With Carragher about to retire, Liverpool will soon find themselves lacking in experience. They have an average age of 23.19, making them the youngest team in this season's Premier League, and that's including Carragher's 35 years.
It's clear that the Reds need to bolster the squad this summer by bringing in 3 or 4 quality players, but for me they also need to bring in experience.
Who better to bring back to Anfield than Xabi Alonso?
The tough-tackling midfield passing specialist is currently at Real Madrid, but there have been rumours that he might be tempted back to Merseyside for a second spell at Liverpool. That would be the best possible news for Reds fans.
Imagine a midfield line up with Alonso, Lucas and Downing, with Gerrard playing off Suarez and Sturridge up front... that would be fantastic!
Admittedly the drawback to this midfield would be the lack of width - Downing would do his part down one flank, but you can't really see Alonso or Lucas tearing down the byline to swing in a cross.
On the upside, not relying on crosses into the box would fit well with Brendan Rodgers' style of play, with one-touch football and a return to the old Liverpool days of "pass and move", leading to intricate passes through the middle of the field. It can be difficult to break teams down this way particularly teams visiting Anfield who are likely to "park the bus", but it might be a nice option when facing attack-minded opposition.
Plan B would switch things up and drop one of the Alonso-Lucas partnership to the bench, bring Gerrard back into central midfield and then play Downing plus another winger (Sterling?).
By having Alonso in the side you would get a wealth of experience, and bring back someone who has passion and drive to combine with his undoubted talent. The Anfield faithful would welcome him back with open arms too! Who could forget his part in the Reds comeback in the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005?
Come on John Henry - get your cheque book out!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Defensive Concern
With the announcment from Jamie Carragher that he will retire from playing football at the end of the season, Liverpool must start to prepare for life without one of their most experienced players, who has been a stalwart of the Reds first team for the last decade.
Replacing Carragher will not be easy. He had a difficult start to his career at Liverpool as he was used in a variety of positions in defense and midfield, making it hard to settle into a role and make it his own. His versatility was his own worst enemy.
It was only when Rafa Benitez moved him to central defense that Carragher was finally able to shine, and he formed a formiddable partnership with first Sami Hyypia and then Daniel Agger, and his influence in the side was recognised as he was made club vice-captain. His performance in the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005 epitomized his work ethic and willingness to put his body on the line for the sake of the team, with some last minute blocks in extra time despite suffering from cramp.
When he retires this summer he will leave behind a legacy that will be very difficult to follow. He has won every domestic and European competition with Liverpool, apart from the obvious exclusion of the elusive Premier League title. He has made over 700 appearances for the Reds, placing him second in the club's all-time appearance list behind Ian Callaghan (who played 857 games, a record which will likely never be beaten in the modern game), and holds the record for most appearances by a Liverpool player in European competition.
So how do you replace such an iconic figure who seemed to demonstrate the qualities that the Reds fans demand of all their players?
It is a very difficult question to answer. Assuming Daniel Agger will retain his starting place in the Liverpool first team, a look at the current squad shows the potential partners in central defense to be either Martin Skrtel or Sebastián Coates. Skrtel has put in some good performances for the Reds, but remains prone to errors of judgement, with a slight tendency to lunge for the ball when it might be better to stay on his feet. This season has also seen a dip in form from Skrtel, which ultimately lead to Carragher regaining his place in the team. It would seem that Brendan Rodgers is not overly confident in Skrtel's abilities, although this has not prevented him from signing a contract extension this season. Skrtel is also the captain of the Slovakian national side, so his leadership qualities are there for everyone to see. If he can step up his game and cut out the errors that have marred parts of his Liverpool career so far, he could be a potential long-term replacement for Carragher.
The other option is Sebastián Coates, a young Uruguyuan defender who signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2011. Plenty of promise for this guy, including the fact that he plays for the national team and won the best young player at the 2011 Copa America tournament. However, he has only made 22 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in 1.5 seasons, of which just 10 have been in league games. He recently played against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup and looked completely out of his depth, unable to cope with the physical presence of Oldham striker Matt Smith. That performance did not impress the Liverpool faithful, and one can only assume it had the same effect on Rodgers.
Even if Skrtel could be considered a replacement for Carragher - provided he ups his game - there would then be a serious lack of depth in defense, with only Coates as a real backup to Agger and Skrtel. Liverpool need to strengthen in this area, and they need to get someone with experience.
It's all very well recruiting youngsters to prepare for the future, with the Academy and youth teams producing some very promising talent with the likes of Andre Wisdom and Jack Robinson (both of whom play as left/right backs), but they will not be ready to plug the gaping hole that Carragher's retirement will leave this summer.
Rodgers needs the Reds owners, Fenway Sports Group, to open the purse strings this summer and give him a sizeable kitty to bring in reinforcements. Before then, BR will have drawn up a list of his top targets.
He might dream of landing one of the defenders regularly considered as the best in the world, such as Gerard Pique, Thiago Silva or Nemanja Vidic, but realistically none of these names could conceivably make a home on Merseyside. Even if their clubs would be willing to sell them, Liverpool couldn't afford the transfer fees for such superstars of the world game.
Instead, Rodgers needs to look at those who might actually be achievable transfer targets, those who could be available to buy and within the Reds' budget.
One of the names on his list might be PSG's Mamadou Sakho, a highly rated defender who plays regularly for his national side but is currently warming the bench with Thiago Silva and Alex the first choice partnership. As PSG can splash the cash from a seemingly bottomless wallet, they might be willing to let Sakho go without too much of a fight and buy a more expensive, better known replacement. If Liverpool land Sakho they will get a player who has pace and power, who could potentially form a formiddable central defensive pairing alongside Agger.
Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund is another rising star in German football, helping the club to win the Bundesliga title for the last 2 seasons, and in doing so also becoming a mainstay of the national side. Big, strong and pacey, Hummels also has a great ability to read the game and make key interceptions, making him an excellent addition to any side. He is contract to Dortmund until 2017, so any move for him would not come cheap. It is unlikely that Dortmund would be willing to part with such a quality player as well, so unless Liverpool are able to offer a ridiculously high fee, Hummels won't be looking for a house along the Mersey any time soon.
Another powerful, dominating figure would be Adil Rami of Valencia, who previously played for Lille where he won the French Ligue 1 and cup competition before leaving for Spain. Rami has many admirers around Europe, and has put in plenty of impressive performances to justify the reported 10 million euros that Valencia paid for his services. At 27 years old, he could be considered to be at the peak of his career, performing at a high level whilst also have a good few years of service ahead of him to help shape the team. He has only played for Valencia since the summer of 2011, however, so much like Hummels would cost Liverpool a lot of money if they go for him, in the unlikely event that the Spanish team would be willing to let him go.
Alternatively, BR could focus on getting someone with a wealth of experience, knowledge of what it takes to win and a sizeable medal collection to prove it. Someone like Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender is out of contract at the end of the season, so could be tempted to make the switch to Merseyside where he would line up alongside some former England teammates in Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Stewart Downing. Ferdinand has the tactical awareness and positional sense that made Carragher such a success, and possesses good feet for a big central defender. On the downside, his loyalty to United would make him unlikely to choose Liverpool as his next destination should he decide to leave Manchester, and the Reds fans might not be too welcoming to a former United player. At 34 years of age, Ferdinand is only a year younger than Carragher, so can probably only expect to play for another 1 or 2 seasons, meaning Rodgers might prefer to go for a player with a longer future in the game who would be around for years to come.
The are plenty of candidates out there, but Liverpool's owners will undoubtedly want to keep the purse strings tight ahead of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules coming into force with the Premier League stating that total club loss cannot exceed £105 million over the 3 seasons from 2013-2016.
This might force BR to look towards the future and sign a player classed as a "promising prospect", but this could ultimately backfire as a leaky defense next season could end up costing Rodgers his job as boss.
One thing is for sure, whoever Rodgers lines up as a replacement for Carragher will have a tough task ahead of them to fill his boots, first in terms of performance and reliability and then to win over the fans for him Carragher was an idol.
Good luck with this one BR.
#YNWA
.jpg) |
| Liverpool's Mr. Reliable in defense |
It was only when Rafa Benitez moved him to central defense that Carragher was finally able to shine, and he formed a formiddable partnership with first Sami Hyypia and then Daniel Agger, and his influence in the side was recognised as he was made club vice-captain. His performance in the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005 epitomized his work ethic and willingness to put his body on the line for the sake of the team, with some last minute blocks in extra time despite suffering from cramp.
When he retires this summer he will leave behind a legacy that will be very difficult to follow. He has won every domestic and European competition with Liverpool, apart from the obvious exclusion of the elusive Premier League title. He has made over 700 appearances for the Reds, placing him second in the club's all-time appearance list behind Ian Callaghan (who played 857 games, a record which will likely never be beaten in the modern game), and holds the record for most appearances by a Liverpool player in European competition.
So how do you replace such an iconic figure who seemed to demonstrate the qualities that the Reds fans demand of all their players?
It is a very difficult question to answer. Assuming Daniel Agger will retain his starting place in the Liverpool first team, a look at the current squad shows the potential partners in central defense to be either Martin Skrtel or Sebastián Coates. Skrtel has put in some good performances for the Reds, but remains prone to errors of judgement, with a slight tendency to lunge for the ball when it might be better to stay on his feet. This season has also seen a dip in form from Skrtel, which ultimately lead to Carragher regaining his place in the team. It would seem that Brendan Rodgers is not overly confident in Skrtel's abilities, although this has not prevented him from signing a contract extension this season. Skrtel is also the captain of the Slovakian national side, so his leadership qualities are there for everyone to see. If he can step up his game and cut out the errors that have marred parts of his Liverpool career so far, he could be a potential long-term replacement for Carragher.
The other option is Sebastián Coates, a young Uruguyuan defender who signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2011. Plenty of promise for this guy, including the fact that he plays for the national team and won the best young player at the 2011 Copa America tournament. However, he has only made 22 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in 1.5 seasons, of which just 10 have been in league games. He recently played against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup and looked completely out of his depth, unable to cope with the physical presence of Oldham striker Matt Smith. That performance did not impress the Liverpool faithful, and one can only assume it had the same effect on Rodgers.
Even if Skrtel could be considered a replacement for Carragher - provided he ups his game - there would then be a serious lack of depth in defense, with only Coates as a real backup to Agger and Skrtel. Liverpool need to strengthen in this area, and they need to get someone with experience.
It's all very well recruiting youngsters to prepare for the future, with the Academy and youth teams producing some very promising talent with the likes of Andre Wisdom and Jack Robinson (both of whom play as left/right backs), but they will not be ready to plug the gaping hole that Carragher's retirement will leave this summer.
Rodgers needs the Reds owners, Fenway Sports Group, to open the purse strings this summer and give him a sizeable kitty to bring in reinforcements. Before then, BR will have drawn up a list of his top targets.
He might dream of landing one of the defenders regularly considered as the best in the world, such as Gerard Pique, Thiago Silva or Nemanja Vidic, but realistically none of these names could conceivably make a home on Merseyside. Even if their clubs would be willing to sell them, Liverpool couldn't afford the transfer fees for such superstars of the world game.
Instead, Rodgers needs to look at those who might actually be achievable transfer targets, those who could be available to buy and within the Reds' budget.
One of the names on his list might be PSG's Mamadou Sakho, a highly rated defender who plays regularly for his national side but is currently warming the bench with Thiago Silva and Alex the first choice partnership. As PSG can splash the cash from a seemingly bottomless wallet, they might be willing to let Sakho go without too much of a fight and buy a more expensive, better known replacement. If Liverpool land Sakho they will get a player who has pace and power, who could potentially form a formiddable central defensive pairing alongside Agger.
Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund is another rising star in German football, helping the club to win the Bundesliga title for the last 2 seasons, and in doing so also becoming a mainstay of the national side. Big, strong and pacey, Hummels also has a great ability to read the game and make key interceptions, making him an excellent addition to any side. He is contract to Dortmund until 2017, so any move for him would not come cheap. It is unlikely that Dortmund would be willing to part with such a quality player as well, so unless Liverpool are able to offer a ridiculously high fee, Hummels won't be looking for a house along the Mersey any time soon.
Another powerful, dominating figure would be Adil Rami of Valencia, who previously played for Lille where he won the French Ligue 1 and cup competition before leaving for Spain. Rami has many admirers around Europe, and has put in plenty of impressive performances to justify the reported 10 million euros that Valencia paid for his services. At 27 years old, he could be considered to be at the peak of his career, performing at a high level whilst also have a good few years of service ahead of him to help shape the team. He has only played for Valencia since the summer of 2011, however, so much like Hummels would cost Liverpool a lot of money if they go for him, in the unlikely event that the Spanish team would be willing to let him go.
Alternatively, BR could focus on getting someone with a wealth of experience, knowledge of what it takes to win and a sizeable medal collection to prove it. Someone like Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender is out of contract at the end of the season, so could be tempted to make the switch to Merseyside where he would line up alongside some former England teammates in Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Stewart Downing. Ferdinand has the tactical awareness and positional sense that made Carragher such a success, and possesses good feet for a big central defender. On the downside, his loyalty to United would make him unlikely to choose Liverpool as his next destination should he decide to leave Manchester, and the Reds fans might not be too welcoming to a former United player. At 34 years of age, Ferdinand is only a year younger than Carragher, so can probably only expect to play for another 1 or 2 seasons, meaning Rodgers might prefer to go for a player with a longer future in the game who would be around for years to come.
The are plenty of candidates out there, but Liverpool's owners will undoubtedly want to keep the purse strings tight ahead of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules coming into force with the Premier League stating that total club loss cannot exceed £105 million over the 3 seasons from 2013-2016.
This might force BR to look towards the future and sign a player classed as a "promising prospect", but this could ultimately backfire as a leaky defense next season could end up costing Rodgers his job as boss.
One thing is for sure, whoever Rodgers lines up as a replacement for Carragher will have a tough task ahead of them to fill his boots, first in terms of performance and reliability and then to win over the fans for him Carragher was an idol.
Good luck with this one BR.
#YNWA
Monday, February 18, 2013
How to beat Zenit
...that's a question Brendan Rodgers will be asking himself over the next couple of days as Liverpool prepare to climb the mountainous task of overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg.
The Russians showed their organizational skills in a very disciplined first leg last week, and made the Reds pay for some defensive lapses by notching a couple of goals, one of which would be a goal of the season contender as Hulk blasted in a scorcher from distance.
At Anfield on Thursday they will no doubt play on the counter attack, looking to expose Liverpool's lack of pace in central defense, with Hulk waiting to pounce on anything that comes his way. The Reds will need Carragher and Agger to be at their dominating best for the return clash, and for Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson to exercise caution when going forwards so as to not forget their duties at the back to help resist the Zenit counter attack.
There is no doubt that Pepe Reina will start, and the back four practically names itself, with Enrique, Agger, Carragher and Johnson likely the first names on Rodgers' list. The solid performance of this back five against Swansea City, together with the added bonus of a clean sheet, should give them some confidence going into this vital tie against their dangerous Russian counterparts.
The midfield-attack area is less obvious, however, as Rodgers finds himself very short on attacking options. Both Coutinho and Sturridge - excellent against Swansea - are ineligible for the Reds' European campaign, and with Fabio Borini the unfortunate victim of a nasty-looking shoulder injury, Liverpool will once again look to Luis Suarez to lead the line and inspire the side to get the goals they need to progress.
BR will likely play a 4-4-1-1 option with either Shelvey or Downing playing behind Suarez in attack, supported by a midfield of Gerrard, Lucas, Sterling and the other one of the Shelvey/Downing choice, giving them a lineup like the following:
I would personally like to see LFC attack as much as possible, knowing we need to go at Zenit right from the first whistle. To do this, we cannot really on a packed midfield with only Suarez up front; he needs someone to support him, and that's why a 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 formation would be ideal.
The Zenit defense looked prone to error in the first leg, so some pace in the side would be the best way to exploit this. Using Suarez and Sterling to this effect would be ideal, coupled with the passing range of both Gerrard and Downing should give the Reds a way to get back into the tie.
Enrique and Johnson will be encouraged to get forwards as often as possible, but it would be a mistake to do this too often as Carragher and Agger don't have the pace at the back to deal with Hulk, and could be easily exposed on the counter attack. Lucas will need to continue his progress on Thursday by marshalling the area between midfield and defense, winning the ball back and giving it to Gerrard (or Henderson) so they can put the Reds on the attack.
It is a must win game, and I fully expect the starting eleven to give their all for the team. If LFC can score before half time the tie will be winnable in the second half, as long as they manage to banish the nerves and defensive errors that have cost them wins in 4 out of the last 5 matches (0-2 Zenit, 0-2 West Brom, 2-2 Manchester City, 2-2 Arsenal).
Liverpool can do this - they can win and write their name in the next round, but they need to attack from the start. If it is still goalless after 60 minutes, they should throw caution to the wind and switch to 4-3-3 (if not already doing so), or even 3-4-3 by pushing Jose Enrique up into midfield.
#YNWA
The Russians showed their organizational skills in a very disciplined first leg last week, and made the Reds pay for some defensive lapses by notching a couple of goals, one of which would be a goal of the season contender as Hulk blasted in a scorcher from distance.
At Anfield on Thursday they will no doubt play on the counter attack, looking to expose Liverpool's lack of pace in central defense, with Hulk waiting to pounce on anything that comes his way. The Reds will need Carragher and Agger to be at their dominating best for the return clash, and for Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson to exercise caution when going forwards so as to not forget their duties at the back to help resist the Zenit counter attack.
There is no doubt that Pepe Reina will start, and the back four practically names itself, with Enrique, Agger, Carragher and Johnson likely the first names on Rodgers' list. The solid performance of this back five against Swansea City, together with the added bonus of a clean sheet, should give them some confidence going into this vital tie against their dangerous Russian counterparts.
The midfield-attack area is less obvious, however, as Rodgers finds himself very short on attacking options. Both Coutinho and Sturridge - excellent against Swansea - are ineligible for the Reds' European campaign, and with Fabio Borini the unfortunate victim of a nasty-looking shoulder injury, Liverpool will once again look to Luis Suarez to lead the line and inspire the side to get the goals they need to progress.
BR will likely play a 4-4-1-1 option with either Shelvey or Downing playing behind Suarez in attack, supported by a midfield of Gerrard, Lucas, Sterling and the other one of the Shelvey/Downing choice, giving them a lineup like the following:
 |
| LFC 4-4-1-1 formation |
The other option for Rodgers, given the need to score at least 2 goals just to force extra time, would be to go with a really attacking formation, along the lines of 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. This would see a midfield three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson supporting an attacking trio of Suarez, Downing and Sterling (or possibly Shelvey). If he goes with that, it'll look something like this:
 |
| LFC 4-3-2-1 formation |
I would personally like to see LFC attack as much as possible, knowing we need to go at Zenit right from the first whistle. To do this, we cannot really on a packed midfield with only Suarez up front; he needs someone to support him, and that's why a 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 formation would be ideal.
The Zenit defense looked prone to error in the first leg, so some pace in the side would be the best way to exploit this. Using Suarez and Sterling to this effect would be ideal, coupled with the passing range of both Gerrard and Downing should give the Reds a way to get back into the tie.
Enrique and Johnson will be encouraged to get forwards as often as possible, but it would be a mistake to do this too often as Carragher and Agger don't have the pace at the back to deal with Hulk, and could be easily exposed on the counter attack. Lucas will need to continue his progress on Thursday by marshalling the area between midfield and defense, winning the ball back and giving it to Gerrard (or Henderson) so they can put the Reds on the attack.
It is a must win game, and I fully expect the starting eleven to give their all for the team. If LFC can score before half time the tie will be winnable in the second half, as long as they manage to banish the nerves and defensive errors that have cost them wins in 4 out of the last 5 matches (0-2 Zenit, 0-2 West Brom, 2-2 Manchester City, 2-2 Arsenal).
Liverpool can do this - they can win and write their name in the next round, but they need to attack from the start. If it is still goalless after 60 minutes, they should throw caution to the wind and switch to 4-3-3 (if not already doing so), or even 3-4-3 by pushing Jose Enrique up into midfield.
#YNWA
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Reds 5 - 0 Swansea City
OK, so it was a second-string Swansea side who rested key players ahead of their Cup final next weekend, but it was still an awesome, forward-thinking performance from a rampant Reds team, determined to answer the critics who gave them such a bashing after recent results.
Aside from the fact that Liverpool scored 5 goals, there were plenty of other positives to take from this game:
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| Reds players celebrate after Gerrard's penalty |
What a game that was - Liverpool attacked from the very start against Swansea City, and never let their opponents settle in.
Aside from the fact that Liverpool scored 5 goals, there were plenty of other positives to take from this game:
Saturday, February 16, 2013
My Reds lineup v Swansea
It's an important match this weekend as Liverpool host Swansea City at Anfield in the Premier League, with Brendan Rodgers going up against the club he left in the summer to take over the reigns on Merseyside.
On any other week there would have been much less hype or importance placed on this match, but after a 5 game winless streak, including defeats to West Brom and Zenit St Petersburg, there is suddenly an onus on Liverpool to win this game, and to do so convincingly.
Rodgers can name an almost full strength side, with only youngsters Kelly and Flanaghan out injured, while Swansea boss Michael Laudrup will have one eye (if not both) on their Cup final next weekend.
On any other week there would have been much less hype or importance placed on this match, but after a 5 game winless streak, including defeats to West Brom and Zenit St Petersburg, there is suddenly an onus on Liverpool to win this game, and to do so convincingly.
Rodgers can name an almost full strength side, with only youngsters Kelly and Flanaghan out injured, while Swansea boss Michael Laudrup will have one eye (if not both) on their Cup final next weekend.
Friday, February 15, 2013
All Eyes on Coutinho
The upcoming fixture list looks fairly good for Liverpool starting with Swansea (H) this weekend, then Wigan (A), Spurs (H), Southampton (A), Aston Villa (A) and West Ham (H). BR will be targeting maximum points from all these games, a target that the Reds will have to achieve if they are to turn their European qualification dreams into a reality.
The problem is that Liverpool have an over-reliance on Luis Suarez, who fortunately for the Anfield faithful has far exceeded expectations thus far with some fantastic performances and a very healthy goal return. If you put the little Uruguayan to one side, however, the team is very short on flair players, the kind of player who can make a difference when it counts and give the supporters something to cheer about.
With Steven Gerrard often playing a deeper role earlier in the season, Brendan Rodgers recognised that the Reds lack a way of bridging the gap between midfield and attack, a point that has been emphasized by Suarez having to play as a lone striker for the last few months. He has tried playing Jonjo Shelvey in a number 10 role operating behind Suarez, but that idea hasn't really born fruit.
The problem is that Liverpool have an over-reliance on Luis Suarez, who fortunately for the Anfield faithful has far exceeded expectations thus far with some fantastic performances and a very healthy goal return. If you put the little Uruguayan to one side, however, the team is very short on flair players, the kind of player who can make a difference when it counts and give the supporters something to cheer about.
With Steven Gerrard often playing a deeper role earlier in the season, Brendan Rodgers recognised that the Reds lack a way of bridging the gap between midfield and attack, a point that has been emphasized by Suarez having to play as a lone striker for the last few months. He has tried playing Jonjo Shelvey in a number 10 role operating behind Suarez, but that idea hasn't really born fruit.
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| Liverpool's new number 10 |
Liverpool's new Brazilian midfielder just might be the missing link that the Reds need to spur them on to a period of positive results, coming off the back of some indifferent performances from the team.
Having already invested in a new striker during the transfer window, with the signing of the excellent Daniel Sturridge - who is already well on his way to becoming a fan favourite after a series of goals - BR looked abroad and got his man with the promising Coutinho, who has already been capped by Brazil.
Signed on 30th January 2013, having finally secured a work permit, Philippe Coutinho arrived at Anfield from Inter with probably very little idea of the weight that would shortly be placed upon his young shoulders.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Zenit St Bromwich Albion
The Russian champions might as well have been from the Midlands, given they copied West Brom's late show against Liverpool to take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Europa League tie.
Although they did not dominate the match against Zenit St Petersburg as they had done against West Brom, Liverpool were once again guilty of missing too many chances. Luis Suarez in particular could have had a hat-trick, including missing from 5 yards out and wasting a one-on-one against the goalkeeper.
In the end, Hulk made the Reds pay by thumping an unstoppable drive into the top corner, with Semak doubling the lead only 2 minutes later. This gives Zenit a comfortable lead to take into the return leg at Anfield next Thursday, where we can expect them to play a fast counter-attack game that could easily punish any lapses in concentration from Liverpool.
The first half was an open affair with chances for both sides, Suarez guilty of missing some good opportunities and Pepe Reina making some solid saves, while Hulk was denied by the woodwork. Liverpool would have been very happy to go into the interval on level terms.
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| Misfiring Suarez |
In the end, Hulk made the Reds pay by thumping an unstoppable drive into the top corner, with Semak doubling the lead only 2 minutes later. This gives Zenit a comfortable lead to take into the return leg at Anfield next Thursday, where we can expect them to play a fast counter-attack game that could easily punish any lapses in concentration from Liverpool.
The first half was an open affair with chances for both sides, Suarez guilty of missing some good opportunities and Pepe Reina making some solid saves, while Hulk was denied by the woodwork. Liverpool would have been very happy to go into the interval on level terms.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Next Stevie G...?
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| Captain Fantastic |
In the past this type of saying would be altered to include another star man, such as Fernando Torres or more recently Luis Suarez. The media and opposing fans would be quick to state that without Gerrard and Torres/Suarez, Liverpool would be a very ordinary team indeed.
Reds fans have always defended the team by saying that there are other players who make key contributions as well, such as Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, and so on. These rebuttles carried solid arguments, as the spine of the Liverpool team usually formed quite a formiddable force, hence why the Reds finished in the top 5 every year from 2000 until 2009.
At the age of 32, Gerrard is now enterring the twilight of his career, with perhaps another 3 or 4 good years left in him (unless he manages to follow the example set by Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes). And so, the question that Liverpool FC need to answer is: who can replace Steven Gerrard?
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Stand by your Manager!
As soon as the final whistle had blown to signal the end of the disastrous home defeat by West Brom, disgruntled Reds fans took to Twitter to voice their anger at what many considered a woeful performance by a team playing far below their capabilities.
Fans singled out players such as Fabio Borini for abuse, criticizing one particular chance against the Baggies that he probably should have scored, which would have given Liverpool the lead. This is somewhat harsh given that Borini is only just back from a serious injury that kept him out of the opening half of the season - you can't seriously expect him to burst back onto the scene with the scoring touch he undoubtedly possesses turning every opportunity into a goal. It will take the lad time to find his feet and get back to the scoring form he showed us in pre-season, before that injury wrecked the start of his career with the Reds.
Others blamed Daniel Agger for the second goal, saying he let Lukaku get away from him too easily. Granted there might be some truth to this, and it may have been the psychological blow of conceding the first goal so late in a game they were dominating that caused Agger switching off slightly, allowing Lukaku to take full advantage and use his fresh legs to double the lead. He was also blamed for Arsenal's first goal in their comeback draw at the Emirates. But Agger has been one of Liverpool's key players this season, a commanding presence at the back who fully deserves his place in the side.
Pepe Reina also got a fair bit of stick with large numbers of Reds fans laying the blame for the draw with Manchester City entirely on his shoulders, following his odd decision to rush out of his goal allowing Sergio Aguero to score an - admittedly stunning - equaliser. Reina, however, is still a very good goalkeeper, and certainly the best available to Rodgers at present.
Which brings me to perhaps the worst thing I saw on Twitter this week, as the hashtag #RodgersOUT began trending.
This is absolutely disgraceful. How can supposedly loyal Reds fans be calling for his head already?
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| Disgruntled fans promoted this ridiculous hashtag on Twitter |
Others blamed Daniel Agger for the second goal, saying he let Lukaku get away from him too easily. Granted there might be some truth to this, and it may have been the psychological blow of conceding the first goal so late in a game they were dominating that caused Agger switching off slightly, allowing Lukaku to take full advantage and use his fresh legs to double the lead. He was also blamed for Arsenal's first goal in their comeback draw at the Emirates. But Agger has been one of Liverpool's key players this season, a commanding presence at the back who fully deserves his place in the side.
Pepe Reina also got a fair bit of stick with large numbers of Reds fans laying the blame for the draw with Manchester City entirely on his shoulders, following his odd decision to rush out of his goal allowing Sergio Aguero to score an - admittedly stunning - equaliser. Reina, however, is still a very good goalkeeper, and certainly the best available to Rodgers at present.
Which brings me to perhaps the worst thing I saw on Twitter this week, as the hashtag #RodgersOUT began trending.
This is absolutely disgraceful. How can supposedly loyal Reds fans be calling for his head already?
Smash and Grab
Liverpool 0 - 2 West Bromwich Albion
Monday 11th February 2013
You've got to hand it to West Brom - that was a classic example of the old smash and grab.
At Anfield on Monday night they were faced with a continuous probing attack from a spirited, in-form Liverpool side, and defended their goal solidly through an inspired performance by Ben Foster. They offered precious little going forward in the first half but were canny enough to make the Reds pay on the rare occasions when they managed a shot on goal.
In fact, McAuley's goal in the 81st minute was only their second shot on target, and when Lukaku capped his cameo appearance with the second goal (89), the entire Kop were left to collectively wonder just what the hell had happened. Liverpool dominated the statistics for shots (16-4), corners (13-5) and possession (58%-42%), but failed to turn their superiority into goals, and were made to pay by their opponents.
It could have been so different.
Monday 11th February 2013
You've got to hand it to West Brom - that was a classic example of the old smash and grab.
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| Liverpool players' reaction to West Brom's opener |
In fact, McAuley's goal in the 81st minute was only their second shot on target, and when Lukaku capped his cameo appearance with the second goal (89), the entire Kop were left to collectively wonder just what the hell had happened. Liverpool dominated the statistics for shots (16-4), corners (13-5) and possession (58%-42%), but failed to turn their superiority into goals, and were made to pay by their opponents.
It could have been so different.
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