Liverpool's performance against Villa was awful. We had a good twenty minutes but after that we seemed to lose our way and I just felt things might go against us as the game started to settle. Villa were working hard to get us out of our rhythm and it was working well as many of our steady performers were having a hard time keeping hold of the ball.
Torres was given a torrid time by the defence and how the ref missed three clear fouls on him is beyond understanding. One of these was a clear elbow to the back of the head which was missed. These things change football matches and we have not been on the receiving end of much luck so far this season.
Yossi missed a decent chance to put us ahead after 30 seconds. Later in the match, Torres, Gerrard and Yossi all had chances to score, the easiest of the chances falling to Torres who hit a horrible shot. Torres had a nightmare first half.
Of course, Lucas will get a lot of the blame in this game, for giving away a silly free kick and then heading the ball into his own net, but he was far from our worst performer. I do think he is too similar to Mascherano and that is why the balance of our team is off.
It's not so much that we are missing Alonso but that we just don't have anyone who can pick out a killer pass except for Gerrard and he is playing too far up the pitch at the moment. I think it's time to move Gerrard back into the centre of midfield for a while.
Villa's two goals could have been avoided; more terrible defending in injury time after the ref missed another foul further up the field. We went into the break 2-0 down. Friedel had a great game in stopping most of our attacks but our little left-back Insua did a great job of pulling the ball over for Torres to make the game 2-1.
I felt we might just sneak a draw in this one. Then up stepped Gerrard who made a rash tackle to give away a penalty, capping off one of his worst performances in ages in a red shirt. He had two great shots, but other than that nothing he did came off. I sure hope and believe he will bounce back.
The season not over yet, but having must win games as early as August can't help ease the pressure on the players, manager and supporters.
Comments
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Posted by Justin on 08/26/2009
I think it's obvious at this stage that we cannot play Torres alone up front. This formation has rendered Torres redundant as defenders simply outnumber him in the box. I read in another blog someone saying that his first touch was poor. If you are being man handled by three defenders I can see how that can happen. We have become to predictable and I agree that we need Gerrard in the mid again to rejuvenate our passing of the ball. I would remove Lucas entirely, he is at most times ineffective. Where is Reira?? Has Rafa fallen out with him? Why aren't these journalist asking the important questions? Instead they choose a moronic line of questioning, "How do you fel about the loss today?". Bloody hell, how would you feel about a loss, it's obvious you retards. We need a second striker, dosen't matter who he is, we just need someone to take the heat off of Torres, to create space and allow Torres more freedom in the box. If we continue with this strategy I'm afraid we are doomed.
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Posted by Johnson Obamoh on 08/26/2009
The second goal came as a result of provocation on the part of our goalkeeper, the goal clearly came as a result of his anger with the ref. If we must win the year, then we need to step up our game right now. Let us avoid the pressure we got into last year. I have the confidence that Liverpool can becoame the champion this year with a little caution and extral effort on our side. We are solidly behind you.
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Posted by Guy Hall on 08/26/2009
You are 100% correct, Gerrard was awfull so was Torres, i hope they bounce back. Lucas & Mascherano playing together will not win us many games & Rafa is not seeing that, Gerrard has to drop in the center to replace Alonso,but we do not have a striker who can score like Gerrard apart from Torres. we are in deep trouble unless we get a second striker, Kuyt cannot do the businness maybe Ngog if Rafa let him play so he can get some confidence.From Manchester to Spurs can call ex-Liverpool striker of the bench, Chelsea are playing with one but who can we call of the bench better than Owen, Anelka, Crouch or Keane. Riera started 80% of our game last season but his lost on the bench this term, come on Rafa, and decide if Babel is a striker or winger so the boy can develop into his best position. last season Rafa cost us the title by playing with 1 striker with the weaker team specially at Anfield i hope he has learn from that.
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Posted by bruce zeff on 08/26/2009
I blame Benitez for Liverpools performance.He has had many a year to to get the right team together which he cannot do and then for them to play with flair in liverpools style which he dose not get our players to produce.
He has got rid of a few good players that can create and score in the past.Midfield is a crisis and now what are our defenders doing.But still i blame Benitez overall perfomance in his plans that he has implemented and the style that he has tried to play and bad coices of certain player and letting go of great payers that play the Liverpool way.
Benitez must go for liverpool to suceed.
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Posted by Malawi'sKopite#1 on 08/26/2009
In 2007 -2008 EPL season, ManU earned 2 points out of 3 first opening games. In their first game on 12th August, they drew 0 -0 with Reading at Old Trafold, they went on to register yet another 1 all draw on 15th August at Portsmouth before finally crushing 1- 0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. As you will recall, Manchester went on to win the league with 87 points having lost 5 games and drawn 6. Its in the season ManU claimed the CL.
We might not repeat the ManU feat, but that gives us hope. There is no need to panick now. What matters is focus right now and win as many games as possible. Starting at Reebok this Saturday.
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Posted by gdee on 09/16/2009
I agreed with all of the comments here..
1. Our midfield Lucas and Mascherano cannot give the "spark" that we needed. If there is no action taken by Benitez, if that happened so it equal to a future disaster for Liverpool. However after the Bunley game i can see a much better strategy by Benitez but for me i still have a doubt about it whether will it work with stonger team. Gerrard drop back to balance the team in the middle just live we expected it should be.
2. One thing that Benitez seem still did not get it or understand is Lonely Torres still cannot do anything. He better think of something so that Torres can be less targeted by the defenders. Hope Benitez can think of something. All the best to Liverpool FC and to you guyz. Cheers..
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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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