking up where the first half had finished, and looked to add to our first half tally.
61 goals from your first 100 games in English football; has anyone had quite the immediate impact El Nino has had? And some thought it was a risk for Benitez to shed £20m on Torres, how wrong they were.
Bear in mind that some of these games include substitute appearances. If he’d been fully fit more often, think how many more he might have scored! A strike rate of 0.75, 0.9, 1.25!! Ok, maybe I’m getting over zealous, but it’s truly an incredible scoring record, up there with the greats, Fowler, Rush and Hunt.
Are there any other centre-halves in the Premiership who have the skill to dribble a ball through the midfield like Daniel Agger? His quick feet, close control and strengthen means he can launch attacks with his mazy runs, and his use of the 1-2, a classic football move, is a joy to watch.
Such attacks catch the opposition of guard, as he makes a huge amount of ground in a matter of seconds, such an exciting move to watch.
Praise surely goes to Rafa who undoubtedly encourages Agger to express himself, and include such elements to his game.
I’m running out of adjectives to describe the titanic efforts of Mascherano, working hard, winning balls, distributing well. While the relationship between Aurelio and Insua is another dimension of the team that is flourishing.
At the start of the season I wondered how both would fit into the same XI, but Aurelio provides real protection for the young Argentine, and they bring each other into play well.
Let’s keep the momentum going with 3 points and more goals on Saturday, and go 2 points off 3rd place, if for only for a few hours.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Truly a game of two halves
Such an age old Football expression that is banded around my commentators, but indeed an accurate description of the recent Premiership game at Anfield.
After dominating the first 45 minutes against a poor Arsenal, Liverpool’s lost their way in the second period, as the Wenger rant rallied his troops who punished the unconfident home team.
We were probably unlucky to go into the break only one up, as Gallas was fortunate to escape two penalty appeals from the home team, as he collided with Gerrard and Torres in the box.
Early exchanges between the ‘two-men’ of Liverpool brought back memories of the telepathic like understanding that was evident throughout last season, was has so far deluded the two, because of prolonged time on the bench and dips in form and confidence, all factors that Rafa is powerless to control.
Unfortunate own-goals are another element of football matches that managers can’t intervene with, and Glen Johnson’s contribution to Arsenal’s tally was unavoidable after taking a couple of deflections en route to this right foot. This put the visitors in the ascendancy.
In the same way that Cameron Jerome scored a breath taking goal against Liverpool, Arshavin’s shot was of a similar quality. After tormenting Liverpool in April, the little Russian continued in a similar vein on Sunday. His wonder strike was northing short of unstoppable. Two Reina’s wouldn’t have kept it out.
Arsenal fighting spirit and confidence prevailed, has our heads dropped and we faded badly, unable to discover a cutting edge in the final third.
It was interesting that not since October 2003 had a visiting team come from behind to win at Anfield. Rafa has clearly instilled a focus and desire in his men, meaning their performances are constant throughout.
After 1 point for the previous 3 games it is difficult to see the positives and remain as calm as Rafa is.
I will try.
The final Champions League game was a nothing game. 3rd spot, and a place in the last 32 of the Europa League was secured. It was a chance to try younger, more inexperienced players and rest others, which Rafa did.
Another injury time goal ensured Liverpool suffered their 3 defeat in Group E, but at least more players were added to the list of the injured.
Prior to the Fiorentina game, Blackburn won a point at Anfield, with the typical workmen like performance lesser teams adopt when facing superior opposition.
This is not an attack of Blackburn, but it’s frustrating that such teams are not being punished and beaten by Liverpool at the moment.
Blackburn defended doggedly, and such determination and organised defending has to be applauding. They were resolute and withstood all that the Reds had to throw at them.
For all the forward and attacking play we made, the telling break through never materialised. Perhaps a team high on confidence with momentum behind them would have found them easier to break down. We’ll never know.
Glen Johnson ran tirelessly throughout, while Ngog effort which ricocheted off the bar took a diversion as it was played across to him, meaning it bobbled in front of him, making the chance much more difficult to convert.
It’s hard to see where a 10 game winning run will appear but with 3 very much winnable games next, surely the tide will start to turn.
If maximum points can be taken from these 3 games, maybe, just maybe the table will look a bit more appealing to LFC fans.
It’s important to note that following the next 3 games, is the start of the FA Cup, sandwiched between games against Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Villa’s emergence as been of high interest to me this season. While Tottenham and Man City have impressed many this season, Villa have also shone brightly.
Their England connection (Young, Milner, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Downing) makes them popular with the daily newspaper, but their victories against Chelsea, United and Us this season makes them creditable and potential Top Four material. Victory at Villa Park would be a great way to end 2010, a boost confidence. But 3 lesser, but equally deadly obstacles need dealing with first.
After dominating the first 45 minutes against a poor Arsenal, Liverpool’s lost their way in the second period, as the Wenger rant rallied his troops who punished the unconfident home team.
We were probably unlucky to go into the break only one up, as Gallas was fortunate to escape two penalty appeals from the home team, as he collided with Gerrard and Torres in the box.
Early exchanges between the ‘two-men’ of Liverpool brought back memories of the telepathic like understanding that was evident throughout last season, was has so far deluded the two, because of prolonged time on the bench and dips in form and confidence, all factors that Rafa is powerless to control.
Unfortunate own-goals are another element of football matches that managers can’t intervene with, and Glen Johnson’s contribution to Arsenal’s tally was unavoidable after taking a couple of deflections en route to this right foot. This put the visitors in the ascendancy.
In the same way that Cameron Jerome scored a breath taking goal against Liverpool, Arshavin’s shot was of a similar quality. After tormenting Liverpool in April, the little Russian continued in a similar vein on Sunday. His wonder strike was northing short of unstoppable. Two Reina’s wouldn’t have kept it out.
Arsenal fighting spirit and confidence prevailed, has our heads dropped and we faded badly, unable to discover a cutting edge in the final third.
It was interesting that not since October 2003 had a visiting team come from behind to win at Anfield. Rafa has clearly instilled a focus and desire in his men, meaning their performances are constant throughout.
After 1 point for the previous 3 games it is difficult to see the positives and remain as calm as Rafa is.
I will try.
The final Champions League game was a nothing game. 3rd spot, and a place in the last 32 of the Europa League was secured. It was a chance to try younger, more inexperienced players and rest others, which Rafa did.
Another injury time goal ensured Liverpool suffered their 3 defeat in Group E, but at least more players were added to the list of the injured.
Prior to the Fiorentina game, Blackburn won a point at Anfield, with the typical workmen like performance lesser teams adopt when facing superior opposition.
This is not an attack of Blackburn, but it’s frustrating that such teams are not being punished and beaten by Liverpool at the moment.
Blackburn defended doggedly, and such determination and organised defending has to be applauding. They were resolute and withstood all that the Reds had to throw at them.
For all the forward and attacking play we made, the telling break through never materialised. Perhaps a team high on confidence with momentum behind them would have found them easier to break down. We’ll never know.
Glen Johnson ran tirelessly throughout, while Ngog effort which ricocheted off the bar took a diversion as it was played across to him, meaning it bobbled in front of him, making the chance much more difficult to convert.
It’s hard to see where a 10 game winning run will appear but with 3 very much winnable games next, surely the tide will start to turn.
If maximum points can be taken from these 3 games, maybe, just maybe the table will look a bit more appealing to LFC fans.
It’s important to note that following the next 3 games, is the start of the FA Cup, sandwiched between games against Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Villa’s emergence as been of high interest to me this season. While Tottenham and Man City have impressed many this season, Villa have also shone brightly.
Their England connection (Young, Milner, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Downing) makes them popular with the daily newspaper, but their victories against Chelsea, United and Us this season makes them creditable and potential Top Four material. Victory at Villa Park would be a great way to end 2010, a boost confidence. But 3 lesser, but equally deadly obstacles need dealing with first.
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