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.