Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 (1st leg)
Forlan 9
This was a poor match with few chances but Liverpool come away with a reasonable result. Whilst we came close to getting an all-important away goal, and should have, it was a poor display so there can be no quibble with the result. The tie is fairly balanced, but Liverpool on paper at least should have the wherewithal to get the necessary goals on the return leg.
Benitez lined up Liverpool in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mascherano returning:
———— Reina ————
Johnson – Carra – Kyrgiakos – Agger
——— Lucas – Masch —-
Kuyt —- Gerrard —– Benayoun
——––––– N’Gog ———
Babel came on for a poor N’Gog on 64 minutes, and El Zhar perhaps surprisingly came on for Benayoun on 83 mins.
Liverpool’s match was prefaced by the forced land journey due to the Icelandic volcanic ash. Whether that was a cause of tired legs, lethargy and lack of sharpness and sharp minds we will never know, but one thing is for sure, Liverpool did not look sharp in this match.
Liverpool were missing Torres and it showed, but equally Atletico were missing their star-man Aguero. It was Atletico that showed the most promise at the start of the match. Their efforts and passing from Reyes and Simao helped to create a chance for Forlan, who eventually put it away.
But the parts played by Liverpool players in that goal need to be outlined. Carragher was pulled out right as the cross came in, okay with that, but Kyrgiakos completely lost Forlan in the box and dived into thin air, gifting Forlan with a free header in the 6 yard box. Forlan fluffed it, but the ball fell to him again, he snapped at it and should have been put under more pressure by Reina, who should have saved it at that point. It squirmed passed him and was falling over the line only for a returning Carra to completely miss the clearance as Kyrgiakos watched on. So who to blame, clearly a collective blame. Should Agger have been coming in more from the blind-side? Perhaps. But clearly a mistake by Kyrgiakos, clearly Reina should have done better and poor Jamie missed it at the end. A comedy of errors type of goal.
Liverpool took more control of the game after this but created few chances. And indeed Atletico had more chances later on as well. Liverpool did create a chance when Benayoun was put through by a nice through pass from Kuyt (who was as hard-working as ever) but the linesman ruled it offside, incorrectly as it happened but these are often called that way. Gerrard did well to create a chance for himself on a through ball over the top but he put it into the side netting with his left foot from about 15 yards and a tightish angle on the left. Kuyt had an effort and just before half-time and then Atletico hit the side netting from a tight angle.
The second half began with more of the same. There was slowness in the play as the ball was passed around. Was this really a semi-final of the Europa League or a kick-around? It was hard to tell. A bit of life came into the game on the hour mark when Reina made a good reflex save from a volley from Simao who was slipping at the time. Reina does have his good points and saved Liverpool there.
N’Gog who on this performance would struggle in an U14 match was replaced by Babel, but we all know he is not a striker of calibre and he squandered a chance soon after coming on. Atletico had another chance well saved by Reina although he put it into the danger area and it was cleared by Carra. That could have been a goal.
El Zhar was brought on for Benayoun whereas perhaps Pacheco as a striker would have been a better option or indeed Aquilani for a Lucas. Liverpool huffed and puffed but couldn’t create anything definitive as the game petered out.
The tally at the end of the match read Atletico Madrid’s 7 attempts to Liverpool’s measly 3 attempts, with none officially on target. Liverpool did have chances, such as the time Kuyt was put through yet he was so slow that it ended up as nothing, so not everything came through on the stats (nor do they in any game), but no matter how you dress it up, 3 is abysmal!
So, where to now? Well, Anfield hopefully, where a refreshed and recharged Liverpool team backed (hopefully) by a vociferous Anfield crowd will play a much different game in the 2nd leg. Liverpool have to go for high tempo, surely, have to go for some attack and some goals. Yes, avoid the away goal, Masch will be a key here, covering breaks with his pace as he does as Johnson pushed forward and adds width. With the tie at 1-0, Liverpool will surely get back into it. All that’s needed is 1 goal and from there surely two would be possible. The key is not to allow Atletico to get any confidence at all, to overwhelm them mentally.
With Fulham putting it up to Hamburg with a 0-0 away draw in their 1st leg, surely this trophy is there for the taking for any half decent team. Aren’t we a half decent team? I would hope so!
Redspider
