Liverpool came into the day with plenty left to play for. They were still fighting for a European spot, just as a back up in case they fail to win the Europa League. They were also fighting for money.
According to the broadcasters, each spot up the table earns about an extra million in your pocket. Unfortunately, the day did not get off to a rousing start.
In the 13th minute, West Brom break through the Liverpool defense to take a 1-0 lead. The Reds defense was caught flat footed as Leko sliced through them and then Rondon finished it off. Rondon took it on the right side of the box, took a quick touch around the defender and slotted it just under Adam Bogdan.
In typical Jurgen Klopp fashion though, the Reds didn't give up. It wasn't really a team effort that equalized the game. Jordan Ibe took the game on his shoulders. Ibe, who has all but disappeared in recent weeks to months, came out like a man in form. He cut through the West Brom back line from the center line, into the box and as Benteke led some opposition away, Ibe finished it off from the center of the box in the 23rd minute.
After those goals, it somewhat settled into a typical end of season affair. Liverpool had a chance or two into the attacking third, but nothing that created much danger. The most interesting thing was actually the yellow cards. Brad Smith got one for simulation and then James McClean was awarded one for a rather foolish challenge on Jon Flanagan, well in the Liverpool area.
The first half was about what one would expect, outside of conceding the goal. Liverpool dominated the possession by almost 50% in the difference. However, given the mixture of regulars who were either returning from injury or had fallen out of the starting XI and the younger players, there wasn't enough cohesion to really get things rolling.
Liverpool just escaped the hangman's noose right away in the second half. After giving away a free kick, Rondon got a flick off the head that beat Bogdan but rang off the nearside post. The defenders were composed enough to make the clearance and the Reds survived the exchange.
The second half was much the same as the first, minus the possession. West Brom actually had the better of the chances as they threatened the target quite a few times.
Most of them never truly made it on target with any danger, but it still was a bit too uncomfortable for supporters of the Reds. Rondon will also feel unlucky not to have scored. After missing several in the first half and the flick earlier in the second, in the 66th minute he bobbled an initial chance, but still got a shot on goal that was barely deflected wide.
In a bit of good news for the team, both Danny Ings and Jordan Henderson entered the game in the 64th minute. Neither of them did anything spectacular, but just being on the pitch was enough for them given their injuries.
In the end, the game would finish 1-1. It was a fair result given the overall nature of the game, but again a bit disappointing for fans simply because West Brom were one of the lowest scoring teams in the league and their club conceded.
The focus now shifts to Basel, Switzerland and the matchup with Sevilla. Liverpool will have it all to do. The Spaniards are two time champions in this competition and Liverpool have gotten by more on guile and will than actual skill in many fixtures. They'll need it all to come up with a win on Wednesday, but there's no reason they cannot summon it.
Random Thoughts:
- It was good to see Hendo and Ings back. It's unlikely Ings will have shown enough to get into the Europa Final squad, but I loved his energy earlier in the season. You can never tell who will stay or go under a new manager, but I'd like to see Ings get a good run under Klopp.
- Lucas is a fine player and I respect his talents. However, the combination of him playing as a central defender by itself and then pairing him with Martin Skrtel is a nightmare.
- Springboarding off that idea, what ever happened to Steven Caulker? I understand you can get both Lucas and Allen on with this formation, but Lucas is a midfielder. Defensive as he might be, he just shouldn't be a central defender in my opinion.
- Liverpool spent way too much time defending in the second half. I understand this is a makeshift squad, but they did fine in the first half and looked like a recreation league side at times in the second.
- I still think he has a good future, but Ibe is too much like Raheem Sterling at times. Incredible skill, but a penchant for taking on too many defenders when better options are available.
- Even as a fan of Brendan Rodgers, there is no doubt this club is better under Klopp. That said, it's all the more disappointing that their inconsistencies had them finish in eighth, which is lower than any finish under Rodgers.
- Nothing to do with the West Brom game, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing about the Europa Final. Telling people without tickets to stay away, rumors of Liverpool supporters being kept out or not able to buy extra tickets. It just doesn't have a good smell.
Walk On
Showing posts with label Jordan Ibe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jordan Ibe. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
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 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
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Liverpool Youngsters Prove Prognosticators Wrong
Nobody likes a replay. The players have to play a game that wasn't originally scheduled. Fans don't care for them because it's more money out of their pocket to buy tickets against teams they likely didn't want to see. It's possible that the networks don't even care for them because they have to scramble to sell advertising space that wasn't planned for as well. Nevertheless, a replay against Exeter at Anfield could not be avoided. It was a very bland start to the game for both clubs despite Liverpool enjoying much of the possession.
The Reds wouldn't take too long to net the first goal though. Brad Smith set up the eventual first goal quite nicely. Smith started the play by really stretching the opponent by taking up space in the wide areas. Then, he worked a nice one two with Christian Benteke and slotted it perfectly to a wide open Joe Allen in the 10th minute. It looked like LFC were ready to burst the game open, but that would not happen in the first half.
On the bright side, Benteke looked fairly good in the opening 25 minutes, but could not finish despite several header opportunities. What was positive about him, beyond the finishing, was his movement. He looked interested in the game instead of trying to blame his faults on his young teammates, which has become a bit of a habit of late. It was also nice to see Jodan Ibe try a couple shots from distance in the 39th minute instead of his usual Raheem Sterling-esque style of dribbling until space evaporates. The second opportunity from in the box might have been laid back for a cross but the idea wasn't terrible.
A repeat of Manchester United outcome was definitely in fans' minds given the amound of chances wasted, especially Benteke's shot right into the defender's feet in the 45th. Still, it was a decent first half of play for the Liverpool youngsters.
The second half was an interesting mix. Liverpool saw Jon Flanagan return in the 51st minute, though he wasn't called on to really do much. Then Ibe thought he had scored in the 54th minute on a blistering shot that rang off the crossbar and fell to the turf behind the line. However, with goal line technology it was all conjecture for fans and was rightly not given. Also, Liverpool as a club, regardless of age, continued their run of finishing or lack thereof as well.
Joao Teixeira took too long and was blocked in the 72nd minute and then the ensuing chances were a bit comical and ended with a slow roller off the foot of Sheyi Ojo that resulted in a training ground save. Ojo made up for the poor shoot with a fantastic one just minutes later. Just two touches into the box from the right side, Ojo put it on his left foot and just scooped it into the side netting. The Reds then put the final nail in the coffin in the 82nd minute. Benteke took on a couple defenders and peeled back. Then he slid a pinpoint pass to Teixeira who just bashed it past the keeper from about 7 yards.
In the end, it was what you would expect from a Liverpool standpoint. There weren't any mind-blowing moments, but Liverpool played more than well enough to get the victory. On the one hand, it continues to add fixtures to their schedule but if Jurgen Klopp continues to use the FA Cup as an opportunity for youth players and bench players, then it's not as much of an issue. Also a win is always a positive no matter the opponent and no matter who is on the field. This game in no way takes away the sting of the loss to Manchester United, but there were enough positives to at least smooth a few frazzled nerves.
Random Thoughts:
- Apologies for no write-up following the United clash. I had a fever, slept through the live game and didn't feel up to watching a 1-0 loss when I saw the score listed on social media.
- Fans always want wins, but this win over Exeter was nice because all the talking heads were saying Liverpool would get embarrassed if they played the youngsters again. It wasn't a flawless game, but I think 3-0 speaks for itself.
- Joe Allen is a scoring machine! Wait...what? Oh well. I'd still rather him not be on the field if given a better option, which is almost anyone.
- Is this game truly a breakthrough for Benteke? I highly doubt it. I want the striker to be successful at Liverpool, but I just don't know that he has the mentality. He really is becoming another Balotelli without the off-field problems. Simply an enigma.
- Good to see some people catching up to my take on Adam Lallana. A good article summed it up here: http://www.football365.com/news/16-conclusions-liverpool-0-1-man-united and even former Blue, Craig Burley had an opinon on Mr. Cruyff Turn that I agreed with. The talent is there, but living in St. Louis, I've seen talent be there for USL players too. That doesn't mean they know how to produce or are truly meant to play at the highest levels consistently.
- It's both a good and bad thing, but it's kind of a shame that left back might be the biggest position in terms of depth for Liverpool. Personally, despite some of his defensive faults, I have no problem with Alberto Moreno. Brad Smith has also shown that he could be very capable of making the first squad soon, now Flanagan has returned and I thought Joe Gomez was good in the role before injury as well.
- As I prepare for the inevitable firestorm of online reaction...I have no problem with extending Simon Mignolet's contract.
Walk On
The Reds wouldn't take too long to net the first goal though. Brad Smith set up the eventual first goal quite nicely. Smith started the play by really stretching the opponent by taking up space in the wide areas. Then, he worked a nice one two with Christian Benteke and slotted it perfectly to a wide open Joe Allen in the 10th minute. It looked like LFC were ready to burst the game open, but that would not happen in the first half.
On the bright side, Benteke looked fairly good in the opening 25 minutes, but could not finish despite several header opportunities. What was positive about him, beyond the finishing, was his movement. He looked interested in the game instead of trying to blame his faults on his young teammates, which has become a bit of a habit of late. It was also nice to see Jodan Ibe try a couple shots from distance in the 39th minute instead of his usual Raheem Sterling-esque style of dribbling until space evaporates. The second opportunity from in the box might have been laid back for a cross but the idea wasn't terrible.
A repeat of Manchester United outcome was definitely in fans' minds given the amound of chances wasted, especially Benteke's shot right into the defender's feet in the 45th. Still, it was a decent first half of play for the Liverpool youngsters.
The second half was an interesting mix. Liverpool saw Jon Flanagan return in the 51st minute, though he wasn't called on to really do much. Then Ibe thought he had scored in the 54th minute on a blistering shot that rang off the crossbar and fell to the turf behind the line. However, with goal line technology it was all conjecture for fans and was rightly not given. Also, Liverpool as a club, regardless of age, continued their run of finishing or lack thereof as well.
Joao Teixeira took too long and was blocked in the 72nd minute and then the ensuing chances were a bit comical and ended with a slow roller off the foot of Sheyi Ojo that resulted in a training ground save. Ojo made up for the poor shoot with a fantastic one just minutes later. Just two touches into the box from the right side, Ojo put it on his left foot and just scooped it into the side netting. The Reds then put the final nail in the coffin in the 82nd minute. Benteke took on a couple defenders and peeled back. Then he slid a pinpoint pass to Teixeira who just bashed it past the keeper from about 7 yards.
In the end, it was what you would expect from a Liverpool standpoint. There weren't any mind-blowing moments, but Liverpool played more than well enough to get the victory. On the one hand, it continues to add fixtures to their schedule but if Jurgen Klopp continues to use the FA Cup as an opportunity for youth players and bench players, then it's not as much of an issue. Also a win is always a positive no matter the opponent and no matter who is on the field. This game in no way takes away the sting of the loss to Manchester United, but there were enough positives to at least smooth a few frazzled nerves.
Random Thoughts:
- Apologies for no write-up following the United clash. I had a fever, slept through the live game and didn't feel up to watching a 1-0 loss when I saw the score listed on social media.
- Fans always want wins, but this win over Exeter was nice because all the talking heads were saying Liverpool would get embarrassed if they played the youngsters again. It wasn't a flawless game, but I think 3-0 speaks for itself.
- Joe Allen is a scoring machine! Wait...what? Oh well. I'd still rather him not be on the field if given a better option, which is almost anyone.
- Is this game truly a breakthrough for Benteke? I highly doubt it. I want the striker to be successful at Liverpool, but I just don't know that he has the mentality. He really is becoming another Balotelli without the off-field problems. Simply an enigma.
- Good to see some people catching up to my take on Adam Lallana. A good article summed it up here: http://www.football365.com/news/16-conclusions-liverpool-0-1-man-united and even former Blue, Craig Burley had an opinon on Mr. Cruyff Turn that I agreed with. The talent is there, but living in St. Louis, I've seen talent be there for USL players too. That doesn't mean they know how to produce or are truly meant to play at the highest levels consistently.
- It's both a good and bad thing, but it's kind of a shame that left back might be the biggest position in terms of depth for Liverpool. Personally, despite some of his defensive faults, I have no problem with Alberto Moreno. Brad Smith has also shown that he could be very capable of making the first squad soon, now Flanagan has returned and I thought Joe Gomez was good in the role before injury as well.
- As I prepare for the inevitable firestorm of online reaction...I have no problem with extending Simon Mignolet's contract.
Walk On
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Liverpool Pull Off Miracle Draw Against League Leaders
Throw records out the window. Forget about the injury report. Rivalry games are their own animals and the beast showed up for a good one between Liverpool and Arsenal. This game opened up fast and furious, with the Reds in control of the first quarter hour. Liverpool had the bulk of the possession and looked like the side that crushed Manchester City 4-1 instead of the one that has struggled at times.
Adam Lallana came close to finishing off a good bit of play in the 6th minute, only to clash with a defender that as correctly not called a penalty. Only four minutes later, Liverpool would strike. After bounding around with several cracks following a corner kick, Roberto Firmino finished off a left footer through the wickets of the defender and past a helpless Petr Cech. Unfortunately instead of turning into a one-way affair, it turned into a boxing match straight out of Hollywood.
Arsenal answered in the 14th minute when Aaron Ramsey struck on a play from nothing. Arsenal had had almost no attack at all and then when the ball just slipped through the defenders, Ramsey made Liverpool pay at the near post. The pendulum swung back the other way in the 19th minute.
Firmino, like his Brazilian compatriot Coutinho (who is out injured), after it had bounced around like a hot potato outside the box and spun a brilliant curling shot into the upper 90. It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic finish to a run of play that Liverpool had shown up to that point. Alas, things would turn sour from then on.
In the 25th minute, Arsenal almost equalized but Sakho cleared the initial attempt over the bar only to see an even worse goal go in directly off the ensuing corner kick. Everything went wrong on that corner kick. Simon Mignolet did not react well to the deflection from Olivier Giroud, the defenders watched the ball with little reaction until it was too late and Liverpool had nobody on the near post when one body would have easily stopped the attempt.
Liverpool had a few runs and chances before the end of the half, but could not capitalize and would be made to pay soon after the half. Not even ten minutes into the second frame, Giroud would again strike against shoddy Liverpool defending. With bodies just flailing around and flopping on the ground, the Frenchman had a brilliant first touch and then spun against the grain to strike one past the defenders and behind a helpless Mignolet, who was left no time to react.
Liverpool, again, were not without chances. Jordan Ibe made a good run on the right only to be unrewarded and berated by Benteke, who was in no position to receive a pass due to so many players in between. Then, much like their opponents, Liverpool pulled one from nowhere. Again, taking advantage of failures to clear, Liverpool kept the ball alive. Benteke headed one across the box in stoppage time and the recent sub, Joe Allen, smashed one in off the fingertips of Cech.
The final whistle would go not long after with a 3-3 scoreline as the final of this midweek clash. It was an insane contest. The Liverpool that dominated the game for so long early, deserved much more than what they got. In contrast, the Liverpool that was floundering in the rain and snow while Arsenal consolidated the momentum deserved much worse than this result. Everything taken as a whole, it was a fair result to both squads.
Arsenal will be disappointed because they are now tied on points, instead of in sole possession of the top spot in the table. Liverpool will be disappointed because three points would have drawn them much closer to the top four. Instead, both will be satisfied because they could easily have lost as they could have won. Both will take positives out of this game due to their team's tenacity. Liverpool have another crack at glory as they take on the hated Manchester United on the weekend. Given the two clubs' positions in the table, that contest holds even more importance. For now, they must rest and focus on the things they did right on this night.
Random Thoughts:
- In an effort to not be two-faced, I will not say that this one goal does enough to put Joe Allen in a good light in my eyes. That said, as anyone who follows the club, you celebrate good performances by any player and even if only for one brief moment, Joe Allen was a huge factor.
- As a goalkeeper, I will always side with my fellow union members. I have constantly said that Mignolet is a great shot stopper and unless you can find a keeper who is better at everything - not just better at defending corners - then you don't make a change. That said, Mignolet seems to make a case against me repeatedly. There were several things that could have gone differently on that initial Giroud goal, but Mignolet was not blameless by any stretch.
- On a personal note, it was a fantastic result for me personally. I desperately wanted the win, but given the cloud of doom and feeling of unworthiness over the St. Louis area after the Rams left in the manner they did, it was nice to be distracted for a few hours and see some good football as well. For those that want further insight into my feelings on that matter you can see my YouTube show here: https://youtu.be/kcTno6Ir4qY
- For fans, two points out of six against Arsenal isn't great, but the way each individual game played out it was more than enough. Now, onto the weekend.
Walk On
Adam Lallana came close to finishing off a good bit of play in the 6th minute, only to clash with a defender that as correctly not called a penalty. Only four minutes later, Liverpool would strike. After bounding around with several cracks following a corner kick, Roberto Firmino finished off a left footer through the wickets of the defender and past a helpless Petr Cech. Unfortunately instead of turning into a one-way affair, it turned into a boxing match straight out of Hollywood.
Arsenal answered in the 14th minute when Aaron Ramsey struck on a play from nothing. Arsenal had had almost no attack at all and then when the ball just slipped through the defenders, Ramsey made Liverpool pay at the near post. The pendulum swung back the other way in the 19th minute.
Firmino, like his Brazilian compatriot Coutinho (who is out injured), after it had bounced around like a hot potato outside the box and spun a brilliant curling shot into the upper 90. It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic finish to a run of play that Liverpool had shown up to that point. Alas, things would turn sour from then on.
In the 25th minute, Arsenal almost equalized but Sakho cleared the initial attempt over the bar only to see an even worse goal go in directly off the ensuing corner kick. Everything went wrong on that corner kick. Simon Mignolet did not react well to the deflection from Olivier Giroud, the defenders watched the ball with little reaction until it was too late and Liverpool had nobody on the near post when one body would have easily stopped the attempt.
Liverpool had a few runs and chances before the end of the half, but could not capitalize and would be made to pay soon after the half. Not even ten minutes into the second frame, Giroud would again strike against shoddy Liverpool defending. With bodies just flailing around and flopping on the ground, the Frenchman had a brilliant first touch and then spun against the grain to strike one past the defenders and behind a helpless Mignolet, who was left no time to react.
Liverpool, again, were not without chances. Jordan Ibe made a good run on the right only to be unrewarded and berated by Benteke, who was in no position to receive a pass due to so many players in between. Then, much like their opponents, Liverpool pulled one from nowhere. Again, taking advantage of failures to clear, Liverpool kept the ball alive. Benteke headed one across the box in stoppage time and the recent sub, Joe Allen, smashed one in off the fingertips of Cech.
The final whistle would go not long after with a 3-3 scoreline as the final of this midweek clash. It was an insane contest. The Liverpool that dominated the game for so long early, deserved much more than what they got. In contrast, the Liverpool that was floundering in the rain and snow while Arsenal consolidated the momentum deserved much worse than this result. Everything taken as a whole, it was a fair result to both squads.
Arsenal will be disappointed because they are now tied on points, instead of in sole possession of the top spot in the table. Liverpool will be disappointed because three points would have drawn them much closer to the top four. Instead, both will be satisfied because they could easily have lost as they could have won. Both will take positives out of this game due to their team's tenacity. Liverpool have another crack at glory as they take on the hated Manchester United on the weekend. Given the two clubs' positions in the table, that contest holds even more importance. For now, they must rest and focus on the things they did right on this night.
Random Thoughts:
- In an effort to not be two-faced, I will not say that this one goal does enough to put Joe Allen in a good light in my eyes. That said, as anyone who follows the club, you celebrate good performances by any player and even if only for one brief moment, Joe Allen was a huge factor.
- As a goalkeeper, I will always side with my fellow union members. I have constantly said that Mignolet is a great shot stopper and unless you can find a keeper who is better at everything - not just better at defending corners - then you don't make a change. That said, Mignolet seems to make a case against me repeatedly. There were several things that could have gone differently on that initial Giroud goal, but Mignolet was not blameless by any stretch.
- On a personal note, it was a fantastic result for me personally. I desperately wanted the win, but given the cloud of doom and feeling of unworthiness over the St. Louis area after the Rams left in the manner they did, it was nice to be distracted for a few hours and see some good football as well. For those that want further insight into my feelings on that matter you can see my YouTube show here: https://youtu.be/kcTno6Ir4qY
- For fans, two points out of six against Arsenal isn't great, but the way each individual game played out it was more than enough. Now, onto the weekend.
Walk On
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Liverpool Win the Game But Lose the Injury War in League Cup Match
The Capital One Cup, as ever, is a competition of major consternation for fans. Some see the value, especially if things are not going well in the league, and others see it as nothing but a distraction. In the opening 45 minutes of the semifinal against Stoke, both sides would see their opinions validated.
Liverpool saw things come crashing down in the grand scheme of things, as an already injury riddled team was bitten once more. Hamstring injuries cost both Dejan Lovren and, perhaps more importantly, Coutinho their days very early in the contest. On the flip side of that coin, one of the substitutes, Jordan Ibe, provided the moment of brilliance that would put the Reds on top of the match.
Ibe put in a left footer in the 37th minte. After initially controlling what appeared to be a mishit shot by Joe Allen, Ibe neatly tucked it into the side netting on the far side to finish off one of many first half chances by Liverpool. Unfortunately for the Reds, it was their only score of the half when they should have had several. Even the commentator, Jon Champion, mentioned that it should not have been a surprise that Liverpool had the lead but by how many.
That failure to score more than one in the opening half looked like something Liverpool might rue once the second opened. Stoke, having received a stern talking to in the locker room no doubt, came out strong and tested the weakened Liverpool backline. Due to Lovren's injury, James Milner came on as the sub and Lucas was pushed into a de facto center back role. This worked fine when Liverpool were on the attack early in the game, but was decidedly a disadvantage in the second.
Liverpool created the odd chance, but never seemed to fully regain their grasp on the game. Even when seemingly defending well, things almost went wrong. In the 77th minute, a deflected shot almost chipped Simon Mignolet. Fortunately the keeper was on his toes and able to poke it over the crossbar.
The night seemed to get worse as it went on. Kolo Toure was suffering from a hamstring injury with all the Reds' subs used up. As he soldiered on, Jonathan Walters almost equalized right at the death but saw it scrape the face of goal and go wide.
Liverpool will count their blessings with the 1-0 victory. While they should have won by more and should be disappointed to once again fail to score more than a goal and rely on defense in the second half, they will be glad to have scored the all important away goal and kept their hopes of a Wembly final alive and well.
Fans will, no doubt, lament the injuries. Liverpool could well be without any of their center backs going into their FA Cup match against Exeter on January 8th. Depending on severity, they could be without Coutinho for awhile with important matches in the league coming up. Sadly, given the team's league form of late, the focus may need to stay on cup competitions. At this stage, all fans can do is wait for the ever-growing injury report.
Random Thoughts:
- It was nice to be able to see this match on television. It won't last, since it is only a free preview of BeInSports for ATT-Uverse, but at least I didn't have to worry about virus-laden links to online viewing.
- Liverpool will almost have to turn to their youth teams for defending in their next match, regardless of how much importance they wish to put on a cup match. With every single central defender currently hobbled, it might not be worth the risk to send anyone out there at less than 100%. Especially when none of them might even be at 50%. LFC's best hope is that Toure only had a cramp.
- Jurgen Klopp's recent comment about hating hamstrings is going from an amusing comment to an actual disdain. Since few, if any, of those reading this (and certainly myself) have not played at a professional level, we can't fully understand the complexities of injuries and how the amount games or lack thereof can impact it. That being said, it seems too coincidental that almost all of Liverpool's injuries seem to be hamstring related. Either the training staff needs to be examined or the training methods.
Walk On
Liverpool saw things come crashing down in the grand scheme of things, as an already injury riddled team was bitten once more. Hamstring injuries cost both Dejan Lovren and, perhaps more importantly, Coutinho their days very early in the contest. On the flip side of that coin, one of the substitutes, Jordan Ibe, provided the moment of brilliance that would put the Reds on top of the match.
Ibe put in a left footer in the 37th minte. After initially controlling what appeared to be a mishit shot by Joe Allen, Ibe neatly tucked it into the side netting on the far side to finish off one of many first half chances by Liverpool. Unfortunately for the Reds, it was their only score of the half when they should have had several. Even the commentator, Jon Champion, mentioned that it should not have been a surprise that Liverpool had the lead but by how many.
That failure to score more than one in the opening half looked like something Liverpool might rue once the second opened. Stoke, having received a stern talking to in the locker room no doubt, came out strong and tested the weakened Liverpool backline. Due to Lovren's injury, James Milner came on as the sub and Lucas was pushed into a de facto center back role. This worked fine when Liverpool were on the attack early in the game, but was decidedly a disadvantage in the second.
Liverpool created the odd chance, but never seemed to fully regain their grasp on the game. Even when seemingly defending well, things almost went wrong. In the 77th minute, a deflected shot almost chipped Simon Mignolet. Fortunately the keeper was on his toes and able to poke it over the crossbar.
The night seemed to get worse as it went on. Kolo Toure was suffering from a hamstring injury with all the Reds' subs used up. As he soldiered on, Jonathan Walters almost equalized right at the death but saw it scrape the face of goal and go wide.
Liverpool will count their blessings with the 1-0 victory. While they should have won by more and should be disappointed to once again fail to score more than a goal and rely on defense in the second half, they will be glad to have scored the all important away goal and kept their hopes of a Wembly final alive and well.
Fans will, no doubt, lament the injuries. Liverpool could well be without any of their center backs going into their FA Cup match against Exeter on January 8th. Depending on severity, they could be without Coutinho for awhile with important matches in the league coming up. Sadly, given the team's league form of late, the focus may need to stay on cup competitions. At this stage, all fans can do is wait for the ever-growing injury report.
Random Thoughts:
- It was nice to be able to see this match on television. It won't last, since it is only a free preview of BeInSports for ATT-Uverse, but at least I didn't have to worry about virus-laden links to online viewing.
- Liverpool will almost have to turn to their youth teams for defending in their next match, regardless of how much importance they wish to put on a cup match. With every single central defender currently hobbled, it might not be worth the risk to send anyone out there at less than 100%. Especially when none of them might even be at 50%. LFC's best hope is that Toure only had a cramp.
- Jurgen Klopp's recent comment about hating hamstrings is going from an amusing comment to an actual disdain. Since few, if any, of those reading this (and certainly myself) have not played at a professional level, we can't fully understand the complexities of injuries and how the amount games or lack thereof can impact it. That being said, it seems too coincidental that almost all of Liverpool's injuries seem to be hamstring related. Either the training staff needs to be examined or the training methods.
Walk On
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Liverpool Deserve Better, but Settle for a Point Against West Brom
Liverpool came in waves. They looked like scoring early in the game, pushing so many numbers forward at the West Brom defense. However they were unable to connect on the final ball that would've put them ahead. West Brom came back for a few moments and while they didn't truly create a scoring chance, they did enough to at least threaten. After gaining their composure, the Reds charged forward again and were rewarded.
After several close calls and missed passes, the Reds finally hit on all cylinders for a goal in the 21st minute. Coutinho, who was very good all half with the exception of his finishing, sent in a great cross to the far side of the box. Jordan Henderson finished off a header from Lallana that saw the captain in a bit of space in the area where all he had to do was get a good foot on it. Henderson did just that and put his team up by a goal. Sadly, for as good as Liverpool looked in attack, the lead did not last all that long.
Whether under Brendan Rodgers or Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have struggled on set pieces including corner kicks. Just such a play was where they were made to pay. Simon Mignolet came after the ball but missed on a wild, swinging punch. Despite the bevy of red shirts in the box, the follow-up shot found it's way through and Liverpool shockingly found themselves level. Even removing the sting of the goalkeeping mistake, it was a punch to the throat for Liverpool and their fans because West Brom really hadn't done enough to deserve to be on level footing.
Almost rubbing salt in the wound, West Brom looked like they had gone up by a goal on the stroke of halftime. Liverpool looked clueless on the set piece once again. They allowed three, if not four, attackers to get in behind them. Despite the fact that it was correctly ruled offside in the end, did not alleviate the fact the Reds appeared to be rooted into the field when the ball was struck. It was a rather disappointing way to end a fairly positive 45 minutes of play but only being level seemed much better as well.
The second half played out very similarly to the first. Liverpool came out with good energy and possession. Again, they looked more than capable of scoring within the first five to 10 minutes. Benteke barely missed a goal from a header in the 51st minute that would have really put a strangle on the momentum. The same could be said of Dejan Lovren's chance only minutes later. It was deflected out for a corner, but was just begging to be taken and claim the game for Liverpool.
Much the same way as the first half went, though, West Brom found themselves poaching something from the clutches of nothing. Again, coming off a set piece corner, Liverpool just looked lost and allowed Olsson to knick one in after his tally was wiped off the board with the offside call at the break. Similarly to the first half, it wasn't just disappointing to see the ball hit the back of the net but to also see it come from nothing. Liverpool were in charge of the match only to see it slip from there fingers, if only momentarily.
The Reds seemed to gain confidence on the pitch after a nasty injury to Lovren. Lallana had an opportunity to score in the 80th minute that was smartly saved, but should have been finished off as well. Benteke butchered a head ball chance a minute later. In the end though, luck favored Liverpool - at least in the grand sense.
Liverpool avoided disaster when Rondon mucked up a glorious chance in the 88th minute, spraying a shot wide when all he had was Mignolet to worry about. Moments later Henderson smashed an opportunity right at the goalkeeper and Jordan Ibe blasted one just wide after that. But then Liverpool were favored by fortune in the 97th. Origi, who came on puzzlingly for the injured Lovren, took advantage of the advantage given by the official. His shot was deflected off a defender into the back of the net and gained Liverpool the point they deserved.
While Liverpool probably should have gotten all three points, they deserved the one. The old adage says sometimes it is better to be lucky than good and that was true on this night. It was a mixture of relief, due to Liverpool almost losing to both Newcastle and West Brom, and the feeling of getting what was owed. Liverpool can't rely on that luck every match, but they'll take it for this one.
Random Thoughts:
- Overall, Adam Lallana had a pretty decent game. I still wonder what he has over the heads of Liverpool's managers. Whether Rodgers or Klopp, they continue to use Lallana in a starting role when he seems to do little on the field to deserve it. Granted, we are not there for daily training but it just doesn't seem like he produces enough to have that spot.
- Mignolet deserves some blame for the first West Brom goal, but not nearly the amount he will be given. I admit I am biased, being a keeper that also struggled on corner kicks, but people do not realize how difficult a skill it is to rightly judge the flight of a ball and connect with it when there are so many bodies in the box. There is constant chatter to get a new keeper, but Mingolet is one of the best pure shot stoppers around. Unless they can get someone who is a 100% upgrade, it would be foolish to seek out someone who is simply a little bit better at handling corner kicks.
- I am still a supporter of Brendan Rodgers, but those are the kind of games his teams would probably have lost. Jurgen Klopp has definitely instilled a huge amount of belief and energy in this LFC squad.
Walk On
After several close calls and missed passes, the Reds finally hit on all cylinders for a goal in the 21st minute. Coutinho, who was very good all half with the exception of his finishing, sent in a great cross to the far side of the box. Jordan Henderson finished off a header from Lallana that saw the captain in a bit of space in the area where all he had to do was get a good foot on it. Henderson did just that and put his team up by a goal. Sadly, for as good as Liverpool looked in attack, the lead did not last all that long.
Whether under Brendan Rodgers or Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have struggled on set pieces including corner kicks. Just such a play was where they were made to pay. Simon Mignolet came after the ball but missed on a wild, swinging punch. Despite the bevy of red shirts in the box, the follow-up shot found it's way through and Liverpool shockingly found themselves level. Even removing the sting of the goalkeeping mistake, it was a punch to the throat for Liverpool and their fans because West Brom really hadn't done enough to deserve to be on level footing.
Almost rubbing salt in the wound, West Brom looked like they had gone up by a goal on the stroke of halftime. Liverpool looked clueless on the set piece once again. They allowed three, if not four, attackers to get in behind them. Despite the fact that it was correctly ruled offside in the end, did not alleviate the fact the Reds appeared to be rooted into the field when the ball was struck. It was a rather disappointing way to end a fairly positive 45 minutes of play but only being level seemed much better as well.
The second half played out very similarly to the first. Liverpool came out with good energy and possession. Again, they looked more than capable of scoring within the first five to 10 minutes. Benteke barely missed a goal from a header in the 51st minute that would have really put a strangle on the momentum. The same could be said of Dejan Lovren's chance only minutes later. It was deflected out for a corner, but was just begging to be taken and claim the game for Liverpool.
Much the same way as the first half went, though, West Brom found themselves poaching something from the clutches of nothing. Again, coming off a set piece corner, Liverpool just looked lost and allowed Olsson to knick one in after his tally was wiped off the board with the offside call at the break. Similarly to the first half, it wasn't just disappointing to see the ball hit the back of the net but to also see it come from nothing. Liverpool were in charge of the match only to see it slip from there fingers, if only momentarily.
The Reds seemed to gain confidence on the pitch after a nasty injury to Lovren. Lallana had an opportunity to score in the 80th minute that was smartly saved, but should have been finished off as well. Benteke butchered a head ball chance a minute later. In the end though, luck favored Liverpool - at least in the grand sense.
Liverpool avoided disaster when Rondon mucked up a glorious chance in the 88th minute, spraying a shot wide when all he had was Mignolet to worry about. Moments later Henderson smashed an opportunity right at the goalkeeper and Jordan Ibe blasted one just wide after that. But then Liverpool were favored by fortune in the 97th. Origi, who came on puzzlingly for the injured Lovren, took advantage of the advantage given by the official. His shot was deflected off a defender into the back of the net and gained Liverpool the point they deserved.
While Liverpool probably should have gotten all three points, they deserved the one. The old adage says sometimes it is better to be lucky than good and that was true on this night. It was a mixture of relief, due to Liverpool almost losing to both Newcastle and West Brom, and the feeling of getting what was owed. Liverpool can't rely on that luck every match, but they'll take it for this one.
Random Thoughts:
- Overall, Adam Lallana had a pretty decent game. I still wonder what he has over the heads of Liverpool's managers. Whether Rodgers or Klopp, they continue to use Lallana in a starting role when he seems to do little on the field to deserve it. Granted, we are not there for daily training but it just doesn't seem like he produces enough to have that spot.
- Mignolet deserves some blame for the first West Brom goal, but not nearly the amount he will be given. I admit I am biased, being a keeper that also struggled on corner kicks, but people do not realize how difficult a skill it is to rightly judge the flight of a ball and connect with it when there are so many bodies in the box. There is constant chatter to get a new keeper, but Mingolet is one of the best pure shot stoppers around. Unless they can get someone who is a 100% upgrade, it would be foolish to seek out someone who is simply a little bit better at handling corner kicks.
- I am still a supporter of Brendan Rodgers, but those are the kind of games his teams would probably have lost. Jurgen Klopp has definitely instilled a huge amount of belief and energy in this LFC squad.
Walk On
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Liverpool Only Manage One Goal Again In Cup Win
Ah the Capital One Cup - you provide such divisiveness. Purists, like the current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, still see the benefit of trying to put everything you can (within reason) into cup competitions. Others say they aren't worth it and it would actually be better for a team to be eliminated so they can concentrate on the league. None are fully right or wrong. Both have valid arguments.
What is interesting is despite his claims of still being acclimated to English culture and not valuing this competition, Klopp actually fielded the first "Cup squad" Liverpool have probably put forth this season. Despite the lack of experience, Liverpool had that youthful exhuberance and created some decent chances. Roberto Firmino began to show flashes of what has been expected of him by the Kop and featured heavily in the opening goal of the match, which was smartly finished off by Nathaniel Clyne.
What made the goal even better - besides the obvious fact that it put the team ahead - was it was the kind of goal Liverpool have conceded so often. It was on a run of play, Clyne snuck in behind the defender who was appealing for offside and all he had to do was tuck it in. No easy task, but supporters have had to see that same goal so many times but against them, it was nice to see the Reds take advantage.
As is their way, Bournemouth put a lot into attack and were no slouch. Adam Bogdan had to deny three chances from Junior Stanislas alone. Nevertheless, the Reds held a slim possession advantage as the first 45 came to a close. Things never quite end up easy for Liverpool though.
Right out of the gate, Bournemouth created a chance that was narrowly missed. Shaun MacDonald won a header and the defense was caught ball watching. The ball barely slid wide of the post and MacDonald probably should've been awarded a penalty kick for his shirt almost being removed by the Liverpool defender.
On the flip side, Liverpool should have been up by two in the 58th minute. Good pressure from the midfield led to a turnover and Firmino raced into the box. Under light pressure, he fired a shot that beat the keeper but was always curling away from the left post as the shot came from the right. Firmino really should have done better and it was one of those chances that the club could've rued at the end of the contest.
The possession continued to favor the Reds as the gas slowly went out of Bournemouth. Liverpool didn't create a ton of chances but they were still relatively lively on the ball. Joao Teixeira almost scored after Joe Allen earned a free kick in the 80th minute, however it was neatly saved.
Bogdan was almost lulled to sleep for the second half only to see a toe ball from Matt Ritchie almost sneak in the near post. The secondary keeper was wise to it though and quickly got down to save it. In the end that was enough to hold on for a night of firsts. It was Bogdan's first win in regulation time. It was Klopp's first win with the club. Clyne's first goal with the team ended up being the game winner.
Much like the tournament itself, there were good aspects and bad. Getting the bad over with first, Liverpool again failed to score more than one goal. Liverpool have only scored more than once in one game all season, a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Despite the good play from Firmino, Teixeira, Jordan Ibe and several others, they aren't getting statistical production from their scorers. Eventually the players you expect to produce need to start producing.
On the good side, fans got to see a lot of the young talent they had been clamoring for. Teixeira looked very comfortable on the ball and like Ibe and Raheem Sterling before him, has a chance to be a special player if brought up correctly. As mentioned, the goal Liverpool scored was from the run of play instead of a set piece. And what is more, the club won. Not convincingly or spectacularly, but at least the cloud of Klopp's first win has evaporated.
Going forward, it falls on each person to decide what matters to them. Are Liverpool still in that phase where a win is a win, no matter how or who they come against? Or is showing glimpses and flashes of good play with little to show for it not quite enough. Despite what most pundits will tell you, there is no real answer. Each person has their own view of it.
The bottom line is Liverpool are still alive. Think what you will of the Capital One Cup, but LFC have made the quarterfinals for the fifth time in the last decade. They're still alive after spectacular crashes from the competition by Chelsea and Arsenal the day before. They're still alive in a competition that can provide great experience for the squad players. They still have a chance for silverware, regardless of the prestige.
Random Thoughts:
- It would be nice not to have to watch these matches on virus laden streams in the US. Even if I had BeInSports, which I don't, the match wasn't shown live.
- Though most vocal fans hate him, I thought Dejan Lovren had a good game. He was solid in the back and only made one clear mistake in the second half that was quickly cleaned up by Clyne.
- Divock Origi was more lively on the ball but clearly has more developing to do. The sad thing is he may not be what was advertised, but he is still young enough to change any negative perception he has earned of late.
- Brendan Rodgers was more animated than many Premier League managers when his team scored, but Klopp takes it to another level. He really is a football man and turns into a fan when the ball hits the net, despite his position. It's refreshing to see.
Walk On
What is interesting is despite his claims of still being acclimated to English culture and not valuing this competition, Klopp actually fielded the first "Cup squad" Liverpool have probably put forth this season. Despite the lack of experience, Liverpool had that youthful exhuberance and created some decent chances. Roberto Firmino began to show flashes of what has been expected of him by the Kop and featured heavily in the opening goal of the match, which was smartly finished off by Nathaniel Clyne.
What made the goal even better - besides the obvious fact that it put the team ahead - was it was the kind of goal Liverpool have conceded so often. It was on a run of play, Clyne snuck in behind the defender who was appealing for offside and all he had to do was tuck it in. No easy task, but supporters have had to see that same goal so many times but against them, it was nice to see the Reds take advantage.
As is their way, Bournemouth put a lot into attack and were no slouch. Adam Bogdan had to deny three chances from Junior Stanislas alone. Nevertheless, the Reds held a slim possession advantage as the first 45 came to a close. Things never quite end up easy for Liverpool though.
Right out of the gate, Bournemouth created a chance that was narrowly missed. Shaun MacDonald won a header and the defense was caught ball watching. The ball barely slid wide of the post and MacDonald probably should've been awarded a penalty kick for his shirt almost being removed by the Liverpool defender.
On the flip side, Liverpool should have been up by two in the 58th minute. Good pressure from the midfield led to a turnover and Firmino raced into the box. Under light pressure, he fired a shot that beat the keeper but was always curling away from the left post as the shot came from the right. Firmino really should have done better and it was one of those chances that the club could've rued at the end of the contest.
The possession continued to favor the Reds as the gas slowly went out of Bournemouth. Liverpool didn't create a ton of chances but they were still relatively lively on the ball. Joao Teixeira almost scored after Joe Allen earned a free kick in the 80th minute, however it was neatly saved.
Bogdan was almost lulled to sleep for the second half only to see a toe ball from Matt Ritchie almost sneak in the near post. The secondary keeper was wise to it though and quickly got down to save it. In the end that was enough to hold on for a night of firsts. It was Bogdan's first win in regulation time. It was Klopp's first win with the club. Clyne's first goal with the team ended up being the game winner.
Much like the tournament itself, there were good aspects and bad. Getting the bad over with first, Liverpool again failed to score more than one goal. Liverpool have only scored more than once in one game all season, a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Despite the good play from Firmino, Teixeira, Jordan Ibe and several others, they aren't getting statistical production from their scorers. Eventually the players you expect to produce need to start producing.
On the good side, fans got to see a lot of the young talent they had been clamoring for. Teixeira looked very comfortable on the ball and like Ibe and Raheem Sterling before him, has a chance to be a special player if brought up correctly. As mentioned, the goal Liverpool scored was from the run of play instead of a set piece. And what is more, the club won. Not convincingly or spectacularly, but at least the cloud of Klopp's first win has evaporated.
Going forward, it falls on each person to decide what matters to them. Are Liverpool still in that phase where a win is a win, no matter how or who they come against? Or is showing glimpses and flashes of good play with little to show for it not quite enough. Despite what most pundits will tell you, there is no real answer. Each person has their own view of it.
The bottom line is Liverpool are still alive. Think what you will of the Capital One Cup, but LFC have made the quarterfinals for the fifth time in the last decade. They're still alive after spectacular crashes from the competition by Chelsea and Arsenal the day before. They're still alive in a competition that can provide great experience for the squad players. They still have a chance for silverware, regardless of the prestige.
Random Thoughts:
- It would be nice not to have to watch these matches on virus laden streams in the US. Even if I had BeInSports, which I don't, the match wasn't shown live.
- Though most vocal fans hate him, I thought Dejan Lovren had a good game. He was solid in the back and only made one clear mistake in the second half that was quickly cleaned up by Clyne.
- Divock Origi was more lively on the ball but clearly has more developing to do. The sad thing is he may not be what was advertised, but he is still young enough to change any negative perception he has earned of late.
- Brendan Rodgers was more animated than many Premier League managers when his team scored, but Klopp takes it to another level. He really is a football man and turns into a fan when the ball hits the net, despite his position. It's refreshing to see.
Walk On
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Liverpool Fail to Show Up Against Rivals United
Most rivalries are derbies. Liverpool and Manchester United are one of the strongest rivalries in the game despite the distance between cities. Both teams' success has bred contempt, but the successes have fell by the wayside in recent years. Despite the buildup, the first half did not live up to anything. Liverpool failed to get into a real attacking position for the first 20 minutes of the contest. The Reds defended well overall, but United did have a few chances. Memphis Depay used his speed and strength to create a couple chances in the 23rd minute.
Another disappointing aspect to the game was how static both sides were. Brendan Rodgers, who seemed to pride himself on changing formations in previous seasons, seems dead set on a lone striker setup now when Danny Ings would've been better suited as a striker. Credit to the player though, he tracked back well and did his best in the first half to act as a true winger. The same can be said for Firmino. The young Brazilian is doing his best to fit into the English game, but seems to pick either defending or attacking during each possession and will give up on the other.
This team is still struggling offensively and not just in terms of goal production. Players would not make runs, despite Emre Can imploring players to push forward. When Liverpool had the rare bit of possession, the ball was not sent in the path of anyone who might've been making a run. Nothing managed to come off for Liverpool. Even a great setup in the 36th minute was ruined by Benteke managing to run offside even though he had all the players in his vision. To rub salt in, the chance was put wide before Benteke officially knew he was offside.
For one of the most storied rivalries in the game, it was one of the worst halves of football seen in some time. Mistakes by both teams cost them nothing. Liverpool players constantly just stood rooted to the grass, staring at the ball as defenders closed in on their teammates. I can only imagine the things said by supporters of the Red Devils as, despite all their possession, did little to impact the game either.
The broadcasters sounded like they were announcing a baseball game that had long since ended in terms of score, just not innings. The halftime whistle was merciful, but the sad truth said by Lee Dixon was that Brendan Rodgers was likely happy with the performance. Being pleased with a draw after 45 minutes is fine, in and of itself, but to be pleased with the Liverpool performance was nothing to praise.
To start the second half, United made an odd decision to take off Depay. Memphis was one of the few bright spots between the two sides and did not appear to be laboring. However, Louis van Gaal took him off in favor of Ashley Young. The second half began much the same way as the first until a foul against Nathaniel Clyne. Liverpool failed to close down a weak pass across the top of the box from the free kick, only to see Daley Blind smash one past the defense and into the back of the net. Liverpool failed to wake up even after the goal. Only moments after the goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger was open on the back post and failed to cleanly handle the ball to let the Reds off the hook.
Liverpool finally got a bit of a spark after the 55th minute. They created a couple good chances, one intended for Benteke only to be cleared away after a mistake from David De Gea and then a second one smartly saved by the Spaniard after a decent volley from Danny Ings. The positivity continued in brief splashes and glimpses. In the 65th minute there was a scramble after a corner kick, that honestly, left one scratching their head as to how Liverpool failed to put it in.
The positive feelings came crashing down however, as Gomez gave up a ridiculous penalty with only 20 minutes remaining in the contest. The tackle was further proof that nobody in the game has any sense when it comes to which foot to use when sliding in.
Jordan Ibe came on as a sub for Ings and in the 84th min almost scored, only to see De Gea poke it away. Christian Benteke gave Reds fans a glimmer of hope with an absolute smashing goal with the bicycle in the 85th minute. However, the good feelings were short lived. Only moments later, Anthony Martial made Martin Skrtel look like a grade school defender and put the difference back up to two, neatly slotting the ball past Simon Mingolet.
The final score was fitting of which team did enough to win, however it was not indicative of the contest as a whole. Liverpool deserved to lose and United deserved to win. However, United were not a team that were deserving three goals. They were not a great attacking side and did little with all the possession they had. Liverpool gifted them the penalty and two defensive miscues led to the other goals. On the flip side, Liverpool never truly looked a threat. A few set piece chances and a bit of magic from Benteke were all that put any semblance of a dent in the game.
Liverpool must decide what they intend to be. Tactics change depending on opponents, but the style of play and a belief you can win must always be there. Liverpool had neither. The Reds were missing Jordan Henderson and Coutinho, but missing players can no longer be the excuse for this club. Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world and was a fitting excuse for why the goals disappeared last season. However, if this club is built to where one or two players can make a change in the very spirit of the team and how it plays, then changes need to be made.
Brendan Rodgers has long prided himself on being able to prepare his team to succeed and mold them in a way that will give them an opportunity to succeed. This season has been anything but for the Irishman. The Liverpool manager must find it within himself and within his team to get it right or he will be out of a job and the club will be out of contention.
Random Thoughts:
- I have long supported Brendan Rodgers and when my head cooled off I still find myself in that camp in the grand scheme. However, if he has decided to be rigid in his formations and try not to lose instead of win then maybe it is time for him to go.
- Along those lines, Liverpool just didn't look into it. If they could have played the entire contest the way they played after the 55th minute, then perhaps it could have gone their way. Tactically I understand withstanding the initial wave, but Liverpool needed to take the game to United. Whether it was just that kind of day or Rodgers own tactics, Liverpool had absolutely no energy for two thirds of the contest and it was disturbing to see.
- This team cannot rely on what might be. All teams have injuries and all teams go through player suspensions. For the past two seasons so many, including myself, have been saying it will all be ok when this person returns or if that person gets back to form. If that is what we are still hanging our hat on, then this team will do absolutely nothing going forward.
- I feel bad for Benteke. He has the style and body to play as a lone striker and thrive. He has disappeared at times but is proving to be worth the money spent given the quality of the two goals scored. That said, he cannot do it alone. Liverpool is relying on him to do everything alone with little support the same way they have put way too much pressure on Coutinho. The rest of the team has to do more.
- Seeing the replay took the sting away, however initially watching the Martial goal had me seething at Martin Skrtel. People pick on Dejan Lovren, and rightly so, due to the number of mistakes he makes. However, it seems that though Skrtel makes fewer mistakes every mistake he makes seems to end up in the back of the net.
- Sadly the only positive for Liverpool now is that they have a lot of games coming up to try and turn things around. They have UEFA Cup, two league games and a cup game coming up within the next two weeks. Squad rotation will come into play, but they have to find positives to build some sort of foundation either for the rest of this season or at the very least for the next manager if it comes to that.
Walk On.
Another disappointing aspect to the game was how static both sides were. Brendan Rodgers, who seemed to pride himself on changing formations in previous seasons, seems dead set on a lone striker setup now when Danny Ings would've been better suited as a striker. Credit to the player though, he tracked back well and did his best in the first half to act as a true winger. The same can be said for Firmino. The young Brazilian is doing his best to fit into the English game, but seems to pick either defending or attacking during each possession and will give up on the other.
This team is still struggling offensively and not just in terms of goal production. Players would not make runs, despite Emre Can imploring players to push forward. When Liverpool had the rare bit of possession, the ball was not sent in the path of anyone who might've been making a run. Nothing managed to come off for Liverpool. Even a great setup in the 36th minute was ruined by Benteke managing to run offside even though he had all the players in his vision. To rub salt in, the chance was put wide before Benteke officially knew he was offside.
For one of the most storied rivalries in the game, it was one of the worst halves of football seen in some time. Mistakes by both teams cost them nothing. Liverpool players constantly just stood rooted to the grass, staring at the ball as defenders closed in on their teammates. I can only imagine the things said by supporters of the Red Devils as, despite all their possession, did little to impact the game either.
The broadcasters sounded like they were announcing a baseball game that had long since ended in terms of score, just not innings. The halftime whistle was merciful, but the sad truth said by Lee Dixon was that Brendan Rodgers was likely happy with the performance. Being pleased with a draw after 45 minutes is fine, in and of itself, but to be pleased with the Liverpool performance was nothing to praise.
To start the second half, United made an odd decision to take off Depay. Memphis was one of the few bright spots between the two sides and did not appear to be laboring. However, Louis van Gaal took him off in favor of Ashley Young. The second half began much the same way as the first until a foul against Nathaniel Clyne. Liverpool failed to close down a weak pass across the top of the box from the free kick, only to see Daley Blind smash one past the defense and into the back of the net. Liverpool failed to wake up even after the goal. Only moments after the goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger was open on the back post and failed to cleanly handle the ball to let the Reds off the hook.
Liverpool finally got a bit of a spark after the 55th minute. They created a couple good chances, one intended for Benteke only to be cleared away after a mistake from David De Gea and then a second one smartly saved by the Spaniard after a decent volley from Danny Ings. The positivity continued in brief splashes and glimpses. In the 65th minute there was a scramble after a corner kick, that honestly, left one scratching their head as to how Liverpool failed to put it in.
The positive feelings came crashing down however, as Gomez gave up a ridiculous penalty with only 20 minutes remaining in the contest. The tackle was further proof that nobody in the game has any sense when it comes to which foot to use when sliding in.
Jordan Ibe came on as a sub for Ings and in the 84th min almost scored, only to see De Gea poke it away. Christian Benteke gave Reds fans a glimmer of hope with an absolute smashing goal with the bicycle in the 85th minute. However, the good feelings were short lived. Only moments later, Anthony Martial made Martin Skrtel look like a grade school defender and put the difference back up to two, neatly slotting the ball past Simon Mingolet.
The final score was fitting of which team did enough to win, however it was not indicative of the contest as a whole. Liverpool deserved to lose and United deserved to win. However, United were not a team that were deserving three goals. They were not a great attacking side and did little with all the possession they had. Liverpool gifted them the penalty and two defensive miscues led to the other goals. On the flip side, Liverpool never truly looked a threat. A few set piece chances and a bit of magic from Benteke were all that put any semblance of a dent in the game.
Liverpool must decide what they intend to be. Tactics change depending on opponents, but the style of play and a belief you can win must always be there. Liverpool had neither. The Reds were missing Jordan Henderson and Coutinho, but missing players can no longer be the excuse for this club. Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world and was a fitting excuse for why the goals disappeared last season. However, if this club is built to where one or two players can make a change in the very spirit of the team and how it plays, then changes need to be made.
Brendan Rodgers has long prided himself on being able to prepare his team to succeed and mold them in a way that will give them an opportunity to succeed. This season has been anything but for the Irishman. The Liverpool manager must find it within himself and within his team to get it right or he will be out of a job and the club will be out of contention.
Random Thoughts:
- I have long supported Brendan Rodgers and when my head cooled off I still find myself in that camp in the grand scheme. However, if he has decided to be rigid in his formations and try not to lose instead of win then maybe it is time for him to go.
- Along those lines, Liverpool just didn't look into it. If they could have played the entire contest the way they played after the 55th minute, then perhaps it could have gone their way. Tactically I understand withstanding the initial wave, but Liverpool needed to take the game to United. Whether it was just that kind of day or Rodgers own tactics, Liverpool had absolutely no energy for two thirds of the contest and it was disturbing to see.
- This team cannot rely on what might be. All teams have injuries and all teams go through player suspensions. For the past two seasons so many, including myself, have been saying it will all be ok when this person returns or if that person gets back to form. If that is what we are still hanging our hat on, then this team will do absolutely nothing going forward.
- I feel bad for Benteke. He has the style and body to play as a lone striker and thrive. He has disappeared at times but is proving to be worth the money spent given the quality of the two goals scored. That said, he cannot do it alone. Liverpool is relying on him to do everything alone with little support the same way they have put way too much pressure on Coutinho. The rest of the team has to do more.
- Seeing the replay took the sting away, however initially watching the Martial goal had me seething at Martin Skrtel. People pick on Dejan Lovren, and rightly so, due to the number of mistakes he makes. However, it seems that though Skrtel makes fewer mistakes every mistake he makes seems to end up in the back of the net.
- Sadly the only positive for Liverpool now is that they have a lot of games coming up to try and turn things around. They have UEFA Cup, two league games and a cup game coming up within the next two weeks. Squad rotation will come into play, but they have to find positives to build some sort of foundation either for the rest of this season or at the very least for the next manager if it comes to that.
Walk On.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Champions League All But Gone
Liverpool came into this weekend with much to do. They needed results in pretty much every match, with all three points to come from as many games as possible. Only getting one point against a team like West Brom was not something that favored Liverpool's chances of sneaking into the top four. Unfortunately for the Reds, that is exactly the result they gained in this road match. Draws against Chelsea or even Stoke would've been more stomachable, but now the Reds must walk on with the knowledge that they could not break down a team that has flirted with relegation a few times this season.
Liverpool came out positively, as they usually do before it all goes to pot. Even without Daniel Sturridge, Lucas or Sakho, this was a team filled with enough talent on the ball to be able to do things. And things they did, until the final third. Liverpool were strong on the ball, mixed up the attack fairly well and plunged ahead with speed. Unfortunately, that same bug bit them that has been an issue all season. That bug is a lack of scoring punch.
Daniel Sturridge, for all his talents, has been a non-factor all year because he is either injured or played with a fear of getting injured. Raheem Sterling is a fantastic talent for the future, but a combination of contract disputes, a possible lack of off-field maturity and a simple positional change have limited what he has been able to accomplish this season. Mario Balotelli appears to be a failed experiment, both of his own doing and a lack of support when on the field. There are little to no true striking options coming off the bench, woefully proven by Fabio Borini coming into this match as a sub after having not even been included in the team for several weeks.
Despite the relative negativity of options, the Reds had their chances. Steven Gerrard narrowly missed on a free kick that was literally on the edge of the penalty box, in the first half. Balotelli put one over the bar as did a few other Liverpool attacks. The first half seemed littered with potential chances wasted by putting too much on and under the shot.
If the first half was a half of shots missing over the bar, the second was a half filled with chanced put off the bars. The Reds' best chance - one that probably should've been finished off - was a scramble in the box in the 56th minute. After an early scramble on the left side, Balotelli slid for a shot that was blocked by the defender. Coutinho then put it back in the mixer only to have it saved. The rebound came to Jordan Henderson. While Henderson was granted little time to decide, his shot came too low and was blocked instead of hitting a relatively open net.
Balotelli linked well on a chance for Jordan Ibe in the 63rd minute. Ibe's shot grazed the defender's leg and then crashed off the crossbar. Coutinho just missed one of his trademark long shots as it skimmed off the top netting in the 81st minute. Finally, a fitting end for Liverpool's day was a cross from Gerrard at the death that was narrowly headed wide by Dejan Lovren.
Liverpool had 74% of the possession. They more than doubled the shots taken of their opponent, 22-10. While those stats should be encouraging, they really are not. Despite 22 shots, only 5 were listed as on target, compared to four for West Bromwich Albion. As previously mentioned, Liverpool just did not take care of their opportunities. Give the opponent some credit. West Brom packed it in, often with seven or more players in the box, but Liverpool just did not have that finishing touch as they have not had much of the year. West Brom also had a pretty good record against the Reds in recent times.
The game itself was not a travesty. Liverpool had their chances. Liverpool defended reasonably well, though West Brom could have scored a couple times - one in particular that was too close was the opportunity cleared off the line by Lovren. Interestingly enough, when I awoke today the first thought in my head was what to write if this ended up being a goalless draw. Now I'm kicking myself.
In the grander scheme, this result just further cemented the uncertainty Liverpool will go into the summer with. Regardless of your feelings on him, Brendan Rodgers' job is in increasing jeopardy. Regardless of who the manager is next year, depth at striker is going to be a huge need in the off season. What is there to do about Mario Balotelli? His resale value will be exceedingly low, but if you keep him then he needs to be in a system where he is not the lone striker. His work rate and skills simply do not allow that to be a viable position for him. However, he is no longer the type of talent you can build a system to fit either. The defense has plenty of question marks as well, but I'll save that for the end of the year.
Though the game itself was simply boring, what is crushing about it is that it almost wipes out any chance at the Champions League. Realists will say it was almost impossible to begin with, but there were enough opportunities left for it still to be a reality. Now, there's just too much left to chance even if the Reds were to win out. While Liverpool has a seemingly easy schedule with only Chelsea left as a major obstacle, the teams ahead don't have much on their ledger either. Manchester United finishes off the year with matches against Everton, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Hull. Given their form, Arsenal seems the only likely spot they might drop points. City, meanwhile, end against Tottenham, QPR, Swansea and Southampton. A more slippery slope, perhaps, but still unlikely to produce the kinds of results Liverpool would need.
Liverpool currently sit nine points behind second place Manchester City, with five matches to go. If Liverpool win four of those they gain 12 points. 15 points if they upset Chelsea and won them all. Unfortunately the math just doesn't favor them. Even with all 12 or 15 points, that means that their opponents can only pick up 3-4 points of their remaining games. Sadly, that just isn't going to happen.
Random Thoughts:
- Many will disagree with me, especially given this result, but I still feel Rodgers is a good enough coach to win at Liverpool. I stated in my video blogs that Liverpool needs to put feelers out on Jurgen Klopp. If he is willing to come and not use Liverpool as a bargaining chip, then the time for change may be now. If not Klopp though, I don't see much out there that would really be better. Rodgers' failings have mainly come during the off seasons. He is a great tactitian and makes changes in season to turn things around. He must be better at judging players not in his system though, if he is to really return Liverpool to their previous heights.
- From a personal standpoint, I have come to the conclusion that Sturridge will never be fit enough to fully be counted on by Liverpool. I would not sell him for a pittance, but if you continue to try and build your offense around him, I just don't believe he will give you enough games. Sturridge can still be a valuable piece now and then if you keep him, but significant changes need to be made to the Reds' attack.
Walk On.
Liverpool came out positively, as they usually do before it all goes to pot. Even without Daniel Sturridge, Lucas or Sakho, this was a team filled with enough talent on the ball to be able to do things. And things they did, until the final third. Liverpool were strong on the ball, mixed up the attack fairly well and plunged ahead with speed. Unfortunately, that same bug bit them that has been an issue all season. That bug is a lack of scoring punch.
Daniel Sturridge, for all his talents, has been a non-factor all year because he is either injured or played with a fear of getting injured. Raheem Sterling is a fantastic talent for the future, but a combination of contract disputes, a possible lack of off-field maturity and a simple positional change have limited what he has been able to accomplish this season. Mario Balotelli appears to be a failed experiment, both of his own doing and a lack of support when on the field. There are little to no true striking options coming off the bench, woefully proven by Fabio Borini coming into this match as a sub after having not even been included in the team for several weeks.
Despite the relative negativity of options, the Reds had their chances. Steven Gerrard narrowly missed on a free kick that was literally on the edge of the penalty box, in the first half. Balotelli put one over the bar as did a few other Liverpool attacks. The first half seemed littered with potential chances wasted by putting too much on and under the shot.
If the first half was a half of shots missing over the bar, the second was a half filled with chanced put off the bars. The Reds' best chance - one that probably should've been finished off - was a scramble in the box in the 56th minute. After an early scramble on the left side, Balotelli slid for a shot that was blocked by the defender. Coutinho then put it back in the mixer only to have it saved. The rebound came to Jordan Henderson. While Henderson was granted little time to decide, his shot came too low and was blocked instead of hitting a relatively open net.
Balotelli linked well on a chance for Jordan Ibe in the 63rd minute. Ibe's shot grazed the defender's leg and then crashed off the crossbar. Coutinho just missed one of his trademark long shots as it skimmed off the top netting in the 81st minute. Finally, a fitting end for Liverpool's day was a cross from Gerrard at the death that was narrowly headed wide by Dejan Lovren.
Liverpool had 74% of the possession. They more than doubled the shots taken of their opponent, 22-10. While those stats should be encouraging, they really are not. Despite 22 shots, only 5 were listed as on target, compared to four for West Bromwich Albion. As previously mentioned, Liverpool just did not take care of their opportunities. Give the opponent some credit. West Brom packed it in, often with seven or more players in the box, but Liverpool just did not have that finishing touch as they have not had much of the year. West Brom also had a pretty good record against the Reds in recent times.
The game itself was not a travesty. Liverpool had their chances. Liverpool defended reasonably well, though West Brom could have scored a couple times - one in particular that was too close was the opportunity cleared off the line by Lovren. Interestingly enough, when I awoke today the first thought in my head was what to write if this ended up being a goalless draw. Now I'm kicking myself.
In the grander scheme, this result just further cemented the uncertainty Liverpool will go into the summer with. Regardless of your feelings on him, Brendan Rodgers' job is in increasing jeopardy. Regardless of who the manager is next year, depth at striker is going to be a huge need in the off season. What is there to do about Mario Balotelli? His resale value will be exceedingly low, but if you keep him then he needs to be in a system where he is not the lone striker. His work rate and skills simply do not allow that to be a viable position for him. However, he is no longer the type of talent you can build a system to fit either. The defense has plenty of question marks as well, but I'll save that for the end of the year.
Though the game itself was simply boring, what is crushing about it is that it almost wipes out any chance at the Champions League. Realists will say it was almost impossible to begin with, but there were enough opportunities left for it still to be a reality. Now, there's just too much left to chance even if the Reds were to win out. While Liverpool has a seemingly easy schedule with only Chelsea left as a major obstacle, the teams ahead don't have much on their ledger either. Manchester United finishes off the year with matches against Everton, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Hull. Given their form, Arsenal seems the only likely spot they might drop points. City, meanwhile, end against Tottenham, QPR, Swansea and Southampton. A more slippery slope, perhaps, but still unlikely to produce the kinds of results Liverpool would need.
Liverpool currently sit nine points behind second place Manchester City, with five matches to go. If Liverpool win four of those they gain 12 points. 15 points if they upset Chelsea and won them all. Unfortunately the math just doesn't favor them. Even with all 12 or 15 points, that means that their opponents can only pick up 3-4 points of their remaining games. Sadly, that just isn't going to happen.
Random Thoughts:
- Many will disagree with me, especially given this result, but I still feel Rodgers is a good enough coach to win at Liverpool. I stated in my video blogs that Liverpool needs to put feelers out on Jurgen Klopp. If he is willing to come and not use Liverpool as a bargaining chip, then the time for change may be now. If not Klopp though, I don't see much out there that would really be better. Rodgers' failings have mainly come during the off seasons. He is a great tactitian and makes changes in season to turn things around. He must be better at judging players not in his system though, if he is to really return Liverpool to their previous heights.
- From a personal standpoint, I have come to the conclusion that Sturridge will never be fit enough to fully be counted on by Liverpool. I would not sell him for a pittance, but if you continue to try and build your offense around him, I just don't believe he will give you enough games. Sturridge can still be a valuable piece now and then if you keep him, but significant changes need to be made to the Reds' attack.
Walk On.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Liverpool Falter and Deservedly Bow Out of Europe
Liverpool came into the road leg of their Europa League matchup with Besiktas seemingly in control of their own destiny. Despite a relatively slim lead of only 1-0, from the controversial Mario Balotelli penalty kick at Anfield, all the power was in Liverpool's hands. They had a slight margin for error with the one goal lead. They had momentum coming off a huge win over the weekend over Southampton, where they dominated most of the game. All Liverpool had to do was score one goal and they would force the Turkish side to score three goals to win, due to the away goal rule.
Liverpool could not accomplish such a feat. The Reds came out in the first half and both squads probed at each other. Neither really had great chances in the first fifteen to twenty minutes, but the flow of the game was what would be expected given the circumstances. Liverpool did what they set out to do, according to Brendan Rodgers' prematch statements. They held up the ball, knocked it around and did their best to absorb the match until the initial wave washed over Istanbul. It worked.
You can disagree with the tactics or want to see Liverpool come out flying right from the opening whistle, but it worked...in the first half. Liverpool held to their game plan in the opening 45 minutes and took the energy out of Besiktas. Liverpool dominated possession and sprung several attacks from the 20th minute until halftime. Honestly, Liverpool should have been 1-0 up at the half. Daniel Sturridge has regressed after his firecracker start returning from injury.
Sturridge did not complete a run toward the goal line, where he would have had a chance at a Raheem Sterling cross. Instead he planted himself on the penalty spot where even a chip cross would have been difficult to complete. Sturridge was sprung on a semi-breakaway in the 28th minute, but was not at fault for failing to score there - the awful pitch at Besiktas' temporary home would not allow for any true rolls or bounces. Sturridge was also given a great through ball by Balotelli in the 33rd minute, but instead of striking it first or second time, he tried to dribble around two or three defenders.
Sturridge has some excuse, though it is not much of one given his status in the team. This match was really the first game since returning from injury that he was asked to go all 90 minutes and then some. It was clear as the match wore on that Sturridge's fitness is not up to his own standards. He is by no means out of shape, but is appearing more like a man that has not played for half a season rather than one of the feared strikers in the Premier League.
Regardless of Sturridge's failings in the first half or disappearing in the second, the entire team is at fault in the second half. Blame for that has to be with the manager. Long has this blog been a safe haven for Brendan Rodgers, whether during the difficult times at the start of the season or when every choice made by the boss was pure gold. However Rodgers failed his team in the second half. Liverpool came out and once they saw the pressure that Besiktas was going to throw at them, they capitulated. Liverpool sat back and tried to defend for 45 minutes, which is something that almost no team can do, especially one that is not known for being the most stout at the back end.
Perhaps it was a tactical decision made in the locker room at the break. Perhaps it was merely tired legs taking over for the Reds' midfield and defenders. Perhaps the players thought the Turkish side were going to roll over after the wave of attack that Liverpool had thrust upon them to end half number one. Whatever the reasoning, Rodgers needed to change something. Well before Liverpool conceded the equalizing goal, you could sense what was coming.
Liverpool did not look like a side that were simply defending and repelling each Besiktas attack with ease. This was a team that was under constant duress and flailing balls away just to catch a breath. If the choice to defend was tactically made, Rodgers should have seen it was not effective and undone it. If it was the case of the players thinking their opponent would not have the energy to pounce on them, then Rodgers needed to plant the seed either from the sideline or at the half that the match was not anywhere near over.
Instead, Liverpool did nothing with possession, gave the ball away constantly, backed away from attacks with speed and ultimately let up the tying goal. Tolgay-Ali Arslan capitalized on the mistouch from Demba Ba and ripped one that split the defenders and curled away from a diving Simon Mingolet. The Reds finally mustered up a bit of possession and looked more in control of the game following the equalizer, but really did not threaten. It became more of cat and mouse game with both sides seeking to not make the mistake that would cost the game rather than actually trying to seize it.
Rodgers continued to make slightly odd decisions in his substitutions as well. While nobody can fault the idea of taking Balotelli off to keep the team at 11 men, given his earlier yellow card, it seemed odd given that Liverpool seemed to be playing for penalties and Balotelli is the best on the squad that was in Turkey. Jodan Ibe came off for Javier Manquillo in a decision that was odd given Ibe's youth and thus potentially more stamina and the fact that Manquillo is more defensive minded and, again, Liverpool were seeking penalties. Finally Rickie Lambert came on, which is fine, but took off Daniel Sturridge who you would think would be needed to take penalties. Some will argue you don't want to waste all his energy on this match with Manchester City coming up, but once you've played 105 minutes, what danger does it really pose?
Liverpool failed to really threaten in the extra time. Both sides looked completely spent and the match went to the dreaded penalty shootout. It was tied 4-4 after all eight kickers had hit the back of the net. There was still a sense of dread about the entire process from a Liverpool perspective though. Even though all four kickers converted, there did not seem to be the coolness and calm with which Besiktas took their kicks. That sense of foreboding was proved correct when Dejan Lovren stepped to the spot as Liverpool's fifth penalty taker.
Lovren actually had a decent match up to that point. He was not going to be man of the match candidate, but he was solid given the amount of playing time he has had in recent weeks. He was strong on the man and strong in the air. If his feet would not fail him so often, he would be a very good defender. But a goalscorer he is not. Lovren should not have been in that situation. It is hard to understand including him in your top five penalty takers, even with all the injuries on the squad. It is even harder to understand why he would be placed last, when you know all the pressure put on that kicker if it actually gets to that point.
The even more puzzling quandary is why Raheem Sterling had not kicked. You can take all the penalties in practice you want, and perhaps practice statistics are why Lovren was in, but your top players have to be your top performers. In hockey, top players often want to be left off the shootout because they don't like it or feel they don't do well in it. Perhaps that was the case young Sterling made and left himself off the top five list. Whatever the reason, Rodgers has to have number 31 on that top five list. Injuries or not, Gerrard or not, Balotelli or not, Sturridge or not, I have a hard time believing that Raheem Sterling would not be one of those penalty takers.
Ultimately Liverpool got what they deserved. They shrank from the occasion and bowed out of all European competition with a whimper. Brendan Rodgers is a fine manager and deserves all the credit in the world for helping Liverpool turn things around. He still has a lot to learn about competing in Europe however. The danger now is that Liverpool cannot let this performance seep in. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. All that awaits at the end of this week's tunnel is the goliath, Manchester City. Whether City take their revenge for a poor European showing of their own or continue to slip back remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, Liverpool have to rebound quickly. Liverpool can keep City on their heels, but it will take much better than they showed on this night.
Random Thoughts:
- I hate penalty shootouts
- Mario Balotelli had a hell of a first half. He set up the potential Sturridge goal, drew important fouls, got under the skin of several defenders and held up the ball nicely when needed. It would be interesting to see if he still exited the game had he not received a yellow card. The shot near the end of the first half, left much to be desired however.
- Daniel Sturridge needs a rest. Unfortunately for him, it won't come soon as I cannot see him not playing significant minutes against Manchester City. Perhaps a respite against Burnley midweek, but the rest of the squad's fitness may determine that as well.
- I hate penalty shootouts
- Liverpool's passing was just horrendous. Normally I fully understand when players are gassed or put in poor positions etc, but it was just inexcusable. From the second half on, the passes at the back were too weak, the passes in the midfield were off the mark and everything was just bad. Hopefully that is not a reoccurring issue as it will lead to bad things in the future.
- I hate to pile on BR, but the decision to not even include Coutinho on the bench may have cost him. Replacing Balotelli with Coutinho would have been much more attacking minded than Lallana proved to be. Lallana is a very good attacking player, but he was obviously given instructions to help solidify the midfield, where Coutinho knows nothing but attack.
- Did I say how much I hate penalty shootouts?
- Some people may point to the number of important players out. Yes it is not good for the team to not have Coutinho, Gerrard, Lucas, Markovic, Sakho and Henderson, but the team was still set up in a positive manner. They had the strike tandem of Balo and Sturridge, which I still believe could work. Allen has stepped up his game the past few weeks and Ibe continued to show talent beyond his years. Toure and Lovren were the question marks and within the confines of 90 minutes they were fine. Something just lacked and I would hope that even in the recesses of their minds, the players would not use the absences as an excuse.
Walk On
Liverpool could not accomplish such a feat. The Reds came out in the first half and both squads probed at each other. Neither really had great chances in the first fifteen to twenty minutes, but the flow of the game was what would be expected given the circumstances. Liverpool did what they set out to do, according to Brendan Rodgers' prematch statements. They held up the ball, knocked it around and did their best to absorb the match until the initial wave washed over Istanbul. It worked.
You can disagree with the tactics or want to see Liverpool come out flying right from the opening whistle, but it worked...in the first half. Liverpool held to their game plan in the opening 45 minutes and took the energy out of Besiktas. Liverpool dominated possession and sprung several attacks from the 20th minute until halftime. Honestly, Liverpool should have been 1-0 up at the half. Daniel Sturridge has regressed after his firecracker start returning from injury.
Sturridge did not complete a run toward the goal line, where he would have had a chance at a Raheem Sterling cross. Instead he planted himself on the penalty spot where even a chip cross would have been difficult to complete. Sturridge was sprung on a semi-breakaway in the 28th minute, but was not at fault for failing to score there - the awful pitch at Besiktas' temporary home would not allow for any true rolls or bounces. Sturridge was also given a great through ball by Balotelli in the 33rd minute, but instead of striking it first or second time, he tried to dribble around two or three defenders.
Sturridge has some excuse, though it is not much of one given his status in the team. This match was really the first game since returning from injury that he was asked to go all 90 minutes and then some. It was clear as the match wore on that Sturridge's fitness is not up to his own standards. He is by no means out of shape, but is appearing more like a man that has not played for half a season rather than one of the feared strikers in the Premier League.
Regardless of Sturridge's failings in the first half or disappearing in the second, the entire team is at fault in the second half. Blame for that has to be with the manager. Long has this blog been a safe haven for Brendan Rodgers, whether during the difficult times at the start of the season or when every choice made by the boss was pure gold. However Rodgers failed his team in the second half. Liverpool came out and once they saw the pressure that Besiktas was going to throw at them, they capitulated. Liverpool sat back and tried to defend for 45 minutes, which is something that almost no team can do, especially one that is not known for being the most stout at the back end.
Perhaps it was a tactical decision made in the locker room at the break. Perhaps it was merely tired legs taking over for the Reds' midfield and defenders. Perhaps the players thought the Turkish side were going to roll over after the wave of attack that Liverpool had thrust upon them to end half number one. Whatever the reasoning, Rodgers needed to change something. Well before Liverpool conceded the equalizing goal, you could sense what was coming.
Liverpool did not look like a side that were simply defending and repelling each Besiktas attack with ease. This was a team that was under constant duress and flailing balls away just to catch a breath. If the choice to defend was tactically made, Rodgers should have seen it was not effective and undone it. If it was the case of the players thinking their opponent would not have the energy to pounce on them, then Rodgers needed to plant the seed either from the sideline or at the half that the match was not anywhere near over.
Instead, Liverpool did nothing with possession, gave the ball away constantly, backed away from attacks with speed and ultimately let up the tying goal. Tolgay-Ali Arslan capitalized on the mistouch from Demba Ba and ripped one that split the defenders and curled away from a diving Simon Mingolet. The Reds finally mustered up a bit of possession and looked more in control of the game following the equalizer, but really did not threaten. It became more of cat and mouse game with both sides seeking to not make the mistake that would cost the game rather than actually trying to seize it.
Rodgers continued to make slightly odd decisions in his substitutions as well. While nobody can fault the idea of taking Balotelli off to keep the team at 11 men, given his earlier yellow card, it seemed odd given that Liverpool seemed to be playing for penalties and Balotelli is the best on the squad that was in Turkey. Jodan Ibe came off for Javier Manquillo in a decision that was odd given Ibe's youth and thus potentially more stamina and the fact that Manquillo is more defensive minded and, again, Liverpool were seeking penalties. Finally Rickie Lambert came on, which is fine, but took off Daniel Sturridge who you would think would be needed to take penalties. Some will argue you don't want to waste all his energy on this match with Manchester City coming up, but once you've played 105 minutes, what danger does it really pose?
Liverpool failed to really threaten in the extra time. Both sides looked completely spent and the match went to the dreaded penalty shootout. It was tied 4-4 after all eight kickers had hit the back of the net. There was still a sense of dread about the entire process from a Liverpool perspective though. Even though all four kickers converted, there did not seem to be the coolness and calm with which Besiktas took their kicks. That sense of foreboding was proved correct when Dejan Lovren stepped to the spot as Liverpool's fifth penalty taker.
Lovren actually had a decent match up to that point. He was not going to be man of the match candidate, but he was solid given the amount of playing time he has had in recent weeks. He was strong on the man and strong in the air. If his feet would not fail him so often, he would be a very good defender. But a goalscorer he is not. Lovren should not have been in that situation. It is hard to understand including him in your top five penalty takers, even with all the injuries on the squad. It is even harder to understand why he would be placed last, when you know all the pressure put on that kicker if it actually gets to that point.
The even more puzzling quandary is why Raheem Sterling had not kicked. You can take all the penalties in practice you want, and perhaps practice statistics are why Lovren was in, but your top players have to be your top performers. In hockey, top players often want to be left off the shootout because they don't like it or feel they don't do well in it. Perhaps that was the case young Sterling made and left himself off the top five list. Whatever the reason, Rodgers has to have number 31 on that top five list. Injuries or not, Gerrard or not, Balotelli or not, Sturridge or not, I have a hard time believing that Raheem Sterling would not be one of those penalty takers.
Ultimately Liverpool got what they deserved. They shrank from the occasion and bowed out of all European competition with a whimper. Brendan Rodgers is a fine manager and deserves all the credit in the world for helping Liverpool turn things around. He still has a lot to learn about competing in Europe however. The danger now is that Liverpool cannot let this performance seep in. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. All that awaits at the end of this week's tunnel is the goliath, Manchester City. Whether City take their revenge for a poor European showing of their own or continue to slip back remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, Liverpool have to rebound quickly. Liverpool can keep City on their heels, but it will take much better than they showed on this night.
Random Thoughts:
- I hate penalty shootouts
- Mario Balotelli had a hell of a first half. He set up the potential Sturridge goal, drew important fouls, got under the skin of several defenders and held up the ball nicely when needed. It would be interesting to see if he still exited the game had he not received a yellow card. The shot near the end of the first half, left much to be desired however.
- Daniel Sturridge needs a rest. Unfortunately for him, it won't come soon as I cannot see him not playing significant minutes against Manchester City. Perhaps a respite against Burnley midweek, but the rest of the squad's fitness may determine that as well.
- I hate penalty shootouts
- Liverpool's passing was just horrendous. Normally I fully understand when players are gassed or put in poor positions etc, but it was just inexcusable. From the second half on, the passes at the back were too weak, the passes in the midfield were off the mark and everything was just bad. Hopefully that is not a reoccurring issue as it will lead to bad things in the future.
- I hate to pile on BR, but the decision to not even include Coutinho on the bench may have cost him. Replacing Balotelli with Coutinho would have been much more attacking minded than Lallana proved to be. Lallana is a very good attacking player, but he was obviously given instructions to help solidify the midfield, where Coutinho knows nothing but attack.
- Did I say how much I hate penalty shootouts?
- Some people may point to the number of important players out. Yes it is not good for the team to not have Coutinho, Gerrard, Lucas, Markovic, Sakho and Henderson, but the team was still set up in a positive manner. They had the strike tandem of Balo and Sturridge, which I still believe could work. Allen has stepped up his game the past few weeks and Ibe continued to show talent beyond his years. Toure and Lovren were the question marks and within the confines of 90 minutes they were fine. Something just lacked and I would hope that even in the recesses of their minds, the players would not use the absences as an excuse.
Walk On
Friday, February 20, 2015
Liverpool Victorious Amid Potential Controversy
There are several issues that emerged from what should've been just a nice victory for the team. I'll try to address each while trying not to have an article that is magazine length. Before we get to the 400 pound gorilla in the room, let's focus on the actual match first. Clearly, from the title, you can discern that Liverpool were victorious in their first match in the Europa League tournament.
From the start, everything seemed to be going in Liverpool's favor. They were drawn to have the opening game of two legs at home. They were drawn against Besiktas, who are top of the Turkish league, but Liverpool have had an outstanding record against Turkish teams, especially at Anfield. The Reds have also had all the momentum in recent weeks.
Brendan Rodgers put out a very solid team, with very few changes from the previous weekend. Jordan Ibe was in play instead of Lazar Markovic due to Markovic's astonishing four game European ban. The Reds came out and dominated the opening of the match, stringing together solid passes and working the ball up the field against a Besiktas formation that was clearly set up to play defense and counter. Liverpool did a good job of holding the ball for the first portion of the first half, but when the chances weren't really coming in droves, the Turkish side began gaining confidence. Liverpool were very lucky not to concede as their counterparts had fantastic goal scoring opportunities, including one that forced a miraculous save from Simon Mingolet in the 32nd minute.
Liverpool had their moments in the second half, both offensively - in a positive manner - and defensively - in a negative fashion. As another example of manager's choices that continue to pay off, Rodgers put out even more offense in an attempt to win a game that was scoreless until the 85th minute. Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren all came in as attacking minded subs. People will say Lovren is a defender, but the choice to insert him was still attacking minded because it allowed Emre Can to be pushed forward into a more positive midfield role.
Then came the controversy. Liverpool gained their win when Jordan Ibe made a brilliant run up the right wing and sliced into the box. Ibe was taken down and the Reds were awarded a penalty kick. Mario Balotelli slotted home the spot kick into the bottom left corner and that was all she wrote about the actual game. Liverpool had an opportunity for a second goal late in the contest, but the ball did not find its intended target and Besiktas were able to escape Anfield down only a goal heading home.
However, instead of being able to focus on a victorious night at Anfield and setting themselves up for a potential run at a European trophy, Liverpool fans are being forced into a silly controversy and having to choose sides when they should be uniting. By now everyone has seen the incident, so I won't waste space describing it in detail. With little to no actual detail coming out of any players' mouths, fans are left to speculate. Was Jordan Henderson intending to take the kick? Was Daniel Sturridge asking Henderson to take the kick or was he asking Henderson to tell Balotelli to let Sturridge take the kick?
The bottom line, for me, is it doesn't matter. Henderson is a fine player and is growing into the role that Rodgers wants him to play as team captain. Henderson is not and never will be Steven Gerrard. That does not mean that he cannot be a decent captain. No two captains are exactly alike in either playing style or team management. Regardless of who wears the armband though, Henderson would not be my top choice to take a penalty. There were two to four players on the pitch I would've chosen to take the penalty before Jordan Henderson. There are plenty of football captains around the world who are not the designated penalty taker as well. So Balotelli taking the kick and converting should not be a big deal.
Was Sturridge telling Henderson the captain should take the kick or making a case for himself? Neither option really changes anything either. Plenty of people argue over kick taking chances. Usually it is done on free kicks, when it is a little less contentious but there are no ill effects going forward. It was disheartening to see the trio part with some discord and Sturridge seemed a little churlish when congratulating the goal scorer. However, one should hope that the actual players left their discord on the pitch and will be fine going forward.
The other discouraging thing out of that was Steven Gerrard's comments. While Gerrard has earned the right, as both a club legend and team captain, to speak his mind and give whatever answers to a media member's question he chooses, what Gerrard actually did was pour gasoline on the fire. There is a section of both the media and general public that will latch onto anything negative regarding Mario Balotelli and Gerrard saying his actions were in poor taste did nothing to assuage those people's feelings.
Despite my relative youth, I see things through old school eyes most times. You should respect authority, when warranted and should conduct yourself in a certain manner. Did Balotelli do this in the grand sense? Probably not. However, I do not feel he showed anyone up. He was not completely disrespectful in his actions. He would not have done the same thing to Steven Gerrard, but I don't feel he was disrespecting the captaincy of Jordan Henderson by his actions either. Balotelli is egotistical and forthright.
Many of the talents in the game are, whether we agree with it or not. Whether Henderson was the "designated penalty taker" or not, players like Luis Suarez or Gareth Bale or Diego Costa would have all done the same thing no matter who had the armband. Liverpool fans will all take their sides and voice their opinions. Yet, they should all still support Balotelli and the rest of the players regardless. Fans should want Balotelli to be returning to form because that means there are more options and more talent to be put on the pitch. Fans should want there to be harmony in the dressing room because the better the team gets along, the more they can easily connect on the pitch.
Another issue that popped up during this game was more of an overall question and it was posed by the broadcasters on Fox's showing of the game. It was an intriguing question that fans, pundits and the manager himself could all have vastly differing views on. The question was, with Liverpool still alive in several competitions, where do you focus your energies? You have an opportunity at English silverware in the FA Cup. You have an opportunity to still push into the top four in the league. You also have a chance to get a Champions League spot as well as a European trophy if you go all out in the Europa League.
So the big question now - with no clear answer - is where do you put your full energies. All contest deserve a full effort from the starting XI and looking for a result. Nobody is saying that you want to lose a competition, however all have merits. Sometimes that is not the case. The Capital One Cup is often looked at as a competition that teams do not mind bowing out of.
Liverpool are deep enough that they could conceivably stay in and look to win all of their goals still ahead. The problem becomes whether you wear out your players. Liverpool's success has come from sticking with a fairly consistent starting XI, with a change here or there. Do you keep all those players playing in all competitions and hope for the best when your team has had such injury problems? Or do you change it up, use your depth and focus your main starting players on one competition. If that is your option, which do you place more value on?
On the surface, the Europa League generally falls lowest on the totem pole. On the surface, the league would be the highest priority and then the FA Cup. However, things are not always as they appear on the surface. The Fox broadcast made a point and it makes sense. This weekend's match against Southampton may provide the answer. Southampton are currently in fourth in the table and four points above Liverpool. Though there are also two other teams above the Reds, the outcome of that match might make it easier to focus on a certain competition.
If Liverpool lose, then they are further away from the top four and have lost to one of their main competitors. That result would make it easier to focus on the tournaments. A win over Southampton keeps Liverpool at least three points from the top four and possibly only one point away from a Champions League slot. It definitely is an intriguing question that will come to bear if the team can keep their form.
Random thoughts:
- Steven Gerrard is a legend and I hold him in high regard. However, in this instance, I feel he would've been better suited in taking a page from Brendan Rodgers' book in how to answer the penalty question.
- It always amazes me how quickly certain sectors of the public lash out. As soon as anyone suggests Balotelli has stood up to Henderson, it makes Henderson a bad choice as captain. As I said in the main article, Henderson is not and never will be on the level of Gerrard. But the man is only 24. Not all captains are fully ready to lead their team to the fullest right from the get go. Henderson may yet grow into a quality skipper for the Reds.
- To answer my own question regarding the competitions, unless Liverpool get smacked against Southampton, I feel the league still comes first. Cup competitions all come down to the draw. If you get a favorable draw, then you can put your best foot forward. If not, then nothing is certain in tournament formats even if you have the better squad on paper. Focus on steadily moving toward a top four spot with plenty of games left in the league and see how each draw goes in the Europa and FA.
- I hate to feel so strongly about a player just now getting their first big game action, since so many look good in spurts and then fall off. But right now, Jordan Ibe looks like the real deal. He has speed very close to Raheem Sterling and a body more like Sturridge and great footskills. He also has shown himself to not shrink from the occasion. He takes players on like a veteran or like a player who does not know any different at the very least. If he continues to improve, then his future with the Reds could and should be extremely bright.
- I was glad to see smiles on the faces of Balotelli and his teammates in training today. Regardless of how you feel about him, Liverpool are a more dangerous team if he is in form, if he has a good relationship with his teammates and if there is no rift going forward. There is never complete harmony in a locker room, but there cannot be an actual rift and expect there to be success.
Walk On.
From the start, everything seemed to be going in Liverpool's favor. They were drawn to have the opening game of two legs at home. They were drawn against Besiktas, who are top of the Turkish league, but Liverpool have had an outstanding record against Turkish teams, especially at Anfield. The Reds have also had all the momentum in recent weeks.
Brendan Rodgers put out a very solid team, with very few changes from the previous weekend. Jordan Ibe was in play instead of Lazar Markovic due to Markovic's astonishing four game European ban. The Reds came out and dominated the opening of the match, stringing together solid passes and working the ball up the field against a Besiktas formation that was clearly set up to play defense and counter. Liverpool did a good job of holding the ball for the first portion of the first half, but when the chances weren't really coming in droves, the Turkish side began gaining confidence. Liverpool were very lucky not to concede as their counterparts had fantastic goal scoring opportunities, including one that forced a miraculous save from Simon Mingolet in the 32nd minute.
Liverpool had their moments in the second half, both offensively - in a positive manner - and defensively - in a negative fashion. As another example of manager's choices that continue to pay off, Rodgers put out even more offense in an attempt to win a game that was scoreless until the 85th minute. Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren all came in as attacking minded subs. People will say Lovren is a defender, but the choice to insert him was still attacking minded because it allowed Emre Can to be pushed forward into a more positive midfield role.
Then came the controversy. Liverpool gained their win when Jordan Ibe made a brilliant run up the right wing and sliced into the box. Ibe was taken down and the Reds were awarded a penalty kick. Mario Balotelli slotted home the spot kick into the bottom left corner and that was all she wrote about the actual game. Liverpool had an opportunity for a second goal late in the contest, but the ball did not find its intended target and Besiktas were able to escape Anfield down only a goal heading home.
However, instead of being able to focus on a victorious night at Anfield and setting themselves up for a potential run at a European trophy, Liverpool fans are being forced into a silly controversy and having to choose sides when they should be uniting. By now everyone has seen the incident, so I won't waste space describing it in detail. With little to no actual detail coming out of any players' mouths, fans are left to speculate. Was Jordan Henderson intending to take the kick? Was Daniel Sturridge asking Henderson to take the kick or was he asking Henderson to tell Balotelli to let Sturridge take the kick?
The bottom line, for me, is it doesn't matter. Henderson is a fine player and is growing into the role that Rodgers wants him to play as team captain. Henderson is not and never will be Steven Gerrard. That does not mean that he cannot be a decent captain. No two captains are exactly alike in either playing style or team management. Regardless of who wears the armband though, Henderson would not be my top choice to take a penalty. There were two to four players on the pitch I would've chosen to take the penalty before Jordan Henderson. There are plenty of football captains around the world who are not the designated penalty taker as well. So Balotelli taking the kick and converting should not be a big deal.
Was Sturridge telling Henderson the captain should take the kick or making a case for himself? Neither option really changes anything either. Plenty of people argue over kick taking chances. Usually it is done on free kicks, when it is a little less contentious but there are no ill effects going forward. It was disheartening to see the trio part with some discord and Sturridge seemed a little churlish when congratulating the goal scorer. However, one should hope that the actual players left their discord on the pitch and will be fine going forward.
The other discouraging thing out of that was Steven Gerrard's comments. While Gerrard has earned the right, as both a club legend and team captain, to speak his mind and give whatever answers to a media member's question he chooses, what Gerrard actually did was pour gasoline on the fire. There is a section of both the media and general public that will latch onto anything negative regarding Mario Balotelli and Gerrard saying his actions were in poor taste did nothing to assuage those people's feelings.
Despite my relative youth, I see things through old school eyes most times. You should respect authority, when warranted and should conduct yourself in a certain manner. Did Balotelli do this in the grand sense? Probably not. However, I do not feel he showed anyone up. He was not completely disrespectful in his actions. He would not have done the same thing to Steven Gerrard, but I don't feel he was disrespecting the captaincy of Jordan Henderson by his actions either. Balotelli is egotistical and forthright.
Many of the talents in the game are, whether we agree with it or not. Whether Henderson was the "designated penalty taker" or not, players like Luis Suarez or Gareth Bale or Diego Costa would have all done the same thing no matter who had the armband. Liverpool fans will all take their sides and voice their opinions. Yet, they should all still support Balotelli and the rest of the players regardless. Fans should want Balotelli to be returning to form because that means there are more options and more talent to be put on the pitch. Fans should want there to be harmony in the dressing room because the better the team gets along, the more they can easily connect on the pitch.
Another issue that popped up during this game was more of an overall question and it was posed by the broadcasters on Fox's showing of the game. It was an intriguing question that fans, pundits and the manager himself could all have vastly differing views on. The question was, with Liverpool still alive in several competitions, where do you focus your energies? You have an opportunity at English silverware in the FA Cup. You have an opportunity to still push into the top four in the league. You also have a chance to get a Champions League spot as well as a European trophy if you go all out in the Europa League.
So the big question now - with no clear answer - is where do you put your full energies. All contest deserve a full effort from the starting XI and looking for a result. Nobody is saying that you want to lose a competition, however all have merits. Sometimes that is not the case. The Capital One Cup is often looked at as a competition that teams do not mind bowing out of.
Liverpool are deep enough that they could conceivably stay in and look to win all of their goals still ahead. The problem becomes whether you wear out your players. Liverpool's success has come from sticking with a fairly consistent starting XI, with a change here or there. Do you keep all those players playing in all competitions and hope for the best when your team has had such injury problems? Or do you change it up, use your depth and focus your main starting players on one competition. If that is your option, which do you place more value on?
On the surface, the Europa League generally falls lowest on the totem pole. On the surface, the league would be the highest priority and then the FA Cup. However, things are not always as they appear on the surface. The Fox broadcast made a point and it makes sense. This weekend's match against Southampton may provide the answer. Southampton are currently in fourth in the table and four points above Liverpool. Though there are also two other teams above the Reds, the outcome of that match might make it easier to focus on a certain competition.
If Liverpool lose, then they are further away from the top four and have lost to one of their main competitors. That result would make it easier to focus on the tournaments. A win over Southampton keeps Liverpool at least three points from the top four and possibly only one point away from a Champions League slot. It definitely is an intriguing question that will come to bear if the team can keep their form.
Random thoughts:
- Steven Gerrard is a legend and I hold him in high regard. However, in this instance, I feel he would've been better suited in taking a page from Brendan Rodgers' book in how to answer the penalty question.
- It always amazes me how quickly certain sectors of the public lash out. As soon as anyone suggests Balotelli has stood up to Henderson, it makes Henderson a bad choice as captain. As I said in the main article, Henderson is not and never will be on the level of Gerrard. But the man is only 24. Not all captains are fully ready to lead their team to the fullest right from the get go. Henderson may yet grow into a quality skipper for the Reds.
- To answer my own question regarding the competitions, unless Liverpool get smacked against Southampton, I feel the league still comes first. Cup competitions all come down to the draw. If you get a favorable draw, then you can put your best foot forward. If not, then nothing is certain in tournament formats even if you have the better squad on paper. Focus on steadily moving toward a top four spot with plenty of games left in the league and see how each draw goes in the Europa and FA.
- I hate to feel so strongly about a player just now getting their first big game action, since so many look good in spurts and then fall off. But right now, Jordan Ibe looks like the real deal. He has speed very close to Raheem Sterling and a body more like Sturridge and great footskills. He also has shown himself to not shrink from the occasion. He takes players on like a veteran or like a player who does not know any different at the very least. If he continues to improve, then his future with the Reds could and should be extremely bright.
- I was glad to see smiles on the faces of Balotelli and his teammates in training today. Regardless of how you feel about him, Liverpool are a more dangerous team if he is in form, if he has a good relationship with his teammates and if there is no rift going forward. There is never complete harmony in a locker room, but there cannot be an actual rift and expect there to be success.
Walk On.
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