For whatever reason, Liverpool have looked better in cups and foreign leagues than they have domestically, at least from a consistency point. So, it's no wonder that before their first-leg match with Augsburg, Jurgen Klopp flat out said that the Europa League is perhaps the Reds' best chance at gaining access to the Champions League.
It was an ambitious start by both clubs. The first five minutes looked more like a hockey game than the kind of football games many are used to seeing. The ball pinged back and forth between teams and up and down the field with more time going forward than spent possessing in the midfield.
One of the negatives of that kind of page was it showed Daniel Sturridge's unwillingness to go full sprint if he doesn't absolutely know he'll win the ball. That was something we've seen in the past, several times in fact, given his injury history. It's understandable, but frustrating when compared to the constant energy and fire Liverpool fans had grown accustomed to seeing out of former striker Luis Suarez.
First quarter hour was extremely uneventful. Firmino had a good opportunity in the 8th minute, but not only did he slip initially but he somewhat flubbed the shot off his left foot after cutting it back nicely past the initial defender.
Liverpool's best chance came on a weakly deflected header from a corner kick that safely ended in the keeper's hands. The Reds did have the better of offensive breaks, but seemed to lack much with possession. Liverpool actually almost scored in the 22nd minute when the defender's slide challenge deflected off Sturridge and forced a diving save. Sturridge continued showing he's not quite back when he failed to get a good settle on the ball that could have led to a good shot in the 43rd.
Ultimately it was a bland first half that produced very few legitimate chances for either side. Augsburg had their best opportunities when the clock hit 45 and after. Simon Mignolet stoned a great shot from only about seven yards out and then dove to stop a stinging cross only moments later.
The second half opened up quite the opposite of the first. Not much going on in the first ten minutes or so, but then things opened up even if only briefly. In the 54th minute James Milner narrowly missed Sturridge with his cross that surely would have ended in the net. Then Augsburg sliced a shot just wide only moments later, only to be followed by another Liverpool attempt toward goal. Despite all this flurry and activity, the score remained 0-0. The positive, however, was that even with the German side's opportunity, Liverpool had ratcheted up the intensity and looked the more likely to score.
Perhaps showing how much luck played into his last goal, rather than skill, Kolo Toure absolutely butchered a sure goal by missing a header in the 60th minute. Liverpool almost ended up ahead anyway as the ball bounced around off several defenders, but ended up landing right on the goal line to be caught by the keeper.
Ultimately, perhaps the score was what it should have been. Liverpool could not do much toward the end of the game, if they did much the entire match. Ibe rolled one on goal right at the keeper, but with little pace behind it. On the flip side Augsburg knicked one off the post with four minutes left in regulation.
Fans will no doubt be disappointed, not only in the scoreline, but with the lack of authority really stamped on this game by Liverpool. However, going back to Anfield next week and not finding yourself down can only be a plus. That said, it does put a lot of pressure on one game because if you allow a goal it forces you to score two. But hey, at least Liverpool got a better result on the road than Manchester United. There's always comfort in that.
Random Thoughts:
- I like Emre Can as a player and think he'll develop into a good talent. I dislike his mentality though. Too often he tries to bully players and then act as though he was done wrong if a foul goes against him. His physical style is fine, but don't look so wounded every time something doesn't go your way.
- I can usually give or take Alexi Lalas as a commentator, but I had to laugh at his assessment of Sturridge's performance. He eventually elaborated, but initially all Lalas said was "He didn't get hurt..."
- It's interesting to hear that apparently Americans are more like Germans than English when it comes to the common chants the fans use.
Walk On
Showing posts with label Kolo Toure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kolo Toure. Show all posts
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
It Take Pens To Drop Potters, But Liverpool Will Be At Wembley
Liverpool came into the second leg of the Capital One Cup semifinal up 1-0 with an important away goal, however the Liverpool side that doesn't seem threatening was the one that appeared in the first half. Emre Can's strike was the only really good scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes of play for the Reds. They pressed toward goal a few times and were not without skill at all, but there just wasn't that quality that is needed in the final third.
Instead they seemed to be hanging onto the knife's edge. Stoke, though having similar statistical numbers, seemed to be threatening much more. Some of that was due to Liverpool's inadequate defending on corners always putting fan's hearts in their throats and some was simply due to actual lax defending. In the end it would cost them. Marko Arnautovic scored in the first minute of extra time and put his team up 1-0 in the game and even 1-1 in the semifinals.
Arnautovic was clearly offside when viewing the replay, but in the end it doesn't matter. Decisions go for or against teams all the time. Liverpool needed to defend better and simply didn't. If the officials had gotten the call correct, it would have helped the situation, but you could almost feel the goal coming at some point regardless. There can be little doubt that Jurgen Klopp intended his team to try to see out a 1-0 decision over two legs, but that seemed to be the intention of the players on the field. Arnautovic's goal threw a wrench into those plans and the idea of penalties was something that would really stick in the craw of the faithful. It was up to Liverpool to pull it together over the second 45 minutes.
It seemed as though the Reds had taken that to heart as almost from the get-go, Liverpool earned a dangerous freekick from just outside the box. Unfortunately the kick was relatively wasted by Alberto Moreno. The Reds kept up the pressure with Firmino striking one off the near post in the 48th minute. Liverpool had a few other pushes upfield, but only for the first 15 minutes or so. Once the half settled in, Stoke regained their confidence.
Again trying to take advantage of freekicks and corners, they almost struck in the 61st minute. Only a full stretch, sliding tackle by Sakho, who was already dealing with a hamstring issue, managed to stop the go-ahead goal. Liverpool didn't go quietly though. They pressured and were pressured. Their best chance to date came when the ball fell to Jon Flanagan in the 77th minute, but there were so many bodies in front of him that he could do nothing with it. It would be the last real opportunity in regulation as extra time was called for.
Liverpool had a chance early in the extra time as Firmino flashed one wide. Former Red, Peter Crouch did the same from a header just moments later. Then just before the break, Stoke should have scored. Van Ginkle put one off the post after a good feed from Crouch. Van Ginkel almost ended it again in the 24th minute of extra time with a volley that was smothered by Simon Mignolet. In the end, neither team could score despite mistakes made in important areas and the match came down to penalties.
It was as nerve wracking as you would expect and perhaps more than anyone would anticipate given the low esteem the competition has in most eyes. Liverpool didn't blink though. Mignolet saved Crouch's attempt after allowing the initial goal, but Can put it off the post. Then the teams traded four consecutive goals each. Finally, the beleaguered Belgian came through and denied Stoke's second penalty in sudden death. Joe Allen finished off the contest and, perhaps a year too late for Steven Gerrard, Liverpool will be playing in a championship final at Wembley Stadium. It was not the prettiest of games, but earning your way into a final is nothing to be scoffed at.
Random Thoughts:
- Since it seems to be doing some good, I still don't care for Joe Allen.
- I hate penalties. I have yet to figure out a good alternative though. I used to say just let them run til they hit the ground, but would that really be more appealing? I suppose not when you see how the mistakes pile up when fatigue sets in.
- Good on Migs to be a hero. Sure it's a low level cup competition, but he made two big saves. Nobody for Stoke skied one or hit the bar. It was the keeper who came up when he needed to.
- Klopp gambled and won on this occasion. I applaud his decisions given how things turned out, but extra time could have gone extremely differently. Klopp essentially went with Sakho as his only true defender when he pulled off Kolo Toure for Allen and then Flanagan for Jordan Ibe. Yes, I'm aware Moreno was out there, but even though I like him, he's not much of a real defender.
- Whether it's Everton or Manchester City, the final will be no easy game. That said, it will be nice to see Liverpool in a final.
Walk On
Instead they seemed to be hanging onto the knife's edge. Stoke, though having similar statistical numbers, seemed to be threatening much more. Some of that was due to Liverpool's inadequate defending on corners always putting fan's hearts in their throats and some was simply due to actual lax defending. In the end it would cost them. Marko Arnautovic scored in the first minute of extra time and put his team up 1-0 in the game and even 1-1 in the semifinals.
Arnautovic was clearly offside when viewing the replay, but in the end it doesn't matter. Decisions go for or against teams all the time. Liverpool needed to defend better and simply didn't. If the officials had gotten the call correct, it would have helped the situation, but you could almost feel the goal coming at some point regardless. There can be little doubt that Jurgen Klopp intended his team to try to see out a 1-0 decision over two legs, but that seemed to be the intention of the players on the field. Arnautovic's goal threw a wrench into those plans and the idea of penalties was something that would really stick in the craw of the faithful. It was up to Liverpool to pull it together over the second 45 minutes.
It seemed as though the Reds had taken that to heart as almost from the get-go, Liverpool earned a dangerous freekick from just outside the box. Unfortunately the kick was relatively wasted by Alberto Moreno. The Reds kept up the pressure with Firmino striking one off the near post in the 48th minute. Liverpool had a few other pushes upfield, but only for the first 15 minutes or so. Once the half settled in, Stoke regained their confidence.
Again trying to take advantage of freekicks and corners, they almost struck in the 61st minute. Only a full stretch, sliding tackle by Sakho, who was already dealing with a hamstring issue, managed to stop the go-ahead goal. Liverpool didn't go quietly though. They pressured and were pressured. Their best chance to date came when the ball fell to Jon Flanagan in the 77th minute, but there were so many bodies in front of him that he could do nothing with it. It would be the last real opportunity in regulation as extra time was called for.
Liverpool had a chance early in the extra time as Firmino flashed one wide. Former Red, Peter Crouch did the same from a header just moments later. Then just before the break, Stoke should have scored. Van Ginkle put one off the post after a good feed from Crouch. Van Ginkel almost ended it again in the 24th minute of extra time with a volley that was smothered by Simon Mignolet. In the end, neither team could score despite mistakes made in important areas and the match came down to penalties.
It was as nerve wracking as you would expect and perhaps more than anyone would anticipate given the low esteem the competition has in most eyes. Liverpool didn't blink though. Mignolet saved Crouch's attempt after allowing the initial goal, but Can put it off the post. Then the teams traded four consecutive goals each. Finally, the beleaguered Belgian came through and denied Stoke's second penalty in sudden death. Joe Allen finished off the contest and, perhaps a year too late for Steven Gerrard, Liverpool will be playing in a championship final at Wembley Stadium. It was not the prettiest of games, but earning your way into a final is nothing to be scoffed at.
Random Thoughts:
- Since it seems to be doing some good, I still don't care for Joe Allen.
- I hate penalties. I have yet to figure out a good alternative though. I used to say just let them run til they hit the ground, but would that really be more appealing? I suppose not when you see how the mistakes pile up when fatigue sets in.
- Good on Migs to be a hero. Sure it's a low level cup competition, but he made two big saves. Nobody for Stoke skied one or hit the bar. It was the keeper who came up when he needed to.
- Klopp gambled and won on this occasion. I applaud his decisions given how things turned out, but extra time could have gone extremely differently. Klopp essentially went with Sakho as his only true defender when he pulled off Kolo Toure for Allen and then Flanagan for Jordan Ibe. Yes, I'm aware Moreno was out there, but even though I like him, he's not much of a real defender.
- Whether it's Everton or Manchester City, the final will be no easy game. That said, it will be nice to see Liverpool in a final.
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
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Liverpool Fail to Hold Lead, Settle for Europa Draw
Today began the potentially long and winding road of the Europa League for Liverpool FC. It is always a competition mired in controversy for fans in regards to how important it is and where to place it in importance for a long season full of league games and cup competitions. Lots of new faces saw the field for Liverpool on this day. Jordan Rossiter and Divock Origi saw their first starts of the year. The evening would start as a back and forth contest between Liverpool and the French side, Bordeaux. Coutinho rolled one just wide in the fifth minute to begin the Reds' attack.
However, moments later, a long ball over the top fooled the shaky Liverpool defense and almost got chipped over a sliding Simon Mingolet in the 11th minute. That chance began a poor run of form for the Reds that saw a yellow card given to Kolo Toure, a hesitant punch from Mingolet and an injury from said punch on Toure. Liverpool again let up a long ball into the box and Wahbi Khazri almost curled one into the top corner, but saw it sail just wide.
There were decent offensive moments for this Reds side. Even though it was called offside, Divock Origi looked very positive on the ball, just skimming one wide in the 26th minute. The positivity was short lived as Kolo Toure succumbed to his knock from Mingolet in the 28th minute, after making several solid clearances. Due to the unexpected injury, Brendan Rodgers was forced to put in Pedro Chirivella and place Emre Can back in his less comfortable spot of last season, right back. The makeshift Liverpool back line, which also saw young Joe Gomez move to center back, actually seemed to gel relatively quickly. In attack Origi again looked smart, leading defenders away in the 36th minute, but Lallana's pass to Coutinho was too close to the defender and led to nothing. Diego Rolan had several first half chances.
Lallana continued his poor form as he dribbled right into the defense and waited too long, giving away possession in an attempt to draw a foul which never came. Poor defending again popped up toward the end of the half. Khazri was allowed to slice right to the center of the field and only a poor shot right at the keeper kept the score level. As the teams traded trips up the field, Liverpool almost poached one before the break. Coutinho rang one off the woodwork, as he is want to do, but again the Brazilian looked like the most likely to score for this Reds side.
Despite the chances, it was a disappointing half again for the Reds as they failed to really put their stamp on the contest. The second 45 opened up much the same as the first half. Liverpool failed to come out of the gates strong for the second game in a row, but managed to keep it from costing them. Lallana almost turned his fortunes around with a great spin move in the 59th minute, but fired it too close to the goalkeeper. Liverpool then failed to do anything with the following corner.
A few chances were given up in between, but Lallana's chance seemed to slowly simmer the Liverpool attack as they began to build things, even if at a snails pace from that time through about ten minutes later. Finally, the maligned Adam Lallana came through after that buildup. The winger, received a pass from Alberto Moreno on the left side of the box, took it in and nutmegged the defender and coolly slotted it past the goalkeeper to the far side netting.
Danny Ings came into the contest for Origi roughly midway through the half. Ings almost made an instant impact as he was set up very similarly to Lallana and almost scored a mirror goal to Liverpool's first. Unfortunately for Ings, the angle was just a bit too narrow and that allowed Cedric Carrasso to get down and palm it away. The game calmed down a little bit following those chances, save for a few nervy moments near the Liverpool goal.
Unfortunately for the Reds, contests last 90 minutes not 80. After a late sub, taking Rossiter off, Liverpool took their foot off the gas just enough. A difficult ball to handle in the box ultimately led to a goal for Bordeaux in the 81st minute. Liverpool failed to clear the ball when it popped into the air. That allowed the French side to control the ball, juggle it a few times and then have it slide loose to Bordeaux's sub Jussie who ripped it past Mingolet. Cameron Brannagan could not really be blamed for the goal, but it did not look good on the young player to have a goal come so quickly after his insertion into the contest. Liverpool's defense continued to allow pressure for the next few minutes, seemingly unwilling to deal with any ball that went into the center of the pitch.
The game opened as wide as possible following that. Moreno had a blast toward goal directed right at the keeper. Bordeaux sent several balls close to goal that Mingolet had to get fists to. The French team also took advantage of several Liverpool turnovers to drive down field, but the finishes just were not there. Liverpool's passing looked sharp when in attack, but like their counterparts the final one was just quite there. In the end, the pressure did not crack the Liverpool defense, despite the continual backing in at the death. A valuable point was gained by the Reds and valuable experience was gained by young players and players who may need it come the dog days of a long season. As has become typical with this team, there were many disappointing moments and missed opportunities. Plenty of work remains if this is to become a team that can contend for anything, but it was a positive result and any momentum that is not negative is a good thing right now.
Random Thoughts:
- Jordan Rossiter looked decent in his starting debut. He struggled with fitness toward the end, which can be expected of someone yet to play a full 90 minutes in top competition. He did not overly impress skill wise, but I liked his intensity in challenges. Also, it's good to see someone who has come through the academy system. It's always nice to see players be brought up instead of always having to shell out money to bring them in from other teams.
- On American TV, analyst Alexi Lalas was unimpressed with Divock Origi. I slightly disagree. When on the ball he was very positive and created a few chances. He did not light the world on fire, but as time goes on it becomes more and more apparent that none of the players in the Liverpool squad are suited to play as a lone striker, so it was just as much a problem of system as anything Origi did or did not do. That said, he did disappear for stretches and needs to work at interjecting himself into the game more.
- Emre Can is a confusing player to view. There are times he uses his quickness and long stride to track down or keep up with some of the fastest players on the field. There are other times he looks labored in his movements and can appear lazy, even if this is far from true. Perhaps I over analyze his running mechanics. He is, nevertheless, a versatile player that is very valuable in the sorts of situations that pop up from time to time such as Toure's injury.
- I am of two schools of thought when it comes to Europa. I fully understand and support the need to get valuable playing time and European experience for young players and the underutilized squad. On the flip side, while top four in the league is still achievable, it would be nice to just say go for it and prove that Liverpool are still a team to contend with and go for some silverware. That said, it is understandable that the league is still the priority at this early stage.
- Despite the goal and a few flashes of attack, Liverpool continue to prove that they are unable to play with a top three that utilizes a lone striker. When Daniel Sturridge regains fitness, they must play with a top two of Benteke and Sturridge with Coutinho tucked in behind. If that means that players like Firmino or Lallana's playing time suffer as a result, so be it.
Walk On.
However, moments later, a long ball over the top fooled the shaky Liverpool defense and almost got chipped over a sliding Simon Mingolet in the 11th minute. That chance began a poor run of form for the Reds that saw a yellow card given to Kolo Toure, a hesitant punch from Mingolet and an injury from said punch on Toure. Liverpool again let up a long ball into the box and Wahbi Khazri almost curled one into the top corner, but saw it sail just wide.
There were decent offensive moments for this Reds side. Even though it was called offside, Divock Origi looked very positive on the ball, just skimming one wide in the 26th minute. The positivity was short lived as Kolo Toure succumbed to his knock from Mingolet in the 28th minute, after making several solid clearances. Due to the unexpected injury, Brendan Rodgers was forced to put in Pedro Chirivella and place Emre Can back in his less comfortable spot of last season, right back. The makeshift Liverpool back line, which also saw young Joe Gomez move to center back, actually seemed to gel relatively quickly. In attack Origi again looked smart, leading defenders away in the 36th minute, but Lallana's pass to Coutinho was too close to the defender and led to nothing. Diego Rolan had several first half chances.
Lallana continued his poor form as he dribbled right into the defense and waited too long, giving away possession in an attempt to draw a foul which never came. Poor defending again popped up toward the end of the half. Khazri was allowed to slice right to the center of the field and only a poor shot right at the keeper kept the score level. As the teams traded trips up the field, Liverpool almost poached one before the break. Coutinho rang one off the woodwork, as he is want to do, but again the Brazilian looked like the most likely to score for this Reds side.
Despite the chances, it was a disappointing half again for the Reds as they failed to really put their stamp on the contest. The second 45 opened up much the same as the first half. Liverpool failed to come out of the gates strong for the second game in a row, but managed to keep it from costing them. Lallana almost turned his fortunes around with a great spin move in the 59th minute, but fired it too close to the goalkeeper. Liverpool then failed to do anything with the following corner.
A few chances were given up in between, but Lallana's chance seemed to slowly simmer the Liverpool attack as they began to build things, even if at a snails pace from that time through about ten minutes later. Finally, the maligned Adam Lallana came through after that buildup. The winger, received a pass from Alberto Moreno on the left side of the box, took it in and nutmegged the defender and coolly slotted it past the goalkeeper to the far side netting.
Danny Ings came into the contest for Origi roughly midway through the half. Ings almost made an instant impact as he was set up very similarly to Lallana and almost scored a mirror goal to Liverpool's first. Unfortunately for Ings, the angle was just a bit too narrow and that allowed Cedric Carrasso to get down and palm it away. The game calmed down a little bit following those chances, save for a few nervy moments near the Liverpool goal.
Unfortunately for the Reds, contests last 90 minutes not 80. After a late sub, taking Rossiter off, Liverpool took their foot off the gas just enough. A difficult ball to handle in the box ultimately led to a goal for Bordeaux in the 81st minute. Liverpool failed to clear the ball when it popped into the air. That allowed the French side to control the ball, juggle it a few times and then have it slide loose to Bordeaux's sub Jussie who ripped it past Mingolet. Cameron Brannagan could not really be blamed for the goal, but it did not look good on the young player to have a goal come so quickly after his insertion into the contest. Liverpool's defense continued to allow pressure for the next few minutes, seemingly unwilling to deal with any ball that went into the center of the pitch.
The game opened as wide as possible following that. Moreno had a blast toward goal directed right at the keeper. Bordeaux sent several balls close to goal that Mingolet had to get fists to. The French team also took advantage of several Liverpool turnovers to drive down field, but the finishes just were not there. Liverpool's passing looked sharp when in attack, but like their counterparts the final one was just quite there. In the end, the pressure did not crack the Liverpool defense, despite the continual backing in at the death. A valuable point was gained by the Reds and valuable experience was gained by young players and players who may need it come the dog days of a long season. As has become typical with this team, there were many disappointing moments and missed opportunities. Plenty of work remains if this is to become a team that can contend for anything, but it was a positive result and any momentum that is not negative is a good thing right now.
Random Thoughts:
- Jordan Rossiter looked decent in his starting debut. He struggled with fitness toward the end, which can be expected of someone yet to play a full 90 minutes in top competition. He did not overly impress skill wise, but I liked his intensity in challenges. Also, it's good to see someone who has come through the academy system. It's always nice to see players be brought up instead of always having to shell out money to bring them in from other teams.
- On American TV, analyst Alexi Lalas was unimpressed with Divock Origi. I slightly disagree. When on the ball he was very positive and created a few chances. He did not light the world on fire, but as time goes on it becomes more and more apparent that none of the players in the Liverpool squad are suited to play as a lone striker, so it was just as much a problem of system as anything Origi did or did not do. That said, he did disappear for stretches and needs to work at interjecting himself into the game more.
- Emre Can is a confusing player to view. There are times he uses his quickness and long stride to track down or keep up with some of the fastest players on the field. There are other times he looks labored in his movements and can appear lazy, even if this is far from true. Perhaps I over analyze his running mechanics. He is, nevertheless, a versatile player that is very valuable in the sorts of situations that pop up from time to time such as Toure's injury.
- I am of two schools of thought when it comes to Europa. I fully understand and support the need to get valuable playing time and European experience for young players and the underutilized squad. On the flip side, while top four in the league is still achievable, it would be nice to just say go for it and prove that Liverpool are still a team to contend with and go for some silverware. That said, it is understandable that the league is still the priority at this early stage.
- Despite the goal and a few flashes of attack, Liverpool continue to prove that they are unable to play with a top three that utilizes a lone striker. When Daniel Sturridge regains fitness, they must play with a top two of Benteke and Sturridge with Coutinho tucked in behind. If that means that players like Firmino or Lallana's playing time suffer as a result, so be it.
Walk On.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Liverpool Earn Wembley Appearance
Liverpool earned their way into an appearance at Wembley Stadium for an FA Cup semifinal match with Aston Villa. A hard fought replay against Blackburn Rovers went the Reds' way with a 1-0 win. In very few ways, if any, was this the game Liverpool fans were hoping for, but it was a victory. Following two bad losses to Manchester United and Arsenal in the league and several weeks of controversy surrounding the contract status of Raheem Sterling, Liverpool simply needed some positivity.
It wasn't the prettiest of games. Much of the first half, for Liverpool, was spent in possession that went nowhere. The Reds had the ball, knocked it around the back, pushed forward now and then but really created nothing. There was a nice flick back by Daniel Sturridge in the 16th minute that almost led to a chance. Coutinho had a sharp angle chance blocked in the 18th minute and Liverpool attacked reasonably well in the 20 minute stages. However, there was very little true pressure placed on Blackburn's keeper Simon Eastwood.
For a bit, it even seemed as though things would continue to pile up on Liverpool. Mamadou Sakho picked up an apparent hamstring injury and had to be subbed off in the 27th minute. The Reds were already shorthanded with suspensions to key players and the chosen substitute, Kolo Toure, was about as far from anything resembling good form as you can be in his time against Arsenal.
Things continued in the woe category as Coutinho appeared to have a golden chance in the 36th minute, when his shot seemed destined for the bottom right corner only to have Eastwood come up with a last second save. Eastwood was screened until the ball was about four yards out, which made the stop even more improbable. On the flip side of that coin, Simon Mingolet was called into action in the second half as well. Two huge saves, both diving to his left, probably saved the result for his club.
Mere moments after leaping to stop a drive heading for the upper left side of the goal, Mingolet kept one out of the bottom left with a save rivaling his counterpart. The Belgian keeper saw it very late and was screened by several of his own players. There was also a question of potential handball by Joe Allen, and by the letter of the law it may have been, but it was unintentional and did not alter the shot in any manner. That moment was really a catalyst for Liverpool.
They turned up the pressure in the 50th minute onward. They did allow the occasional counterattack or two, but really steadied the game. Kolo Toure had an excellent block in the 66th minute, not totally erasing his previous performance, but at least putting him back in a more positive light. Finally, Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Coutinho replaced Jordan Henderson on the corner kick and did not have a very good attempt, in all honesty. However, the Brazilian recouped possession, took a quick pass from Henderson in the box and rocketed a shot across the face of goal and in off the post.
One knock on the Reds' squad was their lack of urgency the rest of the half. Plenty could have gone wrong in the final 20 minutes and despite Liverpool's dominance of possession, they did not really seek out that second goal. It almost came back to bite them when Eastwood had a brilliant turn and shot in the box. Mingolet saw the shot late, but got down to block it and smother the 94th minute attempt and ultimately the Reds got the win.
Things haven't gone Liverpool's way lately and a win was sorely needed. While positives weren't abundantly available, they were there. The Reds did not crush the second tier opponent and did not look like world beaters, but they got the job done. They overcame the obstacle of suspensions to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can. Toure did a reasonably good job of coming in and defending. Dejan Lovren was solid in possession and made no mistakes. Joe Allen will never be anyone's first choice, outside of perhaps his manager, but he did a solid job and did exactly what was asked of him in every way. Mingolet continued his top form. Sterling and Coutinho looked very positive as well.
Nobody will ever confuse Blackburn for a true stern test, but Liverpool did what was necessary and took enough away from the game to look forward instead of worrying too much about the last two games. That said, questions still linger for this side as they progress. Though Manchester City continues to leave the door cracked, gaining a top four spot will be incredibly difficult. The specter of a Europa League spot also looms. A league match against Chelsea is still on the horizon, but a date in Wembley Stadium is a pretty sweet carrot to put in your pocket. Now the team must simply look to themselves and do the best they can.
Random thoughts:
- I understand he was playing out of position, but I was confused to see Jordan Henderson constantly in the center of the field when he was technically listed as a wing back.
- Springboarding off that idea, again I realize that Henderson, Sterling or Adam Lallana are all out of position in the wingback position, but you have to put your best players in their best position and let the rest fall where it may. Sterling has been useless in the wing position and should always be part of the attacking trio in the current set up.
- Liverpool's defending corp needs to catch a break. Can will be available in the next match, but the injury to Sakho now throws more cloudiness into an already murky situation back there.
- Speaking of injury, given his recent history, Sturridge's asking to be subbed off was a bit troubling. He did not appear to be laboring, but one still worries when he asks to be removed.
- Liverpool supporters will always do their best to support whoever slips on the red kit. However, changes have to be made to this squad. Age and injury have played a huge role but players like Allen and Lucas just aren't good enough to be consistently relied upon and regardless of what formation Liverpool use going forward, they have to find a true wingback. The constant rotation on the outside is frustrating as a fan and provides no stability from a team standpoint.
- Things have been set up in a positive way for Liverpool. Aston Villa is probably going to be more concerned with staying out of the relegation zone and is in poor form to begin with. A finals appearance is not assured, but seems likely. Unfortunately, Liverpool may be forced to see an in-form Arsenal team once more, should that finals spot be attained.
Walk On.
It wasn't the prettiest of games. Much of the first half, for Liverpool, was spent in possession that went nowhere. The Reds had the ball, knocked it around the back, pushed forward now and then but really created nothing. There was a nice flick back by Daniel Sturridge in the 16th minute that almost led to a chance. Coutinho had a sharp angle chance blocked in the 18th minute and Liverpool attacked reasonably well in the 20 minute stages. However, there was very little true pressure placed on Blackburn's keeper Simon Eastwood.
For a bit, it even seemed as though things would continue to pile up on Liverpool. Mamadou Sakho picked up an apparent hamstring injury and had to be subbed off in the 27th minute. The Reds were already shorthanded with suspensions to key players and the chosen substitute, Kolo Toure, was about as far from anything resembling good form as you can be in his time against Arsenal.
Things continued in the woe category as Coutinho appeared to have a golden chance in the 36th minute, when his shot seemed destined for the bottom right corner only to have Eastwood come up with a last second save. Eastwood was screened until the ball was about four yards out, which made the stop even more improbable. On the flip side of that coin, Simon Mingolet was called into action in the second half as well. Two huge saves, both diving to his left, probably saved the result for his club.
Mere moments after leaping to stop a drive heading for the upper left side of the goal, Mingolet kept one out of the bottom left with a save rivaling his counterpart. The Belgian keeper saw it very late and was screened by several of his own players. There was also a question of potential handball by Joe Allen, and by the letter of the law it may have been, but it was unintentional and did not alter the shot in any manner. That moment was really a catalyst for Liverpool.
They turned up the pressure in the 50th minute onward. They did allow the occasional counterattack or two, but really steadied the game. Kolo Toure had an excellent block in the 66th minute, not totally erasing his previous performance, but at least putting him back in a more positive light. Finally, Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Coutinho replaced Jordan Henderson on the corner kick and did not have a very good attempt, in all honesty. However, the Brazilian recouped possession, took a quick pass from Henderson in the box and rocketed a shot across the face of goal and in off the post.
One knock on the Reds' squad was their lack of urgency the rest of the half. Plenty could have gone wrong in the final 20 minutes and despite Liverpool's dominance of possession, they did not really seek out that second goal. It almost came back to bite them when Eastwood had a brilliant turn and shot in the box. Mingolet saw the shot late, but got down to block it and smother the 94th minute attempt and ultimately the Reds got the win.
Things haven't gone Liverpool's way lately and a win was sorely needed. While positives weren't abundantly available, they were there. The Reds did not crush the second tier opponent and did not look like world beaters, but they got the job done. They overcame the obstacle of suspensions to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can. Toure did a reasonably good job of coming in and defending. Dejan Lovren was solid in possession and made no mistakes. Joe Allen will never be anyone's first choice, outside of perhaps his manager, but he did a solid job and did exactly what was asked of him in every way. Mingolet continued his top form. Sterling and Coutinho looked very positive as well.
Nobody will ever confuse Blackburn for a true stern test, but Liverpool did what was necessary and took enough away from the game to look forward instead of worrying too much about the last two games. That said, questions still linger for this side as they progress. Though Manchester City continues to leave the door cracked, gaining a top four spot will be incredibly difficult. The specter of a Europa League spot also looms. A league match against Chelsea is still on the horizon, but a date in Wembley Stadium is a pretty sweet carrot to put in your pocket. Now the team must simply look to themselves and do the best they can.
Random thoughts:
- I understand he was playing out of position, but I was confused to see Jordan Henderson constantly in the center of the field when he was technically listed as a wing back.
- Springboarding off that idea, again I realize that Henderson, Sterling or Adam Lallana are all out of position in the wingback position, but you have to put your best players in their best position and let the rest fall where it may. Sterling has been useless in the wing position and should always be part of the attacking trio in the current set up.
- Liverpool's defending corp needs to catch a break. Can will be available in the next match, but the injury to Sakho now throws more cloudiness into an already murky situation back there.
- Speaking of injury, given his recent history, Sturridge's asking to be subbed off was a bit troubling. He did not appear to be laboring, but one still worries when he asks to be removed.
- Liverpool supporters will always do their best to support whoever slips on the red kit. However, changes have to be made to this squad. Age and injury have played a huge role but players like Allen and Lucas just aren't good enough to be consistently relied upon and regardless of what formation Liverpool use going forward, they have to find a true wingback. The constant rotation on the outside is frustrating as a fan and provides no stability from a team standpoint.
- Things have been set up in a positive way for Liverpool. Aston Villa is probably going to be more concerned with staying out of the relegation zone and is in poor form to begin with. A finals appearance is not assured, but seems likely. Unfortunately, Liverpool may be forced to see an in-form Arsenal team once more, should that finals spot be attained.
Walk On.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Transition to 2015 a Bit Rough
Well if the note that Liverpool ended on was a high one, then 2015 was a bit sharp on the scale. It was just a bit off and a bit grating to the ear. Liverpool by no means played a bad game. There were glimpses and flashes of the team we saw against Swansea City. Yet, overall, it just wasn't the type of match the supporters would've expected after such a strong showing.
Leicester came out with the energy and passion you would've expected to see from the Reds. Liverpool was immediately thrown onto their heels and the Reds defended decently despite a sure goal being turned away by the Kop's woodwork on an early free kick by Riyad Mahrez. Once the game calmed down a bit, Liverpool took things into their hands. They pressed the attack and spread the field nicely with the speed and fluidity up front with the trio of Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Coutinho.
Liverpool had their opportunities to score from the run of play, though rarely really tested backup keeper Ben Hamer. It was not until a more than fortunate penalty was given for a handball that actually hit the defender in the head that Liverpool was able to hit the net. More possession and attack yielded no result until another handball in the box gave Liverpool their second goal and Steven Gerrard his.
Normal fans would think the game was in hand and Liverpool seemed to be coasting to another victory. An early injury in the second half to Lallana may have actually cost Liverpool the game or at least raised questions about the lineup going forward. While Lallana would not have really figured into either goal actually scored by the Foxes, it was more what it did to Liverpool. Despite the uproar that a new goalkeeper is needed in the January window, Simon Mingolet played a solid match and nothing could be done about either goal.
The first goal for Leicester was an absolute sparkler from the top of the box. Nicely settled down and left for the Evertonian David Nugent to spank past the defender and past the outstretched hands of Mingolet. The Belgian keeper was screened but would not have had a chance even if he wasn't. With a score of 2-1, one could understand the Foxes being deserving of a tally given their hard work and unfortunate luck with the first penalty against them. However, they were not satisfied and Liverpool did not get their weight back on the toes. Less than two full minutes later, Leicester evened the game. Jefferey Schlupp took a good one time pass with a couple knocks and slotted it into the left netting with a solid left footed shot from the top of the arc.
While there were defensive lapses earlier in the play that led to the Foxes first goal, the second lay squarely on the backline and defending in general. A lackadaisical Raheem Sterling failed to account for Schlupp behind him, allowing the initial pass. Then Kolo Toure and Emre Can failed to close down on the shot before power could be put into it. The uninitiated will say Mingolet's attempt at the ball was poor and even the keeper himself may feel he could've put more power into the dive. However, any goalkeeper has no choice but to think Can is going to block that shot and then when it slides through the wickets, the goalkeeper has next to no time to react. Tie game. Done and dusted as they say.
Liverpool created more chances once they caught their breath. Two good chances came to the much debated Fabio Borini, one that seemed a tap in that the Italian striker managed to put a yard or two over the bar. Jordan Henderson whipped a strong shot toward goal as well, but ultimately well wide.
While my previous article focused on the positives to end 2014, this one will no doubt come off decidedly more negative. It is not for lack of effort. You can still see how the current formation benefits this team the most. However the questions raised in my previous blog and in this game will have great bearing on where this teams heads in 2015.
The defending is still awful. Brendan Rodgers is a proud man and a shrewd tactition, but his refusal to even entertain the idea of hiring a defensive coach may cost him his job. With no true goal scoring threat on this team, the constant glut of chances and goals given up along with the lack of clean sheets simply cannot be sustained by a winning club. Emre Can has done a fine job in a position that is not truly his own, however for the second straight contest he stumbled and looked foolish on a ball that drifted over his head. Mamadou Sakho has proven himself to be a very good positional defender, but looks like a recreational league player at times when the ball is at his feet. Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel are essentially the same player. They are solid defenders when at their best, but often slip to ground or grab their opponents at inopportune times.
The offense is still stagnant. Despite the breath of fresh air that was the Swansea match, the offense still struggles to actually score from the run of play. One could argue that Liverpool was outscored 2-0 or 2-1 given that both goals coming off penalties that in other matches may not have been called. Yes, the Reds created offense and Sterling and Coutinho are deadly with the ball on their shoestrings at times. However when you see that Liverpool had 18 total attempts and 6 on target, one really struggles to remember a good save from Hamer. The attempts on target were not usually effective and the quality chances were mostly missed.
Rounding back to the thought that Lallana's injury costing Liverpool, you could just see the change in the team. Fabio Borini is a decent player and would probably start for several clubs across the world. However due to the reaction from Rodgers toward the player and Borini's need to prove he can play at Liverpool, #29 simply tries too hard. A calm, composed player with the backing of his manager would have been more likely to slot home the game winner. Instead Borini simply charged around to show his effort and then banged his goal over the bar. The injury placed in a player who is trying too hard and also changed the dynamic of the team.
While the attacking triangle of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho is a bit fluid it is almost always Sterling at the top. Sterling was forced deeper due to Borini's inclusion and there was a sudden lack of creativity from the midfield. This cannot be blamed on Borini or Sterling's positions alone, but there was a decided drop off in the mental stability of this team when the team sheet changed. The same can be said of Rickie Lambert's inclusion for Alberto Moreno. The entire team shape was altered and though Lambert set up a potential chance for Borini, Liverpool just did not strike fear into the defense the way they had.
Taking a disappointing draw result away, these questions still have to be dealt with by the team because once Daniel Sturridge is healthy, there are going to be alterations to the squad. Whether by an addition in the January window or simply the return of Sturridge, by the end of January the starting XI is not going to be the same as it has been the last two or three games. Liverpool must accept this and find a way to threaten the goal no matter who is on the pitch. The positives, though few, that can be taken from the game are that Liverpool threaten anyone and everyone with the 3-4-2-1 and an attacking triangle of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho. The team showed good spirit even after the equalizer, when earlier in the season we would've seen a go-ahead goal from the Foxes.
It comes as little consolation in the moment, but Liverpool at least gained points. Not only on the pitch, but with Arsenal getting blanked they gain ground on the Gunners and stay right behind West Ham, who also drew. Liverpool now has 9 days off from Premier League action and can rest a few legs. Whether Rodgers chooses to do so is another matter, after stating he is determined to bring silverware to Anfield. Ultimately, if the game is viewed in a microcosm, then it is simply a disappointing draw. When viewed on the larger scale it harkens back to past problems and raises new ones.
The Reds are fortunate in that their next two opponents aren't flying high at the moment and Liverpool has already handled lower level squads. Leicester wasn't flying high either and stole a point at Anfield though, so nothing can be taken for granted. Perhaps now that the busy holiday period is done the Reds can settle down, figure things out and play good football. Walk on.
Leicester came out with the energy and passion you would've expected to see from the Reds. Liverpool was immediately thrown onto their heels and the Reds defended decently despite a sure goal being turned away by the Kop's woodwork on an early free kick by Riyad Mahrez. Once the game calmed down a bit, Liverpool took things into their hands. They pressed the attack and spread the field nicely with the speed and fluidity up front with the trio of Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Coutinho.
Liverpool had their opportunities to score from the run of play, though rarely really tested backup keeper Ben Hamer. It was not until a more than fortunate penalty was given for a handball that actually hit the defender in the head that Liverpool was able to hit the net. More possession and attack yielded no result until another handball in the box gave Liverpool their second goal and Steven Gerrard his.
Normal fans would think the game was in hand and Liverpool seemed to be coasting to another victory. An early injury in the second half to Lallana may have actually cost Liverpool the game or at least raised questions about the lineup going forward. While Lallana would not have really figured into either goal actually scored by the Foxes, it was more what it did to Liverpool. Despite the uproar that a new goalkeeper is needed in the January window, Simon Mingolet played a solid match and nothing could be done about either goal.
The first goal for Leicester was an absolute sparkler from the top of the box. Nicely settled down and left for the Evertonian David Nugent to spank past the defender and past the outstretched hands of Mingolet. The Belgian keeper was screened but would not have had a chance even if he wasn't. With a score of 2-1, one could understand the Foxes being deserving of a tally given their hard work and unfortunate luck with the first penalty against them. However, they were not satisfied and Liverpool did not get their weight back on the toes. Less than two full minutes later, Leicester evened the game. Jefferey Schlupp took a good one time pass with a couple knocks and slotted it into the left netting with a solid left footed shot from the top of the arc.
While there were defensive lapses earlier in the play that led to the Foxes first goal, the second lay squarely on the backline and defending in general. A lackadaisical Raheem Sterling failed to account for Schlupp behind him, allowing the initial pass. Then Kolo Toure and Emre Can failed to close down on the shot before power could be put into it. The uninitiated will say Mingolet's attempt at the ball was poor and even the keeper himself may feel he could've put more power into the dive. However, any goalkeeper has no choice but to think Can is going to block that shot and then when it slides through the wickets, the goalkeeper has next to no time to react. Tie game. Done and dusted as they say.
Liverpool created more chances once they caught their breath. Two good chances came to the much debated Fabio Borini, one that seemed a tap in that the Italian striker managed to put a yard or two over the bar. Jordan Henderson whipped a strong shot toward goal as well, but ultimately well wide.
While my previous article focused on the positives to end 2014, this one will no doubt come off decidedly more negative. It is not for lack of effort. You can still see how the current formation benefits this team the most. However the questions raised in my previous blog and in this game will have great bearing on where this teams heads in 2015.
The defending is still awful. Brendan Rodgers is a proud man and a shrewd tactition, but his refusal to even entertain the idea of hiring a defensive coach may cost him his job. With no true goal scoring threat on this team, the constant glut of chances and goals given up along with the lack of clean sheets simply cannot be sustained by a winning club. Emre Can has done a fine job in a position that is not truly his own, however for the second straight contest he stumbled and looked foolish on a ball that drifted over his head. Mamadou Sakho has proven himself to be a very good positional defender, but looks like a recreational league player at times when the ball is at his feet. Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel are essentially the same player. They are solid defenders when at their best, but often slip to ground or grab their opponents at inopportune times.
The offense is still stagnant. Despite the breath of fresh air that was the Swansea match, the offense still struggles to actually score from the run of play. One could argue that Liverpool was outscored 2-0 or 2-1 given that both goals coming off penalties that in other matches may not have been called. Yes, the Reds created offense and Sterling and Coutinho are deadly with the ball on their shoestrings at times. However when you see that Liverpool had 18 total attempts and 6 on target, one really struggles to remember a good save from Hamer. The attempts on target were not usually effective and the quality chances were mostly missed.
Rounding back to the thought that Lallana's injury costing Liverpool, you could just see the change in the team. Fabio Borini is a decent player and would probably start for several clubs across the world. However due to the reaction from Rodgers toward the player and Borini's need to prove he can play at Liverpool, #29 simply tries too hard. A calm, composed player with the backing of his manager would have been more likely to slot home the game winner. Instead Borini simply charged around to show his effort and then banged his goal over the bar. The injury placed in a player who is trying too hard and also changed the dynamic of the team.
While the attacking triangle of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho is a bit fluid it is almost always Sterling at the top. Sterling was forced deeper due to Borini's inclusion and there was a sudden lack of creativity from the midfield. This cannot be blamed on Borini or Sterling's positions alone, but there was a decided drop off in the mental stability of this team when the team sheet changed. The same can be said of Rickie Lambert's inclusion for Alberto Moreno. The entire team shape was altered and though Lambert set up a potential chance for Borini, Liverpool just did not strike fear into the defense the way they had.
Taking a disappointing draw result away, these questions still have to be dealt with by the team because once Daniel Sturridge is healthy, there are going to be alterations to the squad. Whether by an addition in the January window or simply the return of Sturridge, by the end of January the starting XI is not going to be the same as it has been the last two or three games. Liverpool must accept this and find a way to threaten the goal no matter who is on the pitch. The positives, though few, that can be taken from the game are that Liverpool threaten anyone and everyone with the 3-4-2-1 and an attacking triangle of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho. The team showed good spirit even after the equalizer, when earlier in the season we would've seen a go-ahead goal from the Foxes.
It comes as little consolation in the moment, but Liverpool at least gained points. Not only on the pitch, but with Arsenal getting blanked they gain ground on the Gunners and stay right behind West Ham, who also drew. Liverpool now has 9 days off from Premier League action and can rest a few legs. Whether Rodgers chooses to do so is another matter, after stating he is determined to bring silverware to Anfield. Ultimately, if the game is viewed in a microcosm, then it is simply a disappointing draw. When viewed on the larger scale it harkens back to past problems and raises new ones.
The Reds are fortunate in that their next two opponents aren't flying high at the moment and Liverpool has already handled lower level squads. Leicester wasn't flying high either and stole a point at Anfield though, so nothing can be taken for granted. Perhaps now that the busy holiday period is done the Reds can settle down, figure things out and play good football. Walk on.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Late Equalizer Gives Reds Much Deserved Point
Heading into an all important matchup with their Londoner rivals, Liverpool again employed a rather unusual formation with seven midfielders and three defenders. Although you can argue whether it can sustain this squad for the rest of the season, it has yielded decent results. Not only has it improved the team on the scoresheet, the team itself just seems to flow better and have better energy.
Liverpool came out and dominated the first 45 minutes of play. They probably should have had more goals at the break than they did, given the effort. However, despite a quality goal from Coutinho, the Reds ended the first half tied up due to their lack of defending set pieces. Much like their counterparts, Liverpool again struggle to attack the ball and keep track of their man on free kicks and corners. It was again their downfall in the first half. After dominating possession and scoring chances, Liverpool could not hang onto the lead. One may question whether the offense whistled against Steven Gerrard was actually a foul or not, but the fact is it was called and Liverpool failed to defend it.
Surprisingly, the Reds have defended as a team better with only three true defenders but they still continue to prove that no matter who cracks the lineup that changes are in order. Whether they happen in January or during the summer window, there are still changes that must be made in the back. This fact was on full display for the go-ahead goal by Oliver Giroud. Arsenal did come out with more pep and possession in the second half, but still were not creating much. Then, in the usual lapse of marking, Giroud was allowed a full strike on the ball just steps away from the six yard area with all three Liverpool defenders being in a triangle around him but at least two meters away.
For long stretches it appeared as though Liverpool would miss out on any points, very similarly to the Manchester United fixture. Both matches saw Liverpool create chances aplenty and possess the ball in fine fashion, only to see mistakes at the back cost them. Fortunately for the Reds, whether by injury or simply current form, Arsenal is not United. Even after Liverpool were forced to go down by a man, following Fabio Borini's red card (and perhaps final act in a Liverpool kit), Arsenal were more than willing to let Liverpool run at them and create. Blame the players or blame Arsene Wenger, the bottom line is Liverpool will take it.
The Reds deserved better than a loss. Yes, sometimes you lose when you don't deserve to. That's football. That's sports. But, on this night, Liverpool got at least partially what they deserved. One could argue they deserved all three points, but at least a draw was something this club needed. While they did not gain any ground against Arsenal, it was still a valuable point. Even though there is still half a season to go and this writer has done his best to see the positives, a loss in this match would have made it exceedingly difficult to see Liverpool making a charge at the top four. Liverpool have not fared well against the teams above them in the table. They needed actual representation of the improvement they have seen rather than just moral or mental victories. Three points would have been much better, but not giving up on the match and banging home a header from Martin Skrtel to equalize was a good way to go into the Christmas break.
Questions continue to rise for this team. Though I have long argued for a two striker system, I am not quite sure you alter the team just yet. What can be done about the defense? There is no doubt the team has performed better with three at the back, but there is little doubt that whether you use Skrtel, Kolo Toure, Sakho, Dejan Lovren, Javier Manquillo, Glen Johnson or Moreno they still seem to give up unnecessary chances. It is a team rife with question marks and doubters, but there are at least tangible positives to see.
Lazar Markovic, while still raw, is starting to look like a good talent. There were flashes of a Raheem Sterling from two years ago. Much like Sterling's first chances in the first team, you can see the talent there, it just needs to be nurtured and brought along. Even from the beginning of the season, Markovic's touch has gotten much better. Whether he is worth the transfer fee is up to discussion. The team as a whole is producing a lot more as well.
Three goals against Bournmouthe, two against Arsenal and lots of chances against United have at least given fans hope that the ball will hit the back of the net each match. Fans were hoping for three points, but a gift of one for Christmas will at least tide them over until Boxing Day where they can hope for the full three against Burnley.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and best wishes to Liverpool FC and all the fans from St. Louis to New York and out to the rest of the world. Walk on.
Liverpool came out and dominated the first 45 minutes of play. They probably should have had more goals at the break than they did, given the effort. However, despite a quality goal from Coutinho, the Reds ended the first half tied up due to their lack of defending set pieces. Much like their counterparts, Liverpool again struggle to attack the ball and keep track of their man on free kicks and corners. It was again their downfall in the first half. After dominating possession and scoring chances, Liverpool could not hang onto the lead. One may question whether the offense whistled against Steven Gerrard was actually a foul or not, but the fact is it was called and Liverpool failed to defend it.
Surprisingly, the Reds have defended as a team better with only three true defenders but they still continue to prove that no matter who cracks the lineup that changes are in order. Whether they happen in January or during the summer window, there are still changes that must be made in the back. This fact was on full display for the go-ahead goal by Oliver Giroud. Arsenal did come out with more pep and possession in the second half, but still were not creating much. Then, in the usual lapse of marking, Giroud was allowed a full strike on the ball just steps away from the six yard area with all three Liverpool defenders being in a triangle around him but at least two meters away.
For long stretches it appeared as though Liverpool would miss out on any points, very similarly to the Manchester United fixture. Both matches saw Liverpool create chances aplenty and possess the ball in fine fashion, only to see mistakes at the back cost them. Fortunately for the Reds, whether by injury or simply current form, Arsenal is not United. Even after Liverpool were forced to go down by a man, following Fabio Borini's red card (and perhaps final act in a Liverpool kit), Arsenal were more than willing to let Liverpool run at them and create. Blame the players or blame Arsene Wenger, the bottom line is Liverpool will take it.
The Reds deserved better than a loss. Yes, sometimes you lose when you don't deserve to. That's football. That's sports. But, on this night, Liverpool got at least partially what they deserved. One could argue they deserved all three points, but at least a draw was something this club needed. While they did not gain any ground against Arsenal, it was still a valuable point. Even though there is still half a season to go and this writer has done his best to see the positives, a loss in this match would have made it exceedingly difficult to see Liverpool making a charge at the top four. Liverpool have not fared well against the teams above them in the table. They needed actual representation of the improvement they have seen rather than just moral or mental victories. Three points would have been much better, but not giving up on the match and banging home a header from Martin Skrtel to equalize was a good way to go into the Christmas break.
Questions continue to rise for this team. Though I have long argued for a two striker system, I am not quite sure you alter the team just yet. What can be done about the defense? There is no doubt the team has performed better with three at the back, but there is little doubt that whether you use Skrtel, Kolo Toure, Sakho, Dejan Lovren, Javier Manquillo, Glen Johnson or Moreno they still seem to give up unnecessary chances. It is a team rife with question marks and doubters, but there are at least tangible positives to see.
Lazar Markovic, while still raw, is starting to look like a good talent. There were flashes of a Raheem Sterling from two years ago. Much like Sterling's first chances in the first team, you can see the talent there, it just needs to be nurtured and brought along. Even from the beginning of the season, Markovic's touch has gotten much better. Whether he is worth the transfer fee is up to discussion. The team as a whole is producing a lot more as well.
Three goals against Bournmouthe, two against Arsenal and lots of chances against United have at least given fans hope that the ball will hit the back of the net each match. Fans were hoping for three points, but a gift of one for Christmas will at least tide them over until Boxing Day where they can hope for the full three against Burnley.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and best wishes to Liverpool FC and all the fans from St. Louis to New York and out to the rest of the world. Walk on.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Kick to the gut
We were all ready to get back to league action following the long international break. So it seemed anyway. Reality set in quickly following a rousing start to what had to be three points for Liverpool. Rickie Lambert finally got off the goose egg, scoring his first goal of the season and the first in the kit of his boyhood team. It seemed like a storybook start to what could have spurred the Reds on to a great week and perhaps turn the season around. Instead, the fairy tale turned to the stuff of nightmares coupled with the same mistakes that keep burying this storied club further away from their goal.
It seemed like Liverpool had solved their issues. Scoring a goal only 90 seconds into the match on a great lofted ball and nicely finished off by Lambert. It seemed like a perfect start that would erase all the scoring woes of the Reds. Lambert getting the goal, Liverpool getting a league score by a striker not named Sturridge, solid midfield hookup with the forward lines: it all seemed like the day could end with nothing but a positive result and a good start to a week that, on paper, featured three winnable games. Then it all went to pot.
Dwight Gale, the thorn in the side of Liverpool the last two matches against Crystal Palace, evened up the scoring and despite a few good chances and a bit of attacking play, Liverpool never really threatened again. As a fan, hope was given as the halftime analysts still thought Liverpool's talent would overcome and their skill would provide a game winning goal. Instead, the second half provided little attack and more defensive mistakes. The same defensive mistakes, one might add.
It has been a frustrating time to be a supporter of Liverpool. What makes it most frustrating is the confusion of how one or two players can alter a team to this extent. The defense was mediocre last season, so the addition of a few players, given their form at the moment, could not be expected to cure all ills. The enigma that is the Liverpool offense is what is so puzzling. Before the team dealt him to Spanish giant, Barcelona, it was already well known that Luis Suarez was a world class player. It was always going to be difficult to replace him, if for no other reason than the fact that nobody plays like Suarez. Alexis Sanchez, now of Arsenal, is the closest in terms of work-rate, however nobody (even the players who are better than Suarez) really matches the man in ever category. Even so, the drop off in goal scoring has been astounding.
Scoring goals is by no means an easy task. Yet, no matter how talented the duo is or was, it is mind boggling to see a team so eager to attack and break apart a defense become so listless and toothless up front. The problem, right now, is team wide and seems to be affecting every single player's performance. It is a problem of confidence. Any problem in the team has spread to the other parts. Poor defensive play or tactics forces the midfield to worry too much about helping out at the back. Poor midfield play, in terms of poor passing or badly timed giveaways, forces more pressure on an already shaky back line. The problems with the strikers are well documented and that forces both the midfield and defense to worry too much about trying to score when it may not even be their job.
The Crystal Palace match was a prime example of that last point. Outside of the Lambert goal, the best chances close to goal actually came from Martin Skrtel and Javier Manquillo. Those that watched the match saw how those chances were butchered, but what else can be expected from defenders who are not used to the pressure of hitting a target? One can say you should expect more from everyone and while correct, should we really think we will get it when it hasn't happened all year? Of course following a result such as this, the calls for Brendan Rodgers' job have ramped up, perhaps rightly so.
Those need to be tempered slightly though. Yes, given this poor run of form from his team and a seeming lack of desire, there is plenty of blame to be put on the manager. But there have been some, even in the media, who think Rodgers may not make it past the new year. Really? That is such utter nonsense that it is laughable. Far be it from me to say that won't happen, because the reality of European football is that is could. What benefit would that serve though? Even if you fire or sack him right after Christmas, the new man would have approximately two weeks to bring in someone new to fit his style after observing the club for a respectable amount of time. That is not enough to fix this club's issues. As an American, I can give a unique perspective. We have so many sports that the idea of lower teams defeating you is more common place. It doesn't affect a coach's job as much as in Europe. Also, more often than not, a midseason change does nothing for the team other than simply change for change's sake.
Rodgers should be evaluated at the end of the season and given a proper January window to attempt plugging up some holes. Rodgers has to figure out what players play to his style the best or fit a style to the players. Soccer or football managers really have little to affect a match outside of instilling a belief in their men and putting out the best starting 11. The back four have given Rodgers little options, since everyone has played poorly at different times. Alberto Moreno bombs forward, leaving holes behind at times, though it is still curious why he was left off the team sheet. Dejan Lovren simply looks lost if the ball is not in the air. Martin Skrtel, though he has his backers, is incredibly inconsistent and seems like he cannot defend without pulling or tugging. Manquillo, though young and making a few youthful mistakes, seems like the best of the options and he has been left off the team more often than not due to him being a loanee apparently. There are options on the bench. However, those who really believe Kolo Toure, regardless of his good performance against Madrid, won't make the same mistakes Skrtel and Loven make are delusional.
The biggest issue Rodgers has in front of him, is the apparent lack of desire in this club. Perhaps Suarez brought so much energy to the team last year that so many issues were covered up. Now, whether the absence of said player or the manager's sudden lack of ability to inspire his troops, this team is stuck in the lake with no rudder and no wind in the sails. My one major fault with Rodgers, outside of picking a starting 11, has been his unwillingness to accept blame following matches. Now he has done so. Perhaps there was no other option, but Rodgers can see the writing on the wall and knows it really is up to him to figure it out. Everyone needs to do their part. Players have to perform. Do your own job to the best of your ability and there is enough talent on this squad to get results. Players have to perform, the manager has to make good choices and the Reds need a bit of luck.
Couple all of that with a good signing or two in January and this team can still make top four. That is what has to be focused on. The league, unfortunately, has been gone for some time. Fourth place and maintaining a spot in Champions League is still alive because of all the teams in front of them. Thin hopes, perhaps, due to the number of teams above Livepool but many are still clubs that could fall off in the second half. It's all up to the men in the kits and on the sideline. Will this team pull triumph from the jaws of defeat or will they be known as the team that went from the brink of winning a title to the mediocrity of the lower portion of the table? It is all up to them. All the supporters can do is pour their hearts out, as they do week in and week out and hope. Walk on my friends.
It seemed like Liverpool had solved their issues. Scoring a goal only 90 seconds into the match on a great lofted ball and nicely finished off by Lambert. It seemed like a perfect start that would erase all the scoring woes of the Reds. Lambert getting the goal, Liverpool getting a league score by a striker not named Sturridge, solid midfield hookup with the forward lines: it all seemed like the day could end with nothing but a positive result and a good start to a week that, on paper, featured three winnable games. Then it all went to pot.
Dwight Gale, the thorn in the side of Liverpool the last two matches against Crystal Palace, evened up the scoring and despite a few good chances and a bit of attacking play, Liverpool never really threatened again. As a fan, hope was given as the halftime analysts still thought Liverpool's talent would overcome and their skill would provide a game winning goal. Instead, the second half provided little attack and more defensive mistakes. The same defensive mistakes, one might add.
It has been a frustrating time to be a supporter of Liverpool. What makes it most frustrating is the confusion of how one or two players can alter a team to this extent. The defense was mediocre last season, so the addition of a few players, given their form at the moment, could not be expected to cure all ills. The enigma that is the Liverpool offense is what is so puzzling. Before the team dealt him to Spanish giant, Barcelona, it was already well known that Luis Suarez was a world class player. It was always going to be difficult to replace him, if for no other reason than the fact that nobody plays like Suarez. Alexis Sanchez, now of Arsenal, is the closest in terms of work-rate, however nobody (even the players who are better than Suarez) really matches the man in ever category. Even so, the drop off in goal scoring has been astounding.
Scoring goals is by no means an easy task. Yet, no matter how talented the duo is or was, it is mind boggling to see a team so eager to attack and break apart a defense become so listless and toothless up front. The problem, right now, is team wide and seems to be affecting every single player's performance. It is a problem of confidence. Any problem in the team has spread to the other parts. Poor defensive play or tactics forces the midfield to worry too much about helping out at the back. Poor midfield play, in terms of poor passing or badly timed giveaways, forces more pressure on an already shaky back line. The problems with the strikers are well documented and that forces both the midfield and defense to worry too much about trying to score when it may not even be their job.
The Crystal Palace match was a prime example of that last point. Outside of the Lambert goal, the best chances close to goal actually came from Martin Skrtel and Javier Manquillo. Those that watched the match saw how those chances were butchered, but what else can be expected from defenders who are not used to the pressure of hitting a target? One can say you should expect more from everyone and while correct, should we really think we will get it when it hasn't happened all year? Of course following a result such as this, the calls for Brendan Rodgers' job have ramped up, perhaps rightly so.
Those need to be tempered slightly though. Yes, given this poor run of form from his team and a seeming lack of desire, there is plenty of blame to be put on the manager. But there have been some, even in the media, who think Rodgers may not make it past the new year. Really? That is such utter nonsense that it is laughable. Far be it from me to say that won't happen, because the reality of European football is that is could. What benefit would that serve though? Even if you fire or sack him right after Christmas, the new man would have approximately two weeks to bring in someone new to fit his style after observing the club for a respectable amount of time. That is not enough to fix this club's issues. As an American, I can give a unique perspective. We have so many sports that the idea of lower teams defeating you is more common place. It doesn't affect a coach's job as much as in Europe. Also, more often than not, a midseason change does nothing for the team other than simply change for change's sake.
Rodgers should be evaluated at the end of the season and given a proper January window to attempt plugging up some holes. Rodgers has to figure out what players play to his style the best or fit a style to the players. Soccer or football managers really have little to affect a match outside of instilling a belief in their men and putting out the best starting 11. The back four have given Rodgers little options, since everyone has played poorly at different times. Alberto Moreno bombs forward, leaving holes behind at times, though it is still curious why he was left off the team sheet. Dejan Lovren simply looks lost if the ball is not in the air. Martin Skrtel, though he has his backers, is incredibly inconsistent and seems like he cannot defend without pulling or tugging. Manquillo, though young and making a few youthful mistakes, seems like the best of the options and he has been left off the team more often than not due to him being a loanee apparently. There are options on the bench. However, those who really believe Kolo Toure, regardless of his good performance against Madrid, won't make the same mistakes Skrtel and Loven make are delusional.
The biggest issue Rodgers has in front of him, is the apparent lack of desire in this club. Perhaps Suarez brought so much energy to the team last year that so many issues were covered up. Now, whether the absence of said player or the manager's sudden lack of ability to inspire his troops, this team is stuck in the lake with no rudder and no wind in the sails. My one major fault with Rodgers, outside of picking a starting 11, has been his unwillingness to accept blame following matches. Now he has done so. Perhaps there was no other option, but Rodgers can see the writing on the wall and knows it really is up to him to figure it out. Everyone needs to do their part. Players have to perform. Do your own job to the best of your ability and there is enough talent on this squad to get results. Players have to perform, the manager has to make good choices and the Reds need a bit of luck.
Couple all of that with a good signing or two in January and this team can still make top four. That is what has to be focused on. The league, unfortunately, has been gone for some time. Fourth place and maintaining a spot in Champions League is still alive because of all the teams in front of them. Thin hopes, perhaps, due to the number of teams above Livepool but many are still clubs that could fall off in the second half. It's all up to the men in the kits and on the sideline. Will this team pull triumph from the jaws of defeat or will they be known as the team that went from the brink of winning a title to the mediocrity of the lower portion of the table? It is all up to them. All the supporters can do is pour their hearts out, as they do week in and week out and hope. Walk on my friends.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Another match, another hair puller
Well, as they have tended to do this season, the Liverpool Football Club provided flashes to give the supporters hope only to have it dashed by the same mistakes. As will ever be the case with professional sports, the vocal minority will seek to put the blame all on one person. Several will seek the head of the manager, Brendan Rodgers. Many will heap blame on the lightning rod, Mario Balotelli. Some may even look to place fault on recalls such as Glen Johnson or Dejan Lovren. None are right and none are completely wrong.
Some readers will accuse me of sitting on the fence, but the truth is seeing with a clear head is the only way to look at these situations. It is a main reason that my blogs are not usually finished for several hours after a match. You have to let the blood cool and think clearly, without the passion of a supporter, which is very difficult at the time. The truth is, this is a team-wide problem. Blame lays from the owners down to the players. Some may stick out more than others, but all deserve credit for the failings of this team.
As much as I love Brendan Rodgers and his overall philosophies regarding the importance of supporters, he has to shoulder the blame along with his squad. Many of his signings are either just not good enough or not coming along at the pace needed for Liverpool to contend for top four and silverware consistently. His strange reliance on a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, when it has produced next to no goals has proven another undoing. Unless he plans to play Balotelli as a winder with a top three of Balotelli, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge, then it becomes more and more unclear why he would not want the team to be more accustomed to two strikers. Many are also upset with his choice of words during pre and post-match press conferences, but I could write an entirely different blog about the silliness in worrying about that.
The entire team of players needs to shoulder the blame as well. While several players had decent to good matches, the bottom line is the entire team is just not getting it done. This team is such a conundrum, that even supporters have no clear clue about who should be in the starting 11. While talent wise, Balotelli is still the best scoring option for a striker, some want him out of the team even though Rickie Lambert and Fabrio Borini have given little actual evidence they will produce anything more than Mario other than work rate. Though Sterling and Coutinho had good matches, causing several problems with their pace and attacking style, they too did not produce anything substantial. Sterling seems to lack that final touch this season, almost always dribbling too close to an opponent or putting too much touch on a ball thus allowing a defender the opportunity to claim it.
The same can be said of Coutinho, though he has more claim to reigning in his mistakes in recent matches. You can go player to player, man to man and pick faults with every single one that have either not benefited the club or hindered it. Kolo Toure had a good performance against Real Madrid, midweek, but if you look within yourself does he really instill more confidence or any less cringe-worthy moments than Lovren or Martin Skrtel? Skrtel did an excellent job containing Diego Costa on this day, but there were many articles calling for his head to be the one Toure replaced instead of Lovren for the Chelsea match. Glen Johnson had a very good match against the Blues as well, but still made his usual Glen Johnson mistakes. They were simply not as damaging as they have been in matches past.
The clear question moving forward is what can each man do to improve the team and how can Brendan Rodgers make improvements either by squad changes, changes in the transfer window or simply by trying a new formation. Fans and supporters and pundits can cry for change in the squad, but until a player gives BR absolutely no possible opportunity for them to not play, then the starting 11 will always be a contentious spot. Toure and Borini had good matches in Champions League, but other than personal bias' against their potential replacements, would they really instill that much more confidence in a supporter for a different result?
There is no clear reason, especially with the money spent, why Glen Johnson continues to gain a starting spot. However, can we really say that Javier Manquillo has performed so well that he should be given the nod ever single time? The answer to all of these is no. Say what you will about Rodgers, but I still believe he knows talent on his own pitch very well. His ability to judge what talent to bring in remains to be seen. But if that is true, then he sees who is training well and who gives his squad the best opportunity on each day. So yes it is Rodgers' fault for picking the squads who are not performing up to snuff, but it is also each players fault for not performing up to the quality that put them in the squad or for not performing well enough in training to replace the players that so many question.
The supporters dissatisfaction is palpable and understandably so. There is simply no consistency for this club, even in the way they lose matches. While I was one who argued that a 1-0 loss to Madrid was a decent result and the team should be proud of the way they played, I feel the complete opposite for the result against Chelsea. Let no man say I am taking credit away from the Blues. They played an excellent match. They minimized mistakes and were only made to pay for one cruel deflection early in the game. Liverpool, on the other hand, had several decent performances individually but were just so inept at times that I'm sure several people lost beverages and gained gray hairs. The stretch from the 30th minute to the 35th had so many mistakes it looked like a youth squad taking on Chelsea.
Liverpool must play better, plain and simple. They have to return to basics. It does not matter they were taking on the team at the top of the table. It does not matter if they were playing the team at the bottom. Their own form is lacking right now and has to be changed. There are too many cute passes or cheeky plays and when you are not in good form those plays do not come off. Liverpool needs to be more direct and forceful. You cannot have passes that barely hit their target or do not hit the target at all. It is not even a problem with through balls, it is passes to players feet that do not have the pace on them to not be intercepted. The Reds need to be sure of every ball and every clearance for a time. If they do that then the skill plays will come. There is so much skill in this team, but at the moment it is not upstairs and that is a huge issue.
As a personal opinion, other than the attacking players, there are few Chelsea players that are just far and away better skill-wise than what Liverpool has right now. The difference is in the brain. Chelsea is so sure of what they are doing that their skill is allowed to shine. Liverpool doubts so much of what they do, at the moment, that their skill makes them look like bumblers due to indecision. Luckily for Liverpool, it is a league-wide problem at the moment. With all the blunders and poor matches Liverpool have had, they are currently only 8th with several squads above them that most would doubt can hold their position an entire season. Manchester City's results, given all their money spent, put them in the same boat of having lots of skill or potential talent but just not having the mental stability to keep it all in step. The Reds just have to play smarter. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you don't have the mental capacity to clear balls at the right time or be aware of your defensive markings then you're not helping the club. You can have all the skill and pace in the world, but if you cannot link up with your fellow midfielders or attackers and constantly put balls into the opposition then you're doing no good. You can have all the technical ability and strike wonder goals all day in training, but if you do not have the mental ability to play with your team and see the runs they make or work hard in the box, then it is all for naught.
As the supporters do, I still have faith in this squad to finish in the top four. I still believe the inclusion of Daniel Sturridge up top will open up a lot of space. The thing that worries most is, even if Sturridge is a missing link, is this team really set up for long term success if their success is based on one man. No matter how good he is or can be, Liverpool have to find ways to be successful even if Sturridge is not playing or not playing at his best. That was shown in today's match when no matter how much skill anyone showed in flashes, it just wasn't there the entire time and mental mistakes were the huge gap between the Reds and Blues. Liverpool has many questions still and have to find the answers now before the gap between 8th and 4th is too much to climb. The international break may be a good thing for the club this time. The player's poor form may mean more club practice time than international action. Perhaps it will reset focus as well. Three matches remain in November and Liverpool needs three points in each. Crystal Palace, Ludogorets and Stoke won't be easy, but if Liverpool is to be Liverpool once more then it has to be three points from each. It seems tough my friends, but we and the club must Walk On.
Some readers will accuse me of sitting on the fence, but the truth is seeing with a clear head is the only way to look at these situations. It is a main reason that my blogs are not usually finished for several hours after a match. You have to let the blood cool and think clearly, without the passion of a supporter, which is very difficult at the time. The truth is, this is a team-wide problem. Blame lays from the owners down to the players. Some may stick out more than others, but all deserve credit for the failings of this team.
As much as I love Brendan Rodgers and his overall philosophies regarding the importance of supporters, he has to shoulder the blame along with his squad. Many of his signings are either just not good enough or not coming along at the pace needed for Liverpool to contend for top four and silverware consistently. His strange reliance on a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, when it has produced next to no goals has proven another undoing. Unless he plans to play Balotelli as a winder with a top three of Balotelli, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge, then it becomes more and more unclear why he would not want the team to be more accustomed to two strikers. Many are also upset with his choice of words during pre and post-match press conferences, but I could write an entirely different blog about the silliness in worrying about that.
The entire team of players needs to shoulder the blame as well. While several players had decent to good matches, the bottom line is the entire team is just not getting it done. This team is such a conundrum, that even supporters have no clear clue about who should be in the starting 11. While talent wise, Balotelli is still the best scoring option for a striker, some want him out of the team even though Rickie Lambert and Fabrio Borini have given little actual evidence they will produce anything more than Mario other than work rate. Though Sterling and Coutinho had good matches, causing several problems with their pace and attacking style, they too did not produce anything substantial. Sterling seems to lack that final touch this season, almost always dribbling too close to an opponent or putting too much touch on a ball thus allowing a defender the opportunity to claim it.
The same can be said of Coutinho, though he has more claim to reigning in his mistakes in recent matches. You can go player to player, man to man and pick faults with every single one that have either not benefited the club or hindered it. Kolo Toure had a good performance against Real Madrid, midweek, but if you look within yourself does he really instill more confidence or any less cringe-worthy moments than Lovren or Martin Skrtel? Skrtel did an excellent job containing Diego Costa on this day, but there were many articles calling for his head to be the one Toure replaced instead of Lovren for the Chelsea match. Glen Johnson had a very good match against the Blues as well, but still made his usual Glen Johnson mistakes. They were simply not as damaging as they have been in matches past.
The clear question moving forward is what can each man do to improve the team and how can Brendan Rodgers make improvements either by squad changes, changes in the transfer window or simply by trying a new formation. Fans and supporters and pundits can cry for change in the squad, but until a player gives BR absolutely no possible opportunity for them to not play, then the starting 11 will always be a contentious spot. Toure and Borini had good matches in Champions League, but other than personal bias' against their potential replacements, would they really instill that much more confidence in a supporter for a different result?
There is no clear reason, especially with the money spent, why Glen Johnson continues to gain a starting spot. However, can we really say that Javier Manquillo has performed so well that he should be given the nod ever single time? The answer to all of these is no. Say what you will about Rodgers, but I still believe he knows talent on his own pitch very well. His ability to judge what talent to bring in remains to be seen. But if that is true, then he sees who is training well and who gives his squad the best opportunity on each day. So yes it is Rodgers' fault for picking the squads who are not performing up to snuff, but it is also each players fault for not performing up to the quality that put them in the squad or for not performing well enough in training to replace the players that so many question.
The supporters dissatisfaction is palpable and understandably so. There is simply no consistency for this club, even in the way they lose matches. While I was one who argued that a 1-0 loss to Madrid was a decent result and the team should be proud of the way they played, I feel the complete opposite for the result against Chelsea. Let no man say I am taking credit away from the Blues. They played an excellent match. They minimized mistakes and were only made to pay for one cruel deflection early in the game. Liverpool, on the other hand, had several decent performances individually but were just so inept at times that I'm sure several people lost beverages and gained gray hairs. The stretch from the 30th minute to the 35th had so many mistakes it looked like a youth squad taking on Chelsea.
Liverpool must play better, plain and simple. They have to return to basics. It does not matter they were taking on the team at the top of the table. It does not matter if they were playing the team at the bottom. Their own form is lacking right now and has to be changed. There are too many cute passes or cheeky plays and when you are not in good form those plays do not come off. Liverpool needs to be more direct and forceful. You cannot have passes that barely hit their target or do not hit the target at all. It is not even a problem with through balls, it is passes to players feet that do not have the pace on them to not be intercepted. The Reds need to be sure of every ball and every clearance for a time. If they do that then the skill plays will come. There is so much skill in this team, but at the moment it is not upstairs and that is a huge issue.
As a personal opinion, other than the attacking players, there are few Chelsea players that are just far and away better skill-wise than what Liverpool has right now. The difference is in the brain. Chelsea is so sure of what they are doing that their skill is allowed to shine. Liverpool doubts so much of what they do, at the moment, that their skill makes them look like bumblers due to indecision. Luckily for Liverpool, it is a league-wide problem at the moment. With all the blunders and poor matches Liverpool have had, they are currently only 8th with several squads above them that most would doubt can hold their position an entire season. Manchester City's results, given all their money spent, put them in the same boat of having lots of skill or potential talent but just not having the mental stability to keep it all in step. The Reds just have to play smarter. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you don't have the mental capacity to clear balls at the right time or be aware of your defensive markings then you're not helping the club. You can have all the skill and pace in the world, but if you cannot link up with your fellow midfielders or attackers and constantly put balls into the opposition then you're doing no good. You can have all the technical ability and strike wonder goals all day in training, but if you do not have the mental ability to play with your team and see the runs they make or work hard in the box, then it is all for naught.
As the supporters do, I still have faith in this squad to finish in the top four. I still believe the inclusion of Daniel Sturridge up top will open up a lot of space. The thing that worries most is, even if Sturridge is a missing link, is this team really set up for long term success if their success is based on one man. No matter how good he is or can be, Liverpool have to find ways to be successful even if Sturridge is not playing or not playing at his best. That was shown in today's match when no matter how much skill anyone showed in flashes, it just wasn't there the entire time and mental mistakes were the huge gap between the Reds and Blues. Liverpool has many questions still and have to find the answers now before the gap between 8th and 4th is too much to climb. The international break may be a good thing for the club this time. The player's poor form may mean more club practice time than international action. Perhaps it will reset focus as well. Three matches remain in November and Liverpool needs three points in each. Crystal Palace, Ludogorets and Stoke won't be easy, but if Liverpool is to be Liverpool once more then it has to be three points from each. It seems tough my friends, but we and the club must Walk On.
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