“Lucky” would certainly be the operative word to describe Liverpool’s performance against Fulham last night. Not only was Fernando Torres’s initial effort deflected onto the post beyond the helpless David Stockdale, but then Fulham right back John Pantsil managed to slice the clearance into the net. The Reds had a couple of lucky escapes, especially late on when Raul Meireles had to clear off the line from a Brede Hangeland, and after the match both Kenny Dalglish and Fulham manager Mark Hughes were in agreement that the luck was firmly on the home team’s side.
In football it is said that it is better to be a lucky manager than a good one and if King Kenny continues to have fortune on his side, as well as improving the performances of the team, then Liverpool will surely finish the season strongly. Back to back wins, only our second consecutive clean sheet of the season, and now in seventh place behind Sunderland, everything looks to be on the up. Without being too much of a party pooper though, there are certainly still some concerns about the team. The Reds were excellent against Wolves on Saturday away from home, and although there were flashes of good link up play between the likes of Torres, Meireles and Gerrard up front against Fulham, it all still looks like a work in progress.
The team actually played better against Wolves due to the amount of space afforded to them by the opposition. At home, Mick McCarthy’s side were looking to be more adventurous and give themselves a chance of winning, allowing Liverpool to play on the counter attack and throw numbers forward to support Fernando Torres. At Anfield however, it is still a totally different story. We came out all guns blazing in Kenny’s first match at home against Everton but in the second half of the Merseyside Derby, as well as various games such as Wolves and Blackpool this season, there was a worrying lack of penetration. It reared its head at times last night at Fulham and I feel teams have learned how to play against us at home.
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Does anyone feel the same way as I am?
With Gerrard arriving, our midfield’s creativity has reduced, and this not due to pyscological factors but tactical reasons. With Gerrard arriving Meirles and Lucas pair is forced to play a conservative role allowing Gerrard to play further up the field, thus not utilizing their potential. We are looking for a player in the transfer market who can partner Torres. What I feel is it will be the best decision to pair Gerrard with Torres(not behind him). Both Torres and Gerrard are intelligent, will gel together and are clinical finishers in front of the goal.
Agree Larsen – I said the same during the game about Gerrard
I suppose Torres’ early goal wrongly ruled offside was also lucky. 6th minute, 1-0, we would go on to dominate and win comfortably. But that was conveniently left out of your article.
as above, torres’ goal shouldve stood.
also, having a player defend the post to clear the ball off the line is not lucky, its his job. thats why he’s there in the first place.
also as far as im aware, noone was expecting to go from the dross roy served up to world-beaters in two weeks. to get up to 7th place so quickly and to have back to back clean sheets and victories for the first time this season is a pretty good start in my eyes.
course there’s things to sort out, would be even if we were 2nd, but its heading in the right direction. no worries.
At times in the 2nd half Gerrard looked los, whilst Torres became isolated again. It will take time to blend the midfield into an effective force, but the first half showed there is plenty of potential. Lucas injury didn’t help, perhaps Kenny’s plans had to change?
We’ll see against Stoke if the midfield problems are serious, but looking on the bright side Johnson had a great game.
lucky or not we have back to back wins does any one say things like this when man u scrape through games they should never of won or drew . You people make laugh you say Kenny has been out of the game for ten years can he do the job and now after 5 games two defeats one draw two wins you are nit picking for gods sake give the man a chance lets put it this way under roy we would of probably have lost that game and we all know what wolves done at anfield with roys tactics .
Amen! Although I am slightly worried by Maxi and Kuyt on the wings. The lack of pace and penetration from them can be a worry. Need more pace and guile out wide. Maxi was a pure passenger last night, can’t keep turning performances like yesterda’s.