EVEN though it always feels as though a wobble is just around the corner and an infuriating result lurks in the shadows, Liverpool continue to be impressive about 65% of the time since the January transfer window.
Our performance at Newcastle wasn’t necessarily our best of the season as I felt we could have gone up another gear had we needed to, but it’s up there. I would say it was certainly our most clinical, we struck with ruthless efficiency (and fear and surprise if you like a subtle Monty Python reference.)
But I do have a criticism which might seem absolutely ridiculous at first glance but I will explain – we try and score with every attack and it puts us under pressure.
Of course, the whole point of the sport is to score more goals than your opposition. But we are trying to do it too quickly and force the play at key times. Let’s take Saturday at Newcastle as an example. At 2-0 up and looking comfortable, we were trying to force the issue and get a third. But Newcastle had tightened up in midfield and instead of making more breakthroughs, we were giving the ball away cheaply and letting Newcastle attack us.
Let’s not forget that for ten minutes or so at 2-0, Newcastle had their best spell of the game approaching half-time and James Perch should have scored. How different would the final result? I don’t know, and we’ll never need to find out. But we did what we do well not long after half-time – dispossess, counter attack, goal.
But I draw comparisons with the result at Aston Villa a month or so ago. We got 2-1 up and tried to force a third goal, giving the ball away and not maintaining possession. It gave Villa a foothold in a game where they had largely been outplayed. The same could have happened at St James’.
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We just need to keep the ball better. Just knock the ball about for five minutes or so, just to take the wind out of the opposition sails. This will also demoralise the teams we’re beating. If we have the ball, they can’t score.
There is always of course the danger that you make a silly mistake and give the ball away, but overall I’d like to see us strangle the life out of opposition when they are having a spell in a game. It would just shut them down completely. We are more incisive because of players like Coutinho and because of Sturridge and I am delighted we’re scoring more goals.
We just need to keep the ball for longer spells when in front instead of trying to go for the killer pass every time. But it’s massively pleasing that we have someone who can now play said killer pass.
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We are struggling against every decent team. We need a lot more than what this writer is saying
I think gerrard should at all time play behind sturridge on like the era of benitez, stephen scored alot of goals..which make him untop of the world….and as for downing, he need to knw that he is our rubben…’n suso our messi.goodies to borini, i admire him alot cause i know he will do well. Brendan da inspirational. Thanks to all my liverpoolfc fans
We have some top players red scouse …we simply need a top manager now
One good win and all the rubbish performances against the likes of reading and Southampton are forgotten ?
Lets not kid ourselves. We are a long long way from being a decent team
rubbish performance at reading??? you are so clueless ***…
it was almost even better than newcastle and we could have easily won 5-6 at reading too..The rating of readings keeper was 10 out of 10 on the BBC, SKYSPORTS, DAILY MAIL ETC..what a clueless *
Another delusionsist fool . Lol
Liverbaby is correct . We are NOT a good team ….there is no point pretending otherwise
And we werent bad against reading ..but every other team had no problems scoring against them
Get the blinkers off and join reality
Well said Ed
Wake up mido. Get a education I’m football maybe
thats really true
and we are far far away from being a long long way from being a decent team..We are already a good team, we need to be great..but we never will with rubbish supporters like you…
We also need a bit of steel in the back line. Get beaten far too easy in the air and in set pieces. I can’t wait for Liverpool who were the first truly English side to play passing football win our first epl title. The flood gates will open. Plus I’m sick of my dad and brother getting stuck into me. As you can guess which side they follow! Can’t wait to see my beloved Liverpool in melbourne Australia
Bad news pal . There is no chance in the near future . We need new owners to make that a possibility. And a top manager