Thailand 0 Liverpool 3
July 28 2013
Brendan Rodgers rolled out a very strong first team in our latest match
against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium, with Aspas and Borini leading the
line with Luis Suarez working his way to fitness starting in the bench.
Liverpool started well with Coutinho dictating matters. Early chances fell
to Aspas his close range shot blocked over for a corner and Borini who made an
excellent inside channel run to latch onto a chipped pass by Johnson and to see
a clipped volley well stopped by the goal keeper Kosin Hathairattanakool.
Coutinho then sent the fans into raptures with a sublime piece of skill and
finishing. Picking up the ball from a loose pass, he stepped inside his marker,
before jinking past two defenders and faking to shoot, leaving the defender
trailing, before coolly slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
Even taking into account the heat (33 degrees in the shade and 90 per
cent humidity) Liverpool struggled to control the game and Thailand began to
gain confidence and as with Melbourne in the previous game the home team looked
comfortable in possession. Picking the ball up from a Lucas misplace pass
Teerasil Dangda cut inside Agger and sent a curling shot flashing past the
Liverpool far post with Mignolet scrabbling across to cover. Mignolet pulled
off a sharp save from a snap shot just after.
The hard working Iago Aspas double the advantage soon after the break, when
the visionary Countinho committed the defence with a run through the centre
before popping of an exquisite through ball into the stride of the striker who
dispatched past Hathairattanakool.
Steven Gerrard capitalised from Aspas hard work from his driving run and
the Spaniard had the awareness to flick the ball back to his captain, who in
turn produced a delightful chip floated tantalising over the keepers out
stretched arm and into the net.
The crispness of Liverpool’s passing at the end last season has yet to find
its way consistently into these pre-season friendlies. At the moment the
fluency seems to come at the start of games and after multiple substitutions
when the game becomes stretched.
Suarez almost made it four, from a trademark Gerrard whipped in free-kick
from wide left, when his header smacked off the bar (would’ve been interesting
to see his celebration had it gone in...). Gerrard, also saw an effort hit the
bar as we strove to increase our dominance.
Critical Eye: For the second game in succession we
struggled in the second period of the first-half to exert our dominance and I
am not sure we have the physical players capable to steamrollering teams and of
the midfield players available for a central berth, Jordan Henderson seems the
only player capable of continual box to box runs and robust tackles as the
captain plays now in a self-contained manner.
For me, the jury is out on Joe Allen. At the moment Gerrard, Countinho and
Lucas seem shoe-ins and the responsibility lies with Allen if he is to be the
‘chosen one’ in the engine room to provide drive and ferocity. The manager has
tremendous belief in the former Swansea player, but he appears too lightweight
to provide that combative edge so will Jordan Henderson prove the better bet in
the long run, especially as the manager seems to feel in letting go
Shelvey that we have enough cover.
Team: 22 Simon Mignolet, 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Daniel Agger, 4 Kolo Toure, 2
Glen Johnson, 21 Lucas Leiva, 24 Joe Allen, 8 Steven Gerrard, 10 Philippe
Coutinho, 8 Iago Aspas, 29 Fabio Borini
Substitutes: 1 Brad Jones, 37 Martin Skrtel, 34 Martin Kelly, 38 John
Flanagan, 7 Luis Suarez, 20 Jay Spearing, 47 Andre Wisdom, 49 Jack Robinson, 14
Jordan Henderson, 6 Luis Alberto, 19 Stewart Downing, 31 Raheem Sterling, 44
Jordan Ibe, 16 Sebastian Coates, 11 Oussama Assaidi, 52 Danny Ward
Attendance: 34,000
Melbourne Victory 0 Liverpool 2
July 24 2013
Goose pimples knew no bounds with 95,000 excited souls in a sea of red
belting out YNWA. Totally astounding, awe inspiring and if any newbies wanted
to know how it felt to be a red it was there for all to see and hear. Luis
Suarez returning to the squad for the first time since his infamous biting of
Branislav Invanovic came on late to set up the winning goal for Aspas.
Liverpool with a very different starting line-up from the victory over the
Indonesian XI, were disjointed and struggled to come to turns with a Melbourne
side shorn of many of their of Soccerros who were on duty at East Asian Cup in
South Korea. What the home side lacked in quality they more than made up for in
drive and enthusiasm and seemed to harry Liverpool out of any rhythm. Melbourne
showed a capacity for possession as if they were into role reversal.
Steven Gerrard whose every touch was greeted by rapturous cheers saw a
long-range drive well saved by keeper Nathan Coe and the skipper who was not to
be denied. As he has so often in his career, the Liverpool skipper strove
forward interchanging with a fellow midfielder (Allen) before dispatching his
finish in fine style.
Liverpool struggled to make any head way, before deciding on the hour to
replace Gerrard with Lucas and a plethora of changes with just under twenty
minutes go. The mercurial Uruguayan, Suarez, it was who received a pass from a
corner glided into the area to cross for Aspas to add the finishing touch.
Suarez looked sullen and downcast as if he was making sure that everyone
across the globe got the message that he does not want to be at the club and
even 95,000 clamouring fans would not change his mind. It seems Brendan Rodgers
message to the player is falling on death ears.
Team: 1 Brad Jones, 2 Glen Jones, 37 Martin Skrtel, 47 Andre Wisdom, 3 Jose
Enrique, Steven Gerrard, 24 Joe Allen, 14 Jordan Henderson, 44 Jordon Ibe, 29
Fabio Borini, 31 Raheem Sterling
Substitutes: 22 Simon Mignolet, 5 Daniel Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 7 Luis
Suarez, 9 Iago Aspas, 11 Oussama Assaidi, 16 Sebastian Coates, 19 Stewart
Downing, 20 Jay Spearing, 21 Lucas Leiva, 34 Martin Kelly, 38 John Flanagan, 49
Jack Robinson
Attendance: 95,446
Referee: Jumpei Lida
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