Sunday, 7 April 2013
Liverpool Flatter To Deceive
With Spurs at home to Everton the opportunity was there to close on someone, but once again we fluffed our lines. Time and again, daft flicks or a casual ball in the final third disrupted the flow. It's patently not good enough and it came as no surprise to anyone watching the match that it ended scoreless. It was poor, with even the redoubtable Suarez unable to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
Not for the first time this season possession and cutting edge couldn't be used in the sentence and one sense the crowd felt this was not going to be our day early on with the lack of invention and creativity on display.
Diame as he had been in the first match was by far the best midfield on show, waltzing past four defenders after a short corner before firing over. Soon after, Daniel Sturridge replaced the injured Downing.
Suarez and Coutinho linked up after a Sturridge run and pass, before the Premiership's leading marksman saw his shot saved by Jaaskelalinen. A Lucas loose piece of play was almost costly with Carlton Cole's shot brilliantly blocked by Agger.
Liverpool stepped up the intensity in the second-half with Gerrard at the forefront. Bursting through to the byline his cutback just failed to find Suarez. Agger, was again excellent in defence covering the back peddling Carragher struggling against the pacey Jarvis.
Soon after Gerrard almost broke the deadlock, his shot blocked in front of goal by Tompkins. A seemingly good goal by Sturridge was chalked off for offside, the striker appearing level with the last defender.
West Ham almost snatched a late winner as Collison's header was cleared off the line by Lucas.
Man of the Match: Daniel Agger - Back to his best defensively with two expertly tIme blocks on goal bound attempts. On a day where our attcking prowess was sadly lacking, he shot twice just past the post.
Critical Eye: If we didn't know it before we know it now that our 2013-14 season maybe one without European football. And without European football can we seriously be in a position to keep Luis Suarez let alone bring in top quality.
Right now, the board's plans look seriously flawed.
Team: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 8 Gerrard, 10 Coutinho, 14 Henderson (Assaidi - 71 min), Downing (Sturridge - 25 min), 21 Lucas, 7 Suarez
Substitutes: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 37 Skrtel, 33 Shelvey, 11 Assaidi, 15 Sturridge, 30 Suso
Ref: Taylor
Attendance: 45,007
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Bit worn out from my little Anfield excursion. Shame no goals! No height for us in the box. We need an Andy Carroll type figure. Two other no score draws too.
ReplyDeleteJan Thomson
It has happened too many times this season, lack of finishing was the reason for not taking the 3 points. West ham defended well, so they probably were happy to take the point. On our hands just another dent!
ReplyDeleteAfter a couple of days of sulking again I am back to say I am again frustrated with the speed in which we run out of ideas when we come up against a team that are prepared to park the bus especially at home. West Ham despite a very good defensive performance should be the sort of side we have to secure full points every year if we are to make the required progress in the eyes of our owners FSG.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of an alternative gameplan in such games has ensured that we will end the season without European football and will therefore struggle to hold Suarez this summer.
We need to seriously think whether keeping Carroll is going to benefit us long-term as we just run out of ideas so quickly in games.
It looked like Suarez was very leggy after playing so much without any proper breaks this season and West Ham defender James Collins seemed to have him securely under his shackles all game.
I would like to know what FSG's assessment of Rodgers first season will be as he looks likely to finish in a similar place to King Kenny but has not qualified for Europe or secured a trophy.
FSG have made a rod for their own back by getting rid of King Kenny and stating that the minimum requirement was top 4 and that winning trophies wasn't going to save him.
Has Rodgers improved us that much? Over to you FSG!!