In the aftermath of the destruction at Old Trafford, Liverpool are already looking ahead to the next opponents. The great team effort already gone and forgotten. The missed spot kick already just a passing memory. In truth, this was never going to be our make or break season defining game.
We won this game weeks before our boys took the bus ride to that place. Liverpool, for once, were overwhelming favourites to hammer them by 4-5 goals. The fact that we didn’t get out of 3rd gear and still managed to put 3 past them was, for lack of a better word embarrassing. The message we sent out was clear, it was loud and it was decisive: we’re here, we mean business, but the biggest challenge lies ahead for the Red army.
The Liverpool of old would be very inconsistent. On a good day beating United and Real Madrid in the same week, then the next week losing to QPR frustratingly, then having numerous one sided draws. The Biggest challenge ahead is not Chelsea, or City; they will be under heavy pressure to win at Anfield. They have owners who spent millions to win the league and they have mandates to win numerous trophies and failure to deliver is un-thinkable.
The pressure is huge not only on the manager, but the players too. Some of the Chelsea players were bought for so much money that they cannot even carry the burden of such a huge price tag. I’m not mentioning any names here but will silently grin as I know many out there know exactly who I am referring to (add maniacal laughter here).
But again, this is not the Liverpool of old – we have a winning mentality and a hunger for winning. A desire to beat any team at any cost. We want to win and this attitude has already (pretty much!) given us Champions League football for next year. I can’t imagine us capitulating and throwing 4th spot away as the least expectation from here on.
So what is our biggest challenge then? That my fellow LFC familia, is overcoming the small teams fighting relegation. Cardiff has a brilliant goal-keeper, they are actually not a bad team, and they have had a rough time with some decisions not going their way, as well as some poor finishing but they have a great performance in them.
We go to Wales in great form with the huge weight of expectation heavy on the shoulders of our boys. They know that nothing but a win will do and that any slip up costs us not only (possibly) the title, but losing our momentum at this critical stage of the season. Cardiff will know that we will get frustrated if it remains 0-0 until until at least 60 minutes. We will pour men forward in search of the winner and our defence will be tested on the counter. The Cardiff game plan will certainly be defend, defend, defend, then for 5 minutess counter, counter, counter then defend the remaining 25 minutes and settle for the draw.
In Brendan Rodgers we have a good tactician. He certainly outsmarted Wenger, Martinez and Moyes (although it doesn’t take much to outsmart him!) just to name a few. I am sure Brendan Rodgers will have a plan to crack open this defence, while Cardiff will almost certainly have a flat back four with three defensive midfielders, one attacking midfielder and the lone forward. For SAS to break that defence may just prove to be very, very difficult.
The key to winning at Cardiff would possibly be set pieces and this brings the very good arial abilities of Skrtel and Agger into play. As target men they may just be Liverpool FC’s best bet for an opener. After watching the Cardiff game at Everton and how well they coped with a good Everton attack, I am sure they will go into this game thinking 1 point is the target.
If LFC can only unlock the door before the second half then I am sure it will be curtains and we will unleash a world of pain on the brilliant Marshall in the Cardiff goal. One the other hand, if we don’t score by 60 minutes it can be our season-defining game and an anti-climax to an amazing season. Of course, I hope it doesn’t happen and Liverpool will be odds-on to destroy Cardiff. But like I said, it may just be our biggest challenge ahead.
True and perfect analyses, but I think also that we use the counter attack to unlock Cardiff’s defence. Let us allow them play d ball around, although not nearing our 18yard, then wit d SAS, and Sterlin up front, Henderson and Allen winning balls for the up fronters and Captain fantastic in front of d defenders, a 3 nil is on the grabs. YNWL
Good analysis, but when mentioning set pieces you forgot to mention our main man, the captain Stevie G, YES Cardiff played very well against Everton but what Everton don’t have is Gerrard long ball ability with pin point accuracy, we have scored counter attacking goals against teams like Stoke, so don’t get me wrong but It was Gerrard along with SAS to unlock that password there, and with the form he’s in, he is our another main man
BR is not a good tactician. LFC performs better this session is solely based on more goals scored by SaS. Also look at the goals conceded. I doubt LFC will perform at the same level next session. But who cares ??? Win us the league now !!!
Stevie , are you saying that the goals we conceded are a result of BRR tactics?, Also SAS are used in totally different roles almost every game, as well as playing Sterling in the middle against united effectively playing up agaist the very tall Fellaini.
Rodgers got the tactics spot on almost every single game and we don’t give him enough credit . This might be because we had so many “false dawns” over the years . Some fans are still very sceptical about rodgers but , he has brought back belief without big investment in the team.
hi shaheed joseph,
I still remember one example of tactical blunder by BR, that is from my memory without consulting google search engine, that is against Arsenal.
I totally agree, Shaheed – United was a big game but we knew we were going to win after the first 15 minutes but the games ahead are likely to be tricky, as we’ll be overwhelming favourites.
Stevie, how do you figure Rogers is not a good tactician? Just need an explanation if you could. Seems like an odd comment to make with out really backing it up. Sas is a product of tactical training and they have been used differently depending on the opposition, not to forget the midfield set up being altered when necessary. The defensive mistakes at times were comical but many times it was individual errors. I’m just trying to figure how you’ve come to your conclusion.
SaS are both selfish strikers with individual skills + stamina. With skills and stamina, they can virtually require no superior tactics and yet still able to score lots of goals and thus winning games. Also do not forget those players signed by KK (Suarez, Henderson, also KK trust in Sterling and other youngsters)). BR must not take all the credit !!!
By no means am I blinded by Rogers pearly whites, to be fair kk sighed hendo and rafa signed sterling one could argue sterling would have come good eventually, but a manager still needs to get them to play together, but they have all improved under Rogers, and sas was not always available yet we still picked up points with out them. I’m not saying it’s all Rogers I’m simply saying he deserves allot more credit than some fans give him.