Man Utd 1 Liverpool 0

Man Utd 1 Liverpool 0 (FA Cup)
Giggs 2 (pen)

Liverpool, under the new management of Kenny Dalglish, played reasonably well in this match, and gave as good as they got. The game swung on two controversial decisions which didn’t go Liverpool’s way, the very early penalty and the sending off of Gerrard on 32 mins, and that settled the tie.

With Dalglish taking over from Hodgson, Kenny opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with some flexibility. Gerrard was played in the advanced midfield role, but inter-switched with Meireles at times. Kelly was started at right back, with Aurelio and Agger getting starts, and N’Gog was left out:

————– Reina —————
Kelly – Skrtel – Agger – Aurelio
—– Lucas ——– Meireles —–
Kuyt —– Gerrard ——– Maxi
————- Torres —————-

Subs: Babel for Maxi (60), Shelvey for Meireles (60), Ngog for Torres (77)

The game started with a bang when after only 30 seconds a relatively harmless through ball to Berbatov saw perhaps a slow-to-start Agger on the wrong side of him. Berbatov then got the slightest of leg contacts from Agger as he vainly tried to tackle Berbatov, but Berbatov went down like a ton of bricks!

It was clearly a dive (in both real-time and in slow motion) but it was enough to fool the ref Howard Web. The linesman who was closer didnt flag for it. It was more than a harsh decision. Giggs converted to make it 1-0 and a disaster start for Dalglish.

Liverpool however responded well I thought and showed plenty of spirit, doing well in midfield and creating most of the chances. Martin Kelly got a low cross in well but Ferdinand cleared it before Torres could get to it. Maxi made Kuszczak save well as did Gerrard. Liverpool, although behind, seemed to be on the up.

But then came the 2nd major event – a rash tackle from Gerrard and a sending off. He did jump with two feet and these sometimes get called, but it seemed harsh at the time given that Carrick was also off the ground and the ball was there to be won. I thought that because it was Gerrard Web sent him off, rather than it being for example Aurelio who may have just been given a yellow. It was in an innocuous position on the pitch so what was Stevie thinking – on this occasion, just trying too hard perhaps. Unlucky for us and the lad.

With only 10-men, Liverpool had to cede domination and Man Utd used that huge space that Gerrard left with aplomb. And just before half-time, Man Utd nearly made it 2-0 when Liverpool switched off at a corner with marking and Evans hit the post with Reina beaten.

At the start of the 2nd half, Hernandez got off a good header. Liverpool were busier at the back and looking more ruffled. Yet, the team didnt give up and kept going forward when allowing. Aurelio drew a great save from an “up-and-down” free kick just outside the box. And Agger had a header saved, but Liverpool just couldnt threaten enough as Man Utd got more and more of the game.

Reina was very busy at times making a quadruple save. Ferguson threw Owen on in spite rather than for footballing purposes you would think. Its rankling for any Liverpool fan to have to watch a former Liverpool ‘darling’ parade in the red of Man Utd. Owen won himself no favours by his actions.

Torres was subbed for N’Gog. And with that any chance of a recovery went. Torres was lazy at times, perhaps, and Dalglish was clearly sending a message with taking him off. But a tired and lazy Torres is perhaps better to have on the pitch than a fresh N’Gog.

Dalglish did okay with the subs putting on Babel with 30 mins left to try and shake things up and add some energy if not control. Babel tried his best even if that wasnt good enough.

Also of note was the run-out Dalglish gave to Shelvey. Perhaps a 10-man game ‘twisted his arm’ to make that decision. Shelvey whilst robust at times didnt impress me that much. And his wasted long range free kick didnt enamour his team-mates either. The tally at the end of the match read Man Utd’s 16 attempts to Liverpool’s 13 attempts. On another day, Liverpool could have had this match if the events didnt transpire against us.

So, what now? This is only the cup, and probably better that we are out as we will concentrate more easily in the league. We played well enough, and I am reasonably happy with Dalglish’s formation, his selection, and the subs he made. Kenny will know that his presence alone and even his decisions are not enough to change the fortunes of this Liverpool team and the players. Its only the Players that can do that. But putting the players in the right formation will certainly help.

The first big test is the Blackpool game – its mundane, its ordinary, its away from home, and we are expected to win to get our season back on track. Its games like these which we regularly find difficult. Lets see if Kenny has any magic for us …..

Redspider

Hodgson Out, Dalglish In

Hodgson Out, Dalglish In

So, Liverpool’s NESV owners have moved swiftly and discreetly and without any media furore and have replaced Roy Hodgson with Kenny Dalglish as Manager. The appointment of Kenny Dalglish is an interesting one.

We’d nearly all been calling for better results/decisions from the previous manager Hodgson but it just wasn’t going to happen, was it! Of course, in the Liverpool way, we shouldn’t wish for knee-jerk change, for change sake, and any Manager should be given the time and the funds/backing to do his job. So, having Hodgson leave after only half a season is not pretty for the club. However, we all knew as well that when Hodgson was appointed, that he was a ‘stop-gap’ solution, a post-Benitez manager to ‘steady’ the sinking ship. As it transpired, he added to the speed of that sinking ship and failed to ignite the players and inspire confidence. Even what he said didn’t help, never mind the decisions he made and he certainly lost the fans even if he didn’t lose the dressing room per se.

So now, Kenny Dalglish is back at the helm at Liverpool, who we know well, or at least reasonably well. He was brought back into the club after a near-10 year hiatus out of football by Benitez with the aim of revamping the youth set-up. I’m not sure how that is going exactly. But perhaps more importantly, after Benitez left a year later, wasn’t Kenny involved in selecting Hodgson? He was one of the main decision makers, well, advisers anyway, from what I heard at the time, and Broughton et al took his advice on board, trusted his judgement, and hired Hodgson for better or for worse. Now we know it was closer to the ‘for worse’ end. Maybe there wasn’t much else to choose from but Kenny did ‘select’ Hodgson so in a small way is linked to our current drastic situation.

So I hope Kenny’s appointment can ignite the players. I am sure just the mention of his legendary name will help the likes of Gerrard and perhaps Torres and a few others. But it wont magically turn all this team into ‘world beaters’ by any shape of the imagination. Although a re-ignited Gerrard and Torres will carry us a long way. I just hope Dalglish selects Gerrard in the advanced midfield role and doesn’t do any fanny-ing around. His selections will be scrutinised closely.

Kenny’s track record is not that great post-Blackburn. He did very well with us in the late 80′s, albeit inheriting a good club and system but Hillsborough took a personal toll on him perhaps. And Blackburn had the money clout to buy him success there, not guaranteed of course. The stint at Newcastle was less successful and his ‘selection’ of Barnes at Celtic and how that panned out meant that he bowed out in 2000 in somewhat ignominy.

I for one don’t think Dalglish will be a long-term appointment. I could be wrong, but for me he seems to have been out of football at the top management level for just too long – 10 years. Of course he may be brilliant in the background for all I know, I havent heard enough of him to judge and all we can do is judge him over his first 10 matches and beyond. Plus, if he is given some funds in this transfer window, which players he gets in, which players he leaves out, and what system he plays and how the players are put together in the ‘jigsaw’.

Time will tell as they say, all will be revealed in the forthcoming weeks. The match v Man Utd may be in fact an easy start for Kenny as the players will be up for that match anyway and doubly so now, and
we are not expected to win. Being the underdog in football is always much easier.

Welcome ‘back’ Kenny ….. lets see what you can do. 6th place would be nice and 4th even nicer! The Europa League is there for the taking as well …. I just hope for him this doesnt all go horribly wrong.

My fingers are crossed ….

Redspider

Blackburn 3 Liverpool 1

Blackburn 3 Liverpool 1
Olsson 32
Benjani 38, 57
– Gerrard 81

After Liverpool’s brief respite, we fall abysmally at Blackburn. Despite not being that much worse than Blackburn, we failed to threaten enough and shipped goals all to easily. This loss heaps the pressure once again on Hodgson.

Hodgson stubbornly and foolishly went with 4-4-2 again, playing Gerrard deep, and experimenting with Cole on the right. Ngog was given a start again as follows:

—————– Reina —————
Johnson – Skrtel – Kyrgiakos – Konchesky
——– Lucas ——— Gerrard ——
Cole —————————- Maxi
——— N’Gog —— Torres ——-

Subs: Agger for Kyrgiakos (51), Kuyt for Maxi (58), Babel for Ngog (78)

Ironically, it was Liverpool that started the brighter. Torres linked well with Konchesky resulting in a Torres header going wide. Liverpool however couldn’t keep things going. Blackburn looked the hungrier side even if talks of Ronaldinho joining were fading. Mame Diouf got a half-chance but he could only direct it straight at Reina.

Then Blackburn scored – a simple move with a long-ball through and a half-chance that went through the legs of Reina. All too easy from a Liverpool perspective. The embarrassment became much worse soon after when Benjani easily wrong-footed Kyrgiakos before smashing the ball into the roof of the net past a hapless Reina who should have done better. Manager and fans looked on with dismay.

Half-time didn’t bring much joy or change of fortune for Liverpool. Even with Torres, Gerrard and Cole on the pitch, Liverpool couldn’t get things going in the final third in the right way. This was just not going to be our day.

And things became worse when Benjani made it 3-0 on 56 mins. Skrtel and Johnson made it easy for Blackburn allowing a bye-line run and cross giving Benjani a simple finish from close-range, although once again Reina may have done a bit better.

At 3-0 up, Blackburn went into defensive mode and Liverpool had a lot of possession in the final 30 mins. We did eventually create chances.

Cole had a long range effort well saved. Then out of little Gerrard got on the score sheet finishing from in close. That was on 81 minutes, and surely a recovery was not possible.

However, Liverpool didn’t give up and with a surging Gerrard fouled in the box, up he stepped to take the penalty only to see his effort beat the keeper and just barely the goal. And that was that. The tally at the end of the match read Blackburn’s 10 attempts to Liverpool’s 13 attempts. And a woeful result.

The problem that Liverpool now have is that performances from players, some with limited capability, is well below those individual capabilities. And Hodgson, as mentioned previously, is not doing what he could be doing with his resources. Again, it was Gerrard who was lively and a danger in the final third, yet if he is tasked in a 4-4-2 to play defensive midfield, he cant do both roles. Playing Cole on the right was not likely to work and it didnt. Hodgson is just not making the right decisions.

The call for Hodgson’s head is palpable, is it just a matter of when now rather than if? And a change is as good as a rest for the players.

Dalglish may be in the wings waiting, but does he have magic? Only time will tell.

Redspider

Liverpool 2 Bolton 1

Liverpool 2 Bolton 1
- K.Davies 43
Torres 49
Cole 90+2

Liverpool get a win, barely. Whilst deserving the win in terms of chances made, failure to convert those chances and poor defending required Liverpool needing a goal all the way into added time. This was far from a victory to be proud of and the win, whilst welcome, is not a change in direction.

Hodgson corrected some of his mistakes from his last selection. He stuck with a 4-4-2 and rested Gerrard, he returned Kuyt back to his normal right position, put Maxi on the left, and gave both Agger and Aurelio starts. Meireles was moved to centre midfield and N’Gog was switched with Torres upfront as follows:

—————– Reina —————
Johnson – Skrtel – Agger – Aurelio
——– Lucas ——— Meireles ——
Kuyt —————————- Maxi
——— N’Gog —— Torres ——-

Subs: Gerrard for Meireles (21), Cole for Ngog (82), Kyrgiakos for Agger (89)

Liverpool got off to a reasonably lively start in this match when Torres was at the centre of a move where Liverpool threatened, his deflected shot fell to Maxi and his volley across goal was cleared. But Liverpool failed to build on that. Liverpool got a bit of a fillip though when Meireles was forced off on 21 minutes, allowing Gerrard an introduction earlier than was planned.

Liverpool looked better as a result but it was Bolton who created a few chances with a free kick and a header wide. Gerrard’s quality did shine through though and Liverpool came close when Kuyt’s cross was headed by Maxi onto the bar with the keeper beaten.

Even though Liverpool looked the better outfit, the gifted Bolton a goal just before half-time. A simple Bolton cross from the right drifted the whole way across our box gifting a free unchallenged header to Kevin Davies in the 6 yard box. Reina should have done a lot better, that should have been his ball. Again his weakness on crosses is a cause for a goal. Johnson should have done better as well, no doubt about that, but Reina was for me the main culprit at fault.

And almost immediately after that Liverpool’s season was summarized when Lucas missed a goal from all of 4 yards out with the ball tickling just wide! Although we were not to rue this missed golden opportunity, its endemic of why we are where we are.

Liverpool were back on level terms though soon after the start of the 2nd half when a good move between N’Gog, Johnson and Gerrard, who then found Torres with a nice float over ball for Torres to get his shooting boots on and side volley it into the net. We really need a lot more goals like these. Nice move and nice goal.

This gave us a pep in our steps and another good link up between Gerrard and Torres resulted in Torres just missing at the far post. Gerrard then got in on the action with an effort of his own. Liverpool were deserving of more at this stage.

Liverpool stayed to their task and continued to threaten, once again Gerrard linking up with Torres who’s volley went wide. Bolton didn’t provide much threat at all. But time was running out. Was this going to be another 2 points dropped?

Cole had been put on for N’Gog to add some variety to the attack. In added time, a deep cross from Gerrard was knocked towards the goal by Maxi and was goal bound only for an offside Cole to tap it in when it was nearly over the line. But for once luck was on our side as the linesman didn’t see much kicking action from Cole and allowed it to stand from weak protestations from Bolton. We got some fortune, but with seconds to go to the final whistle, this 2-1 lead was the least we had deserved from this match. Bolton gave one more effort but Reina saved well, and thus it ended 2-1 and a very welcome and deserved 3 points. The tally at the end of the match read Liverpool’s 16 attempts to Bolton’s 9.

Note that the attendance at this match was only 35,000, so clearly fans are instead ‘voting’ with their feet rather than repeatedly voicing their concerns about Hodgson, which is falling on deaf ears. Indeed protests which see fans staying away, as unpalatable as that may be, can be the most effective.

Liverpool are now on 25 points from 19 games, compared with Tottenham who are in 4th on 36 points having played 1 game more. If we win our game in hand, we will be 8 points behind Spurs. Now, the realistic target has to be a European qualification berth and a top-6 finish. Although 4th is still doable, we are coughing and spluttering and I feel we are not showing enough consistency in matches to look like we can put in a strong run of performances.

For Hodgson, I feel he is a manager which will surely exit in the near future and won’t be given a 5 year tenure at Liverpool. For me, he has just not made the right decisions, and based on well-known facts at Liverpool FC. He has not spent wisely in the transfer market and although brought in as a manager to ‘steady the sinking ship’, he hasn’t been able to prevent further demise. Perhaps the owners will give him at least this one season, as they must be looking at Liverpool FC as a long-term project, given their propensity to at least in other sports bring in young potentials. They are unlikely to invest a huge amount in the club in the January window, or spend Man City-like or Chelsea of ‘old’.

I am sure they have set a minimum league position finish for Hodgson as a target, which if he doesn’t achieve he will have to go, whether that is 8th or 6th, we wont know. If I was them, I would aim for 6th, but even having said that, I have seen enough of Hodgson’s decisions so far, which IF they don’t change in nature, would see me preferring him to go, sooner rather than later.

And January would be okay, but there may not be that many other good managers around. Kenny Dalglish may not suited for the job, despite what many Liverpool fans may think. Would Martin O’Neill be suitable? There are certainly worse candidates than him!

Redspider

Liverpool 0 Wolves 1

Liverpool 0 Wolves 1
- Ward 56

This was a terrible home loss for Liverpool in a poor match of few real chances. Although a rusty Liverpool after a long lay-off due to the weather had as many chances as Wolves, which wasn’t many, it was Wolves, who started the match on the bottom of the table, that put one of theirs away to get the goal which was just enough to seal all 3 points. Its yet another low point for Liverpool this season and for Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson decided on a very questionable 4-4-2 formation with unusual positional selections. Kuyt was unusually on the left, Meireles was on the right and Gerrard in a deep role. N’Gog got a start in an attempt to make space for Torres:

—————– Reina ——————–
Johnson – Skrtel – Kyrgiakos – Konchesky
—— Gerrard ——— Lucas ———-
Meireles —————————- Kuyt
———— Torres —— N’Gog ———-

Subs: Babel for N’Gog (63), Cole for Meireles (73), Aurelio for Konchesky (74)

Although some of the players were played in ineffective positions, the team in its collective should have had the wherewithal to beat this Wolves team who offered precious little, apart from resilience and determination and a reasonable defensive set-up. But the level of rustiness of the Liverpool players was palpable, clearly too much “rest” during this cold spell of snow and ice took a lot from the players match sharpness. This rustiness malaise effected all players, from Gerrard to Kuyt to Torres. Gerrard had a bit more of an excuse as he was coming back from a 6-week injury respite.

The 1st half was poor fair, with only one reasonable chance falling to Liverpool. Torres took a quick free-kick into space for Meireles but from this great chance he shot tamely and straight at their keeper. Its missed chances like this which are typifying Liverpool’s poor season. Wolves didn’t do much but held their own, although Reina was not threatened at all.

Gerrard was trying to get Liverpool going but being in a deep position he cant carry all of this team on his own. Torres was out of sorts and not effective, but Kuyt was woeful and has no left foot. Why he wasn’t on the right, his usual position, is only a question that Hodgson knows the answer.

Early in the 2nd half a chance for Liverpool as Johnson did some good work when he pulled back a cross only for N’Gog to harmlessly hook it wide from all of 6 yards. Yet another missed chance that should have been scored. A more clinical team would have been 2-0 up at that stage. Wolves were quiet, having had a few long range attempts but no more than that.

Liverpool would rue their missed chances soon after when early in the 2nd half Wolves got their goal. It didn’t help Liverpool that we were complicit in its making when a through ball confused both Skrtel and Kyrgiakos allowing Ward to race onto it and beat an advancing Reina with a low poke. Perhaps an unlikely goal and not one wholly deserved by Wolves, but once again typical of this season for Liverpool.

Babel was sent on, as was the publicly maligned Cole, but Liverpool’s huffing and puffing came to little as the team ran out of steam and effort and Wolves defended with resilience. It was a game that neither the fans nor the players were enjoying. Indeed, it was Wolves who nearly made it 0-2 only for Johnson’s last-second block. Then near the death, Liverpool did get the ball into the net from a Skrtel header meeting a Gerrard cross, but it was rightly disallowed for offside. The game ended and the booing rang out, but its hard to criticize fellow fans when we lose at home to the bottom team. The tally read Liverpool’s 9 attempts to Wolves 7 attempts in what can only be described as a very poor match.

So Liverpool end 2010 on another low note, allowing Wolves to do a “smash-and-grab” and for Liverpool to put in a yet another poor performance. It certainly didn’t help that Liverpool were forced into a rest for so many days with the postponement of matches due to the weather, resulting in all players being rusty. And Liverpool were out of action more than other teams and more than Wolves. But to add to that background was the poor formation/selection by Hodgson as outlined. That certainly didn’t help. And then when Liverpool created some chances they missed them.

This result puts Liverpool in trouble, deeper trouble, as we are now closer to the relegation zone than to 4th. Our team and club shouldn’t be in a position where we are looking at the bottom of the table rather than the top. That is an insult to our intelligence. This club has had the spend to be way above that, surely. Now the task must be to ensure we get into Europe next season, the top-6 or 7. Lets forget 4th for now, not completely forget it of course, but we are now in an emergency situation.

Its still early days in Hodgson’s tenure at Liverpool FC, and usually we give managers a lot of time to bed in, to shape the team in their way, to make tactical and strategic decisions, to bring in new players that they have selected, and to change the club’s position for the better. But with results like this, surely what Hodgson has done has been poor.

If this was going to a vote among the fans in January, I couldn’t see myself voting to retain him. For me, he just doesn’t seem to have the necessary guile, that we need.

Lets hope 2011 brings better times to Liverpool FC,

Redspider

Liverpool 0 Utrecht 0

Liverpool 0 Utrecht 0

This was a poor game from Liverpool albeit one that didn’t matter and one that fielded our 2nd string players. Still, you would expect them to push more as they had nothing to lose and everything to play for and impress. Utrecht were also poor so it was poor entertainment value, even for those many thousands of youngsters who availed of the free entry kindly and smartly offered by the new owners.

Hodgson went for many 2nd string players in a 4-4-2, giving Kelly, Wilson and Aurelio starts in the back, Poulsen and Shelvey the berths in centre midfielf, Joe Cole started out wide left, Jovanovic on the right and Babel and Eccleston up front as follows:

————– Jones ——————-
Kelly – Skrtel – Wilson – Aurelio
—– Shelvey — Poulsen ———-
Jovanovic ——————– Cole
—– Eccleston — Babel ———-

Subs: Kyrgiakos for Skrtel (46), Pacheco for Eccleston (56), Kuyt for Jovanovic (73)

It was a match where a few goals would have helped put a sheen on an otherwise tame affair. Liverpool came closest to scoring with Jovanovic who hit the bar, and from Cole who had a shot blocked and who should have done better when close on goal late on.

Jovanovic’s chance came in the first half when out of nothing he decided to run at their defence from the inside-right position and he let fly from long range, only to see his effort hit the top of the bar.

Joe Cole was playing wide left and needed this match for match practice. He didn’t show much promise out there being unable to link any moves with his team mates. Other starters also failed to impress and Eccleston saw little of the ball and did little with it when he did.

Liverpool had a chance from Babel which went wide across the goal before Kuyt came on as a sub. Liverpool changed formation to a 4-2-3-1 with Cole coming to the centre and Pacheco moving left, with Kuyt right. This change allowed Cole to be more effective.

He had a big opportunity, the biggest of the match when the ball broke kindly to him but his powerful shot was blocked by desperate Utrecht defending. He had a chance at the near post soon after but his attempt lacked conviction, and any power.

The game ended with the tallies of Liverpool 9 attempts to Utrecht’s 7 attempts, and none of the latter were that threatening I thought.

Not much can be learned from this game. It shows that Cole is in bad need of match practice, so hopefully this will have helped. It was a worthwhile run-out for some other players, but no more than that. It was better that Torres was rested as he would have had no chance of any decent supply.

Now back to the league, and two wins are needed, the first against Fulham on Saturday. Its Roy’s old team, so lets hope, unlike Houllier, he doesn’t give the opposition too much respect. By the way, Hodgson is more and more uncomfortable in the dugout where once again he did a lot of face-rubbing. He doesn’t look comfortable at all, and this must transmit to the players, to their detriment as well.

This is not what we need right now.

Redspider

Newcastle 3 Liverpool 1

Newcastle 3 Liverpool 1
Nolan 15 – Kuyt 49
Barton 80
Carroll 90+1

This was a game that got away from Liverpool as we deserved more from what we put in, so it was 3 points dropped rather than 3 points “beaten” out of us. Newcastle were valiant in their efforts but stole the game and all 3 points.

Hodgson’s team was close to that played in the last league match against Spurs, with Kyrgiakos in for Carragher, in a 4-4-2 once again giving N’Gog a start alongside Torres:

——————- Reina ——————-
Johnson – Kyrgiakos – Skrtel – Konchesky
——— Meireles ———- Lucas ———-
– Kuyt —- ————————– Maxi —-
——— N’Gog ——– Torres —————

Subs: Babel for N’Gog (72), Jovanovic for Maxi (85)

Liverpool started this game reasonably brightly, and it was an open game, albeit with only a few clear-cut chances. It was Liverpool who had the brighter start, when Maxi had an effort as did Kyrgiakos. But against the run of play it was Newcastle that got the lead on 15 mins when a free was headed back by Carroll and finished in low by Nolan.

Liverpool came back with opportunities falling to Kyrgiakos and Meireles. But it was not one-way traffic and Newcastle had a golden chance with Ameobi but his shot took a slight deflection which was enough to push it wide. Meireles at fault for giving the ball away. The first half ended with another Kyrgiakos, with his header just going wide. For all of Liverpool’s advantage, they went in 1-0 down at half-time.

Whether the half-time talk by Hodgson helped, or whether it was mainly hair pulling and face-rubbing, it was Liverpool that got off to the better 2nd half start with an easy goal from Kuyt on 49 minutes. Kuyt had the ball near the edge of the box and his tame shot took the slightest of deflections to slowly travel into the corner of the yet. Not a brilliant goal yet deserved.

That goal made Liverpool look in the ascendancy and they dominated for a while. Torres should have made it 1-2 when he controlled the ball well in the box when set free but he shot too straight at their keeper. He is still not 100%.

Newcastle, who had been showing good spirit and efforts on the pitch with the new manager Pardew, and the loss of the previous manager Hughton, not affecting them in the slightest. Carroll came close with a header, and then Ranger was set clear but he pulled his shot all the way across the goal missing by inches. Newcastle kept up the pressure and although Liverpool looked as if they might last it out, the endeavour of an active Barton was enough to steal in and nick a goal to make it 2-1 with 10 minutes left. Johnson and Skrtel could have perhaps done a bit better, as well as Reina.

Liverpool did a bit of huffing and puffing but Newcastle put the game well beyond Liverpool when Carroll stuck the ball excellently from well outside the box shooting the ball to Reina’s bottom left corner. It was a great goal. Lucas didn’t help Liverpool’s cause by losing concentration and not closing him down. At the end of the match the tallies read Newcastle’s 8 attempts to Liverpool’s 16, an indicator of what should have been.

What can we conclude? Well, Hodgson is looking an increasingly frustrated character on the sideline. His team selection is reasonable, given the lack of Gerrard, although maybe he should have deployed Cole as a sub yesterday. But it’s questionable whether he is able to motivate our players enough. And Torres is still not 100%.

Also, is N’Gog really good enough? Granted he had a good game against Villa, but he missed another glaring chance to score in this match and his usual performances are just not good enough. If Hodgson concludes likewise, he needs to select different personnel. He is looking an increasingly uncomfortable character.

Liverpool are 9 points behind the team in 4th place Chelsea, with 17 games gone, nearly half-way in the season. Things are not looking good for a 4th place assault. Indeed, things are not looking good for a top-6 finish.

So what next for Liverpool? Well, midweek it’s a European game versus Utrecht, and then Fulham and Blackpool, two wins and 6 points target. Nothing less will do as Liverpool are looking more and more ordinary.

Redspider

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0
N’Gog 14
Babel 16
Maxi 55

Liverpool fans welcomed back Gerrard Houllier but his pro-Anfield kow-towing perhaps helped to give us an early Xmas present as we easily beat Aston Villa, unlike the same fixture last season. It was a good match and a great result for us, showing glimpses of what some of these players can do.

Hodgson’s team was close to that played in the league match against Spurs, with Kyrgiakos in for the injured Carragher, and Torres given a night off for his wife’s birthing process, in a 4-4-2 once again giving N’Gog a start backed up by Babel:

——————- Reina ——————-
Johnson – Kyrgiakos – Skrtel – Konchesky
——— Meireles ———- Lucas ———-
– Kuyt —- ————————– Maxi —-
——— N’Gog ——– Babel —————

Subs: Aurelio for Maxi (76), Cole for Kuyt (80), Kelly for Kyrgiakos (83)

It was a bad night for Houllier as we won quite easily with some good play. Liverpool got off to an early start when Meireles corner was met by an unmarked Skrtel who’s header back was met with excellent force by N’Gog giving their keeper no chance. A very well taken goal. More of those please Mr N’Gog!

Before the Liverpool fans had finished singing it was 2-0 when Villa were once again found wanting in defensive duties as a through-ball from Lucas was latched onto by Babel who went kept ahead of Warnock and shot well past Fridel in goals. It was looking like a red-letter day for Liverpool, and at this stage Houllier could only admire as a Liverpool fan that he is.

Liverpool dominated for large spells of this match and should have added more, but it stayed at 2-0 until half-time.

The 2nd half went on as the first half had ended, with Liverpool brighter. Villa did create a chance of their own when the very isolated Agbonlahor was party to a very wasteful chance which was too straight at Reina who saved and held onto it well. He also didn’t dwell on any applause as he started a breakaway attack, feeding the ball to Maxi, who played it wide to N’Gog. Maxi kept running and with some good off the ball work by Babel, N’Gog fed the ball back to an unmarked Maxi and he put it away with aplomb. A well worked goal and a contender for goal of the week. AT 3-0 on 55 minutes it was game over.

Liverpool could have added a 4th but Johnson’s dash through was well blocked by Friedel in goals. And Kyrgiakos got in on the act going very close with a header which was cleared off the line. Liverpool didn’t give much away and continued to dominate to the final whistle. The tally, whilst not prolific, read Liverpool’s 12 attempts to Villa’s 5. This was a job well done and a step in the right direction.

Hodgson can take some solace in that the result was achieved without Gerrard and Torres, BUT, it has to be tempered by the fact that Villa made it easy for us. Perhaps Houllier’s reverence for Liverpool rubbed off too much as all and sundry didn’t seem bothered to lose to Liverpool. Villa for now seems to be in a major slump, so it was a good time to play them. They also lost 6-something to Newcastle earlier this season so there is something ‘wrong’ with this team.

Still, we had to beat what we meet and that was good to do. Of note, and I am one of his constant critics, was the good performance by N’Gog. He did well, but we will need to see more of them. This was after all where the diving header went in rather than 3 of them going wide. Its football.

What next? We play Newcastle away, a club that have been blowing hot and cold so far this season. Which Newcastle we will meet on Saturday is unknown at this point. But on paper, it’s a match that we should be getting at least 1 point and if we are a top-4 club in our aims, it should be a win. We have the capability to do it and Torres might be back.

Lets see what happens ….

Redspider

Steaua Bucharest 1 Liverpool 1

Steaua Bucharest 1 Liverpool 1
- Jovanovic 19
Eder 61

This was a workman-like performance from Liverpool’s 2nd string selection, and they got a draw although they hardly deserved it, yielding most of the possession and indeed the better of the chances to the home Steaua side.

Hodgson went for a 2nd string team, backed by Reina and seeing the returns of Aurelio and Cole. Babel was given the attacker berth, so Liverpool lacked recognisable strikers in a 4-2-3-1 formation which perhaps suited Cole.

——————- Reina ——————-
Kelly – Kyrgiakos – Wilson – Aurelio
——— Shelvey ——– Poulsen ———-
– Pacheco —- Cole ——- Jovanovic –
—————– Babel ———————

Subs: N’Gog for Cole (75), Eccleston for Jovanovic (78), Lucas for Pacheco (89)

Liverpool had the better of the opening exchanges even if slight. Steaua went close from a close range header before Babel crossed in from the right to find an unmarked Jovanovic who steered his header well to the right of their keeper from all of 8 yards out to make it 0-1 to us. It was Liverpool’s first notable attack and the scoreline flattered us.

Babel was involved again when he latched onto a clearance slipping a pass to Cole who had a great chance but his touch let him down, and the chance went a-begging as it ended in a shot wide from Pacheco. Cole didn’t have a good match all round, lacking match sharpness after a long lay-off. He gave the ball away all too easily and little wonder Steaua’s possession stats were around the 60% mark at the end of the match.

Steaua had a chance before half-time but missed a good opportunity after a bad shot. Then in the early part of the second half they had a header but it was steered straight at Reina who saved easily. Liverpool weren’t doing much at all, and although Steaua had the better of the game, they also lacked quality.

And then they got an equaliser out of little. Another cross was headed by Bonfim straight at Reina but it squirmed right under our keeper and embarrassingly between his legs. An awful goal to giveaway to make it 1-1 and typical of Liverpool’s season thus far. It was what Steaua had deserved though.

Aurelio had a good game I thought, clearing well usually and providing some width, and it was from one of his corners which was met by a Kyrgiakos header late on that crashed against their bar. This, if it would have gone in, would have been a steal for the Liverpool side.

The game played out and Liverpool collected a point, which is enough to see us through to the next round of Europa League knockout matches – we are 3 points ahead of the 2nd-placed Steaua. The tally at the end of the match read Steaua Bucharest’s 10 attempts to Liverpool’s lowly 4.

So what can Liverpool take from this match? Nothing new really. Kelly did okay in defence, as did Aurelio. Wilson was perhaps caught out at times for aerial balls in but did okay. Poulsen and Shelvey did okay. Reina was at fault for the goal. Pacheco was quiet. Jovanovic was physical but cutting inside rather than providing width. Cole wasn’t sharp at all. And Babel unfortunately was his usual self – he is no central striker. Hodgson can take some solace from the result and the safe passage of the team, but he cant get really excited about any of the player developments. By the way, Eccleston did reasonable I thought.

So what next for Liverpool? After the loss at Tottenham, Liverpool have ground to make up in the league, which they can do at home against Aston Villa and then away at Newcastle. Villa are no great shakes this season and Newcastle are blowing hot and cold, and cold when a team gets at them. Liverpool’s target from these two matches is 6 points. Anything less will not be satisfactory, and the only saving grace from any dropped points would be spectacular performances that deserved the wins in each match.

This season is listing along …. And unlike the festive season coming up soon, its not the ‘season to be jolly’ …. And there can be few ‘tra-la-las’ ….

-Redspider

Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1

Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1
- Skrtel 42
Skrtel 65 og
Lennon 90+2

This was a 6-pointer and although Liverpool’s efforts were at times valiant in a good game, we missed crucial scoring opportunities and now languish in Spurs wake in the table. This game was played with gusto, but we just lacked the clinical finishes to get all 3 points which were there for the taking.

Hodgson replaced Poulsen with Lucas, and of course Gerrard is still out, but otherwise he stuck with his 4-4-2 once again giving N’Gog a start alongside Torres:

——————- Reina ——————-
Johnson – Carragher – Skrtel – Konchesky
——— Meireles ———- Lucas ———-
– Kuyt —- ————————– Maxi —-
——— N’Gog ——– Torres —————

Subs: Aurelio for N’Gog (74), Kyrgiakos for an injured Carragher (86)

Spurs started this game promisingly when Lennon got past Konchesky all too easily and released Modric but he didnt get enough power or direction on his shot as he shot straight at Reina. Maxi then angled a shot wide for Liverpool and then Van der Vaart had to come off injured on 10 minutes. This should have helped Liverpool. However, his replacement in Defoe proved troublesome. Defoe wasn’t on long before he got in a volley.

Then ex-Liverpool player Crouch got in on the act getting ahead of Carragher and steering a shot just wide. Maxi was to the fore again and had a good effort effort just saved past the post by Spurs keeper Gomes. It seemed only a matter of time before there would be goals.

Tottenham had a great chance to take the lead when Reina saved poorly and gifted a chance to Defoe only for his shot to be blocked by the standing foot and bravery of Carragher. Then it was Liverpool’s turn when Meireles got off a powerful long range shot that was barely tipped around the post. Someday one of his efforts will go in.

And as it seemed that half-time approached, Liverpool broke the deadlock when Skrtel’s header rebounded off the unwitting N’Gog (isn’t he always unwitting?!?) before being toe-poked home from close range by Skrtel who reacted fastest as the ball dropped.

Liverpool at 0-1 up showed the frailities of Spurs when a brilliant pass from Torres, a sort of a hook/scoop pass, Ronaldinho elastic-like, sent Maxi through but he overcooked it – instead of finishing it first-time he tied to round the keeper and failed feebly at it, gifting it to Gomes. That should have been 0-2.

Then it was Torres’ turn to mess up golden chances. Mind you he did a lot of the hard work for both. Both times he was through, the first he delayed somewhat taking an extra touch when he should have shot, and he got well tackled by the Spurs defender. The second time this time in the second half, he was looking like shooting and just about to pull the trigger but the same back got back. A 100% Torres probably would have scored on both occasions. If these would have gone in, Liverpool would have been 0-4 up and out of sight.

But nothing seems to faze this Spurs team, least of all being behind. Bale had a strike goalward bound which was strongly headed off the line by Meireles, although a few feet either way and it would have been a goal. It was ominous of things to come.

Then stupidly N’Gog raised his arms and blocked the ball when standing in a wall at a free-kick, and although potentially not exactly in the box, it was foolish and the ref rightly awarded a penalty. Luckily for us, Spurs selected Defoe, or perhaps he selected himself and he put his penalty wide, thus extending his poor penalty record.

Liverpool had ridden their luck but that ran out soonafter when Modric all too easily skipped past Carra with only Johnson “ball-and-Bale” watching, and Modric’s low cross was slid into our net by the outstretched Skrtel, wrong-footing Reina in the process to make it 1-1. It was a comedic goal but the weakness exposed in Liverpool’s defense with Carra and Johnson was all too easy to see. It was however a goal that Spurs perhaps deserved.

The game was ever more frantic with Spurs attacking and Liverpool ready to break. Crouch had a penalty claim turned out, correctly I thought, but then Kuyt was unceremoniously bundled over, which was clearly a foul and penalty. The Ref was just not having it.

Meireles tried a rasper which was only inches wide before at the death when Lennon stole all 3 points for Spurs. A knock-on header was collected at pace by Lennon whilst Konchesky had somehow switched off, allowing Lennon through one-on-one with Reina and he duly slotted it home. It was a sickening finish to the game for Liverpool, and clearly Konchesky was at fault. For all Spurs’ invention, it was some basic errors which gifted them goals. The match ended 2-1, and the tally at the end read Tottenham’s 20 attempts to Liverpool’s 12.

What can be taken away from this result? Not much really. This was a 6-pointer and Liverpool had to at least draw it to prevent Spurs gaining ground. Now Liverpool have allowed Spurs to be up there with Man City and it will make fighting for European places and the 4th spot, now more difficult and more elusive for the latter. To compound matters, Liverpool’s performance was okay enough to get the result they wanted, but some poor finishing just let us down.

We have to get 6 points from the next two matches, after our Europa League break. Nothing else will be good enough, plain as day really.

Redspider