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Stalemate At Stamford Bridge As Liverpool Draw

Liverpool walk away from Stamford Bridge this evening with a point, pushing us back into 5th in the table, but the lads should be kicking themselves for not taking all three points.

The fact is, Liverpool were the better side today. Chelsea know it. The Chelsea fans know it. The Liverpool fans know it and, but for for lack of finishing, it could have been 1-0 or 2-0 to Liverpool.

Chances were plentiful for Peter Crouch in the first half but he couldn’t make anything of them. Try and all as they did in the first half and second half, Liverpool couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. More annoyingly so, the side looked good in defence as well, shutting down Chelsea at every opportunity, Pepe Reina remaining relatively untroubled throughout the game.

Lucas looked well in the middle of the park alongside Mascherano and Rafa’s pairing of Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher in the the centre of defence continues to bloom with Skrtel passing each test shown to him today.

Visibly, Liverpool were stronger in the first half and really should have hit home at that stage. Striking options were limited before the game with the absence of both Torres and Voronin but more should really have been made of Peter Crouch’s chances. Dirk Kuyt was a bit isolated on the right though did make it through the 90 minutes, Liverpool’s changes coming when Babel was swapped out for Pennant with 20 minutes to go.

10 minutes to go in the game and Michael Ballack had a decent chance to hand Chelsea the lead, his volley ducking wide past the post in a let off for Liverpool. Any goal at that stage of the game would have killed the whole thing off.

With the draw, we’re back into fifth in the table, thanks only to goal difference over Aston Villa and Man City (who beat United in the derby just to piss off Alex Ferguson earlier today). Everton are on the horizon but I still wonder whether, with lack of clinical finishing as there was today, will Liverpool be able to cement a place in the top four of the table before the end of the season.

Popularity: 73% [?]

Back To Winning Ways

As much as I hate to see Sunderland lose under Roy Keane, I’m delighted that Liverpool stuffed three goals past them yesterday.

Anything less than a win would have been a disaster.

But patience, and perseverance paid off with Liverpool taking the win yesterday thanks to goals from Peter Crouch, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

It took until the 57th minute for Liverpool to find the back of the net, chances not so plentiful in the first half. But when it came, it came under the guise of Jamie Carragher playing in a winger’s role. Carragher collected the ball up front from Torres, took it out wide on the right, drew the defender to him, skipped around for the cross and landed a great ball on Crouch’s head at the back post for the Englishman to head home for the opening goal.

Fernando Torres made it 2-0 just before the 70 minute mark, collecting a flick on from Crouch to race clean into the box for a deft finish, firing low to Gordon’s right and into the back of the Sunderland net. As soon as he’d collected the ball outside the box you could tell it was a goal. I’m still in awe at the composure of Torres when he gets into a certain goal-scoring opportunity.

Liverpool’s third goal game in the form of a Steven Gerrard penalty just before full time. Sunderland had two penalty claims (including handball against Mascherano) dismissed before Liverpool got their penalty at the end of the game. Nyron Nosworthy bustled Jermaine Pennant over in the box to set up the kick, Gordon saving well but the pure momentum from Gerrard’s shot carrying the ball over the line to make it 3-0.

Rafa had shuffled things around from the West Ham game but went back to seeing Skrtel and Hyypia in the heart of defence with Jamie Carragher starting out as right back. Lucas Leiva also started, on left midfield before being replaced by Yossi Benayoun on the hour mark.

Pepe Reina will be delighted too with his performance as he now sits at the top of the Liverpool goalkeeping charts in the race for ‘50 clean sheets’. It has taken Pepe 92 games in the Liverpool shirt to amass 50 clean sheets, three better than Ray Clemence (92) and better again than Bruce Grobbelaar (109).

It’s a pity it took until February to get our first league win of 2008. We’re still miles behind in the league, though the win does move Liverpool up to fifth. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come for the month ahead.

Popularity: 58% [?]

Hammer Of Dawn, Liverpool Beaten By Penalty

Games like this aren’t supposed to happen.

I go away for one evening mid-week and return to find Liverpool have not only failed to pick up three points against West Ham - they’ve failed to pick up any points against West Ham.

What the hell like?

United top Portsmouth by a brace and Liverpool slip to West Ham, lose more ground in the League. Never mind the question of winning the league, the real problem now is actually finishing in fourth place. Or trying to finish in fourth place. UEFA Cup football would be a disaster for Liverpool next season.

Benitez reckons there was enough done on the night to bag three points, only that Liverpool need to be calmer in front of goal when it comes to converting chances - and there were chances too.

7th in the league - still three points away from 4th spot, but it’s a further 10 on to Chelsea and even more on to United at this point. Man City, Aston Villa and Everton are holding their own but in all the league games so far in 2008 we’ve only managed to take 4 points. Out of 15? Bad form.

I’m secretly hoping now that the transfer window comes to a close, the Americans have backed Rafa, the FA Cup is back on track that the media hype and speculation surrounding Liverpool in recent months will disappear and leave the team where they should be - focusing on football.

But going down 1-0 to West Ham? And a penalty in extra time at that.

Grrrrr….

Popularity: 38% [?]

Liverpool Romp To Win Over Luton

If you’re going to be forced into a replay on home soil against a League One side, then you better give them a Premier League reception. That, last night, is exactly what Liverpool did as they romped their way to a 5-0 victory over Luton.

After a disappointing draw at the weekend against ‘Boro, a win was vital here to keep the FA Cup chances alive, likely setting up a 4th round clash with Swansea if they can get back non-league side Havant & Waterlooville.

There was no fear of “more of the same”, Liverpool pressing forward when the chances presented themselves, all the way to the brink of half time before Ryan Babel opened the scoring in extra time in the first half with a sweet strike from the right of the box. (Video here while available)

After that it was one way traffic.

Seven minutes into the second half, Peter Crouch directed a great header from the far post back into the centre of the box to the on-rushing Gerrard who had no problem powering a header of his own into the back of the net. Five minutes later and after two attempts with crosses from Gerrard to Hyypia’s head, the big Finn got under Gerrard’s corner from the left to slice the ball into the back of the net and make it 3-0.

While Jamie Carragher was making his 500th Liverpool appearance, the remainder of the half would belong to Steven Gerrard, the skipper grabbing his second and Liverpool’s fourth when a strike by Fernando Torres rebounded into the path of Gerrard, no problem lashing home from inside the edge of the box. (Video here while available).

The fifth was trademark Gerrard - 25 yards out and you could see the goal before it even left his foot. 3 goals in 19 minutes for Stevie (video) and the first Liverpool hat trick in the FA Cup since 1996.

Roll on round four.

Popularity: 32% [?]

Liverpool Draw With Luton, Replay On The Cards

Just shy of a two years ago today, Liverpool beat Luton Town 5-3 in the same fixture. When the final whistle went, you’d wonder what the presence of Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres would have done for Liverpool today, the Reds tying 1-1 with Luton Town in the FA Cup.

The result is perfect for cash-strapped Luton who will be totting up potential gate receipts from an Anfield FA Cup clash that is likely to feature a stronger Liverpool side.

When it comes to the FA Cup, you can never discount the smaller sides - in some cases there’s no such thing as a “smaller side”. For 90 minutes on a particular day, each team takes on a new persona, such is the way with the premier domestic trophy in the UK. While on paper it should have been a clear win for Liverpool, it wasn’t the case on the pitch.

The first half presented several chances for both sides and could have easily seen Luton going into the half with the lead but for Charles Itandje. The second half would yield more of the same until shortly after the 70 minute mark when Peter Crouch found himself facing an empty net, no hesitation in slotting the ball home.

1-0 to Liverpool and with 13 minutes remaining in the game, everything looked rosy. Andriy Voronin had come on to the pitch, been involved in the setup for the first goal but the joy was shortlived, John Arne Riise helping the ball into the back of the Liverpool net to tie the game with those 13 minutes remaining. Dave Edwards will likely take the credit for the goal that set up the replay but Riise certainly helped in it.

The replay is set for Tuesday week, January 15th, 8pm at Anfield.

Popularity: 41% [?]

Blogging Returns, Wigan Take A Point

I’m back after an internetless Christmas break (almost two weeks) in which Liverpool have disappointed a bit and let their hold on league leaders Arsenal slip further away.

Tonight, Liverpool had the task of hosting Wigan in a late kick off and it’s finished a 1-1, Torres opening the scoring early in the second half with the help of Stevens’ Finnan and Gerrard before Titus Bramble bagged a leveller for Steve Bruce’s side with ten minutes to go.

The win is the first time that Wigan have taken a point against Liverpool and any one of the top four Premier League sides and leaves us 12 points off the lead with just a single game in hand.

Poor defending gifted Bramble the opportunity to level the scores late in the game with Sami Hyypia again missing from the defence, along with Daniel Agger whose return at this stage can’t come quick enough.

The first half of the game was reasonable enough, a few chances for both sides but nothing major and the break of the game welcome on arrival. Whatever was said at half time did the trick in the opening minutes of the second half, Torres laying off to Gerrard who hooked up with Steve Finnan, returning the ball for Torres to fire home for his 16th of the season. Next thing you know, it’s the 80 minute mark and Titus Bramble is free on the edge of the box to rifle home Steven Gerrard’s clearance. Disaster.

The introduction of Kuyt and / or Crouch should have come earlier in the game than it did, preferably straight after the first goal with a chance to move on for a second but in the end there wasn’t enough time to get any chance together to redeem the game.

So much for a bright start to the New Year.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Where Did It Go Wrong At Anfield?

One chance on goal was all they got, exploiting an error in defence, and Man United come out winners against Liverpool. Not only that, but Arsenal moved further on up the charts with three points for their efforts against Chelsea. Where did it go wrong at Anfield?

Liverpool were the dominant team, certainly moreso in the second half of the game but chances could not be converted into goals no matter how hard they tried. The goal, by Carlos Tevez just near the stroke of half time, means our first loss of the season at Anfield, we rest in fifth place and coming into the holiday period we’re now four wins off Arsenal and United, a full ten points back.

It’s hard to point at where it went wrong, both sides made their defensive blunders but the corner from Giggs out to Rooney was a shot, space was made in the box and Tevez got his poachers goal. One chance, well taken, one goal. Had Jamie Carragher stood up instead of lunging at Rooney’s strike would it have made a difference? If Reina had stayed behind Tevez would it have made a difference? Though if Tevez was picked up in the first place it would have, but there you go.

Liverpool had their chances too, Torres failing to convert a header for a sure goal in the first half while Dirk Kuyt was just a fraction too slow to slice the ball into the net when Van der Sar had almost cleaned out his own defence with one move.

Press and press, no real chances could come in the second half. Ryan Babel came on for Harry Kewell on the 65th minute and opened up a new avenue for Liverpool with a nice injection of pace down the left flank. Babel too came within inches of scoring with a long range strike that just zipped to the outside of the right post but that would be the height of Liverpool’s goal-scoring opportunities in the second half.

Reina remained relatively untested and although United came away with the 3 points there was nothing between the sides, not a thing.

There were some positives for the squad in the performances by Mascherano throughout the entire game and Babel for the second half. Hopefully it will continue into Chelsea on Wednesday night. We’ve got Portsmouth, Derby and fourth-placed Man City to deal with before December is out, there’s nine points for the taking right there.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Liverpool Qualify For Knockout Stages

A couple of weeks ago, Liverpool were in a position where they needed to win their remaining three games. One point and two goals in three games left Liverpool bottom of Group A.

Eight goals against Besiktas, four goals against Porto and now four goals against a dreadful Marseille tonight means Liverpool qualify as Group A runners up.

Liverpool were strong, they didn’t show buckets of flair on the pitch, but the challenges were good, the passing was good, and the finishing was there when it needed to be.

Everything started with the first goal, Steven Gerrard converting from the spot inside four minutes. Fernando Torres followed up just under eight minutes later to make it 2-0 and compound the poor start by Marseille.

When it came to half time, Marseille hadn’t tested Reina, hadn’t a shot on target and were sloppy all over the pitch. Samir Nasri’s introduction after a half hour went to waste, Djibril Cisse’s half time introduction didn’t amount to anything concrete but at that stage, the French Ligue 1 side had rolled all the dice and were coming up a dud.

It took three minutes of the second half for Dirk Kuyt to find the net, Harry Kewell picking out the Dutchman loose in the box to fire home Liverpool’s third, before substitute Ryan Babel made it 4-0, getting the better of Faty at the back to round the ‘keeper and finish off with pure ease.

Marseille will head to the UEFA Cup but if they carry on like tonight, they won’t be getting very far. With 64% of the possession and four up front in the second half, they still couldn’t force a save out of Pepe Reina.

Liverpool, on the other hand, advance to the knockout stages and are likely to face top class opposition in the last sixteen with Real Madrid and Barcelona on the cards.

Up next comes Man United, then onto Chelsea, but for tonight we’ve qualified for the next round of the Champions League and that’s what matters.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Unbeaten Run Ends At Reading

So Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Premier League has come to an end. Not such a bad thing though as Middlesbrough were able to contain Arsenal today as well meaning that we’re still seven points adrift.

But we’ve still got a much coveted game in hand.

I reckon my thoughts on the game would be a little different had Arsenal managed to beat Boro today but the fact that we’ve a chance at taking three points against Man United next weekend and further close the gap next Sunday, I’d almost forgive Reading for beating us.

I said it during the game - the focus was supposed to be on Reading. No matter how much you try to disguise it though, there was always the cloud of Marseille on Wednesday night hanging over the Madjeski. When we drew level through Gerrard in the first half I thought we’d be secure, at least for the draw, if not to discard the Reading penalty and go on and win the game.

Despite the best efforts of the team though, lady luck was surely on Reading’s side with Wexford man Kevin Doyle and James Harper popping in a goal a piece in the second half. The penalty in the first half was well on the harsh side and during the game Hahnemann was on form himself. Crouch hit the post, Gerrard nearly broke the crossbar with a 30 yard drive, but the best of the balls and moments of luck fell to Reading on this occasion and there was nothing Liverpool can do.

Mentally, one would hope the result has no knock-on effect ahead of the game against Marseille this week - all eyes, and mine, will be on that game.

No time for complacency though, United on the cards this coming Sunday afternoon, while Arsenal take on Chelsea. Make or break time for the big four!

Popularity: 12% [?]

Better Late Than Never, Liverpool Top Fulham

My first Saturday off in a while allowed me to catch Liverpool in action against Fulham and the game didn’t disappoint. Voronin was on form - albeit not on target, passing was good and the desire to win was there. The 2-0 scoreline was deserved and in fairness should have come a lot earlier in the game. Voronin had chances a plenty, Gerrard came close, Crouch hit the crossbar, even Sami Hyypia came close.

When the goals did come they came in the last ten minutes of the game through Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Torres opened first on 81 minutes, catching Anti Niemi with a low drive on the near post, Niemi helpless to see the ball skip past his left. Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 just four minutes later from the penalty spot, firing low into the right corner with Niemi diving the wrong way.

The win at Anfield is good for team morale, it’s been lacking thus far in the season. Surprise of the day of was the starting lineup - who’d have thought Rafa Benitez would actually name an unchanged side. Of course, having won 8-0 during the week should be enough to give a manager confidence in his starting eleven from a record European win and the decision to repeat the selection paid dividends today.

Next week is yet another week off due to international football, Liverpool are back in action on November 24th against Newcastle, on the road. The win today throws us three points off Arsenal and if the Gunners were to fall over in there next match, we’ve got a good race on our hands on the road to Christmas. Hopefully there’ll be more of the same against Newcastle.

Popularity: 26% [?]

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