Sometimes Lucky is Better Than Good

A win is a win is a win.  That's what Liverpool fans must tell themselves after a somewhat frightful performance against Swansea.  Liverpool were playing in their first Premier League match in what seemed like forever - in reality it had only been 12 days.  Swansea, by no means are a pushover.  They are not considered by any as a top team in the league but they do have solid players at many positions and are currently in 9th place.

This match was seemingly well set up for Liverpool.  They had their captain, Steven Gerrard returning to the lineup, if not the starting XI.  They were well rested with eight days between matches.  All the important pieces to the team were fully fit or at least approaching that status.  The team was unbeaten in March, with the only blemish the last few months coming in the Europa League against Besiktas.

Funny how things don't always work out the way you might plan.  Liverpool created a decent chance with a shot straight at the keeper by Adam Lallana in the first five minutes, but were nowhere to be found offensively for the rest of the opening 45.  Full credit does need to go to Swansea as they were sharp on the ball, good defensively and created chances.  However, Liverpool were very sloppy on the ball - especially in the final third - and lacked much passion or enthusiasm for the game in the opening half.

It was very reminiscent of the terrible fixture against Burnley, eight days prior.  Liverpool were not sharp and allowed an inferior opponent to employ their gameplan to good effect.  They let their recent cup form bleed into the Premier League, which hasn't happened in some time.  The Reds were extremely fortunate to be level at the break as Simon Mingolet was called on several times to bail out his squad.

Mingolet made a fine diving save on Bafetimbi Gomis, stretching out to his right on a ball slid nicely on the ground - a save which is incredibly difficult for keepers, which always begs the question of why people don't shoot on the ground more often.  Then later in the half, the Belgian was called upon again, this time diving spectacularly through the air to the left and parrying away the curling shot by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

They were incredibly important saves, not only to keep the game level but to really prove that Mingolet's form had returned.  The Belgian international would probably have conceded both chances early in the season.  Instead, Mingolet has regained his confidence and looks very headstrong and confident on all balls he attempts for.  Even manager Brendan Rodgers agreed.  "He's been outstanding.  We needed him first half," said the Irishman.  "We were still in the game because of [him].  He's been excellent.  As I said, the team suffered at the beginning of the season, but clearly now you see his confidence along with the team's."

Mingolet kept the team in the game the first half, but Liverpool needed better in the second and got it.  Their chances were still limited, but the Reds did a much better job of stringing passes together.  They were cooler on the ball and found the open spaces.  One thing they did do well at the end of the first half, was work the ball side to side to tire out Swansea which paid off in the second.

Ultimately though, the Reds were extremely lucky to get the win.  Jordan Henderson scored the lone goal of the match with pure hustle and no skill.  Martin Skrtel played a very nice through ball, deflected by Daniel Sturridge, into a hole in the defense.  Henderson charged it down and had the defender's sliding clearance deflect off his leg and over the top of the keeper Fabianski.  It was a goal that provided both relief and comedy to Reds' supporters as they got the goal they needed, but had it come at the expense of a team that deserved a result from the way they played.

Sturridge did almost score at the end of the match, failing to get that final curl on a right footed shot that dinked off the far right post, but really even with their improved play, Liverpool did not create enough to fully deserve the win that came anyway.  In the end though, when a season ends, nobody remembers how the wins came as long as they came.

Liverpool have kept themselves in an enviable position within the table.  Despite remaining in fifth place, the Reds are only two points behind Manchester United and three behind Arsenal with fixtures coming up against both over the next two weeks.  If Liverpool stay on form and get a bit of luck from other games, they could honestly climb as high as 2nd in the table by season's end.  Top four is still the goal, but last year proved that you never know which clubs slip up - no pun intended - at the wrong times.

Random thoughts:

- Raheem Sterling needs to sign the contract.  I don't know what figures have officially been offered, but as good as the young man is he still has learning to do.  Liverpool are better equipped to allow that to happen and learning under Brendan Rodgers is the better place to do it rather than the superclubs where he would only be the 4th or 5th best player and yanked out of the lineup as soon as a bit of bad form crept in.  All the pundits said today, and I agree, that Sterling will get even bigger money down the road when he earns it, but shouldn't be chasing only dollar signs right now (or pounds or Euros as the case may be).

- Where is Mario?  Again, I realize that I am one of the lone voices in this camp, but I don't understand why Balotelli fails to really get a game after scoring two important goals for the team.  By no means has he earned anything close to a starting position, but other than being a childhood fan, Rickie Lambert has done even less to be in the team sheet through my eyes.  I wish I could see what Rodgers sees in training to make these decisions.  C'est la vie.

- It's been amazing to see the downfall of Manchester City in recent weeks.  Less than a month ago, City and Chelsea were almost assured of being the top two clubs at the end of the season.  Now, through bad form or bad luck, City have opened up the entire thing.  It would be an amazing turn of events, given the form of Liverpool and Arsenal and United's penchant for getting points regardless of form, to see City fall completely out of the top four after having the second spot almost locked up not long ago.

- Despite the good form of Joe Allen recently and my affection for Brendan Rodgers, I disagree that Gerrard has not earned the right to be placed back into the starting lineup as soon as he returned to fitness.  Again, Allen played well but you could just see the team light up when their leader returned to the field.  Gerrard has lost a big step in terms of pace, but he makes up for it with his touch and pure leadership on the pitch.

- I love Daniel Sturridge.  He is and will be incredibly important to Liverpool's chances of doing good things the rest of the season.  However, after his initial two games returning from injury, he seems to have gotten worse each game.  He shies away from any contact.  He doesn't chase down balls unless he knows, with all certainty, that he will track it down.  His shot has been lacking and doesn't seem to be getting into those intuitive areas that will lead to goals.  He really could've used that last ball going in, but hopefully he will find the back of the net soon.  His confidence needs it.

Walk On.