Liverpool Open The Floodgates In Wild One Against Palace

Liverpool got things off to a good start.  Despite his defensive deficiencies, Alberto Moreno put a great move on the defender from the left of the box.  He then sent it to the middle where Emre Can put the finish on it.  Can was a bit fortunate to get a deflection off the defender, but that's why you put it on net sometimes.

The Liverpool goal came in the 15th minute.  They were not in charge for very long.  A little over two minutes later Crystal Palace took advantage of a dreadful mistake by the Liverpool back line.

Joel Matip oddly decided to nod the ball down to Dejan Lovren instead of clearing it away.  Lovren then puzzlingly tried to kick it back to Loris Karius.  None of the touches were good and Lovren's popped up in the air to be finished off with a header over Karius by McArthur.

Jurgen Klopp could do nothing but give a wry smile, though you can bet he was not smiling inside.  These things happen in the game, but they seem to happen to Liverpool far too often.

Lovren did not stay in the doghouse for long.  Corner kicks are usually the downfall for Liverpool, but this time they paid dividends.  Coutinho served it up and Loven bullied his way past the defender and powered the header into the back of the net.

All of this happend and the game was barely 20 minutes old.  Fantastic to watch for neturals and fans of offense, but not so much for managers.  Klopp was happy with the goal, but you could tell by his body language that he still was not completely pleased with the way the game was flowing.

Sadly, his feelings would prove to be true.  Despite creating plenty of pressure and a few chances (that didn't end up on goal mind you), Liverpool could not hold onto the lead for a second time.

Liverpool's main problem when in possession after their second goal was trying to be too cute.  They passed up several opportunities to shoot, trying to set up the pretty pass.  As a hockey fan, it was too reminiscent of watching the St. Louis Blues.  Still the lead remained, or so we thought.

In the 33rd minute, it disappeared.  Liverpool had a poor clearance that only got to midfield.  It was blasted back up toward the area.  Although he had been brilliant offensively, Moreno failed to get a block on the cross and McArthur gained his second goal of the game to knot it up.

The offense kept flowing even after that.  Coutinho thought he had broken the deadlock in the 37th minute with a header.  It went off the goalkeeper and off the post.  30 seconds later, Mane should have scored but leaned back and ripped it over the goal.

The Reds would retake the lead though in the 44th minute.  Again, off a corner kick, if you can believe it.  This time, the kick came from the right corner and it was another central defender on the end of it.  Matip skied over the defenders and banged it in.  The goalkeeper got a touch and it went off the crossbar, but there was enough power to still go in.

The second half began no less adventurously.  It was the Eagles pressuring early however.  Benteke, the former Liverpool man, almost blasted home the equalizer in the 48th minute.  A quick turn and volley forced a reaction save from Karius.

Liverpool finally got back onto the offensive side of things in the 54th minute.  A nicely weighted pass from Coutinho found Mane.  Mane took the shot just inside of the area, but a right foot from the keeper thwarted the attempt.

As the game went on, the Reds became a little bit fortunate defensively.  The official was right not to give a penalty on a string of bodies falling down and then minutes later, Can was likely fortunate not to concede a penalty.  Whatever side you fall on those decisions, Liverpool were fortunate simply because they were in situations that the official had a decision to make and often they reward the offense.

Almost immediately after the Can no-call, Liverpool took advantage and went up by two goals.  Firmino finished off the goal lifting it over the sliding keeper and giving his team a commanding 4-2 lead.

The game settled in after that tally.  Liverpool wasted a bit of an opportunity with too many passes again and then Coutinho shot right at the keeper, but for the most part the teams knew their fate and just saw the contest out.

The scoreline did not do Liverpool's goal difference any favors as they continue to bleed a little at the back.  Still, the win kept them tied atop the table on points and the longer you can stay in or near that position, the better shape you will be in at the end of the season.

It was a bit sloppy from a defensive standpoint and the offense could have been a little bit less cheeky, but it's a victory and that is what matters.

Random Thoughts:
- Crystal Palace seems to pick up former Liverpool players the way the Reds take former Southampton guys.  They may not have had storied careers in red, but it was good to see Benteke and Martin Kelly play relatively well.

- I hate to keep harping on this, because I have nothing against the player.  According to the television commentators, the reason Karius is favored is because he is better with the ball at his feet.  I have not noticed that myself, but at least it is a reason.

- Speaking of Karius, it was good to see him make some saves.  It seemed as though every goal he had been giving up prior to this contest was on the only shots he would face.  Keepers need to make saves to keep their confidence up and feel like contributors.

- I know it's simply because we can see highlights of every game so we see all the mistakes.  Still, it seems like the mistakes that led to Palace's first goal happen way too often in professional football these days.

- I'm curious where Georginio Wijnaldum will fit back into the lineup.  It does not seem as though he would have been removed if he did not pick up a knock, but with the team playing well without him starting, there doesn't seem to be a glaring hole for him to fill.

Walk On

Liverpool Jump On West Brom And Then Hang On

After the very bland prime time game against Manchester United, there was some fear seeing the way West Bromwich Albion set up.  They started putting numbers behind the ball after the opening minutes of the match and nightmares of the previous 0-0 draw began surfacing.

Fortunately, West Brom aren't United.  Tony Pulis is not Jose Mourinho.  So, the Reds were able to take advantage reasonably early.

Liverpool had been building up the attack with little success, looking for crosses into the overcrowded middle.  Then they struck in the 20th minute.  Emre Can drove up the middle on the dribble before laying it off to Coutinho.  The talented Brazilian then lofted a fantastic cross to the back post.

Sadio Mane was right there.  All he had to do was finish it off, which was no small task.  Mane waited for the ball to float over the defender, kept an eye on it as it did and then struck it cleanly into the back of the net.

It wouldn't be long before the Reds were rewarded again.  This time it would come off a West Brom miscue.

A bad backpass to the goalkeeper was not cleanly handled.  The ball was bouncing and Ben Foster just popped it up into the air only about 35 yards downfield.

Liverpool barely took any touches.  Mane took a few dribbles and handed it over to Coutinho.  He then charged into the box and handed two defenders their jock straps after blasting the ball just past the near post in the 35th minute.

The second half was fairly bland for a good 15 minutes.  It almost seemed as though both sides were fine with the scoreline as it was.

Then, Liverpool got a free kick in a dangerous area in the 58th minute.  Lovren got a great flick onto the ball off the cross and thought he was assured of a goal.  Unfortunately, Foster came out of nowhere to swat the ball away from the upper 90 and deny the Reds their third goal of the game.

West Brom's best chance came in the 70th minute.  After a scuffle in front of goal before a corner kick, the Baggies finally got their first shot.  Nacer Chadli had a little space in the area and tried a scoop shot that ultimately went over the target.

Then the Baggies actually struck out of nowhere.  Again off a corner kick, the Reds surrendered a goal off a set piece.  Loris Karius stayed on his line and the ball bounced around in front of him.  Just as he lunged toward it, it was toe poked past him by Gareth McAuley, making the score 2-1.

In the end, Liverpool would hang on by that score.  The Reds looked a little lost after that goal conceded, but a win is a win at this point.  The victory puts Liverpool top of the table with Arsenal tied on points, but down by goal difference.

It's a short turnaround now as the Reds face the Spurs in the league Cup on Tuesday.  If we see the first half Liverpool show up in that game, they should be fine.

Random Thoughts:
- Clearly the team is better without Daniel Sturridge right now.  It's kind of a sad fact since he used to be the first name written in pen, but now the style seems to fit better with Adam Lallana in midfield behind a top three of Coutinho, Firmino and Mane.

- I'd still like to know what Karius is chosen over Mignolet.  Personally, I don't prefer one or the other but I have yet to see the new keeper do anything that justifies the switch.

- It's to the point now where you can almost sense goals coming off set pieces.  Liverpool got the win, which is great, but to think they could be alone at the top of the table had they not conceded is a bit disappointing.

- Liverpool will have to be without their captain in the midweek game.  Jordan Henderson's yellow card will see him banned for a game.  It will be interesting to see who gets placed in his spot.  We can at least hope that Georginio Wijnaldum is healthy since he came in the second half.

Walk On

Liverpool's Showcase Monday Match Fizzles

Liverpool and Manchester United had the lights all to themselves.  A rare, though becoming more commonplace, Monday night game provided a good look for the Premier League's premier rivalry.  Fans expecting fireworks went away disappointed though.

Liverpool opened the game a bit slow, despite the rousing YNWA chant by the expanded Anfield.  It seemed as though the Reds would settle into the game and get things going.  However, they seemed to only allow Manchester United to gain more momentum.

The Red Devils kept building up their own attack with little in the way of countering.  Liverpool managed to get up field here and there in the first 30 minutes, but not with much belief.

Much of Liverpool's possession in that first half hour was spent trying to get the ball under control.  It seemed to always be in the air when Liverpool were in attack.

Liverpool's best chance was hardly that.  After the Reds finally had some build up play, the strike came from a Firmino header from a tough angle.  Ultimately, it went right at the keeper.

After the 30 minute mark, Liverpool did seem to settle into the match a little better.  They calmed down much more on the ball, settled down defensively and closed the gaps and managed to start finding holes in Jose Mourinho's defensive plan.

There was not much to witness in terms of highlights from the opening 45 minutes.  Neither side truly tested either goalkeeper.  It was more a battle of wills.

United had the better of the attack in the first 15 minutes.  Liverpool dominated possession of the ball, but created very little in the opening frame.

As much as the Reds took the halftime advice to heart and came out with authority against Swansea, they did the opposite in this Monday night match.  Their passing was fairly bad, including a dreadful mistake by Loris Karius that almost led to a chance for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The attack came out even more disjointed than they were in the first half.  Even when there was good buildup, the Reds would always find a way to botch it toward the area.

Ten minutes into the second half, it almost seemed as though things were not going to turn for the better.  Manchester United began building an attack and almost had it pay off with a nice cross from right to left from Pogba to Ibrahimovic.  Only a stray header did not end that attack with a goal.

Can in the 59th minute almost made something of nothing.  A fabulous through ball from Joel Matip bound the German, who was surrounded in the area.  Still, he flicked a left footer through all the traffic and De Gea was forced to make a sparkling reaction save to keep the game level.

Liverpool kept the pressure on in spurts.  In the 71st minute, Coutinho whipped one that looked earmarked for the upper 90.  Unfortunately, De Gea came from nowhere to get a piece of it and keep the goose eggs on the board again.

The Reds put their foot on the gas as United began to run out of their own.  Liverpool put tons of pressure on the defense, but just didn't look like they would be able to find that final bit of magic.

In the end, that statement proved to be true.  The Reds just could not find that last bit of play to create a goal.  They won't be overly disappointed with a point against their rivals, but they won't be happy either.

As the game plodded on, you could tell United were playing for the point.  They had almost no attack after the opening five or ten minutes in the second half.

Like him or not (most of us do not), you have to give Mourinho credit.  Het set up a team that was going to be difficult to break down and they implemented the game plan almost to perfection.

It wasn't what was advertised.  We were promised a fantastic, showcase game and were rewarded with a mediocre performance overall.  Still, it was a point and kept Liverpool in the top four going into the weekend.

Random Thoughts:
- I am curious as to what Loris Karius provides that Simon Mignolet does not.  At this stage, we all just want to win.  However, Karius seems to be just as poor on crosses and set pieces as Mignolet, so what does he bring to the table?

- The way the team changed, I completely understand the sub.  When it was made, I thought for sure Lallana was coming on for Mane.  Mane had done absolutely nothing positive to that point, so it made more sense in the moment to leave Sturridge on.  Strange how managers know more than we do.

- It is disappointing to see the team look so poor with Sturridge in.  That must change.  Using Lallana is fine, but in terms of pure skill, the Reds need a front three of Coutinho, Sturridge and Firmino in form and clicking.

- Maybe it's because I'm biased, but I don't see United being anywhere close to title contenders right now.  The NBCSN crew were kissing their feet, but I just didn't see it.  Credit where credit is due, they defended well and kept their shape.  However, with Liverpool's defense being questionable, they created almost nothing.  You do have to score to win a league title.

Walk On

Liverpool Take Down The Swans With Second Half Comeback

When you don't have the top players in the world, and even when you do sometimes, you worry about the occasional off game.  That's what Liverpool had at the start of their match against Swansea.

Liverpool came out well enough, but credit to the Swans, they came out with a bit more energy.  Liverpool dealt with it initially, but things just seemed off.  The Reds had speed, but no control.  They had positioning, but no exit avenues when in trouble.

Then their off start, combined with Swansea's good one, caught up to them.  For whatever reason, whether under Brendan Rodgers or Jurgen Klopp, this Liverpool side just can't defend set pieces.  It was just such a play that doomed them.

Swansea earned a corner kick in the seventh minute and that was all they'd need to break the deadlock.  The ball was swung into the back post.  Nathaniel Clyne was flat footed and made no challenge for the ball, allowing it to be sent back across goal.

Dejan Lovren was tied up with his man, so he whiffed as he stuck a leg out for it.  Nobody was guarding the man who eventually scored right in front of net, as the rest of the defenders stood and watched the initial cross as though it was the coming of an angel.

After that goal, Liverpool just looked out of sorts.  They weren't playing badly, but they weren't doing much to put their own stamp on the game.  Things went from bad to worse as Adam Lallana went out with an injury.  Fortunately, the Reds had Daniel Sturridge to bring on.

The offense still did not look on the same page.  Liverpool had a dream chance in the 27th minute with Coutinho and Sturridge charging in, but the Brazilian played it through the defenders, right to the keeper instead of on an angle for his teammates.  Even worse, this came moments after almost conceding a second off another cross right in front of goal.

As the first half progressed, things looked a little brighter.  Still, when your best chance was Sadio Mane's blocked shot late in the half, things did not occur how you would expect.

The second half opened much brighter.  The Reds were much more on the front foot, even though it opened up a hole or two at the back.  Eventually, it paid off.

In the 54th minute, Liverpool earned a dangerous free kick.  Coutinho slammed it into the wall, but Jordan Henderson lofted it back across.  Swansea's defenders pulled a Liverpool and watched it sail over their heads right onto the forehead of Firmino, who barely touched it, but just enough to sneak it in and make it 1-1.

The Reds really came to life following that.  Minutes later, Coutinho almost bent one in, just curling about a foot wide of the post.

The game seemed destined to end in a draw and perhaps that would have been fair to both clubs.  Liverpool had won the second half, but could not create that magic chance to put a goal in through the run of play.  Swansea had pressed and won the first half.

Liverpool took advantage of a mistake in the 83rd minute.  A failure to properly clear the ball led to Firmino getting position in the box.  Swansea's defender somewhat fell on him and the Reds were given a penalty.

James Milner finished off the kick and the game.  It wasn't a comfortable end though.  Swansea should have equalized as Van der Hoorn was right on the doorstep and failed to get a solid touch.

In the end, the final whistle went with Liverpool up by the score of 2-1.  It might not have been fair to Swansea, but fair is not how these games always turn out.

For the time being, Liverpool moved up to second in the table.  That may change over the course of other results, but it feels pretty good to be in that spot, even if only briefly.

Random Thoughts:
- What is it about Liverpool keepers and crosses?  Karius looked as clueless as Mignolet when he came out and swing a mighty fist at a ball only to come up with nothing.

- Though I'm not the biggest Adam Lallana fan, it was disappointing to see him leave with an injury.  He has been playing well and creating danger with his pace on the wings.

- Also disappointing to hear the Swansea manager, Francesco Guidolin is likely going to be fired.  It does not affect us as Liverpool fans, but he seemed to have the players charging around with purpose and belief and they were a bit hard done by the result.

- Lots of credit to Klopp for this result.  So many managers, good and bad, can't get their teams to turn thing around during the break.  Klopp managed to make adjustments and say the right things because Liverpool were a totally different team in the second half.

Walk On