Liverpool Hang On by Fingernails

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