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
Showing posts with label Firmino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Firmino. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Liverpool Return To Winning Ways Knocking Off Burton Albion
Welcome back Liverpool fans. I've been away for the beginning of the season. I was out of the country for a wedding in Canada.
In the meantime, the team managed to come up with a huge 4-3 win over Arsenal. They then dropped a terrible 2-0 decision to Burnley after that. While these games were on the road, making them more difficult, it has been an incredibly up and down start to the new season.
Combine that with the rather dull showing while the Reds were in St. Louis and it has become a bit of a worry. While the game in my hometown could be easily chalked up to a combination of being a preseason affair and a terribly humid day, it doesn't explain why the team continues to be so inconsistent.
That said, they did what they needed to do to advance in the EFL Cup. On a side note, why in blue blazes did they change the name? Has the competition fallen so low on the totem pole that they could not find a replacement sponsor when Capital One dropped off?
It's a minor thing, but even though the name Capital One Cup was less than palatable, EFL Cup just seems so plain. I digress.
The game itself against Burton Albion was exactly what you would want from such a fixture. The Reds got things off to a great start. Sadio Mane did a little foot dangle before the cross that saw Divock Origi tap it in.
Firmino scored off a header in the 22nd minute, Liverpool got an own goal in the 61st and then Daniel Sturridge scored a brace at the end of the match. It was a fine performance by just about everyone involved and a good jumping off point to prepare for Tottenham on the weekend.
Everything must be kept in perspective as Burton is a Championship side. Barring another monumental failure by Liverpool, this was always going to be the result. So, a 5-0 win in this kind of match is not going to mean that the Reds are off and running when it comes to the league.
Nevertheless, it was a good showing. The players you want to step up and lead did and it was the kind of performance you want to see from Liverpool in these sorts of games where they outmatch their opponent as opposed to what happened last weekend.
Also on the positive side was Mane. When he was signed, it was mainly a shoulder shrug for most people. There were not any problems with the addition, but it wasn't someone people generally pointed to as being the missing piece.
So far, he's been the man the team can ill afford to lose the most. He played against Arsenal and Burton and the Reds won and played with flare and style. He was missing against Burnley and the team lacked that attacking spark.
He was man of the match in this EFL fixture and deservedly so. Though he did not get on the score sheet for all of them, he had a hand in almost every goal. He was still sprinting after challenges at the very end of the game.
Mane isn't one of those guys that's going to command tens of millions or hundreds of millions in the transfer market, but he fits in with this squad perfectly. He's exactly the type of player that Jurgen Klopp wants to mold his entire team after. Getting the current crop to play that way may still take some time.
Again, it was a good win but nothing to jump for joy about in the grand scheme. Just entertaining football to view and take it for what it was.
The weekend will be a better barometer of what kind of season we may be in for. For now, let's be happy with a win and be happy for a few days until the Reds invade London.
Random Thoughts:
- Much of this article was random thoughts, but let's get into a few more. Apparently there is talk of loaning out Sakho. I am not in favor of this at all. He's not a great defender, but still has a leg up on the current group of central defenders. He just needs to get his off field issues in order.
- Springboarding off that, there were fans who were honestly questioning whether Klopp belongs at Anfield because of the Sakho loan talk. Question his tactics or his transfer policies, but to say he doesn't belong is just ridiculous. He's shown quite well in his brief time. Also, this insane idea that every decision or loss means the manager is terrible and must be fired is just sickening. I understand that the game is extremely short lived in terms of who is in charge or playing on the field and change occurs all the time, but there is still something to be said for consistency.
- Nothing major happened in this game, but what happened to Moreno? He was never going to win defender of the year, but he's been just north of dreadful in his league games so far. He's got speed and skill. However, maybe it just isn't there upstairs.
- While I'm very impressed with Mane, it also scares me. Anytime a team is so reliant on one or two players to produce, it is worrying. Sturridge is a ticking time bomb when it comes to injury and if Mane is that important to the squad, they can't afford to lose him either. It would just be nice to feel like we could consistently rely on some of the other guys instead of just the odd performance here or there.
Walk On
In the meantime, the team managed to come up with a huge 4-3 win over Arsenal. They then dropped a terrible 2-0 decision to Burnley after that. While these games were on the road, making them more difficult, it has been an incredibly up and down start to the new season.
Combine that with the rather dull showing while the Reds were in St. Louis and it has become a bit of a worry. While the game in my hometown could be easily chalked up to a combination of being a preseason affair and a terribly humid day, it doesn't explain why the team continues to be so inconsistent.
That said, they did what they needed to do to advance in the EFL Cup. On a side note, why in blue blazes did they change the name? Has the competition fallen so low on the totem pole that they could not find a replacement sponsor when Capital One dropped off?
It's a minor thing, but even though the name Capital One Cup was less than palatable, EFL Cup just seems so plain. I digress.
The game itself against Burton Albion was exactly what you would want from such a fixture. The Reds got things off to a great start. Sadio Mane did a little foot dangle before the cross that saw Divock Origi tap it in.
Firmino scored off a header in the 22nd minute, Liverpool got an own goal in the 61st and then Daniel Sturridge scored a brace at the end of the match. It was a fine performance by just about everyone involved and a good jumping off point to prepare for Tottenham on the weekend.
Everything must be kept in perspective as Burton is a Championship side. Barring another monumental failure by Liverpool, this was always going to be the result. So, a 5-0 win in this kind of match is not going to mean that the Reds are off and running when it comes to the league.
Nevertheless, it was a good showing. The players you want to step up and lead did and it was the kind of performance you want to see from Liverpool in these sorts of games where they outmatch their opponent as opposed to what happened last weekend.
Also on the positive side was Mane. When he was signed, it was mainly a shoulder shrug for most people. There were not any problems with the addition, but it wasn't someone people generally pointed to as being the missing piece.
So far, he's been the man the team can ill afford to lose the most. He played against Arsenal and Burton and the Reds won and played with flare and style. He was missing against Burnley and the team lacked that attacking spark.
He was man of the match in this EFL fixture and deservedly so. Though he did not get on the score sheet for all of them, he had a hand in almost every goal. He was still sprinting after challenges at the very end of the game.
Mane isn't one of those guys that's going to command tens of millions or hundreds of millions in the transfer market, but he fits in with this squad perfectly. He's exactly the type of player that Jurgen Klopp wants to mold his entire team after. Getting the current crop to play that way may still take some time.
Again, it was a good win but nothing to jump for joy about in the grand scheme. Just entertaining football to view and take it for what it was.
The weekend will be a better barometer of what kind of season we may be in for. For now, let's be happy with a win and be happy for a few days until the Reds invade London.
Random Thoughts:
- Much of this article was random thoughts, but let's get into a few more. Apparently there is talk of loaning out Sakho. I am not in favor of this at all. He's not a great defender, but still has a leg up on the current group of central defenders. He just needs to get his off field issues in order.
- Springboarding off that, there were fans who were honestly questioning whether Klopp belongs at Anfield because of the Sakho loan talk. Question his tactics or his transfer policies, but to say he doesn't belong is just ridiculous. He's shown quite well in his brief time. Also, this insane idea that every decision or loss means the manager is terrible and must be fired is just sickening. I understand that the game is extremely short lived in terms of who is in charge or playing on the field and change occurs all the time, but there is still something to be said for consistency.
- Nothing major happened in this game, but what happened to Moreno? He was never going to win defender of the year, but he's been just north of dreadful in his league games so far. He's got speed and skill. However, maybe it just isn't there upstairs.
- While I'm very impressed with Mane, it also scares me. Anytime a team is so reliant on one or two players to produce, it is worrying. Sturridge is a ticking time bomb when it comes to injury and if Mane is that important to the squad, they can't afford to lose him either. It would just be nice to feel like we could consistently rely on some of the other guys instead of just the odd performance here or there.
Walk On
Saturday, April 23, 2016
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
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
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Liverpool Open The Scoring Floodgates Against Villa
Only days after wondering what sort of formation and lineup combination the return of Daniel Sturridge could produce, we found out. It would be a starting three up top with Sturridge, Coutinho and Firmino. It paid dividends fairly quickly as well.
One of the few negatives was shown quickly. Firmino tried to feed Sturridge in the 12th minute instead of shooting. While the idea wasn't terrible, one could only hope that would not be the theme of the day and the offense would flow instead of trying to set up Sturridge in particular.
The fears were allayed fairly quickly after that initial chance though. Liverpool scored in the first quarter hour and Sturridge got his first goal of the calendar year. It came from a nice cross in by Coutinho and Sturridge nodded it in.
The Reds (or should we call them the Whites?...nah) doubled their lead about ten minutes later. James Milner scored from a free kick in the 25th minute, though he had absolutely no intention to. The Aston Villaa keeper took a few steps toward the ball, waved his hands at it, but nobody got a touch onto it. Even as a goalkeeper, it was quite stunning to see something you might see on a high school field.
The half ended rather ignominiously. Liverpool allowed a large amount of pressure as time ticked away. Fortunately for them, Villa put a cross right into Simon Mignolet's hands after the good build up. Then, to counter, Liverpool should have had a third but Sturridge was denied with a fantastic save by Mark Bunn in the 44th minute.
In the second half, Liverpool got off to a good start again, but it took awhile for it to pay off. In the 58th minute, Firmino took the ball on the left, fed it into the middle and Emre Can finished it off for the third goal of the day. Really, it was shoddy defending as there were three players that failed to close in on the German midfielder, but those are the situations that a team like Liverpool must take advantage of and they did.
Almost immediately following, the Reds fell asleep for a moment and it almost cost them. Mignolet thwarted the cross and the defenders managed to dispose of the rebound. But fear not Liverpool fans for this was Aston Villa they were playing. Mere seconds after replacing Sturridge, Divock Origi made it 4-0. The Reds quickly threw the interception into the path of the striker and Origi just tucked it past the keeper.
Then a bit of justice in the 65th minute. Villa should have been given a red card for a clumsy challenge on Origi but only received a yellow. Then, only three touches after the free kick, the ball hit the back of the net for the fifth time with Nathaniel Clyne getting the glory. It wasn't long before Liverpool struck again too.
In the 71st minute, absolutely atrocious defending led to a goal by Kolo...Kolo Toure. Even writing it strikes a strange chord. The defender who had not scored in nearly five years, was left all alone just north of the penalty spot and went unchallenged on the header, which led to an easy tuck in for 6-0.
The amount of goals almost gave me writers cramp, but it was worth it. These aren't the type of performances anyone expects every game, but it would be nice to see this offense a bit more often than not. Liverpool can now focus on the Europa League with two matches coming against FC Ausburg in consecutive weeks. That competition is not very prestigious any longer, but it is likely the only way to get a Champions League spot at this juncture, so all preparations must be made. For now, let us bask in the offense which has not shone out from behind the clouds much this season.
Random Thoughts:
- It is somewhat crazy to think Liverpool went from a negative goal difference to positive in one game. Now, they must find a way to keep it that way. As long as you win more than not, it's not a huge stat, but it just doesn't pass the eye test when Liverpool are the only team in the top 10 that did not have a positive goal difference until now.
- This game was a perfect example of why Daniel Sturridge is so frustrating on many levels. First, you saw his talent on display. It was a good performance and makes you wish that the man could stay healthy for an entire season or at least the majority of one. Then you also saw his reluctance to go full boar, most likely due to his injury history. He put a foot toward a ball instead of going for a header early in the second and then pulled his run when he could have gotten on the end of an Alberto Moreno cross if he had kept going. Nevertheless, it was a good sight to see his odd little dance.
Walk On
One of the few negatives was shown quickly. Firmino tried to feed Sturridge in the 12th minute instead of shooting. While the idea wasn't terrible, one could only hope that would not be the theme of the day and the offense would flow instead of trying to set up Sturridge in particular.
The fears were allayed fairly quickly after that initial chance though. Liverpool scored in the first quarter hour and Sturridge got his first goal of the calendar year. It came from a nice cross in by Coutinho and Sturridge nodded it in.
The Reds (or should we call them the Whites?...nah) doubled their lead about ten minutes later. James Milner scored from a free kick in the 25th minute, though he had absolutely no intention to. The Aston Villaa keeper took a few steps toward the ball, waved his hands at it, but nobody got a touch onto it. Even as a goalkeeper, it was quite stunning to see something you might see on a high school field.
The half ended rather ignominiously. Liverpool allowed a large amount of pressure as time ticked away. Fortunately for them, Villa put a cross right into Simon Mignolet's hands after the good build up. Then, to counter, Liverpool should have had a third but Sturridge was denied with a fantastic save by Mark Bunn in the 44th minute.
In the second half, Liverpool got off to a good start again, but it took awhile for it to pay off. In the 58th minute, Firmino took the ball on the left, fed it into the middle and Emre Can finished it off for the third goal of the day. Really, it was shoddy defending as there were three players that failed to close in on the German midfielder, but those are the situations that a team like Liverpool must take advantage of and they did.
Almost immediately following, the Reds fell asleep for a moment and it almost cost them. Mignolet thwarted the cross and the defenders managed to dispose of the rebound. But fear not Liverpool fans for this was Aston Villa they were playing. Mere seconds after replacing Sturridge, Divock Origi made it 4-0. The Reds quickly threw the interception into the path of the striker and Origi just tucked it past the keeper.
Then a bit of justice in the 65th minute. Villa should have been given a red card for a clumsy challenge on Origi but only received a yellow. Then, only three touches after the free kick, the ball hit the back of the net for the fifth time with Nathaniel Clyne getting the glory. It wasn't long before Liverpool struck again too.
In the 71st minute, absolutely atrocious defending led to a goal by Kolo...Kolo Toure. Even writing it strikes a strange chord. The defender who had not scored in nearly five years, was left all alone just north of the penalty spot and went unchallenged on the header, which led to an easy tuck in for 6-0.
The amount of goals almost gave me writers cramp, but it was worth it. These aren't the type of performances anyone expects every game, but it would be nice to see this offense a bit more often than not. Liverpool can now focus on the Europa League with two matches coming against FC Ausburg in consecutive weeks. That competition is not very prestigious any longer, but it is likely the only way to get a Champions League spot at this juncture, so all preparations must be made. For now, let us bask in the offense which has not shone out from behind the clouds much this season.
Random Thoughts:
- It is somewhat crazy to think Liverpool went from a negative goal difference to positive in one game. Now, they must find a way to keep it that way. As long as you win more than not, it's not a huge stat, but it just doesn't pass the eye test when Liverpool are the only team in the top 10 that did not have a positive goal difference until now.
- This game was a perfect example of why Daniel Sturridge is so frustrating on many levels. First, you saw his talent on display. It was a good performance and makes you wish that the man could stay healthy for an entire season or at least the majority of one. Then you also saw his reluctance to go full boar, most likely due to his injury history. He put a foot toward a ball instead of going for a header early in the second and then pulled his run when he could have gotten on the end of an Alberto Moreno cross if he had kept going. Nevertheless, it was a good sight to see his odd little dance.
Walk On
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Liverpool Open Blandly
Hello and welcome to another season of Liverpool football. The beginning of a season is always an exciting time. Your prospects for a great season will never be higher, unless you raise the trophy at the end. Hope springs eternal and fans are abuzz about how each new signing will affect the team for good or bad. That same emotion was going through myself and all Liverpool supporters prior to the season's opening contest against Stoke City.
Then came the game. There is still hope for the season. There are still things to be looking forward to. However, as individual games go, it was about as bland as it could get. Both squads threw a few attacks forward here or there, but to little effect. Simon Mingolet was pressured more out of the two goalkeepers in the first half, but more often than not it was due to his own defenders' bunggling attempts at back passes.
Liverpool came out in the opening moments of the contest looking very bright and positive. The passes were crisp and connected well. It really looked like they would strike early and put the ghosts of last season's loss at the Britannia behind them. However, shots were placed right into defenders and you could see that even with the upgrade in talent, the players are still feeling each other out.
That was also the theme for most of this contest for both sides. As mentioned, there was the brief foray into the attacking areas for both the Livebirds and the Potters. Much of the contest was spent in the midfield though, with both teams stringing together decent attacking pushes only to see it peter out with an errant pass (more often than not, directly to the opposition). A lot of it can be chalked up to an opening season game coming earlier in the calendar than usual and summer signings still finding their bearings within each club.
Both squads saw good moments from their higher profile additions. Christian Benteke moved around very well and was strong on the ball, though he will have to find better shooting angles as the season progresses or he may be the most blocked striker in the league. Similarly, Ibrahim Afellay looked very positive for Stoke as well. He was fearless in attack and more than willing to take on the Liverpool defense. Ultimately though, he was unable to create enough for his team to score.
For the Reds, if you look at each individual, nothing overly poor stood out. Dejan Lovren still seems to be finding his sea legs, but was strong in his challenges. He, like just about every Liverpool centerback, will just never be anyone the supporters are comfortable with having the ball at their feet. The same can be said of Skrtel. The man plays hard and goes into every challenge hard. But he makes a lot of mistakes and against higher competition, Liverpool often pay for it. The back four as a whole looked more solid than in seasons past, however the youth of Gomez will create some holes for other teams to exploit as more film is seen on him.
Jordan Ibe continued to impress, though nothing he did ended up on the score sheet. While, in all honesty, his skill set is quite different to Raheem Sterling, Ibe looks more in control and comfortable. Sterling, for all his talents, always looked just a bit reckless like a runaway train. Ibe keeps the ball closer, seems to be wiser in the challenges he takes on and has better physical attributes in terms of size. For all we know, Sterling may turn out to be the promised wunderkind, but for now, LFC seem to have made the smart choice.
James Milner was a bit of a disappointment as he seemed to disappear for long stretches in the match, but he was never going to light the world on fire. He was brought in to help solidify the midfield and that's not always going to mean flying forward. Similarly, Firmino was a bit lackluster in his first action in a Liverpool shirt, but in his defense, he missed some of the preseason tour with the club and has not had much time to gel with his new team or surroundings.
Despite the overall negative spin put on some of what transpired during the game, the big thing is the result and Liverpool got what they had to get - three points. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't flashy. It may have put some to sleep at stages of the game. But, as the broadcasters said in the postmatch commentary - weeks from now, nobody will care. All that will matter is the club won and got a good spring board to start the year.
Given the difficult schedule, chalk full of road matches, to start the season, three points were needed despite claims that a draw would have been sufficient. A match against Bournemouth could potentially iron out a few more kinks before the big boys arrive across the pitch, but again results are more important to start the year than true form. Look at Manchester United last season. They were not great in individual games, but did enough to get results and are now back in Champions League. Similarly, Liverpool got off to a good start, in terms of results, two years ago and gained a top four position because of it. Conversely, a poor start to last season doomed them come the following May.
As fans we always want the beautiful game. We want scoring and flowing football. We marvel at the Brazils and Hollands of the world. But when it comes to the grind of a club season, all that matters are the results. If it meant winning the league, supporters would take ugly win after ugly win. Until the talents can gel, that is what Liverpool must focus on. Get the win. The how is unimportant.
Walk On
Random Thoughts:
- I like Adam Lallana the person (from what I can see from afar) and I like his talents. However, he cannot be the long term starter. A front three of Benteke, Firmino and Coutinho is much more of a threat for the rest of the season. As long as this is just a short period to allow the Brazilian to adjust, then fine.
- Speaking of Lallana, why in the world is he always up front? Maybe I completely misread his skills, but he seems better suited toward a more midfield role than Coutinho does. Although the true lineup had Coutinho further forward, I was not pleased at all when a proposed lineup had Lallana as part of the attacking trio and Coutinho in basically a wingback role.
- This team will not score nearly as many goals. They may not win nearly as many games. However, despite the blandness of this particular contest, I saw brief glimpses of the kind of football that made the team so fun to watch in their second place finish two seasons ago. A healthy Sturridge, if there is such a thing, could really give this team a ton of attacking options and looks for the opposition.
- It was nice to see the team get the win, but also to see Brendan Rodgers get a bit of positive buzz. For good or bad, I seem doomed to be a supporter of his until the day he is no longer the boss of Liverpool. Thus, I am always glad for him and the club when good things come, whether by luck or design.
- Lastly, some may wonder how I could not mention Coutinho's goal in the article proper. Well, chalk that up to first game jitters for me too. That and being too lazy to find a good place to slip in a paragraph about it. That said, it was a fantastic goal but in a sad way what we have come to expect from him. He is one of those players who drives fans crazy because he will blast shots into defenders or five yards over goal time after time. Then, he will strike it sweetly like he did on the goal against Stoke and you see all the talent and promise meld together. If he ever finds a bit more consistency, he could be one of the best in the league.
Then came the game. There is still hope for the season. There are still things to be looking forward to. However, as individual games go, it was about as bland as it could get. Both squads threw a few attacks forward here or there, but to little effect. Simon Mingolet was pressured more out of the two goalkeepers in the first half, but more often than not it was due to his own defenders' bunggling attempts at back passes.
Liverpool came out in the opening moments of the contest looking very bright and positive. The passes were crisp and connected well. It really looked like they would strike early and put the ghosts of last season's loss at the Britannia behind them. However, shots were placed right into defenders and you could see that even with the upgrade in talent, the players are still feeling each other out.
That was also the theme for most of this contest for both sides. As mentioned, there was the brief foray into the attacking areas for both the Livebirds and the Potters. Much of the contest was spent in the midfield though, with both teams stringing together decent attacking pushes only to see it peter out with an errant pass (more often than not, directly to the opposition). A lot of it can be chalked up to an opening season game coming earlier in the calendar than usual and summer signings still finding their bearings within each club.
Both squads saw good moments from their higher profile additions. Christian Benteke moved around very well and was strong on the ball, though he will have to find better shooting angles as the season progresses or he may be the most blocked striker in the league. Similarly, Ibrahim Afellay looked very positive for Stoke as well. He was fearless in attack and more than willing to take on the Liverpool defense. Ultimately though, he was unable to create enough for his team to score.
For the Reds, if you look at each individual, nothing overly poor stood out. Dejan Lovren still seems to be finding his sea legs, but was strong in his challenges. He, like just about every Liverpool centerback, will just never be anyone the supporters are comfortable with having the ball at their feet. The same can be said of Skrtel. The man plays hard and goes into every challenge hard. But he makes a lot of mistakes and against higher competition, Liverpool often pay for it. The back four as a whole looked more solid than in seasons past, however the youth of Gomez will create some holes for other teams to exploit as more film is seen on him.
Jordan Ibe continued to impress, though nothing he did ended up on the score sheet. While, in all honesty, his skill set is quite different to Raheem Sterling, Ibe looks more in control and comfortable. Sterling, for all his talents, always looked just a bit reckless like a runaway train. Ibe keeps the ball closer, seems to be wiser in the challenges he takes on and has better physical attributes in terms of size. For all we know, Sterling may turn out to be the promised wunderkind, but for now, LFC seem to have made the smart choice.
James Milner was a bit of a disappointment as he seemed to disappear for long stretches in the match, but he was never going to light the world on fire. He was brought in to help solidify the midfield and that's not always going to mean flying forward. Similarly, Firmino was a bit lackluster in his first action in a Liverpool shirt, but in his defense, he missed some of the preseason tour with the club and has not had much time to gel with his new team or surroundings.
Despite the overall negative spin put on some of what transpired during the game, the big thing is the result and Liverpool got what they had to get - three points. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't flashy. It may have put some to sleep at stages of the game. But, as the broadcasters said in the postmatch commentary - weeks from now, nobody will care. All that will matter is the club won and got a good spring board to start the year.
Given the difficult schedule, chalk full of road matches, to start the season, three points were needed despite claims that a draw would have been sufficient. A match against Bournemouth could potentially iron out a few more kinks before the big boys arrive across the pitch, but again results are more important to start the year than true form. Look at Manchester United last season. They were not great in individual games, but did enough to get results and are now back in Champions League. Similarly, Liverpool got off to a good start, in terms of results, two years ago and gained a top four position because of it. Conversely, a poor start to last season doomed them come the following May.
As fans we always want the beautiful game. We want scoring and flowing football. We marvel at the Brazils and Hollands of the world. But when it comes to the grind of a club season, all that matters are the results. If it meant winning the league, supporters would take ugly win after ugly win. Until the talents can gel, that is what Liverpool must focus on. Get the win. The how is unimportant.
Walk On
Random Thoughts:
- I like Adam Lallana the person (from what I can see from afar) and I like his talents. However, he cannot be the long term starter. A front three of Benteke, Firmino and Coutinho is much more of a threat for the rest of the season. As long as this is just a short period to allow the Brazilian to adjust, then fine.
- Speaking of Lallana, why in the world is he always up front? Maybe I completely misread his skills, but he seems better suited toward a more midfield role than Coutinho does. Although the true lineup had Coutinho further forward, I was not pleased at all when a proposed lineup had Lallana as part of the attacking trio and Coutinho in basically a wingback role.
- This team will not score nearly as many goals. They may not win nearly as many games. However, despite the blandness of this particular contest, I saw brief glimpses of the kind of football that made the team so fun to watch in their second place finish two seasons ago. A healthy Sturridge, if there is such a thing, could really give this team a ton of attacking options and looks for the opposition.
- It was nice to see the team get the win, but also to see Brendan Rodgers get a bit of positive buzz. For good or bad, I seem doomed to be a supporter of his until the day he is no longer the boss of Liverpool. Thus, I am always glad for him and the club when good things come, whether by luck or design.
- Lastly, some may wonder how I could not mention Coutinho's goal in the article proper. Well, chalk that up to first game jitters for me too. That and being too lazy to find a good place to slip in a paragraph about it. That said, it was a fantastic goal but in a sad way what we have come to expect from him. He is one of those players who drives fans crazy because he will blast shots into defenders or five yards over goal time after time. Then, he will strike it sweetly like he did on the goal against Stoke and you see all the talent and promise meld together. If he ever finds a bit more consistency, he could be one of the best in the league.
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