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.