You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Liverpool' tag.
After a fantastic weekend of football action from the best league in the world, we are left with complete uncertainty of whose hands the title is going to end up in.
As things stand Manchester United are still favorites with one point ahead of Liverpool and a game in hand, but the form Liverpool are in is undeniably breathtaking, their 5-0 win against Aston Villa looked like a day out in the sun, nothing taken away from Villa who just were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Man Utd carried on with their low confidence dropping three crucial points at Fulham, who have shown to be a tough team to break down for the big four this season. Though Sir Alex’s men still have a cushion from the brilliant run earlier this season, Liverpool are creeping up and the pressure is now on.
Chelsea on the other hand look good and buried with their defeat to Spurs, a superb goal from Modric was enough to seal the win for the North Londoners, but Chelsea performed well and deserved a point from the game, if not more. Chelsea do have the easiest run to the finish however, apart from Arsenal all their tough games have been done with, so they will need to win for the rest of the season and hope the other two slip up to have a chance.
Arsenal are out of the race, mathematically still possible but now they are just looking to secure fourth spot and focus their attentions to the FA cup and Champions League, the game against Newcastle was a classic end to end game we’ve have come to miss from both teams, great football from both sides but a managerial decision (or indecision) cost Newcastle the game, when Steven Taylor was off the pitch receiving treatment the manager didn’t fill the hole, why? It was an odd decision for no one to think quickly which of course Arsenal took advantage for a splendid goal from Abu Diaby to get the gunners ahead. With the luck Newcastle are running on, relegation fears are looking likely to continue right till the end of the season.
So that’s the review of how the top four are looking as we go into the international break, it will require a whole new post to discuss the relegation battle this season, lets just say the way its ended up positions 10 and 11 (Manchester City and Tottenham respectively) are not safe from the drop, a few bad results and they may face the axe.
Liverpool 2 - 1 Manchester United
Brown og 27′ Tevez 3′
Babel 77′
A breakthrough win for Liverpool left Manchester United shocked as to how a team without Gerrard and Torres in the starting line-up led to a victory.
Rafael Benitez always likes to prove a point by doing controversial things that other managers wouldn’t consider doing, ridiculous squad rotation tactics, buying a player for £28m and not having him a regular starter for the first 2 months of him being there, subbing off Steven Gerrard against Everton away when the game is tied at 1-1 and 30 minutes left (the expression on Gerrard suggested no injury or fatigue), buying Robbie Keane for £20m, buing Dirk Kuyt full stop! Ok so I have gone on a bit, but all these random choices really didn’t make sense.
However, his decision and tactics against United were spot on, he got things moving well and really out thought his opposite number, the first 15 mins United were all over them, lets admit they had the better players (marginally), and some slick passing and persistence from Berbatov led to the first goal for Tevez and the Berbatov making his mark in the united shirt.
Liverpool took over after that, the strike force of United hardly got into it after that, Berbatov had completely left the game! Liverpool’s equaliser was an own goal, but it was a deserved goal as they pushed quite hard to United’s goal, and a silly error from Van der Sar and 1-1.
From then on it was all Liverpool, the work rate was brilliant and it left a pained expression on Ferguson’s face as he couldn’t really do much to stop them. Though Liverpool had possession they still didn’t look clinical in front of goal, without Torres and Keane still miss firing, there really isn’t a goal scorer.
The final goal was a shocking mistake by Ryan Giggs, persistence from Mascherano and Kuyt set up Ryan Bable for the finish and the game, with 10 mins left United didn’t look as though they would get back into it.
A great victory for Liverpool but it was through sheer work rate and not much more, will this be good enough to challenge? Will Man Utd reach to the level of Chelsea? This is going to be an interesting battle, will Arsenal fit into the frame? This top four is looking very confusing at the moment, but with Chelsea’s win at Man City leaves them as the hot favourites early on for the league.
2007/08 was a trophy-less season for Liverpool. As usual, they only looked good in the Champions League and nowhere else. They still have one of the best squads in the league and failure to win it may result in player and manager departures. The arrival of Robbie Keane will increase their chances. I also indicates Gerrard’s push back into midfield alongside Mascherano which is why the club do not need Gareth Barry.
Strengths:
- Fernando Torres: Undoubtably one of (if not the) best strikers in the world.
- Steven Gerrard: The heartbeat of the side and always manages to draw out something special which lifts the team.
Weakness:
- Rotation: Yes, they are stronger in the second half of the season, but the first half being so poor reduces their chances of success.
- Steven Gerrard: Hold on. Is that right? How can he be a weakness? Well, sometimes the players do become slightly reliant on Gerrard to do something and it isn’t always going to happen.
Our Predictions:
J-Lee: I think they’ll do better than last year both with performance and postion but I don’t think they are as strong as Man Utd or Chelsea. As usual, Benitez’s job will be questioned once again and he may not be there at the end of the season if no more silverware is bought to the club. My verdict: 3rd.
The Doc: this one is actually difficult to call, with Robbie Keane they have defiantly added another 15 goals to the tally. I’m going to go with 4th, I think Benitez’s rotation policy will be the downfall.
Ash-sta: The most interesting one of the lot I reckon. Steven Gerrard gave an interview at the end of last season to say he really wants to mount a solid challenge for the title, I think they’ve had enough being 4th best now, they really will go out and prove every game they can win it. Do they have the quality? I dont think so, but if will is enough then Liverpool will win the title next season.
Transfers:
- They don’t need Barry!!
- Centre-back: A solid defender centre could serve Liverpool so well as well as a better right back.
- Right-wing: A world-class right winger will aid the team greatly. However Babel will be a lot better this season.
Yes, that’s right… the walking lamppost is rejoining his former club for a fee of about £11m. I think Crouchy’s made a great move as he will get first team football (possibly providing a reason for an England call-up). However, the question must be asked of the manager. Harry Redknapp has sold Crouch twice – once at Portsmouth when Redknapp was Director of Football and the second time at Southampton so why has he bought back the skinny giant?
It’s hard to answer that question as we’ve seen so little of Peter Crouch recently but we know he’ll link up play with his good ball control and will probably partner former Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe. That brings about another question: where does this leave Kanu? Well he is getting slightly old now but still has great ability as he does not rely on pace.
Crouch represented Liverpool a surprising 127 times in his three seasons at the club but is now overshadowed (not literally) by Fernando Torres who scored more in his first season at the club that Crouch did in the last two. Although I’m not a big fan, Dirk Kuyt has also made some impact on the team along with Andriy Voronin. But for Liverpool fans, lets hope that Gerrard is played off of Torres.
Let’s face it. Crouch isn’t worth £11m so Rafa has certainly struck a deal but will it come to haunt him? Will Crouch prove his worth to Pompey and England in the coming season?
Leave your thoughts!
