Liverpool came into today's match riding high. They've been scoring goals, racking up points and looking like a real title contender.
Liverpool had not lost since their disappointing 2-0 loss to Burnley, of all teams. The Reds had been flying high and there were all sorts of mentions by the broadcast team about how the team was performing better than they had since 1987 or more goals at this point since the 1800's, etc.
Southampton did not care much about all that. They wanted a point from this match, come hell or high water. For the first 45 minutes it looked like they would get at least that.
They parked the bus and put all ten men behind the ball, giving Liverpool absolutely no space in which to work. Liverpool had a chance or two off Southampton mistakes, but there really wasn't anything from the Reds that would trouble the goalkeeper by being on frame.
The second half would be more of the same, but the spaces were more readily available. The Old Boys were trying to probe a little further forward in an attempt to take all three points.
While they came close to poaching a goal in the 59th minute when Charlie Austin overpowered the defender for a header that skimmed wide, the Reds were the one afforded more chances. Unfortunately, their top guys were not on top form.
Coutinho flubbed one off his left foot about 10 minutes into the second half. He could have been given a penalty since the defender made a lot of contact with him and none on the ball (to the naked eye, there appeared to be a block but was none), but you expect better from the Brazilian.
Speaking of Brazilians, Firmino was played into space on the right in the 69th minute and came close to scoring. He probably should have, but ended up flashing it just wide as he tried to cut it back across goal.
Liverpool had some opportunities off set pieces or corner kicks, but just could not find that bit of magic to break the deadlock. With each second ticking off the clock, the match looked like it was going to end in a slightly less boring result than the Manchester United fixture.
The Reds kept their foot on the gas trying to get the three points. Daniel Sturridge finally got some game time late on.
His inclusion almost immediately paid dividends. He lofted a cross into a dangerous area and Nathaniel Clyne almost finished it off in the 79th minute. Sadly, it just shaved the goal again and did not hit the net.
In the end, there was nothing in it for the Liverpool offense. They created a handful of chances throughout, but could not finish.
The only sad thing was the lack of possession they had when it mattered most, in stoppage time. The Reds looked a bit out of sorts during all of that.
Nevertheless, it was a decent performance in the grand scheme. Liverpool remain top of the table on the number of goals they have scored.
A point on the road is always important. It was not nearly the result we all wanted, but nothing to be too disappointed with either.
Random Thoughts:
- Very random, but the Paul Pogba commercial bothers me. The insinuation seems to be the woman at the start would be his mother. Yet she calls him Pogba. My friends have called me by my last name, but nobody in your family would call you by your last name.
- Though I've made my feelings fairly apparent regarding Adam Lallana, he's had a fantastic year this season. You wonder if his creativity and work rate might have been a deciding factor in being able to break down Southampton if he was not injured.
- I feel bad for Dejan Lovren. Clearly I have not kept myself in the loop because I can't remember what he did that makes him the only player the fans booed. Liverpool had at least two ex-Southampton players on the field and at least three on the team and Lovren gets all the ill will.
Walk On
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Liverpool Crush Watford But Still Concede A Goal
Liverpool came into their match with Watford expecting three points. The last time that was the case, the Reds got blanked in a rather depressing match against Burnley early in the year.
Though the match opened up closely, you didn't get the feeling that this would end the same way. Watford was focusing on defending, but there just seemed to be too much space for the Reds to not get goals.
The chances came, but from odd spots. The visitors almost got the first score of the game when a challenge in the midfield blasted a ball toward the Liverpool goal. It wasn't overly close in the end, but it was enough to put a small lump in Loris Karius' throat.
For Liverpool, it was central defender Lucas with two chances. He has not scored in six goals, but was unlucky to not find one early in the first half. Still, the team would not be held off the sheet for long.
Sadio Mane scored in the 27th minute with a fantastic flick from the corner. Coutinho made the wise choice to go short on the corner to Milner. The Brazilian got it back at a better angle and flung it into the box where Mane lunged toward it and just let it glance off his forehead.
Not even a full three minutes later, in the 30th minute, Coutinho finally got his own goal. Slicing through two defenders, he tucked it into the lower right side with power. It was a fitting finish to make up for the one he had just flashed wide minutes earlier.
It had seemed like Liverpool took their foot off the gas, but this offense can strike like lightning. In the 43rd minute, they got the ball up field with only a few touches. Adam Lallana served the ball in and Emre Can headed it back to where it came from, leaving the new goalkeeper absolutely nothing to do but stand there.
Liverpool were capable of being up by five or so. Nevertheless, being up by three and keeping Watford off the board for 45 minutes was a very good start.
LFC came out with the same kind of energy in the second half, but it looked a bit too easy. They looked like a team that was more interested in setting up something fancy or getting goals for those that didn't have them yet instead of taking the game by the throat.
That didn't keep them from scoring though. Some lax defending from Watford in the 57th minute allowed a cross to find a wide open Firmino. His goal made it 4-0. That wouldn't hold for long.
The Reds pushed numbers forward after a giveaway in midfield, fresh off a poor clearance by Watford. Firmino bullied his way onto the ball into the box on the right. He then slipped a deft pass to Mane, who put it to sleep with all the care of a new parent. That made it 5-0 just before stroke of the 61st minute.
Unfortunately, despite all the goal scoring, the Reds could not keep the defense compact. Liverpool got loose at the back following a couple subs, though the subs had nothing to do with it as players. Karius made some great saves to keep the clean sheet until the 75th minute.
Then, the defending became too poor and Janmat was all alone in the area. He bent it around the keeper and gave Watford its first goal of the game, keeping Liverpool's streak of not having clean sheets alive and well.
We have long known that Liverpool does not have the best defending in the league. It is a very makeshift unit, trying to do its best on most nights. Still, it is disappointing for the team to have played so well and then lose that extra little cherry of the clean sheet when Watford had not pressured until those late moments.
Liverpool were very unlucky to not return the margin of victory back to five earlier than they did. The team kept trying to set up Daniel Sturridge, but the home ground woodwoork was not kind. He did pick up an assist on Georginio Wijnaldum's score in the 91st minute, which at least got him off the goose egg in a red shirt.
In the end, it was a fantastic win, but the clean sheet gone spoiled it just a little. You can't be too disappointed with that fact though because Liverpool took advantage of other team's slipups. The Reds are atop the table for the first time in what feels like forever.
It is only by a point, but to see Liverpool on top alone feels pretty good.
Random Thoughts:
- I like Ian Darke as a broadcaster very much. He might have been a little too colorful with his description of Joel Matip though. As a broadcaster myself, I'm not sure I'd describe the lanky defender as slim and elegant.
- Say what you want about his demeanor or ability to stay healthy, but you have to feel for Sturridge. He should have had two goals and maybe more, but was denied by the posts twice and the goalkeeper just as many times.
- The shutout aspect probably isn't as important to some. As a goalkeeper, these were the games that were frustrating because there was no reason the chances should have even come.
- Nothing to do with the game, but how in the world did Danny Ings get hurt? He hasn't played in forever and then suffers a knee injury that will knock him out? Injuries happen, but to lose almost all or all of a season due to a training injury seems excessive.
Walk On
Though the match opened up closely, you didn't get the feeling that this would end the same way. Watford was focusing on defending, but there just seemed to be too much space for the Reds to not get goals.
The chances came, but from odd spots. The visitors almost got the first score of the game when a challenge in the midfield blasted a ball toward the Liverpool goal. It wasn't overly close in the end, but it was enough to put a small lump in Loris Karius' throat.
For Liverpool, it was central defender Lucas with two chances. He has not scored in six goals, but was unlucky to not find one early in the first half. Still, the team would not be held off the sheet for long.
Sadio Mane scored in the 27th minute with a fantastic flick from the corner. Coutinho made the wise choice to go short on the corner to Milner. The Brazilian got it back at a better angle and flung it into the box where Mane lunged toward it and just let it glance off his forehead.
Not even a full three minutes later, in the 30th minute, Coutinho finally got his own goal. Slicing through two defenders, he tucked it into the lower right side with power. It was a fitting finish to make up for the one he had just flashed wide minutes earlier.
It had seemed like Liverpool took their foot off the gas, but this offense can strike like lightning. In the 43rd minute, they got the ball up field with only a few touches. Adam Lallana served the ball in and Emre Can headed it back to where it came from, leaving the new goalkeeper absolutely nothing to do but stand there.
Liverpool were capable of being up by five or so. Nevertheless, being up by three and keeping Watford off the board for 45 minutes was a very good start.
LFC came out with the same kind of energy in the second half, but it looked a bit too easy. They looked like a team that was more interested in setting up something fancy or getting goals for those that didn't have them yet instead of taking the game by the throat.
That didn't keep them from scoring though. Some lax defending from Watford in the 57th minute allowed a cross to find a wide open Firmino. His goal made it 4-0. That wouldn't hold for long.
The Reds pushed numbers forward after a giveaway in midfield, fresh off a poor clearance by Watford. Firmino bullied his way onto the ball into the box on the right. He then slipped a deft pass to Mane, who put it to sleep with all the care of a new parent. That made it 5-0 just before stroke of the 61st minute.
Unfortunately, despite all the goal scoring, the Reds could not keep the defense compact. Liverpool got loose at the back following a couple subs, though the subs had nothing to do with it as players. Karius made some great saves to keep the clean sheet until the 75th minute.
Then, the defending became too poor and Janmat was all alone in the area. He bent it around the keeper and gave Watford its first goal of the game, keeping Liverpool's streak of not having clean sheets alive and well.
We have long known that Liverpool does not have the best defending in the league. It is a very makeshift unit, trying to do its best on most nights. Still, it is disappointing for the team to have played so well and then lose that extra little cherry of the clean sheet when Watford had not pressured until those late moments.
Liverpool were very unlucky to not return the margin of victory back to five earlier than they did. The team kept trying to set up Daniel Sturridge, but the home ground woodwoork was not kind. He did pick up an assist on Georginio Wijnaldum's score in the 91st minute, which at least got him off the goose egg in a red shirt.
In the end, it was a fantastic win, but the clean sheet gone spoiled it just a little. You can't be too disappointed with that fact though because Liverpool took advantage of other team's slipups. The Reds are atop the table for the first time in what feels like forever.
It is only by a point, but to see Liverpool on top alone feels pretty good.
Random Thoughts:
- I like Ian Darke as a broadcaster very much. He might have been a little too colorful with his description of Joel Matip though. As a broadcaster myself, I'm not sure I'd describe the lanky defender as slim and elegant.
- Say what you want about his demeanor or ability to stay healthy, but you have to feel for Sturridge. He should have had two goals and maybe more, but was denied by the posts twice and the goalkeeper just as many times.
- The shutout aspect probably isn't as important to some. As a goalkeeper, these were the games that were frustrating because there was no reason the chances should have even come.
- Nothing to do with the game, but how in the world did Danny Ings get hurt? He hasn't played in forever and then suffers a knee injury that will knock him out? Injuries happen, but to lose almost all or all of a season due to a training injury seems excessive.
Walk On
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