On the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, Iain Ayre and his Reading counterpart carried out a floral tribute to the 96 fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. There was a minutes silence.
Monday 15 April marks one-year since the independent inquiry broke the news of how far the South Yorkshire police went to in pointing the finger at Liverpool fans for the disaster. The Hillsborough Independent Panel report showed former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher's unwillingness to criticise the police even though her Government were fully aware of their complicity.
Her death hasn't softened the fans feelings towards her and the chants against before the match showed that after almost quarter century every Liverpool knows that the families of the 96 will NEVER WALK ALONE!
In terms of the match, like so many others this season, we had a host of chances which came and went. Twenty-six attempts on goal to be exact. Our dominance was so prominent that in the final four minutes of injury-time Suarez and then Gerrard had shots turned away by the magnificent Alex McCarthy, who performance was simply stunning.
McCarthy was a match for everything we could throw at him. Whether from close range or shots outside of the box he was in irresistible form, producing the best performance by any goalkeeper this season.
Two saves will live in the memory. The first, in the first-half from point-blank range was hit with power by Sturridge from six yards and his reflexes saving with his legs were mind numbing. The second, in the second half from Suarez was equally remarkable. The striker caught for ball sweetly around the penalty spot and unbelievably McCarthy didn't just dive and save the shot, he caught it! All this from a goalkeeper, out since October.
Even when he was beaten, a defensive header off the line or the post came to his rescue. But, his performance warranted the prevailing luck.
Liverpool's finishing was lamentable. Too many times this season the report reads lacking a cutting-edge and it was no different here. Not just missed chances, but wastrels, failing to concentrate at the moment of truth. The dominance was so total that Jamie Carragher must be thinking this evening about his headed chance. Remember, this was against a team with the worst defensive record this season with 63 goals conceded and just 3 clean sheets.
Once again without Suarez scoring we struggled and it must be a source of constant worry for the manager with Sturridge having gone of the boil and not two goalless draws in succession. We need to familiarise ourselves with the art oscillations scoring.
With the prospect of no European football to entice players what will Brendan Rodgers do if he loses Luis Suarez in the close season?
Kop-Post Man of The Match: Alex McCarthy - We don't normally give this to opposing players, but McCarthy was exceptional. A simply masterful performance.
Critical Eye: Suarez and Gerrard once again the stand out players. Gerrard given the time and space simply ran the game in the first-half with a string of quality passes. Suarez with intelligent running between the lines and excellent link up play was a joy to watch and on another day could have had a hat-trick.
Philippe Coutinho, pleased with his attacking thrust and his willingness to get back and help in defence and as his won't, produced some telling passes.
In games when we struggle to break the deadlock, we need others to step up to the plate and it's disappointing that too many times this season we've fallen down. We have plenty of good players, but we are short of the very top class to help the big two.
On a day when Andy Carroll scored again and is beginning to warm to the task of leading the West Ham line, the folly of the one dimensional Liverpool attacking method that adapt to a plan B, has long since bolted.
Team: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 8 Gerrard, 10 Coutinho, 14 Henderson (Downing - 57mins), 21 Lucas, 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge
Substitutes: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 37 Skrtel, 19 Downing, 33 Shelvey, 11 Assaidi, 30 Suso
Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 24, 139
Despair and desperate result. All downhill from now on. He sets his goals too low in my opinion that Rodgers. Bring back Rafa. He can soon move back into that house of his on the Wirral! I shall be dreading going to Anfield for the Chelsea game now. I we can't fire past Reading....Fair play to resolute performance of their goalie. They are in dire straights at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteJan Thomson
Yeah, seem to lack to composure if we don't take the lead in the first half. We could def do with more options in final third, but still the defence and getting better balance in midfield is a more pressing concern.
DeleteBR saying we could have done nothing more, hum “we could have scored” is crazy
ReplyDeleteYes we played very well, and should have bagged 5 or 6, but full credit to McCarthy, Hero of the day.
Another season of mid-table, and it’s a joke.