Over The Finish Line and Into The Last 16

BY KP

I remember sitting behind the goal at the Anfield Road End earlier season, in the game gainst Blackburn, when Dirk Kuyt walked past in his Liverpool uniform after the warm-up as he wasn’t playing.  The warmth which he was greeted with by the crowd was not one of reverence like the passionate Gerrard and Carragher cheers, but one could sense the respect that everyone around the ground has for a player, who gives 110 per cent in every game making use of every bit of talent.  Tonight with the game seemingly drifting in to extra-time, he popped up in the area, just as he has on so many over occasions to head home a Meireles corner.  He is not a gifted as many a Liverpool or Dutch player of the past or present, but it can’t be a coincidence that so many managers of club and country see him as an invaluable squad member.

The starting eleven screamed caution with Poulson and Lucas in the central positions suggesting that Joe Cole and Meireles would play key creative roles. After, ten minutes Poulson picked the ball up centrally, crawled forward, but instead of powering forward to unleash a shot as we normally expect from Liverpool midfielders in that position over the years, it was as if he was auditioning for his worst performance of the season.  We started off slowly with the Sparta midfield controlling affairs through Sionko linking up readily with Kadlec up top, which led to an excellent move with Sionko heading just over.

Liverpool’s attacking verve came through the effervescent Kelly who powered time and time again down the right to create numerous chances.  His long raking stride is a sight to behold and one wonders how good a centre-half he may eventually be if  he takes up his natural role. Liverpool began to take control after 15 minutes with chances for Kyrgiakos and Ngog from Meireles corners.   Lucas showing that he can be capable when not on patrol, drove forward to unleash a 25 yard drive inches wide, while Ngog missed a glorious chance when Meireles striding out of a defence position, unfurled a 50 yard ball into the inside right channel for Kuyt who cut the ball bank for Ngog, who with goal at mercy shot straight at the keeper.

Sparta started the second-half just as they had in the first, moving slickly around the midfield fashioning out chances for themselves without really testing Pepe.  Even we Liverpool beginning to look stronger as the game went on, both sides lacked quality in the vital final third, whether it was the final ball or finishing where Ngog in particular lacked composure.  We had enough chances to have won the game before Kuyt’s winner and it’s a reminder that without Gerrard, Johnsoon, Suarez and Carroll we are a very hard working team who lack real quality.  Kelly’s absence in the second-half cut our attacking threat in half with Meireles conducting operations and it was no surprise that it was from his corner the winner was dispatched from by Kuyt.

In saying that it was nice to see Joe Cole getting a full 90 minutes and a goal in the last seconds of match would’ve been a great boost to his confidence.  We can noe breath more easy knowing that the prospect of only two matches in March if we were knocked out has abated, and Kenny can hopefully started preparing for almost a full-strength Liverpool in the next round.