The chants of Dalglsh, Dalglish boomed around the stadium midway through the second half. Only this time it was the mocking tones of the Baggies fans after they had gone 2-0 up. Followed by chants of “You used to be famous and then the sounds of Easy, Easy!”
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A painful reminder if one was needed that we have many rivers to cross before we reach the banks of redemption in the eyes of our faithful followers. Joe Allen looks what he is a protector of the ball, who by his very nature graduated at Brendan Rodgers school of football in Swansea.
Liverpool’s profligacy in front of goal was to cost us, as with last season Luis Suarez was the main culprit. First, he forced a save out of Foster after a fine move then after some excellent work by Glen Johnson who found the Uruguayan with a pinpoint cross, he headed wide with the goal beckoning.
Johnson himself was also found wanting, when blasting high wide and handsome. That was all the invitation required for West Broom to come to the party. Skytel's headed clearance from Morrison’s was dispatched in stunning fashion by Gera from 20 yards leaving Peep Reina floundering. Agger's sending of seemed particularly harsh, adjudged to have brought down Long, which resulted in the irate Liverpool centre-half being shown a straight red. He will miss Man City, Arsenal and Sunderland and with this is mind the prospect of a bid from Manchester City can not be far from the service.
Long’s penalty was expertly saved by Reina, but Liverpool’s rest bite would only last moments as Skytel was caught languishing on the ball and Long nipping in was again upended. His was usurped in the penalty taking duties by Odemwingie who emphatically drove ball in from the spot. Jamie Carragher the replacement for Agger, struggled for the rest of the afternoon with the pace of the West Brom frontline and one can only hope that he is finds form from yesteryear against Man City next weekend.
It was inevitable that the Baggies would score again and when he came it was embarrassingly easy with Lukaku dispatching an easy header from the post. In saying that, Luis Suarez again missed two glaring chances from 6 yards out, the first after a goalkeeping spill could’ve put us back in the game at 2-1 and if Liverpool are to put pressure on Spurs, Newcastle and Arsenal then he must be more clinical in front of goal and Borini must hot the goal running.
Man of the Match: Luis Suarez because of his sharpness and passion. Stewart Downing’s contribution was once again disappointing and his delivery from the first right flank was disappointing. First game of the season or not he really is struggling with the levels of expectation and with Liverpool’s recent purchase of Oussama Assaidi and Raheem Sterling champing at the bit.
Alright folks?
ReplyDeleteThat was a pretty awful result for us at the weekend. On the upside I thought that we played really well until the sending off. Joe Allen looks good but unfortunately Borini didn’t have the best match, hopefully he’ll get better as the weeks go bye. Yet again our wastefulness in front of goal cost us and I’d still really like to see another striker brought in before the end of the window because it’s obvious that Andy Carroll is not at all in Rodgers which brings me to a problem I had with the managers decision making once we went down to 10 men…..
After Agger got sent off we should have shored up the defence and stuck the big target man up front on his own in the hope that you can get direct balls forward and essentially try to sneak a goal from an long ball or a set piece. Instead Rodgers takes off Lucas (our main defensive option in midfield) and tries to ramp up the attack with perma-crock Joe Cole and the whole thing totally falls apart. I thought that our tactics in the last half hour were absolutely bloody awful and we slit our own throat.
Of course we also had to contend with some comedy reffing. I’m not really arguing with the penalty decisions, although they were unfortunate, they were both pens by the letter of the law. You could argue that Aggers initial contact was outside the box but he still would have been sent off for a professional foul in any case. The main problem for me was that some of the awful tackles and challenges from West Brom on our forward players that went unpunished were ridiculous whereas Dowd was booking Liverpool players left, right and centre for the slightest infringement.
In summery then
1. I don’t think that we should get too down in the dumps because with 11 men we were bossing the game and the team played well.
2. It was one of those days where everything that could go wrong did go wrong
3. We badly need a decent striker who can stick the ball in the onion bag, if we’d taken our chances in the first half the game could have been sewn up in the first 30 mins
4. We’ll miss Dan Agger next week against City but it’s only a one match ban for a professional fowl so he’ll be back against Arsenal
5. We should start with Coates next weekend because Jamie (legend that he is) can just no longer cut it, our defence was carved to bits when he came on at the weekend
Excellent summary – I will let Vic, Billy or Karl sum up our disastrous weekend in the heat of my BMW travelling to the game !!!! LOL
DeleteI'll respond in a bit... only to say at the moment that it shows how low down in the pecking order we are... one call from Wenger and Sahin has by all accounts agreed to join Arsenal.
DeleteSaw Tello for Barcelona last night absolutely tear the full-back to pieces. I hear he may also escape our clutches...
We nearly died of the heat in the car, but the Sun Roof saved us lol,
DeleteYes it was very disappointing! didn't suspect that result or the way we played
Despite bringing in some new players, refresh of a summer break, you think the team would be fired up and ready to go.
Same as last season we seemed to have lack of ideas on how to attack with quality play and passing from the back to open attack. I must have counted 11 passes from WBA in the midfield area and not a single Liverpool Player attacking the ball, embarrassing.
This was either a wake up call in which case we need to pull our socks up! or the reality is we may struggle through the season if we don't go out and buy a quality striker who can bang goals out of nothing.
The drive up and down the M1 was more exciting!
See below from Matt, the WBA supporter who kindly provided us tickets.
DeletePs Owen Coyle comment regarding Jay Spearing "I think we'll probably be linked with a lot of players. Jay Spearing is a fantastic young player, there is no doubt about that.
" The pursuit of that type of player is going on."
I thought the first half was pretty even, with you probably shading it slightly, though apart from the Suarez missed header I felt that you didn't really create much, lots of possession but a lot of it was going sideways. Our goal was just a wonder goal out of nowhere that you can't really do much about.
The sending off changed the game though. It probably was a bit soft, and the replays show that it was outside the area but I think as the last man it ultimately was a sending off though probably only a free kick rather than a penalty. I think the second one was a definite pen though. Skertel was a bit unlucky but he's missed the ball and kicked straight through Long's ankle.
Once we scored the second one it killed the game and I felt we could have got a couple more in addition to the thrid one we scored. Ultimately I think we deserved the win, though as you know it wasn't quite as simple as that.
In terms of your prospects for the season, I know we shouldn't read too much into just one game but I don't see that team getting anywhere near the top 4, it's just not good enough. I think you need 3/4 more players before you can start thinking about a serious champions league challenge.
I think scoring goals is going to be your problem again. The defence had a bad day on Saturday but overall it's very solid. Reina is a top keeper and Agger, Skertel, Johnson and Enrique is a good back 4.
You're lacking pace and creativity in midfield. I thought Lucas and Allen were annoymous to be honest, lots of running around and passing it sideways. Gerrard started well but as the game went on you could see he was dropping deeper and deeper to get on the ball and he just isn't as effective from those areas.
Apart from his finishing Suarez played well. I don't like him as a person but I've got to admit he's a top player. Borini was quiet but it was his first game and as someone who's come into the league he needs to be given time to settle. Downing was a waste of space in that position. He just doesn't offer enough. I think he'd be much better suited to playing on the left of a midfield 3.
In terms of our performance, obviously I was delighted. I thought we looked pretty solid at the back. As I said your midfield had a lot of possession but I think that was the game plan, sit deep and hit you on the counter. Apart from his goal I wasn't convinved Gera did enough, he gave the ball away in dangerous areas 2/3 times and looked a bit of the pace. Hopefully that's just because he's rusty after 9 months out. I was very impressed with Lukaku when he came on, he looked very dangerous. Given he's 19 he has awesome pace and power, he could be a real handful if we can get him performing consistently this season.
That’s a very vital point – hope the fans and particularly owners remain patient.
ReplyDeleteWe can not afford to start again from scratch next season.
I was in Lille over the weekend and had to leave where was and rush back to the hotel to watch the match. I miss a chunk of it, but when I saw 2.0 I thought the France system turn the thing upside down. I had to google Sky Sport only then did it dawn on me that team that look so strong on paper could fall on the cheap of WBA. Where then will our first 3 points come from? Man City up next at Anfield then sanwich by Norwich away, follow by the big Arsenal and then Man U.
ReplyDeleteWelcome on board Mr Rogers.
There really isn't any point being overly downbeat at the precise moment except to say that should we lose to Man City this weekend then we may well start feeling the heat.
DeleteAs for Suarez, I would rather he played left or right of the three and not wide as Borini was doing. We were not to far from the touch line and he was at times playing as an orthodox left winger. It's only the first game of the season but Stewart Downing as he did last season flattered to deceive. No delivery of any note and not looking as if he could provide a goal threat of any sort. He for me a huge part of the conundrum because more so in a three, he has to not just deliver assists but goals, because he should interchanging with the other two and be in close enough proximity to be a constant goal threat.
I agree about Stevie and more so in the second half he couldn't string a pass together worth toffee and in this formation he is key because he is the attacking midfielder with Allen, who you could is very than comfortable on the ball (although he seems as small as Tom Daley) and Lucas. I guess the arguments are out whether he and Lucas should have started, as Karl will no doubt expand upon, specifically about Allen.
We bought Borini for £11 million to score goals and as such he should play as the striker. As I've said all along the board have a tight hold of the purchase strings hence the Carroll and Agger potential transfers over the summer, thus a top class striker may not be an option. Agreed we have to stay patient, but with Man City, Arsenal, Sunderland and Man United our next four games if we don't get it right and step up on a pretty steep learning curve then the manager and supporters alike will be feeling the heat at the bottom rung of the League and that why Saturday's match was so important in terms of impetuous..
Borini will not be given a chance to settle into the role because of the constant pressure of having to qualify for the top 4 this season. He will get there for us but will the fans be patient?
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