18 posts tagged “liverpool”

liverpool 4 - blackburn 0

Apr 12, 2009
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After a disappointing defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League, Liverpool picked themselves up with a 4-0 demolition of Blackburn Rovers. Sam Allardyce had made all the right noises in the run-up to this match but Rafa Benitez obviously didn't feel he was important enough to warrant a reply, preferring to let his team provide the answers on the pitch instead.

Even without the driving force of Steven Gerrard, rested for the European return fixture, the Reds were several classes ahead of a Rovers side that only registered their first genuine attempt on goal in the 70th minute. I wonder what Benni McCarthy was thinking, the South African striker benched while Christopher Samba, a defender by trade, foraged upfront in a lone striker role.

A quickfire goal by the irrepressible Fernando Torres set the Reds on the way at Anfield. A long ball from Carragher, chest, swivel of the hips and -boom- GOAL. The Spaniard added one more with a bullet header before the break but in truth, he could have had his hat-trick. An uncharacteristic miss after a swift counter sent the ball agonisingly high.

The second half was a more laidback affair. Xabi Alonso pulled the strings in midfield, patiently probing, but it took Danny Agger to carry the ball out of defence and smash it from 30yards or so, reminiscent of his first goal versus West Ham. The sad state of affair for Rovers was compunded when Lucas headed across goal to David N'Gog to nod in his second of the campaign, and the game's fourth goal.

It was a stroll in the park for Liverpool and it was a very handsome win considering they were playing without Gerrard. Torres looks to be peaking at the right time but with United picking up lucky victories and a game to spare, Rafa and his men know that all they can do is keep on plugging and keep on winning.

man utd 1 liverpool 4

Mar 15, 2009
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Four To The Floor

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Liverpool followed up their 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid with another four-star display against fierce rivals Man Utd, in their own backyard no less. In the process the Merseyside Reds handed Utd their biggest home defeat since 1936 and kept their own title ambitions alive. Goals from Torres and Gerrard wiped out Ronaldo's penalty to ensure the Merseyside Reds entered the interval with the lead. A Vidic red-card was compounded by a fabulous Aurelio freekick to kill the game off and Dossena's classy lob over Van Der Sar was icing on the cake for the travelling Reds fans.

A victory over the old enemy is always sweet. Handing them a trashing at Old Trafford is diabetes-inducing! Despite the euphoria after this emphatic victory, I hate to be the voice of reason to remind everyone that Utd are still 4pts ahead with a game in hand. We'd need them to slip up badly, and for us to win all our remaining matches. And there's the little problem of hoping Chelsea will drop from their second spot too.

Benitez mentioned about blaming our form slump with the loss of Torres and while I disagree with that statement, I can't express how integral the Spaniard has become to the club. His linkup play with Gerrard was telepathic last night but what everyone would agree most would be his hunger and desire - playing through the pain barrier against the league's best defensive duo and beating them, time and again. We need more of that kind of courage from the rest of the lads too, especially when Torres and Gerrard are not in the team.

There's nothing more frustrating when following Liverpool and knowing that we can win so handsomely against the likes of Madrid and Utd, and then lose to the likes of Stoke and Hull. I'll only truly celebrate when they perform like they did, week in week out and emerge with 3points each time. The two massive wins from last week can instill more confidence in the side and push them to drive towards the elusive Premiership title. We can only focus on our own games from now on and power through the remaining 3months.

Is Gerrard holding Liverpool back?

Feb 26, 2009
2 comments

Gerrardjpg

I love Steven Gerrard. I think he's one of the top 2 players in football (the other being Leo Messi). I love his heart, his drive, his attitude, his skills, his strength and his courage when he plays. I remember trying to channel him into my game (when I was waaaay fitter then) - I liked the all-action style.

Without him, Liverpool loses much of its soul. It's pretty obvious that Gerrard and Carragher are the ones who add character to the club. This is more apparent since the Scouse supply line seems to have stopped bringing in local lads into the first team. During the days of Fowler, McManaman et al, there were a number of English boys who were personalities on and off the field.

The current Liverpool side is rather bland. It's not a bad thing per se but there aren't enough characters on the pitch, besides their two Scouse representatives. Besides Torres, I can't pick out a certain player who stands out on the pitch. I'm wondering is it because everyone else is playing in Gerrard's shadow and nobody dares to upstage him?

There seems to be a lack of confidence at times in the side, except maybe Benayoun. This lack of belief I think is the crucial factor that would elevate the team to the next level. I really wish that there are more characters on the pitch, more individuality to be expressed and more players who can step up, take the game by the scruff of the neck and boss the play, other than Gerrard. It doesn't help that our second lieutenant plays at centre-half, and he hardly ventures beyond the halfway line.

No matter how good a player is, a team still needs 11 players on the pitch. Can't someone step up already!

not keen on keane

Feb 9, 2009
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i caught the tottenham hotspur vs arsenal match where robbie keane made his return debut for the home side. he definitely fits into their style of play better than he did at liverpool. honestly, the moment he admitted he was a boyhood pool fan, we knew he wasn't going to be long at the club.

Firstly, his transfer was a huge shock to most fans who were expecting Gareth Barry to be our major summer purchase. Reasons being a) Keane plays the same position that Gerrard was excelling in last season and we have surplus of similar players b) He cost us $20mil considering we weren't willing to fork out $18mil for Barry who'd definitely give us options in midfield and defence.

Secondly, none of the boyhood Pool fans seemed to do well. Jari Litmanen and Jason McAteer were two who could have done better but fizzled out in the end. Maybe it's some jinx. Carra is a boyhood Evertonian mind you.

As it played out, Keane never did excel in his position in the 'hole'. Gerrard provides more drive and attacking impetus as a second striker, and links up with Nando almost telepathically at times. Keane has huffed and puffed, making clever runs and being a nuisance in general without actually proving to be too much of a goal threat. I mean, we already have Kuyt as the hardworking, non-scoring striker. We didn't need another one.

I suppose it's disappointing that Keane left because I still think he's a terrific forward who'd give us options if Benitez wasn't so much of a stubborn arse. Even more disappointing is that we didn't get a replacement and ultimately, I think it was a waste of money to have even bought him in the first place when we could have bought Barry.

Imagine with Barry, there's someone in the middle to anchor things better instead of Lucas as a fallback, and even a replacement left-winger when Riera gets tired. As a creative force as well, Barry's driving runs would provide better support than Masch. Doubt that transfer's gonna happen now. We've still got 3 months till the title race ends. Hope things work out eventually. YNWA.

can't stop the crimson tide.

Dec 29, 2008
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players celebrating

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Liverpool are perched top of the league, three points ahead of Chelsea, as 2008 winds to a close. After 18 years of waiting, could this finally be the year the Kop faithful are waiting for - league title number 19?

We can only hope, and take it one match at a time. Long-suffering fans will know better than to predict victory with five months of competition left to play and distractions like the Champions’ League and FA Cup on the horizon.

Nonetheless, despite the occasional mutterings about Rafa’s tactics, belief in the side is growing stronger. You can’t deny today’s eleven is far more balanced than recent teams, with a grittier edge to their personality too. There’s not much fuss about the team, mainly mechanical precision to despatch passes and chances when they come along.

As a unit, Liverpool defends rabidly like a pack of hounds and attack like a kung-fu master. They still lack that little bit of self-confidence and arrogance sometimes – the kind you notice in United and Chelsea. That ruthlessness could make the difference.

Albert Riera and Fernando Torres have quickly established their importance in the side. Alonso's recovered from last season's malaise to be our one of our top performer while Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt have also proven to be useful attacking outlets when necessary. Emiliano Insua's been a revelation at left-back and you figure once Robbie Keane and Ryan Babel really hit top form, the red tide will be even more fiercesome.

The team isn’t perfect and may take one or two more players to make it so but it’s a really nice feeling to have your team on top for once, and not worry that the lead’s going to be relinquished in the next game.

Still, there’re still five months to go and we can’t be complacent. Let’s hope the boys maintain their belief and develop a more ruthless edge to take their chances when they arise. We just have to keep on winning the next game, and the next and every other one after that.

what were they thinking!

Dec 22, 2008
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Gerrardjpg

Liverpool is still in search of a win at the Emirates after a pulsating 1-1 draw against Arsenal. The league leaders failed to capitalise on playing against the Gunners' 10-men and further consolidate their position at the top of the table. Despite fighting back after falling behind to a Robin van Persie cracker, Steven Gerrard and co must have been disappointed with their lack of attacking thrust. I know the fans are.

Robbie Keane justified his inclusion with a rocket of an equaliser, similar to van Persie's effort but not many other players with the liverbird on their chest seemed to rise to the occasion. Lucas, in the side due to Mascherano's sickness, was lucky not to have been sent off for numerous offences but it was Adebayor who received his marching orders instead. Without Fabregas, who limped off at halftime, Arsenal still proved a threat. It almost seemed as if the Reds were the ones playing with one man less.

By the time attackers such as Babel, el Zhar and Ngog came on, it was too late. Babel, who'd been harping about the lack of playing time, should look in the mirror and ask if he deserves a starting spot. He was piss poor in all aspects from control to effort. Carragher wasn't having one of his better games either. I'd have thought the attacking impetus would have been cranked up once Adebayor left the field. Instead Liverpool seemed content on a draw, contrary to what Sammy Lee mentions in the interview.

A draw means a Chelsea victory against Everton (as if they want us to be top of the league) would allow them to leapfrog us back to first place. An extremely disappointing result considering 3points were ripe for the plucking. This sloppiness has to be eradicated, otherwise it's going to be the same old broken record we've been used to for the past 18 years!

apologies to riera

Nov 18, 2008
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i doubted albert riera's signing when it was first announced but i'm glad i've been proven wrong. For the life of me, i can't recall a time when we've had a decent left-winger at Liverpool. Steve McManaman comes to mind but he was more of a drifting right winger than a left-winger. Riera's added a lot of balance down the left and he's been a productive and valuable channel for the team.

All in all, it's great that we're sharing top spot with Chelsea. If we'd held out in that Spurs game, we'd be sole leaders but I think it's okay that we're at least competing. How often has it been that we'd be in the chasing pack at this stage of the season.

Having said that, 18 years of supporting the Reds have taught me enough to not take anything for granted. A title's only won in May so till then I'll believe it when I see it. Still, it's nice to cling on to that hope that we'll finally break the duck. The team's looking a bit more balanced these days although our fullbacks are a bit vulnerable. Kuyt's starting to score again and except for the fact that Keane's still finding his goal-scoring form, I think we're doing okay. Hopefully, things will continue to look up and we'll need slip-ups from the Blues as we go along. It's just one game at a time for now.

YNWA.

Red Relief

Sep 16, 2008
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Okay this is late I know but what a result last Saturday no?

Finally, Rafa's managed to put out a side that beat the scum in the league. And without Stevie G and Torres too. Keane and Kuyt toiled tirelessly upfront for the team and Mascherano and Alonso bossed the middle of the park. It was a gritty team display and finally, after the heartaches of the past few last-minute losses, it was definitely sweet to grab 3 points from this encounter.

Realistically though, one victory doesn't make a season and there's still a long way to go. Scum's defence was uncharacteristically shaky and Sir Rednose made some errors in team selection I felt. But keep this up and hopefully we'll still be there and thereabouts come Xmas. And I'm glad Riera played so well. Let's hope he keeps it up cos it's about time we have a decent left-winger!

Here's to a win over Marseille tonight too!

YNWA

quiet anfield musings

Sep 2, 2008
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Well, another new season of the Barclays Premier League's kicked off and we've finally seen the transfer window close.

Each year, it seems to be the same story - it's going to be our year - and each year, we're out of the race before Christmas. I've learnt last year, that it's a lot better for my health, to not be so emotionally involved. I still love the club but seriously, you all have to admit it's super frustrating at times.

Badgelogo

5 comments

I was quite excited about news of Gareth Barry joining us. Although he's not the out-and-out winger we need, his stability on the left would free Gerrard to play in the hole behind Torres. I had assumed Rafa would have stuck to this winning formula since we were on fire during the final leg of last season when Gerrard and Torres clicked so well together. Once again, Rafa stumps with his stubborn 4-4-2.

Keane was brought in for $20mil which I think is quite a rip-off. He's not bad but not worth that amount surely. Especially seeing how they had a tough time stumping up $18mil for Barry who's way more versatile and a bit more functional. It's quite a surprise as well seeing how Benayoun was revelling in that position behind Torres during pre-season. It's evident that we have way too many players who are capable of playing that role. And we need width on the left so naturally we bought Robbie Keane. I really don't understand.

Now we've bought Riera who didn't leave the best of impressions at Man City. I suspect he'll be shipped off next summer too like Gonzalez, Nunez and etc. Voronin deserves to be shipped off but I'm quite gutted Finnan got sold off. He's one of our most consistent players (except for last season's dip) and our best crosser probably.

I am still hopeful we can either bring in better wingers (January) or hope our strikers step up now that Torres is hamstrung. It's gonna be a struggle. Oh and I do hope more of our youngsters get a chance to establish themselves in the first team. Most of them get sold off after loan spells out. Quite a shame really.

Do I think we have a chance? It won't be easy. I just wish Rafa would be less stubborn.

painful

Feb 17, 2008
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before i tear into liverpool i have to give credit where it's due to Barnsley who despite the difference in league standings and squad value, performed well, played exciting flowing football and well deserved their 2-1 victory in the FA Cup with 2 decent goals and a solid goalkeeping display by Luke Steele. ok the gracious part is done and sit back for my first rant on liverpool for this season.

The quick overview of the match is, Liverpool created plenty of chances with Yossi and Babel starring with their runs and dribbling but one of the most incompetent strike pair in europe (kuyt & crouch) fucked up the chances coupled with a shaky defence (mainly finnan & risse & goalie watshisface). Kuyt broke his duck but Barnsley equalised when riise was too lazy to try and block a cross. then kuyt and crouch missed every chance infront of goal and benitez took off the highly effective babel for the one-sided kewell (seriously, their righback had no change against babel but kewell couldn't even get the ball past him). Then Gerrard came on for Lucas and played alongside Benitez's lovechild Alonso who was extremely poor. he lost the ball in the 92nd minute which led to the barnsley striker getting the ball and shooting through the legs of carra for the winning goal. i almost expected it really. anyway...

frustrating, disappointing, baffling. these are all adjectives i've used to describe liverpool this season (and many many other seasons HAH! older liverpool fans will understand). the same can apply to rafa benitez the manager whose days i think are numbered at anfield. we started well enough in the league but early signs were there that some of the players weren't playing as well as they could. I'm singling out our defence in particular and xabi alonso who's a poor shadow of himself this season, probably due to injury or something. i'll get to the players later on. firstly i'm targetting rafa.

the public spat with the americans was uncalled for. despite whatever differences in opinions you have with your bosses, you do not come out in front of the international media and act like a spoilt brat. that's a sackable offence in my opinion and i'd have fired him right away for that show of petulance and insubordination. You try doing that at work and you see what happens to you! frankly i'm not surprised that they are sounding out other managers, benitez doesn't hide the fact that he himself has been approached by other clubs, tit for tat i'd say and the yanks are trying to call his bluff. his rotation policy has been scrutinised over the last few seasons and this year is no different. i can understand the need for resting players if they have been overworked or coming back from injury but truly, every game? surely these professionals on millions of pounds of wages are fit enough to last more than 2 games in a week? What else do they bloody do?? he's really lost the plot this time and i don't think he knows his first team either. ok he's lost some players to injury but he should have realised that defence lacked cover at the start of the season but he failed to address that with his transfers. I think Rafa's got to stop blamin the owners and hold his hands up when he's done wrong because frankly he's bottled it during some of our crucial matches. Seriously, a replay against Luton? conceding against Waterloo? Nonsense by Liverpool standards. Red fans are a patient lot as we've suffered long enough but we seem to be regressing.

Players wise, some of them have seen better seasons.

Hyppia's getting on and we really should have prepared more than Agger to replace him but Sami's been a real trooper for us. Still, it's time to say goodbye I think. I don't understand why Hobbs has been sent out on loan too when obviously we have insufficient cover.

Finnan's been shit this season. Mr consistency has only been consistently bad. Poor control and keeps losing the ball. Not sure if the pre-season court case had a part in his confidence and mental state of mind.

Riise isn't a defender. Really. He's so poor at defending though I think he's good as a midfielder. Unfortunate that Aurelio and Arbeloa are out but why'd we sell Warnock then if we didn't have the replacements?

I was glad Momo left. After the early promise shown, I saw no signs of him improving his control, passing or shooting. Other than the fact he eats up the ground with his lanky strides, Momo caused more trouble than assists. Nevertheless I don think he was given a fair run out and the eye injury must have halted his development. I hope he succeeds at Juve. Having said that Lucas is a revelation. Him and Masch for the future is a solid pairing.

Kuyt's a good worker for us but he's a striker. He needs to score. Why is he running the lines when he should be getting stuck in in front of goal and sniffing out chances. People tend to forget these things when they play out of position so long.

Kewell's gotten his chance and has shown no signs that he should stay on really. He seems unable to beat defenders anymore although he's still lethal from set pieces.

Sigh. It's been 18 years since I pledged allegiance to Liverpool and I doubt I will ever give it up. It sucks though. You'd have thought being a supporter for so long, I'd be used to such heartache but it still rankles me. Especially after the promise of the last few seasons. Torres was supposed to complete the picture but everything's falling apart at the seams isn't it.

I think there really may be some truth to Jose taking over from Rafa. That'd be something seriously.