Independent Regulatory Commission release written reasons for Luis Suarez case

Have just speed read through this document, my stance is that my club has been made to look fairly foolhardy in standing squarely behind Suarez before the report was published.  For his evidence to be condemn as "unreliable" and "inconsistent" is very damning and doesn't not just make him look bad, but the judgement within the club looks questionable unless they can repudiate Evra's claims as they have said all along.

Attached is the full report for you to peruse and respond too:

Independent Regulatory Commission release written reasons for Luis Suarez case

Gerrard and Bellamy A Class Apart

I was reading an article this morning which stated that Steven Gerrard has scored 64 goals and 41 assists for Liverpool from the beginning of the 2004/05 season. His importance over the last decade to Liverpool is immeasurable and yesterday proved no different as he didn't just dictate the game, but he changed the outlook and showed in his cameo just how to deliver the ball to Carroll with a stream of sublime crosses.

Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out in the first 20 minutes with Liverpool players seemingly playing with a nervous energy stemming from the criticism of their profligacy over the season so far. Strangely, once Newcastle went ahead we seemed to relax and Bellamy's goal, coming from a delightful piece of composure from Adam in beating the defender and cutting ball back, before Bellamy's rapier like thrust despatched the defensive prod out home with aplomb.

Carroll seemed to lack confidence and wasn't putting himself in harm's way in the first half, although the lack of quality balls from the flanks was not conducive to helping him get on the score sheet. I agree with dedlfc's assertion during the match that having Downing on the right was not working out, but more than effecting the balance of the teams as he says, the main problem is that with Carroll in need of quality supply, to have a left-footed winger on the right cutting back on to his left to deliver the ball or when he does cross the ball with his right, invariably the ball scuttles along the ground makes it difficult for any striker to time his run in the box. Carroll was often seen to be implying that the ball needed to come over a lot quicker from Downing and Glen Johnson and maybe that they have to get used to moving away from the quick ball to Luis Suarez feet.

Dalglish must wish that Bellamy knee problem didn't preclude him playing more than one full game a week, because when he is not playing Liverpool miss his undoubted class and incisiveness. To have Bellamy, a fit Gerrard and Suarez on the park regularly is something one can only dream about at the moment, but tonight two of those three provided the quality that eventually sunk Newcastle with Bellamy's second coming from a free-kick and Gerrard's Boy's own trademark finish when he drove through at pace making Tiote look leaden footed after collecting Henderson pass and sliding home under the onrushing goalkeeper.

Gerrard celebrates the winner (Image from Supersport)

The great thing about Gerrard in full-flight is that he takes the team with him. To Liverpool fan's I don't need to explain because we've seen in so many times over the years, but tonight it was as if the game was set up for him to remind the doubters that he remains a vital cog in the wheel and what Liverpool midfielders must aspire too if they are to eventually take over the mantle so proudly worn by Gerrard and many a predecessor over the years. The cross which Andy Carroll headed against the bar showed how dangerous the 'big man' can be and as Gerrard said at the end of the game it is for the team to supply him with quality ball.

Newcastle showed that are comfortable in possession, but from the own goal, they had basically one real chance which Martin Skrtel hooked marvellously away, anticipating Ba's predatory instincts in flicking the ball passed Reina. The Liverpool back four are looking and playing as a unit with Skrtel looking like the defensive leader of the pack.

Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard - to even think about making him Man of the Match ahead of Craig Bellamy says it all really. A quality performance by a great footballer.

LFC News 29 November 2011

Newcastle
Crunch game tomorrow with Andy Carroll, even more under the spotlight following King Kenny's attack on the press in which is basically accused them of causing problems for the young Liverpool striker through their vilification of his alleged out of control private life. Let's home the 'Big Man' can ram the words down the critics throats. It would be nice if Stewart Downing et al could also come to the party because as understandable as is to blame the £35 million striker, we need match winners starting with from the frontmen, but going right back to the defence. Tony Evans of the Times provided much needed support from the media ranks stating that Liverpool were going along the right light since the return of King Kenny. Good luck to the lads!

Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez showed his love for the city knows no bounds as he gave a further £2,800 to add to the £96,000 he initially donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) through the Montse Benitez Foundation which helped pay for the administration of the group. To see the full quotes from Rafa and from HFSG see the story on Rafa's own website.

January sales
With the January transfer window about to be thrown open, Liverpool have been linked with a plethora of players such as the following: Darren Bent, Porto's Jorge Fucile (a full-back I hasten to add) and their midfield duo Fernando Reges and Beram Kayal, and strikers Athletico Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and Edinson Cavani.

Most of these links are just pie in the sky, but if push came to shove, for me it would be either Llorente or Cavani because the need is greater for a quality striker and possibly a holding midfield player to bolster the squad.

In the future we can address the need for another winger and a creative midfielder, but right now creating chances is not the problem.

LFC - Creativity and Chances
dedlfc sent through the following on the problems behind our lack of goals taken from anfieldindex.com  and at times makes facinating reading.

Liverpool 1 Blackburn 1

If at the end of this season we fail to capture a Champions League position the excuses may fall on deaf ears. This season started as a reconnaissance mission with the hope of handing out a few bloody noses on the way. Eighteen games in and the realisation is that Chelsea and Arsenal are in transition and that Liverpool are not capitalising on the opportunities which should have taken us into the top four.

I received a text from dedlfc saying "working on the theory that if Liverpool had taken wins from the 12 points they had dropped at Anfield, they would be sat eight points clear in third place. But guess what? The reality is we didn't so we now sit in 6^th place with Newcastle right behind us!"

This is what makes our current plight so galling because it should so easily have been different if we had grabbed our chances. Yesterday, Suarez and Carroll were culpable, missing chances galore and with Liverpool having 64.7% possession and completing 83% of our 550 pass attempts it was another bad day at the office. That Suarez has had 15% of the 244 chances Liverpool have created this season and is Liverpool's top scorer says a lot about our problems, but he is still the top creator in the team which shows how valuable he is in a side which goals are not easy to come by.

Liverpool scored one goal from 27 attempts against Blackburn which is poor to say the least, but unfortunately this is nothing new this season with just 21 goals.

Carroll needs a run in the side rather than the staccato run which Dalglish seems to have plotted for him so far because with Suarez probably about to go on a long-term ban we have got to get him not just scoring, but to actually be the physical specimen we saw terrorise defences at Newcastle for a time.

In a 30 minute cameo Gerrard showed just how he prompts the team like a conductor, going forward and taking the midfield with him and fashioning out a chance for Downing and whipping a glorious chance for Maxi with his first touch of the ball from a free-kick wide on the right. He is patently not fit as he lost the ball a few times in defensive areas, but the cut and thrust he gives the team also shows how the loss of Lucas has diminished Adam's role. He is sitting back and not being the creative force he has been and it was not surprising to see him make way for Gerrard.

With Liverpool so lacking in the goal department playing players in form would seem to be the way forward. Bellamy and Maxi are the goal scoring threats outside the Suarez and Carroll and hopefully if Gerrard can stay fit we can only hope that we can turn the corner soon with the premise of buying a striker early in the transfer window (which won't be easy) to ease the burden.

It would be a surprise if John W Henry doesn't release the purse strings for a striker given his post season comments "It's too early for us to talk about winning the league," said Henry.... "[But] our main goal is to qualify for the Champions League. If we don't, it would be a major disappointment."

Kop Post Man of The Match: Martin Skrtel – another commanding performance in the centre of defence.

* Figures from eplindex.com

Careless Reds Spurn Opportunities To Stay In Touch

After what had been a traumatic 24 hours the Liverpool team took the contentious decision to show that unity is strength when they all, including manager Kenny Dalglish, wore t-shirts in the pre-match warm-up adorning the picture of their comrade in arms Luis Suarez.

Dalglish chose, surprisingly, to leave out the impressive Jonjo Shlevey and with Bellamy also on the bench , Maxi and Dirk Kuyt returned to the starting camp.

We need a striker preferably of the poaching variety is the cry from all and sundry. Missed opportunities are threatening to cut us a drift in sixth place if we are not careful on an evening where Arsenal and both Manchester clubs won, we failed to close the gap with Chelsea. After too many games we've heard from players, fans and even commentators alike that someone is going is going to be on the end of a serious shellacking from Liverpool, but as tight as our defence has become at one end, we have become as extravagantly wasteful at the other.

Once again we made a fine start and could have had the game sown up in the first twenty minutes had we been able to fashion out some clear chances given the amount of pressure we were putting Wigan under. The two best chances of the half fell to first Glen Johnson running through as he did so memorably against Chelsea, hitting his shot straight to the keeper and Dirk Kuyt who swivelled on Downing's excellent cut-back, but could only hit his shot straight to the keeper.

This was the match where Lucas's lost was felt for the first time. Adam and Henderson after Liverpool's initially dominance found it increasingly difficult to handle a Wigan midfield led by the impressive James McCarthy and the silky and elusive Moses who was a thorn in our side throughout. But in saying that, Liverpool should have won comfortably, but in scoring only three goals in our last four games and one penalty in the five offered to us shows again the lack of cutting edge. With chances not being taken we have a striker on the bench who was ignored until the 87 minute which sends out the signal that the manager has no confidence in him, but at the moment we need him to get back on track with the team struggling in the scoring stakes. While the need is great for another striker, in a notoriously difficult transfer window will Liverpool be able to sign a top-class striker at the beginning of January let alone in the month itself?

Without Bellamy, Liverpool's set pieces lack inventiveness apart from one delightful chip over the defence which Dirk Kuyt in a crisis of confidence from his barren spell of 17 games without a goal, failed to supply the technique required to dispatch a hooked volley. Downing also seems to be down on confidence with his crossing, inability to beat the defender on the outside and just as importantly for a winger lacking goal attempts. Adam missed his second penalty of the season going for power rather placement and with the miss went Liverpool's chance of winning as Wigan, as with many of our opponents this season gained confidence by recognising that are still within a shout of winning a game which should have been dead and buried.

I could quite easily have rehashed a blog on a previous match this season as the same deficiencies persist and are hindering our drive to break back into the top four. Maybe, now is the time to give Carroll his head and back him for a run of games because he can't to any worse than some of his goal-shy colleagues who are racking up minutes on the pitch.

Kop Post Man of The Match: Dirk Kuyt – never gave up trying to break his duck for the season by getting into crucial positions and on another day may just have succeeded.

LUIS SUAREZ: CONDEMNATION OR EDUCATION?

Luis Suarez banned for 8 matches.  Massive ban and a dagger to the heart of Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions just as momentum was building nicely.  We do not know the reasoning behind why he was given such a lengthy ban, but one thing is certain, with the Football Association’s (PFA) support of the Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football they have decided to make a stand.

Supporters will voice and are voicing opinions on the length and the ferocity of the band and that from the outside looking in it looks as if the decision was guilt by admission.  There is the fact that the FA waited a further five days to make the decision which to Liverpool seems to suggest reasonable doubt, just as it would do in a court of law involving defamation or slander .  On the flipside the FA could say in such an important case it was important to get to the truth and what they consider the right decision.

As much as I love watching Luis Suarez, his uttering of the word Negro, although said to be readily acceptable in South America, is abhorred in this country and while we can use that as an excuse it is should be stated that by the club that we do not condone it.  One thing which should be said in Suarez favour is that he could have easily denied it and thus left it as his word against Evra’s which suggest in his defence that hadn’t he recognised the gravity of the situation.  But as the say ignorance of the law is no defence and as I remarked to a friend yesterday many companies have Working with People courses to help workers recognise that individual differences are part of society and perhaps Suarez should be enrolled on one which would fit into Liverpool’s support of Kick It Out and long term policy against racism in the game.

We cannot walk away from this situation. But on the footballing side we must prepare for life without Suarez for a while and as we proved against Chelsea in the Carling Cup, we are capable of winning without Suarez at least in the short-term.

Bellamy The Instigator Supreme

Craig Bellamy's match winning performance propelled Liverpool on the way to our fifth away victory of the season, as many as we won last season, in what was probably the easiest win of the season. Liverpool started with Jonjo Shelvey playing tucked in behind Luis Suarez and it was he provided the opening from the corner, flicking the ball on which Bellamy prodded home.

Spearing looked promising in the role linking up with Adam, Henderson and Suarez with lung bursting runs to provide the supporting cast in attack. But it was Bellamy who ignited the Liverpool attack, each time he touched the ball there was a razor-like edge to his play in its directness. With Liverpool very fluent and only a missed Emile Heskey chance early on to cause any discomfort, the surprise was that both Liverpool goals came from corners. But it was good to see a defender getting on the score sheet and Skrtel as he has done this season rose like the proverbial salmon to guide a Bellamy corner into the top corner of the net.

With the ease of the victory it seems almost churlish to witter on yet again about the lack of a killer instinct in our finishing, but once again our nemesis was the woodwork. First, Suarez struck the bar when tenaciously winning back the fall from a glorious long ball from Downing, with more care he could and should have wrapped up the game. Secondly, he hit the post from a delicious chip which left the Villa Keeper flapping in mid-air. That he could have put Bellamy in is a moot point because that is the Suarez we have come to know, but if Lionel Messi can play the occasional through ball and lift his head up so can the brilliant Uruguayan.

Charlie Adam had a good game filling the boots of Lucas and moving the game on with his short passing, but not for the first time this season when driving through the middle he failed to pass the ball to a colleague (Shelvey) unmarked in a better position in the area. We had enough chances to have put the game to bed the hour mark and rest Suarez, Bellamy and Co.

Fortunately, with the profligacy continuing from game to game, Liverpool's strong recent run of only one defeat in thirteen is built on having the best defensive record in the Premiership with Skrtel and Agger looking impregnable, conceding 13 goals this season and keeping the LFC legend Jamie Carragher out of the side.

While we may not have as comparable attack as those competing with us for Champions League places the spine of the team is improving and if we can start to share the goals around and take our chances the sky's the limit.

Kop Post Man of The Match: Craig Bellamy – A clever footballer who guided Liverpool with his clever touches, his ability to open defences and bring others into the game. Quite simply a world class talent.

El Pistolero At The Ready

On a bitterly cold day, Luis Suarez warmed the Anfield masses with another virtuoso performance.  That he showed touches of brilliance is a given, but what is easy to overlook because we've come to expect so much already from the 'Little Maestro' is a prodigious work ethic not unlike Gerrard which he inspires those around him to raise their game to greater heights and like Gerrard he leaves the shouting to others, only shouting at himself in disappointment if a chance or pass goes askew.  He laid on two assists which his team mates failed to anticipate and capitalise on which could so easily have been far posts tap ins.

We've often spoken on this blog about the level of Suarez performances, but today he was everything.  Sitting on the upper tier at the Anfield Road end behind the goal was a great vantige point to watch him at work.  He ran down balls which he had no devine right to reach, either putting QPR on the back foot or pinching the ball for his team and for a man of his size he is for ever looking to claim the ball from Reina's goal-kicks down field. In fact he should've open the scoring early on when heading a measured Adam crossed straight at the keeper and he also a number of chances and half chances which weren't taken.  Maxi also missed a one on one, but once again with chances a plenty and over sixty per cent possession Liverpool failed to be clinical enough in the final third to kill the match off by half-time.

It's to their credit that Maxi's link up play with Saurez makes it look as though they've playing together for time and memorial as there is a feel of telepathy and enjoyment in their interplay, slucing through defenders at will.  With Suarez dropping deep and being involved in all facets of Liverpool's attacking play, one wonders just how much more potent Liverpool would be with a quick dynamic striker operating ahead of him on the last man.  The struggles of Andy Carroll and the profligacy in front of goal has shown the need for another striker of a different nature alongside Carroll and Saurez in the squad.  Funnily enough Liverpool's goal scoring struggles are bourne out by the fact that we have only scored 10 goals in the first half this season as opposed to 16 in the second half.

With over 67 per cent possession in the first-half as in recent home games Liverpool's total dominance dissipated and allowed QPR back into a game, in the final quarter, where they should have been dead and buried. Although not looking likely to score in open play with Barton on the tiller there was always a chance from deadball situations. 

There were plenty of positives with Suarez winning strike (his eighth this season and fifth in the Premiership) getting him back among the scoring charts with a not to dissimilar header to the one he missed in the first-half as Charlie Adam delivered a collector's item peach of cross with his right foot, his fourth assist this season, moving him one ahead of Dirk Kuyt. In recent weeks Adam has begun to live up Alex Ferguson's tag of his corners been worth £10 million alone. Today he corners may not have lived up to those lofty expectations but his crossing from open play was a delight. In addition, Henderson delivered a strong performance anchoring the midfield alongside Adam and ahead of a defensive quartet, that a part from the blip at Fulham has remained tightly focused, keeping another clean sheet and finally winning a home game against the type of team we've recently been falling down against.

Bellamy showed with a flashing run at the end in where he hit the crossbar, just what potency his undoubted class brings to the party, especially in a line-up where match winners are so difficult to find.

Man of The Match: Luis Suarez – has a built-in team ethic alongside his other obvious qualities. He was light years ahead any other player on the park.

Big thanks to Chris Smith, LFC season ticket holder, who I met on the train home to London and kindly provided me with the possession percentage from the first half. 

Torres, Would You Have Him Back?

In Chelsea's last five games, which included two loses against Liverpool, Fernando Torres played a role as extra, coming on in either the last quarter or last third of matches.  With AVB seemingly stuck on Drogba leading the line Torres seems to a bit part player at the moment suffering from a touch of stage fright in the playing theatre.

He is too good a player for this to persist for much longer, but if body language is anything to go by, he looks distinctly unhappy with the situation. And I guess as a World Class striker if Solomon Kalou being called up off the bench before you, something must be in the manager's mind.

If hyperthetically, the chance arises to re-sign him should we knowing that we don't have depth in that department?

New Season, Age Old Problems

No matter how good a squad, most teams, apart from Man City, have a first eleven and in the last few weeks Liverpool seemed to have found theirs whether by design or accident with Bellamy's pace and understanding with Suarez and the experience and movement of Kuyt and Maxi we seem to fallen on a winning formula.

So for King Kenny to leave out Maxi after he had bagged two in three and against opposition which he'd scored a hat-trick on our previous appearance at Craven Cottage was disappointing, especially when up against aside with only two victories all season.

Andy Carroll will come good with a side built around him to accentuate his attributes, but among this team and formation we are prone to play longer balls and the lack of width seemed to make no sense with the 'big man' in the box. With his back often to the goal the play seemed to grind to a holt once the ball was passed into his feet. Right now he is a not a first eleven player/starter and is beginning to hinder Liverpool’s progress as seems one step forward tow steps back when he starts.

To say this was a disappointing result, even after Jay Spearing's unlucky sending-off, is saying it mildly.  We had enough possession and chances to have won the game conclusively and I don't buy the fact that we've been unlucky with hitting the post more than any other team, we have just not good enough in front of goal. We now languish five points off a Champions League place and not to want to sound negative with only one defeat in fourteen, but it just shows the damage the home draws have caused.

The goal itself was disappointed to say the least.  If Glen Johnson had been left on the ground by Dembele then one can only say fair enough, because I am sure that he’ll do that to many better defenders in the future, but for Danny Murphy to cut inside and leave him stranded and get off a shot was not what you expect when he should be showing him the outside at the very least.  But in say that Pepe is a top class keeper and they all make mistakes and he saved us many an occasion, but he made a similar mistake against Spurs and last season against Arsenal which cost us a win.

The QPR game must be used a state of intention.  There is no point beating the Chelsea’s of this world and competing on an even keel with the Manchester clubs and then fallen back to our weaknesses of the past few seasons and losing or drawing against sides we should by all intents and purposes be beating if we have any intentions of a top four place.

Kop-Post Man of Match: ?

Nothing But Respect For Lucas Pezzini-Leiva

Jamie Carragher comments on Lucas says it all, not just about the kind of player he has become, not just about how respected he is by his fellow players, but mentally just how strong he is, which is what has most impressed me, as someone who doubted his ability to come on as strongly as he has.

Carragher said, "For the last 18 months, in my opinion, he has been our best player," Carragher said. "Luis Suarez has come in and done great things for the club but Lucas has been his equal in many ways. He has been as good as anyone in the team this season and there is no question he will be a big miss."

"I have been there in terms of receiving criticism," Carragher said. "High standards are expected when you play for one of the big clubs and there are plenty examples of players who have gone missing after realising the demands on them.
 
"But you can tell Lucas is a top player as he never lets that bother him. He has just got on with it and plays in nearly every game. If he has a little knock, he will always try and carry on, doing his best for us. There are lots of different characters but you can't fault Lucas."

Saying all of that, what we are seeing in Lucas is the culmination after four years (183 appearances) and the foresight and belief that Rafa Benitez showed in him and that Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish continued to believe in.

That's why the mantle appears to be a chasm for either of the supporting candidates Jordan Henderson or Jay Spearing to fill.  Funnily enough these two players opened up the play for Bellamy to create the opening goal for Maxi in the Carling Cup game.  Henderson, has done a fair job in looking after the Liverpool right, especially because he is central midfielder.  His style of play suggest that he is more suited to exploding from midfield as a box to box type, but he has proved at under-21 level an ability to guide a midfield and being a holding midfielder doesn't mean staying back for the full ninety minutes and like Spearing he may well have the game intelligence to play in that role.

If Jay Spearing is the player chosen and one hopes he is, it may well be his time in the sun because at 23 year old, his character suggest he is not the kind of player who will sit on the bench or play in the reserves for the foreseeable future.  His play and natural aggression suggests he will be suited and I agree with the statements above that he will have to grab the opportunity to help the team continue its upward curve.  Others may point to the way Maxi has grabbed his opportunity, already scoring three goals the season, but he is a seasoned campaigner used to the rigours and ins and outs of football.  For a player with relatively few injuries, his lack of appearances must be a disappointment to him, but on the other hand it might just be that which ignites the blue (or our case, red) touch paper.

Lucas Ruled Out For Season

It shows just how far Lucas has come with the confirmed news that the injury he picked up in against Chelsea in the Carling Cup Quarter-Final, anterior cruciate ligament damage, has hit home so strongly.

With that it mind, should Liverpool be looking at blooding Jordan Henderson in his favoured central position, albeit in a more sudued role or should Jay Spearing be given the responsibility to finally strive to cement a place in the First XI. It's easy to think the Spearing at the age of 23 has has enough chances, but he has only appeared 31 times in a Liverpool shirt, so he hasn't really hasn't a chance to stake a claim.  Given his age and the fact that he came up through the ranks, one would hope that this is his time.

The other possibility is does Dalglish try to work his way around Lucas absence and buy a replacement in the January transfer window.