If there was a top-10 list of people who were surprised by Liverpool’s result against Chelsea on Sunday, I would probably rank somewhere around the top 5. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be the ultimate understatement; that was some result.
In any season this would rank amongst one of the best, especially given that, until the past couple of games, Chelsea have been head and shoulders above everybody else in the Premier League this season and in Europe. Roy Hodgson will be happy, as it’ll keep the haters off his back for at least a few days, until the game midweek. That will be another serious test though, to see whether we can make it four on the bounce. Four wins in a row and we may actually be able to start believing that the early-season malaise has passed; that the players who suffered at the World Cup (or from injuries at the World Cup) are over the worst and on their way back to some kind of form.
The performance of Fernando Torres will be big talking point for most people throughout the week, as he actually looked like the player we watched go to the World Cup in the summer; the same player that has systematically shattered the nerves of every International defender in the Premier League since he arrived. All it took was a competent first touch from Dirk Kuyt’s sumptuous through-ball, and a scuffed shot later, our star Spaniard received a 100% boost to his confidence. The whole teams’ morale went from somewhere around 10% and shot through the roof in an instant; the talisman was back. Within half an hour – and one more goal – and he was officially back in the zone, as was the rest of the team. Things will need to continue if this is not to just be a false dawn, or a one-off against top opposition but things certainly looked good where the striker is concerned and the whole squad will have received a massive shot in the arm as a result of his performance and the win.
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
STELLA WDM RESULTS
————–
_————–
TOP TEN LIVERPOOL MOMENTS OF THE DECADE
As we come closer to the end of 2010, I thought it might be good to look back at the last decade and see all the memorable moments Liverpool have had during that time. Of course, the most immediate memory is the Champions League final in 2005, but there are also individual memories such as Gerrard’s goals against Olympiakos in 2005 on the way to the “Miracle in Istanbul,” and the “Gerrard final” of 2006 where Stevie dragged the team to win the FA Cup. Also I have shared memories of instances that occurred under Gerard Houllier’s tenure such as the Golden Goal winner in the UEFA Cup final in 2001, Gary McAllister’s injury time free kick in the Merseyside Derby and John Arne Riise’s goal against Manchester United that nearly broke the goal post in two.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO BEGIN THE COUNTDOWN
Torres, in my opinion, is world class. There is no doubt about it, but i have to say, yesterday’s success was not mainly because of Torres, it was because Torres had a more than competent strike partner. I hope this ends the “one striker” formation in the future.
Agree. It was good to see the joy on the face of Torres (and the rest of the team) hey, even Gerrard was smiling! What a change to go to work on a Monday morning with the feel good factor.
i am not at all a fan of lucas..but yestday he was world class fr me…he was a definsive fabregas:)..and good to see mach replaced with someone with great passion(raul)he worked box to box and his celebration with elnino says it all fr passion fr lfc…carra lost more energy organising than defending..great cara… maxi kuyt and lucas were everywhere..gerrard shared central def role alongside carra and and skertl…the way he controlled the first half was brillant switching and controlling midfield like our old mastero (alonso)..
@jeetan.. in everyones openion torres is world class.just now u realized?
Well played Lucas! lets hope now under Hodgson he can show us why he won young player of the year in Brazil before we bought him. i think he should have at least have earned himself a chant for that perfromance. unles i have missed something and he has one already (a positive one that is!)
Lucas has always been an easy scapegoat when things go wrong (and even when they go right lol), it didn’t help that he was kept in the team when his performances didn’t warrant it when he first arrived.
Benitez saw something in him though at such a young age that he felt he needed to work through his early form. It’s odd that a player who is a regular in the team is constantly being linked with a move away, and a move away for relative buttons. Inter one minute, Stoke the next.
As for Torres scuffing the first goal, no way. He knew exactly what he was doing as he hit it into the ground and is an indication that his confidence is coming back to even try something so cool.
I agree with u mate. Fans like me always hated this boy for his displays, but on sunday he changes everything. I need to say sorry to this lad and hope he will continue same the performance for our club.
At least you’re man enough to admit it. Well said.
I have never been one of those who ‘hated’ Lucas, yesterday he proved I should say yet again what part he can play in this team.
Not only Lucas, Maxi was FULL of confidence, it was evident from his movement and actions. Just a few games back I was listening to one of the commentators(can’t remember who) saying he could not understand what Maxi brings to the team, Maxi not being a tackler…neither a winger and so on. Maxi is a gifted passer of the ball, Benitez brought him for this reason and he should have more to play in the team, he is starting to come good this season. Meireles looks to be a very good signing by Roy, we can already see that he is all about 100% commitment. Lets not forget Mr. 110%, our Kuyt, not the most gifted of footballers, industrious most of the times but his work ethic and desire is needed, he showed that one more time yesterday.
I though Skirtel had a couple of shaky moments though, wish Agger gets fit and Roy plays him more.
But all in all it was a HAPPY HAPPY day yesterday !
People don’t seem to notice how much work Lucas does for the team. Against Chelsea, he was absolutely phenomenal and was our best performer. When the team plays bad, a lot of people blame him but this season he’s been world class. His performance against Chelsea shows why Rafa had so much faith in him over the past couple of seasons. If he plays like he did against Chelsea for the rest of the season then our midfield will be very strong, with him, Meireles and Gerrard. In my opinion, he’s a definite starter in the centre of midfield, without a shadow of a doubt.