21 April 2009

Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio
Benayoun Mascherano Alonso Riera
Kuyt Torres

Goals:
Arshavin 36’ 67’ 70’ 90’
Torres 49’ 73’
Benayoun 56’ 93’

Amazing. Pity that for the second game in a row, it’s not enough.

Three mistakes for three Arshavin goals – and a fourth added in the 90th on the counter – and that’s two points thrown away in a game where Liverpool dominated. And it’s only two points thanks to the brilliance of Torres and the perseverance of Benayoun. Oh yeah, and it’s probably the end of the title race (although that’s at least the fourth time I’ve written that). Awesome. It wasn’t Michael Thomas, but it sure wasn’t fun either.

Sadly, the last two games have been a perfect metaphor for the season. Liverpool repeatedly hauls themselves back into it, only to fall short both times. Today, Arsenal’s opener looked to be a dagger after Liverpool dominated for 35 minutes, but two goals in eleven minutes after the break looked to set Liverpool on their way. So much for that.

The home side controlled possession in the first half, had three or four very good chances (with Torres looking like a live wire), but couldn’t open the scoring as both Toure and Fabianski were impressive. And Arsenal struck with their first real chance, on Arshavin’s second or third touch of the ball, in the 36th after a Mascherano dawdled on the ball in his own box and Nasri nipped in to steal.

But the superb start to the second half should have made all the difference. And it was a key change made by Benitez – not a substitution, but shifting Benayoun into the middle and moving Kuyt out right – that made it possible. It was Kuyt’s cross in the 49th that Torres buried, and in the 56th that Benayoun fearlessly headed over the line (receiving a kick in the face from Sagna for his trouble).

And at 2-1 up, with all the momentum, Liverpool should had the three points. But two stupid mistakes in three minutes appeared to sound yet another death knell. First, Arbeloa was the one to dawdle, allowing Arshavin to nip in and rifle an unstoppable rocket past Reina. Then, in the 70th, Aurelio somehow cleared it right to the Russian, who was basically standing unmarked on the penalty spot. You can imagine the result.

But, once again, that man Torres responded three minutes later, deliciously turning Silvestre before stop-starting into space and firing past Fabianski. And at 3-3 with around 20 minutes left, you had to fancy Liverpool’s chances. But they only truly tested Arsenal in the 82nd, when Gibbs incredibly cleared Torres’ header off the line. Increasingly desperate, Liverpool sent men forward in droves, and were punished in the 90th when Walcott had the entire pitch to himself after a Liverpool corner was cleared, eventually finding Arshavin for his fourth. His fourth. I mean, fuck.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool found a way to give me another heart attack in the third minute of injury time when Benayoun slotted home after Mascherano’s header in caused a scramble. But even with six minutes added on, Liverpool couldn’t find the winner – although an almost handball on Diaby in the last seconds sure got me out of my seat. And even though mathematically Liverpool’s not out of it, United would have to lose two of their final seven games. Not bloody likely. This was always going to be the toughest test of the run-in. For all that was good, Liverpool still failed.

Obviously, I’m pissed now, but when cooler heads prevail, I’ll be proud of the fight in this team. Unless something astonishing happens, bad draws, bad luck, and bad mistakes will end up costing them title, but no one in this squad ever gave up. In all honesty, they’ve overachieved – yes, even though we’re all disappointed in how the season’s ending.

But even though I’ll write ‘the title race is over’ on the Internet, there’s no way the team believes that. Benitez won’t let them. Gerrard (who would have made so much difference today) and Carragher surely won’t let them. All Liverpool can do is be perfect for five games, and hope United gives them an opening.

7 comments :

BackBergtt said...

Fullbacks, fullbacks, fullbacks. The curse of this team yet again.

While Mascherano's mistake was horrendous, whoever passed him the ball at the corner of the box instead of booting it clear is just as much to blame. And I think it may have been Aurelio, but I'm not sure.

The occasional good cross and goal just is not enough to justify the crippling defending that has been present during the stretch run. When they have a spine that is, theoretically, one of the better in the game, it won't matter because opponents will just attack out wide.

God, I cannot fucking believe I'd be upset about a season in which they did the double over United and Chelsea and managed to not lose to Arsenal. But I am.

nate said...

You make it sound like Aurelio is a complete liability defensively. He made at least two mistakes (I think you're right; I think he passed to Masch for the first goal) today, and he's better going forward, but he is not a bad defender. He doesn't commit many fouls and has decent positioning. I am tempted to go through this season's goals and try and find where the came from and who's to "blame." I will try to find time over the next day or two.

Insua might be a better defender now, and will definitely be a better defender in the future, but Fabio's no Riise. The team's a little light at right back, but the fullback positions are in a much better state than at any time under Benitez.

BackBergtt said...

The only reason I don't think they're a liability is because the centrebacks are usually there to clean up the mess. Would either of them ever sniff the first team for the rest of the big four? No way. I really think it is the one position in which they are lagging.

Granted, Benitez has managed to take that same situation with striker, defensive midfield, left wing, and to an extent right wing, and brought them up to snuff and them some. I don't expect every signing to be world class, but he really has not had luck with fullbacks (aside from Insua). Again, if he has so much faith in these two, I don't think he would have spent eight million pounds on Dossena, and brought in Deggen.

I'm not saying if someone else were playing those positions all year they would have been top of the table and clear home to the trophy. But there have been far more defensive lapses this year than years past.

Anonymous said...

This game, the two games before against Chelsea over 2 legs. we conceded 11 goals.

This is no doubt hurting our season. The marking at set pieces 2week ago and the 3 'gifts' from the game today. What can i say?

Credit to the team they never gave up and keep coming back from the dead. But i think tactically there has been unusual sloppiness. At 2:0in Stamford Bridge, and today at 2:1, we should have been much tighter. Hurts more today cos we were in a position to win all 3 points. All we needed was our usual assured play for the last 30 minutes. Instead we played like school boys. The 4th goal saw all our defenders bar Carragher in the box. At least Alonso or Mascherano should have been placed to cover poor old Carra. I still believed we would have won it up until that point.

We are most probably out and im not a pessimistic person. For United to lose twice or draw 3 in 7, it is not impossible. Then again the chances are we will drop more points too on current evidence of defensive play.

epiblast said...

I figured being without Gerrard would have a negative effect on Liverpool's scoring, but it seems to have effected the defense the instead...

Come on Crouchy! Bring your Pompey to Old Trafford and give us hope, you goddamned tall sonofabitch!

steven. said...

honestly, what the f*ck?

irfaanfr said...

Gutted with the result...my nerves r shot!