Liverpool Open Hot and Close Ice Cold Against Newcastle

On a rare sunny day in Liverpool there was a feeling of remembrance.  The team had remembered how to win, getting results in 14 of 15 games and also remembering the past due to the return of Rafa Benitez, the man who helmed the Reds in Istanbul during their magical comeback.

However before anyone could settle in for their morning coffee or before the eggs were done cooking, the Reds had already scored.  68 seconds into the contest, Daniel Sturridge put one in the back of the net.  Taking a long ball from the left off the chest in the middle of the box, Sturridge spun to his left, shot toward the right and gave Liverpool a 1-0 lead.

The game entered a bit of a lull for a good while after that electric start.  Sturridge saw a chance and there were a few flashes into the area, but nothing much to speak of.  Then Liverpool reawoke in the 29th minute.

Alberto Moreno got into a dangerous area taking on Andros Townsend on the left.  Moreno sent a cross to the middle of the pitch that was taken by Adam Lallana.  Your favorite attacker and mine managed to get the ball onto his stronger foot and bury it into the top left for a comfy 2-0 lead.

After the second goal, the game settled back down again.  Newcastle seemed to grab a bit more of the possession, but there was never much in it.  Cisse flicked one just wide of goal but was offside and then a late chance in the half was nothing more than blasted over the target into the Newcastle fans.

Then Newcastle got theirs to start the half.  In the 49th minute a high cross came into the box.  Simon Mignolet came to get it, but waited a step too long and got too far underneath it.  Cisse was waiting for it as it just missed the fingertips of the goalkeeper and he headed it into the goal cutting the Liverpool lead in half.

That goal opened up things.  Sturridge appealed for a penalty as it looked like he had been taken down, but upon replay it did seem as though he went to ground easily espite taking a bit of a knock from the defender's hip.  Immediately following that, Newcastle had a 2v1 but fortunately failed to score after Cisse was put off by Mignolet and then Townsend put the shot over.

Liverpool looked as though they had taken back their two goal lead in the 60th minute.  A fine cross from the right was nodded on target by Joe Allen.  The goalkeeper made a good save but it was put home by Firmino.  Unfortunately the Brazilian had wandered offside just before the header so that put him off.

That missed goal was soon rued by Liverpool.  In the 67th minute, Newcastle tied things up.  Townsend got the ball in on the right side of the penalty area.  While nobody initially got on the end of the cross, the ball popped loose toward the top of the 18.  Nobody got to it except Jack Colback and his shot was tipped off the foot of Dejan Lovren and though Mignolet got some fingers on it, there was nothing he could do to keep it out.

A few minutes later, Liverpool almost regained the lead.  A strike from Lallana only missed by a foot, but it may have been intended as a low cross.  Regardless, all it needed was a touch from someone but nobody in red could get on the end of it.  Sturridge also got a header on goal in the 81st minute but it was straight at the keeper.

The game would dully end in a 2-2 draw.  Given the fixture as a whole, it was a fair result.  However, given how Liverpool opened up the game and with the quality surrounding their goals you would have expected better.

It was the 19th point dropped from a winning position for Liverpool, vaulting them to the top spot or the worst spot (depending on which language you choose) in that regard.  It was a disappointing result from a Liverpool perspective, but nobody got hurt and some players got a bit of a rest ahead of their Europa League semifinal.

Random Thoughts

- I know it's a particularly English thing, but for three games straight I've seen several fans in the stands making a certain gesture toward the players that involves one hand going up and down.

- While the team's position in the table is probably correct for how they've played all season, it's disappointing to think where they could have been if they hadn't dropped so many points from a winning position.

Walk On

Liverpool Embarrass Their Crosstown Rivals

Regardless of position in the table, the Merseyside Derby is always something to look forward to.  Despite the relative closeness in the standings, Liverpool came in as the more in form team.  They only had one loss in their last 14 fixtures across all competitions, but those stats usually mean little in rivalry games.

The match opened up with a bit of trepedation on both sides.  Neither seemed to want to make an early mistake.  Then things began to loosen up a bit after the fifth minute.

Adam Lallana missed a golden opportunity to go up 1-0 in the sixth minute.  Lallana was basically alone in the box and tried to slip it through the wickets of Joel Robles, but the goalkeeper got down to stop the ball.

Then Morales had a chance about 13 minutes later for Everton.  He had slipped in behind much of the defense and cut it back into a good area, but did nothing but shoot it off the outside of his foot and not even trouble Simon Mignolet.

The teams kept trading what could be considered chances, but with little really in any of them.  Origi flashed a pass across in 22nd minute that was easily dealt with.  Lukaku outmuscled Sakho into the box seconds later only to be stopped by a brilliant slide tackle.

Lucas had a rip at goal that Robles dove for but easily saw and then Lallana flicked a header just wide in the 24th minute.  Coutinho almost snuck one in from a free kick in the 27th minute.

Then Roberto Firmino had a real chance in the 30th minute.  It seemed he had to be offside, but still got the shot off.  It took a touch off the defender, which put it off just enough to deflect off Robles' leg instead of going through the legs.

Despite the game seeming like it would go scoreless into the half, Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute.  James Milner lobbed a monster cross from the right and Divock Origi just wanted it more.  He outlept two defenders and just neatly tucked it into the side of the goal with the header for the 1-0 lead.

Then Milner struck again with another assist in stoppage time.  With the clock just striking 47, Milner took a return pass in the box and bent one to the top of the six yard area.  Everton's defense looked lost and were ball watching, leaving Sakho wide open.  He headed it with power, but all it needed was any kind of touch and it would have gone in.  2-0 Reds was the halftime score.

The wheels really came off for the team in blue in the second half.  The fixture that had the most sending offs in league history added another name to that list.

Ramino Funes Mori was given a red card in the 50th minute.  There was a question of whether he was given a yellow for the challenge and a yellow for kicking the ball away or giving a straight red, but either way the Reds were up by a man though Origi was taken off the field as well with an injury due to the stamp.

Daniel Sturridge came on as the replacement as the Origi injury looked more and more serious with each replay.  However, the replacement made the opposition pay quite quickly.  Lucas fed a sweet ball through the hole into the box and Sturridge comfortably tucked it into the back of the net with a neat finish for his 50th career Liverpool goal.

Following the goal, you almost felt bad for Everton.  They had shot themselves in the foot with the foolish red card, but it became almost a training exercise for Liverpool.  They spent what seemed like the final 20 minutes in the attacking penalty area just flashing things left and right of the target.

Liverpool, however, were not concerned with the woes of their crosstown rival though and rightly so.  In the 76th minute, Joe Allen found Coutinho at the top of the 18.  The Brazilian feinted a one-time shot and then used the one touch to create space before placing one perfectly in the bottom right corner and a four goal lead.

The whistle mercifully blew in the 98th minute wth Liverpool the victors by a final of 4-0.  As Liverpool fans, it was a night to relish.  Even the softest of us still revel in defeating your rivals and this was a night to enjoy.  The football itself wasn't a great spectacle as it became the stuff of training ground walk throughs, but there's nothing wrong with a win.  There's nothing wrong with a win over your rival and there's definitely nothing wrong with a win over your rival coming with ease.

Liverpool moved up to seventh in the league.  They trail West Ham by two with a game in hand.  They are still within reach of catching Manchester United for fifth as well, but for now it's not even worth discussing that.  Best to keep focused on each match and feel good about the results when they come.

Random Thoughts

- Despite the big win, the injury to Origi comes at a bad time.  With Liverpool needing to put a lot of focus on Europa League and not wanting to put too much stress on Daniel Sturridge, losing a productive striker at this point is a big loss if he's out for long.

- Given the way the game played out, I'm glad he was not in the lineup.  Still, it would have been neat to see Tim Howard in the Everton goal for his final Merseyside Derby.

- Though many of us get on them, it would have been nice to see either Joe Allen or Lucas actually get a goal to reward them for their recent efforts.  I'll throw Lallana into that mix as well, though he messes up his own chances when he gets them sometimes.

- Sakho is just such an odd character.  He's really growing into a solid defender and even scoring a goal here and there.  But he just looks so awkward in his movements.  He's always somewhat hunched and squatted in his placement to make kicks and always seems as though he might flub it, but he's been solid regardless.

- Jurgen Klopp can say that the league is always most important, but at this point it would be a mistake to not put more emphasis on Europa.  It would be almost impossible to get into fifth, let alone fourth so the european league remains Liverpool's best chance at Champions League football next season and that helps draw in better players.

Walk On

Liverpool Youngsters Impress Against Bournemouth

Normally the league is the focal point for both players and fans.  This week's league game was almost a bit of a hangover.  The Reds poured so much energy and emotion into their comeback win in the Europa League over Borussia Dortmund that AFC Bournemouth was almost an afterthought.

Liverpool made all the changes they could really.  Roberto Firmino, who was a surprise starter on Thursday anyway, was the only holdover.  Daniel Sturridge, Lucas, Joe Allen and Kolo Toure were the only first team players to begin the game as well as Firmino.  It was a very different look but things got off to a decent start.

Both teams ping ponged up and down the field.  Sturridge almost made Bournemouth pay in the second minute.  The defender's backpass was deflected and ended up right with Sturridge who got a powerful shot off but right at the keeper.

Liverpool's next good chance wouldn't come until the 25th minute.  Sheyi Ojo showed some brilliance on the wing and wiggled his way into the box, past two defenders but his shot was met with a third defender's face.  Connor Randall's followup then blasted a fourth defender in the gut.

Then the Reds struck paydirt in the 41st minute.  Ojo began the play by taking it in the middle of the park.  He then slid a good ball left to Jordan Ibe.  Ibe did his best Raheem Sterling impression but instead of giving it away he made a good pass to Sturridge.  The striker tried a nifty backheel shot which was smartly saved by the keeper but Firmino was Mr. Clean with hair by mopping up.

It wouldn't take nearly as long for the next one to come.  Ibe took a free kick in the third minute of stoppage time and served it perfectly for Sturridge who headed it past the goalkeeper from about 10 yards out.

The game settled down for much of the second half and the scoreline remained the same for a long period.  Bournemouth kept fighting though, showing why they deserved to stay up and are all but assured of staying in the Premier League for a second season.  They picked up the pace and kept challenging goal when the clock was in the 60's.  So much was their push that Danny Ward was forced to make a top notch save to keep the 0 on the board in the 68th minute.

Ward made another save later on, stopping a header with a lunging stop to his left and then Sturridge almost made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute.  The English striker absolutely blasted one but it struck the bar and came out.

Unfortunately the Liverpool backline couldn't see out the scoreline.  In the 93rd minute, Lucas got outpowered to the ball and then Joshua King manged to take it off the chest and rip it home from about 17 yards.  Bournemouth almost found the equalizer about 30 seconds later, but Ward and the Reds were fortunate to see the header sail over the bar.

The final whistle came soon thereafter and Liverpool capped off a fine week.  They got three wins in 8 days.  If they could have kept the scoreline 2-0, they would have jumped up to 7th in the league, but remain in 8th due to goal differential.

In typical Liverpool fashion they turned a very dull second half into something exciting.  Unfortunately for us fans, or those with heart conditions, Liverpool were almost on the wrong side of it this time.  All the shuffling of lineups and players can be somewhat of an excuse but the defending still leaves much to be desired in big moments.

Nevertheless, it was a good performance from an incredibly young and inexperienced side.  It was exactly the type of match to try this experimental lineup and it paid dividends even though the big boys were still the ones to do the scoring.  Liverpool can now go into the Merseyside Derby fresh and full of confidence.

Random Thoughts

- I'm not the guy's biggest fan, but how far has Martin Skrtel fallen that Lucas gets the start at centerback?  Lucas has done a good job filling in at that position, but unless he never truly recovered from his injury it seems odd that Skrtel can't even get time in a B side.

- Far be it from me to be the fashion police, but Danny Ward no....no.  That is not a hair style.  He could wake up, go straight to the pitch from his bed and I don't think his hair would look that bad.

- These games are exactly why I am not a scout.  I've been impressed by Ibe in the past and now see great potential in someone like Ojo.  However there is a reason they haven't seen many first team minutes and my eye for talent is probably tainted by a few flashy moves in matches when I don't get to see all the training.

- I'm almost a little scared entering the Derby simply because Liverpool have shown a propensity for letdowns in this season.  They've played well for too many games in a row to be fully comfortable, but should still win unless there's a collapse.

Walk On

Liverpool Finish Comeback for the Ages

Liverpool had everything in front of them as they headed into their second leg against Borussia Dortmund.  They had the game at home in front of the Kop.  They had the away goal.  They had a healthy lineup ready to go coming off the strong draw last week and a win over the weekend.  They also had one of the most stirring renditions of You'll Never Walk Alone sung by the entire Anfield Stadium, including the Dortmund fans.

Things could not have gotten off to a worse start though.

In the fourth minute, Coutinho turned the ball over and that led to a Dortmund break.  Mignolet made a fantastic save on Aubameyang but could not scramble to get to the rebound put in by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Then in the eigth minute, another giveaway in the attacking end led to a break for Marco Reus who slotted it through to Aubameyang who banged it into the upper 90.  How he was left alone on the backside is beyond anyone and much of the blame has to lay with Alberto Moreno who could not track back.

In the 21st minute, a great team build up only led to a chance for Adam Lallana who just absolutely whiffed.  Divock Origi just missed on a deflection from a Milner cross in the 25th as the Reds attempted to shake off the cobwebs.

Liverpool's defense started becoming swiss cheese during the initial comeback attempt.  Aubameyang put a Reus cross just wide after getting in behind again in the 36th.  Fortunately, that was the last time the goal was severely threatened before the break.

So, Liverpool down 2-0 in the match, going into the second half had everything to do and got things started off right.

In the 48th minute Coutinho slotted a lovely little ball through on the break for Origi and the Belgian managed to toe poke it past the Dortmund keeper.  Liverpool were dominating possession and chances but could not find that final ball.  Then luck turned against them.

Reus received the ball just onside and in behind Nathaniel Clyne and right footed it past the sliding Simon Mignolet for an almost assuredly series clinching goal.  The tally put the German side up by two both on aggregate and in the game.  It would take a herculean effort to come back.

But legends exist based on some sort of fact and we may have seen a new legend born on this night at Anfield.  The air was seemingly sucked out of both the stadium and the team, but all it took was one strike.

Milner was the give part of a give and go with Coutinho and the Brazilian flashed one past the keeper from the top of the box to get the proverbial ball rolling.  2-3 in the game and 3-4 on aggregate at that point.

However that one play sent a jolt through both teams.  Almost immediately, Origi just missed an equalizing goal.  The game calmed down a bit on the pitch, but not for long.

In the 78th minute, after an injury to Emre Can, Liverpool gained a corner.  The kick was rather poor and didn't clear the first defender. However, a missed flick by Daniel Sturridge actually served to throw the defenders off and Sakho slid in, picked it up off the bounce and headed it in for the tie.

All knotted up on aggregate and in the game but Liverpool still had to win since they had given up three away goals.  As the game wore on, the exuberance was replaced by nerves for both sides but definitely the fans in red.  Were they really going to charge all the way back only to fall on the away goal rule?

Then the most unlikeliest of heroes stepped forward.  Liverpool were given a free kick just on the attacking side of the line.  They played it through on the ground to Sturridge who struggled to get hold of it.  Then he cheekily backheeled it through the defender's legs to Milner who sliced it to the back post.

The oft maligned Dejan Lovren was there.  He skied above the defender and headed it in on the back post completing the most improbable of comebacks.

The win keeps Liverpool's dream of playing in the Champions League alive and well when it seemed like the plug was about to be pulled.  The league is all but untenable given the amount of teams between the Reds and the top four and even getting back to the Europa League isn't a given so it's all or nothing in this year's Europa.

Liverpool, much like their manager, never gave up even though every sane sentiment said they should have.  They played like champions even though it was only a quarterfinal and won.

Dortmund didn't deserve to lose.  They are a fine club, but as their own Mats Hummels said, they got the jitters.  Liverpool took advantage and we all got to take advantage and saw one of the finest games we're likely to see for some time.

Random Thoughts:

- Of all the times to not be able to see the game live, of course it would be for this game.  I saw the first half and had to go ref a high school game.  I saw they scored the first goal on twitter and then nothing until I got home to watch the rest.  So clearly I won the game since I turned it off.

- Was it me or did Lovren look a little defiant while looking into the Kop after his goal.  I know a lot of players celebrate in such a manner but it almost had an air of "where are all your jeers and comments now?"

- Things are now set up pretty well.  Dortmund was the last of the big traditional clubs in the tournament so LIverpool have things in their favor.  Big clubs don't win Europa in recent years, but as long as the Reds don't take anyone for granted they have it all in front of them.

Walk On

Liverpool Coast Vs. Stoke, Can Focus On Europa Now

Liverpool vs Stoke was an odd fixture.  The Reds made several changes to the lineup, mostly to rest players and thus prioritizing the Europa League tie against Dortmund coming up next Thursday.  Despite the youth the Liverpool side opened quite well.

Alberto Moreno scored with a sizzling left footed shot in the 8th minute that knuckled and ended up in the bottom corner.  However, Liverpool messed up a few chances as well.  Moreno had another opportunity in the box after a fantastic run in behind the defense but was offside.  Then Firmino slid the ball across the box too far behind Daniel Sturridge around the 16th minute.

As well as Liverpool played overall, you could tell the youngsters still have a lot of seasoning to gain.  Both Stewart and Ojo basically stood like statues after turnovers instead of tracking the ball down.
Liverpool's set piece woes also continued with Bojan finding himself basically alone in the box to head home a free kick.  Simon Mignolet stood no chance as Kolo Toure just watched the Stoke man run by him for the header.

Then Stoke almost took the lead in the 28th minute as Peter Crouch scored from a header off the far post, but fortunately for the Liverpool back line it was called offside.  Moments later Sturridge had a clean look at the goal from the middle of the park and almost scored.  The ball just fizzed wide.

Despite some of the poor play toward the middle of the half, the kids made up for it.  Ojo set up the go ahead goal in the 33rd minute.  He knocked it to the left of the defender on the wing and ran to the right.  He picked up the ball just shy of the endline and fed it far post to Sturridge who wouldn't miss from there.

An equalizer almost came in the 39th minute, again from a free kick but this time shaved the face of goal and went wide.  Liverpool held onto that 2-1 lead into the half.  It was a mixed bag first half, but as long as the score is on your side you can deal with it.

It wouldn't take much in the second half for things to favor Liverpool either.  The Reds took a short corner and then James Milner served it into the box.  The Stoke defending looked like what fans have come to expect from the Reds and just watched the ball sail right over the top onto the head of Divock Origi for a 3-1 lead in the 49th minute.

In spite of the momentum of going up by two, Liverpool continued to give fouls in bad areas.  Mignolet had to come up with a huge save in the 54th minute.  The ball was served into the box and American international Geoff Cameron got quite the flick on it, but the Belgian keeper managed to leap backward and swat it over the bar.

Origi should have had two goals at the very least.  After a cheeky backheel from Sturridge into theh path of Moreno, the left back served one in for Origi who headed it wide when it actually may have been simpler to get it on target.

Origi would not settle for the one goal though.  After some great movement on the left to get around the defender, Origi curled one in just inside the post.  It was likely a cross intended for Sturridge, who missed, but I'm sure Origi will claim it as a shot all the way.

Liverpool had a few chances toward the end of the game, but things had essentially settled down and the Reds were just toying with their opponent.  It was an important win because there were seven new players in this side than the one that got the draw in Germany.

Additionally it was an important game because the side played so well as a team.  Any time you can get everyone on the same page and playing their individual positions very well, it's a good day.
Liverpool now jump ahead of Stoke in the table as they have 48 points and 47 for Stoke.  It keeps the Reds' faint hopes of a top four finish alive but at this point that seems extremely unlikely.

Liverpool still have some very winnable league matches just within the month of April and this was a good start for a strong push toward the end.  We all know that Europa League is now the focus, but as fans getting the best result in each game is also important and Liverpool have been doing a decent job of just that lately.

Random Thoughts:

- I have no clue what to think of the center backs.  Each one has good traits and each one makes you nervous as hell on every play as well.  The sad thing is it has become a position, like goalkeeper, where they get all the blame and little praise.  There just aren't many central defenders in the world that you can pick out as being a great player the way you can attacking players, so it is difficult to suggest someone the Reds should look into.

- Scoring is a momentum kind of thing and if Origi can keep his momentum going then it's going to benefit the Reds very well.  He could easily have had three or four, but two is nothing to be sneezed at.

- I'm not an overly negative person, but Sturridge makes anyone that way.  I honestly thought he would miss another two or three weeks when he went down with that knee to the thigh.

- Mignolet had one of his confident games.  The guy always seems to be able to stop shots, but on this day he was confident in kicking the ball and coming out on air challenges.  If he could just figure a way to do that all the time, this transfer talk would go away.  It might be too late in his career to expect that dog to learn his tricks though.

Walk On

Liverpool Almost Steal Win, Settle for Vital Draw in Germany

Liverpool taking on Borussia Dortmund sounds like something that should be taking place in the Champions League.  Instead it was a quarterfinal leg in the Europa League.  There was a lot of build up to this match, much of it surrounding the fact that Jurgen Klopp was returning to his old post for the first time.

As any coach would say, he was not on the pitch so the focus should not have been on him.  Still, the media never listens to such things.  Regardless of where the focus was before the match, it ended up on the field during the game.

In the first half hour, it was a typical European match with both sides prodding and probing and feeling out the opponent and the official.  Each side got a good chance, but nothing came of it initially.

Dortmund seemed to be taking a hold of the match.  Aubameyang just missed a goal from a free kick around the 30 minute mark.  The shot was a knuckler that ended up deflecting off a leaping Sakho in the wall and sliced just wide of the net.

The German side then picked up the pace and created several more pushes up the field.  They seemed to be pushing the Liverpool defense onto their heels.  The Nigerian international had another strike at goal around the 35th minute, but could not find the back of the net.  That coupled with Sakho spoiling a 2 on 1 with Aubameyang and Reus that could have spelled the end.

Instead, seemingly against the run of play, Liverpool would strike.  In the 36th minute, Divok Origi found a bit of space in the offensive end and made the most of it.  Taking possession in the box, off James Milner's header, he managed to settle the ball and instead of hitting it first time, he took an extra touch to his right, got the shot off which took a little knick off the defender and went inside the left post.

Not only did Liverpool send their traveling fans and the thousands, if not millions, watching around the world into a frenzy they got the important away goal.  Anytime you give yourself that cushion, you've done well.  They still needed to see things out against an extremely talented offensive team, which would not be easy.

The lead almost didn't last through the half.  Dejan Lovren came up with a huge block to deny Aubameyang just outside the six yard area in extra time.  Then Simon Mignolet had to come up with a block of his own, stopping Marco Reus on the doorstep after the defense did not push off the goal line when the initial corner was stopped.

The joy wouldn't last for long into the second half.  Only two minutes and change in, Liverpool gave up a corner.  Dortmund took it short and then sent it in from a better angle.  Liverpool's defense stood and watched as Mats Hummels attacked the ball and banged it in with the header.  Adam Lallana challenged at the end, but he was flat footed and stood no chance.

The Reds seemed undaunted by the goal though.  They immediately attacked.  Their initial foray into the area was dealt with, but moments later they just pounded away at the net.  Chance after chance, two taken by Coutinho were blasted toward net but Roman Weidenfeller was up to the task on three straight occasions with one or two other ones being blocked.  The goal could not be taken, but it was a fantastic response.

In the end, the game settled down and little happened after that mad fury.  Liverpool had a few more pushes up the field and Dortmund had a couple long balls into the box that forced some nervy moments out of the Liverpool keeper, but both teams seemed settled into a 1-1 draw in the end.

It was a fine result for Liverpool, but the win would have been the ultimate.  While Liverpool gave themselves that important away goal, they cannot sit on their laurels in the home match next week.  You simply cannot assume you will get the clean sheet at Anfield, so the away goal rule may not even come into play.

However, on the positive side, if Liverpool can pull a similar performance at home as they did on the road then they will be in a great position to make it to the semifinals.  Dortmund will look to take better advantage of Liverpool's defending, but after one leg Liverpool is in a good spot and that's all you could ask (though we would have loved the win).

Random Thoughts:

- Those that read this regularly know Joe Allen is right up there with Adam Lallana in my book.  I know taking Henderson off was likely due to possible injury or preventing one, but eesh.  Gives me the willies when Allen is on.  Credit where credit is due though, he did almost set up a score for Coutinho.

- The drawback of being a goalkeeper is that you marvel at opposing keepers coming up with saves while cursing them in the same breath.  Weidenfeller was absolutely the only reason Liverpool did not win.

- Like any person that watches this team regularly, the defending gives me pause if not gut problems.  That said, both Sakho and Lovren came up with game saving blocks that could have altered the course of the game if not taken.

- I'm probably the only person that doen't analyze every single lineup.  That said, it will be interesting to see who is on the pitch next Thursday given players getting more healthy vs players who produced in this fixture.

Walk On

Liverpool and Tottenham Go At Each Other Like Hollywood Boxers

For a game that meant little league wide, the Tottenham/Liverpool match had a rather large buildup.  Even the Reds' manager, Jurgen Klopp, said he would buy a ticket if he wasn't managing the game.  Fortunately the match lived up to the hype.

Anfield saw a furious start to the match.  Both teams were flying up and down the pitch in the opening 12 minutes.  Simon Mignolet had to make an early save from a blistering shot, which he saw late.  Then James Milner had a good chance in the 12th minute where he had the ball on the spot but it would not settle for him to take a shot before the defense closed.

As fun, exciting and nervewracking as the first 10 minutes were to watch, the next 10 were drivol.  Liverpool's backline became increasingly sloppy and Mignolet returned to his indecisive ways to almost alow a goal on what should have been an easy clearance.  Fortunately the sloppiness did not cost them.

It took plenty of time to get him truly involved in the game but Daniel Sturridge finally found the ball in space in the 36th minute.  Unfortunately he took the drive first touch and ended up shooting right at Hugo Lloris.  Lloris came up big two minutes later as well.

Adam Lallana almost made something of nothing, turning it back to the center and letting lose a strike from 18 that almost snuck in the bottom corner before the keeper managed to get a paw on.  Lallana was again denied by the Tottenham keeper in the 40th minute.

The Englishman scuffed the shot into the ground but it appeared headed into the net until Lloris swatted at it enough to parry it away.  Despite the fact that Liverpool had the two best chances of the first half, Tottenham were always buzzing and creating more chances.  Liverpool were perhaps lucky to be level going into the break.

The Reds managed to create some momentum before the break but had none coming out of the tunnel.  It was all white-shirts for the first five minutes.  Fortunately, it would only take six minutes to turn that all around.

Coutinho took the ball about halfway up the offensive half and then slid it into Sturridge.  He then took a fantastic run into space and Sturridge found him in the box.  It was then just a matter of placement and the Brazilian just slotted it into the side of the net with the side of his right foot, giving Lloris no chance.

Coutinho seemed to have found his form and almost set up a goal minutes later.  From the left, he crossed a perfect ball into the box for a lonely Sturridge but he could not get on top of the ball and headed it about a foot over the bar.

Tottenham almost knotted it up a minute after Sturridge's missed chance.  A ball over the top of the defense made it's way to Son who volleyed it with power but scraped the face of goal and wide.

Harry Kane finally found the equalizer in the 62nd minute with a great turn and shoot.  There was little the Liverpool defense could do once he received the ball as Dejan Lovren was so close to him.  Kane just spun and sent one into the bottom corner.

Spurs almost took the lead moments later and would have if not for Mignolet coming up large for his team.  The game then went back into it's back and forth nature (if it ever left).  Coutinho almost took the lead back for the reds in the 70th minute, getting his way down to the endline and sending one across.

Unfortunately, that ball had too much spin to go in on its own and was just a step too far away to be touched in by Sturridge.  Then the Reds may have taken one pass too many when Coutinho put a cross off the defender and out instead of shooting in the 75th minute.  Coutinho also put one wide in the 85th minute.

In the end, 1-1 would be the final score.  Both sides were probably hard done by the result, but in reality it was also the most fair.  Both teams created and scored.  Both teams missed great opportunities.  Both goalkeepers made huge saves to preserve the scorelines.

Tottenham needed the win to keep their league title hopes alive and could not do so.  Liverpool needed the win to get some distance between them and Chelsea and to keep any hope of automatic European qualification alive and did not do so.

It was a fantastic game to behold, but there was a lot of sloppiness by both as well.  More goals should have been scored, but a draw was the right result with how everything played out.

Random Thoughts:

- Adam Lallana, my favorite, was unfortunate to not get two goals in this game.  He really should have scored on both, but there's no blame on his end when Lloris comes up with huge saves.

- This game messed up my eating schedule.  Everytime I tried to get up to grab some food, something would happen and I had to sit back down.  Maybe I should have waited until the game was over since Spurs scored while I was in the kitchen.

- It's odd that as bad as Liverpool's defense looked at times, they were not to blame for the goal.  Lovren will take some blame because fans love to hate him, but there was no stopping Kane once he took the ball cleanly.

- As fans we take enjoyment in each game as it's own.  As a season though, it's incredibly disappointing and almost a lost season when staying ahead of Chelsea seems to be the only goal left.

- Thank goodness for this game.  We'd all like to have seen a win, but at least the international break is done for a bit.  As an American, I love and fully support the US team, but international breaks are just so boring.

Walk On