On a week that had pretty much been a nightmare for Liverpool and their manager, Brendan Rodgers, there was a big need of a bright spot. The team, fans and manager got what they needed with about as good a start as they could hope. Liverpool scored while some people may have been still searching for their seats and did so in fine fashion. James Milner had a crack at goal in the 2nd minute that found the net against one of his former clubs. Coutinho set up the goal with a nice bit of play from the left side, sliding it into the middle for Milner who had a soft first touch before banging it home. Liverpool continued the attack and looked sharp in the opening minutes.
Emre Can had a good flick in the 5th minute right but was right at goalkeeper Brad Guzan. As tends to happen though, not everything could run smoothly. Aston Villa almost equalized with a sharp header from Rudy Gestede in the 7th min. Liverpool would dominate until 22nd minute when a mistake by Can almost cost them. Gestede smashed it wide after being set up perfectly from Can, when the defender should have cleared it away but ended up knocking it back into the middle.
The disappointing thing about the first half was it was an embodiment of how the season has gone. Liverpool looked sharp against opposition that they should beat, but could not fully take charge of the game. Despite the fantastic start and the energizing shot in the arm for the team and for Anfield, the rest of the half pretty much petered out. Liverpool dominated possession, but could not create any more true chances. Sure there were forays at goal, but nothing that really troubled Guzan or the Villa faithful.
The second half provided an opportunity to change all that and Liverpool almost took advantage. in the 52nd minute, Milner almost struck again. His charge forward led to a hard shot that the defender just deflected wide. Nathaniel Clyne was right there on the doorstep but a sliding defender denied the Reds their second goal of the contest. Nevertheless it was a positive start to the second 45 minutes. Moments later a handball led to another chance.
Coutinho tried to be a bit cheeky and went low with the shot, which in actuality is more difficult to handle for most goalkeepers. Unfortunately for Liverpool, Guzan was quick to smother. The fortunes would finally favor the home side just before the 60th minute. Milner continued to shine wearing the Captain's armband, settling the ball smartly with the chest and flicking it over the Villa backline. Daniel Sturridge, still struggling to regain full fitness, looked in top form as he absolutely ripped it into the side netting with his preferred left foot. It only took eight matches, but at last Liverpool had scored two goals in a contest.
The glad tidings and good feelings would not last long to the chagrin of many. Gestede was inexplicably left to run through the area and finished off a cross from the right hand side. Even more inexplicably, Can was the man in charge of following Gestede and when the Villain slid by him, Can put his arms up as to blame others for his faults. A disheartening defensive showing from a side, that while has always had its share of problems, looked very solid with so many clean sheets to begin the year.
Then, as quickly as things turned sour, Daniel Sturridge waved his magic wand and soothed the wails of the Kopites. Right in front of Anfield's famed supporter section, less than a minute following the goal conceded, the Reds struck again to put the advantage back to two. Sturridge took the ball on the edge of the area, put it into the box for Coutinho, took the one touch on his weaker right foot and slid it into that same side netting. Top notch football and something the fans of Liverpool have been hoping to see for a long time but were robbed of due to a terrible string of injuries.
The fans were again made to sweat though as the roller coaster continued. The Liverpool defense again looked a shamble. This time Sakho was caught ball watching along with the rest of the backline and Gestede made them pay. The Aston Villa striker flew threw the air and clattered Sakho out of the way in order to head it into the back of the net. Again, tragic defending and again no chance for Mingolet to make a save.
Coutinho almost answered a few minutes later. The Brazilian took a sweet strike from a free kick and just peeled it over the wall. Guzan had to stretch fully to his right and paw it away, keeping the margin at one goal. The game never seemed to calm down either. The ball kept pinging back and forth between the teams. Sturridge almost had his hat-trick twice, once not generating power and the second forcing a great save by Guzan. Ings had a chance that he blasted right into a defender. Villa, for their part, kept charging up field as well despite the holes it would leave at the back.
In the end, it wouldn't matter as the final whistle eventually came with Liverpool still on top by a goal, which was their only goal when the opening whistle rang. It was never fully comfortable but a win and three points cannot be discounted. The disappointing thing is that nothing can ever fully go right for this club. The Reds finally crack the score sheet more than once and then the defense loses the ability to watch anything other than the ball. Nevertheless, it was positive to see Daniel Sturridge return to scoring form and for the club to get a much needed victory.
There will be a very vocal section that will actually be disappointed with the win because they wanted a poor performance to be the final nail in the manager's coffin, but I simply cannot side with them. Brendan Rodgers' time at Anfield may come to a close sooner rather than later, but to root against your team due to your own frustrations with the manager is too much. This is still a team in the works and trying to figure things out. It is incredibly understandable how frustrating that is for a fan base still used to knowing how the team would perform and who would be on the field.
Rodgers is still not off the hook, but the noose is not quite over his neck yet either. For all its potential defensive failings, this team seems to be settling into the 3-5-2. You or I can complain about its positives and negatives all we want, but the fact is that with the personnel at Liverpool's disposal right now, that is the best formation at the moment. Things might change if/when Jordan Henderson can return. The formation may get tweaked for cup matches or European games, but overall it fits this squad best even if certain players are not in their comfort zone. Now that a quality win was gained, Liverpool have to capitalize and put a string together. As with anything with this club though, that is easier said than done.
Random Thoughts:
- As someone who lifts weights and no longer looks like someone who plays soccer, it was still odd to see Adama Traore come onto the field. That man is jacked.
- Personally, I'm a big fan of Emre Can. I think he's extremely talented and could be a good Liverpool player for years to come. I feel for him though because he is versatile enough to be played at the back even though that is clearly not his best position. He looked so much more comfortable early in the season when he was in the defensive midfield, but the team is better when he is in the back three. It's just sad that is the case because he is so clearly not a central defender.
- Piggy backing off that, it's sad to see Joe Gomez not on the field. Gomez did nothing wrong really, but like Can is a victim of circumstance. Alberto Moreno fits in better as a winger due to his speed and offensive ability and thus Gomez is simply the odd man out (though some could perhaps make a case that he could play in the back three instead of Can).
- It's hard not to love Danny Ings. He's not full of flair and boatloads of technical ability. He's just an old-school style player that never gives up on a play. He's as willing to tack back 60 yards as he is to make a run into the box for an attempt on goal. The sport could use more players like him and Liverpool are lucky to have him. While nowhere near the ability, he is similar to Anthony Martial in that nobody probably expected him to produce to the ability he has so far but it is a pleasant surprise.
- As I mentioned in the main article, I just can't abide the fans that want their team to lose so that a manager will get fired or there will be changes in personnel. Far be it for me to tell anyone how to root for their own team, but that just isn't my style. For me, you cheer for the team through thick and thin and hope that things will turn out in the end.
Walk On
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Bogdon Saves the Day
The Capital One Cup often seems like the proverbial red-headed step-child when it comes to footballing tournaments in England. It is fraught with landmines and is a no-win scenario for many teams. Most fans don't care enough about it, unless you reach the semifinals. However, if you lose or underperform, then there is hell to pay. It's a scenario for larger teams that is hard to deal with. It's hard to get up to play the lesser sides, not only due to prestige but also due to the lack of preparation. There is less time and less film available for study.
That said, it was a bad day with a good result for the men in red. Liverpool came out with a strong side on the field and looked to smash this game to pieces in the early going. The Reds seemed to create a quality scoring opportunity just about every minute for the opening five and about every two minutes thereafter. Danny Ings was a man possessed as he seems determined to make his case for a starting spot on the weekends in league matches (He may get his opportunity anyway due to an apparent Benteke injury earlier this week).
Ings was flying around the field with reckless abandon, going after headballs, launching shots from distance and creating havoc in the box. He was rewarded with a solid headball goal in the 23rd minute. It seemed that he was willing Liverpool to what could have been an easy win. Instead, things took a turn for the worse.
Liverpool conceded only 11 minutes later. Derek Asamoah connected and stuck the ball in the back of the net to even the score at one and that was all that Carlisle United would need. Liverpool created chances late on in the first half, but the second half was nothing but frustration. The Reds were forced, by a combination of stout defense and pure frustration, to settle for long shots or driving the ball down to the endline and looking for crosses with a sea of blue in the area. Liverpool dominated the possession but could not crack the wall.
Going back to the earlier point of these matches being a no-win scenario, the offensive frustration can be looked at in two ways. One: it was extremely disappointing to fail to score a second goal again. Liverpool have failed to score more than one in every match this year. Two: it is extremely difficult, no matter the level of opposition, to score when the opponent is literally placing all 10 field players within five yards of the penalty area. Liverpool did all they could really, but Carlisle did everything they could, short of just placing everyone on the goal line, to keep the ball out.
Extra energy had to be wasted as Coutinho came in as a sub and the game went to extra time. More bad luck for Liverpool as Dejan Lovren went up for a header late in the second extra period and came down awkwardly on his right ankle. The defender had to be stretchered off with what appears to have been a broken ankle. Many fans may not miss his presence (myself not among them), but it is never good to see someone on the team you support taken off in such a manner.
So, the contest went to penalties and hearts sank among the Anfield faithful and those watching around the world. The pendulum of momentum seemed to be on David's side and you could sense it would not favor the Goliath in red. But, things never turn out quite as expected whether good or bad. Adam Bogdan, who got his first start for Liverpool and was rarely tested throughout the match, came up huge for his club.
The young goalkeeper seemed to have foresight when it came to each shot. Bogdan stopped the first shot, guessed correctly on the second and fourth and stopped the third and final shot from Carlisle. Liverpool, much to the worry of fans, looked a bit shaky. The first two shots were taken coolly. Then Lallana was stopped and Coutinho as well. However, the team ultimately scored enough and Bogdan was up to his task and Liverpool will carry on to the round of 16 in the Capital One Cup.
Things are still not all well at Anfield. Injuries are playing a part, but there is still not enough solidity in terms of a formation. The attack seems to have found a purpose, but still cannot find its way in terms of finishing. Brendan Rodgers' seat is red hot at this point, despite FSG claiming they still back the Irishman. A win on the weekend could go a long way to help matters, but fans will not be soothed so easily. Liverpool, regardless of where you choose to put any blame, still have a lot of work to do.
Random Thoughts:
- I was tuned into the social media feeds during the game. For the love of all that is holy, people need to come up with better arguments to fire the manager. If you don't like his team selection or formation or transfer signings then fine. But every time a goal is conceded everyone screams "Sack the manager!" We've all played the game at some level and I don't remember a time at any point in my career where anything a manger said really made a huge difference in my performance for good or ill. Maybe I just didn't have great coaches. I readily concede that Rodgers' time at Liverpool may be short, but there are so many other things to pick from rather than a goal conceded. Last time I checked, managers aren't allowed on the pitch.
- Today's game was more evidence that Liverpool have to go with a two striker setup. Fine, they did not have Sturridge or Benteke available. But you have to start picking a formation and setting the players up in it. That is my biggest frustration with Rodgers at this point. He is more than willing to play players out of position, but he doesn't seem to want to stick to a formation and force the players into said formation.
Walk On
That said, it was a bad day with a good result for the men in red. Liverpool came out with a strong side on the field and looked to smash this game to pieces in the early going. The Reds seemed to create a quality scoring opportunity just about every minute for the opening five and about every two minutes thereafter. Danny Ings was a man possessed as he seems determined to make his case for a starting spot on the weekends in league matches (He may get his opportunity anyway due to an apparent Benteke injury earlier this week).
Ings was flying around the field with reckless abandon, going after headballs, launching shots from distance and creating havoc in the box. He was rewarded with a solid headball goal in the 23rd minute. It seemed that he was willing Liverpool to what could have been an easy win. Instead, things took a turn for the worse.
Liverpool conceded only 11 minutes later. Derek Asamoah connected and stuck the ball in the back of the net to even the score at one and that was all that Carlisle United would need. Liverpool created chances late on in the first half, but the second half was nothing but frustration. The Reds were forced, by a combination of stout defense and pure frustration, to settle for long shots or driving the ball down to the endline and looking for crosses with a sea of blue in the area. Liverpool dominated the possession but could not crack the wall.
Going back to the earlier point of these matches being a no-win scenario, the offensive frustration can be looked at in two ways. One: it was extremely disappointing to fail to score a second goal again. Liverpool have failed to score more than one in every match this year. Two: it is extremely difficult, no matter the level of opposition, to score when the opponent is literally placing all 10 field players within five yards of the penalty area. Liverpool did all they could really, but Carlisle did everything they could, short of just placing everyone on the goal line, to keep the ball out.
Extra energy had to be wasted as Coutinho came in as a sub and the game went to extra time. More bad luck for Liverpool as Dejan Lovren went up for a header late in the second extra period and came down awkwardly on his right ankle. The defender had to be stretchered off with what appears to have been a broken ankle. Many fans may not miss his presence (myself not among them), but it is never good to see someone on the team you support taken off in such a manner.
So, the contest went to penalties and hearts sank among the Anfield faithful and those watching around the world. The pendulum of momentum seemed to be on David's side and you could sense it would not favor the Goliath in red. But, things never turn out quite as expected whether good or bad. Adam Bogdan, who got his first start for Liverpool and was rarely tested throughout the match, came up huge for his club.
The young goalkeeper seemed to have foresight when it came to each shot. Bogdan stopped the first shot, guessed correctly on the second and fourth and stopped the third and final shot from Carlisle. Liverpool, much to the worry of fans, looked a bit shaky. The first two shots were taken coolly. Then Lallana was stopped and Coutinho as well. However, the team ultimately scored enough and Bogdan was up to his task and Liverpool will carry on to the round of 16 in the Capital One Cup.
Things are still not all well at Anfield. Injuries are playing a part, but there is still not enough solidity in terms of a formation. The attack seems to have found a purpose, but still cannot find its way in terms of finishing. Brendan Rodgers' seat is red hot at this point, despite FSG claiming they still back the Irishman. A win on the weekend could go a long way to help matters, but fans will not be soothed so easily. Liverpool, regardless of where you choose to put any blame, still have a lot of work to do.
Random Thoughts:
- I was tuned into the social media feeds during the game. For the love of all that is holy, people need to come up with better arguments to fire the manager. If you don't like his team selection or formation or transfer signings then fine. But every time a goal is conceded everyone screams "Sack the manager!" We've all played the game at some level and I don't remember a time at any point in my career where anything a manger said really made a huge difference in my performance for good or ill. Maybe I just didn't have great coaches. I readily concede that Rodgers' time at Liverpool may be short, but there are so many other things to pick from rather than a goal conceded. Last time I checked, managers aren't allowed on the pitch.
- Today's game was more evidence that Liverpool have to go with a two striker setup. Fine, they did not have Sturridge or Benteke available. But you have to start picking a formation and setting the players up in it. That is my biggest frustration with Rodgers at this point. He is more than willing to play players out of position, but he doesn't seem to want to stick to a formation and force the players into said formation.
Walk On
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Point Gained Still Disappointing
Liverpool saw two returns on this Sunday matchup. It saw the return of the Reds to Anfield after a few weeks of road contests. More importantly, however, the supporters saw the return of Daniel Sturridge to the pitch as his team took on Norwich City. It was his first visit to an actual field of play since April 4 and a welcome one. While Liverpool failed to strike while the iron was hot in the first ten minutes of the match, you could clearly see the difference both in the team shape and playing style.
The attacks built slowly, but looked good from a Reds side that has again struggled with scoring. Alberto Moreno showed a bit of skill along the endline in the 18th minute, but James Milner needed to do better shooting it right into the defender. Later in the 25th minute, the rust began to show. Sturridge would have done better to let the wide ball from Moreno go through to Coutinho.
Despite the decent offensive showings, albeit brief, Anfield seemed a bit quiet and on edge. Sturridge again showed rust in the 34th minute. A turnover led to him alone on the right side of the area but his shot to the near post was saved by John Ruddy. Liverpool continued to build on each attack and looked a tiny bit better with the next. Benteke almost put one on the foot of Milner with good one and two touch passing in the box in the 38th minute, but the end result just wasn't quite there.
The second half began interestingly, but not in a good way. Christian Benteke started the half on the bench, with the commentators claiming he had tightness in his hamstring. While Liverpool were wise to rest him, given their recent injury history, it was disappointing to see the partnership between Benteke and Sturridge not allowed to grow. The disappointment didn't last long though.
Danny Ings, the Benteke sub, chested down a long ball from Moreno in the 49th minute. Ings then cooly slipped the ball past the keeper, who was mere feet away from the striker, to score the first goal of the game and Ings' first goal of the season.
Norwich score off a corner kick. Mingolet got a punch on it, but not enough to clear and then a deft touch from Russel Martin put it just over the sprawling keeper as he retreated to his position in the 62nd minute. Only minutes later, the Canaries of Norwich almost took the lead. A lack of interest from the defenders allowed a run down the right side. The cross was met by Matt Jarvis and only a kick save from Mingolet kept the score level.
Sadly, things would not improve for the home side, despite plenty of chances created. In the 78th minute, Coutinho was the beneficiary of a two-on-one break. However, the Brazilian was too indecisive, took the ball too close to the goalkeeper and again Ruddy made the save. Yet another chance went by the wayside when Ings could not control with his left in the 82 min. The final buildup led to nothing in the 91st minute. One touch passing landed the ball to Coutinho, but again the final touch was not there as the shot from the outside of the right foot went awry.
When looked at with a cool head, there were plenty of positives to take from the match. Daniel Sturridge had glimpses of returning to form, if not fitness. Liverpool created more chances in this contest than they had in many recent games combined. A return to the back three and more of a two striker setup with Coutinho tucked behind seemed to spark Liverpool's attack. Outside of the punch not getting far enough away, Mingolet continued to establish himself as a reliable keeper, making several stops that kept the game to at least a result.
All that said, it was an incredibly disappointing result when it comes to the standings. As positive a person as I try to be, the moral victories are simply not enough for this club anymore. A point against a promoted team, despite how well they played, is not good enough. For whatever reason, Anfield is no longer one of the most difficult places to play when it should be at the top of the list. Many will blame Brendan Rodgers again, but in this contest it all falls to the players. None of the managers decisions really impacted the game negatively. It was simply a matter of the men on the field not doing enough individually or collectively to get all three points.
The chances that were presented have to be taken. Injuries and players not quite up to fitness are not excuses. Players like Coutinho, Sturridge, Benteke and several others have to start producing. Whether you wish to blame Rodgers or agree that this one is on the players, the bottom line is that the noose around Rodgers' neck is beginning to tighten. I believe he has found a formation that will work for this particular squad, but wins have to come now. The players have to start producing. This is a team that should be competing for the top four with how inconsistently everyone in the league has played. They need to start now or changes will be made, despite FSG's claims the manager is safe.
Random Thoughts:
- The insertion of Sakho into the team seemed to embolden the centerback pairing. Both Sakho and Skrtel regularly went "out of position" to track players.
- James Milner had a pretty bad game. The effort was there, undeniably, but the quality was just very off for a player of his caliber.
- Roberto Firmino showed a few flashes of what we had hoped he would be, but his development is taking much longer than expected. That said, as good as fans believe Coutinho is and will be, he took a few seasons to really click with this squad.
- Can we please just have a healthy squad? Jordan Henderson returns to training only to break his foot. We finally have the striker partnership we've been waiting for with Sturridge and Benteke only to see Benteke leave at the half with a dreaded hamstring injury. It has to be hard for any manager to try and balance attacking football with constant worry of injury with this club.
- Everyone has their players that they just can't get behind. For me, despite how much I want to like him and know he is talented, I just can't get behind Adam Lallana. I would have much prefered to see Divock Origi come into the game. It just doesn't seem like, for all his ball skills, he ever puts a stamp on any game.
Walk On
The attacks built slowly, but looked good from a Reds side that has again struggled with scoring. Alberto Moreno showed a bit of skill along the endline in the 18th minute, but James Milner needed to do better shooting it right into the defender. Later in the 25th minute, the rust began to show. Sturridge would have done better to let the wide ball from Moreno go through to Coutinho.
Despite the decent offensive showings, albeit brief, Anfield seemed a bit quiet and on edge. Sturridge again showed rust in the 34th minute. A turnover led to him alone on the right side of the area but his shot to the near post was saved by John Ruddy. Liverpool continued to build on each attack and looked a tiny bit better with the next. Benteke almost put one on the foot of Milner with good one and two touch passing in the box in the 38th minute, but the end result just wasn't quite there.
The second half began interestingly, but not in a good way. Christian Benteke started the half on the bench, with the commentators claiming he had tightness in his hamstring. While Liverpool were wise to rest him, given their recent injury history, it was disappointing to see the partnership between Benteke and Sturridge not allowed to grow. The disappointment didn't last long though.
Danny Ings, the Benteke sub, chested down a long ball from Moreno in the 49th minute. Ings then cooly slipped the ball past the keeper, who was mere feet away from the striker, to score the first goal of the game and Ings' first goal of the season.
Norwich score off a corner kick. Mingolet got a punch on it, but not enough to clear and then a deft touch from Russel Martin put it just over the sprawling keeper as he retreated to his position in the 62nd minute. Only minutes later, the Canaries of Norwich almost took the lead. A lack of interest from the defenders allowed a run down the right side. The cross was met by Matt Jarvis and only a kick save from Mingolet kept the score level.
Sadly, things would not improve for the home side, despite plenty of chances created. In the 78th minute, Coutinho was the beneficiary of a two-on-one break. However, the Brazilian was too indecisive, took the ball too close to the goalkeeper and again Ruddy made the save. Yet another chance went by the wayside when Ings could not control with his left in the 82 min. The final buildup led to nothing in the 91st minute. One touch passing landed the ball to Coutinho, but again the final touch was not there as the shot from the outside of the right foot went awry.
When looked at with a cool head, there were plenty of positives to take from the match. Daniel Sturridge had glimpses of returning to form, if not fitness. Liverpool created more chances in this contest than they had in many recent games combined. A return to the back three and more of a two striker setup with Coutinho tucked behind seemed to spark Liverpool's attack. Outside of the punch not getting far enough away, Mingolet continued to establish himself as a reliable keeper, making several stops that kept the game to at least a result.
All that said, it was an incredibly disappointing result when it comes to the standings. As positive a person as I try to be, the moral victories are simply not enough for this club anymore. A point against a promoted team, despite how well they played, is not good enough. For whatever reason, Anfield is no longer one of the most difficult places to play when it should be at the top of the list. Many will blame Brendan Rodgers again, but in this contest it all falls to the players. None of the managers decisions really impacted the game negatively. It was simply a matter of the men on the field not doing enough individually or collectively to get all three points.
The chances that were presented have to be taken. Injuries and players not quite up to fitness are not excuses. Players like Coutinho, Sturridge, Benteke and several others have to start producing. Whether you wish to blame Rodgers or agree that this one is on the players, the bottom line is that the noose around Rodgers' neck is beginning to tighten. I believe he has found a formation that will work for this particular squad, but wins have to come now. The players have to start producing. This is a team that should be competing for the top four with how inconsistently everyone in the league has played. They need to start now or changes will be made, despite FSG's claims the manager is safe.
Random Thoughts:
- The insertion of Sakho into the team seemed to embolden the centerback pairing. Both Sakho and Skrtel regularly went "out of position" to track players.
- James Milner had a pretty bad game. The effort was there, undeniably, but the quality was just very off for a player of his caliber.
- Roberto Firmino showed a few flashes of what we had hoped he would be, but his development is taking much longer than expected. That said, as good as fans believe Coutinho is and will be, he took a few seasons to really click with this squad.
- Can we please just have a healthy squad? Jordan Henderson returns to training only to break his foot. We finally have the striker partnership we've been waiting for with Sturridge and Benteke only to see Benteke leave at the half with a dreaded hamstring injury. It has to be hard for any manager to try and balance attacking football with constant worry of injury with this club.
- Everyone has their players that they just can't get behind. For me, despite how much I want to like him and know he is talented, I just can't get behind Adam Lallana. I would have much prefered to see Divock Origi come into the game. It just doesn't seem like, for all his ball skills, he ever puts a stamp on any game.
Walk On
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Liverpool Fail to Hold Lead, Settle for Europa Draw
Today began the potentially long and winding road of the Europa League for Liverpool FC. It is always a competition mired in controversy for fans in regards to how important it is and where to place it in importance for a long season full of league games and cup competitions. Lots of new faces saw the field for Liverpool on this day. Jordan Rossiter and Divock Origi saw their first starts of the year. The evening would start as a back and forth contest between Liverpool and the French side, Bordeaux. Coutinho rolled one just wide in the fifth minute to begin the Reds' attack.
However, moments later, a long ball over the top fooled the shaky Liverpool defense and almost got chipped over a sliding Simon Mingolet in the 11th minute. That chance began a poor run of form for the Reds that saw a yellow card given to Kolo Toure, a hesitant punch from Mingolet and an injury from said punch on Toure. Liverpool again let up a long ball into the box and Wahbi Khazri almost curled one into the top corner, but saw it sail just wide.
There were decent offensive moments for this Reds side. Even though it was called offside, Divock Origi looked very positive on the ball, just skimming one wide in the 26th minute. The positivity was short lived as Kolo Toure succumbed to his knock from Mingolet in the 28th minute, after making several solid clearances. Due to the unexpected injury, Brendan Rodgers was forced to put in Pedro Chirivella and place Emre Can back in his less comfortable spot of last season, right back. The makeshift Liverpool back line, which also saw young Joe Gomez move to center back, actually seemed to gel relatively quickly. In attack Origi again looked smart, leading defenders away in the 36th minute, but Lallana's pass to Coutinho was too close to the defender and led to nothing. Diego Rolan had several first half chances.
Lallana continued his poor form as he dribbled right into the defense and waited too long, giving away possession in an attempt to draw a foul which never came. Poor defending again popped up toward the end of the half. Khazri was allowed to slice right to the center of the field and only a poor shot right at the keeper kept the score level. As the teams traded trips up the field, Liverpool almost poached one before the break. Coutinho rang one off the woodwork, as he is want to do, but again the Brazilian looked like the most likely to score for this Reds side.
Despite the chances, it was a disappointing half again for the Reds as they failed to really put their stamp on the contest. The second 45 opened up much the same as the first half. Liverpool failed to come out of the gates strong for the second game in a row, but managed to keep it from costing them. Lallana almost turned his fortunes around with a great spin move in the 59th minute, but fired it too close to the goalkeeper. Liverpool then failed to do anything with the following corner.
A few chances were given up in between, but Lallana's chance seemed to slowly simmer the Liverpool attack as they began to build things, even if at a snails pace from that time through about ten minutes later. Finally, the maligned Adam Lallana came through after that buildup. The winger, received a pass from Alberto Moreno on the left side of the box, took it in and nutmegged the defender and coolly slotted it past the goalkeeper to the far side netting.
Danny Ings came into the contest for Origi roughly midway through the half. Ings almost made an instant impact as he was set up very similarly to Lallana and almost scored a mirror goal to Liverpool's first. Unfortunately for Ings, the angle was just a bit too narrow and that allowed Cedric Carrasso to get down and palm it away. The game calmed down a little bit following those chances, save for a few nervy moments near the Liverpool goal.
Unfortunately for the Reds, contests last 90 minutes not 80. After a late sub, taking Rossiter off, Liverpool took their foot off the gas just enough. A difficult ball to handle in the box ultimately led to a goal for Bordeaux in the 81st minute. Liverpool failed to clear the ball when it popped into the air. That allowed the French side to control the ball, juggle it a few times and then have it slide loose to Bordeaux's sub Jussie who ripped it past Mingolet. Cameron Brannagan could not really be blamed for the goal, but it did not look good on the young player to have a goal come so quickly after his insertion into the contest. Liverpool's defense continued to allow pressure for the next few minutes, seemingly unwilling to deal with any ball that went into the center of the pitch.
The game opened as wide as possible following that. Moreno had a blast toward goal directed right at the keeper. Bordeaux sent several balls close to goal that Mingolet had to get fists to. The French team also took advantage of several Liverpool turnovers to drive down field, but the finishes just were not there. Liverpool's passing looked sharp when in attack, but like their counterparts the final one was just quite there. In the end, the pressure did not crack the Liverpool defense, despite the continual backing in at the death. A valuable point was gained by the Reds and valuable experience was gained by young players and players who may need it come the dog days of a long season. As has become typical with this team, there were many disappointing moments and missed opportunities. Plenty of work remains if this is to become a team that can contend for anything, but it was a positive result and any momentum that is not negative is a good thing right now.
Random Thoughts:
- Jordan Rossiter looked decent in his starting debut. He struggled with fitness toward the end, which can be expected of someone yet to play a full 90 minutes in top competition. He did not overly impress skill wise, but I liked his intensity in challenges. Also, it's good to see someone who has come through the academy system. It's always nice to see players be brought up instead of always having to shell out money to bring them in from other teams.
- On American TV, analyst Alexi Lalas was unimpressed with Divock Origi. I slightly disagree. When on the ball he was very positive and created a few chances. He did not light the world on fire, but as time goes on it becomes more and more apparent that none of the players in the Liverpool squad are suited to play as a lone striker, so it was just as much a problem of system as anything Origi did or did not do. That said, he did disappear for stretches and needs to work at interjecting himself into the game more.
- Emre Can is a confusing player to view. There are times he uses his quickness and long stride to track down or keep up with some of the fastest players on the field. There are other times he looks labored in his movements and can appear lazy, even if this is far from true. Perhaps I over analyze his running mechanics. He is, nevertheless, a versatile player that is very valuable in the sorts of situations that pop up from time to time such as Toure's injury.
- I am of two schools of thought when it comes to Europa. I fully understand and support the need to get valuable playing time and European experience for young players and the underutilized squad. On the flip side, while top four in the league is still achievable, it would be nice to just say go for it and prove that Liverpool are still a team to contend with and go for some silverware. That said, it is understandable that the league is still the priority at this early stage.
- Despite the goal and a few flashes of attack, Liverpool continue to prove that they are unable to play with a top three that utilizes a lone striker. When Daniel Sturridge regains fitness, they must play with a top two of Benteke and Sturridge with Coutinho tucked in behind. If that means that players like Firmino or Lallana's playing time suffer as a result, so be it.
Walk On.
However, moments later, a long ball over the top fooled the shaky Liverpool defense and almost got chipped over a sliding Simon Mingolet in the 11th minute. That chance began a poor run of form for the Reds that saw a yellow card given to Kolo Toure, a hesitant punch from Mingolet and an injury from said punch on Toure. Liverpool again let up a long ball into the box and Wahbi Khazri almost curled one into the top corner, but saw it sail just wide.
There were decent offensive moments for this Reds side. Even though it was called offside, Divock Origi looked very positive on the ball, just skimming one wide in the 26th minute. The positivity was short lived as Kolo Toure succumbed to his knock from Mingolet in the 28th minute, after making several solid clearances. Due to the unexpected injury, Brendan Rodgers was forced to put in Pedro Chirivella and place Emre Can back in his less comfortable spot of last season, right back. The makeshift Liverpool back line, which also saw young Joe Gomez move to center back, actually seemed to gel relatively quickly. In attack Origi again looked smart, leading defenders away in the 36th minute, but Lallana's pass to Coutinho was too close to the defender and led to nothing. Diego Rolan had several first half chances.
Lallana continued his poor form as he dribbled right into the defense and waited too long, giving away possession in an attempt to draw a foul which never came. Poor defending again popped up toward the end of the half. Khazri was allowed to slice right to the center of the field and only a poor shot right at the keeper kept the score level. As the teams traded trips up the field, Liverpool almost poached one before the break. Coutinho rang one off the woodwork, as he is want to do, but again the Brazilian looked like the most likely to score for this Reds side.
Despite the chances, it was a disappointing half again for the Reds as they failed to really put their stamp on the contest. The second 45 opened up much the same as the first half. Liverpool failed to come out of the gates strong for the second game in a row, but managed to keep it from costing them. Lallana almost turned his fortunes around with a great spin move in the 59th minute, but fired it too close to the goalkeeper. Liverpool then failed to do anything with the following corner.
A few chances were given up in between, but Lallana's chance seemed to slowly simmer the Liverpool attack as they began to build things, even if at a snails pace from that time through about ten minutes later. Finally, the maligned Adam Lallana came through after that buildup. The winger, received a pass from Alberto Moreno on the left side of the box, took it in and nutmegged the defender and coolly slotted it past the goalkeeper to the far side netting.
Danny Ings came into the contest for Origi roughly midway through the half. Ings almost made an instant impact as he was set up very similarly to Lallana and almost scored a mirror goal to Liverpool's first. Unfortunately for Ings, the angle was just a bit too narrow and that allowed Cedric Carrasso to get down and palm it away. The game calmed down a little bit following those chances, save for a few nervy moments near the Liverpool goal.
Unfortunately for the Reds, contests last 90 minutes not 80. After a late sub, taking Rossiter off, Liverpool took their foot off the gas just enough. A difficult ball to handle in the box ultimately led to a goal for Bordeaux in the 81st minute. Liverpool failed to clear the ball when it popped into the air. That allowed the French side to control the ball, juggle it a few times and then have it slide loose to Bordeaux's sub Jussie who ripped it past Mingolet. Cameron Brannagan could not really be blamed for the goal, but it did not look good on the young player to have a goal come so quickly after his insertion into the contest. Liverpool's defense continued to allow pressure for the next few minutes, seemingly unwilling to deal with any ball that went into the center of the pitch.
The game opened as wide as possible following that. Moreno had a blast toward goal directed right at the keeper. Bordeaux sent several balls close to goal that Mingolet had to get fists to. The French team also took advantage of several Liverpool turnovers to drive down field, but the finishes just were not there. Liverpool's passing looked sharp when in attack, but like their counterparts the final one was just quite there. In the end, the pressure did not crack the Liverpool defense, despite the continual backing in at the death. A valuable point was gained by the Reds and valuable experience was gained by young players and players who may need it come the dog days of a long season. As has become typical with this team, there were many disappointing moments and missed opportunities. Plenty of work remains if this is to become a team that can contend for anything, but it was a positive result and any momentum that is not negative is a good thing right now.
Random Thoughts:
- Jordan Rossiter looked decent in his starting debut. He struggled with fitness toward the end, which can be expected of someone yet to play a full 90 minutes in top competition. He did not overly impress skill wise, but I liked his intensity in challenges. Also, it's good to see someone who has come through the academy system. It's always nice to see players be brought up instead of always having to shell out money to bring them in from other teams.
- On American TV, analyst Alexi Lalas was unimpressed with Divock Origi. I slightly disagree. When on the ball he was very positive and created a few chances. He did not light the world on fire, but as time goes on it becomes more and more apparent that none of the players in the Liverpool squad are suited to play as a lone striker, so it was just as much a problem of system as anything Origi did or did not do. That said, he did disappear for stretches and needs to work at interjecting himself into the game more.
- Emre Can is a confusing player to view. There are times he uses his quickness and long stride to track down or keep up with some of the fastest players on the field. There are other times he looks labored in his movements and can appear lazy, even if this is far from true. Perhaps I over analyze his running mechanics. He is, nevertheless, a versatile player that is very valuable in the sorts of situations that pop up from time to time such as Toure's injury.
- I am of two schools of thought when it comes to Europa. I fully understand and support the need to get valuable playing time and European experience for young players and the underutilized squad. On the flip side, while top four in the league is still achievable, it would be nice to just say go for it and prove that Liverpool are still a team to contend with and go for some silverware. That said, it is understandable that the league is still the priority at this early stage.
- Despite the goal and a few flashes of attack, Liverpool continue to prove that they are unable to play with a top three that utilizes a lone striker. When Daniel Sturridge regains fitness, they must play with a top two of Benteke and Sturridge with Coutinho tucked in behind. If that means that players like Firmino or Lallana's playing time suffer as a result, so be it.
Walk On.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Liverpool Fail to Show Up Against Rivals United
Most rivalries are derbies. Liverpool and Manchester United are one of the strongest rivalries in the game despite the distance between cities. Both teams' success has bred contempt, but the successes have fell by the wayside in recent years. Despite the buildup, the first half did not live up to anything. Liverpool failed to get into a real attacking position for the first 20 minutes of the contest. The Reds defended well overall, but United did have a few chances. Memphis Depay used his speed and strength to create a couple chances in the 23rd minute.
Another disappointing aspect to the game was how static both sides were. Brendan Rodgers, who seemed to pride himself on changing formations in previous seasons, seems dead set on a lone striker setup now when Danny Ings would've been better suited as a striker. Credit to the player though, he tracked back well and did his best in the first half to act as a true winger. The same can be said for Firmino. The young Brazilian is doing his best to fit into the English game, but seems to pick either defending or attacking during each possession and will give up on the other.
This team is still struggling offensively and not just in terms of goal production. Players would not make runs, despite Emre Can imploring players to push forward. When Liverpool had the rare bit of possession, the ball was not sent in the path of anyone who might've been making a run. Nothing managed to come off for Liverpool. Even a great setup in the 36th minute was ruined by Benteke managing to run offside even though he had all the players in his vision. To rub salt in, the chance was put wide before Benteke officially knew he was offside.
For one of the most storied rivalries in the game, it was one of the worst halves of football seen in some time. Mistakes by both teams cost them nothing. Liverpool players constantly just stood rooted to the grass, staring at the ball as defenders closed in on their teammates. I can only imagine the things said by supporters of the Red Devils as, despite all their possession, did little to impact the game either.
The broadcasters sounded like they were announcing a baseball game that had long since ended in terms of score, just not innings. The halftime whistle was merciful, but the sad truth said by Lee Dixon was that Brendan Rodgers was likely happy with the performance. Being pleased with a draw after 45 minutes is fine, in and of itself, but to be pleased with the Liverpool performance was nothing to praise.
To start the second half, United made an odd decision to take off Depay. Memphis was one of the few bright spots between the two sides and did not appear to be laboring. However, Louis van Gaal took him off in favor of Ashley Young. The second half began much the same way as the first until a foul against Nathaniel Clyne. Liverpool failed to close down a weak pass across the top of the box from the free kick, only to see Daley Blind smash one past the defense and into the back of the net. Liverpool failed to wake up even after the goal. Only moments after the goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger was open on the back post and failed to cleanly handle the ball to let the Reds off the hook.
Liverpool finally got a bit of a spark after the 55th minute. They created a couple good chances, one intended for Benteke only to be cleared away after a mistake from David De Gea and then a second one smartly saved by the Spaniard after a decent volley from Danny Ings. The positivity continued in brief splashes and glimpses. In the 65th minute there was a scramble after a corner kick, that honestly, left one scratching their head as to how Liverpool failed to put it in.
The positive feelings came crashing down however, as Gomez gave up a ridiculous penalty with only 20 minutes remaining in the contest. The tackle was further proof that nobody in the game has any sense when it comes to which foot to use when sliding in.
Jordan Ibe came on as a sub for Ings and in the 84th min almost scored, only to see De Gea poke it away. Christian Benteke gave Reds fans a glimmer of hope with an absolute smashing goal with the bicycle in the 85th minute. However, the good feelings were short lived. Only moments later, Anthony Martial made Martin Skrtel look like a grade school defender and put the difference back up to two, neatly slotting the ball past Simon Mingolet.
The final score was fitting of which team did enough to win, however it was not indicative of the contest as a whole. Liverpool deserved to lose and United deserved to win. However, United were not a team that were deserving three goals. They were not a great attacking side and did little with all the possession they had. Liverpool gifted them the penalty and two defensive miscues led to the other goals. On the flip side, Liverpool never truly looked a threat. A few set piece chances and a bit of magic from Benteke were all that put any semblance of a dent in the game.
Liverpool must decide what they intend to be. Tactics change depending on opponents, but the style of play and a belief you can win must always be there. Liverpool had neither. The Reds were missing Jordan Henderson and Coutinho, but missing players can no longer be the excuse for this club. Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world and was a fitting excuse for why the goals disappeared last season. However, if this club is built to where one or two players can make a change in the very spirit of the team and how it plays, then changes need to be made.
Brendan Rodgers has long prided himself on being able to prepare his team to succeed and mold them in a way that will give them an opportunity to succeed. This season has been anything but for the Irishman. The Liverpool manager must find it within himself and within his team to get it right or he will be out of a job and the club will be out of contention.
Random Thoughts:
- I have long supported Brendan Rodgers and when my head cooled off I still find myself in that camp in the grand scheme. However, if he has decided to be rigid in his formations and try not to lose instead of win then maybe it is time for him to go.
- Along those lines, Liverpool just didn't look into it. If they could have played the entire contest the way they played after the 55th minute, then perhaps it could have gone their way. Tactically I understand withstanding the initial wave, but Liverpool needed to take the game to United. Whether it was just that kind of day or Rodgers own tactics, Liverpool had absolutely no energy for two thirds of the contest and it was disturbing to see.
- This team cannot rely on what might be. All teams have injuries and all teams go through player suspensions. For the past two seasons so many, including myself, have been saying it will all be ok when this person returns or if that person gets back to form. If that is what we are still hanging our hat on, then this team will do absolutely nothing going forward.
- I feel bad for Benteke. He has the style and body to play as a lone striker and thrive. He has disappeared at times but is proving to be worth the money spent given the quality of the two goals scored. That said, he cannot do it alone. Liverpool is relying on him to do everything alone with little support the same way they have put way too much pressure on Coutinho. The rest of the team has to do more.
- Seeing the replay took the sting away, however initially watching the Martial goal had me seething at Martin Skrtel. People pick on Dejan Lovren, and rightly so, due to the number of mistakes he makes. However, it seems that though Skrtel makes fewer mistakes every mistake he makes seems to end up in the back of the net.
- Sadly the only positive for Liverpool now is that they have a lot of games coming up to try and turn things around. They have UEFA Cup, two league games and a cup game coming up within the next two weeks. Squad rotation will come into play, but they have to find positives to build some sort of foundation either for the rest of this season or at the very least for the next manager if it comes to that.
Walk On.
Another disappointing aspect to the game was how static both sides were. Brendan Rodgers, who seemed to pride himself on changing formations in previous seasons, seems dead set on a lone striker setup now when Danny Ings would've been better suited as a striker. Credit to the player though, he tracked back well and did his best in the first half to act as a true winger. The same can be said for Firmino. The young Brazilian is doing his best to fit into the English game, but seems to pick either defending or attacking during each possession and will give up on the other.
This team is still struggling offensively and not just in terms of goal production. Players would not make runs, despite Emre Can imploring players to push forward. When Liverpool had the rare bit of possession, the ball was not sent in the path of anyone who might've been making a run. Nothing managed to come off for Liverpool. Even a great setup in the 36th minute was ruined by Benteke managing to run offside even though he had all the players in his vision. To rub salt in, the chance was put wide before Benteke officially knew he was offside.
For one of the most storied rivalries in the game, it was one of the worst halves of football seen in some time. Mistakes by both teams cost them nothing. Liverpool players constantly just stood rooted to the grass, staring at the ball as defenders closed in on their teammates. I can only imagine the things said by supporters of the Red Devils as, despite all their possession, did little to impact the game either.
The broadcasters sounded like they were announcing a baseball game that had long since ended in terms of score, just not innings. The halftime whistle was merciful, but the sad truth said by Lee Dixon was that Brendan Rodgers was likely happy with the performance. Being pleased with a draw after 45 minutes is fine, in and of itself, but to be pleased with the Liverpool performance was nothing to praise.
To start the second half, United made an odd decision to take off Depay. Memphis was one of the few bright spots between the two sides and did not appear to be laboring. However, Louis van Gaal took him off in favor of Ashley Young. The second half began much the same way as the first until a foul against Nathaniel Clyne. Liverpool failed to close down a weak pass across the top of the box from the free kick, only to see Daley Blind smash one past the defense and into the back of the net. Liverpool failed to wake up even after the goal. Only moments after the goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger was open on the back post and failed to cleanly handle the ball to let the Reds off the hook.
Liverpool finally got a bit of a spark after the 55th minute. They created a couple good chances, one intended for Benteke only to be cleared away after a mistake from David De Gea and then a second one smartly saved by the Spaniard after a decent volley from Danny Ings. The positivity continued in brief splashes and glimpses. In the 65th minute there was a scramble after a corner kick, that honestly, left one scratching their head as to how Liverpool failed to put it in.
The positive feelings came crashing down however, as Gomez gave up a ridiculous penalty with only 20 minutes remaining in the contest. The tackle was further proof that nobody in the game has any sense when it comes to which foot to use when sliding in.
Jordan Ibe came on as a sub for Ings and in the 84th min almost scored, only to see De Gea poke it away. Christian Benteke gave Reds fans a glimmer of hope with an absolute smashing goal with the bicycle in the 85th minute. However, the good feelings were short lived. Only moments later, Anthony Martial made Martin Skrtel look like a grade school defender and put the difference back up to two, neatly slotting the ball past Simon Mingolet.
The final score was fitting of which team did enough to win, however it was not indicative of the contest as a whole. Liverpool deserved to lose and United deserved to win. However, United were not a team that were deserving three goals. They were not a great attacking side and did little with all the possession they had. Liverpool gifted them the penalty and two defensive miscues led to the other goals. On the flip side, Liverpool never truly looked a threat. A few set piece chances and a bit of magic from Benteke were all that put any semblance of a dent in the game.
Liverpool must decide what they intend to be. Tactics change depending on opponents, but the style of play and a belief you can win must always be there. Liverpool had neither. The Reds were missing Jordan Henderson and Coutinho, but missing players can no longer be the excuse for this club. Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world and was a fitting excuse for why the goals disappeared last season. However, if this club is built to where one or two players can make a change in the very spirit of the team and how it plays, then changes need to be made.
Brendan Rodgers has long prided himself on being able to prepare his team to succeed and mold them in a way that will give them an opportunity to succeed. This season has been anything but for the Irishman. The Liverpool manager must find it within himself and within his team to get it right or he will be out of a job and the club will be out of contention.
Random Thoughts:
- I have long supported Brendan Rodgers and when my head cooled off I still find myself in that camp in the grand scheme. However, if he has decided to be rigid in his formations and try not to lose instead of win then maybe it is time for him to go.
- Along those lines, Liverpool just didn't look into it. If they could have played the entire contest the way they played after the 55th minute, then perhaps it could have gone their way. Tactically I understand withstanding the initial wave, but Liverpool needed to take the game to United. Whether it was just that kind of day or Rodgers own tactics, Liverpool had absolutely no energy for two thirds of the contest and it was disturbing to see.
- This team cannot rely on what might be. All teams have injuries and all teams go through player suspensions. For the past two seasons so many, including myself, have been saying it will all be ok when this person returns or if that person gets back to form. If that is what we are still hanging our hat on, then this team will do absolutely nothing going forward.
- I feel bad for Benteke. He has the style and body to play as a lone striker and thrive. He has disappeared at times but is proving to be worth the money spent given the quality of the two goals scored. That said, he cannot do it alone. Liverpool is relying on him to do everything alone with little support the same way they have put way too much pressure on Coutinho. The rest of the team has to do more.
- Seeing the replay took the sting away, however initially watching the Martial goal had me seething at Martin Skrtel. People pick on Dejan Lovren, and rightly so, due to the number of mistakes he makes. However, it seems that though Skrtel makes fewer mistakes every mistake he makes seems to end up in the back of the net.
- Sadly the only positive for Liverpool now is that they have a lot of games coming up to try and turn things around. They have UEFA Cup, two league games and a cup game coming up within the next two weeks. Squad rotation will come into play, but they have to find positives to build some sort of foundation either for the rest of this season or at the very least for the next manager if it comes to that.
Walk On.
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