Bland Midweek Win Pushes Liverpool Back into Fifth

Liverpool's midweek match against Burnley in the league provided no real surprises.  Liverpool managed a relatively easy win over a side struggling to get out of the relegation zone.  Burnley had only won four times in 27 matches prior and had not won at Anfield in 41 years.  Therefor, the mountain for them to climb was always going to be a difficult one and the Liverpool players made it even steeper by coming out and doing their jobs.

It was by no means a perfect game.  The Reds failed to convert on chances that they may have if clicking on all cylinders, but ultimately it did not matter too much.  Daniel Sturridge had a pretty good game.  Obviously his form has had peaks and valleys since his return, but he remains a key for the squad to get into the top four by the end of the season.  Sturridge scored a very good goal.  Jordan Henderson sent in a beautiful cross from the right wing and Sturridge slipped between two defenders to nod in the second goal of the game.  However, he failed to score on a breakaway and turned away from a cross that may have led to a goal as well.

Sturridge's game continues to evolve as he regains his fitness.  When he is at his best, he continues to be a catalyst for good things for Liverpool.  The only downside to his current form is, at times, he seems to be bitten by the Balotelli bug.  There are brief times where the effort appears to not be there.  There are times he shrinks back from challenges and does not go full boar the way he had last season.  This is forgivable given the several injuries he accrued before finally settling back in the team this year, but one can only hope that once he feels 100% confident that he will attack without holding back.

This was one of those games where there really wasn't a whole lot to glean from it.  Liverpool won, which they were expected to do.  They held onto the ball for the majority of the game, which they were expected to do.  They limited the chances of their opponent, which given Burnley's goal differential of minus 20 before the match, didn't seem like too tall of an order.

Things were not negative coming out of this game though, despite the lack of enthusiasm from yours truly.  Liverpool could have had more goals and should have, but other than that they did what they needed to do.  They needed to win to stay within reach of the top four and did so, not knowing how the results of other matches were going.  They got the victory without really expending a lot of energy as well, which is a definite plus given the 120 minutes they poured into their match against Besiktas and the emotion it took to get a victory over Manchester City only 3 days later.  In addition to that, they got another clean sheet, which is something they struggled to do at the beginning of the year but are now getting in regularity.

As a team, nothing spectacular came from the match but as individuals there were several top notch performances.  Coutinho continues to show that when his head is in the game, he is a game changer.  He has speed, touch, shiftiness, an eye for the pass and an ability to score.  The fact that Liverpool locked him up for several more years is a definite plus.  Emre Can continues to show improvement and versatility.  He is solid enough to use as part of the back three, but has shown the talent going forward and on the ball that he will be a very useful talent in the midfield in the years to come.  Some have even gone as far to say that he will be the one to step into Steven Gerrard's shoes.  I think those shoes are too big for Can to fill alone, but he definitely seems capable of making that void not as wide.

Joe Allen has also become quite the player in the recent weeks.  He hasn't done anything flashy or put his name on the score sheet, but that is the point.  Many fans, pundits and even myself often questioned why he was even in the squad, let alone the starting XI.  Allen was weak on the ball, failed to win challenges and made poor decisions in his passing game in the first half of the season.  But he has stepped up in a huge way since Gerrard's injury.  By no means has the Welshman played like Gerrard, but he hasn't made mistakes and that's what you look for from a player of his quality.  He doesn't need to make the flashy passes or fancy moves.  He doesn't need to make pinpoint crosses or even stay on the ball long.  He needs to be a linchpin in the midfield and an extra defender when needed and he has done just that.

Then there is Jordan Henderson.  Henderson had plenty of scrutiny brought upon him with the penalty kick controversy a few weeks ago.  He wasn't given a totally fair shake due to many assuming he will automatically be made captain once Gerrard comes to America.  He did himself no favors by not playing particularly well either.  However, the past few games he has really stepped up his game and not just due to the fact he has scored.  Henderson has grown over the past couple weeks and dealt with adversity very well.  He shrugged off the Europa League nonsense and came up huge for his team.  Henderson scored an incredible goal in a big match against City that would have been the goal of the month or week, if not for Coutinho's strike.  Then he scored a cracker of a shot against Burnley and dropped a cross right onto Sturridge's head for the insurance tally.  Henderson might not be the captain in future years and will definitely never be the next Gerrard, but as long as he's the best Jordan Henderson he can be then he has justified his place in this club.

The bottom line is that Liverpool continue to win.  Win pretty, win ugly, with with style or just get the job done.  They did that today.  It won't go down in the annals of Anfield as an historic or memorable match, but it didn't need to be.  Over the course of a season, there are so many matches that it's impossible to show flair and style every single time.  Even the super-clubs like Barcelona or Bayern Munich can't accomplish that.  In the end, as long as the club continues to win then it doesn't matter how it was accomplished.  Just continue to win and the rest will take care of itself.

Walk On

Liverpool Continue to March Up the Table

Liverpool managed a fantastic game against Manchester City, just days after a disastrous exit to Besiktas in the Europa League.  While it certainly helped to get the huge boost that the Anfield faithful always provide, Liverpool came out with a zest for the game and with energy many feared would be lacking after expending 120 minutes of strength in Istanbul.  Liverpool opened the game very positively, almost creating a chance mere minutes into the game.

Then the floodgates opened.  Both teams bombed back and forth.  Manchester City, title dreams slowly vanishing like that last sweet dream that fades into the morning, put forth a solid attack.  Absorbing the first two or three minutes, they lashed out toward the Kop with reckless abandon.  Their attacks often left holes in the back, which Liverpool were able to take advantage of in turn.

Despite his failings in Europe, Brendan Rodgers' decisions continue to bear fruit domestically.  While the boss has labeled it as an injury, the consensus is that Coutinho was held out of the road game at Istanbul merely to give him a rest.  Regardless of what the truth is, the decision turned out to be a genius one as Coutinho dominated the game from the Reds' point of view.  The Brazilian talent was solid on the ball, made great decisions and slotted deft passes into places only his teammates could get the ball.  Coutinho may not have scored the opening goal, but he formulated Liverpool's attack for most of the first half.  He presented Manchester City with problems as he was too fast in some instances and too skilled to be marked in others.

Jordan Henderson, who despite recent games of solid play is not known for his clinical finishing, smashed what Arlo White described as one of the potential goals of the year.  Little did White know what was to come later.  Henderson, for his part, took the pass on the left side of the box. pushed it past the lunging defender and though it seemed as though he may have pushed it too far away, Vincent Kompany did not close the distance.  Henderson then smashed a brilliant right footed curler into the upper 90 and Joe Hart stood no chance.

Liverpool's lead would not last forever, unfortunately for their fans.  Though the Reds were able to withstand the onslaught in the opening foray of the match, their defensive lapses could not hold back the wave forever.  Sergio Aguero managed to avoid several tackles as he slid along the top of the box.  The City striker's skill managed to draw enough attention that Edin Dzeko slipped into the space between center backs.  Dzeko took the pass neatly from Aguero, spotted it past the sliding Simon Mingolet and knotted up the game.

Both teams continued to take their chances and heading into the half, it appeared as though momentum may be sliding toward City.  However, Liverpool took control of the game in the second half.  Defying conventional wisdom which said City would have more energy having played on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday, the Reds took the game to their opponents.  Coutinho took the game into his hands as well.

In the 75th minute, Coutinho scored a brilliant goal that was very similar to Henderson's but from an even tighter angle.  Liverpool's manager had nothing but praise for his young player.  "He is a joy to work with and a joy to watch," said Rodgers.  "He is a kid who has so much ahead of him in the game.  He is 22 years of age.  People forget that he came to us at 19.  He is a sensational footballer.  To beat Joe Hart at that angle and power was a phenomenal shot."

Not only was it important to get the victory over City for the simple morale booster, of beating a team that is above you in the table and defeated you soundly earlier in the season, but to keep moving up the table yourself.  Liverpool came into the match one point behind Southampton, who sat in sixth.  The Saints lost on Saturday, which allowed Liverpool a chance to even tie for fourth spot.  The win vaulted them two points over the Saints and into a tie with Arsenal.  The tie did not last long as Liverpool's Merseyside companion, Everton, could not take down the Gunners but at least the Reds have a Champions League spot within an extremely realistic grasp.

Liverpool are the only Premier League team yet to lose a league match in the calander year of 2015.  Rodgers believes working into a Champions League spot may be an even bigger accomplishment than hoped for.  "If we can get into the top four, it is an even bigger accomplishment than last season because of our starting position."

Liverpool continue to take their Kopites on a rollercoaster of a season.  Their lack of success in Europe and the ups and downs of cup competitions have kept fans guessing and wondering.  In the league, they have yet to let people down.  A loss is bound to come at some time and Liverpool still have Arsenal and Manchester United above, but they have placed themselves in a position where things are in their hands.  The Reds have winnable matches the next two league games and then face all-important fixtures against the Red Devils at home and the Gunners on the road.  Points are at a premium.  As long as Liverpool continue to pick them up in each game, then there may be more European nights at Anfield next season.

Random Thoughts:

- I cannot imagine not starting Daniel Sturridge if he is fit, but he seems to be proving himself more of an asset at this stage coming off the bench.  He failed to put the nail in the coffin on a couple chances, but still threatened the goal and one has to figure if he was in full form he would've slotted the goals in.

- Liverpool deserved to win.  Bottom line.  That said, Manchester City failed to connect on several chances that, given their skill, you would normally expect them to finish off.  The formation still suits the Reds, but I just worry about their defensive skill if faced with a team that is flying.

- Adam Lallana continues to be a bit of a mystery.  Some games he looks fantastic, like this one against City.  Others, he completely disappears like against Southampton.  Perhaps the occasion of facing his former team was too much for him on that night.

Walk On

Liverpool Falter and Deservedly Bow Out of Europe

Liverpool came into the road leg of their Europa League matchup with Besiktas seemingly in control of their own destiny.  Despite a relatively slim lead of only 1-0, from the controversial Mario Balotelli penalty kick at Anfield, all the power was in Liverpool's hands.  They had a slight margin for error with the one goal lead.  They had momentum coming off a huge win over the weekend over Southampton, where they dominated most of the game.  All Liverpool had to do was score one goal and they would force the Turkish side to score three goals to win, due to the away goal rule.

Liverpool could not accomplish such a feat.  The Reds came out in the first half and both squads probed at each other.  Neither really had great chances in the first fifteen to twenty minutes, but the flow of the game was what would be expected given the circumstances.  Liverpool did what they set out to do, according to Brendan Rodgers' prematch statements.  They held up the ball, knocked it around and did their best to absorb the match until the initial wave washed over Istanbul.  It worked.

You can disagree with the tactics or want to see Liverpool come out flying right from the opening whistle, but it worked...in the first half.  Liverpool held to their game plan in the opening 45 minutes and took the energy out of Besiktas.  Liverpool dominated possession and sprung several attacks from the 20th minute until halftime.  Honestly, Liverpool should have been 1-0 up at the half.  Daniel Sturridge has regressed after his firecracker start returning from injury.

Sturridge did not complete a run toward the goal line, where he would have had a chance at a Raheem Sterling cross.  Instead he planted himself on the penalty spot where even a chip cross would have been difficult to complete.  Sturridge was sprung on a semi-breakaway in the 28th minute, but was not at fault for failing to score there - the awful pitch at Besiktas' temporary home would not allow for any true rolls or bounces.  Sturridge was also given a great through ball by Balotelli in the 33rd minute, but instead of striking it first or second time, he tried to dribble around two or three defenders.

Sturridge has some excuse, though it is not much of one given his status in the team.  This match was really the first game since returning from injury that he was asked to go all 90 minutes and then some.  It was clear as the match wore on that Sturridge's fitness is not up to his own standards.  He is by no means out of shape, but is appearing more like a man that has not played for half a season rather than one of the feared strikers in the Premier League.

Regardless of Sturridge's failings in the first half or disappearing in the second, the entire team is at fault in the second half.  Blame for that has to be with the manager.  Long has this blog been a safe haven for Brendan Rodgers, whether during the difficult times at the start of the season or when every choice made by the boss was pure gold.  However Rodgers failed his team in the second half.  Liverpool came out and once they saw the pressure that Besiktas was going to throw at them, they capitulated.  Liverpool sat back and tried to defend for 45 minutes, which is something that almost no team can do, especially one that is not known for being the most stout at the back end.

Perhaps it was a tactical decision made in the locker room at the break.  Perhaps it was merely tired legs taking over for the Reds' midfield and defenders.  Perhaps the players thought the Turkish side were going to roll over after the wave of attack that Liverpool had thrust upon them to end half number one.  Whatever the reasoning, Rodgers needed to change something.  Well before Liverpool conceded the equalizing goal, you could sense what was coming.

Liverpool did not look like a side that were simply defending and repelling each Besiktas attack with ease.  This was a team that was under constant duress and flailing balls away just to catch a breath.  If the choice to defend was tactically made, Rodgers should have seen it was not effective and undone it.  If it was the case of the players thinking their opponent would not have the energy to pounce on them, then Rodgers needed to plant the seed either from the sideline or at the half that the match was not anywhere near over.

Instead, Liverpool did nothing with possession, gave the ball away constantly, backed away from attacks with speed and ultimately let up the tying goal.  Tolgay-Ali Arslan capitalized on the mistouch from Demba Ba and ripped one that split the defenders and curled away from a diving Simon Mingolet.  The Reds finally mustered up a bit of possession and looked more in control of the game following the equalizer, but really did not threaten.  It became more of cat and mouse game with both sides seeking to not make the mistake that would cost the game rather than actually trying to seize it.

Rodgers continued to make slightly odd decisions in his substitutions as well.  While nobody can fault the idea of taking Balotelli off to keep the team at 11 men, given his earlier yellow card, it seemed odd given that Liverpool seemed to be playing for penalties and Balotelli is the best on the squad that was in Turkey.  Jodan Ibe came off for Javier Manquillo in a decision that was odd given Ibe's youth and thus potentially more stamina and the fact that Manquillo is more defensive minded and, again, Liverpool were seeking penalties.  Finally Rickie Lambert came on, which is fine, but took off Daniel Sturridge who you would think would be needed to take penalties.  Some will argue you don't want to waste all his energy on this match with Manchester City coming up, but once you've played 105 minutes, what danger does it really pose?

Liverpool failed to really threaten in the extra time.  Both sides looked completely spent and the match went to the dreaded penalty shootout.  It was tied 4-4 after all eight kickers had hit the back of the net.  There was still a sense of dread about the entire process from a Liverpool perspective though.  Even though all four kickers converted, there did not seem to be the coolness and calm with which Besiktas took their kicks.  That sense of foreboding was proved correct when Dejan Lovren stepped to the spot as Liverpool's fifth penalty taker.

Lovren actually had a decent match up to that point.  He was not going to be man of the match candidate, but he was solid given the amount of playing time he has had in recent weeks.  He was strong on the man and strong in the air.  If his feet would not fail him so often, he would be a very good defender.  But a goalscorer he is not.  Lovren should not have been in that situation.  It is hard to understand including him in your top five penalty takers, even with all the injuries on the squad.  It is even harder to understand why he would be placed last, when you know all the pressure put on that kicker if it actually gets to that point.

The even more puzzling quandary is why Raheem Sterling had not kicked.  You can take all the penalties in practice you want, and perhaps practice statistics are why Lovren was in, but your top players have to be your top performers.  In hockey, top players often want to be left off the shootout because they don't like it or feel they don't do well in it.  Perhaps that was the case young Sterling made and left himself off the top five list.  Whatever the reason, Rodgers has to have number 31 on that top five list.  Injuries or not, Gerrard or not, Balotelli or not, Sturridge or not, I have a hard time believing that Raheem Sterling would not be one of those penalty takers.

Ultimately Liverpool got what they deserved.  They shrank from the occasion and bowed out of all European competition with a whimper.  Brendan Rodgers is a fine manager and deserves all the credit in the world for helping Liverpool turn things around.  He still has a lot to learn about competing in Europe however.  The danger now is that Liverpool cannot let this performance seep in.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel.  All that awaits at the end of this week's tunnel is the goliath, Manchester City.  Whether City take their revenge for a poor European showing of their own or continue to slip back remains to be seen.  One thing is for certain, Liverpool have to rebound quickly.  Liverpool can keep City on their heels, but it will take much better than they showed on this night.

Random Thoughts:

- I hate penalty shootouts

- Mario Balotelli had a hell of a first half.  He set up the potential Sturridge goal, drew important fouls, got under the skin of several defenders and held up the ball nicely when needed.  It would be interesting to see if he still exited the game had he not received a yellow card.  The shot near the end of the first half, left much to be desired however.

- Daniel Sturridge needs a rest.  Unfortunately for him, it won't come soon as I cannot see him not playing significant minutes against Manchester City.  Perhaps a respite against Burnley midweek, but the rest of the squad's fitness may determine that as well.

- I hate penalty shootouts

- Liverpool's passing was just horrendous.  Normally I fully understand when players are gassed or put in poor positions etc, but it was just inexcusable.  From the second half on, the passes at the back were too weak, the passes in the midfield were off the mark and everything was just bad.  Hopefully that is not a reoccurring issue as it will lead to bad things in the future.

- I hate to pile on BR, but the decision to not even include Coutinho on the bench may have cost him.  Replacing Balotelli with Coutinho would have been much more attacking minded than Lallana proved to be.  Lallana is a very good attacking player, but he was obviously given instructions to help solidify the midfield, where Coutinho knows nothing but attack.

- Did I say how much I hate penalty shootouts?

- Some people may point to the number of important players out.  Yes it is not good for the team to not have Coutinho, Gerrard, Lucas, Markovic, Sakho and Henderson, but the team was still set up in a positive manner.  They had the strike tandem of Balo and Sturridge, which I still believe could work.  Allen has stepped up his game the past few weeks and Ibe continued to show talent beyond his years.  Toure and Lovren were the question marks and within the confines of 90 minutes they were fine.  Something just lacked and I would hope that even in the recesses of their minds, the players would not use the absences as an excuse.

Walk On

Lesser Lineup Still Puts Liverpool In Reach Of Top Four

Liverpool put a bit of a scare into supporters when they announced their lineup for an important match up against Southampton.  The Reds were coming off a tough late week Europa League match where they put out a strong lineup, so changes were understandable.  However the changes still seemed a bit odd.  It had been rumored that Dejan Lovren would return to the lineup the last few games, but many had assumed he would take Emre Can's place, thus pushing Can to the midfield, not join him in the back three.

Once again, however, manager Brendan Rodgers' decisions all paid off.  Daniel Sturridge was not forced to start on two days rest, Raheem Sterling was placed back into the striking role that sparked the team to its resurgence having rested most of the Besiktas match, Lovren and Lazar Markovic were given significant playing time which will be important the longer Liverpool stay alive in three separate competitions and Jordan Ibe continues his growth as a potential first team player.

The match got off to a rousing start for both Southampton and Liverpool and the Reds managed to bulge the net before some of us had even sat down for breakfast.  Liverpool took a 1-0 lead in the third minute on an absolute cracker from Coutinho.  The Brazilian speedster managed to rip an unstoppable shot from about 30 yards away from goal and just bank it in off the crossbar and across the goal line.

Not only did Liverpool score their game winning goal within the first five minutes, but the referee had a terrible day within that time span as well.  Two potential penalties, one that was not and one that probably was, were not whistled in favor of Southampton.  Truth be told, it was a pretty interesting day for the officials in this match.  After two no calls early in the match, it became clear that the officials were going to do their best not to interject themselves.  Joe Allen escaped a pretty clear penalty and then Raheem Sterling was not awarded a penalty after being chopped down with a trailing leg by the Saints sliding defender in the box only minutes later.

Even as a former keeper, it seemed as though Simon Mingolet was guilty of a handball outside of the penalty area that would have seen the Belgian netminder sent off.  None of these were called and, more often than not, the yellow cards that were handed out were softer than some of the no calls.  In the end though, both sides had things called in their favor and not called in their favor and it really evened out.  The match official had a bad day, but fans are often more accepting of this when the calls and no calls are equal on both sides.  Of course, it is easier to say when you are on the winning side of that coin.

Regardless of the referee and his decisions, Liverpool and Southampton played a strong attacking style deserving of such importance in the table.  Both teams were brave in all aspects despite tremendously bad conditions with rain coming down in buckets at times, a swirling wind and the usual cold of a winter's night in England.  Both squads fought through this adversity valiantly and fortunately for fans of the Reds, Liverpool managed to have a bit more skill, a bit more guile and managed to put more goals in the net.

It seemed for the longest time that the game would either end in a 1-1 draw, with Southampton gaining a few chances late in the match or a 1-0 win for Liverpool.  Then in the 73rd minute, Raheem Sterling made the Saints pay for a slip in the box.  The youngster, Matt Targett, who had done a decent job defending Jordan Ibe all afternoon, slipped on his clearance attempt and the ball fell right to Sterling.  Sterling did not get full force behind the ball, but it was enough off the right foot to get past the defender and slip through the diving goalkeepers hands into the back of the goal.  2-0 for Liverpool and two points away from the top four.

The Saints managed a few more chances in the dying moments of the contest, but it was all for naught as Liverpool held on.  Mingolet managed his sixth clean sheet in 2015 and continues to look confident in his position even if some supporters still worry about him at times.  Southampton had a few injuries, so some might say they were not able to put out their strongest lineup, however neither did Liverpool and ultimately regardless of who was on the pitch, Liverpool made the plays and got the win.

The Mario Balotelli controversy was given a rest due to him not being needed, which was another positive for the team.  In terms of the player, it may have been good to see if he could continue his form.  Yet, Liverpool looked dangerous enough in attack without him and once the second goal was scored, a more defensive substitution made sense (even if it was Glen Johnson).  As long as none of the sensationalist media out there try to make more of it than there is by saying Balotelli was left off as punishment, then the whole situation can pass quietly into the night and Liverpool can concentrate on winning matches.

No answers have been given as to the big question that ended the last blog, but that's a great thing for Liverpool.  While it would be easier to say this competition represents the team's best chance at this goal or that goal, Liverpool continue to win and that is a better "problem" to have than wondering which games have more significance and when to rest players.  If the bench keeps stepping up and giving performances like they did on this day against the Saints, then Liverpool may be able to put all energies into all competitions and still have a realistic chance of attaining their goals in each.

Random Thoughts:

- Being a former referee, I often see things through their eyes and give them the benefit of the doubt.  However, I'm a bit tired of officiating crews being too afraid to make big calls.  Whether you're neutral, a Reds fan or Saints fan it is very hard to argue that there should not have been at least two penalties given in that match and at least one red card if not two.  Very poor showing, but as I stated in the blog at least it was even for both sides.

- Daniel Sturridge is a great player and he continues to spark the rest of the team.  Yet, I can't help but feeling he's holding back just a little bit due to his penchant for reinjuring himself.  It was not quite as evident in this match, but I continue to see signs that he is reluctant to be kicked or tackled and will avoid those situations even if it costs him the ball.  All part of returning from injury I suppose, but you just hope it does not present a problem in an important match down the line.

- I will give  the devil his due, so to speak, in regards to Joe Allen.  This space has been no friend to Mr. Allen in recent weeks and often for good reason.  He played a solid game against Southampton, however and was an important cog in the Liverpool machine.  He was positioned well defensively throughout the game and made several good passes and clearances.  Hopefully he can continue that form since a return for Gerrard and Lucas seems unlikely for another few weeks.

- While Arsenal and Manchester United are still above the Reds, some small part of me takes even more satisfaction - other than just being a fan - each time Liverpool move up the table, because of ESPN FC.  Nobody, outside of Stevie Nicol think they can or will finish top four.  This would be fine if they would not fall back on the idea that "it is not mathematically likely."  There are still 12 matches in the Premier League left, including big matches against Arsenal and Manchester United.  Don't tell me it's not mathematically possible when there are six points to be had from those matches alone and Liverpool sit two points out of the top four as we speak.

Walk On

Liverpool Victorious Amid Potential Controversy

There are several issues that emerged from what should've been just a nice victory for the team.  I'll try to address each while trying not to have an article that is magazine length.  Before we get to the 400 pound gorilla in the room, let's focus on the actual match first.  Clearly, from the title, you can discern that Liverpool were victorious in their first match in the Europa League tournament.

From the start, everything seemed to be going in Liverpool's favor.  They were drawn to have the opening game of two legs at home.  They were drawn against Besiktas, who are top of the Turkish league, but Liverpool have had an outstanding record against Turkish teams, especially at Anfield.  The Reds have also had all the momentum in recent weeks.

Brendan Rodgers put out a very solid team, with very few changes from the previous weekend.  Jordan Ibe was in play instead of Lazar Markovic due to Markovic's astonishing four game European ban.  The Reds came out and dominated the opening of the match, stringing together solid passes and working the ball up the field against a Besiktas formation that was clearly set up to play defense and counter.  Liverpool did a good job of holding the ball for the first portion of the first half, but when the chances weren't really coming in droves, the Turkish side began gaining confidence.  Liverpool were very lucky not to concede as their counterparts had fantastic goal scoring opportunities, including one that forced a miraculous save from Simon Mingolet in the 32nd minute.

Liverpool had their moments in the second half, both offensively - in a positive manner - and defensively - in a negative fashion.  As another example of manager's choices that continue to pay off, Rodgers put out even more offense in an attempt to win a game that was scoreless until the 85th minute.  Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren all came in as attacking minded subs.  People will say Lovren is a defender, but the choice to insert him was still attacking minded because it allowed Emre Can to be pushed forward into a more positive midfield role.

Then came the controversy.  Liverpool gained their win when Jordan Ibe made a brilliant run up the right wing and sliced into the box.  Ibe was taken down and the Reds were awarded a penalty kick.  Mario Balotelli slotted home the spot kick into the bottom left corner and that was all she wrote about the actual game.  Liverpool had an opportunity for a second goal late in the contest, but the ball did not find its intended target and Besiktas were able to escape Anfield down only a goal heading home.

However, instead of being able to focus on a victorious night at Anfield and setting themselves up for a potential run at a European trophy, Liverpool fans are being forced into a silly controversy and having to choose sides when they should be uniting.  By now everyone has seen the incident, so I won't waste space describing it in detail.  With little to no actual detail coming out of any players' mouths, fans are left to speculate.  Was Jordan Henderson intending to take the kick?  Was Daniel Sturridge asking Henderson to take the kick or was he asking Henderson to tell Balotelli to let Sturridge take the kick?

The bottom line, for me, is it doesn't matter.  Henderson is a fine player and is growing into the role that Rodgers wants him to play as team captain.  Henderson is not and never will be Steven Gerrard.  That does not mean that he cannot be a decent captain.  No two captains are exactly alike in either playing style or team management.  Regardless of who wears the armband though, Henderson would not be my top choice to take a penalty.  There were two to four players on the pitch I would've chosen to take the penalty before Jordan Henderson.  There are plenty of football captains around the world who are not the designated penalty taker as well.  So Balotelli taking the kick and converting should not be a big deal.

Was Sturridge telling Henderson the captain should take the kick or making a case for himself?  Neither option really changes anything either.  Plenty of people argue over kick taking chances.  Usually it is done on free kicks, when it is a little less contentious but there are no ill effects going forward.  It was disheartening to see the trio part with some discord and Sturridge seemed a little churlish when congratulating the goal scorer.  However, one should hope that the actual players left their discord on the pitch and will be fine going forward.

The other discouraging thing out of that was Steven Gerrard's comments.  While Gerrard has earned the right, as both a club legend and team captain, to speak his mind and give whatever answers to a media member's question he chooses, what Gerrard actually did was pour gasoline on the fire.  There is a section of both the media and general public that will latch onto anything negative regarding Mario Balotelli and Gerrard saying his actions were in poor taste did nothing to assuage those people's feelings.

Despite my relative youth, I see things through old school eyes most times.  You should respect authority, when warranted and should conduct yourself in a certain manner.  Did Balotelli do this in the grand sense?  Probably not.  However, I do not feel he showed anyone up.  He was not completely disrespectful in his actions.  He would not have done the same thing to Steven Gerrard, but I don't feel he was disrespecting the captaincy of Jordan Henderson by his actions either.  Balotelli is egotistical and forthright.

Many of the talents in the game are, whether we agree with it or not.  Whether Henderson was the "designated penalty taker" or not, players like Luis Suarez or Gareth Bale or Diego Costa would have all done the same thing no matter who had the armband.  Liverpool fans will all take their sides and voice their opinions.  Yet, they should all still support Balotelli and the rest of the players regardless.  Fans should want Balotelli to be returning to form because that means there are more options and more talent to be put on the pitch.  Fans should want there to be harmony in the dressing room because the better the team gets along, the more they can easily connect on the pitch.

Another issue that popped up during this game was more of an overall question and it was posed by the broadcasters on Fox's showing of the game.  It was an intriguing question that fans, pundits and the manager himself could all have vastly differing views on.  The question was, with Liverpool still alive in several competitions, where do you focus your energies?  You have an opportunity at English silverware in the FA Cup.  You have an opportunity to still push into the top four in the league.  You also have a chance to get a Champions League spot as well as a European trophy if you go all out in the Europa League.

So the big question now - with no clear answer - is where do you put your full energies.  All contest deserve a full effort from the starting XI and looking for a result.  Nobody is saying that you want to lose a competition, however all have merits.  Sometimes that is not the case.  The Capital One Cup is often looked at as a competition that teams do not mind bowing out of.

Liverpool are deep enough that they could conceivably stay in and look to win all of their goals still ahead.  The problem becomes whether you wear out your players.  Liverpool's success has come from sticking with a fairly consistent starting XI, with a change here or there.  Do you keep all those players playing in all competitions and hope for the best when your team has had such injury problems?  Or do you change it up, use your depth and focus your main starting players on one competition.  If that is your option, which do you place more value on?

On the surface, the Europa League generally falls lowest on the totem pole.  On the surface, the league would be the highest priority and then the FA Cup.  However, things are not always as they appear on the surface.  The Fox broadcast made a point and it makes sense.  This weekend's match against Southampton may provide the answer.  Southampton are currently in fourth in the table and four points above Liverpool.  Though there are also two other teams above the Reds, the outcome of that match might make it easier to focus on a certain competition.

If Liverpool lose, then they are further away from the top four and have lost to one of their main competitors.  That result would make it easier to focus on the tournaments.  A win over Southampton keeps Liverpool at least three points from the top four and possibly only one point away from a Champions League slot.  It definitely is an intriguing question that will come to bear if the team can keep their form.

Random thoughts:

- Steven Gerrard is a legend and I hold him in high regard.  However, in this instance, I feel he would've been better suited in taking a page from Brendan Rodgers' book in how to answer the penalty question.

- It always amazes me how quickly certain sectors of the public lash out.  As soon as anyone suggests Balotelli has stood up to Henderson, it makes Henderson a bad choice as captain.  As I said in the main article, Henderson is not and never will be on the level of Gerrard.  But the man is only 24.  Not all captains are fully ready to lead their team to the fullest right from the get go.  Henderson may yet grow into a quality skipper for the Reds.

- To answer my own question regarding the competitions, unless Liverpool get smacked against Southampton, I feel the league still comes first.  Cup competitions all come down to the draw.  If you get a favorable draw, then you can put your best foot forward.  If not, then nothing is certain in tournament formats even if you have the better squad on paper.  Focus on steadily moving toward a top four spot with plenty of games left in the league and see how each draw goes in the Europa and FA.

- I hate to feel so strongly about a player just now getting their first big game action, since so many look good in spurts and then fall off.  But right now, Jordan Ibe looks like the real deal.  He has speed very close to Raheem Sterling and a body more like Sturridge and great footskills.  He also has shown himself to not shrink from the occasion.  He takes players on like a veteran or like a player who does not know any different at the very least.  If he continues to improve, then his future with the Reds could and should be extremely bright.

- I was glad to see smiles on the faces of Balotelli and his teammates in training today.  Regardless of how you feel about him, Liverpool are a more dangerous team if he is in form, if he has a good relationship with his teammates and if there is no rift going forward.  There is never complete harmony in a locker room, but there cannot be an actual rift and expect there to be success.

Walk On.

Liverpool Into The FA Quarterfinals

It wasn't the prettiest of matches at all times, but the dream of silverware is still alive for Liverpool FC.  It wasn't the best of starts, falling behind to Crystal Palace on the road, but the Reds managed to get enough right to pull out a win.  Several old problems began to creep back into the squad, but they managed to overcome them instead of allowing those problems to dictate the match.

Liverpool came into this FA Cup tie flying.  No, they haven't played on the level of Real Madrid or Barcelona, but very few in the world can or have.  Liverpool played like Liverpool though and ultimately, as long as that happens, the result is all that matters.  LFC didn't have the most rousing of starts to this cup match.  They conceded an early goal, only 15 minutes into the game on a bit of uninspiring defense.  The ball popped up into the box and Simon Mingolet punched it, while colliding with one of the Eagles.  No foul was called, rightly, and Frazier Campbell managed to bang home the loose ball.

While there was no clear blame to any one person on the goal, the blame can be shared by all.  No one marked the follow up player and the defense was shaky as a whole for much of the first half.  Despite the retro-grade defending, Liverpool managed to dominate possession as they have in many of their recent matches.  Unfortunately for the Reds, Crystal Palace began packing it in following their go-ahead score.  Liverpool pressed and the Eagles just slammed in more bodies.

Brendan Rodgers then made the changes.  Seeking to capitalize on the good form from the weekend match, Rodgers inserted Mario Balotelli for Lazar Markovic straight away following halftime.  While it was not surprising to see the Italian come on, it was a bit surprising to see Markovic come off since he had not really done anything wrong and one could argue Liverpool needed his speed on the flanks.  But, as has been the case in the new year, Rodgers' decisions paid off.

Jordan Henderson, given the captain's armband following the disappointing news of Steven Gerrard's leg injury, played a very inspired second half.  Henderson smartly set up the tying goal with a nice cross to Daniel Sturridge who continued to show his worth to the club by neatly finishing off the one-time strike.  While the ball did deflect off the goalkeeper, it would've taken a Herculean effort to keep out.

Then it was Balo-time.  Mario Balotelli took on the defense and drew an important foul in a very dangerous area, just outside the penalty box.  Full of new-found confidence, Balotelli was not about to let anyone not named Steven Gerrard tell him he was not taking the free kick.  Balotelli smashed his shot right where it needed to be and while the goalkeeper managed to get a piece of it, Adam Lallana made an intelligent run and knocked home the rebound.  Not to give all credit to Balotelli, the wall did a masterful job of spacing out the defenders and moving at the perfect time for Mario's shot to glide through the vacated space in the wall.

Balotelli continued his turnaround by doing what he does best, when not on the ball.  Balotelli was an instigator.  Many will say this is not an important role in the game - something I would agree with on principle - however, it does exist and when Mario is in the right frame of mind he gives his team an advantage in this area.  Balotelli is always in the mix.  Opposing teams know his short temper and try to set the fuse.  When the striker is not in form and not in the right mind, it is a detriment to his club.  When he is in the right frame, as he was on this night, he is a benefit.  He attracts so much attention that if he is able to stand up and just smile, he sets off his opponent and frustrates them.

But let us not focus too much on Balotelli just for a couple good games.  The team as a whole did what they needed to do.  Emre Can had his moments of defensive lapses, but he still continues to do just enough right and allow an escape valve for the back three.  Simon Mingolet was not challenged often, but you continue to see confidence that was simply not there earlier in the season.  Sakho always has moments that make you cringe when he is on the ball but he continues to thwart offenses.  Coutinho had a better match than he did on the weekend.  Joe Allen, well...Joe Allen did not make many mistakes.  Allen continues to be a questionable start, but as long as he fills in and makes no mistakes then you cannot fault the position too much.

This is the team supporters were expecting at the beginning of the season.  Seeing how players have actually performed, winning the league title or even contending was always going to be a long shot no matter how strong a fan you are.  However, these sorts of matches are what fans still expected from their club.  It is exactly what they did not get at the beginning of the year.  Earlier in the season, Liverpool would have shrunk from the occasion.  They would've failed to score despite their possession and chances.  They would've conceded another goal on a corner or set-piece.  They would have been knocked out of the FA Cup.

It took a lot longer than anyone expected, rightly or wrongly.  The pieces have now begun to gel and this squad is playing like a team that Liverpool fans can be proud of.  It wasn't the best of matches and Liverpool did not dominate from start to finish, but as mentioned they won.  In the end that's all that matters.  They have turned the tide and are now winning matches even when they do not play to their full capabilities.  That is Liverpool football.

Random Thoughts:

- I'm somewhat confused as to what Fox Sports plan was.  They put this live match on Fox Sports Plus, which I do not subscribe to and many probably do not either.  Thus I had to watch the match on Fox Sports En Vivo and listen to the audio through my computer.  I did manage to time it up pretty well though.  Kudos to me.

- I think all LFC fans are holding their breathe regarding Raheem Sterling.  It is being reported as a minor foot injury, but having already lost Gerrard for at least a month LFC cannot afford to lose such an important player for long, especially given their turnaround.

- Despite the fact that I'm a fan of the player, I still concede that Balotelli makes poor plays.  He has had a decent turnaround in the last two matches but he should be kept as far away from defensive corner kicks as possible.  I'm all for placing more responsibility on players and saying "This is how we do things here" but he's just too much of a liability despite his size advantage.

- Can deserves all the praise he is getting, but he is terrible in the air.  He is young but his timing on headers is just awful.

- Speaking of Can, I was surprised he was still in the back three.  It had been suggested that he would join Henderson in the midfield and Lovren would start in the backline.  Obviously Rodgers' lineup worked, but if given the opportunity it would be nice to see Can back in a more comfortable midfield role.  We shall see.

Walk On.

Everything Coming Up Gold For Brendan Rodgers

Things looked like they may be taking a turn for the worse from a Liverpool perspective following the most recent Merseyside Derby.  The matchup with Everton over the weekend was about as flat a performance as could be found in recent weeks or months.  It was such a poor performance that it forced one to wonder if Liverpool was reverting to it's early season form.  Their manager, their captain and their supporters would not allow this.

Liverpool came out with a solid attacking lineup with the right number of changes to spark the club back into form.  Raheem Sterling was surprisingly given the night off.  Sterling definitely deserved the time off given his run of games and placing the team on his back, however it was a bit of a surprise given the importance of the match.  Liverpool had a chance to climb within three points of the fourth spot for at least the night.  They were also pitted against a team directly above them in the table.  Conversely, Tottenham had an opportunity to put themselves into the third spot in the table and go seven points clear of Liverpool.  Clearly it was a huge game for both sides, thus making it a bit surprising that Sterling was not even available as a sub.  Clearly, it worked out.

Daniel Sturridge was given his first start since returning from injury and he did what he has done ever since his return - he gave the Reds a huge spark.  Sturridge almost banged one in with an outside left boot early in the match that was slapped away by Hugo Lloris.  Sturridge was also joined by Jordan Ibe and Coutinho in the attack.  While Coutinho did not do anything overly special during this match, he still strikes enough fear into defenders to cause them worry anytime he is on the ball.  Ibe was the one who impressed the most of the wingers though.

Admittedly, I wondered if it was a mistake to recall Ibe from his loan spell so early but the young attacker has shown his value in his short stint back with the club.  Ibe, full of youthful exuberance, bolted down the wings with pace and took on defenders at will to start the match.  With the exception of a few balls that could have been placed in better spots, Ibe made good passing choices and created the potential for scoring chances, even if it did not ultimately come off.  While it is still too early to say for sure how the young player will turn out, he is definitely showing that he has the skill to remain in Liverpool's plans and form a formidable attacking partnership with Sturridge, Sterling and/or whoever else the Reds use in attack.

Another positive Ibe has shown, so far, is his ability to play multiple positions.  He has the shooting ability to perhaps be a striker, if called upon.  He has the pace to be an attacking winger in Liverpool's current three up top.  He also proved today that he can help out in defense, which opens up the possibility should he be needed as part of the midfield.  His youth and versatility are just what Liverpool need at this moment.  Should he be thrust into a long-term starting role yet?  Probably not.  He needs time to acclimate to the Premier League game, but he has shown that he definitely deserves the minutes he is bound to get going forward.

Refocusing on the match itself, it was not all smiles and sunshine the entire 90 minutes.  The commentary team made several references to the quietness of the Anfield crowd and that it was most likely due to the strength of the Tottenham attack.  Harry Kane continues to prove, if only for this season, he is one of the premier attackers in the English Premier League.  Kane spurred on his team - no pun intended - and they responded in kind following his early equalizing goal.

From an outsider's perspective, this was an intensely enjoyable game to watch.  Perhaps not as much if you support either team, but just from the pure football/soccer aspect of the game it was an entertaining game.  Both teams had great strings of possession.  Both teams created chances, both squads squandered opportunities, both keepers made great saves, both teams defended well and both teams made mistakes.  It was like watching a top notch prize fight with boxers who went on all out attack.

Daniel Sturridge helped set up the first goal by drawing the defense towards him, which allowed Lazar Markovic to slip through a gap towards the left and then slide it past Lloris.  As a member of the keeper's union, I rarely say this, but Lloris should have stopped the shot.  He failed to get both hands extended toward the ball, allowing a slight bobble to hop over his bottom hand.  Nevertheless, it was a good offensive play all-around and well finished by the Serbian international.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, their defense was not up to the task 11 minutes later when Kane equalized.  While they marked well during the flow of play, Liverpool's bane continued to cause them problems as the defense looked a bit foolish on both Spurs' tallies.  Kane looked to be offside on the second goal, but that is up to the official to call.  Liverpool were guilty on this play, as are too many professional sides, but I grow tired of players making calls for the officials.  Play until the whistle is blown and then make your case when the danger is averted.  Yes, Tottenham had players offside but Liverpool looked just as foolish as their entire backline was standing around as the Spurs pounced on the rebound.

You cannot take credit away from the Spurs though.  Liverpool may have had their own faults on each goal, but credit goes to the Spurs for answering almost every jab, cross and hook.  Spurs are a much better team than Liverpool saw at the beginning of the season and deserving of their place in the table, but Liverpool are a better team as well.  Their players are playing better and their manager is managing better.

Brendan Rodgers has looked like a man lost at times during this year.  There have been times when even the most loyal supporter of the man and team have been forced to question his team selection, his tactics and in the larger sense, whether he is the man to lead this club going forward.  Rodgers took this all in stride, ever confident that his way would prove itself.  Though the season is far from over and things can still turn back the other way, Rodgers' way has proven itself.  It has taken the return of players from injury and a few odd tweaks that we may not all agree with, but you cannot argue with the results.

Liverpool's last defeat was a cup match against table leading Chelsea, on the road by a tight score of 1-0.  The last match Liverpool lost in the league was way back on December 14 to Manchester United.  Though the scoreline was embarrassing, that match may have actually been the turning point in terms of style of play.  Since that match, LFC have rattled off six clean sheets.  Finishing may still be a bit of a sticking point, but everything seems to be coming up gold for Rodgers the way it did last season.

This is further exemplified by the match winning goal.  Rodgers made some interesting substitution choices prior to the goal.  Instead of bringing on Adam Lallana early, he took off captain Steven Gerrard for the rarely seen of late, Dejan Lovren.  This pushed Emre Can out of his back three duties and put him in a more comfortable midfield spot.  Then, instead of taking off Ibe or Coutinho and gone with Lallana in a more possession minded attack, Rodgers put Lallana in Markovic' spot and left the speedy Coutinho and Ibe to strike up the wings.  Finally, instead of trying out a strike partnership of Mario Balotelli and Sturridge, which had created chances earlier in the year, Rodgers went with a bit of caution, not wanting to overuse his star forward.

All of these decisions paid dividends.  Lovren, while by no means challenged to a full extent, made no critical errors and presented Liverpool with the height and aerial ability the team needed at such a critical time in the match.  Lallana gave Liverpool fresh legs and enough pace and skill from the wing to cause problems while leaving no defensive liabilities.  Finally, and from a personal perspective most importantly, Mario Balotelli scored.  Not only did the Italian enigma score, but he scored the match winner.  He did what a striker is supposed to do - get into those critical areas behind the defense and finish it off when presented the chance.  Balotelli capped this off by being smart, yet irritating to the opponent and throwing a few players off their game.  He also managed a critical clearance in the final minutes as well.

Rodgers' celebration and jubilant reaction to Balotelli's goal further exemplified how much even the manager wanted that for the player.  Call it luck, call it a belief, call it having a good eye for certain decisions or call it what you will, the bottom line is that the vast majority of choices made by the Red's boss are coming off and that spells good things.  While success always boils down to the form of the players, Rodgers' success in his decision making had a big role in Liverpool almost winning a championship last season.  Perhaps now, if things hold form, his successes will lead to more on-field success for the club and more Champions League football.  For now, fans should just be happy with this massive result against Spurs and look forward to more exciting football to come.

Random Thoughts:

- Mario Balotelli really can do no right.  The man scored his first Premier League goal for the club, his first in almost three years and a match winner.  Yet, the color commentator on the NBCSports broadcast felt the need to point out that not celebrating and smiling will just further cement Balotelli as a villain among the fans.

- On a personal level, it was a huge joy to see Super Mario get the kind of goal he did.  Yes, I would've liked to see a smash from outside the box rip into the upper 90.  However, to come back into the team, after not even being a selection and then get into a good position and score the game winner is huge.  No, it does not excuse him from his past mistakes and no I'm not crazy enough to think this will be the start of a huge run of goals but he had to get at least one.  Maybe Balo will still be gone come the summer, but as a supporter of the player, it was a joy to see him finally score a league goal for Liverpool

- Phil Neville, the color commentator for NBCSports seemed to come off as pro-Tottenham at times.  His explanation of Martin Skrtel's yellow card was farcical.  Even during the replays he kept saying you could see the clip of the Spurs' calf, which you could not.

- I did not think the official had a bad game - though many on Twitter did - however the penalty not given to Daniel Sturridge looked like more of a penalty than the one actually called.  The announcers said it was a good challenge, but even if you get the ball you cannot scissor the attacker on the follow through.

- It was great to see Gerrard pop one in on the PK, but the camera angle made it look a lot closer than it was.  The fact that Lloris got a touch did not help matters.  Ah well, it went in.

Walk On.