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Liverpool put in an excellent display on Wednesday with Rafa picking his strongest current 11. Liverpool seemed intent to shoot more often with Riera, Alonso and Mascherano all having early efforts. I don't remember Reina having a save to make all afternoon.
Chelsea's goalie didn't look all that comfortable and Liverpool let a couple of follow up opportunities go missing. Of course the talking point of the contest was Lampard's straight red. At the time I thought it was a foul on Lampard. After watching replays I think the outcome was a drop ball. I didn't think it was foul on either player.
Lampard's foot was high and Alonso's follow through caught him. Mike Riley is a terrible ref and he proved so again on this occasion. He missed the tackle four years ago involving the same players that Lampard got away with. He blew this call as well.
At the time I thought this would hurt us as Chelsea would continue to defend. I just didn't know if we would be able to break them down, which has been our problem in the last month. Finally on the stroke of the 89th minute Torres popped up and headed home after a neat Liverpool move. Yossi then robbed Ashley Cole and his tackle played in Torres for number 2. We actually went for that second goal to kill a game off!
It was a great win against a good chelsea side and a much needed boost of morale for the players and the manager.
Gerrard was inspirational through out the match and just shaded the Man of the Match display behind Torres and Alonso. Yossi proved to be a fantastic substitution as well.
Give Scolari credit for his post match comments as well. They were all pretty on the mark.
All you need to know about Mike Riley's lack of ability (and his linesman) came from Bosingwa wild lunge on Yossi at the end. It was a straight red that was missed but then the linesman comes out and says he saw the incident and he decided to take no action. How is that possible?
Finally I thought Gerrard was lucky yesterday. He could have been booked on several occasions (kick the ball into the mid section of a Chelsea player) the late tackle and the dive. Normally he has been very mellow but this was him living on the edge.
Robbie Keane left Livepool today and I'm not sure what happened. He didn't do the business for us while he was playing. He was not really given that much time either. Bottom line it was a mistake by the club but I'm pleased that we have not waited around and decided to realize a mistake was made. Now if our owners would only do the same.
Comments
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Posted by Micheal Kaveney on 02/06/2009
I think that Liverpool can be very thankful to Mike Riley, his decision to send Frank Lampard from the field clearly gave them an advantage that without would have ment the Anfield Artists (drawing specialists) probably would have been consistent and drawn again.
I cannot understand how both officials could have got the Bosingwa incident so horribly wrong, was the referee's view obscured through angle or other players?, was the Assistant Referee concentrating on the ball to determine who would be responsible if it went out of play.
To admit you saw the incident and failed to do anything about it, well that must be a career determining moment.
My last point Robbie Keane, I believe he is a victim of power personalities trying to exert thier will over each other. He wasn't given enough time to settle and develop a playing repore within his dream team by a Manager that clearly didn't want him. Note: Last game of the season needing 3 points to win the league against Spurs....fate?
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Posted by Harry Emmanoilidis on 02/06/2009
I have to disagree that selling keane was a good decision , he is a proven striker that has the ability to score goals. He was never given enough time to prove himself in a new team . Liverpool is a very structured and very tactical football team and most players take a while to adjust to new team members and playing styles. Torres is a FREAK and adjusted to Liverpool instantly but if torres is injured who leads the attack ??? Ngog , kuyt no thanks. Look at united berbatov , rooney , ronaldo , tevez all goal scorers who do we have now other than torres??
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Posted by GSardi on 02/06/2009
I would like to comment on the tackle which concluded in Frank Lampards sending off.
After watching the replay I would of done the same thing the referee did and give Lampard a straight red card, it was a callous challenge which was not only studs up but made with full strength, Alonso was lucky enough to evade it but it could of caused a serious injury. Now when you see a player fairly challenging for the ball and another player lunging at him with studs up his intentions are clear, if Lampard had really wanted possession of the ball then why would he have made a challenge like that which would of just deflected the ball to the opposing side, if he wanted the ball and not to injure a player then he would of stayed on his feet and tried tackling standing so he could get possession for his team. Makes sense to me and I back Mike Riley's decision all the way. If you see a player challenging in that way then he should be dismissed and hopefully he learns his lesson from it and uses a different approach the next time he plays whoever the player is.
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Posted by Andrew Murphy on 02/06/2009
Kevin, Do you think that now that Gerrard is out for 3 weeks Yossi might get some more playing time. I think that he is a great player on our team that is under-utilized. We saw first hand in the Chelsea game what he is capable of. He does not get to play alot but when he does he seems to either score, get an assist, or at least make things happen. I think I would definitely play him over a guy like Babel who is too inconsistent at this point in his career to be counted on game in and game out. Also, what are your thoughts on Lucas? He seems a nit reckless out there and he is a solid holding player I guess, but other than that he really does not bring much to the game and I think they will be in trouble without Gerrard if they think that Xavi is all of a sudden going to help pick up the scoring slack. We won't score any goals that way. Who do you like do take over Gerrard's spot though and who do you think the mad scientist Rafa will start? What do I do with my Keane Jersey now?
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Posted by Nabeel - Australia on 02/06/2009
Kevin,
On the Robbie Keane departure, I have spotted a pattern with Liverpool strikers. I think I know how we can get two strikers scoring freely at the same time.
Michael 1 - Bad
Micheal 2 - Amazing
Robbie 1 - Amazing
Robbie 2 - Bad.
Fernando 1 - Real Bad
Fernando 2 - Amazing
We need to find another bloke name Djibril!
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Posted by rakesh on 02/07/2009
i think tonight benayoun was great ..
he did some good movement..
but i feel benitez is running of idias...yyy he does not put the best team to play 4 75 mins..instead of putting his best team to play only 15mins.kurt is a very good player,,stop playing him in the rigth hand side..
cheers rakesh
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Posted by Michael O'Sullivan on 02/07/2009
As an fellow Irishman, I feel compassion for Robbie. It now seems that he was given a raw deal at Liverpool and the blame rests with Mr Torres.I wish him the very, very best at Spurs.
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Posted by Chris on 02/08/2009
Uh, who's the first Michael who was bad?
I can't remember any other Reds striker besides Owen whose first name was Michael in the last couple of decades!
In fact the only other Red in recent years whose first name is Michael was Thomas, and he's certainly no striker.
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Posted by Carl Ajjoub on 02/08/2009
I don't know if this is bothering other fans but Rafa hasn't signed a new contract yet. Fans should find a way to put pressure on the owners to give him what he asks, so we can put this story behind us and focus on football. Benitez is right, i think his demands will help liverpool. Hicks a year back had an interview with sky and mentioned how a team like liverpool with such a big fan base worldwide should have much more sponsor money and more revenue, whic is Parry's job.Also the chief executive's job is to get the players the coach asks for and not choose the players himself based on what he thinks the team needs ,Rafa asked for a midfielder like barry and Rick delivered him a striker at a very inflated price. Today Gillette anounced that if benitez doesn't win title he will loose his job. Fans all over especially the ones in liverpool should really pressure the owners to keep benitez, because at this point only benitez can improve on our performance this season next year .
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Posted by Socheath on 02/09/2009
I'm pretty happy to have a chance to share my view here. I am a Liverpool fan. I follow almost every game. I feel that my heart have Liverpool in it.
Liverpool is amazing team for coming back after they lost, it is very very fantastic.
Do you remember of the date of winning Champion League 2005? It is incredible to win after AC Millan scored 3 goals at the first half, and then the following year at FA cup.
Yesterday, Liverpool made it again by winning 3-2.
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Posted by Ibekwe Obinna on 02/09/2009
I had wanted Rafa to still hold on to Keane as a substitute striker for Torres.
He made us to understand that Keane is an intelligent player and can come up with suprises at anytime.
If anything should happen to Torres,we will be left with limited striking options.
It is time for Rafa to look for someone to complement Torres.
I also know that Kuyt is a very vital person and very consistent but it will be most relioable if we have multiple stricking options in the absence of our regulars.
I also pray for the quick recovery of Gerald because he has become a principal motivator in the team and a phenomenon for other teams thjat come across Liverpool.
Regards
Ibekwe O
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Posted by Baanu on 02/09/2009
though am a liverpool fan but what Mike Riley did was so bad to the chelsea side, if not of the red card given to lampard they would have played than what they did.
a good play by the players and the manager (RAFA).i also love the away win against pompey, keep it up
you guys need more atention on against the other team apart from MANU, arsenal,and A. Villa for you to win the league.
if you win i win
never walk alone.
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About
Kevin Brodie has been fortunate enough to see some of Liverpool’s greatest teams and players in action over the last 35 years. Reds fans are spoiled for choice in trying to pick their favourite memory. The best early memory I have of watching Liverpool in person was our 7-0 thrashing of Spurs, with the 7th goal being a thing of beauty. Watching us in 89 lift the FA Cup after the terrible disaster at Hillsborough was also very special. My favourite Liverpool moment on the TV has to be the Champions League final in 2005. It was a day I will never forget.
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