Wolves 0 Liverpool 3
By KP
Saturday 22 January 2011
Liverpool produced arguably their most cohesive performance of the season against a Wolves side confident of victory going into the match. We made one change from the Everton game and Jay Spearing must have felt himself unlucky to be relegated to the subs bench after an encouraging performance, but with the inclusion of Poulson, Dalglish was obviously aware that the defensive unit needed bolstering.
In the first two games under King Kenny, the change has been there for all to see, with the shackles broken on his midfielders, Torres is no longer ploughing a loan furrow up front with midfield runners get up and beyond him for the first time this season. It’s no coincidence that Raul Meireles is now of the mark and Fernando Torres is now getting somewhere towards the player we know and love and looking as though he’s beginning to enjoy his football again and his battle with Richard Stearman was key to Liverpool’s success.
Meireles had is best game in a Liverpool shirt, showing poise, touch, awareness and wonderful technique with two glorious volleys. The first, a hooked volley, flashed past the post, showing excellent technique. The second was pure and simple from the top drawer, volleying a defensive header in the top corner to leave Wayne Hennessey with no chance. Earlier, he showed composure and assured touch, after beating the off-side trap to run onto Poulsen’s pass and roll the ball into Fernando Torres path to open the scoring.
Wolves were fairly robust in the tackle, led by their returning captain Karl Henry, but with Meireles leading from the front, and with Poulson, Lucas, Maxi and Kuyt putting in a shift it allowed Liverpool’s better football to come through. The football was bright and fluent throughout the first-half with chances falling to Maxi, Poulson and Torres put through by piercing cross field pass, which Torres cutting in from the right saw a left curled shot parried away by the keeper.
Wolves may feel that their efforts in the second-half deserved rewarding, but to be truthful Liverpool only began to sit back once Meireles second goal went in. The game should have been over when Shelvey, with almost his first touch having replaced Poulson (enjoyed a steady game), was put clean through from a sand wedge of a floated pass by Meireles, only to blaze over. He’s shown in recent cameos that he has a bright future.
We were excellent today, matching Wolves in their endeavour, and were well worth our win, playing at times some excellent football, with Meireles conducting our overture like play.
Martin Skrtel’s continued lack of confidence is worrying. He seems to be making wrong decisions in trying to control balls in dangerous areas rather than clearing his lines. Dalglish may feel he has to persevere with him because he more mobile than Kyrgiakos and Carragher’s still out injured.
Adam Hammill with two delicious crosses made us wonder about what might have been, but with Meireles’ performance so easy on the eye, Torres champing at the bit (booked for the third successive game), the returning Gerrard and the promise of new players on the horizon, we can be enthused about the future.
KP
Very pleased with the team performance and the movement from the midfield especially. We had midfielders driving on to support Torres which in turn frees up space for him to create havoc. Meireles is finally adjusting to the PL mainly because King Kenny is playing him in the right position. We look to have found a midfielder that can chip in with a few goals. The shackles have been released and now our team is playing for each other like a team again !!! Bring on Fulham on Weds night - 9 points off 4th place - In King Kenny we trust !!!
ReplyDeleteRevenge is a dish best served cold and in your enemy's gaff. A very encouraging performance which will hopefully give the players a boost, even though Wolves are bottom of the Premiership.
ReplyDeleteDelighted with the score line and play on the day. A much more attacking team with plenty of support for each other around the pitch, espeially for Toress as he had three to four players backing him, rather then a loan stranger.
ReplyDeleteIf we can win three or four games on the trot now that can make a very big difference to our position on the table.
The team seemed to be more energetic, with pace and more aware of each other’s moves, and when they hit on the break, they all flew like a flock.
Our defence is a worry, and something we need to build on fast. Allot of our goals from the past have been defence mistakes, and hope this is something they are working on in the training.
Shelvey, should have scored!
The positives are that we are now creating chances home and away. We had not just Torres posing a threat and dove-tailing nicely in tandem with Miereles, but Poulson, Maxi and Kuyt had efforts on goal which is pleasing as in a perfect world we want more goals from our midfield and even the defence. Rome wasn't built in day, but as has always been the Liverpool way, we'll take it one match at a time with Fulham the next off the conveyor belt.
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