It has been a momentous week in the history of Liverpool Football Club. To say it has been eventful and a period of wildly fluctuating emotions is probably an understatement.
First and foremost, the families of the ’96’ finally discovered the truth about what happened on that fateful day in 1989. But quite incredibly – considering it has been 23 years and it was such a despicable accusation in the first place – the fans in attendance were also unequivocally ‘cleared’ by the Prime Minister for their part in the Hillsborough disaster and the deaths of fellow supporters.
Although a game of football pales into insignificance compared to such life-changing events, Liverpool fans would have been aching for a win to top off what has been a very positive period. When fans woke up yesterday morning to the news that You’ll Never Walk Alone was number one in the singles chart, the stage was set for a victory and the message was very much along the lines of ‘over to the players’.
Unfortunately, they failed to deliver the club’s first Premier League win of the season and could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland. With two points from their first four games, this now constitutes Liverpool’s worst league start since 1911.
The first half was a largely forgettable period, where Liverpool’s attacking play yet again showed signs of alarming inefficiency. Despite dominating possession, there was no fluency or penetration in their play.
Fabio Borini had Liverpool’s best chance of the half on 18 minutes. Jonjo Shelvey chipped the ball into Luis Suarez, and with his back to goal, he cushioned the ball towards the Italian who struck a decent half volley which forced a smart low save by Simon Mignolet.
Both teams were poor but Liverpool looked the most likely to break the deadlock. It was completely predictable then that Sunderland went 1-0 up against the run of play. Over the last twelve months, this term must have been used for numerous Liverpool games by several reporters across the land.
The goal was an incredibly poor one to concede. It came on 29 minutes when Craig Gardner skipped past two impotent Liverpool challenges on the right flank and crossed the ball low into the box; with Pepe Reina and Martin Skrtel floundering, Steven Fletcher swept the ball home right footed from eight yards.
Liverpool churned out a vastly improved performance in the second half and Glen Johnson came agonisingly close to levelling the scores on 50 minutes. Playing supposedly at left full-back, he received the ball at the edge of the box, skipped inside his marker and curled in an almost perfectly placed shot which crashed off the crossbar.
On the hour mark, Liverpool went close again. After some tricky wing play and a teasing cross from Raheem Sterling, Mignolet could only parry to Steven Gerrard. Taking the shot first time, Gerrard attempted to pass the ball through a crowded area and into the bottom corner, but the ball clipped the outside of the post and went harmlessly out of play.
Liverpool’s exasperating knack of striking the woodwork appears to have made a worrying return.
Another loss was unthinkable, but as the minutes passed by Liverpool fans began picturing the club’s name at the bottom of the Premier League table. Just when it was starting to look like another one of those days (there is an argument it still turned out that way of course), Suarez sparked a collective sigh of relief on 71 minutes with a precious equaliser.
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Sterling yet again provided the creativity sorely lacking in Liverpool’s other players. After a couple of sparkling step-overs, he jinked his way around Danny Rose before crossing the ball into the box. The ball fell to Suarez who edged in a low right footed shot which was blocked by Titus Bramble; fortunately, Liverpool got a much needed break and the ball fell straight back to Suarez and he made no mistake with the second attempt – dispatching the ball into the net.
The momentum was with Liverpool and with a longing away support pushing them forward, they completely dominated the closing 20 minutes and the game was played out in Sunderland’s half. Unfortunately however, there was limited opportunities to snatch a winner.
Probably the best chance fell to Jonjo Shelvey on 80 minutes. The England Under-21 international beat two Sunderland defenders and found himself in space with a good opportunity to score, but he could only fire a low left footed shot straight at Mignolet from twelve yards.
Frustratingly, Liverpool await their first Premier League victory. A defeat would have sparked mass panic and intense criticism, so we should probably be thankful for Suarez’s equaliser. It should be noted however that Liverpool failed to beat what was a very poor Sunderland side who were missing one of their marquee signings in Adam Johnson.
The first half was almost unacceptable, there was no urgency in Liverpool’s play and the defending for Sunderland’s goal was alarmingly inept. There is a tentativeness about Liverpool at both ends of the pitch which will hopefully subside after a couple of confidence-boosting wins.
Although Liverpool’s episodes of poor play should be tempered slightly by the fact that we are in a period of transition under a new manager, it shouldn’t be forgotten also that a lot of Liverpool’s team have played together on countless occasions.
Make no mistake, this was two points dropped. However, there is a feeling – perhaps one borne out of naïve loyalty – that Liverpool’s second half display might just be the start of something. One thing is certain: it should be an interesting game next week.
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling. Liverpool’s senior players need to step up to the plate because the 17-year-old is the club’s stand out performer at present and he always looked the most likely to create something. His performances are starting to grow and the stage is set for him to grab a first competitive goal and really announce himself on the big stage.
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There always remaining the misunderstanding of passing ball again defenders mistakes which cost Liverpool for a draw, Sterling well played well done for the equaliser as for Shelvey he was a bit out of bound above all Liverpool have well played in the 2nd half Rodgers must apply more technique besides opponents goal keeper box to facilitate players of scoring goals and goals
what are you on about.
i thought that we played well against sunderland who defended deep and tried to counter attack ,our passing game was good and we defended well .im not a big fan of our style of play as i like more direct attack football but i believe we are going forward and this has to be a good thing i hope that the manager decides to give some of the younger lads a go from the under 21 instead of buying anyone else i think we have a good enough squad if they all step up .sometimes i see frustration out on the pitch either by skrtel or reina am i just imagine it or is it something to worry about ??…………justice for the 96 ..ynwa…