IT is very interesting to note how many columnists and supporters are pulling out their hair (a valuable commodity for some of us) over a minor setback at Arsenal.
If you look at the odds posted prior to the game, you will see that the bookmakers had a far more realistic understanding of the fixture than Liverpool supporters.
Bookmakers usually do have a better understanding because they are in the business of making money – so hopes, dreams, and miracles don’t count for much when they do their calculations.
Bottom line? We were a team playing away against arguably the best team in the Premiership at this point in the year. Seen objectively this was a competition that had a good chance of finishing in a draw. Failing that, the home team advantage gave them an edge as the next most probable result.
Some of my friends were predicting a Liverpool blowout by three or four goals. The strengthened play of Mertesacker alone made this unlikely. Given all the factors that the odds makers use to come up with numbers that constitute minimal risk for their investment the outcome of the game was weighted towards an Arsenal win.
Furthermore, Arsenal were brimming with confidence especially since the signing of Mesut Özil. Although Theo Walcott hasn’t seen the pitch in ages and they have injury problems in the midfield, their depth is solid enough to provide a legitimate substitute and support on the pitch. How many other sides would be bringing in Mikel Arteta as a third choice in the midfield?
Liverpool, on the other hand, still have little depth and experience at right back and have serious issues when Glen Johnson goes down. Jon Flanagan was steady as a stand in (a last minute notice to start in such a big game must have been difficult) but nowhere near the playmaking ability of Johnson. The same is true on the other side with Jose Enrique offering much more offensive ability and imagination than Cissokho.
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Considering that we had a legitimate goal disallowed and that we had some near misses, the game was not as one sided as some would have us believe. As Brendan Rogers has said, Arsenal was the better team, but on another day, as these things so often go, Liverpool could easily dominate Arsenal in much the same way.
As we approached November, I thought that Fulham would be the true litmus test of the strength of this team. Victory over Arsenal I considered a bonus but when I considered all the factors, Fulham stood out as the real test of quality going forward.
With Coutinho having an extra week of training under his belt, a recuperated Glen Johnson, and the advantage of playing on hallowed ground, the Reds have no excuses and anything but a convincing win will give us cause for real concern. Viewed after the Fulham game, the Arsenal fixture will have much greater significance as either a bump in the road or a true measure of our potential.
We have seen uncharacteristic defeats such as Cardiff beating Man City, Everton beating Chelsea, and, just this past weekend, Newcastle upsetting Chelsea. The circumstances of those wins were vastly different from what is at play at Anfield this time around. I would propose that in most of these cases, the losing teams were inadequately prepared or didn’t take the match seriously enough.
Against Fulham, the team must surely realize the pivotal nature of this conflict. Liverpool have something to prove if they are to stay the course for the Champions League. Our players must find the confidence that has inspired their play; they have to find the ‘luck’ that effort and rehearsal bring.
And most of all, in order to return the swagger to their step, they have to find the back of the net. This team was almost legend last year in the number of missed opportunities. The woodwork took a real pasting and, had the rulebook allowed American style field goals, we would have finished first in the league.
The Fulham tie is paramount in importance in determining how we will perform in November. Both as an evaluation of the relative strength of our side and a run-up to the derby, this match will say so much about the quality of our side and how realistic our chances of a top four finish really are.
I believe. You’ll Never Walk Alone!
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Fair point, I said before the Arsenal game that I thought a draw or loss would not be the end of the world, as long as we continue beating the teams we should, our objectives could and should be achieved.
Sure, Fulham are the real test. A top team that would test our limits! For crying outloud , Fulham are on free fall.
It wasn’t losing to arsenal, it was the manner in which we played and another defeat to a top team .
Is that right. last season your kind were calling for Rodgers out cause the performances were poor while more sensible fans asked for time to settle in and the fact we had a hard first few games. Performance really improve but the results don’t always go our way, then your kind say the only stat that matters is the score, we then start getting the results that our performances deserve and you lot say that the season does not start in January and the league table never lies. This season we are joint second in the league on points and now it’s the league sometimes lies because we had the easiest start to a season ever.
It doesn’t matter whether Rodgers wins the league or gets relegated you lot will find something to cry about.
“it was the manner in which we played” have we not been here before.
Little troll no sheep is confused again
The boy who thinks Suarez is no good is still making pathetic excuses
Easily the dumbest kid on the internet. Get a clue no sheep
I still want this clown out. The sooner the better. However, my loyalty belongs to LFC. Been there before Rogers, rafa etc and will be afterwards.
Rogers is not the man to take us back to top 4 but I support my club.
YNWA
Well said Erin . There are one or two people on this site simply determined to insult anyone not ‘towing the party line’ . I think every site has one (it’s called a troll). Aaron seems to love Brendan Rodgers FC not LFC. If your a fan of LFC I don’t see how you could tolerate Rodgers .
You would do well to look up the meaning of the word troll.
No sheep already admitted he was a troll .
So ? Do you know the meaning of the word ?
Look it up no sheep . You are one
Like it or not rodgers is the liverpool manager. Which means he is a big part of the club. And by calling him names means you show no loyalty to the club.
So does that make you a real fan?
Ha ha ha
So we are supposed to bow down and love every one that works for Liverpool ? Even if they are sh it ?
No sheep probably loved el hadji diouf . And konchesky etc
Of course little no sheep loved Roy Hodgson too
Ha ga ha hahaha . No sheep gets dumber by the day
Since when Fulham is so important ???
It’s not important but if we win and arsenal lose we are 3 points behind 1 st.
Losing would be important, winning would show we are capable of beating those who deserve to be beat.
Chelsea have lost to Everton and Newcastle, they are not complaining. We’ve lost to Southampton and Arsenal.
Can you show me one comment where a manager has said the that fulham are an easy 3 points? Not gonna look it up but I reckon fulham have beat almost every team in the league. It’s muppets like you that think 3 point off one team are worth more then 3 points against another.
A ha ha ha. More silly comments by little no sheep
Of course a manager is not going to say it’s an easy three points . That would be stupid
That doesn’t mean they dont know it .
Kop on no sheep. Your starting to act like a 4 year old now
Rubbish . Arsenal was the real and rodgers got it abysmally wrong . A poor Fulham at home ? Comfortable easy win
People expect us to be higher than we are?
we haven’t won the league for over 2 decades, what right do we have to destroy Arsenal at their ground. None.
That is a pathetic defeatist attitude . Are you sure you shouldnt be supporting Swansea or Stoke ? Or maybe a poor manager like Brendan has lowered your expectations too much ?
I hate Brendan he’s the anti Christ he can’t do nothing blah blah blah blah blah.
We’ll speak again come year end, oh and if successful in anyway, you guys should not celebrate, you hated him from day one.
Some people have given him a chance. 2nd/3 rd in the league after 1/4 season suggests some of us are right in doing so.
I bet you’d prefer Souness back. Don’t abate r, your previous post was a waste of time anyway.
Waaah waaah waaah
Aaron is crying again like a little child
Your so fkin boring
Liam. Are you crying that third place is bad.
Aaron , you are totally clueless.
I love being clueless and higher up in the league, you obviously don’t.
Now, go to the library, get half an education, then, only then…. might I converse with you.
i think its taste we wil need to collect three points in order to qualify champions league.joe allen needs to play in order to have stability,gerrard cant play the wwhole games .joe allen with lucas would form good central midfield then push coutinho behind forwards.hearing rumour we will get el sharway it means we will have best forwards in the league.my defence would be flat three with skrtel agger sakho .full backs johnson and enrique
Don’t agree at all . The arsenal match was a true test of where we are . We failed miserably. We were nowehere near the ball. Possession wise we were poor and the midfield was totally sluggish. I am not blaming you Brndan, evey man and his dog could see we needed reinforcement in the midfield in the summer. Steven is too old. He is good but shouldnt have to rely on a 33 year old as the main man. Lucas never got back to his best. The time to say we are closing the gap will bbe after 28 December by which time we will have fced Spurs, Everto, Chelsea and CIty away. If we are still within 5 points of top spot I will be the first to post and say how the gap has closed. But not now. 10 games in we have faced the poorest United since the 1980s, in transition with a new manager. And we scraped it. I see no gaps being closed. We jst have more tricky games in the last 28 matches than we did in the first 10 matches. Only saving grace will be the second half of the season where all of the big guns except United need to come to Anfield. And we dont have Europe to distract us. Closed the gap, lets wait till May.
Kemlynroadite . How can you NOT blame Rodgers ? It is Rodgers job to identify positions that need improving. It is Rodgers job to find suitable players
Rodgers wasted 48m on players we didn’t need this summer , whilst neglecting the area we needed to bolster. We didn’t need to spend money on a goalkeeper We didn’t need to waste 25m on sakho and llori We didn’t to waste 6m on Alberto We didn’t need to buy rubbish like Aspas
WE DID NEED one or two top quality midfielders . Rodgers must take the blame for this failure.
It really is time for the fans to wake up or we face many more years mired in mediocrity.
Spot on Stevie g . Rodgers fooked up by not buying players like wanyama . Proper manager required next summer.
Liam and whoever your gay lovers are, good luck to you and I as you do hope we fail.
I believe we never walk alone, maybe you should too x
That is just about as sad and immature as you will ever see on the net….calling someone gay because they don’t share your opinion
Pathetic !!
I’m surprised that that comment ever saw the light of day. Whoever is monitoring the content here was surely asleep at the switch.
So Aaron is also exposed as being homophobic!! What a class act you are mate – not.
I’m gay ok that is why I’m such a clown!
I don’t think anyone really cares what Aaron says , do they ? The way he gives abuse to everyone just shows his character and lack of intelligence.
Damn right !!!
Playing the top teams is where it’s at , all good teams will best Fulham at home so last week was the barometer
I’m actually a participant of gay pride marches being bisexual and regret my comment and apologise fully, drunk and incensed by all your banality.
Yeah, that sounds SO sincere mate. You’re digging yourself an even deeper hole now. Well done our resident homophobic fan.
Rodgers has lowered expectation so much that we are almost grateful for only getting beat by 2 goals. If we are going to accept that the top 5 are going to beat us but give it our best shot , we are doomed. Maybe this explains that against the top 10 last season , 18 games , we won 1, and that was against a tired Spurs just back from playing Milan on the Thursday. This was his mindset at Swansea were if they got a point against the top clubs, they were over the moon. 2 seasons ago Kenny won at the Emirates , won at Chelsea twice, won at City , beat Utd, beat Everton twice, now we are sent away like pups with people saying we were unlucky , remember Paisleys old quote ” give them a sweetie ” , well that’s what Wenger and others are saying to us. Rodgers is probably liked by the other managers , that means ” hes not a threat “
Totally agree with you. Kenny should have got more time. But with all those wins against good teams he got us 8th place with 52 points. While rodgers in his first year got us 7th with 61 points. Only a child would hold something against Rodgers for getting Kenny’s job.
Err ? Dummy no sheep ? Helllloooo
Kenny got 8th AND 2 CUP FINALS AND A TROPHY.
A TROPHY ? Remember what that is ? I know your brenda has never seen one
Rodgers got 7th (wow) and 2 embarrassing early exits in the cup
Oh and Kenny got us qualified for Europe.
Kop on little boy. I know you dont understand football , but try and keep up
@fritz . Who are you trying to kid ,hmmm ? Even though arsenal were decimated by injuries , it was still our first real test .
Fulham are in crisis , a shadow of previous years and always awful away from home.
If you are going to wear blinkers , at least don’t bury your head in the sand .
Just trying to stay positive without donning rose coloured glasses. A draw or loss, like I said in the column, was what the bookmakers expected against Arsenal and we should hardly have expected more (BTW, ‘decimated’ is a bit of an overstatement). The way we respond to Fulham will tell us more about the character of the team than this predictable setback. If anything but total domination (complete with a full Fulham net) is the order of the day, then we have cause for concern. If we cannot swagger after this game, we cannot swagger against anyone.
ITS NOT JUST THIS MATCH ITS EVERY DAMN MATCH THAT COUNTS TO BE IN THE TOP 4
Fulham wasn’t a test at all .
I disagree. They were not a challenge but they certainly were a test of the Reds’ character. That the team should come back with such spirit and energy is very reassuring. That they got another victory under their belts and created so many chances must have inflated their confidence. This team, thanks to the Fulham game, have had one more game to play as a unit, one more game to believe in themselves and BR, and one more game to illustrate that the Rogers and Hendo detractors are bitter old relics or 11 year-olds with too much time on their hands.
I was at the last Liverpool-Fulham match at Craven Cottage. There were several telling differences between the matches. The two keys for me were the marshalling of Berbatov and the absence of Riise from Fulham’s bench. Both had an effect on the field as well as the crowd in attendance.
Incidentally, I think that the biggest controversy in the game is the awarding of an own goal to Amorebieta. If an own goal is defined as being valid by the following: “Only if the ball would not have gone in the net but for the defending player would an own goal be credited. Thus a shot which is already “on target” would not be an own goal even if deflected by the defender. ” — Suarez should have a hat-trick.