Stunning Suarez Exudes World Class

So many times this season Liverpool have produced wonderful football spiced with anaemic finishing.  Today the top class play on display was aligned with finishing from the Gods by a truly world-class player.

The match suddenly exploded into life in the 23rd minute, when the irrepressible Gerrard, returning from injury, stole in to dispossess Fox delivering on the run a short pass to Suarez who smashed a unstoppable left footed drive inside the far post.  The two combined minutes later when the South American cut the ball back from the by-line to the marauding Gerrard whose goal bound shot was blocked.

Liverpool now comfortably slipped into overdrive and were pressing Norwich at every opportunity, from Suarez, through to Henderson and Shelvey, the later looking increasingly comfortable on the ball with his increased game time.  The dominance soon led to the second goal. Suarez picked up a misguided pass on the right touch line and a piece of role reversal ensued, showing the determination in a fifty-fifty tackle of a defender, he rode the tackle from the centre-half Ward to speed into the area and unleash a stunning low right-footed drive from an acute angle, again inside the far post leaving Ruddy clutching fresh air.

Norwich showed more fight early in the second-half, but Liverpool looked the more likely.  Shelvey helped Liverpool move further clear in hitting the woodwork, heading against the bar. Unbelievably, the 31st time Liverpool have struck the woodwork this season.  A glorious move followed with Bellamy’s sweeping ball out to Gerrard on the left, who sent Enrique on the overlap.  The Argentinian drove the ball across the face of the goal where Shelvey managed to spurn an open-goal sliding in unchallenged.

Bellamy congratulates Suarez

Suarez with a hat-trick for the taking inexplicably went for the chip when a clinical finish would have wrapped up the game.  It provided Norwich with a sniff of a possible come back with the recent capitulation at QPR fervently stamped into Liverpool’s embattled psyche.

In the 82 minute Luis Suarez delivered a moment of stunning excellence, capping a performance of heightened brilliance.  Latching on to a Johnson defence pass out of defence via Ward, summing up the situation in a flash, he deftly chipped a back peddling Ruddy from 45 yards to finally allow Gerrard and himself to leave the arena with the game won.

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Luis Suarez – A magnificent performance in which he showed the stellar talent to its upmost.  Stunning finishes with both feet and then the finesse of classical pianist for his final goal.

Critical Eye:  A magnificent performance in which Liverpool were totally dominant, enjoying 61 per cent possession, with 15 (on target 9) shots to the home teams 8 (on target 3).

An excellent performance was punctuated by bad finishing.  Even the wonderful show by Suarez fell foul. Had he finished his one on one, then Liverpool may would have benefited with both he and Gerrard allowed to leave the arena with almost 30 minutes to go with the Cup Final just a week away.  Liverpool need to start putting in a few tap ins as great finishes like this wont happen every week.

With Gerrard in full flight, Downing (looking sharper) and Bellamy, Shelvey and Downing providing support and movement, Liverpool looked potent and powerful and as such any player who played today barring Carragher, with the return of Skrtel would feel unlucky not to start at Wembley.  A top performance against a Norwich team who seemed to have switched off mentally with nothing to play for.

One wonders what might have been had Suarez and co been of a more clinical nature during the season, but the misses during the game also highlight a continued problem which will need too be a addressed in pre-season.

Top quote: Steven Gerrard on Luis Suarez, "world class, from a world class player...

On the third goal, "Not so much the technique, it was the vision"

Kenny Dalglish: "I don't have a catalogue of the best hat-tricks ever but certainly it was a fantastic hat-trick. But when you have got people of his ability there are no surprises.

"He is a fantastic footballer and a fantastic person. We are very fortunate to have him playing for us. And when he plays like that it is very difficult for anyone to stop him."

Cup success can get Liverpool back to the future

Liverpool fan Baz Watson on his day at the FA Cup Semi-Final

The mention of Liverpool v Everton at Wembley takes me straight back to the 80s when I first began to follow the men in red.  Rushie’s superb 2^nd in our 3-1 victory in ‘86 or Stuart McCall’s last gasp equaliser taking us to extra time in ‘89 these are some of my earliest football memories so when I managed to cadge a ticket to the semi final I was taken back to those childhood afternoons of pre-sky terrestrial television football and the great Liverpool teams of yesteryear, watching the legend Kenny Dalglish in his pomp on the field and the in the dugout during his first stint as player-manager. Forget memory lane this would be like jumping into a supped up Delorian, firing up the flux capacitor and roaring back in time to our glorious trophy-laden past.

The March up Wembley Way

I arrived at Wembley on Saturday 14^th April Wembley at 10am, a respectable two and half hours before kick off. The place was already heaving and if the FA thought that the early kick off would stop people from getting well oiled before the game they were sorely mistaken some of the crowd looked like they hadn’t been to bed the night before and others must have cracked open their first tin before sunrise. There were songs and banter, banners and flags. The place was a noisy sea of blue and red. TV camera crews were doing interviews with fans, groups of supporters congregated to discussed team selections and tactics, news of the Liverpool squad filtered through the crowd at about 11:30. Kenny had once again shoehorned Henderson into the squad on the right and sentimentality had overcome common sense to give Carra a starting birth in a back four containing three centre halfs. On the other hand it was good to see big Andy Carroll get a deserved start after a recent upturn in form.

Inside the stadium 90 thousand Reds and Blues came together in a moving tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough on that darkest of days 23 years ago.  A minutes silence was impeccably observed by both sets of fans and then the whole stadium joined in a rendition of ‘Justice for the 96’ which really made the hairs on the back of the arms stand on end. Great credit must go to all Evertonians for the way they paid their respects.

Pre-match build-up

The match kicked off and began at fair pace. Jay Spearing latched onto a nice lay off from Andy Carroll but blazed over the bar from close range after just two minutes but as things settled down the football on offer was often scrappy and the ball ran loose around a crowded midfield. Attacking impetus from the wings was practically non existent, Downing delivered a few crosses but lacked real quality and he inexplicably seemed reluctant to take on the aging Phil Neville in a footrace. Henderson meanwhile was doing his headless chicken routine and apart from a decent tackle here and there the boy was anonymous. The strike partnership of Luiz Suarez and Andy Carroll started to look isolated and they were forced to come deep to link up with the midfield.
 
Everton got more and more into the game and were allowed possession in dangerous areas. The deadlock was broken midway through the half after some comedy defending on the edge of the Liverpool Area. A bouncing ball landed awkwardly between Carra and Dan Agger and the two defenders held a conference over who should welly it up field finally Carra took control but his left footed hack saw the ball ricochet off Tim Cahill straight into the path of Nikica Jelovich who graciously converted his tap in past a stranded Brad Jones. It was a birthday present for Everton and their fans went ballistic. Liverpool battled and struggled to get back into the match but were frustrated for the rest of the half and rarely troubled Tim Howards goal with anything meaningful.

The second half was a different story. Kenny had obviously had a few choice words at half time and the reds came out with their tales up. With in seconds Downing, now operating on the right, pinged a ball into the far post finding Andy Carroll unmarked the big Geordie rose like a salmon and headed the ball wide with the goal gaping. It hit the side netting and from my seat it looked as if it had gone in, I was convinced that a goal had been chalked off for some dodgy linesman’s off-side injustice; I just couldn’t believe that he’d actually missed the target from all of 3 yards with a free header. He had. Credit to the boy though, he took it on the chin and got on with playing some decent football.
Suarez was who was already having a decent game redoubled his efforts and was buzzing around like a man possessed. Stevie and Jay were bossing the middle and the Reds started to look dangerous. Suarez’s industry was rewarded when he harried Sylvain Distin who freaked out and played a Flannoesque short back pass which travelled all of three yards before Suarez caught up latched onto it and steered a cheeky little curling shot past the onrushing Tim Howard and into the corner of the Everton net.

From then on it was all Liverpool, the deflation of the Everton team was tangible and it transmitted to their support who were in fine voice since kickoff but suddenly subdued and wary. Liverpool twisted the knife with an attacking substitution bringing on Bellers and Maxi for Downing and Henderson, Bellamy was his usual spikey self, running the channels, challenging every loose ball and getting in their faces. David Moyes’ response was to bring on Seamus Coleman for an attacking outlet to get the ball out of their half.
 
However the young Irishman’s most telling contribution came in the dying minutes when he brought down Gerrard near Evertons 18 yard box. The resulting free kick was lofted in by Bellamy and met by the Beast from the North East despite the shirt grabbing antics of Marouane Fellaini. This time Carroll would not be denied and he directed the ball expertly into the far corner of the net with Howard a helpless bystander. The travelling Kop went into Raptures and the match was won. Maxi nearly added a 3^rd a minute later when he met a clever ball from Suarez first time but his blasted shot rebounded off the upright, well it wouldn’t be a proper Liverpool performance if we didn’t trouble the woodwork at least once.

We’re now all set to return to Anfield South on 5^th May to contest the FA Cup final with Chelsea and their plastic flag waving fans. A cup double would put a very nice complexion on a season where inconsistency in the league has weighed heavily on all our minds. Kenny may not have delivered us to the promised land of the Champions League in his first full season back at the helm but three trips to Wembley and two trophies is quite an achievement. It’s also worth remembering that it’s been achieved with a squad full of young new players with bags of potential who are still learning how to play together and will only improve with time and patience. There were times in the last dark months of the Hick’s and Gillett era where any success seamed light-years away and Liverpool football club seemed destined to trade exclusively on the glories of the past. Kenny hasn’t got it all right this season but two new cups for the trophy room at Anfield can get LFC fan’s minds away from the past and back to the future.

Season’s Failings Return To Haunt Liverpool

As so often during this unspectacular Premiership season we were moral victors, completely dominating possession, but not for the first time this season missed enough chances to have won a hatful of games.

I could list in chronological order chances which went unconverted, by Suarez, Carroll, Kuyt and Maxi all incidentally inside the penalty area.  Unlucky? Not a chance.  Profligacy is a season long problem which has seen us win only one Premiership game at home this year.  Bad finishing pure and simple has put into this predicament.

It’s hard to take when the games play out the same way with total control of the first-half with the goal literally under siege, but careless finishing spoils some top class build-up play.

Some of our play in the final third was delightful, fast and fluid, but it’s not just about a lack of confidence in front of goal, there doesn’t appear to be a player with the killer instinct of a natural poacher in front of goal.  Suarez, for all his wonderful play, has been a wastrel not just in front of goal, but in shooting from angles where a pass to a team mate in a better position is often the better option.  Twice he failed to lift his head at the critical moment, on the second occasion, left his strike partner frustrated on the edge of the 6 yard box.

28 shots and 15 corners with 61 per cent a possession tell a tale of woe.  If the club does add to the squad in the summer transfer market, the need for match winners in attacking positions is critical.

Hodgson and Dalglish share a moment (Image:Yahoo)

Midfield players are just as culpable as the strike force and good teams can’t be successful without match winning performers from all over the pitch, something we’ve lacked all season and it’s why continuing to pick the same underachieving players throughout the season and ignoring the possibilities of trying something new makes little or no sense.

If Dalglish doesn’t give Suso or Sterling a shot with little or nothing left in this Premiership season, just when will they be given a chance with the need to start on a strong footing in the season next.
West Bromwich Albion won at Anfield for the first time since 1967. Kenny says we’ve made strides this season. The question is are those strides one step forward or two steps back?

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Glen Johnson – Made the critical mistake which hastened Liverpool’s defeat, but he was one of the main instigators of the superb attacking build-up play and up until his mistake was defensively excellent.

Who Should Move On After This Season?

Carling Cup winners and FA Cup finalists, but still struggling to in the Premiership.  We all have our wish lists of players of whom we would like in, but who should be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Kuyt, Maxi, Aurelio, Johnson, Adam, Downing, Henderson?

Should Jamie be going into retirement or used as a back-up for next season?

Speaker's Corner: Fan's comment after FA Semi-Final Win

Oscar & Chris

Charlie No.1

Charlie NO.2

Adam

Karl

Simon & Diane

Ebrahim

Suge

Carroll Hits The High Notes To Send Liverpool Through To Another Wembley Date

In a dramatic week which saw the dismissal of Damien Comolli, Kenny Dalglish, as he has been throughout his footballing career was the key figure in the build-up to the FA Cup Semi-Final. The turmoil the club found itself in could be gaged by the fact that Doni and not Brad Jones was listed as the no.2 goalkeeper to Reina in the ‘Meet the team’ page section of the programme and Doni was listed as no 2 to Jones on match day lists.

We were stunned when the news filtered through that Jordan Henderson, despite some questionable form would start ahead of the likes of Maxi, Kuyt and Bellamy.  Agger returned to the fold not for Carragher as had been expected, but for Enrique. 

The atmosphere was terrific with the both sets of fans coming together to produce magnificent atmospheric conditions and I should add a minutes silence to remember the 23 anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster which as you would expect was perfectly observed.

As if stung by the obvious criticism from the owners, Liverpool started on the front foot and Jay Spearing may feel he should have hit the target inside the area from Andy Carroll’s pull back.
 
The sides appeared to be feeling each other out with Everton leaving Jelavic to plough a loan furrow upfront and it was he who broke the deadlock, when following indecision on the edge of the area between Agger and Carragher, the later slashed his clearance against Tim Cahill which rebounded into the path of Jelavic who  calmly dispatched to give Everton the lead.

Liverpool upped the tempo without looking cohesive or convincing. The imbalanced nature of the attack with Henderson disciplined in defence, but overly underwhelming in attack increased the need for Downing to provide ammunition for our underused strikers.  In two instances he attacked veteran Neville with two crosses in the box, one just out of reach of the flailing Carroll.

Continuing in the same vain and switching wings Downing brilliantly ghosted past Bianes early in second-half, before standing up a fantastic cross to the far post for Andy Carroll.  On Grand National day, it looked a racing certainty that the ‘big man’ would score as we peeled away to celebrate. There was total amazement with the realisation that he had managed to head wide and we hoped it wasn’t a sign that we weren’t going to experience one of those days.

Everton began to drop off with decreasing intensity allowing Liverpool to take full control with Suarez and Carroll becoming increasingly threatening. It was no surprise that is was Suarez who brought his side back on level terms when he pre-empted Distin’s under hit back pass to drive in on goal, where angling his body he brilliantly bent the ball past Tim Howard with the outside of his mercurial right boot setting the Liverpool end of Wembley alight to set off an unimaginable roar.

Even with almost half hour to go Everton’s best chance of winning the game was either from a set piece or from Jelavic making something out of nothing - he came close shooting into the side netting.   Almost immediately, from a melee Carroll screwed the ball disappointingly wide when a touch of composure was all that was needed to get the shot on target.

Dalglish sensing a chance to win the game in normal time, brought on both Maxi and Bellamy, replacing Henderson and Downing respectively.   And it was the inimitable Bellamy who provided a sumptuous whipped cross from a free-kick, for Carroll to back-header into the corner of the net leaving Howard stranded.  It was nothing more than Liverpool deserved.

Kop Post Man of The Match:  Andy Carroll - Suarez was the undoubted instigator, but Carroll was unbowed from his glaring miss and shot past the post and seemed to get stronger as they game went on. Carroll said, " I believe in myself every day.  I've had some criticism but I just keep on going.

"I had a few chances and should have scored earlier, but I kept working at it. It's the best feeling ever."

Critical eye:  Liverpool won despite, the manager going in with three centre-half’s and Jordan Henderson  -  the class of Suarez and the power of Carroll shone through.

Downing showed signs of being the creative force with a couple of stellar crosses, but needs to become a more consistent element and add to his goals tally.

Martin Skrtel goes from strength to strength, and has now taken up the mantle from Carragher.

Special mention to Brad Jones who showed, after a nervy start, a lot of strength of character in commanding the area with some strong punches and catches under pressure.

Best quote - Jamie Carragher on Andy Carroll "He'll be remembered for ever.  A goal against Everton in the semi-final, that goal is worth £35 million on its own."

Comolli Leaves Liverpool As Signings Become The Issue

Damien Comolli moves on by 'mutual consent' just days before the FA Cup Final.  Strange timing or has  FSG's been forced to act with Liverpool's Premiership season in disintegration.

As I have intimated many times on this blog John W Henry stated, before the season started, during the season and after the Carling Cup win that Champions League qualification was the main target of a season which starting on a high following green shoots of recovery in the second-half of last season with the re-introduction of Kenny Dalglish to the hot chair.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to recognise that the sanctioning of transfer spend on Adam, Henderson, Downing and Enrique and also a plethora of highly thought of youngsters was on the back of an economic plan based on qualification to the Champions League.  The fact that FSG have seen fit to part with him almost on the eve of the final is evidence if needed that the FA and Carling Cup, although important are not the be all and end all for them especially when the dynamics of CL qualifications is so vast in comparison.

As Iain Boyd, Liverpool Supporters Club Member said upon hearing the news, "the fact that so many French speaking players are doing so well in the Premiership didn't augur well for him either".

 Damian Camolli

It will interesting to see if Kenny stays as manager, whether FSG do away with the position of Director of Football is scrapped and he like Ferguson is the total arbiter of transfers, although he is quoted as saying that he had the final say on transfers. Or has FSG  already seen fit to warm up another manager and move Kenny'upstairs' at the end of the season?

Liverpool Show Stomach For The Fight

Liverpool came into the game with six changes from the side who managed to extricate a 1-1 draw from Saturday’s home match with Villa.  With senior figures Gerrard (left out) and Carragher, Suarez, Agger, and Enrique on the bench seemingly rested for Sunday’s FA Cup Final Semi-Final, Dalglish gave an outing to Coates with Spearing and Henderson anchoring the midfield and Maxi and Bellamy providing the width for the returning Carroll with Shelvey tucked in just behind.

Jonjo Shelvey and Craig Bellamy were instrumental in Liverpool’s bright start, moving the ball around more quickly than of late with more movement and prompting the full-backs to get up in support.  The exquisite nature of Skrtel’s long range pass in the 13th minute, not just turn defence into attack, but found Bellamy totally free on the right.  He accepted the invitation to explore the space with incision racing into the area to give a  slide-rule cross-pass to our B-2 bomber gliding stealth like into the area to dispatch in distinctive style.  Memories of Maxi’s goal against Chelsea were not to far from the surface when the net rippled.

Minutes later Liverpool were two-up with impressive Shelvey displaying a maturity and surety of touch which was nice to see, nicked the ball away in the centre-circle before bearing down on the centre-half, making room for a shot which Robinson parried only for Carroll’s blocked shot rebound out to Maxi who nonchalantly tuck the ball away on the volley left-footed. In a team struggling to score goals it’s a mystery as to why Maxi hasn’t secured more game time.

We were cruising and at that stage Blackburn were steering relegation fully in the face.  John Flanagan’s missed place back pass, not just put Blackburn back in the game, but even with the penalty saved by substitute Brad Jones (replacing Flanagan), there was there instantaneous knowledge that we would have one available goalkeeper for Sunday’s semi-final.  The youngster had looked shell-shocked from his earlier booking as if he was accident waiting to happen.  Blackburn were soon back in the game, when yet again from a set piece the defence melted away leaving Yakube to head home unchallenged.  Apart from Olsen’s  glorious flashing past the far post Liverpool remain steadfast until half-time.

Minutes into the second period, the game could and should have been over.  Carroll, led Scott Dann a merry dance, before getting on the end of whipped corner from Craig Bellamy to inexplicably miss from yards out.  The miss was to haunt him on the hour when Jones had his clearance blocked and fumbled the rebound before colliding with Yakubu who made up for earlier missed penalty to restore parity.

Even with ten men Liverpool looked the team most likely to get three points with Bellamy’s dead ball kicks and in tandem with Shelvey they played on the break,   The winner came from a Bellamy corner which Coates knocking back the clearance which was superbly headed by Agger into the path of Carroll head home and win the game for Reds.  Agger has come off the bench twice in the last two games to play a best supporting role and one hopes he will start against Everton as he gives the team so many options at both ends of the pitch.

The win showed a strength of character which hadn’t been seen for a while and  I would suggest some of the players, namely Shelvey, Carroll and especially Bellamy have put themselves forward for starring roles on Sunday.

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Craig Bellamy – covered ever blade of grass for his team and was involved in two of the three goals.

Critique’s Corner: With no inclination of playing his top players sitting on the bench, it would have made more sense if some of the younger players has been named.

Jonjo Shelvey showed that he could have a look term future at the club with an encouraging display.  One hopes he is not left to rot in the reserves or on the bench because Liverpool seem to be operating on senior’s first basis rather than players being picked solely on ability and form.

STACEY JUDD: ACTION UPDATE

I haven’t written a blog for a while and thought I best update everyone.

So in little over two months I have taken on a second full time job....fundraising and raising awareness for Tourettes. When I look back it is quite amazing how quickly everything has gathered pace and I am enjoying the challenge.

When I begun this journey it was going to be a fundraising challenge, but the size of this dawned on me. Who would think Tough Mudder as just a fundraising challenge; it is a terrifying prospect these days. I have begun training and although it isn’t very intense I have been upping my cardio. A fellow Liverpool supporter asked how my training was going today and when I told him he said ‘you really need to be upping your training or you’re going to be in trouble’. I thought I was doing well, hmmmmm, thanks!!!

I have enrolled in the Liverpool Tunnel 10k in June, so this will make me focus on something nearer in time. I will start my 10k running in two weeks, this week I will stick to the 5k. I am also going to doing Hell Runner in Delamere Forest in Novemeber, it is also 12 miles like Tough Mudder, but with a lot less obstacle as a little prep for the ‘big one’ two weeks later.

In between the training I have met with my MP and told him that local NHS support for people who are diagnosed with this condition is shocking. Suzanne, the Chief Executive pointed out that in general there is a shortage of Neurologists and even fewer with a real interest in Tourettes Syndrome. So it looks as though unless you are lucky enough to live within a County that has a Specialist, suffers will have to continue to travel for expert advice.

I also noted from all the information I have been sent over the last couple of months that children are being diagnosed late for one reason or another. They are going into secondary school and being labelled as problematic, when in reality they have not been diagnosed and no one is aware of their needs. One dad wrote into a Newspaper recently and said that his son had been excluded for shouting out obscenities in class. If they aren’t diagnosed, aren’t being recognised as needing extra help then they are in reality not making the most of their education at no fault of their own. Could schools be educated as to what to look out for and refer them to the school doctor? They do this for ADHD.

On a less political note, although for Merseyside maybe not the case I have managed to acquire a signed Everton Football. Tim Howard kindly sent this to me, and as some of you know he is also a Tourettes suffer. I am hoping to auction this off later this year. Maybe you could put in an offer for your poor relative that chose the wrong colour shirt! Tim also signed a picture to Charlie with ‘Dream Big’ on it. She loves it! My dad is also very happy (and smug) as we have to ‘put up’ with the signed Everton picture in a Liverpool house. I think he thinks it is a get back at me for going against him as a child and supporting the ‘better club’. Saturday’s match may decide the better team, I will not be watching as I feel I already know the outcome and don’t want to have to witness it.

This week will also see an article come out in the Sunday Post in Glasgow; it is very strange seeing me and Charlie on the front cover of a magazine. But it is about raising awareness and hopefully funds. Talking of funds I have currently raised £400, which I am very proud of.

Stacey with Lily (left) and Charlie

I am also going to be on Radio City as I am sure you will all have heard of, is Liverpool’s local radio. Suzanne who is Chief Executive has already been on the radio and they really wanted to continue to help, so offered me a chance to tell our story. I thing Tim Howard will also do a part later on in the year. They will also feature it again on the run up to Tough Mudder to help with raising funds. So hopefully it will only be a good thing and people will offer support and sponsorship.

My dad is a pigeon racer which is Liverpool’s second most popular sport (apparently). He is hoping to have an auction this year to help me raise funds, so that is exciting as do you know how much a pigeon cost?

Also my Aunty Val who has an organisation called ‘Pride in Liverpool’ is helping me think of local businesses we can approach to gain some sort of corporate sponsorship. It is a long shot but I1 did not think that Tim Howard would come onboard and help, so maybe not so unachievable.

On a more poignant note, Charlie has found it a bit difficult over the last week. Although her vocal tic are minimal at the moment, she has begun face distortions and she hates them, to be honest I am not a fan but they are sent to test us. She got really upset yesterday and asked ‘why do I have to have Tourettes?’ The only way I can get her out of this mood is by putting a humorous twist on it. I told her it could be worse, she could be green and have funny ears like Shrek. Or three legs and how hard would it be to walk on three legs? She laughed and we had a cuddle, but to be honest sometimes I ask the same.

LIVERPOOL FC: A CLUB AT THE CROSSROADS

Why have so many individuals become critiques during Liverpool’s current malaise in the Premiership? We are everyone’s second favourite club and as such opinions come from far and wide. Helpful or unhelpful, fans and opposing fans alike have until recently refrained from being hyper-critical given the respect and love for club and manager.
 
Understanding how much the club is intertwined in the lives of its supporters is to understand why so many failed to comprehend the damage the club’s stance did to its reputation both on and off the field during the Suarez/Evra affair.
 
The damage from a public relations standpoint is well documented and will take some time to get over. The club failed to take into account that in this country, football is a multi-cultural game played in a cultural melting pot and the feelings of many of our supporters and players should have been taken into account.
 
Turning up as a lifelong Liverpool supporter to games whether it has been at Anfield, where I have met supporters from as far a field as Malaysia, Thailand and America to QPR where I’ve met fans from India who now receive this blog, shows just how much support the club has around the world.

Continuing the point, the club in its wisdom decided that support for Suarez precluded not bringing in a striker to ease the situation, even on loan to take up the mantle in his absence through suspension. While this was partly due to the club’s transfer policy, there was a sense that Dalglish’s comments at the time were part of a public drive into supporting Suarez and as such make the striker feel secure.

With Dirk Kuyt playing intermittently and never the most prolific of scorers even from a central position, the decision also showed the folly of going into the season with only two strikers and one of those bought for his potential to deliver rather than what he’d actually achieved on the football pitch.

The manager’s intransigent nature endeared him to all but the very few supporters who refused to see the wider picture, but went to the very heart of those who felt it part of the club’s responsibility to recognise and help educate it’s own supporters that football has moved on from the 1970’s and 1980’s with the infamous John Barnes banana picture to the Everton slogan of “we are all white”.
 
That said the problems up until that point were not all down to ‘that incident’. We matched Man United at Anfield and were unlucky not to come out winners, but the overriding feeling of everyone around me in the Main Stand was that our finishing had not been up to par. Teams we’ve expected to put to the sword have come to Anfield and completely outplayed us. They say possession is nine tenths of the law and anyone who watched the home game against Swansea would have to agree. In footballing terms, Swansea were light years ahead us, we were chasing shadows and it was not much fun sitting in the stands watching Wigan, who like Swansea play a stylistic game formulated by Roberto Martinez, play us off the park. Hearing fans shout “get stuck in” out of share frustration shows the life at times at Anfield.
 
In Dalglish’s first incarnation as manager, Liverpool had a cutting edge based on creativity, pace, power and width, led by Barnes, Beardsley and Houghton which he continued in a more direct form at Blackburn. In his present carnation holding midfield players at home and selections endowed with little pace are the main components of his teams. At the home game against Stoke he countered their aerial threat by playing three centre-half’s and left the side bereft of pace and an aerial threat by leaving Bellamy and Carroll on the bench until late on, starting with Kuyt upfront in Suarez absence. Not for the first time going with one upfront or leaving Carroll on the bench and seemingly a more defensive modus operandi.
 
In the modern age no team expecting to challenge, whether in the Premiership or in the Champions League can afford to go in with two strikers even at the cost of almost 60 million between them. The room to manoeuvre is minimal as rotation becomes a virtual impossibility and leaves the team dangerously short of cover should the need arise through injury or as we felt in January, through suspension.
 
There is a systemic problem on the field which is plain for all to see, we cannot score goals, we have Luis Suarez as our top scorer in the Premiership with 8 goals from 27 games and how can any side compete with a scoring ratio of 1:16 per game; how can any team wanted to compete only win 5 home games in 16; how can any team wanted to compete go on their worst run since 1953-54 (losing 6 of their last 8 games); and if the Premiership had started on 1st  January Liverpool would be 19^th (see below), surely not acceptable in anyone’s book let alone a Liverpool manager.

15 Wigan 13pts
16 Stoke 13pts
17 QPR 11pts
18 Aston Villa 11pts
19 Liverpool 9pts
20 Wolves 5pts
 
Successful teams have qualities in abundance, one of which being match winners. Lionel Messi is rightly lauded for yet another record breaking season, but what is overlooked is significant contributions to the scoring charts by Xabi, Sanchez and Fabregas. Arsenal has started sharing goals around without relying as they have done for most of the season on the prolific contribution of Robin Van Persie.
 
The manager’s outpourings about critics lacking intelligence and not understanding what he is building and the team being unlucky are farcical when taking into account that Liverpool have drawn 11 home games and scored a barely believable 37 goals from 32 League games. It’s difficult to fathom the thinking behind the way the formation is structured and the style of play week in week out. One can understand Jordan Henderson playing on the right on occasions if his job is to help stifle a flying winger by supporting the right-back or tucking in to support the central midfield. It’s very difficult to be ultra critical when the position he often finds himself in, would normally see the winger attacking the full-back and it’s patently affected his confidence. Again, questionable management and coaching?

It’s irksome and disrespectful by some to continually make excuses for Liverpool’s transfer policy by pointing out the net spend in comparison to those of our rivals whether under Rafa or Kenny. Whether a player comes in on a free or costs 35 million he has a place in the squad and as a supporter I expect that player to produce to the required standard or have we fallen so far behind that we have no right to expect it?


 
Dalglish has put silverware in the cabinet and we can’t snort at that, but to be 36 points behind the leaders in a season where League progression was the measuring criterion is a catastrophe. We were never a realistic contender as Premiership champions, but qualification for the Champions League with the outlay sanctioned by the owners and with Arsenal and Chelsea in transitional phases, 2011-12 felt the right-time for LFC to make the move back into the big time.
 
Nothing is guaranteed in life, but with the promising signs from last season under ‘King Kenny’, Fenway Sports Group had obviously factored in the incoming windfall of 20 million for Champions League qualification which would’ve then been moved on to bolster the transfer kitty. The scouting system under Comolli will have to seriously kick-in with Man City looking likely to finish second and Chelsea possibly finishing outside the top four.
 
It will take a serious amount of commitment and belief in the project from FSG to ply more cash in the coffers. Does that mean a mountain of cash for more players with the hope that the under performers raise their heads above the parapet next season or will the manager and Comolli be given a specified cash amount and be directed to sell to raise cash? Dalglish recently pointed to Liverpool success also being measured by their success in the commercial world, just how easy will it be to pull together big deals for player transfers or in the commercial world without Champions League football will certainly test the mettle of John W Henry particularly when taking in account that Liverpool lag someway behind Man United and Arsenal in terms of revenue, see the Red Sox Diaries.
 
Possible transfers of Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani may add some much needed spend, although Cole’s contract may hinder any possible transfer and it would not be a surprise to see him re-join the ranks. Maxi, Aurelio and Kuyt are the wrong side of 30 and with the captain and Bellamy both thirty-plus at the very least one would expect the first two moved on.
 
At the time of writing we are some 16 points behind Spurs and Newcastle and 14 behind Chelsea which is humbling enough, but to be languishing 4 points behind Everton is inexcusable. It’s no longer a top four, but top seven and it’s going to be a struggle to get back into the four and even harder should Newcastle gain entry into the higher reaches, as it will mean two top clubs will be vying to get back into the top four next season and if those clubs are two of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs the Liverpool project will have to be sold with some creative vigour.
 
Would I sack Kenny right now? The answer would be no. But, should this form continue in the Premiership and Liverpool fail to beat Everton in the FA Cup Semi-Final then his position cannot be beyond reproach come the end of the season with the possibility of the season disintegrating into the worst for many a year.
 
Being a Liverpool fan at the moment is not a good place to be. Alex Ferguson’s position in British football history is reaching mythical status, should Man United win the League as they look like doing, he has driven his side to the win, with the key decision to bring back Scholes looking like a master stroke. David Moyes with a fraction to spend has once again produced miracles and should they stay ahead, we can all look to a summer of laughter and ridicule which could be somewhat tempered should we win the FA Cup.

More Pain, No Gain

The line-up showed no deviation from Dalglish’s belief in a plethora of centre-midfield players with scant regard for width and pace with Bellamy left on the bench and Sterling left in the ether.  Henderson and Kuyt returned to the starting line-up for Spearing and Carroll respectively.  Henderson was given a central berth, but the choice of one striker at a home once again beggars belief with our constant struggles in front of goal and the treatment of Carroll by the management team given his first twenty against Newcastle was bordering on the criminal.

Stewart Downing as he hadn’t done all season blew by the right-back with consummate ease early on to a deliver a superb ball to the far post, which Kuyt sliding in had his shot saved on the line.  It was first time since May 2007 that Liverpool had gone into a Premiership game without the suspended Pepa Reina which meant a debut for Doni. Within minutes, his absence was felt. Liverpool where behind hit by a quick break when Stephen Warnock after nicking the ball away from a hesitant Flanagan, delivered a deep cross on the run which Doni, under pressure from Heskey, could only finger tipped into the path of Bannan who rolled the back invitingly to Herd, who dispatched with aplomb in the top corner without breaking stride.

Liverpool, as has been apparent all season looked laboured in their attempts to step up a gear with Gerrard looking off colour and Suarez failing to spark.  Skrtel headed just wide from a Gerrard corner just after the half hour,  set pieces appeared our best option of going level.  As in the Wigan game Aston Villa looked more than comfortable for a team struggling to avoid been dragged in the regulation fight.    Apart from the Skrtel chance Liverpool barely had a chance worth noting until with one minute from time, Suarez linking up with Enrique fashioned a wonderful left footed cross which was met on the volley by Gerrard whose scuffed shot was ballooned high over the bar by Kuyt from two yards. It stung Liverpool into action with Suarez and Gerrard, having a shot saved and shooting over the bar respectively in the final minute of the half.

Eight minutes into the second half Gerrard delivered a stunning cross from 35 yards out on the right which Suarez met with a glancing header against the post which Given instinctively hooked out.  The 33rd time a Liverpool effort has connected with the woodwork this season.  Liverpool began to dominate possession in the last quarter of the pitch with Downing, having the beating of Hutton at will, starting to look increasingly dangerous got in three crosses into the area.  The decision then to haul him off (with Shelvey) and bring on Carroll was perplexing.  Downing looked dangerous from the more natural side for him and one would’ve like to have seen him given the chance to offer Carroll the service he’s been longing for.

Jordan Henderson having moved back into the middle was disappointing and was lucky not to have been substituted alongside or instead of Shelvey.  He failed to offer any dynamism or creativity and that both he and Shelvey failed to stoke the Liverpool fires in the engine room was part of the reason Villa were rather to comfortable in the first-half.

Bellamy collecting the ball palmed out by the under pressure Given from a Gerrard cross, hit the bar with an angled drive, no 34...  Liverpool were now the only team in the game, but looked unlikely to score until the inclusion of Agger, replacing Enrique whose form has tailed off alarmingly over the last month or two.  In overlapping mode, he often has the time to cross, but invariably checks back with as if unaware of Suarez already having made his run.

The breakthrough finally came when another excellent cross from Gerrard was met on the far post from Agger attacking the ball and heading against the bar with Suarez lurking in Ian Rush fashion, heading home from close range.  Liverpool came close with a header from Carroll and drive from Gerrard looking more like the Gerrard of old as the match went on.

Questions and more questions...

The result was disappointing against a pretty poor Villa side and Liverpool’s inadequacies in front of goal were again shown in all its glory.  The lack of a cutting edge has been a worry all season and we go into a week which will see us play the old enemy across the park the worry grows by the minute.

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Steven Gerrard - Stepped on the gas in the second-half, when he moved to the right he whipped over a stream of quality crosses, one of which led to the goal.  If only some of his colleagues could learn to direct crosses in the same manner.

Critique’s Corner: With little or no chance of Champions League why is the manager neglecting Raheem Sterling and Nathan Eccleston for bench duty or low and behold even a start.  Once again, Liverpool suffered with a lack of creativity and width and one really has to look at the coaching think-tank and ask whether the pressure has hindered their decision making processes because the same mistakes are being made continuously.

Jamie Carragher - sadly rarely makes a telling impact on games these days – he seems to stand yards behind the last Liverpool defender weary of pacey strikers.  Thank for the good Lord for healing Daniel Agger’s ribs.

The continuing shoddy treatment of Carroll especially after his first-half performance against Newcastle was disappointing.  Liverpool are in essence starting matches without a goal poaching striker which points directly to the fact the manger hasn’t looked to his squad to bring someone through.