Red’s French frolic but Lyon strike the vital blow?

Lyon 1
Lisandro 90

Liverpool 1
Babel 83

Undone in the last minute again and maybe for last and decisive time in this seasons Champions League?

After the last two games against Lyon we won’t need lessons on seeing things through to the end. Players of our experience know the score anyway however, although the disappointment is just as deep as it was two weeks ago, at least we can take solace from a much improved performance. Perhaps that makes Lisandro’s 90th minute equaliser even more heartbreaking as we were by far the better side and could, with a keener eye for goal and a small dash of luck, have had the points in the bag by half time?

With our problems one always got the feeling that, sooner or later, our defence would be tested. However Lyon only had two chances, the goal and another which Reina dealt with easily. Both were down to mistakes by one of both of the centre back pairing of Agger and Kyrgiakos however, it was first time out together such is the make do and mend policy at the moment. Considering this it was great team performance, one of tenacity, great spirit and some decent football. It is pity that so much was riding on it and that we couldn’t extend out dominance just a tad longer.

Rafa’s side was another shuffle out of necessity. Carragher was at right back to accommodate Agger and Kyrgiakos. Aqulinai was on the bench, a sign that he is recovering and close or how short we are?

It’s easy to dwell on the Lyon goal due to it’s time however, in a game which we totally bossed I guess one has to look at the four or five decent chances we spurned. The first was Torres’ shot after good linkage between Insua and Benayoun, a foot either side of the keeper and we would have been in front. Later Kuyt, from another Insua cross, produced a great stretch and tip over from Lloris. Voronin had the best chance of the half running onto a long ball, keeping his head but firing onto Lloris legs. Oh I how a felt for him. It was a wonderful opportunity to up his credit rating and the chance seemed to visibly affect him for a while.

Elsewhere we were solid in midfield, Mascherano and Lucas showed increasing signs of settling down together and becoming a stronger collective force. Benayoun was as creative as ever and we were even treated to the rare sight of Jamie Carragher charging down the wing on the overlap, taking on Cissokho and trying to get a cross in! I don’t know what Insua had done before the game but whatever it was he should do it more. He got into some great forward positions, had a hand in two of our three first half chances and defended as if his life depended on it. His best performance in a Liverpool shirt? If not then certainly a testament to his character and bottle after a less than convincing performance at Craven Cottage.

It was good first half performance that put Lyon on the back foot and instilling a caution into their play that one wouldn’t expect from the home side. This continued in the second with Lucas shot cannoning off Lloris’ hand, Kuyt’s overhead kick from the rebound was cleared off the line by Cissoko. Then enter Ryan Babel.

Much has been written about Babel and his erratic attempts to try and live up to his potential and again he showed why he is such an enigma. Within minutes he instilled hope with a marvellous long range effort lashed into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. A few minutes later he shaped up for a free kick out that needed to be delivered into the area or produce a save from the keeper however it was so off target that it went out for a throw in! However, Babel clicked for one vital moment, a moment that surely would give us the three points we deserved? Sadly, Lisandro had other ideas exploiting hesitancy and poor decision making between Agger and Kyrgiakos to fire home even though Reina managed to get a hand on it.

It’s clearly an uphill battle to qualify. Our chances are even slimmer than they were two years ago. However while there is a chance, hope remains. We need a huge slice of luck. If fate is a fair player then surely, after our two games, Lyon owe us something and they can deliver by collecting points in Florence?

And the longer term? We don’t play until Monday and then there is an international break. Amble opportunity to retire, lick our wounds, regain our strength. Although it’s hard to see past the group implications at present we can at least take some solace from the fact that we were stronger tonight than we have been for some time?

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher (captain), Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Voronin, Torres. Subs – Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Sanchez Ayala

Lyon: Lloris, Cris, Reveillere, Cissokho, Kallstrom, Michel Bastos, Pjanic, Makoun, Toulalan, Lopez, Gomis Subs – Vercoutre, , Govou, Delgado, Tafer, Gassama, Gonalons

Att: 39,180

Trying to find an answer and loosening up for Lyon

The discussions over our plight seem to be relentless and will no doubt be ramped up if we lose tonight against Lyon in what many see as a do or die Champions League match. The comments have ranged from the silly to bizarre? What next, questions in the house, may be an air raid on Anfield? Perhaps Bob Geldof will organise a concert?

The flack has been so profuse and the debate so wide ranging that it’s very difficult to separate the “wheat” from the “chaff” but at the moment, to me, there are two issues that encapsulate our current plight.

The first is short term, injuries. Count them, eleven of them, a whole football team. All clubs have injuries but eleven, and all at once, is just bad luck. No club, regardless of the strength of resources available to them, would be able to cope with this and continue the same vain as a near full strength side would.

The second is more long term. The injury crisis has not exposed the lack of the depth the squad, we have plenty of bodies to pull on the red shirt but it has raised serious questions about the lack of quality. Players can improve but can any Liverpool fan, hand on heart, say that some (not all) of the players we’ve seen lately are able stand ins for their first team equivalents?

Injuries happen and the number has exposed the squad terribly to doubts that many have been holding about it and its manager for some time, even when we did well last season. Questions will always be asked about Rafa and these aren’t much different from those from three years ago but who would have expected him to have his options limited so severely as they are now?

There is also the “support” the owners have given him. For every top quality player there has also been a make do and mend element. A prime example of this is Kyrgiakos who was bought for £2m last summer because basically that was all Rafa could afford. There was also no money for a top quality second striker, and boy are we reaping the ”rewards” of that now with Torres flagging. Surely it is only a matter of time before he has to go under the knife or packs up totally and is out for longer?

However, now is not the time for picking over such issues? And surely they will only get worse if we don’t qualify from The Champions League Group stage? Although there is a small consoling thought deep in the back of my mind that non qualification might in some way force the issue with our American friends, clearly one won’t want to see this at the expense of the team not doing well.

This is a game that everyone seems to think we need to win however a draw might not be a disaster? Granted we might, depending on how other results go, have qualification taken out of our hands but plenty of teams have qualified with ten points before and or course this assumes that we would win our two remaining games in the group at away to Debrecen and at home to Fiorentina.

Lyon have injury problems at the back and are without a recognized centre half. They have also undergone a dodgy spell since they beat us at Anfield for example they recently lost 4-1 to Nice. However, despite that their quality going forward was there for all to see at Anfield. They were particularly potent on the flanks and one wonders what Rafa will do to combat this with defensive quality he has available to him? Perhaps the best form of defence is to attack pushing Lyon back and not allowing them to get forward and dominate like they did at Anfield where at times they looked like the home side? However, Rafa needs to be careful with Lyon knowing that a win would secure them qualification?

Prediction? Everything points to a loss or at best a draw. However, I’m relying on Rafa’s ability to tweak the nose of adversity once more and pull out a result. Finally whatever the result I leave you his words from yesterday

“Our fans are very clever. Sometimes you have bad moments, but they know we are working very hard to try and change things. We will try to win and we know that when you walk through a storm, hold your head up high – and we will try to hold our heads up high”

The day the lights went out?

Fulham 3
Zamora 24, Nevland 73, Dempsey 87

Liverpool 1
Torres 42

After we beat The Mancs last weekend I posed the following question about Rafa…

“What is it about this man that attracts so much criticism and what is it that he has about him that enables him to turn things around and make all the newsprint pulp and the verbal’s diarrhoea?”

For me perhaps this was answered with this game. Rafa is different to other managers. Sometimes it works in our favour and he and the team produces something very, very special and then there was Saturday’s game at Craven Cottage.

What is the cause of this latest demise, our sixth out of seven? The way Rafa played it – substituting Torres and then not making the right tactical decisions? Bad luck re injuries? Bad luck on the pitch with two dubious red cards. Then there is our lack of strength in depth? When you scratch beneath the undoubted quality that is on the surface do we reveal a poor squad? If so who’s is to blame for that? Rafa, because he signed the players? The players themselves or perhaps the owners for not stumping up the cash to enable the quality to be acquired? May be it is a combination of the whole lot? Judging from the post mortems held this weekend it would seem so as all of them were pushed forward as explanations?

The side certainly reflected the injury problems facing Rafa coupled with his need to produce something at the Stade de Gerland on Wednesday. Enter Kyrgiakos and Degen at the back. Voronin kept his place from Wednesday and there was no Gerrard, Riera, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Ngog, Aquilani or Aurelio. Is that it, or is there anyone else I’ve missed out?

When you have so many players out chances are that things won’t go so well however there is damage limitation? No doubt Rafa will attract criticism for hooking Torres when the scores were level. His goal, a superb predatory volley from outside the area, showed how much we value him at present (haven’t we always) however it is clear that he also needs to be rationed until “reinforcements” come along?

It is not the withdrawal of Torres that causes concern but perhaps Rafa’s solution to his departure. Despite the score we dominated this game in terms of possession however, we produced very little in terms of chances – all football and no action. Fulham, when they did get the ball, did just that. When Torres was hooked perhaps the response could have been more positive? No doubt Fulham were perturbed by our dominance so a move such as introducing Babel or pushing Benayoun (who has plenty of success against Fulham and hit the bar in this match) further forward might have worked?

The fact we dominated possession yet still managed to ship three goals is also a major cause for concern, injuries or no injuries. For the first goal Duff was given too much space by the increasingly unimpressive Degen and was able to cross past a seemingly comatose Kyrgiakos for Zamora who managed to easily get in front of Insua to slot home. Against the pattern of play yes but it means nothing and it was just really, really poor defending.

The second was equally as calamitous. Konchesky, again given the freedom of the park by, Degen crossed, Reina touched it but only succeeded in helping it on to Gera who at the far post fired in past two idle defenders and Reina from an acute angle. Nevland got the final touch.

Two very poor goals. Could this be put down to an inexperienced defence unaccustomed to playing with each other? And then there is poor old Jamie Carragher who, like Rio Ferdinand, appears to be wrestling with his form and therefore perhaps his confidence?

Jamie was injured pre season could it be this or are years of battle scared defending finally taking a toll? I hope it’s the former however his dubious and desperate tussle with Zamora, which might have lead to a penalty, wasn’t the first such incident, remember a similar one with Michael Owen the week before? Perhaps the referee’s decision not to send him off last week counted against his eventual dismissal this week? The decisive incident, another one on one skirmish with Zamora, was not as bad as the first and even the Fulham striker conceded Jamie had got the ball. However things, wrongly, have a way of totting themselves up?

Before that Degan who, aside from a few decent forwards runs at The Emirates on Wednesday, has failed to impress got sent off for what was at best a yellow card challenge on Dempsey. With both defenders gone and our need to chase the game it was no surprise that Fulham made it three via Degen’s victim’s easy unmarked tap in as the defence were transfixed by the ball rather than shadowing the men.

It is disappointing to see games turn out this way and it is easy to let the result prompt criticism that, over the cause of the season, might prove to be unfounded. One appreciates the importance of Wednesday and the injury problems facing Rafa and, as a result, it’s easy to ask what could he do? His decisions didn’t come off partly because he simply called it wrong and partly because of bad luck. However can one, when considering the circumstances, really criticise the motives behind them? Many have harked on about our lack of strength in depth and lack of quality and perhaps Saturday’s performance gave some credence to that argument? It is worrying to see it manifest itself in the way this game turned out. However, wouldn’t any team struggle when faced with the resource problems we’ve had recently or is it Rafa’s eye for a talent or something wider – our scouting system?

These are wider questions but the games are coming think and fast. Two years ago I remember a similar disaster at Reading where we caved in and lost 3-1. It was a body blow to our title hopes however four days later we also went to France and invigorated ourselves by thrashing Marseille.

What are the odds and history repeating itself this week? Time will tell if the stakes are higher than they were two years ago?

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes (c), Pantsil, Dempsey, Baird, Greening, Duff, Kamara, Zamora. Subs – Etuhu, Gera, Kelly, Nevland, Riise, Smalling, Zuberbuhler

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher (c), Kyrgiakos, Degen, Benayoun, Leiva, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin. Subs – Babel, Dossena, Eccleston, Gulacsi, Plessis, Sanchez Ayala, Spearing

Att: 25,700

In defence of Rafa, learning to live without Stevie, and the spooky Cottage!

I’m just coming down from having sixteen kids round the house for a Halloween party never, never ever again.

I was in charge of the games! Try and organise sixteen kids and get them to do what they are supposed to do without them wondering off to different parts of the garden or the house, it’s like herding cats! I guess the easiest thing to do would be to have an eight a side footy game! Teachers deserve a pay rise, how do they manage to handle twice that number and deal with it, and every day?

As it is Halloween, the 31st October, one wonders how many times the word “nightmare”, or variation of, will be used tomorrow by headline writers or other assorted media glitterati (dam I’ve just done it myself)? If Gary Lineker doesn’t make some sort of “Halloweenesque” (sorry I don’t think that’s actually a word) reference on Match of the Day tomorrow I’ll eat crisps until Christmas, after the party I should have enough! My money is on the tired and distinctly smelly, musty old favourite of likening goalkeepers to Dracula and their collective dislike of crosses!

Anyway I digress. It was nice to see Wigan manager Roberto Martinez spring to Rafa’s defence this week in a Spanish paper. He has suggested that Fergie has a harem of lickspittle acolytes (Bruce and Allardyce for sure but I reckon you can also add in Moyes and Megson) where as Rafa is the poor outsider that everyone picks on, do they steal his lunch at the league manager’s meeting? I suspect Rafa is more than capable of handling himself particularly as he has more support from his club’s fans than whose who seek to laud Fergie have from their own? Equally I suspect that deep down Rafa probably enjoys the craic. Martinez has since sought to deny or clarify his comments however surely there is a degree of truth in what he has supposed to have said?

So to today and for us the visit to Fulham is good and bad. Hopefully the team will be boosted by Sunday’s win. We didn’t have Steven Gerrard fit for that one and, if the headlines are anything are to go by, we will have to cope without him for a bit longer. This is familiar situation almost mirroring last year, the injury is the same (groin) as is, seemingly the solution (an operation).

Gerrard is clearly a key player but we cannot keep relying on him particularly if he keeps getting injured. I guess there is a plus side to his injuries and that is that rest of the squad will be more used to coping without him? If Gerrard is so key then may be it follows that tactics are geared to utilising his strengths and talents. Take away his influence and things will have to change and other players will inevitably come to the fore? No? Ok, but I’m desperately trying to be positive! Remember that in the 180 minutes we’ve played against the Mancs at Anfield we’ve scored four goals and collected six points however Gerrard has only played in ten of those 180 minutes! It can be done.

Elsewhere for today it seems that we will also be without Glen Johnson. Torres is also a doubt. Said Rafa of the Spaniard.

“He is improving. He’s been training and working with the physios. We will see if he is a little bit better this weekend. It’s a difficult situation because if you play games, you often don’t have too much time to get fit again”

Perhaps Rafa will slip back into old ways and give Torres longer to recover with an eye on the vital Lyon game next week? Although the league is still the priority in most people’s book surely only the harshest critic, given the group situation, would chide him for that?

Alberto Aquilani’s debut against Arsenal on Wednesday was seemingly a double edged sword. Although we finally saw him in a red shirt he also picked up a virus! It is early days but Aquilanis injury record is long however reading between the lines of Rafa’s quotes after the game I suspect he wouldn’t play today anyway as match fitness is still an issue?

Prediction? Looks like we are going to be fielding another weakened side? However, we’ve been doing that a lot recently so maybe they are growing and getting stronger together? Fulham are capable of presenting us with a problem however hope springs eternal and a repeat of last seasons last gasp Benayoun winner (see link below) or something similar will be fine. Let’s just get through it? 1-0.

Related post
4th April 2009 Fulham 0 Liverpool 1

Sonic Youth v The New Faces?

Arsenal 2
Merida 19, Bendtner 50

Liverpool 1
Insua 26

An interesting and entertaining night which, despite the defeat, gave us a fair deal to feel positive about?

Arsenal may be further on down the road in terms of youth development and strength in depth however, that said the side fielded tonight showed just how far Rafa has come since the sides last met in the competition three years ago. Plenty of youth, new and not so new but rarely seen, faces in evidence tonight and not least of course the long awaited debut of Alberto Aquilani.

As expected Rafa rang the changes with Cavalieri, Degan, Kyrgiakos, Spearing, Plessis, Babel and Voronin all getting starts. Aquilani was on a young bench. There were plenty of unfamiliar faces in the Arsenal side which suggesting, if nothing else, we had more experience?

The first move of note was in the eighth minute when Degan moving forward collected Ngog’s nifty back heel and was presented with an excellent chance which he drilled wide with the outside of his foot, a poor miss. This was immediately replicated by Arsenal with a tidy, short passing build up involving Gibbs, Eduardo and Bendtner that should have seen the Dane score.

However it didn’t take long for things to come to the boil as both sides exchanged quick goals. Merida blasted in from range via Cavalieri’s near post. The ball was given away to Arsenal from our throw in by Voronin who about ten minutes earlier had signalled to the bench that he was injured and wanted to come off! Why was he still on the pitch if he was injured? Our equaliser bought back memories of Robbie Keane’s goal in last season’s 1-1 league draw. It was a long ball from the back which Insua, in an unusually forward position, despatched after Babel’s knock down with a nasty, dipping volley.

This was developing into a good, open ended, attacking game. The marking for our goal suggested there was space to exploit in the Arsenal defence and further chances to be had. They, despite their young years, showed enough imagination and confidence to suggest that they could also create more as seen when Merida went close again getting on the end of a move that should have been stopped as it began deep in our half.

Because of the good football the ending to the first half was inappropriate with an almighty, en masse goal mouth scramble in our area. Cavalieri might as well have been on the moon such was his positional awareness, at one point the ball was behind him! Thankfully it was hacked away, by someone!

The second half continued where the first had left off. Spearing arrowed one wide however, Bendtner, who had missed a couple in the first half, finally made amends with a straight forward goal that exploited some indecision between Skrtel and Kyrgiakos.

It took Voronin close on an hour to make his mark with a decent effort that just went wide after a good exchange of passes with Degan. However, on the whole the Ukrainian had an indifferent evening at times looking clumsy, slightly off the pace and rather lost. More match practice is needed but one wonders how much he will get with us? For someone who said he had no intention of going back to Berlin it was a rather flaky performance which further enhances Ngog’s already strengthening claim in the striking pecking order.

Around the hour, Babel’s low free kick tested Fabianski. However, although Arsenal grew stranger one always felt we would have more than one chance before the final whistle. Kuyt squared a lip smacking cross across the six yard area which Babel passed on. Voronin also produced a low hard drive which had it been a foot or so the left or right would equalised and was then, wrongly, adjudged to be offside when he was on a one on one situation with the keeper .

Before that Benayoun and then at last Aquilani were introduced to try and give us a boost. The Italian was involved straight away and did okay and nearly provided a sensation with an overhead kick attempt (did Senderos handle it?) however, understandably, it is early days.

A close fought game that both sides had opportunities to win. I guess there was no real pressure for either side and that showed in the openness of the play. Arsenal will feel pleased at their blossoming youth policy and us well, it was OK and although we are out, we have no real reason to feel too downhearted?

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Babel, Plessis, Spearing, Kuyt (captain), Voronin, Ngog. Subs – Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Sanchez Ayala

Arsenal: Fabianski, Gibbs, Senderos, Silvestre (captain), Gilbert, Merida, Ramsey, Eastmond, Nasri, Bendtner, . Subs – Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Randall, Sunu, Szczesny, Watt

Att: 60,004

Arsenal and talking out of it!

As expected there was plenty of fall out from Sunday’s game however, as we won, the emphasis for many switched to Fergie who as usual saw fit to pass comment about anything other than the fact that we were the better team.

Like his wind up of his nearest rival in the final run in of the title race Fergie’s diversionary tactics after he loses are slowly becoming a football tradition? I suspect many would have been sympathetic to Fergie had he simply said that his team had suffered from the long Champions League trip to Moscow during the week and as a result weren’t firing on all cylinders. Of course as a “reasonable” Liverpool fan I wouldn’t accept this as it would belittle or performance! However, one could at least understand or respect (did I just write that word?) Fergie for taking that stance. Less so are his comments on the performance of the referee Andre Mariner which he suggested was influenced by the home crowd. Point taken after all it’s not as if The Mancs and their oh so jolly fans ever try to influence referees at Old Trafford!

For Fergie to come out with this when he is already in trouble for his comments about Alan Wiley’s fitness might say something about his ever growing lack of tact, sense of self importance or the pressure he is under. May be it is all three? Fergie also suggested the game had a “wounded animal” aspect to it – anyone know what he meant by that? Answers on a postcard? Perhaps the wounded animal was a seagull following a trawler? OK I know a seagull is a bird but just go with it!

I didn’t comment on them in the match report as I thought all three incidents – Carragher’s tackle on Carrick, his tussle with Owen and Vidic’s sending off – were called correctly so therefore no issue. In the first Carragher got enough of the ball. In the second Owen didn’t have full control of the ball and both players were running away from goal. The third was simply another foul and therefore a sending off as Vidic had already seen yellow earlier in the game. All three outcomes were the result of correct and straight forward interpretations of the rules. What is Fergie’s problem?

All this is typical Fergie fare and we should not let this cloud the fact that we were the better side. Moreover, besides proving many of the doom merchants wrong, the victory will be a welcome boost for all concerned with club. We will need it as we are away at Fulham next weekend and then go to Lyon for the vital Champions League return.

Before that however, there is the small issue of Arsenal in Carling Cup tonight. We have played Arsenal numerous times under Rafa but I guess this will be a case, to a degree, of venturing into unknown territory as we don’t know what the sides will be. Both managers will make changes from last weekend, but how many? More changes by Arsene Wenger than Rafa if the past is anything got go by?

Many have suggested that we should take this competition seriously as they would have us believe that the title and Champions League are looking a bit iffy. It would therefore be a good opportunity to win a trophy? However, while we are still in with a chance in these two competitions and have the injuries we have, I suspect Rafa will take the opportunity to rest key players and not worry, albeit privately, too much about the outcome.

The sides? I suspect Torres who was not fully fit on Sunday, and was hooked after eighty minutes, will put his feet up in favour of Ngog and or even Voronin. Incidentally did you notice our bench after Ngog scored on Sunday? Joy from everyone except our Andri who looked like he’d just trod on a turd! I expect Ryan Babel, Jay Spearing and hopefully Martin Kelly to feature and one also wonders if Rafa will risk Aquilani, I suspect it’s too early?

Prediction? I might as well throw two dice into the air and if the last Carling Cup meeting with Arsenal (6-3) was anything to go by I might be right. Despite what many will say there will be no pressure. If we do lose then at least fringe players and the youth will gain some valuable experience whilst key players have been rested. 6-4, no 5-3, no 4-4 or haven’t we been there before?

Reds and Rafa bite back in the classiest way.

Liverpool 2
Torres 65, Ngog 90

Manchester United 0

A class afternoon all around. A performance which made the media vultures look like the monkeys one has always expected them to be as Rafa proved all those who sought to doubt him wrong. Very wrong.

Oh ye of little faith. What is it about this man that attracts so much criticism and what is it that he has about him that enables him to turn things around and make all the newsprint pulp and the verbal’s diarrhoea? Never was the phrase “In Rafa we trust” more relevant than today. We needed him and his players to deliver and they did, in spades.

Let’s consider the facts. A goal scored by a Rafa signing set up by a Rafa singing. A second goal scored by a Rafa signing, bought off the bench by Rafa. Argh but we are a two player team aren’t we? However for the second year running Gerrard sat this one out in the stands. And the beach balls? What better way to kill off an already tired gag by spiking the visiting fans “original” ruse by showering the pitch with balls yourself. I trust all those who seek to gain further mileage from this rather dull episode (life span about two days at the most) will now have to look elsewhere for their oh so cutting satirical humour! The beach ball is now the Singing Billy Bass of football and the Mancs fans, like their team yesterday and Rafa’s critics, can consider themselves well and truly out manoeuvred.

To the game and the first fifteen minutes were solid if unspectacular. We passed the ball square, then forward and then backwards. However our grip on the game slowly tightened. Aurelio’s free kick, after Torres had been felled by Evra, should have resulted in the first goal however a combination of excellent saves by Van der Sar, from the kick and then Kuyts follow up, prevented this. Later Lucas picked Scholes’ pocket and released Kuyt who somehow managed to ensure that his pass became lodged under his feet. The resulting effort to remove the ball and shape the shot gave Vidic enough time to put him off and he fired wide. No disrespect to Kuyt but one couldn’t help wondering what the result would have been had Torres been presented with both chances.

As the first half progressed the defence, who appear to be constantly under the microscope these days, became more and more solid. True Rooney had a header from a move which showed what the Mancs were capable of and this was also a prelude to a good spell by the visitors however, this time Carragher, leading by example, marshalled his men brilliantly.

In the second half one feared a repeat of Tuesday where the opposition came out regalvanised. However, we continued to build. Although we had missed two good chances one felt there would always be more. Aurelio’s header missed from Benayoun’s cross. It was the Brazilians second point blank header of the week however he made a better job of it this time and only Van der Sar’s excellent anticipation prevented us taking the lead. Benayoun then fed Kuyt who squared into a sea of Mancs defenders when he should have had a shot. Despite all this ominously Torres had been quiet with Kuyt having all the opportunities so far. How long could this go on for?

Finally, in the 64th minute, Benayoun’s through ball was collected by the Spaniard who timed his run perfectly to beat the off side trap. Ferdinand foolishly tried to match Torres for pace and shepherd him wide. Torres was simply too quick for him and smashed the ball over a kneeling and flailing Van De Sar into the roof of the net.

After that the rest of the game was enacted out as one might expect. Owen came on to boos, now we know. Valencia hit the bar after Owen had tussled with his best mate. They were to clash again in a more dangerous position which saw Carragher get yellow even though Fergie, judging from his “I’ll scream and scream until I’m sick” gesticulations to the fourth official through it should have been red. The resulting free kick was fired right down Reina’s throat as seemed to be the case with most of the Mancs attempts yesterday. Before the kick Vidic and Carragher mulled over the incident. Vidic no doubt considered Carragher to be lucky so, it was ironic that a few minutes later he saw red through denying Kuyt a clear run of goal! Mascherano, who had run himself daft, (any one got any issues with his attitude) evened things up by needlessly catching Van De Sar.

The last five minutes of injury time were agony as both sides let skill and organisation slide and traded increasingly desperate punts, tackles and clearances. Things deservedly fell our way on the break as Lucas freed Ngog who slid the ball home.

Rafa’s reaction was class. Many managers would have gone ballistic with the relief and apparent vindication. No so our man he remained as cool and calm as ever. “Show some emotion Rafa” pleaded Andy Gray after Torres’ goal but why should he? He is not a performing monkey, he has never played to the expected tune and gone to type and yesterday he proved that yet again in the most gloriously satisfying way!

Walk on!

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Carragher (captain), Johnson, Aurelio, Mascherano, Leiva, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt. Subs – Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Skrtel, Spearing, Degen

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Giggs (captain), Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs – Foster, Neville, Owen, Evans

Att: 44,188

Mancs review and Rafa and The Reds, on the brink or a media illusion?

It’s been a somewhat bizarre week since Tuesday and apologies for lack of a piece since the Lyon game. Not sulking just away with work then ill.

If the papers are to be believed Liverpool FC the club that is 117 years old is on its last legs. Lose to the Mancs today and all that will be left of Anfield, if you walk past it on Monday morning will be a smouldering pile of rumble! Rafa will be back in Spain and no doubt opening negotiations with Real Madrid. Our wonderful owners will be selling copies of the Big Issue in St Johns Precinct. Steven Gerrard will be preparing for a life of appearing on Strictly Coming Dancing and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Jamie Carragher will be running a pub in Bootle!

There are over reactions and then there are reports about Liverpool Football Club. Perhaps it is just me although I am disappointed at our current run of form (or should that be lack of it) I do not think it justifies some of the nonsense that has been written about us over the past few days.

It is easy to criticise and speculate about what has happened, what might happen and then write us off. Seemingly our situation gives everyone intent on doing just that plenty of opportunity. We’ve had a blow by blow account of what is wrong with Liverpool from Rafa’s tactics, his man management, occasional penchant for a rant right through to minutia such as Tuesday’s substitution of Benayoun for Voronin. This, according to one paper which is highly “respected” on Merseyside (I didn’t buy it), was the time that the Kop turned on him. Yes right! No doubt today he’ll be booed in way that makes Nick Griffin feel like The Beatles in their pomp!

On top of that was article after article about the owners and what the lack Champions League progress will mean for the finances. Ex players have also jumped on the bandwagon. Jermaine Pennant’s recent efforts in managing to get into print and criticise Rafa have been momentous it is a pity he didn’t apply himself in the same way when he was with us!

However, people can say what they want I guess the main thing is to retain a sense of perspective. I’m certainly not going to go to join the vultures circling above Anfield simply because we have lost a few games. Supporting Liverpool is not just about the good times it’s sticking by them, players and manager, when things occasionally go wrong. It is about having patience, riding the storm and hoping they will came out better for it. Criticism is valid and appropriate and at times it can be inappropriate as frustration easily takes hold. However, it doesn’t mean that that we should destroy everything that’s been built up since Rafa came. We are not Spurs or Newcastle who seem to change managers as regularly as their underwear at the slightest sign of things going of the rails. I believe those who seek to judge this club and its fan’s patience by these “knee jerk” standards are, to be perfectly frank, pissing in the wind!

All of this is compounded by the visits of today’s opponents. I can’t recall what has been said but the usual suspects, such as Gary Neville and Fergie, have been hobnobbing away and “treating” the papers to the usual dose of gripping, enlightening and pithy patter. Of course there is the added interest of Michael Owens return to Anfield. Will he be booed or cheered? I hope it is the latter and we manage to rise above the poor standards and lack of appreciation clubs such as West Ham reserve for the return certain ex players. We always seem to however, if Owen scores and does an Adebayor in front of The Kop? I don’t think he will, but if he did he’d probably injure something doing it!

This match is always big however much more has been poured into the mix this time. Rafa’s future, Liverpool’s future, our title chances, Michael Owen, the Cantona eighteenth title issue, beach balls etc etc However, nothing will be decided after today and guess Rafa will be trying to make sure that his players simply concentrate on wining the game and arresting the poor run. That is the most important issue, in fact it is the only issue. The rest just ranges from mindless, irrelevant piffle to something that can wait.

Prediction? There has been a lot mention about our ability to bounce back and get ourselves out of awkward situations. Well this is one and will it be another time when we stick two metaphorical fingers up the vultures? I’ll go with it, 3-1 but whatever the score is I hope the team, and Rafa, knows it retains our support.

Do not feed the Lyons!

Liverpool 1
Benayoun 41

Lyon 2
Gonalons 72, Delgado 90

So another defeat and another turn on the wheel that stretches the rack Rafa and the team find themselves on. Not a total disaster, we can still qualify, but another example that will be used to support the argument that currently things are going pear shaped on field at Liverpool as well as off it?

This was a curate’s egg of a performance. From a nervous start we gained confidence, ironically after Gerrard had been taken off with a reoccurrence of his injury (was he ever fit in the first place?). With a make shift defence Lyon were there for the taking and we nearly wrapped things up with an intense spell of pressure at the end of the first half. However the result was only one goal when it should have been two, possibly three. In the second half Lyon showed their class by regrouping and bossing the game. In terms of application and inspiration we had little answer to this.

David Ngog started up front as Kuyt was moved back to the wing. Mascherano returned alongside Lucas. With Ngog playing what price for the thoughts of Ryan Babel? One assumes Glen Johnson would have started had it not been for a last minute withdrawal due to a groin strain? Quite how he, and consequently the rest of the back four, would have coped with Lyon’s penchant for getting the ball wide and attacking down the flanks is anyone’s guess. May be Johnson’s habit of going forward would have curbed it or perhaps the French team would have finished us off earlier than they did?

As ever there is always something positive to come from bad and in this case it must be the performance of Martin Kelly making his first full start for us. After a nervy beginning he played with a confidence that defied his nineteen years and his lack of big match experience and, to boot, one from the academy. On this evidence a big plus, let’s hope we see more of him?

For me the key part of the game was the substitution of Gerrard. Aurelio came on and immediately made an impact. Shortly afterwards Kuyt did the same but more by accident than design by taking out Cris, Lyon’s only fit recognised centre half, with a nasty but unintentional blow to the temple with his knee.

With Cris off the pitch we had a good opportunity to make inroads. We started with a series of half scuffed chances, via a goal mouth scramble from, Kuyt and Ngog. Then Aurelio fired a long ball across which deflected off a Lyon defender. It evaded Ngog and then Lucas and Kelly but Benayoun made no mistake. Shortly after we had two decent headers and two decent opportunities to open up daylight. Aurelio produced an excellent point blank save from Lloris although it was straight at him. Immediately after Ngog headed over from Insua.

Lyon where floundering which was a direct contrast the first half hour. This period seemed to confirm the psyche of both sides, we looked nervous and it showed with too many stray passes and in defence adopting a “just get it away” policy far too often. Lyon looked confident knocking the ball around, producing a clutch of ominous crosses in and peppering Reina with a series of, admittedly ineffectual, long range attempts. They seemed quicker often leaving our defenders struggling to keep up. This culminated in Lisandro’s point blank header which was brilliantly blocked by Reina.

Having needed half time Lyon regrouped at the back and regained their confidence and continued as they did for the majority of the first half. It’s not often you see a Liverpool side out passed or prised open as much, one felt it was only a matter of time before we were punctured. The first was disappointing. A corner was sent over Reina fisted it away and superbly saved the follow up and then produced another great stop only for Gonalons to squeeze it in at an unguarded near post. One can’t deny that it hadn’t been coming and again questions must be asked of the defence who allowed Lyon more than one bite of the cherry from the move.

We pushed forward in search of the winner, when perhaps with hindsight we should been more intent on protecting what we had. Inevitably we left ourselves open at the back and at the death Lyon finally produced the move they had threatened to hurt us with all night. Govou’s cross from the right, after a good build up being passed into the net by Delgardo ghosting in at the far post.

We had our chances throughout the game however the fact that, even without Torres, we failed to take advantage of team fielding a make shift defence must be a cause for concern?

The focus now intensifies on The Mancs game. Defeat and many will feel we are on the abyss. I don’t think so (yet) but many will, gleefully, seek to push us nearer the edge and that, rightly or wrongly, will only perpetuate the malaise? Straight after the game Jamie Carragher manfully faced the press and asserted that we will bounce back. Sunday presents the team with ideal opportunity to replicate the centre halves bravery. We could really do with taking it!

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Carragher, Kelly, Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Ngog.
Subs – Cavalieri, Voronin, Aurelio, Babel, Spearing, Plessis, Skrtel

Lyon: Lloris, Cris (Gonalons 42), Reveillere, Cissokho, Kallstrom, Pjanic, Ederson (Gomis 61), Makoun, Toulalan, Lopez (Delgado 86), Govou
Subs – Vercoutre, Clerc, Bastos, Belfodil,

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Kings of Lyon or “Shake the Heartbreak”?

Monday mornings are getting a bit samey these days. It’s the same old feeling (does it ever change) and the same old questions ie “What happened to Liverpool over the weekend?” Of course yesterday, because of the circumstances surrounding the “beach ball goal”, there was added spice.

Its strange how in these circumstances people you wouldn’t pass the time with talking about football suddenly want to talk about it and with as much, hot air as was in the beach ball! They’ve suddenly become experts in obscure referring rules! Then there are the jokes humorous or otherwise What is a Liverpool fans’ favourite drink (Red Ball). Lucas did try to kick back into the stand but kept missing and the web mock up of Rafa “space hopping” on a beach ball etc. If we had scored every time I received on of these in my email box then we’d have by the far best goal difference in the league!

Amid all this nonsense there is however, a more serious point, the way we played. It’s hard to when your team is going through phase like this. You defend them but the performances keep chipping away at this approach. You hope that they can win soon so that the journey to frustration and criticism is cut short? However, the reality is that if we continue like that we’ve been going our season could be in serious danger of going into free fall by this time next week. The wheels won’t have fallen off but there will be a distinct wobble as we trundle along through the programme? Although we may find smoother roads in the future will the damage have been done?

Reasoning becomes more and more tenuous. Apparently we won the league in the 60s having lost four of our first nine games however, that was then and this is… follow up Saturday with defeat to the Mancs this Sunday and where will this leave us? Thankfully no one else is particularly outstanding at the moment and everyone is dropping points so we are more in touch than our form suggests we should be? However, we can’t continue rely on other teams mistakes to justify our own inertia?

The press has been full of quotes from our players expressing concern about the way things have gone. Jamie Carragher is the latest

“We will all stick together and there will be a great atmosphere, as there always is at Anfield for these occasions, and I’m sure we will respond to that. A few people were writing us off before Sunderland and I’m sure there will be even more now but we’ve been written off so many times during my career here. We always fight back. We are Liverpool, we have always shown great character and I’m sure we will continue to do that to come through this sticky period”

However, this week is one where we really need do something about it. Defeat to Lyon tonight in the Champions League would not be a disaster but it would give us an uphill struggle to qualify in the group. We have done it before, remember when we lost to Marseille at home two years ago? It was a close run thing and, in trying to play catch up in the group, our league form suffered.

Lyon only lost their first league game over the weekend and recent Champions League history suggests they have quality. Thankfully we have Gerrard back from injury and Mascherano refreshed after his travels. However, there is still no Torres. Said Rafa

“It’s important as we have had injury problems. Having Gerrard fit is a big boost for us. Fernando is not close enough to fitness to be considered. He will miss this one but I hope he will be OK to play against Manchester United next weekend”

Normally one tries to gain some kind of insight as to how the game will go and what we can do however, to be honest I can’t even think about that at present – a win is more important than anything else. I think deep everyone knows this.

“You can guarantee that if we win against Lyon the mood will change, and if we can win against United, the mood will be totally different. When you are not winning, to play another game quickly and have the opportunity to change things is the best thing”

As Rafa implies here’s to a welcome swing of mood. Prediction? Another close run thing but I hope, think, know we have to prevail 2-1.