Though there were predictions beforehand that suggested that Liverpool were slight favourites, I don’t think any of us really expected what ended up looking like such a comfortable win against Arsenal. Now, it wasn’t comfortable in the sense that we dominated – though, for large parts of the game we were much the better side – but I think, in the end, the result was a fair reflection of the game overall.
At times, we looked like the only one of both sides that really pushing for a win and given that Arsenal started with one up front and five in midfield (despite Sky’s attempts to paint it as 3 up front) at the Emirates, it’s fair to say that they were looking for a few slices of luck to go their way.
Luckily, it didn’t and in the end, we made sure we got some luck of our own with a wicked OG from some more great work from Suarez. It makes you wonder what might’ve been had the luck gone our way against Sunderland the Saturday afternoon a week before. Liverpool fans have spent too long dwelling on what has gone before though, so we need to look forward this season and, given that we’ve got much fewer games than in previous seasons, take this season a game at a time.
–
–
–
–
–
Something that stood out for me on Saturday that I believe can contribute hugely to a very successful season for the Reds is the maturity and increasing stature of Lucas. I’m sure that, for some, it has taken too long and for others they just refuse to see what is becoming obvious to most of us (check out the ‘Lucas Skywalker’ headline on Yahoo! This morning): Lucas Leiva is developing into a world class holding midfielder. In fact, he’s morphed the position into something between a Hamann and an Essien; all that he needs to do now is start adding a few goals here and there across the season.
His performance at Arsenal on Saturday was in stark contrast to Emmanuel Frimpong, who’s ill-discipline and atrocious attitude toward the opposition players and the officials could quite easily have earned him 2-3 red cards over the course of the time he was on the pitch. His wasn’t the rash, poorly-timed tackling and bad decision making of a young player making his début; it was the performance of a reckless and immature prima donna (just look at the Mohawk). He could do far, far worse than to look to our own Brazilian destroyer for an example of how a young, tough-tackling midfield should behave in the top European divisions.
Finally, moving away from the weekend, I’d just like to wish Sotirios Kyrgiakos all the best and good luck at Wolfsburg. He may not have been to all Liverpool fan’s tastes but I, for one, appreciated what he offered us: a big, burly, no-nonsense, experienced centre-back that could fill in when we needed him. On the flip-side, we can only hope that his departure is an indication of the imminent arrival of one of the central defenders that we’ve been being linked with since the start of the summer.
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
This week it is LFC WAG Carly Zucker!!
————–
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO GET TO THE GALLERY
The ref was our best player. Arsenal were unlucky and we were lucky, with all the money spent the team isnt all its made out to be.
What r arsenal fans doing here?
Not sure about the hamann essien comparison but i agree the lucas has made the defensive midfielder position his own. If you want to see a close resemblance to similar role/performance cast your mind back to the 77 european cup final, lucas reminds me a lot of how Cally used to play that role
What a biased view. Frimpong is one of the best prospects in the anchor man role in Europe and it was his home debut. Give the kid a break and take off your Liverpool glasses. The ref helped hugely.
Unlucky??
I have not heard or read one report suggesting that.
Where are you from. I would hazard a guess at Planet Highbury~!
*Like*
How useful will Lucas’ Hamann like passing be if you’re just gonna hoof long balls up to the big lump.
As yer mate says, ref helped you more han King Kenny’s team selection.
How good was Henderson on the day..?? Lol. Likewise the £35m man..??
Complain complain complain get over it all you couch managers and would be recognizers of EPL talent! Why aren’t you the ones hired by clubs to do the business for them? get a life will ya? At least find out what it really means to be a fan of a club rather than a complainer about your own team as well as one who would mock and ridicule opposition players who are doing their best to make a living in a game they all love! get off your chair and be somebody for a change!
I must have been watching a different game!
if Frimpong had a little more maturity and street smarts, he’d have stayed on the pitch and continued giving Lucas and Adam the schooling he had been up until his dismissal.
Lucas is much improved by his standards, I even gave him my vote for POTY for sheer effort – but he started out this year as he did all last year – losing 1/3 tackles. That’s terrible for a supposed top DM.
Please don’t even mention him in the same sentence as Hamann, a player (as a friend of mine says) Lucas is not qualified to make sandwich for, let alone replace.
Its so obvious that u are a liverpool fan, i like liverpool too, but love arsenal and its so obvious u are bias because when lucas came to liverpool he was rubbish and had to battle for his place now a more mature player so he is more experience, however frimpong will be a far better player before he reaches lucas age
Lucas has grown into a fantastic player. Frimpong may turn into a very good player – into another Viera but he could quite easily turn into another Diaby. It would be better for him if he had some mature heads around him to learn off. How Vermaelen (sp??) has not become captain is astounding. Can’t see Van Persie telling players to calm down etc.
For the Arsenal fan laughing at Henderson and Carroll, I can see Carroll becoming an invaluable player for us – CB will hate playing against him. As for Henderson, I’m still not sure on his signing – it’s one for the future and only time will tell if it was a good move.
Hopefully for Frimpong’s sake Wenger will tell him to calm down rather than always excusing his players’ actions, if not he’ll be suspended half the time. Arsenal are in a similar position to us last year, but with a better man in charge than we had — but he needs to get some signings in and quickly!! Never seen us go to Arsenal and see our keeper so untroubled.
Spot on, I don’t know why kenny puts Hendo before Raul and I am not sure that he is anywhere near ready. As for Lucas I just cannot believe how blind people can be the guy put in more tackles in the PL than any other player and will do the same this year. He was an attacking midfielder prior to coming to LFC and was asked to play a DM role so it took time for him to get used to it. Our pre season saw us letting in goals big time since his return this us almost nullified. as for the game we were not as good as people make us out to be Bolton will be the real challenge let’s see how well we really do, they played really well this weekend perfect pass and play like we should be doing more off
Get the F out, u arsenal tawts