Liverpool Player Watch: European Championship

Group Stage:
First round games

Netherlands v Denmark
Daniel Agger – As part of an inspirational team performance he was magnificent.  He showed how great he is at reading the game by making timely interceptions. His clearing defensive headers showed a Martin Skrtelesque quality and as usual was dangerous at set pieces.  That the Dutch had 28 attempts on goal is neither here nor there as Liverpool fans no full well.

This is the kind of performance which has Liverpool supporters hope and praying Agger can go a full season without injury as it proves he is not just a skilful football, but can defend with the best of the them.

Dirk Kuyt – The recently departed Liverpool favourite entered the fray 5 minutes from the end of normal time. Apart from an over hit long ball which was easily claimed by the Danish keeper Andersen and daisy cutter of a cross which was easily cut out, he found it difficult to impose himself in the time remaining, but as usual showed a willingness to run for lost causes.

Spain v Italy
Pepe Reina – The irrepressible Spaniard as expected warmed the bench and handled the drinks bottle expertly.
England v France

Steven Gerrard – Became only the fifth England player to play in three European Championships and led by example. Made 7 tackles, the most in the game and covered 10,474 metres only bettered by James Milner and Nasri. Strangely, assigned the deep lying holding role with Parker given licence to roam further forward.  His passing was not at its majestic best, loosing the ball a couple of times in dangerous and managing to atone for his mistakes.  Although, he delivered a couple of vintage long range passes, one which if Ashley Young had collected would’ve put him through to drive goal wards.

He may feel his attempt to block Nasri’s goal bound shot could have been more front on, but all in all his effort could not be faulted.


Worryingly, with the England set up as it is both Gerrard and Parker will have to get through a prodigious amount of work and it may well be that Hodgson will have to get Ashley Young to drop back to link the midfield Welbeck or even push Gerrard further forward in a more attacking role as England need to be more adventurous in their remaining game. He possesses the attacking and creativity bent to drive England and set free the wingers and Welbeck against Sweden and beyond.

Jordan Henderson – Replaced Parker with 23 minutes to go and as such was allocated a containment role which he did manfully.

Glen Johnson – England’s Man of The Match.  Thought to be the weak link in England’s back line, but snuffed out the much vaunted Ribery .  Nipped in brilliantly to intercept as Benzema lined up to bulge the net  and excelled going forward giving the team an extra dimension it so badly needed.  Of his 45 passes, 39 were accurate (87 per cent) and 18 of which were forward passes.  If his colleagues matched or improved his passing percentage England may just have eased the pressure they were under in the later part of the first half and the first period of the second.

Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing: Unused substitutes

Martin Kelly – Not picked.

Others:

Andriy Voronin - As a double-act with Shevchenko he has always looked a class act and looked as sharp as a razor cut against Sweden, dovetailing with the master poacher and almost finished off a smart move when his drive was parried away.  Just a shame he failed to show that kind of conviction for the reds often appearing to be carrying a bit of timber.  He may justifiably claim to have not have been given enough game time to get acclimatised to the British game.