Man United 2 Liverpool 1

As Liverpool fans we have a proud heritage moulded by Bob Shankly, who built the foundations which enabled the successes of Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez possible.  Liverpool was never and has never been just about the successes, it was about the way we did it and the standards which we hold dear and which are revered all of the world.   Suarez decision not to shake Evra’s hand went against the very core of what our club is about.

Suarez is a talented player and even if you feel he was hard done by in regards the initial Evra incident today could only be described as thoughtless at best.  In one fell swoop, he presented Manchester United with the initiative and buoyed by the fire he’s action instilled within them for the slight to their Captain, not that they needed extra fervour in this fixture, they kept that intensity to the end of the game.  Gerrard’s reaction in trying to quell the Uruguayan’s ultra-exuberance suggest his action was self-determined.

The now electric atmosphere ignited by Suarez lighting the red touch paper was dampened somewhat  with Liverpool starting brightly with  good possession (44 per cent in the first 15 minutes) and Glenn Johnson as the attacking outlet on the right.  His full-back partner, Enrique, felt the direct threat from Rafael and the pacey Valencia and lacked the cover offered from Kuyt to Johnson from Downing, which hindered his ability to get forward. 

Johnson came close to giving us the lead when from a sweeping first time pass out to the right by Suarez, Johnson not for the first time in the opening few minutes blew by Evra, to see a curling left foot effort glide just by the far post.  Even with a high degree of possession our raison d'être seemed to be defend and and sneak a goal on the break or from a set play.

Carroll’s omission was disappointing.  He has looked, in recent weeks, to be hitting his straps which culminated in his best performance in a Liverpool shirt against Spurs.  With Evans and Ferdinand the Man United centre-half pairing, Dalglish decision not go for the jugular with his team selection, which has been his wont in too many matches this season, was disappointing in the extreme.  Suarez was isolated on far which to many occasions with Jordan Henderson in the pivotal position, which Gerrard made his own, unable to find the keys to the locker to set Suarez free.

Man United dominance of the game began to take shape after the half-hour with the increasing movement and speed of their front-line with Valencia leading Enrique a merry dance and Welbeck’s movement  stretching the Liverpool backline.  One minute from the break after some superb inter-play with Kuyt, Suarez was sent through to side step the covering Evra with Ferdinand’s desperate lunge from behind deemed fair by referee Phil Dowd stopping from being clean through.  In fairness, we did not threaten and were lucky to go in scoreless.

Within minutes of the second-half our luck had run out. We were 2-0 down and it was no surprise as we seemed to re-enter the fray as if punch drunk by the fracas between the players at half-time. The goals were avoidable from defensive mistakes, but what was really hurtful was the next twenty minutes of lethargy and ineptitude in terms of players seemingly flat and one wondered whether minds had begun dreaming of Wembley.  Two-nil down and one expected Gerrard to play further up field, but he remained in a deep lying position until the end.

Stewart Downing’s crossing is the main stay of his game, which he is in search of, and he does not attack defenders with any vigour often going backwards in the final third.  His confidence seems at a low ebb and a sustain place on the bench may be in order.  Jordan Henderson flits around, but time and again this season one wonders if he is being played out of position, whether it is on the right or as the roving midfield connecting with Suarez rather than the box to box midfielder which is an entirely different role.

The dye was cast even with the late inclusion of Bellamy and Carroll and that fact we scored from a defensive mistake from a free-kick says a lot for Suarez perseverance and his character. He positioned himself to take the chance when presented.  He never stopped running and trying and it’s a shame that his behaviour has detracted from his efforts.

There is a defensive nature to Liverpool’s selection process where we worry more about the opposition instead of letting them worry about us.   Instead of playing our best team, we pack the midfield home away and hope to sneak a victory.  If we want to gauge our lack of prowess in front of goal, the fact that Norwich are breathing down our necks should be the barometer.  Early on, we blamed our profligacy and ineptitude in front of goal on being unlucky, we know now it was rank bad finishing which may cost us a Champions League position.
 
The crime is the failure to do anything about our failures in front of goal and the lack of creativity, whether loaning a few players in the January window or bringing in a few younger players to bolster the attacking and midfield options.

In regards of the present situation surrounding the club, no matter how many excuses fans want to wheel out about Suarez behaviour, our club’s reputation is taking a beating as the weeks goes by and one feels that the manager is put under unnecessary strain, constantly being wheeled out to answer every question, some of which could and should be fielded by press officers, community relations officers or senior people at the club.

The non-handshake (Image: from Talksport)

As I have said previously, I believe the stance we have taken is borne from the feeling “We Are Liverpool” which has become rigid and in flexible which now makes us look as we are spoiling for a fight.  We need to take a step back and recognise that this is harmful, not just for the individuals concerned, but for the club in the long run which is loved by so many people the world over and for me is the greatest club ever.

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