Liverpool Not Sparkling but Winning Still

Liverpool came into this match with quite a bit on the line, given how the rest of the league has shaped up.  Though the team was far from spectacular in their regular season opener, they gained all three points.  Three points from the home opener would see them tied atop the league, with only goal differential separating them from the very top.  However it was a no-win scenario as well.  Facing a team fresh up from the Championship, a win is expected and not applauded.  A loss would bring nothing but disdain from the fan base, no matter how well the team played.  Such is the way of sport.

As far as the game went, it was a rather inauspicious beginning for the Reds.  Bournemouth almost scored in the fifth minute.  The visitors scored on a header only to see it disallowed by a questionable foul call.  The Cherries would continue to put on pressure for the next five minutes or more.  Liverpool's defending looked soft for the first 15 minutes before the entire team finally settled into the contest.

Despite the slow start, the home squad would put themselves in the lead.  In the 26th minute, Liverpool struck with a goal for Christian Benteke.  The play started from a poorly taken corner.  Henderson received the pass back and played a beautiful ball over the pressing back line.  Coutinho was in an offside position and attempted to play the ball but the flag never went up despite a mandate from the league to call offside more strictly.  Even surrounded in controversy, it was an important goal to get the season going for the big striker.  The broadcast team even mentioned the long string of goalless games for Peter Crouch and that was the last thing the Reds could afford, given their lack of goals last season.

LFC came alive a bit after the goal as Henderson almost smashed one in one time off Milner's free kick in the 29th min.  Liverpool also began controlling the ball more.  Coutinho almost knocked one in in the final few minutes of the first half as well, to cap off a relatively productive first 45.

The second half started similarly for both teams, though the dominance on the ball was shorter lived for Bournemouth.  They created a quality chance that was right at Simon Mingolet in the first five minutes of the second half.  Then Liverpool found their game a bit again, though still not definitively in command.  Beneteke again showed glimpses of what might be.  In the 54th minute he did well to keep a ball in bounds and then took it past the same defender twice.  Jordan Ibe's cross was almost backheeled in by James Milner, but the touch wasn't quite enough.

Mat Ritchie almost smoked one in for the Cherries in the 59th minute that just clipped the post.  More chances in the 63rd minute.  Liverpool went quite for about 15 minutes until a decent cross almost found Benteke in the 72nd minute and then Coutinho's one time crack was blocked by a sliding defender.  Coutinho had another blast about a minute later, but was disappointed in himself as the shot only came as a result of a poor touch.

The sides went back and forth like a boxing match, but little was truly created by either team.  Benteke should have had two goals, but in the 90th minute his chance came off the wrong spot of the foot and hit the ground before going off the crossbar.  In the end though, the result held up for Liverpool and all six points were gained through two games to open the season.

Looking at the grand picture, there is still a lot left to be desired from the Reds.  Bournemouth were really the more active team with and without the ball, they just lacked that spark to really take over the game.  Outside of the few chances mentioned in the article, Liverpool were again unable to create up to their abilities.  Other than a few good runs, Adam Lallana continued to be little more than another body trampling the blades of grass.  Also, despite their decent individual performances, the Liverpool midfield failed to dominate in a fashion that will be needed for the big fixtures later in the season.

However, all that said, there were positives to take as well.  Coutinho looks more and more like a star in the making.  Once the chances created start to hit the back of the net routinely as most believe they will, he will be the man to stop on this team.  Benteke started to show the style of play that will make him worth the money spent in the summer.  It is taking a bit to gel, but Benteke had no game time with his new club in the preseason so that is to be expected.  Speaking of time to gel, this team is still coming together and getting points.  There seems to be a difference in this year's team than last.  Last season, fans were shocked by the lack of goals, simply due to the sharp drop off from the year prior.  This season expectations are wisely tempered, but while this team will come nowhere close to the explosion of 2013-14, you can see more fluidity and creativity than last season's squad.

Fans love goals and want to see attacking football, especially at home.  However, it was only two years ago in the season the Reds almost ended the year with silverware, that the team opened up with three straight unimpressive 1-0 wins.  No, they have not impressed in two matches but they got six points.  Let us not forget Manchester United of last season.  For almost the entire year, United failed to really shine and look like a top four squad, but they got the results they needed.  If Liverpool are planting a similar seed right now, that can only bode well for later results.  

Walk On


Random Thoughts:
- I try to keep most overtly biased opinions clear of my writing but it is no secret that I have a lot of disdain for Glen Johnson.  Thus it is even more pleasing that Nathaniel Clyne is looking much better in the 2 kit than Johnson.  Clyne seems better defensively and does not give you that feeling of dread that a mistimed pass will result in a turnover every time he goes forward.

- Personally, I was surprised that Coutinho came out in the 81st minute instead of Lallana.  Coutinho did not appear to be laboring that much.

- On a similar note, I have nothing against Lallana personally.  As a fan, I want to see him succeed.  He has the talent and footskills to be a threat.  It just seems like he doesn't do it often enough to deserve the starting nod.

- That said, Roberto Firmino may have shown why he is not yet starting.  He, much like his Brazilian teammate, is not yet ready to put in the defensive effort necessary to be successful in the Premier League.  Coutinho figured it out though, so Reds fans can be confident that Firmino will learn the English game quickly and see more playing time as a result.  If he cannot, then it will be another failed signing but I do not see reason to believe that yet.

- IF Liverpool continue to win with the one striker system, then I wonder what will happen when Daniel Sturridge returns.  Benteke looks like he will have to be the man up top.  Can Sturridge slide into Lallana's spot?  Will he play Coutinho's middle position and slide the Brazilian a bit more wide?  It's not a terrible problem to have, but it would be nice for Brendan Rodgers to not have to do much tinkering this season.