That was not a pleasant way to spend a Tuesday evening, particularly if (like a lot of us) it was your first day back at work after a lengthy Christmas break. It raises many a question, most pointedly: why did the club choose to announce that they wouldn’t be appealing Suarez’s 8-match ban 90 minutes before the very important game against the leaders of the Premier league?
It may have been something to do with Suarez’s first game back now being against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Which, given the timing and the crucial stage of the season that it’ll likely be at that time, could well turn out to be an important game in both ours and United’s seasons. However, given our 3-nil defeat to City last night and the amount of chances we squandered you can only wonder and hope there is some greater scheme behind the decision.
The reasoning of our club for this aside, we should not feel too disheartened after Tuesday night’s defeat to what is probably the best squad in the country at the moment (and by quite some way!). I can’t think of a time when a score has flattered a team as much and there were a number of crucial moments when, if luck had gone our way, things would certainly have turned out differently.
Firstly, the moment Stewart Downing missed what was possibly our best opportunity of the game was a massive turning point, as shortly afterwards City went a goal ahead. Some would use that moment to state that, if Suarez had played and been fit he would have taken that opportunity but given his own profligacy in front of goal this season that is highly debatable. What isn’t debatable though is that the fact that City went down the other end almost immediately and scored was just plain bad luck.
Second, we had the good fortune to see Gareth Barry sent off with around 20 minutes of normal and extra time remaining, only to then concede a penalty seemingly moments later. Again, a moment that could have been a turning point for us was undone by some poor refereeing and some plain and simple bad luck. If City had not scored the penalty, the impetus may well have swung back to us and we may well have gone on to lay siege to a 10-man City for the remainder of the game, knowing that we only had to pull back 2 goals. When it increased to 3, the players suddenly seemed to feel they faced an insurmountable goal to pull anything back.
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All bad luck aside, we were also pretty good against City. Despite what the press may still be telling you today about their performance as potential Champions, pulling out a good result despite an average performance, Liverpool played good football. It wasn’t a one off either, as in the return game before Christmas we again made City look ordinary. On Tuesday night, we dominated possession (over 60% overall, with 73% in the 2nd half alone) and against a side included David Silva, Sergio Aguero and any number of expensive, world class players, that is a truly impressive feat. We also managed 16 shots on goal to City’s 11. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a side against who we haven’t dominated possession this season. If we can only find our stride, with regards taking our chances, we will be burying most teams and with a player like Gerrard now fit and the likes of Maxi and Bellamy, and with players like Kuyt, Downing, Adam and Carroll still to come good in terms of goals, I truly believe the answer to this problem lies within the club. At least until the summer, because I am loathe to see this club spend another £25-35 million on a player of Carroll’s ability in a knee-jerk to Luis Suarez’s long ban.
I realise that I’m probably going to risk sounding like too much of a voice of calm, especially amidst those fans calling for Dalglish’s head this morning. I will admit that he made some big errors last night but for those claiming he showed no ambition in starting Henderson and Carroll ahead of Gerrard and Bellamy, there is the small issue that Bellamy cannot start 2 games in 4 days. He just physically cannot do it. And Gerrard is our captain and as he has just come back from injury, you can expect him to be eased back in for some time yet.
What I would argue though, is that Maxi deserved a start and that, given the score line at half time it would’ve been more wise to bring Gerrard on at the break, push Kelly on at right back and move Johnson up to provide more frequent (and more quality) crosses from the right and leave Downing on the left; god alone knows why Kenny appears hell bent on proving Downing can even function as a footballer on the right hand side. In fact, this may well be something to try out going forward. I mean, if we’re going to persist with Carroll, we may as well have some quality crosses and wing play from Johnson on the right and take the defensive responsibility off him, because god knows he doesn’t seem to want it.
That said, in the meantime, for a side hoping for a Champions League finish – as opposed to expecting one – we shouldn’t feel too bad at what was a game of two huge slices of bad luck, compounded by an unfair result. The performance was fair-to-good and we were certainly better than City on the night, we just lack their cutting edge at the moment but it will come sooner or later and knee-jerk spending sprees aren’t the answer.
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I urge ALL reds to swamp the F.A. with this video …. Lets flush this horrible little little little boy evra out , and let world see just what a schemer he really is http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iMOWi3PRDJM
I think your right, the knees jerk reaction from armchair fans is shocking. We can clearly see an improvement on last season an we have outplayed every team apart from spurs. Managers are sacked when the players don’t perform and lose frequently, or when they don’t improve upon previous seasons. The things I’m seein on message boards are pathetic.
It’s actually worse than it looks. Our manager is a utter and total disaster in the transfer market, he doesn’t know how to pick a formation that suit the squad, and he couldn’t tell what’s his best team to save his life. These are fundamentals and he has none of it and spells the reason why we’ll go a 3rd year without CL-footy.
Henderson is strolling, yes strolling, around the park game in game out yet gets the nod. Adam was by far our top performer against City but was taken off instead of the useless and mediocre Henderson.
Downing is just as pathetic as the sum we paid for him. I could’ve told both Kenny and Comolli no stats in the world can change the fact he ain’t good enough.
Carrol gets a lot of stick and has been a disappointment. He’ll come good I reckon.
In the meanwhile whatever offensive talent we have Kuijt, Maxi and Bellers rot away on the bench.
It was a good move to bring in Kenny on an interim basis, keeping him on a permanent dito will be extremly costly for this club.
Why do people keep whining on about us dominating games? It is totally meaningless. Games are won by scoring goals and the side KD put out was a disgrace in this respect. Just look at the goals they have scored this season in the league: Reina 0, Johnson 1, Enrique 0, Skrtel 2, Agger 0, Adam 2 ( plus an own goal and a missed penalty ),Carroll 2, Kuyt 0, Spearing 0, Downing 0. I haven’t included Henderson because I don’t consider him a footballer. With shooting like that possession counts for absolutely nothing.
Nice positive summary. Have to say hugely disappointed with downing given how many starts he has had. The amount of times he fails to clear the first defender with his crosses is shocking and he has also had a number of great scoring opportunities but lacks the cool to pick his spot. Adams crossing hasn’t been much better either. Think both of them could do with some time on the bench to focus the mind and give maxi the proper run he deserves. Think Carroll will come good when the gerrard, maxi, Bellamy supply line get some game time together and establish how to get the best out of him………………keep the faith!
Come on Reds… we have enough with the sanctimonious PC media, the hypocritical FA, and the racist chants coming our way. Let’s not beat each other up. We do need a couple of new players though…