ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Liverpool- Semi-finals here we come

Posted by Kevin Brodie on 03/19/2012

It was not a great game of football on Sunday but Liverpool did enough to win the match by taking their chances. We started quite brightly in this match but Stoke did so as well. At times they were passing the ball quite quickly and looked dangerous.

Martin Kelly was having a tough go of it and was booked for a poor challenge early on which seemed to really affect his performance throughout. Liverpool only made one change to the team that demolished Everton (I don't get tired of saying that) by bringing in Maxi in place of Henderson. Adam was left out again.

Maxi was involved in our first goal but the goal was started and finished by Suarez. Suarez had not done much right in the opening stages of this match as most of his lay offs and touches were directly to Stoke but once he fired home his confidence went up and he started to take control of the match. Stoke found themselves level after two poor decisions by the ref. First he gave a corner that wasn't and then he allowed a Stoke player to block off Reina without playing the ball. It was surely a foul but Liverpool picked themselves back up and started to take control. We did have a moment where the game could have gone beyond us when Spearing let Walters get behind him. The Scouser should have done better but his shot hit the side netting.

Liverpool had a good few free kicks around the box and all but one of them was wasted. Suarez was unlucky to see his glancing header go wide from a free kick however the rest of them were awful. Our break though finally came when Downing played a one two with Gerrard. He took the ball back and went round two Stoke players to hammer the ball home. Liverpool had a few chances to put the game out of reach but our finishing lacked the killer instinct. Suarez was guilty of two occasions of not putting the ball in the net but he was good enough to get in those positions. Carroll was just ok today. He seemed to lose Crouch for Stoke's goal and was not really involved in the game much but he certainly seemed to be trying. Kuyt gave us some needed energy as he came on for Maxi and both Kelly and Suarez picked up late knocks as the game was finishing up. Stoke had a few late throw-ins but Reina was on hand to deal with them and off the semi-finals we go.

Man of the Match = Martin Skrtel, another dominate display
Playing Wembley semi-finals is a bad idea and it goes without saying that my wishes got out to Muamba and his family.

Comments

Posted by Mike on 03/19/2012

Why do you think Kenny has such an aversion to playing Maxi and Kuyt? They play far better than Henderson and Adam, and along with ousting Aquilani and Meireles, just represent misguided team decisions, similar to buying Andy Carroll.

I was glad to see Downing score a quality goal, and I think the stat about him not scoring/assisting in the EPL is a bit misleading as, at least in the beginning of the season, everyone was shanking his passes all over the place, and nobody gets in the box anyways. although, Downing usually shanks any open shot in the box as well

Skrtel has been player of the season for me, and also, while not being awful, Reina seems to not be having that great of season, at least compared to the last few

Posted by Jose Del Toro on 03/19/2012

Liverpool in a great team. I know we have our ups and downs but still we manage to pull through. I love the way my Reds play, they play and fight with all their heart!... Thanks Mr.Dalglish for taking us back to a Semi-Final. Now lets win that semi and lets make Wembley red gain in the final Reds!.... Hope Muamba gets better. :D

Posted by Daniel Forsyth on 03/19/2012

I think Maxi and Kuyt both deserve starting spots at this point. Carroll we all know hasn't don't much for the team and Henderson just isn't finding his footing yet. Adam is inconsistent to me, but it is doing fairly well. Bellamy deserves more time too, in my opinion. He is getting old, but not many people on the field will outwork him.

I also agree that Reina is having an off season, but still not terrible. I would rather have him in an off season than most of the other keepers in the EPL during a good season.

Posted by Bobby Laveshi on 03/19/2012

I don't think it was a one-two with Gerrard- it was a pass to Gerrard that Gerrard flubbed and Downing capitalised on.

It's one of those rare cases when a mistake actually helped us. (I can think of another from last season where he crossed the ball from the wing and it curved into the net last moment)... of course being Gerrard (and the super-talent he is)- we assume all his mistakes are intended. :)

Great work by Downing this time though. About time he did something to quiet his critics. I don't think he deserves a lot of the criticism he gets.

Posted by Deven on 03/19/2012

"Playing Wembley semi-finals is a bad idea

and it goes with out saying that my wishes got out to Muamba and his family."

What happened here? Was there supposed to be more to that Wembley semi-finals thing?

And that Muamba situations is awful. I was watching the game, and it was hard to tell what happened. But I do know that the emergency personnel seemed to do an excellent job, Howard Webb made the correct decision, and the Spurs fans were pure class.

All the best for Muamba and his family.

Posted by Olly on 03/19/2012

I support LFc and that was not a foul on Reina he has got to get that ball and CArrol was suppose to be marking him. I am not sure if Carrol know where to run or where to expect crosses, also he need to attack the ball in stead of trying to win standing headers

anyway my 2 cents

Posted by paul on 03/19/2012

Olly, Reina was going nuts because that corner should have been a goal-kick. The poor assistant could clearly see Stoke head it out, but chose to give a corner.

Posted by Michael on 03/20/2012

I agree with the first comment(Mike). Let's get Kuyt and Maxi more minutes. And granted, Stoke never should have had that corner, but Carroll was absolutely rubbish on the defense. He stood and watched Crouch run past him and head it in. Reina needs to step and punch that ball out too, he barely made an effort on the ball.

So refreshing to see Gerrard freed up and doing damage in open areas.

Posted by Alan Fagan on 03/20/2012

I thought Skrtel was outstanding yet again, by far his best season. Delighted to see Spearing and Kelly getting a run in the team. Henderson doesn't seem to have a football brain or game intelligence for a Liverpool player, and the right side is still a concern for me. I still dont agree with the loaning of Aqualani and Cole as both are better than Henderson and Adam and the selling of Meireles......but lets hope we get at least 2 QUALITY signings in the summer!!!

Posted by Deven on 03/20/2012

@Daniel Forsyth, the reason we have been better is specifically because Adam is sitting. Gerrard doesn't have to cover for Adam's defensive liabilities, because Spearing does it for him. With that taken care of, Gerrard can bomb forward and show up in unexpected places, which is what leads to a lot of his goals.

Posted by Chris on 03/20/2012

I have to disagree - the Sunderland goal was not a foul on Reina. GKs have become too quick to cry foul the second they have to do any work in their box. Quite frankly, Kuyt does the same exact thing in front of goal on our corners.

Carroll's marking on the goal was a complete disgrace. I would have hauled him off the pitch right then and there. He completely gave up on the ball in his own 6 yd box which there is no excuse for.

Posted by Burkeyboy on 03/21/2012

I can't stand it when a blog is just a basic commentary on a game that most of us would have seen anyway. I expect insight and analysis from something which is "published". Please, let's hear from educated Liverpool fans with something that's either thought provoking, inspiring or simply controversial.

Posted by NATHAN on 03/21/2012

plz dont let Dirk kuyt left LFC...plz...he is good player..liverpool still need him...he alwayz hardwork for liverpool

Posted by Ben on 03/21/2012

I'm with Olly, that play wasn't a foul. Reina wasn't held nor did the Stoke player (can't remember who) move to block him. He simply stood his ground. Carroll was the tallest Liverpool player out there and he should have known better than to lose Crouch.

Other than that little blip, I'm happy with how the game went obviously.

Posted by Joab on 03/21/2012

Once again it is encouraging to be a Kop faithful and follower!

Posted by Casper on 03/21/2012

With the new signings, it is unfortunate we only have Downing who is showing signs of life. Though far from his best, the lad can improve further.

As for Carroll, let's not patronise his contribution(or lack of) and once again, LFC handicaps itself by playing with 10 men. Throughout the season, there has been matches where we are playing with (effectively) 9 players, either Carroll or Henderson and at times Downing too, bringing nothing to the game. And let's not get me started with Adams, whose contribution has been on the decline the past 4-5 games.

Call it a honeymoon year for the newbies, as often happens to players on a new contract with improve terms but with so much money already committed, hard to see much of a return from Carroll, Henderson or Adams - should we need to sell before buying - and hence the need for us fans to be patient and hope that the names above grow into the team and start carrying their own weight.

Posted by ramli mat on 03/21/2012

I am wondering as to why King Kenny like to pick
Henderson rather than Kyut.For me Kyut is far more better than Henderson.Hopefully, Kyut will
be in the starting line for the remainder of the
games to be played.

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