The opening fixture against Sunderland ended in a somewhat dissapointing draw and whichever way you look at it, it is two points dropped. The game started of in spectacular style, with Anfield roaring and it almost seemed as an European night. Enrique, Downing, Adam and Henderson were all handed their debuts.
They seemed to all fit in perfectly and for the first half of the match we witnessed some great football with the old Liverpool pass and move way. There were some key refereeing decisions that did not go our way; how can Suarez be deemed to be taking the ball away from goal when he was rounding the keeper? And a goal which should have stood from Andy Carroll when he barely made contact with the defender.
Somehow, after the second half Liverpool seemed to have taken the foot of the pedal. They allowed Sunderland to push them higher. Sometimes when you play really good football and you are only 1 goal ahead the team might get a bit frustrated. That is why Liverpool were a bit desperate for the second goal, to have some sort of a cushion. Sunderland would have been very satisfied to go in at half-time conceding only 1 goal. You can say that young John Flannagan was ball-watching and caught out of position for the goal, but the cross should have never gotten in. There were 3 Liverpool players surrounding the ball that when the pass was made, there was no one blocking the cross. A basic defending mistake. After Sunderland scored, Liverpool couldn’t find their rhythm. Sunderland quietened Anfield down and simple passes by our players were being misplaced.
There is no doubt about the quality this team has, but the thing that this team has to develop is a winning mentality. An ability to kill teams off teams. You cannot expect to play well for the entire 90 minutes every week but when you are playing well, you must make it count. Getting results when you are not playing well is something Manchester United do. In their match against West Brom, they played well in the first half which ended 1-1. The didn’t play as well in the second half but still managed to get three points. That is something they managed to do throughout last season and won the title.
I do feel that we are a work in progress, and progressing well. Today’s match at Arsenal will prove to be a good test for the team. Liverpool are in a much better state than Arsenal, and I hope we get the three points and kick-start our challenge for a Champions League spot.
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You’re right David, Carroll’s ‘goal’ would often have been allowed, but Mr Dowd evened up things by giving a penalty for Richardson’s minimal contact foul on Suarez (the trip was caused by the Uruguayan’s right boot on his own left calf as is clear if you look closely at it.) after allowing a blatant handball on the halfway line.
Liverpool should try to play Suarez and Carroll together.And Handerson shouldn’t start, for me Kuyt on the right is a better option than Handerson.