Liverpool 1 Wigan 1
Meireles 24
– Gohouri 65
Liverpool return to earth with a display that lacked punch and a dropping of two points. Whilst we did deserve to win this match, hitting the woodwork twice, we didnt get expansive enough to create enough scoreable chances. Its games and results like these that determine our league position.
Dalglish reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation, but was missing Gerrard. His presence probably would have sealed the 3 points. Suarez got the start he has been looking for. He was the point player but interchanged with Kuyt in a fluid front four. Indeed, for the second half Maxi was more on the left. Aurelio got the holding midfield berth alongside Lucas:
———— Reina ————-
Kelly – Carra – Skrtel — Johnson
—– Lucas —— Aurelio —–
– Maxi —– Meireles — Kuyt —-
————- Suarez —————-
Subs: N’Gog for Meireles (54), Jovanovic for Kuyt (73)
Liverpool had the better of the opening. We had a penalty shout early on when Suarez was running into the box in position for a cut back but got clipped, but it wasnt given. Then Kuyt tried an effort from distance but it was straight at their goalie. We were going to have to be more threatening than that.
The goal came reasonably early after some good work from Kelly on the right, saw his cross eventually collected by Aurelio who skipped his marker well, got in a cross which deflected and fell nicely for Meireles and he lashed it home from about 15 yards out.
Meireles is having a rich vein of form, not only in terms of goal-scoring, but in terms of playing, and this is good to see. He has proven to be a key player for us.
We kept up the pressure soonafter when Suarez came out to collect the ball, beat his marker and got off a shot from the left hand side which struck the far post. A great effort. Wigan offered zero real threat in the first half.
Wigan woke up a bit in the second half. Kelly was beaten down the wing and the cross was met at the near post but Rodallega side footed it wide. Then, a significant change for us as Meireles had to go off through injury/illness, replaced by N’Gog. Liverpool had to reshuffle the deck up front, and became less threatening. What with Gerrard out, Torres (dare I mention his name) no longer part of the picture, and now Meireles off, we were certainly less equipped in our potency. Suarez was trying though.
But then came their goal. They had been threatening on crosses in the game. Reina had punched some well out it has to be said but was under pressure for several. A cross came in from the right, it was nudged on only for Gohouri to poke it home after being offside at the far post. It wasnt much of an offside and the linesman probably missed the knock-on. Perhaps Kelly could have done better as he was partially guilty of ball-watching. Reina may have done so as well. This was just one of those goals but one key factor was that Wigan had as many men as us in the box, and we didnt have an extra defender in there. Not the way to organise.
Liverpool did come back but were nullified in the main. Suarez took over a free kick duty from Aurelio and hit the bar with the keeper well beaten. Suarez had a good game but in patches. Many times he was getting the ball or trying to get it and was losing out. He was trying though.
Aurelio had a good game, as did Lucas. People have been giving out about Kuyt but he played like he does in most other matches. N’Gog as we know doesnt threaten much. Maxi was reasonable. Jovanovic came on for Kuyt but was terrible. The problem we have is that we just dont have enough quality in the final third.
Aurelio shot over from outside the box as the game was heading towards a close, and Skrtel headed over before the final whistle. The tally at the end of the match read Liverpool’s 13 attempts to Wigan’s 8.
This draw wasnt a fair reflection on the match itself, we did create more than Wigan and should have won, but thats football. We were missing some key players, but we should still be putting teams like this away. Was it my imagination or did Anfield seem dead quiet at times during the match? The fans have to use their voices when things are not going our way. Walk through the rain and the storm and all that.
So, what now for Dalglish and Liverpool? This was a slight set-back but nothing major. He has dabbled with 5-2-3 and it has worked, and the reversion back to 4-2-3-1 was not a success on the day, albeit with the personel changes. Dalglish cited the internationals as a reason but that is clutching at straws.
We have a double of European matches coming up which will be a rest mentally perhaps. Our target for at least 6th in the league is still on track. The outside chance of getting 4th was certainly not made easier due to this result, but we know this is only an outside chance at the very best, and the players just have to keep fighting for it.
Lets stay positive, and lets get back to winning ways. Sparta Prague next for 2 games and then West Ham in the league.
Redspider
